Nikkhil Advani has spent the last few years telling stories set against some of the most important chapters of India’s history. From Airlift (where he was one of the producers), and Mumbai Diaries to Freedom at Midnight and The Revolutionaries, his work has often explored patriotism through people and circumstances that exist beyond the conventional imagery associated with the idea.

His latest show, The Revolutionaries, turns its attention to four young revolutionaries who chose armed resistance in their fight against British rule: Rash Behari Bose, Sachindra Nath Sanyal, Pratibha Lahiri and Bagha Jatin.

With patriotic cinema and stories of national pride becoming increasingly visible in popular culture, Advani does not believe audiences have necessarily developed a fixed template for what such stories should look like. According to him, the responsibility lies with storytellers to determine how they want to approach the subject.

“A template has been set from the storytellers’ point of view, not from the audience’s point of view. If the audience gets moved by a story and connects with it, they will accept it,” he says.

He continues, “For me, Airlift is a patriotic film. Mrs Chatterjee vs Norway is patriotic. Mumbai Diaries is patriotic. At the end of the day, the doctors in the trenches during 26/11 were doing incredible work, only to realise that they had to do it every single day. They are doing their patriotic duty by looking after the oppressed of this city every single day.”

Advani believes patriotism can therefore mean very different things to different people. “Depending on where you want to stand, if your patriotism means that you have to wave the flag, then that is patriotism. For me, it is not that at all. I chose to do Airlift, Mrs Chatterjee vs Norway, and Mumbai Diaries. Patriotism has to be very personal. It cannot be dictated to you that this is patriotic. It’s a personal thing.”

That idea also informed the way Advani approached the characters in The Revolutionaries. Rather than presenting patriotism as a single, uniform idea, the series follows individuals who made very different choices in their fight against British rule. Based on Sanjeev Sanyal’s book Revolutionaries: The Other Story of How India Won Its Freedom, the series brings together figures including Rash Behari Bose, Bagha Jatin, Sachindra Nath Sanyal and Pratibha Lahiri.

Advani points to Pratibha Lahiri, played by Pratibha Ranta, as one example of what patriotism can mean beyond the battlefield. “I feel that Pratibha’s character in The Revolutionaries is explaining to the man she’s betrothed to that I’m not asking for your permission. I’m asking for your support. I’m telling you that I want to be part of this revolution. That’s patriotic for me, because she’s taking a stand for all women. She’s become an inspiring example.”

On the other end of that spectrum is Rash Behari Bose, played by Bhuvan Bam, whose approach is far more direct.

“On the other side, Rash Behari Bose decides that let’s throw a bomb on the Viceroy and blow him up. So patriotism is like a spectrum. That stand is not taken by the audiences. It’s been taken by us,” he concludes.

The Revolutionaries will be released on Amazon Prime Video on September 11.

Also Read: The Revolutionaries trailer: Bhuvan Bam, Rohit Saraf, Pratibha Ranta lead fight against British Raj

Teacher’s Day isn’t just about chalkboards and report cards anymore. Some of the most memorable mentors we’ve met have come from music schools, coaching centres, courtrooms, villages, and even the messiest phases of adulthood. These characters don’t just teach subjects; they shape lives, challenge perspectives, and leave behind lessons that stay long after the credits roll. This Teacher’s Day, here’s a watchlist of OTT titles where mentors, guides, and unlikely teachers steal the show.

Where to Watch: Prime Video

At its heart, Bandish Bandits is a story about passing on an art form from one generation to another. Whether it’s Pandit Radhemohan Rathod’s (Naseeruddin Shah) rigorous training towards Radhe (Ritwik Bhowmik) finding her own voice, the series beautifully captures how great teachers push you to discover your potential.

Where to Watch: Prime Video

UPSC preparation is about much more than exams, and Aspirants reminds us of that. Sandeep Bhaiya becomes to the mentor to Abhilash in ways he didn’t anticipate. Through everything, it was this mentor-aspiring student relationship explores how guidance and even friction often comes from people walking the same difficult path alongside you.

Where to Watch: Prime Video

Few recent shows capture school life with as much warmth and honesty as Adarsh Baal Vidyalaya. Through its teachers and students, the series reminds us that education is as much about kindness, confidence, and community as academics. And of course, here it’s about the principal Gyaneshwar Tripathi and the students.

Where to Watch: SonyLIV

This powerful documentary proves that education isn’t confined to schools. 13th: Some Lessons Aren’t Taught in Classrooms encourages viewers to question history, systems, and society, making it one of the most thought-provoking Teacher’s Day watches.

Where to Watch: Prime Video

Growing up often requires mentors who understand your struggles beyond textbooks. Half CA follows aspiring Chartered Accountants as they juggle studies, expectations, and self-doubt, highlighting the teachers and guides who make the journey a little easier.

Where to Watch: Netflix

Few shows have redefined the idea of a teacher like Kota Factory. Jeetu Bhaiya isn’t just a physics teacher, he’s a mentor, counsellor, and emotional anchor for the students navigating one of the toughest phases of their lives.

Where to Watch: Zee5

The relationship between Huma Qureshi and Avantika Dassani, that of a between a professor and her student takes an unexpected turn in Mithya. The psychological thriller explores how power, influence, and mentorship can blur into dangerous territory, making it one of the most unconventional teacher-student stories on OTT.

Criminal Justice: A Family Matter
Where to Watch: JioHotstar

Madhav Mishra may be a lawyer, but every case becomes a lesson in empathy, justice, and humanity. Him mentoring Shivani in the show, Criminal Justice: A Family Matter proves that life’s toughest situations often become our greatest teachers.

Where to Watch: Prime Video

Jagamae Sangeetham celebrates the timeless bond between a guru and a student through music. Set against the backdrop of Vaikanthapuram, exploring classical traditions, the series shows how mentorship from Shastri (Prakash Raj) translates to his grandson, played by Akshay Lagusani and how it is as much about discipline, legacy, and trust as it is about talent.

Where to Watch: SonyLIV

Some teachers shape a classroom. Others shape a nation. Rocket Boys celebrates scientific mentorship through Homi Bhabha and Vikram Sarabhai, showing how vision, curiosity, and leadership inspire generations of innovators.