Salman Khan's Maatrubhumi to release on November 20

After months of delays, title changes and uncertainty, Salman Khan's war drama Maatrubhumi: May War Rest in Peace is finally ready for its big-screen outing. Sources exclusively inform India Today that the film will arrive in theatres on November 20, with the makers having secured the necessary clearances, including approval from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). The release date will be officially announced today at the film's trailer launch event in Mumbai.The film's journey to the big screen, however, has been anything but smooth. Initially announced as Battle of Galwan, the project is inspired by the June 2020 clash between Indian and Chinese troops in the Galwan Valley in eastern Ladakh. The violent confrontation, which took place along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), claimed the lives of 20 Indian soldiers and remains one of the most significant military flashpoints between the two countries in recent years.The film was initially scheduled to release in April this year but was postponed, reportedly because the makers had to reshoot certain portions. While there was speculation that it might arrive in theatres around Independence Day, sources had confirmed to India Today that Salman wanted the film to be seen not just as a patriotic drama but as an emotional family story.Salman steps into the shoes of Colonel Bikkumalla Santosh Babu, the commanding officer of the 16 Bihar Regiment who led Indian troops during the confrontation. He was posthumously awarded the Maha Vir Chakra for his bravery. Chitrangda Singh plays the female lead, while Mukesh Rishi, Ankur Bhatia, Zeyn Shaw and Abhilash Chaudhary feature in key roles. Vijay Raaz reportedly narrates the film. All about why Salman Khan's Maatrubhumi was delayedApart from the sensitivities surrounding its subject, the film also underwent a significant identity change. The makers renamed it Maatrubhumi: May War Rest in Peace, signalling a shift in how they wanted to approach the story. Director Apoorva Lakhia has maintained that the film goes beyond a military confrontation and explores humanity, sacrifice and the emotional cost of war.There was also a development involving the book that inspired the project. Authors Shiv Aroor and Rahul Singh, whose book India's Most Fearless was initially associated with the film, announced that they had ended their association with it, stating that the project had evolved beyond their account of the Galwan clash. - Ends