Hindi movie brings to life a Karnataka martyr of 1965 War on Pakistan
The movie is based on India’ first airstrike on Pakistan’s Sargodha air base in 1965 during the Indo-Pakistani air war, Sky Force casts actor Akshay Kumar playing the role of a Wing Commander while the Veer Pahariya plays Ajjamada B. Devayya
BENGALURU: The sacrifice of Ajjamada B. Devayya, a squadron leader of Indian Air Force (IAF) to the nation went unnoticed to the outside world before a Hindi movie ‘Sky Force’ released in January this year recalled a martyr of 1965 Indo-Pak war.
Ajjamada B. Devayya belongs to Kodagu district in Karnataka and a Maha Vir Chakra awardee. His daughter Preetha Devayya told Deccan Chronicle on Tuesday “History is always forgotten and in this way (a movie) it has been brought back to life.”
The movie is based on India’ first airstrike on Pakistan’s Sargodha air base in 1965 during the Indo-Pakistani air war, Sky Force casts actor Akshay Kumar playing the role of a Wing Commander while the Veer Pahariya plays Ajjamada B. Devayya.
The film makers gathered much of the information on Devayya’s life through one of his friends and contacted the family members with the idea of making a movie on Devayya’s sacrifice for the nation.
Expressing happiness over the movie, Devayya’s daughter Preetha Devayya said “The movie has come out well. We all liked it.” The role played by Veer Pahariya on her father was also lauded by her. She stated “My father got all recognition for his sacrifice to the nation. The film on him is enough of the attention and exposure for him.”
Prior to the movie on Ajjamada B. Devayya, she said, a statue in the heart part of Madikeri town while a bust of her father is installed in Bengaluru city to remember his service to the nation.
The filmmakers screened the movie for Devayya’s family members and Preetha said “Of course, we watched it twice. They had a free screening for us. After that we saw it in a theatre also.”
Except for the portrayal of his father as a Tamilian in the movie, she said, her relatives were upset over portrayal of Devayya as a Tamilian but she stated “Film makers have the right to change it here and there.”
She opined “It is a movie based on a true story. Instead, focus should be on the sacrifice of Devayya rather than on his community.”
The film, she said, will inspire younger generations to inculcate patriotism, discipline, courage and ideals that every Indian should have. The people will also come to know what the armed forces or air force personnel do for the country.