Salman Khan’s ‘Battle of Galwan’ Reborn as ‘Maatrubhumi’ with Patriotic Anthem

Bollywood superstar Salman Khan on Monday announced that his upcoming film “Battle of Galwan” has been retitled “Maatrubhumi” , carrying the tagline “May War Rest In Peace.” The movie, directed by Apoorva Lakhia of Shootout at Lokhandwala fame, is based on the 2020 Galwan Valley conflict between India and China .

The actor did not specify the reason behind the sudden name change. However, the new title is believed to be inspired by the film’s first track, “Maatrubhumi,” sung by Arijit Singh . Salman shared the poster of the film with the new title, captioning it, “ May War Rest In Peace. #Maatrubhumi .”

The film depicts the military standoff in eastern Ladakh in May 2020 , with clashes at Galwan Valley in June that led to a severe strain in India-China relations. Twenty Indian Army personnel, including Bikkumalla Santosh Babu , whom Khan portrays, laid down their lives during the confrontation. China officially acknowledged the deaths of five of its military personnel, though the actual toll is believed to be higher.

The teaser of the film, shared on Khan’s 60th birthday, drew criticism from China’s Global Times , which called it a cinematic exaggeration and accused it of distorting facts . A government source defended the movie, noting that India has a tradition of cinematic expression on military conflicts , citing films like ‘Haqeeqat’ (1964) on the India-China war and ‘120 Bahadur’ on the battle of Rezang La.

The film, combining patriotism, music, and storytelling, is highly anticipated for its portrayal of heroism and sacrifice of the Indian Army personnel in one of the most significant border clashes in recent history.