The streaming giant is not done with the Indian Air Force story. After the huge global response to Operation Safed Sagar, Netflix has announced a new documentary titled The Last Salute. This documentary will focus on the legendary MiG-21 fighter aircraft and its 62-year journey with the Indian Air Force.
The announcement comes as Operation Safed Sagar continues to dominate streaming charts worldwide. The six-part military drama, which tells the untold story of the IAF’s role in the 1999 Kargil War, has become one of Netflix’s most successful Indian productions to date.
Operation Safed Sagar’s Strong Performance on Netflix
Operation Safed Sagar has been performing exceptionally well on the platform. The series currently holds the No. 2 position on Netflix’s Global Top 10 Non-English TV Shows list for the second consecutive week. It has also made it to the Top 10 in 40 different countries and topped the charts in 10 of them.
The series, which cost over $24 million to produce, is Netflix’s biggest Indian production to date. It features actors like Siddharth, Jimmy Shergill, Abhay Verma, and Dia Mirza. The production team worked with the Indian Air Force to ensure authenticity, filming at actual Air Force bases and consulting with 50 to 60 veterans.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also sent a special video message to the team, praising the series for bringing the IAF’s Kargil story to a global audience. The series has received praise not just from viewers but also from the armed forces themselves. Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh, publicly said the series is “very close to reality”.
The Last Salute: What the Documentary is About
The Last Salute shifts focus from the larger Kargil story to the aircraft that played a central role in the operation. The documentary explores the MiG-21’s 62-year relationship with the Indian Air Force.
The MiG-21 was the aircraft used by the Golden Arrows Squadron during the Kargil War. It also holds a special place in the series because it marks the last time the iconic fighter jet was filmed in action before its retirement from service.
The documentary will feature Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh and several pilots who have flown the MiG-21 over the decades. It will bring together personal stories, untold memories, and never-before-seen moments that celebrate the aircraft’s legacy.
Kushal Srivastava is directing the documentary, and it is produced by Matchbox Shots, the same production team behind Operation Safed Sagar.
“The MiG-21 became such an integral part of the stories we heard from pilots that we knew its legacy deserved to be explored in its own right. The Last Salute, coming to Netflix on August 26, is a tribute to its 62 years with the Indian Air Force, and to the generations of pilots for whom it became much more than an aircraft.”
— Tanya Bami, Series Head, Netflix India
Reaction from the Makers
The team behind Operation Safed Sagar has expressed surprise and happiness at the show’s global reception. Tanya Bami said the team is humbled by the love the show is getting from across the country and the world.
“We are so excited and humbled by the love and adulation that the show is getting from across the country, the world and the armed forces. You know a story has connected with the audience when the conversations and recommendations are palpable.”
She added that the show has taken over the internet with positive reviews about the storytelling, characters, and the authentic world of the Indian Air Force.
Producer Sanjay Routray said the team realised while making the series that the MiG-21 was more than just an aircraft for generations of air warriors. The Last Salute takes that story further through the experiences of the pilots who flew it.
“Operation Safed Sagar on Netflix introduced audiences to an untold and incredible chapter of the Indian Air Force’s story.”
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Release Date and Where to Watch
The Last Salute will premiere on Netflix on August 26. The documentary will be available for streaming globally on the platform.
Operation Safed Sagar is currently streaming on Netflix. The series premiered on August 7 and is available for viewers in India and worldwide.
For viewers in the USA, UK, Canada, Australia, India, and other regions, both titles are available exclusively on Netflix. The documentary will be a standalone feature that expands the world created by the series.
The documentary is expected to be a fitting tribute to the MiG-21 as it bids farewell to the Indian Air Force and the nation.
Also Read: Manu Rishi Chadha Opens Up About Playing Pervez Musharraf in Netflix’s Operation Safed Sagar
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