2023 · Film
Sam Bahadur
Meghna Gulzar's biographical war drama about Sam Manekshaw, India's first field marshal, played by Vicky Kaushal, across four decades of army service.
Reviewed by Movie Mandala, Sun, 18 Oct, 2026
Where to watch
IndiaAs of 18 October 2026, Sam Bahadur is streaming in India on ZEE5 with a subscription.
The story
In 1934, Sam Manekshaw is among the first batch of gentleman cadets trained at the Indian Military Academy in Dehradun. Commissioned into the British Indian Army, he meets Siloo Bode, whom he later marries, and is sent to Burma during the Second World War. Through Partition, the first war over Kashmir and the politics of independent India's defence establishment, the outspoken officer rises through the ranks while clashing with superiors and ministers. The film follows his career and family life over several decades of India's history.
Spoiler-free: only the set-up.
Who it suits
Viewers interested in Indian military history and leadership will find a character study more than a battle-heavy war film. The U/A certificate reflects some combat violence; at about two and a half hours it works for teenagers and adults.
Genres:True storiesWar and patrioticHistorical
Curation to help you choose, not a review.
Background
Sam Bahadur (stylised SAMबहादुर) is based on the life of Sam Manekshaw, who became India's first field marshal and led the Indian Army during the 1971 war. Meghna Gulzar co-wrote the film with Bhavani Iyer and Shantanu Srivastava, and Ronnie Screwvala produced it under RSVP Movies. Gulzar first narrated the story to Vicky Kaushal in 2017 on the sets of their earlier film Raazi.
The film opened in cinemas on 1 December 2023, the same day as Animal, and drew mixed reviews. Wikipedia lists a worldwide gross of about ₹128.17 crore against a reported budget of ₹55 crore. It premiered on ZEE5 on 26 January 2024, Republic Day. At the 69th Filmfare Awards it received eight nominations, including Best Actor for Kaushal. At the 71st National Film Awards it won three awards: Best Feature Film Promoting National, Social and Environmental Values, Best Costume Design and Best Make-up.
The facts
- Language
- Hindi
- Hindi
- Hindi original
- Genre
- Biographical war drama
- Runtime
- 148 min
- Certificate
- U/A
- Director
- Meghna Gulzar
- Cast
- Vicky Kaushal, Sanya Malhotra, Fatima Sana Shaikh, Neeraj Kabi, Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub
Questions people ask
- Where can I watch Sam Bahadur in India?
- As of 18 October 2026, Sam Bahadur is streaming in India on ZEE5 with a subscription.
- Is Sam Bahadur in Hindi?
- Yes. Sam Bahadur is a Hindi-language film.
- Is Sam Bahadur suitable for children?
- Sam Bahadur has a CBFC U/A certificate, which means children under 12 should watch with a parent or guardian.
- How long is Sam Bahadur?
- Sam Bahadur runs for 2 hours 28 minutes (148 minutes).