Yes, Bhuj is based on real events which took place during the 1971 Indo-Pak war. Bhuj is an Indian Hindi-language war film directed by Abhishek Dudhaiya. Produced by T-Series, Ajay Devgn Films, Panorama Studios and Select Media Holdings, the movie features Ajay Devgn in the lead role, alongside Sonakshi Sinha, Sanjay Dutt, Sharad Kelkar, Nora Fatehi, Ilhana Dhillon and Ammy Virk.
Bhuj tells the story of Squadron Leader Vijay Karnik and the women of Madhapur village who heroically rebuilt an airstrip under enemy fire within 72 hours during the war between India and Pakistan in the year 1971. While the movie has taken significant creative liberties and dramatised the events, the core of the plot is true and one of the most inspiring chapters in the history of independent India.
Real Historical Events
On the night of 8-9th December, a squadron of Sabre jets of the Pakistan Air Force dropped napalm bombs on the runway of the Bhuj Air Force Base in Gujarat. The runway was severely damaged and rendered useless for IAF fighters. IAF sought help from the Border Security Force to rebuild the airstrip. But the BSF didn’t have enough labourers to complete the job.
The commanding officer of the base, Squadron Leader Vijay Karnik, decided to seek help from the local community. Responding to his call for help, around 300 women from the nearby village of Madhapur volunteered without hesitation.
These brave women worked day and night. They filled bomb craters, carried materials, mixed concrete and repaired the airstrip. The women wore green sarees for camouflage, dashed behind bushes during air raid sirens and covered the runway with cow dung to fool the Pakistani reconnaissance aircrafts.
Their efforts paid off as the airstrip was rebuilt and made operational within 72 hours. The IAF fighters resumed their operation thereafter.
Fictional Elements
The movie depicts large-scale ground battles. In reality, Bhuj did not witness heavy ground battles during the war. The heroic action sequences like taking down entire enemy battalions single-handedly are also fictional and dramatised.
Nora Fatehi’s character of a Pakistani officer’s wife who is an Indian spy has been invented for cinematic purposes. There is no evidence of such a spy in reality.
Sonakshi Sinha’s character of a village woman mobilising others is exaggerated. The real mobilisation was community-driven.