Directed by eminent film maker, Ashutosh Gowariker, ‘Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Sey’ is a film based on Manini Chatterjee’s novel, ‘Do and Die: The Chittagong Uprising 1930-34’. It showcases a small, but crucial episode from India’s long battle for freedom from the oppressing British rule. 

Surjya Sen, played by Abhishek Bachchan, is a school teacher, driven by the passion to see a free Bharat. Set out with a simple and small aim to get the football ground back from the clutches of the foreign rule, the turn of events compels them to work towards a bigger goal -  to achieve India’s independence. Surjya Sen forms a young army of his students and teenage local boys for this.  

The group plans to execute five attacks on the same night simultaneously, taking the unsuspecting rulers by surprise. Many lives are lost but the Chittagong uprising successfully acts as a catalyst in the course of the freedom struggle.

The movie makes for an engaging watch – it’s hard not to get sucked in as the story picks up pace. The fine, period detailing will surely give the viewers an insight into things in use during those times - square-edged badminton rackets, vintage cars, etc.

Set in the years between 1930 and 1934, this historic uprising in the Chittagong province of Bengal, is surely a lesser known event buried in history text-books. This independence day, show this interesting movie in class for a fun session, followed by a class discussion. It would not only act as a respite for kids from reading dull books but also reinforce educational material in a fun way.