Maatrubhumi trailer: Apoorva Lakhia's Galwan film with Salman Khan opens December 4

The makers of Maatrubhumi: May War Rest in Peace, Salman Khan's war drama directed by Apoorva Lakhia, have released the film's official trailer, which reached viewers on 10 and 11 November 2026. The film is inspired by the June 2020 clash between Indian and Chinese troops in the Galwan Valley in eastern Ladakh. Salman Khan plays Colonel Bikumalla Santosh Babu, the commanding officer of 16 Bihar who was killed in the clash and was later awarded the Maha Vir Chakra posthumously. The film is set to open in cinemas on Friday, 4 December 2026, a date Salman Khan announced at a trailer launch event in Mumbai on 6 November. Chitrangada Singh has a key role.

War films based on recent events carry a special weight. Twenty Indian soldiers were killed at Galwan, and the clash remains one of the most significant events on the India-China border in recent years. A film starring Salman Khan will bring that story to a mass audience, many of whom know only the headlines.

Portraying a real officer who died in service is also a responsibility. Colonel Santosh Babu's citation records that he led the defence from the front despite being grievously injured. His family has spoken publicly about his service and the honours he received, and audiences and veterans will watch closely to see how faithfully and respectfully the film handles his story and that of the soldiers who died with him.

The change of title, from Battle of Galwan to Maatrubhumi: May War Rest in Peace, signals a shift in emphasis from the battle to the idea of homeland and the hope that war can end. Whether the film leans towards spectacle or reflection will shape how it is received.

For the Hindi film industry, the 4 December release puts the film in the year-end window, and the trailer is the start of its promotion campaign.

Peepals timeline: The Galwan Valley clash took place on 15 June 2020. Colonel Santosh Babu's Maha Vir Chakra was announced on the eve of Republic Day in January 2021 and presented at a Defence Investiture Ceremony in November 2021. The film, first known as Battle of Galwan, was renamed Maatrubhumi: May War Rest in Peace. Its release date was announced at the trailer launch in Mumbai on 6 November 2026, the trailer reached viewers online on 10-11 November, and the film opens on 4 December 2026.

Short-term: The trailer starts the film's promotion campaign, which will build towards the 4 December release.

Long-term: If successful, the film could encourage more Hindi films based on recent military events, and will shape how a younger audience remembers Galwan.

Who is affected: Salman Khan's fans, cinema owners, the families of soldiers who died at Galwan, veterans, and audiences interested in India's border history.

What to watch next: The film's theatrical release on 4 December 2026.

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