Bollywood war epic “Pippa” will get a direct-to-streaming release on Prime Video.
“Pippa” is based on the book “The Burning Chaffees,” written by Brigadier Balram Singh Mehta and the screenplay is by Ravinder Randhawa, Tanmay Mohan and Menon. Ishaan plays Captain Mehta of the 45th Cavalry tank squadron who fought on India’s eastern front during the Indo-Pakistan war of 1971, which led to the creation of Bangladesh. The film’s title is a reference to the amphibious tank called the PT-76, popularly known as “Pippa,” which features prominently in the film.
The film is produced by Ronnie Screwvala’s RSVP and Siddharth Roy Kapur’s Roy Kapur Films, and directed by Raja Krishna Menon (“Airlift”) and written by Menon, Tanmay Mohan, and Ravinder Randhawa. It stars Ishaan (“A Suitable Boy”), Mrunal Thakur (“Sita Ramam”), Priyanshu Painyuli (“Mirzapur”) and Soni Razdan (“Yours Truly”). Oscar-winner A.R. Rahman (“Slumdog Millionaire”) scores the music.
“Viewers today want to watch films that are not just engaging and relatable, but also stories that are rooted in India. ‘Pippa’ is a great retelling of real-life events that changed history,” said Manish Menghani, director, content licensing, Prime Video India.
Roy Kapur added: “Ishaan, Mrunal, Priyanshu and Soni have essayed their characters flawlessly and we believe that audiences will be deeply moved by this remarkable story of an entire family on the frontlines of a war. We are absolutely thrilled that, through the reach of Prime Video, we are able to take this beautiful narrative to audiences not only far and wide within our country, but all around the world.”
Screwvala said: “’Pippa’ is more than a wartime movie for me; it is a salute to the Indian brave hearts whose courage, fearlessness, and patriotism are the reason why India continues to remain a strong and powerful nation today. To be able to narrate a true story on screen is never easy, and when it is a story about war and war heroes, the stakes just get higher.”
Menon said: “When I read Brigadier Balram Singh Mehta’s book ‘The Burning Chaffees,’ I was absolutely certain that this inspiring and lesser-known story of triumph, needed to be shared with the world. I believe we have been able to create an apt tribute to our armed forces, by bringing to life this story that is hidden in the annals of our rich history.”
“Pippa” streams from November 10. Watch the trailer here: