Ambi at 21:51, 16 March 2026

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{{short description|2003 Indian film directed by J. P. Dutta}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2015}}
{{Infobox film
| image = LOC Kargil poster.jpg
| caption = Theatrical release poster
| director = [[J. P. Dutta]]
| producer = J. P. Dutta
| writer = J. P. Dutta
| starring = [[Akshaye Khanna]] [[Sanjay Dutt]] [[Ajay Devgn]] [[Saif Ali Khan]] [[Sunil Shetty]] [[Abhishek Bachchan]] [[Mohnish Bahl]] [[Sanjay Kapoor]] [[Manoj Bajpayee]] [[Ashutosh Rana]] [[Karan Nath]] [[Amar Upadhyay]] [[Nagarjuna Akkineni]]
| music = '''Songs:''' [[Anu Malik]] '''Score:''' [[Aadesh Shrivastava]]
| cinematography = Karim Khatri
| editing =
| studio = J. P. Films
| released = {{Film date|df=yes|2003|12|12}}
| runtime = 255 minutes
| country = India
| language = Hindi
| budget = {{INR|33 [[crore]]}}<ref name="boxofficeindia.com">{{cite web|url=https://boxofficeindia.com/movie.php?movieid=512|title=L.O.C Kargil – Movie – Box Office India|website=boxofficeindia.com}}</ref>
| gross = {{estimation}} {{INR|31.67 crore}}<ref name="boxofficeindia.com"/>
}}

'''''LOC: Kargil''''' is a [[List of Bollywood films of 2003|2003]] [[Cinema of India|Indian]] [[Bollywood|Hindi]]-[[Hindi|language]] [[Epic film|epic]] [[historical drama|historical]] [[war film]] based on the [[Kargil War]] fought between [[India]] and [[Pakistan]], produced and directed by [[J. P. Dutta]] under his banner "J. P. Films". The film features an [[ensemble cast]] of [[Bollywood]] stars and music composed by [[Aadesh Shrivastava]] and [[Anu Malik]], with the former composing the score and the latter composing the songs.

The film is based on the [[Indian Army]]'s successful [[Operation Vijay (1999)|Operation Vijay]] that was launched in May 1999 in the wake of the Pakistani intrusion and occupation of the strategic heights in the [[Kargil sector]] to flush out the [[Pakistani people|Pakistani]] intruders from the Indian side of the [[Line of Control]] (LoC). Upon release, the film received a mixed response from critics and flopped at the box office. With a running time of 255 minutes, it is one of the [[List of longest films in India|longest Indian films]] ever made and fifth in terms of running time.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hindu.com/mag/2004/01/18/stories/2004011800140500.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050114075806/http://www.hindu.com/mag/2004/01/18/stories/2004011800140500.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=2005-01-14|website=[[The Hindu]]|title=LOC-Kagil: How 'real'?|date=2004-01-18|last=thrki}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/entertainment/photo/patriotic-films-of-bollywood-366120-2011-08-11|title=Patriotic films to watch this Independence Day|website=India Today|date=11 August 2011 }}</ref>

== Plot ==
{{long plot|date=December 2017}}

The film opens with an Indian soldier's wireless set chirping commands from a base, calling a patrol to report in while the radio operator lies dead. After attempts to locate lost patrols, Indian Army HQ in Jammu and Kashmir decides to deploy more troops. Lt. Saurabh Kalia and Lt. Amit Bharadhwaj are sent on reconnaissance patrols along the LoC. Kalia's patrol is wiped out; Bharadhwaj's suffers heavy casualties but returns. Pakistani forces shell across the LoC, targeting NH-1A. The Indian Army redeploys more troops but is beaten back by Pakistani intruders occupying peaks around Kargil and other areas. After reverses, maximum mobilization is ordered, deploying the best units, but orders from Delhi restrict crossing the LoC, leaving many battalions unaware of the threat, questioning the justification for such mobilization.

The first unit deployed is the 1st battalion, [[11 Gorkha Rifles]] (1/11 GR), who are specialists in high-altitude warfare. 1/11 GR's commanding officer is Col. [[Lalit Rai]], and the battalion has the charismatic and brave Lt. [[Manoj Kumar Pandey|Manoj Pandey]] leading one of its platoons. Subsequently, the 18th battalion, [[The Grenadiers]] (18 Grenadiers), which was in the Kashmir Valley guarding against terrorist infiltration, was deployed in Kargil. Col. Khushal Thakur leads the battalion, and among the officers and soldiers are men like Lt. Col. R. Vishwanathan, Maj. [[Rajesh Adhikari]], Lt. Balwan Singh, Capt. Sachin Nimbalkar and Grens. [[Yogendra Singh Yadav]]. 18 Grenadiers are followed by the 17th battalion, [[Jat Regiment]] (17 Jat) led by Col. Umesh Singh Bawa with Capt. [[Anuj Nayyar]] is leading one of its units. 17 Jat is followed by the 13th battalion, [[Jammu & Kashmir Rifles]] (13 JAK Rif) commanded by Maj. turned Lt. Col. [[Yogesh Kumar Joshi]] (Joe) with Lt. [[Vikram Batra]] leading one of its units. Other battalions are subsequently inducted into the theatre of conflict. The [[Indian Air Force]] launches photographic reconnaissance missions to identify the intruders.

The first assault was carried out by the 1/11 GR advance platoon, led by Lt. Pandey, who first captured Yaldar village and linked up with a beleaguered and severely mauled company from the 3rd battalion, [[Punjab Regiment (India)|Punjab Regiment]] (3 Punjab). JCOs from 3 Punjab reveal that earlier patrols from 3 Punjab and 16 Grenadiers had gone missing in the Kukarthang sector. Lt. Pandey's platoon followed the patrol paths and launched an attack on Kukarthang post, a very heavily defended enemy position supported by mortar units and artillery batteries on the Pakistani side of the LoC. The Gorkhas captured Kukarthang after taking 9 casualties. It is later revealed that the size of the infiltration was much larger than previously thought. Indian Army planners believe that approximately 3,000 members of the [[Pakistan Army]]'s [[Northern Light Infantry]] were involved.

The second battle was at the strategic [[Battle of Tololing|Tololing]] mountain, which sits astride [[National Highway 1D (India)|National Highway 1D]], the main supply route for the entire northern Kashmir sector, including [[Siachen]] and [[Leh]]. 18 Grenadiers linked up with the severely beaten 16 Grenadiers and got the first-hand knowledge of the situation. A company from the 18 Grenadiers, led by Maj. Adhikari attacks Tololing. The company is held up midway due to heavy fog; it waits for clear weather. Intense enemy shelling occurs while the men are resting, causing panic and casualties. They try to move up the mountain but are pushed down by heavy small arms fire from intruders who are well entrenched atop the feature. Subsequent attacks from the Indians are stifled by stiff resistance, and in the absence of artillery support, Maj. Adhikari and Lt. Col. Vishwanathan are killed. 18 Grenadiers make a total of 4 attempts to recapture Tololing but are repeatedly beaten back.

Meanwhile, a unit from 17 Jat led by Maj. Deepak Rampal captures a Pakistani mortar position. They subsequently liberate an important peak, but suffer casualties. Col. Bawa tasks them to capture Pt. 4850.

18 Grenadiers are relieved by the 2nd battalion, [[Rajputana Rifles]] (2 Raj Rif), commanded by Col. Ravindranath, which moves in with an artillery battery of 110 mm field artillery and acclimatized troops. They launch a multi-pronged attack with artillery support, which succeeds but at a high cost, with Capt. Vijayant Thapar, Maj. Padmapani Acharya, Maj. Vivek Gupta and Captain Nemo were killed. All this happens while 13 JAK Rif stands by in case 2 Raj Rif fails. Meanwhile, the Indian Air Force launches combat sorties ([[Operation Safed Sagar]]) and bombs enemy positions.

13 JAK Rif is blooded at Rocky Knob, where they take the field after suffering heavy casualties. They follow it up with another victory at Point 5140, where Lt. Batra distinguishes himself by taking the south face of the peak without any casualties and is promoted to Captain.

The decisive phase of the war arrives. 18 Grenadiers are assigned to take [[Tiger Hill, Kargil|Tiger Hill]], 17 Jat to Three Pimple Complex feature, 1/11 GR to Khalubar Ridge, and 13 JAK Rif to Point 4875. After a heavy artillery barrage, 18 Grenadiers take Tiger Hill, spearheaded by a daring stealth attack by the elite Ghatak section, which includes both Grens. Yogendra Singh Yadav. However, only one member of the section, Gren. Yadav (Manoj Bajpayee) survives (despite being shot several times) to link up with the rest of the battalion. 17 Jat suffers heavy casualties with Capt. Nayyar and several others were killed and injured, but they secured the Three Pimple Complex.

1/11 GR link up with 22 Grenadiers at the base of Khalubar Ridge after braving an intense creeping barrage of artillery. Lt. Pandey somehow keeps the sagging morale of the weary unit up till the battalion begins its attack. The plans go awry when Col. Rai is injured by machine gunfire. Lt. Pandey volunteers to take out the bunkers that are holding up the attack. The machine guns are taken out, but Lt. Pandey and his platoon sergeant Hav. Bhim Bahadur is killed.

The last battle is fought by 13 JAK Rif at the Bunker Complex. The unit gets split up – Capt. Batra is sent to link up with Capt. Nagappa has captured one bunker and is surrounded by the enemy. Batra links up with Nagappa but is pinned down by the heavy enemy fire. He single-handedly takes out two bunkers but is mortally wounded. 13 JAK Rif pursues the fleeing enemy to the LOC, but Lt. Col. Joe stops due to orders not to cross it. After that, the 18 Grenadiers, 8 Sikhs, and 1/11 Gorkha Rifles launch their final attack on [[Tiger Hill, Kargil|Tiger Hill]], and they manage to capture it. 17 Jat captures Three Pimple Complex. 13 J&K Rifles capture Point 4875. 1/11 GR capture Khalubar Ridge. Finally, India declares Operation Vijay on 14 July 1999 a success.

The film, however, ends on a sombre note as it shows the bodies of soldiers who are killed in action being sent home to their families, while some soldiers who survived happily reunite with their families.

== Cast ==
{| class="wikitable"
! Artist !! Character
|-
| [[Akshaye Khanna]]
| Lt. [[Balwan Singh Panghal]], 18 Grenadiers
|-
| [[Sanjay Dutt]]
| Lt. Col. [[Yogesh Kumar Joshi]] (Joe), [[Commanding Officer|CO]], 13 [[Jammu and Kashmir Rifles]]
|-
| [[Ajay Devgn]]
| Captain [[Manoj Kumar Pandey]], 1/11 Gorkha Rifles
|-
| [[Saif Ali Khan]]
| Captain [[Anuj Nayyar]], 17 Jat Regiment
|-
| [[Abhishek Bachchan]]
| Captain [[Vikram Batra]], 13 Jammu and Kashmir Rifles
|-
| [[Suniel Shetty]]
| Rifleman [[Sanjay Kumar (soldier)|Sanjay Kumar]], 13 Jammu and Kashmir Rifles
|-
|[[Mohnish Bahl]]
| Lt. Col. [[Ramakrishnan Vishwanathan]], [[Second-in-command|2IC]], 18 Grenadiers
|-
| [[Manoj Bajpayee]]
| Grenadier [[Yogendra Singh Yadav]], 18 Grenadiers
|-
| [[Nagarjuna (actor)|Akkineni Nagarjuna]]
| Maj. [[Padmapani Acharya]], 2 Rajputana Rifles
|-
| [[Sanjay Kapoor]]
| Maj. Deepak Rampal, 17 Jat Regiment
|-
| [[Karan Nath]]
| Maj. [[Rajesh Singh Adhikari]], 2 [[Mechanised Infantry Regiment|Mechanised Infantry]] (attached to 18 Grenadiers)
|-
| [[Armaan Kohli]]
| Maj. Vikas Vohra, 13 Jammu and Kashmir Rifles
|-
| [[Puru Raaj Kumar]]
| Havildar [[Bhim Bahadur Dewan]], 1/11 Gorkha Rifles
|-
| [[Ashutosh Rana]]
| Grenadier Yogendra Singh Yadav, 18 Grenadiers
|-
| [[Himanshu Malik]]
| Maj. [[Vivek Gupta (major)|Vivek Gupta]], 2 Rajputana Rifles
|-
| [[Sudesh Berry]]
| Col. [[Lalit Rai]], [[Commanding Officer|CO]], 1/[[11 Gorkha Rifles]]
|-
| Bikram Saluja
| Captain Sanjeev Jamwal (Jimmy), [[Indian Army Service Corps|Army Service Corps]] (attached to 13 Jammu and Kashmir Rifles)
|-
| [[Milind Gunaji]]
| Maj. Dr. Rajesh Adhau, [[Indian Army Medical Corps|Army Medical Corps]] (attached to 13 Jammu and Kashmir Rifles as Regimental Medical Officer)
|-
| [[Raj Babbar]]
| Col. [[Khushal Thakur]], [[Commanding Officer|CO]], 18 [[The Grenadiers|Grenadiers]]
|-
| [[Ashish Vidyarthi]]
| Col. [[Magod Basappa Ravindranath]], [[Commanding Officer|CO]], 2 [[Rajputana Rifles]]
|-
| [[Amar Upadhyay]]
| Captain [[Vijayant Thapar]] (Robin), 2 Rajputana Rifles
|-
| [[Ayub Khan (actor)|Ayub Khan]]
| Maj. P.S. Janghu, 17 Jat Regiment
|-
| [[Avtar Gill]]
| Subedar [[Digendra Kumar]], 2 Rajputana Rifles
|-
| [[Mukesh Tiwari]]
| Lt. Col. Amul Asthana, 1/11 Gorkha Rifles
|-
| [[Deepraj Rana]]
| Subedar Raghunath Singh, 13 Jammu and Kashmir Rifles
|-
| [[Amit Behl]]
| Maj. [[Ajay Singh Jasrotia]] (Jassi), 13 Jammu and Kashmir Rifles
|-
| [[Rohit Roy]]
| Captain Shashi Bhushan, 315 Field Regiment, [[Regiment of Artillery]] (attached to 17 Jat Regiment)
|-
| Vineet Sharma
| Captain Sachin Annarao Nimbalkar, 18 Grenadiers
|-
| Manek Bedi
| Maj. Ritesh Sharma, 17 Jat Regiment
|-
| [[Kiran Kumar]]
| Col. Umesh Singh Bawa, [[Commanding Officer|CO]], 17 [[Jat Regiment]]
|-
| Devashish
| Captain Joy Dasgupta, 18 Grenadiers
|-
| [[Sharad Kapoor]]
| Maj. S. Vijay Bhaskar, 13 Jammu and Kashmir Rifles
|-
| Nagender Choudhary
| [[Naveen Nagappa|Captain Naveen Nagappa]], 13 Jammu and Kashmir Rifles
|-
| [[Deepak Jethi]]
| Maj. Mohit Saxena, 2 Rajputana Rifles
|-
|[[Rajendranath Zutshi]]
|Captain [[Neikezhakuo Kenguruse]] (Nemo), 2 Rajputana Rifles
|-
| Shahzad Khan
| Naib Subedar Zakir Hussain, 22 [[The Grenadiers|Grenadiers]]
|-
| [[Akbar Khan (Director)| Akbar Khan]]
| Maj. Ajeet Singh
|-
| [[Raveena Tandon]]
| Deepak Rampal's wife
|-
| [[Namrata Shirodkar]]
| Joe's wife
|-
| [[Rani Mukerji]]
| Hema (Manoj Pandey's love interest)
|-
| [[Mahima Chaudhry]]
| Reena Yadav (Yogendra Singh Yadav (Manoj Bajpayee)'s wife)
|-
| [[Kareena Kapoor]]
| Simran (Anuj Nayyar's fiancée)
|-
| [[Esha Deol]]
| Dimple Cheema (Vikram Batra's fiancée)
|-
| [[Preeti Jhangiani]]
| Balwan's fiancée
|-
| [[Isha Koppikar]]
| Santo (Sanjay Kumar's fiancée)
|-
| [[Divya Dutta]]
| Yogendra Singh Yadav (Ashutosh Rana)'s wife
|-
| [[Priya Gill]]
| Charulata Acharya (Padmapani Acharya's wife)
|-
| Akanksha Malhotra
| Kiran Adhikari (Rajesh's wife)
|-
| [[Maya Alagh]]
| Manoj Pandey's mother
|-
| Yashodhan Bal
| Lt. General
|-
| Ashutosh Jha
| Intruder
|-
| Surendra Singh
| Intruder
|-
| Hemant Choudhary
|
|}

==Production==
Just like J. P. Dutta's previous war film ''[[Border (1997 film)|Border]]'', the Indian military provided technical and material assistance during the production and filming of ''LOC Kargil''. Weapons depicted were those used in the Kargil war, like different variants of the [[INSAS rifle]] family as well as Swedish [[Haubits FH77|Bofors Haubits FH77]] artillery guns and [[BM-21 Grad]] multiple rocket launchers. Indian Air Force planes like [[SEPECAT Jaguar]]s in bombing roles and helicopters like [[Mil Mi-17]]s and [[HAL Cheetah]]s were shown in casualty evacuation roles. Pakistani artillery depicted were Indian field guns and 81 mm mortars. [[L1A1 SLR|SLR]]s stood in for the [[Heckler & Koch G3|G3]] rifles used by the Pakistan Army.{{cn|date=March 2025}}

[[Shah Rukh Khan]] was first offered [[Sanjay Dutt]]'s role, but things couldn't be worked out. [[Aamir Khan]] was the initial choice for [[Karan Nath]]'s role. [[Rahul Khanna]] and [[Arbaaz Khan]] were signed for the film, but both walked out later. [[Jackie Shroff]] was signed for the film but dropped out later. [[Salman Khan]] was the original choice for [[Abhishek Bachchan]]'s role. [[Mukesh Khanna]] was signed for the film but was later replaced by [[Raj Babbar]]. [[Danny Denzongpa]] was signed for the film but later opted-out; [[Sudesh Berry]] replaced him later.{{cn|date=March 2025}}

==Soundtrack==
{{Infobox album
| name = LOC:Kargil
| artist = [[saklain]]
| type = Soundtrack
| prev_title = [[Saaya]]
| prev_year = 2003
| year = 2003
| next_title = [[Munna Bhai M.B.B.S.]]
| next_year = 2003
}}

The music of this movie was composed by [[Anu Malik]], with lyrics written by [[Javed Akhtar]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dnaindia.com/bollywood/report-here-s-all-that-happened-when-jp-dutta-and-team-paltan-celebrated-india-s-first-war-trilogy-2655698|title=Here's all that happened when JP Dutta and team 'Paltan' celebrated India's first war trilogy|date=28 August 2018}}</ref> According to the Indian trade website ''[[Box Office India]]'', with around 15,00,000 units sold, this film's soundtrack album was the year's eighth highest-selling.<ref>{{cite web|title=Music Hits 2000–2009 (Figures in Units)|url=http://www.boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=286&catName=MjAwMC0yMDA5|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080215081557/http://www.boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=286&catName=MjAwMC0yMDA5&PHPSESSID=108b9056cd4ca14236f9c6119d34dcce|archive-date=15 February 2008|publisher=[[Box Office India]]}}</ref>

'''List of songs'''
{{Track listing
| collapsed =
| headline =
| extra_column = Singer(s)
| total_length = 51:07
| all_writing =
| all_lyrics =
| all_music =
| writing_credits =
| lyrics_credits =
| music_credits =

| title1 = Pyar Bhare Geet
| extra1 = [[Sonu Nigam]], [[Shreya Ghoshal]]
| length1 = 9:23

| title2 = Main Kahin Bhi Rahoon
| extra2 = [[Udit Narayan]], [[Sonu Nigam]], [[Roop Kumar Rathod]], [[Hariharan (singer)|Hariharan]], [[Sukhwinder Singh]]
| length2 = 12:52

| title3 = Ek Saathi Aur Bhi Tha
| extra3 = Sonu Nigam
| length3 = 8:32

| title4 = Seemaaye Bulaaye
| extra4 = [[Alka Yagnik]], Chorus
| length4 = 7:59

| title5 = Khush Rehena
| extra5 = [[Roop Kumar Rathod]], [[Hari Om Sharan]] & [[Sudesh Bhosle]]
| length5 = 6:35

| title6 = Before We Forget
| extra6 = Instrumental
| length6 = 5:46
}}

== Reception ==
[[Anupama Chopra]] of ''[[India Today]]'' called ''LOC: Kargil'' "Wasted effort" and wrote, "Stretching to more than four hours, the film feels almost as long as the actual conflict."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Chopra |first1=Anupama |title=Film review: J.P. Dutta's 'LOC-Kargil' starring Sanjay Dutt, Ajay Devgan, Suneil Shetty |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/your-week/story/20040112-film-review-of-jp-dutta-loc-kargil-starring-sanjay-dutt-ajay-devgan-suneil-shetty-791151-2004-01-12 |access-date=1 July 2022 |work=India Today |publisher=[[India Today]] |date=12 January 2004 |language=en}}</ref> Anita Bora for [[Rediff.com]] wrote, "The battle scenes are gruesome, loud and hammer at you, much like the blazing guns in the background. But a lot has gone into making the scenes as realistic as possible. ... The one negative factor is its length. This might deter many from watching the movie. Possibly a slightly edited version, keeping it within 3 hours is called for".<ref>{{cite news |last1=Bora |first1=Anita |title=Why we can never forget Kargil |url=https://www.rediff.com/movies/2003/dec/25kargil.htm |access-date=1 July 2022 |work=Rediff |publisher=[[Rediff.com]] |date=25 December 2003}}</ref> Kavitha K of ''[[Deccan Herald]]'' wrote, "The movie has crisp dialogues (O.P. Dutta), good cinematography (Karim Khatri), well executed war sequences (Bhiku Verma), but fails to keep the viewer riveted for four long hours because of the surfeit of cameos, canons and caterwauling damsels."<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://archive.deccanherald.com/Deccanherald/dec28/mr2.asp|title=LoC Kargil|author=Kavitha K.|date=28 December 2003|work=[[Deccan Herald]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160405050946/http://archive.deccanherald.com/Deccanherald/dec28/mr2.asp|archive-date=5 April 2016}}</ref>

== Awards ==
'''[[49th Filmfare Awards]]:'''

'''Nominated'''

* [[Filmfare Award for Best Director|Best Director]] – [[J. P. Dutta]]
* [[Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor|Best Supporting Actor]] – [[Manoj Bajpayee]]
* [[Filmfare Award for Best Music Director|Best Music Director]] – [[Anu Malik]]
* [[Filmfare Award for Best Lyricist|Best Lyricist]] – [[Javed Akhtar]] for "Ek Saathi Aur Bhi Tha"

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{IMDb title}}
* {{Bollywood Hungama movie|loc-kargil}}

{{J. P. Dutta}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:2003 films]]
[[Category:2000s war drama films]]
[[Category:2000s action war films]]
[[Category:2000s historical action films]]
[[Category:2003 Hindi-language films]]
[[Category:Films set in 1999]]
[[Category:Indian war drama films]]
[[Category:Films about Islamic terrorism in India]]
[[Category:Kargil War]]
[[Category:War films based on actual events]]
[[Category:Films about India–Pakistan wars and conflicts]]
[[Category:Films scored by Anu Malik]]
[[Category:Indian Army in films]]
[[Category:Kashmir conflict in films]]
[[Category:Films directed by J. P. Dutta]]
[[Category:Indian action war films]]
[[Category:Military of Pakistan in films]]
[[Category:Indian historical action films]]
[[Category:Films set in Kargil]]
[[Category:2003 drama films]]

LOC: Kargil - Revision history

Ambi at 21:51, 16 March 2026