Authors Shiv Aroor and Rahul Singh part ways with Salman Khan film Maatrubhumi

Defence journalists and authors Shiv Aroor and Rahul Singh have announced the end of their formal association with the upcoming film Maatrubhumi, which was earlier titled Battle of Galwan. In a joint statement released on November 5, the co-authors of the India's Most Fearless book series stated that the film has evolved beyond the account of the 2020 Galwan Valley clash featured in their work.

Project History

Their involvement with the project began with a chapter in India's Most Fearless 3, published in 2022, detailing the June 2020 clash between Indian and Chinese troops. Director Apoorva Lakhia bought the rights to this chapter in 2023, and Aroor received a credit for the film's story alongside Suresh Nair. The movie centers on the hand-to-hand fight where Colonel Bikumalla Santosh Babu, played by Salman Khan, and 19 other Indian soldiers died.

Trailer and Release

This development arrives right as the movie prepares to launch its 4-minute-and-43-second trailer, which secured a U/A 16+ rating from the Central Board of Film Certification on November 4 and is set for release on November 6. The theatrical release date is still not fixed, though the makers are currently considering November 20 and December 11.

Context

Biographical films and military dramas based on recent real-life conflicts often undergo script adaptations during production to fit commercial cinema formats, which can occasionally lead to differences between authors of source material and filmmakers. The Central Board of Film Certification reviews all films for public viewing and issues age-appropriate ratings before any theatrical rollout.