Who is AB Devayya? War hero who inspired 'Sky Force'
What's the story
Sky Force, a Bollywood historical war film starring Akshay Kumar in the lead, is set to release on January 24. Based on the true story of Squadron Leader Ajjamada B Devayya, a posthumous Maha Vir Chakra awardee from Kodagu, the film celebrates his bravery. Directed by Abhishek Anil Kapur and Sandeep Kewlani, it stars Veer Pahariya in his debut role as Devayya and Sara Ali Khan as his wife Sundari Devayya. Here's the story of Devayya.
Heroic act
Devayya's heroic act during the 1965 Indo-Pak war
At just 32, Squadron Leader Devayya made the ultimate sacrifice for India in a daring airstrike over Pakistan's most fortified airbase, Sargodha, on September 7, 1965. Despite flying a French-made Dassault Mystere, which was no match for the US-made Pakistani F-104 Starfighter, Devayya displayed unparalleled courage. In a heart-stopping two-minute dogfight, he shot down an enemy aircraft before his own plane was severely damaged. Tragically, he went missing after the battle. It is presumed that he died in Pakistani territory.
Posthumous honor
Devayya's posthumous recognition and memorials
Devayya was posthumously awarded the Maha Vir Chakra (MVC) in 1988, 23 years after his sacrifice. His valor was recognized due to Pakistani Flight Lieutenant Amjad Hussain, whose aircraft he shot down, and British author John Fricker's book Battle for Pakistan: The Air War of 1965. A bronze statue of Devayya has been installed at the Old Private Bus Stand Circle in Madikeri, Kodagu district as a tribute to his bravery.
About the film
Here know more about the film
Sky Force is produced by Dinesh Vijan, Jyoti Deshpande, and Amar Kaushik. The film is based on India's retaliatory strike on Pakistan's Sargodha airbase during the 1965 Indo-Pakistani air war. In the film, Kumar plays an airline officer while Pahariya plays a young Indian Air Force (IAF) officer who goes missing after India's airstrike on Pakistan. It is Kumar's first release of 2025.