Hotstar Specials presents 1962: The War In The Hills, the story of 125 Indian soldiers who fought against the 3000 Chinese that changed the course of the war. The battle happened 60 years ago and the soldiers stood strong to protect Ladakh, which we are still fighting for.
The 10-episode series is produced in association with Arré Studio and has been directed by the renowned filmmaker and actor Mahesh Manjrekar. He has beautifully captured not only the war but also the personal lives of the soldiers and their belongings that they have left behind in their homes. The screenplay has been written by Charudutt Acharya.
The series stars famous Bollywood actor, Abhay Deol who portrays the role of Major Suraj Singh, the leader of a small battalion named C Company. The series also features Sumeet Vyas, Akash Thosar, Rohan Gandotra, Mahie Gill, Annup Soni, Rochelle Rao, Meiyang Chang, Hemal Ingle, and many others.
All the action sequences of the series have been choreographed by world-famous action choreographer, Don Lee. The entire series has been shot in the Indian city of Ladakh and its remote villages to give the viewers a real feeling. There are seven songs in the series that Hitesh Modak composes. And, the songs are sung by some of the brilliant voices in the country such as Shahjan Mujeeb, Sukhwinder Singh, Salman Ali, Vijay Prakash, and Shailey Bidwaikar.
Director Mahesh Manjrekar said, “1962: The War In The Hills is the result of a life-long dream of bringing alive a part of history that has been long forgotten. The journey of these 125 soldiers, while inspired by true events, is a story that needed to be told. And it has taken us years of writing to do justice to every character. This project has been monumental in every sense – from shooting in real locations to recreating the 1962 era through setups, costumes, and more. But this story is not limited only to the battleground, it takes us beyond into the lives of these soldiers as they grapple with love, longing, and loss.”
Actor Abhay Deol added, “There is something to be said about stories of such historic importance. To me, it feels like a personal responsibility to deliver the strength of Major Suraj Singh, to showcase his brave exterior as he leads his troop in a battle to the last stand, while also dealing with life as a father and husband. It’s an extraordinary story about courage that is relatable to everyone, no matter which community or culture they belong to.”
Actor Mahie Gill said, “Even though 1962: The War In The Hills is a story of the past, it almost seems like a reflection of today’s time. The story is layered and showcases many different aspects of war – not just political and geographical but also personal. There is equal focus on the families of these soldiers and that what makes it much more than just a war-drama”
1962: The War in the Hills will be released on February 26, 2021, on Disney+ Hotstar VIP and Disney+ Hotstar Premium. You can watch the trailer of the series here.
