Kaatru Veliyidai is a 2017 Indian Tamil-language romantic war film, produced, written and directed by Mani Ratnam. Made under the Madras Talkies banner, it features music composed by A. R. Rahman, cinematography by Ravi Varman and editing by A. Sreekar Prasad. The film stars Karthi and Aditi Rao Hydari, with Lalitha, Rukmini Vijayakumar, Delhi Ganesh and RJ Balaji and Shraddha Srinath playing other pivotal roles. Set against the backdrop of the Kargil War of 1999, the film narrates the story of an Indian Air Force pilot who recalls his romance with a doctor in the lead up to the war, while being kept as a prisoner of war at a jail in Rawalpindi, Pakistan. It marked Aditi's comeback and Shraddha's debut in Tamil cinema.

Plot

An Indian Air Force fighter aircraft is shot down by the enemy Stinger Missile. The pilot Squadron Leader Varun Chakrapani (VC) ejects from the aircraft and lands in enemy territory. The Pakistani Army promptly surrounds him. They imprison him in the Rawalpindi as a prisoner of war (PoW) and subject him to torture. While being held captive, he reminisces about his romance with Leela.