The Forgotten Army - Azaadi ke liye (2020–…): Season 1, Episode 1 - Shonan - full transcript
Sodhi, an introverted old man, visits his sister's family in Singapore. The meeting catapults him into his past, and he narrates the controversial outcome of the Battle of Singapore and fate of the soldiers of the British Indian Army.
Maya!
Maya!
Maya!
Who are these people, sir?
They are wearing our uniform.
And they even look like us.
They are deserters.
-Deserters?
-Yeah.
They joined hands with the Japanese.
Why?
These dumb fools thought
that they were going to free India.
By rebelling against
their own army. Bloody idiots!
So, how many soldiers
do you think they must have recruited?
I heard around 50,000.
Fifty thousand?
What's going to happen to them?
What do you think?
They will pay the price for treason.
They will be put to death.
THE
FORGOTTEN ARMY
AZAADI KE LIYE
While the powerful nations of the world
were busy fighting World War II,
India was fighting her own battle
to be free from British colonial rule.
At the time, the British Empire
was still at the height of its power.
And amongst the many colonies were
India, Burma and Singapore.
The largest volunteer army
to serve in the Second World War
was the British Indian Army.
Millions of Indian soldiers were sent all
over the world to fight under the British.
Yeah, flight's just landed.
I don't know, I've never seen him before,
but Granny's very sentimental about him.
Ever since he moved here from Australia,
she's been asking him to visit us.
Uncle Sodhi!
Apparently, he's a black sheep
of their family.
Uncle! Uncle Sodhi!
Yeah, and I have to give up
my room for him. It's unbelievable.
Uncle. Amar.
He's here.
Uncle!
I'm Amar.
Subhash's son. He's there.
I'll take it for you.
Please come, Uncle. Follow me.
I hope you're not too tired, Uncle.
Amar, do you know,
Uncle had suggested this name for me.
What?
I'm trying to share something with you.
It was Uncle who named me Subhash.
It's a very good name,
but it doesn't matter.
Everyone calls him Bubble.
The name just stuck to him.
-Onwards to Delhi!
-Onwards to Delhi!
-Onwards to Delhi!
-Onwards to Delhi!
-Onwards to Delhi!
-Onwards to Delhi!
-Onwards to Delhi!
-Onwards to Delhi!
By the way, Uncle, I should prepare you.
Sometimes, your sister is...
conscious and very alert,
but sometimes she is just...
Which room am I staying in?
It's right here, Uncle.
Uncle...
Sorry, this is Amar's room.
I'm afraid it's always messy.
Look, Amar.
Granny is on her deathbed, okay?
You can't do this to me right now.
And she'll be the first person
to tell you that I should go.
Because even though she is dying,
she knows a lot more
about living than you do.
This is crazy! You want to go
to Burma in the middle of a war?
It's just a protest and they
are student protesters, Papa.
Regular guys, and they're
trying to do something important.
Yeah. I know that Mia is Burmese, okay.
But she's your ex.
You know this is not about her!
And I can't even go into my room!
In the middle of this mess,
you've got the family weirdo here.
Uncle, is everything okay?
Yeah. I'm just going for a walk.
For a walk?
Where will you go? Do you know your
way around here? Shall I come along?
I'm not going to Burma.
I'm just going for a walk.
What?
What... What are you doing?
Let's go.
What do you mean, "Let's go"?
You're gonna ride this?
-Yeah.
-You can ride a bike?
Yeah.
Tell me one thing, why are you so
keen on going to Burma?
Do you know what's happening in Burma?
Thousands of students
are protesting on the streets.
For democracy. It's history in the making.
Why do you care?
How can I not?
I am a student of journalism.
Actually, the BBC is organizing
an International Photo Essay Competition
and the winner of the competition
will get a one-year internship
opportunity with BBC UK.
Uncle, I...
About this morning, I'm...
It's okay.
I'm proud of that.
Of what?
Of being the family weirdo.
"This is a war
and I could even end up being a martyr.
"I'm a soldier, and if I die in war,
it'll be a matter of pride for my father.
"While pretending to be a soldier,
I've managed to become an officer,
"but I suspect I will always
remain the reluctant soldier.
"Urmi, Singapore is an amazing city!
"The markets, the hustle-bustle, the sea.
"I think even London
isn't as beautiful as this place.
"That's why the British call it...
"The Pearl of the Orient.
"You must come here after the war,
I'll take you around the city.
"With lots of love, Surinder."
I must have read
this letter a thousand times.
But you just disappeared after that.
Forget about Singapore,
I never saw you again.
But I'm here now, aren't I?
Stop being dramatic.
Should I keep silent like you?
It's high time you start talking.
How long will you
keep suffocating inside?
You must try and
let go of what happened here.
Listen, Mom, don't exert yourself.
Uncle isn't going anywhere.
You can talk to him later.
I called him here for a reason.
Singapore.
Shonan.
Step back!
The Japanese had renamed
Singapore as Shonan.
During World War II.
Ask him about it.
You have to tell me about yourself.
Now that I know that
you've been to Singapore before.
Tell me something about that era.
What was Singapore like then?
Give us some family history.
Right, papa?
History?
You know, not all history
is worth remembering.
Some chapters are best forgotten.
How's that possible?
It's ok if you don't want to talk about it
but I don't really think you believe that.
Do you know about the Battle of Singapore?
World War II?
The Japanese had attacked Singapore.
Because Singapore was
a prized possession of the British.
The British lost miserably in that battle.
And who were those British?
Okra.
It's Mom's recipe. I tried to make it.
So, who were they?
Who were in the British Army?
We were.
We were the British Army.
This is before we got our independence.
We, the Indian soldiers,
were a part of the British Army
and our loyalties were...
with the British.
Around 2.5 million Indians fought
for the British in the Second World War.
Two and a half million?
We weren't taught any of this.
Because, our history and yours
has been written by the British.
I've heard that there's
a memorial in England
honoring the animals who were part of the
British Army in the Second World War.
They remember the contribution
of the animals,
but not that of the Indian soldiers.
This is history for you.
Uncle, you must come with me.
I'll go get ready.
But where?
INA Memorial.
"Indian National Army.
"In the final months of the
Japanese occupation of Singapore,
"a memorial dedicated
to the 'Unknown Warrior'
"of the Indian National Army
was constructed at this site.
"The local INA was formed
in 1942 with Japanese support.
"It sought to liberate India
from the British
"and consisted mainly of prisoners-of-war
from the British Indian Army.
"Subhas Chandra Bose, who led the INA
from 1943 onwards,
"laid the foundation stone
for a memorial in July, 1945."
My unit had been sent to Singapore,
along with British and Australian units.
The Japanese had their eyes on Singapore
and we had to stop them.
That day, we were summoned
to the headquarters.
Intensity of the air raids is increasing,
which suggests a naval attack
is imminent on our northeastern front.
We are prepared to give
the enemy a warm welcome.
The northwestern front
is under the Australian 8th Division
and the 44th Indian Brigade.
Things should be much quieter that side.
Please don't do it.
Yes?
Sir, what if the enemy does not take
the sea route to Singapore?
May I remind you, Lieutenant,
that Singapore is an island.
Yes, sir, but, as you
can see up in the north,
facing the jungles of Malaya, there is a...
Don't waste my time
with stupid questions, Lieutenant.
Any other pearls of wisdom
or can I continue?
As I was saying, we're expecting
the bulk of activity to be on this side.
So we need to beef up our forces
on the eastern flank
in anticipation of a Japanese sea attack.
Bloody bastards.
Look, everyone except you knows
that these Japanese fuckers
are going to take the sea route.
No one's going to attack us.
Except these mosquitoes.
Arshad, these Japanese cannot be trusted.
Look at what
just happened at Pearl Harbor.
Just like us, Americans also
thought that it's too far,
the Japanese can't get there,
but they did.
He's right, sir.
Bullshit he's right!
Look there, rubber plantation.
Miles and miles of rubber,
and only rubber.
Even a small car
can't get through, forget a truck.
It's impossible for them to come this way.
And if they do?
They cannot, Sodhi, I'm telling you.
Arshad, if we're so damn sure of this,
then why the fuck are we rotting here
and that too with these Australians?
What will we do here?
Hey, catch it, mate!
I have an idea.
What a fucking embarrassment!
Fucking bullshit!
Hey, asshole!
Why did you insist on batting first
if you were going to get out on zero?
Sonny boy, I wasn't the cricket captain
of an English medium school.
I played with sticks and stones
in the alleys of Itawa.
You are the Englishman amongst us.
Go on, show us.
Go for it!
Next time you'll come home
on your own, sweet girl.
Run, run! Go for two runs,
two runs, two runs!
Come on, come on, go for it!
Oh, fucking hell! The Japanese!
Run!
We are being attacked! Get the weapons!
-Let's go!
-Hurry up!
Battle station!
Spread out!
Take cover in the trees and run!
Guards!
Get down!
Fire!
Get down!
More!
More cannons!
Fall back! Fall back!
The battle raged on for a whole week.
A whole week?
At first, we held our ground.
But then the Japanese...
they came from every direction.
But Winston Churchill
had deemed Battle of Singapore as the...
"Worst disaster
in British military history."
"There must, at this stage,
be no thought of
"sparing the troops
or saving the population.
"The battle must be fought
to the bitter end, at all costs.
"The honor of the British Empire
and of the British Army is at stake.
"Signed, Prime Minister,
Winston Churchill."
"Worst disaster
in British military history."
Arshad!
You push the bastards out of here.
I'll attack them from the hilltop.
Charge!
Get the fuck out of there!
Information can also be a weapon in war.
We didn't know that
the enemy only had 30,000 soldiers.
While we, the Indians, British,
Australian were 90,000 strong.
The Japanese General Yamashita
was aware of the strength of our army.
But British General Percival
didn't know the strength of the Japanese.
We are running out of food and ammunition.
And if we need to counter-attack,
we have to get to our
food depots and water supplies.
Our army is about to run out
of arms and ammunition.
If we stop shell-firing even once,
England will counter-attack.
If that happens,
we will be on the back foot.
Sir, with constant artillery shelling
and air raids, we cannot counter-attack.
Charge!
We are attacking Singapore
with our back to the wall.
We cannot allow England
to thwart the attack.
Without an immediate counter-attack,
we have no options.
We might have to...
surrender.
Negotiate a ceasefire with England.
Otherwise, we may have to
retreat.
So both the generals met at
a rundown Ford factory to sign the treaty.
It was about who blinked first.
We...
We surrender unconditionally.
They said they would surrender.
And for once,
the mighty British Empire did.
Get down!
Now! Charge!
Stand down!
Sir. Call for Sodhi, sir.
But, sir...
But, sir, we are holding
our position. Over.
Roger that, sir. Over.
General Percival has surrendered.
What the hell are you saying?
We have orders to lay down our weapons.
What is wrong with you?
Have you lost your marbles?
General Percival has
surrendered unconditionally.
Our orders are to surrender.
Put your arms down!
Thirty-thousand Japanese took our army
of 90,000 soldiers as prisoners.
Don't fuckin' touch me!
You!
What are you watching?
Look down. Look down.
Arshad, look down. Look down.
Don't look up, Arshad.
Shoot him.
Maya!
Maya!
Who are these people, sir?
They are wearing our uniform.
And they even look like us.
They are deserters.
-Deserters?
-Yeah.
They joined hands with the Japanese.
Why?
These dumb fools thought
that they were going to free India.
By rebelling against
their own army. Bloody idiots!
So, how many soldiers
do you think they must have recruited?
I heard around 50,000.
Fifty thousand?
What's going to happen to them?
What do you think?
They will pay the price for treason.
They will be put to death.
THE
FORGOTTEN ARMY
AZAADI KE LIYE
While the powerful nations of the world
were busy fighting World War II,
India was fighting her own battle
to be free from British colonial rule.
At the time, the British Empire
was still at the height of its power.
And amongst the many colonies were
India, Burma and Singapore.
The largest volunteer army
to serve in the Second World War
was the British Indian Army.
Millions of Indian soldiers were sent all
over the world to fight under the British.
Yeah, flight's just landed.
I don't know, I've never seen him before,
but Granny's very sentimental about him.
Ever since he moved here from Australia,
she's been asking him to visit us.
Uncle Sodhi!
Apparently, he's a black sheep
of their family.
Uncle! Uncle Sodhi!
Yeah, and I have to give up
my room for him. It's unbelievable.
Uncle. Amar.
He's here.
Uncle!
I'm Amar.
Subhash's son. He's there.
I'll take it for you.
Please come, Uncle. Follow me.
I hope you're not too tired, Uncle.
Amar, do you know,
Uncle had suggested this name for me.
What?
I'm trying to share something with you.
It was Uncle who named me Subhash.
It's a very good name,
but it doesn't matter.
Everyone calls him Bubble.
The name just stuck to him.
-Onwards to Delhi!
-Onwards to Delhi!
-Onwards to Delhi!
-Onwards to Delhi!
-Onwards to Delhi!
-Onwards to Delhi!
-Onwards to Delhi!
-Onwards to Delhi!
By the way, Uncle, I should prepare you.
Sometimes, your sister is...
conscious and very alert,
but sometimes she is just...
Which room am I staying in?
It's right here, Uncle.
Uncle...
Sorry, this is Amar's room.
I'm afraid it's always messy.
Look, Amar.
Granny is on her deathbed, okay?
You can't do this to me right now.
And she'll be the first person
to tell you that I should go.
Because even though she is dying,
she knows a lot more
about living than you do.
This is crazy! You want to go
to Burma in the middle of a war?
It's just a protest and they
are student protesters, Papa.
Regular guys, and they're
trying to do something important.
Yeah. I know that Mia is Burmese, okay.
But she's your ex.
You know this is not about her!
And I can't even go into my room!
In the middle of this mess,
you've got the family weirdo here.
Uncle, is everything okay?
Yeah. I'm just going for a walk.
For a walk?
Where will you go? Do you know your
way around here? Shall I come along?
I'm not going to Burma.
I'm just going for a walk.
What?
What... What are you doing?
Let's go.
What do you mean, "Let's go"?
You're gonna ride this?
-Yeah.
-You can ride a bike?
Yeah.
Tell me one thing, why are you so
keen on going to Burma?
Do you know what's happening in Burma?
Thousands of students
are protesting on the streets.
For democracy. It's history in the making.
Why do you care?
How can I not?
I am a student of journalism.
Actually, the BBC is organizing
an International Photo Essay Competition
and the winner of the competition
will get a one-year internship
opportunity with BBC UK.
Uncle, I...
About this morning, I'm...
It's okay.
I'm proud of that.
Of what?
Of being the family weirdo.
"This is a war
and I could even end up being a martyr.
"I'm a soldier, and if I die in war,
it'll be a matter of pride for my father.
"While pretending to be a soldier,
I've managed to become an officer,
"but I suspect I will always
remain the reluctant soldier.
"Urmi, Singapore is an amazing city!
"The markets, the hustle-bustle, the sea.
"I think even London
isn't as beautiful as this place.
"That's why the British call it...
"The Pearl of the Orient.
"You must come here after the war,
I'll take you around the city.
"With lots of love, Surinder."
I must have read
this letter a thousand times.
But you just disappeared after that.
Forget about Singapore,
I never saw you again.
But I'm here now, aren't I?
Stop being dramatic.
Should I keep silent like you?
It's high time you start talking.
How long will you
keep suffocating inside?
You must try and
let go of what happened here.
Listen, Mom, don't exert yourself.
Uncle isn't going anywhere.
You can talk to him later.
I called him here for a reason.
Singapore.
Shonan.
Step back!
The Japanese had renamed
Singapore as Shonan.
During World War II.
Ask him about it.
You have to tell me about yourself.
Now that I know that
you've been to Singapore before.
Tell me something about that era.
What was Singapore like then?
Give us some family history.
Right, papa?
History?
You know, not all history
is worth remembering.
Some chapters are best forgotten.
How's that possible?
It's ok if you don't want to talk about it
but I don't really think you believe that.
Do you know about the Battle of Singapore?
World War II?
The Japanese had attacked Singapore.
Because Singapore was
a prized possession of the British.
The British lost miserably in that battle.
And who were those British?
Okra.
It's Mom's recipe. I tried to make it.
So, who were they?
Who were in the British Army?
We were.
We were the British Army.
This is before we got our independence.
We, the Indian soldiers,
were a part of the British Army
and our loyalties were...
with the British.
Around 2.5 million Indians fought
for the British in the Second World War.
Two and a half million?
We weren't taught any of this.
Because, our history and yours
has been written by the British.
I've heard that there's
a memorial in England
honoring the animals who were part of the
British Army in the Second World War.
They remember the contribution
of the animals,
but not that of the Indian soldiers.
This is history for you.
Uncle, you must come with me.
I'll go get ready.
But where?
INA Memorial.
"Indian National Army.
"In the final months of the
Japanese occupation of Singapore,
"a memorial dedicated
to the 'Unknown Warrior'
"of the Indian National Army
was constructed at this site.
"The local INA was formed
in 1942 with Japanese support.
"It sought to liberate India
from the British
"and consisted mainly of prisoners-of-war
from the British Indian Army.
"Subhas Chandra Bose, who led the INA
from 1943 onwards,
"laid the foundation stone
for a memorial in July, 1945."
My unit had been sent to Singapore,
along with British and Australian units.
The Japanese had their eyes on Singapore
and we had to stop them.
That day, we were summoned
to the headquarters.
Intensity of the air raids is increasing,
which suggests a naval attack
is imminent on our northeastern front.
We are prepared to give
the enemy a warm welcome.
The northwestern front
is under the Australian 8th Division
and the 44th Indian Brigade.
Things should be much quieter that side.
Please don't do it.
Yes?
Sir, what if the enemy does not take
the sea route to Singapore?
May I remind you, Lieutenant,
that Singapore is an island.
Yes, sir, but, as you
can see up in the north,
facing the jungles of Malaya, there is a...
Don't waste my time
with stupid questions, Lieutenant.
Any other pearls of wisdom
or can I continue?
As I was saying, we're expecting
the bulk of activity to be on this side.
So we need to beef up our forces
on the eastern flank
in anticipation of a Japanese sea attack.
Bloody bastards.
Look, everyone except you knows
that these Japanese fuckers
are going to take the sea route.
No one's going to attack us.
Except these mosquitoes.
Arshad, these Japanese cannot be trusted.
Look at what
just happened at Pearl Harbor.
Just like us, Americans also
thought that it's too far,
the Japanese can't get there,
but they did.
He's right, sir.
Bullshit he's right!
Look there, rubber plantation.
Miles and miles of rubber,
and only rubber.
Even a small car
can't get through, forget a truck.
It's impossible for them to come this way.
And if they do?
They cannot, Sodhi, I'm telling you.
Arshad, if we're so damn sure of this,
then why the fuck are we rotting here
and that too with these Australians?
What will we do here?
Hey, catch it, mate!
I have an idea.
What a fucking embarrassment!
Fucking bullshit!
Hey, asshole!
Why did you insist on batting first
if you were going to get out on zero?
Sonny boy, I wasn't the cricket captain
of an English medium school.
I played with sticks and stones
in the alleys of Itawa.
You are the Englishman amongst us.
Go on, show us.
Go for it!
Next time you'll come home
on your own, sweet girl.
Run, run! Go for two runs,
two runs, two runs!
Come on, come on, go for it!
Oh, fucking hell! The Japanese!
Run!
We are being attacked! Get the weapons!
-Let's go!
-Hurry up!
Battle station!
Spread out!
Take cover in the trees and run!
Guards!
Get down!
Fire!
Get down!
More!
More cannons!
Fall back! Fall back!
The battle raged on for a whole week.
A whole week?
At first, we held our ground.
But then the Japanese...
they came from every direction.
But Winston Churchill
had deemed Battle of Singapore as the...
"Worst disaster
in British military history."
"There must, at this stage,
be no thought of
"sparing the troops
or saving the population.
"The battle must be fought
to the bitter end, at all costs.
"The honor of the British Empire
and of the British Army is at stake.
"Signed, Prime Minister,
Winston Churchill."
"Worst disaster
in British military history."
Arshad!
You push the bastards out of here.
I'll attack them from the hilltop.
Charge!
Get the fuck out of there!
Information can also be a weapon in war.
We didn't know that
the enemy only had 30,000 soldiers.
While we, the Indians, British,
Australian were 90,000 strong.
The Japanese General Yamashita
was aware of the strength of our army.
But British General Percival
didn't know the strength of the Japanese.
We are running out of food and ammunition.
And if we need to counter-attack,
we have to get to our
food depots and water supplies.
Our army is about to run out
of arms and ammunition.
If we stop shell-firing even once,
England will counter-attack.
If that happens,
we will be on the back foot.
Sir, with constant artillery shelling
and air raids, we cannot counter-attack.
Charge!
We are attacking Singapore
with our back to the wall.
We cannot allow England
to thwart the attack.
Without an immediate counter-attack,
we have no options.
We might have to...
surrender.
Negotiate a ceasefire with England.
Otherwise, we may have to
retreat.
So both the generals met at
a rundown Ford factory to sign the treaty.
It was about who blinked first.
We...
We surrender unconditionally.
They said they would surrender.
And for once,
the mighty British Empire did.
Get down!
Now! Charge!
Stand down!
Sir. Call for Sodhi, sir.
But, sir...
But, sir, we are holding
our position. Over.
Roger that, sir. Over.
General Percival has surrendered.
What the hell are you saying?
We have orders to lay down our weapons.
What is wrong with you?
Have you lost your marbles?
General Percival has
surrendered unconditionally.
Our orders are to surrender.
Put your arms down!
Thirty-thousand Japanese took our army
of 90,000 soldiers as prisoners.
Don't fuckin' touch me!
You!
What are you watching?
Look down. Look down.
Arshad, look down. Look down.
Don't look up, Arshad.
Shoot him.