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Operation Safed Sagar review: An immaculately made and brilliantly performed tale of incredible valour
‘‘Operation Safed Sagar’ - Netflix series on IAF (Indian Air Force) incredible valour during the Kargil War starring Siddharth and Jimmy Shergill in prime lead is set to be on the list of the OTT giant’s one of the best Indian TV series.
Kargil War (1999): Fought in the high-altitude sector of Kargil in Kashmir after Pakistani regular troops and insurgents infiltrated Indian-controlled positions. India successfully evicted the intruders and reclaimed the territory.
Before Kargil War (1999) India and Pakistan have fought three major wars (First Kashmir War – 1947- 1948), Indo-Pakistani War of 1965 (Operation Gibraltar) and Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 (the creation of Bangladesh).
But Kargil War (1999) was different, the socio – political scenario in India was going through major changes – BJP was in power (previous three wars were fought under Congress regime), globalisation was on rise so was militancy, the majority minority issue has taken a new turn and the country has the best orator and wonderful poet Atal Bihari Vajpayee as the PM and trade unionist, statesman and journalist George Fernandes as the Indian Defence Minister.
Just a couple of months before the Kargil War the Sada-e-Sarhad Delhi-Lahore bus service was inaugurated when Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee travelled to Lahore to meet Pakistani PM Nawaz Sharif.
Kargil War was perhaps the most challenging war faced by India as it was fought in the high-altitude sector of Kargil in Kashmir after Pakistani regular troops and insurgents infiltrated Indian-controlled positions. India successfully evicted the intruders and reclaimed the territory.
A born cynic may argue the need of a series that glorifies the achievement of Indian Army during the Kargil War when the Indian content world is filled with movies like ‘URI- The Surgical Strike’, ‘Border 2’, ‘Ikkis’ and web series like ‘Avrodh: The Siege Within’, ‘Ranneeti: Balakot & Beyond’, ‘Tanaav’ and Netflix’s own ‘Saare Jahan Se Accha’, but it will be a mistake in doing so. Because ‘Operation Safed Sagar’ coins with the nationalist sentiments that has been done successfully before, but it’s twining with the truth of ‘Operation Safed Sagar’ backed by the overwhelming support of the Indian Air Force results in never seen before authentic in its aesthetics. Immaculate in details ‘Operation Safed Sagar’ easily distinguishes itself from the other movies/series on Indo – Pak conflict.
Squadron Leader Ajay Ahuja (Siddharth) is called by Wing Commander B.S. Dhanoa (Jimmy Shergill) to train his Golden Arrow fighter pilots team played by Abhay Verma, Mihir Ahuja & Taaruk Raina.
Kargil War escalates and the Golden Arrow team of fighter pilots show outstanding valour in crushing Pak’s dreams in never tried before and highly risky operations to defeat the enemy who had occupied the highest peaks.
‘Asur: Welcome to Your Dark Side’ fame director Oni Sen pushes the envelope of the genre and succeeds marvellously. The aerial shots, the combat scenes, the detailing where we extensively see real MiG aircraft and actual air force bases (courtesy: Indian Air Force). Filmed on location at operational and designated air force stations (such as the Bhina air force station), allowing cast members to experience authentic tarmacs and surroundings, actual cockpits and reports of actors like Mihir Ahuja and the crew spending time inside real and decommissioned fighter jet cockpits to absorb the claustrophobic and intense physical atmosphere experienced by military pilots.
This makes ‘Operation Safed Sagar’ a well-researched and the most authentic web series on Indian Air Force till date.
The six-episode series is action packed and emotionally laced right from the word go, making you cheer for the Indian Air Force, Indian Army without any manipulative attempt of infusing chest beating nationalism.
The top-notch performances add tremendous value
Jimmy Shergill is excellent. Siddharth is brilliant.
Abhay Verma, Mihir Ahuja & Taaruk Raina all three are outstanding.
Manu Rishi Chadha as Gen. Pervez Musharraf is outstanding.
Vinay Pathak as Pak Pm Nawaz Sharif is fantastic
Anjan Shrivastav as PM Vajpayee is stictly okay
Valuable support comes from Mohan Kapur, Adil Hussain, Danish Husain, Sanjay Suri, Barun Sobti and others.
The ladies - Dia Mirza as Wing Commander B.S. Dhanoa’s wife, Prajakta Koli as Mihir Ahuja’s love interest in the web series and Amrita Bagchi as Squadron Leader Ajay Ahuja’s wife are very good.
Cinematography by Satyajit Pande in the breath-taking snow filled terrain, the air combat scenes during night offer perfect contrast. Meghna Gandhi’s production design is perfect.
Operation Safed Sagar review – final words
The final moments of this series is dedicated in remembering the heroes of Golden Arrows and we see real pictures of these brave hearts - Squadron Leader Ajay Ahuja, Wing Commander B.S. Dhanoa, Flight Lieutenant R.S. Dhaliwal etc. it makes us both emotional and proud at the same time. This has happened before but not in such detailed and profound manner. Netflix has a clear-cut winner in ‘Operation Safed Sagar’.
Going with a well deserved four stars out of five (4/5) for Operation Safed Sagar.
Made under the banner of Matchbox Shots and Feel Good Films, ‘Operation Safed Sagar’ is created by Abhijeet Singh Parmar and Kushal Srivastava. Directed by Oni Sen and written by Sandeep Jain, Barun Kashyap and Nikhil Ravi, ‘Operation Safed Sagar’ is streaming on Netflix from August 07, 2026.
A child born from life & fed by cinema. A filmi keeda from child & a film journalist for the last fifteen years. a father, seeker, foodie who loves crooning bollywood melodies twitter.com/cineblues More By vishal verma