Eklavya: The Royal Guard 2007

In contemporary India, nestled within a majestic fort, exists a royal dynasty that has long ceased to rule. At the center of this turmoil is Eklavya, played by Amitabh Bachchan, the steadfast royal guard whose life is now an anachronism. He dedicates his existence to safeguarding the fort, the royal lineage, and the king himself. For nine generations, Eklavya’s family has dutifully protected the Devigarh, a historic citadel in Rajasthan, his marksmanship legendary and his unwavering loyalty inspiring ballads of old.

However, as age draws near and his sight fades, Eklavya finds himself increasingly isolated from the very customs that have governed his life. Meanwhile, the heir to the throne, Prince Harshwardhan, portrayed by Saif Ali Khan, has distanced himself in London, unable to bear the constraints of his homeland. The unexpected death of Queen Rani Suhasinidevi, played by Sharmila Tagore, who was slain by the king after requesting Eklavya’s presence, compels the prince to return to the kingdom he abandoned.

The return of the prince ignites a flicker of hope within the stifled walls of the fort. His twin sister, Princess Nandini, portrayed by Raima Sen, who grapples with her own traumatic past as a silent witness to her mother’s murder, alongside his childhood love Rajjo, depicted by Vidya Balan, welcomes him with warm hearts.

In a shocking revelation contained within a letter from Nandini, it surfaces that the king was impotent, orchestrating the conception of Harsh and Nandini through Eklavya to preserve the royal lineage. This devastating truth ignites further discord as the king, Rana Jaywardhan, played by Boman Irani, is manipulated by his power-hungry brother, Rana Jyotiwardhan, played by Jackie Shroff, to enact horrifying injustices against the kingdom’s farmers, ultimately rousing unrest throughout the realm.

As tensions escalate, the king receives a death threat, prompting the intervention of a brash police officer, Pannalal Chohar, portrayed by Sanjay Dutt, who despises the king due to the historical works of cruelty against his caste, while acknowledging Eklavya’s profound respect.

Nandini eventually confronts Harsh, accusing Jay of her mother’s murder. A fatal confrontation transpires as Jyoti deceives Jay under the pretense of executing Eklavya, only to eliminate the king himself, while Eklavya narrowly escapes this turbulent clash. Harsh’s union with Rajjo signifies a glimmer of hope amidst the chaos, but soon, Eklavya learns of Uday’s involvement in the events leading up to Jay’s death, stirring a desire for vengeance within him.

As the plot thickens, Eklavya discovers that Uday’s death was orchestrated under the orders of Harsh, who grapples with the morality of his actions. The turmoil culminates in a heart-wrenching denouement where, torn between his duty to eliminate Harsh and his paternal instincts, Eklavya ultimately chooses forgiveness. He acknowledges his son’s struggle, urging him to return the land taken from the farmers and promising justice as Panna fabricates a narrative that conceals the truth behind the deaths of Uday and Jyoti, thereby bringing closure to the fraught power struggle that has engulfed their lives.