Kisna: The Warrior Poet is set during the turbulent period of India's struggle for independence. Kisna Singh, a young Indian man from a rural background, is known not only for his courage as a warrior but also for his poetic and artistic nature.
The story begins when Kisna protects Catherine Beckett, the British daughter of a ruthless colonial official, from an angry nationalist mob. Despite the political tensions surrounding them, Kisna takes responsibility for escorting Catherine to safety in Delhi. During their journey, the two develop a deep emotional bond and fall in love.
However, Kisna's love for Catherine conflicts with his responsibilities toward his country, family and childhood love Lakshmi. He is already destined to marry Lakshmi, creating a painful conflict between love and duty. The film uses this relationship to explore India's freedom struggle alongside themes of sacrifice, loyalty, friendship and patriotism.
The film features a large ensemble cast including Amrish Puri, Om Puri, Sushmita Sen, Zarina Wahab, Yashpal Sharma, Rajat Kapoor and Vikram Gokhale. Its music was composed by A. R. Rahman and Ismail Darbar, with lyrics by Javed Akhtar.
The film was released in both Hindi and English versions, with the international English version being shorter than the Hindi theatrical version.
Director: Subhash Ghai
Producer: Subhash Ghai
Writers: Subhash Ghai, Sachin Bhowmick, Farrukh Dhondy, Margaret Glover
Music: A. R. Rahman, Ismail Darbar
Lyrics: Javed Akhtar
Starring: Vivek Oberoi, Isha Sharvani, Antonia Bernath, Amrish Puri, Om Puri, Sushmita Sen, Zarina Wahab, Yashpal Sharma
Production Banner: Mukta Arts
Language: Hindi, English
Genre: Period Drama, Romance, Musical
Setting: British India, 1940s