Maatrubhumi: May War Rest in Peace

Maatrubhumi: May War Rest in Peace
Teaser poster
Directed by	Apoorva Lakhia
Produced by	Salman Khan
Screenplay by	Chintan Gandhi
Dialogues by	Chintan Shah
Story by	Shiv Aroor Suresh Nair
Based on	India's Most Fearless by Shiv Aroor
Starring	Salman Khan Chitrangada Singh
Music by	Songs: Himesh Reshammiya Ayaan Lall Shamir Tandon Kumar Gaurav Singh Score: Amar Mohile
Cinematography	Fasahat Khan
Edited by	Steven H. Bernard
Production company	Salman Khan Films
Distributed by	Jio Studios
Country	India
Language	Hindi

Maatrubhumi: May War Rest in Peace is an upcoming Indian Hindi-language war film directed by Apoorva Lakhia and produced by Salman Khan under the banner of Salman Khan Films. The film stars Salman Khan in the lead role, alongside Chitrangada Singh.

It is loosely based on a chapter from Shiv Aroor's non-fiction book India's Most Fearless (2022) describing the 2020 China–India skirmishes, in which 50–60 soldiers of the Indian Army's 16 Bihar Regiment, led by Colonel B. Santosh Babu, engaged in combat with soldiers of China's People's Liberation Army at the Line of Actual Control.

Cast

• Salman Khan as Colonel B. Santosh Babu, 16 Bihar Regiment
• Chitrangada Singh
• Mukesh Rishi
• Ankur Bhatia
• Abhilash Chaudhary
• Abhishree Sen
• Zeyn Shaw
• Javed Khan
• Vipin Bhardwaj

Production

Development

The film was conceived in the aftermath of the 2020–2021 China–India skirmishes, particularly the Galwan Valley clash, which received significant public and media attention in India. It was developed as a dramatized retelling inspired by real-life events involving Indian and Chinese troops along the Line of Actual Control.

The project was initially announced under the title Battle of Galwan, directly referencing the military confrontation. The title was later changed to Maatrubhumi: May War Rest in Peace, with the filmmakers stating that the revised title was intended to convey a broader emphasis on themes of patriotism and peace rather than focusing solely on the conflict. Reports indicated that the change may have been influenced by the sensitive geopolitical context of the subject matter, leading to a more neutral and emotionally oriented narrative approach.

Pre-production began in late 2024, during which the screenplay underwent multiple revisions to balance cinematic storytelling with the sensitivities of the subject. The writing process drew on research from publicly available accounts of the Galwan Valley clash, with an emphasis on maintaining authenticity while avoiding the depiction of classified military information. As part of the preparation, the production team reportedly consulted former defence personnel and subject-matter experts to gain insight into military protocols, high-altitude combat conditions, and the operational realities of soldiers stationed along the Line of Actual Control. These consultations informed elements such as combat choreography, unit behaviour, and communication styles portrayed in the film.

Workshops and training sessions were organized for the principal cast, including Salman Khan, focusing on physical conditioning, combat drills, and behavioural characteristics associated with Indian Army personnel operating in extreme environments. At the same time, the production design team developed detailed set plans and visual references to recreate the terrain of Ladakh, including forward posts and night-time combat scenarios. Previsualization techniques were used to plan complex action sequences and to address logistical challenges associated with filming in high-altitude conditions.

Early promotional materials, including posters released by Salman Khan Films, highlighted the tagline “May War Rest in Peace”, reflecting the film’s thematic focus on sacrifice and the human cost of conflict. The announcement of the revised title was accompanied by updated promotional imagery featuring the same tagline, which the filmmakers described as representative of the film’s broader thematic scope beyond the battlefield.

Casting

Salman Khan was cast in the lead role, marking his return to the war drama genre with a character inspired by Colonel B. Santosh Babu, who was killed in action during the Galwan Valley clash. The role reportedly required physical transformation and preparation to portray the discipline and emotional demands of a commanding officer in extreme combat conditions. Chitrangada Singh was subsequently cast in a leading role, with reports indicating that she would portray a character connected to the protagonist’s personal life.

According to media reports, the filmmakers opted for a relatively restrained supporting cast in order to maintain narrative focus on a core group of soldiers and their interpersonal dynamics, rather than incorporating a large ensemble typical of large-scale war films.

Filming

Principal photography took place across both on-location and studio settings. In September 2025, portions of the film were shot in high-altitude regions of Ladakh to recreate the terrain and climatic conditions of the Galwan Valley clash, while controlled sequences were filmed on constructed sets in Mumbai.

The filming schedule was structured to accommodate extreme weather conditions and logistical challenges associated with high-altitude production. Following the completion of principal photography, the filmmakers reportedly undertook an additional schedule of approximately 40 days to reshoot and revise certain sequences, citing dissatisfaction with portions of the initial footage and a desire to enhance the film’s narrative impact.

Post-production

Post-production on the film commenced following the completion of principal photography, with a primary focus on editing, sound design, and visual effects to enhance the realism of combat sequences. The editing process sought to balance documentary-style realism with cinematic pacing, particularly in the depiction of close-quarters confrontations and night-time battle scenes. Visual effects were used to recreate large-scale environments, extend battle settings, and simulate high-altitude conditions that were difficult to capture during filming. The filmmakers emphasized maintaining authenticity, with VFX employed primarily to complement practical footage rather than dominate it.

The film’s background score, composed by Himesh Reshammiya, was developed alongside the editing process to enhance emotional depth and tension in key sequences, including those depicting sacrifice and camaraderie among soldiers. Following initial edits, the filmmakers undertook an additional post-production and reshoot phase lasting approximately 40 days to revise certain sequences and improve narrative coherence. This extended schedule contributed to refinements in editing, sound mixing, and visual continuity prior to the completion of the final cut.

Music

Maatrubhumi: May War Rest in Peace
Soundtrack album by Himesh Reshammiya, Ayaan Lall, Shamir Tandon and Kumar Gaurav Singh
Recorded	2025
Studio	Himesh Reshammiya Melodies
Genre	Feature film soundtrack
Language	Hindi
Label	Salman Khan Films Music
Producer	Meghdeep Bose Vaibhav Pani Kandarpatta Kalita Bitupon Boruah Ravi Basrur
Singles from Maatrubhumi: May War Rest in Peace
"Maatrubhumi" Released: 24 January 2026 "Main Hoon" Released: 14 February 2026 "Chand Dekh Lena" Released: 18 March 2026 "Mera Jee Nahi Bhara" Released: 10 April 2026 "Main Hoon (Reprise)" Released: 28 May 2026

The film's soundtracks were composed by Himesh Reshammiya, Ayaan Lall, Shamir Tandon, and Kumar Gaurav Singh, with lyrics written by Sameer, Shabbir Ahmed, Shamir Tandon, and Vishwadeep Zeest.

The first song, “Maatrubhumi”, was released on 24 January 2026, two days before Republic Day. The second song, “Main Hoon”, composed by Ayaan Lall, was released on Valentine’s Day, a day after the birth anniversary of B. Santosh Babu. The third song, a romantic ballad titled “Chand Dekh Lena”, was released on 18 March 2026, on the occasion of Eid. The fourth romantic ballad, featuring Zeyn Shaw and Abhishrri Sen and composed by Shamir Tandon and Kumar Gaurav Singh, was released on 10 April 2026.

Track listing

No.	Title	Lyrics	Music	Singer(s)	Length
1.	"Maatrubhumi"	Sameer Anjaan	Himesh Reshammiya	Arijit Singh, Shreya Ghoshal	6:15
2.	"Main Hoon"	Shabbir Ahmed	Ayaan Lall	Ayaan Lall, Shreya Ghoshal	4:31
3.	"Chand Dekh Lena"	Sameer Anjaan	Himesh Reshammiya	Nihal Tauro, Ankona Mukherjee	4:39
4.	"Mera Jee Nahi Bhara"	Shamir Tandon, Vishwadeep Zeest	Shamir Tandon, Kumar Gaurav Singh	Vishal Mishra, Shreya Ghoshal	3:28
5.	"Main Hoon (Reprise)"	Ayaan Lall, Shabbir Ahmed	Ayaan Lall	Shreyal Ghoshal, Ayaan Lall	3:38
6.	"Mera Dil Hai Meri Jaan Hai"	TBA	TBA	Stebin Ben	TBA
Total length:					18:52

Reception

The songs, including the title track "Maatrubhumi" and the romantic number "Main Hoon", received attention upon release. They were noted for their thematic emphasis on patriotism, sacrifice, and the emotional experiences of soldiers and their families.

Marketing and release

The official teaser was released date on 27 December 2025, coinciding with Khan's birthday.

The film was initially scheduled for worldwide theatrical release on 17 April 2026. However, the release was subsequently postponed after the makers undertook an extended reshoot period of approximately 40 days to revise certain portions of the film and enhance its narrative impact. The film’s title was also later changed from Battle of Galwan to Maatrubhumi: May War Rest in Peace, reflecting a broader thematic focus beyond the central conflict. The title change was linked to sensitivities surrounding the depiction of an ongoing geopolitical issue, with reports indicating that the filmmakers sought to avoid unnecessary controversy while retaining the film’s core message. As a result, the original release schedule was deferred, and a revised release date has not yet been officially announced. Reports have further suggested that the film’s release may be shifted to a later date in 2026, including a possible Independence Day weekend release window.

Salman Khan hosted a private screening of an early cut of the film for industry professionals, including Subhash Ghai, Sooraj Barjatya, David Dhawan, Kabir Khan, Riteish Deshmukh, and Siddharth Roy Kapur, etc.

Reception

Critical reception

The film was privately screened for some prominent filmmakers, including Subhash Ghai, who expressed his admiration for the film and called it a "must-watch film."

External links

• Maatrubhumi: May War Rest in Peace on IMDb