Madikeri: Amid strong objections from the Kodava community in Kodagu to the portrayal of Squadron Leader Ajjamada B. Devayya in the Hindi historical war film Sky Force, released on January 24, 2025, IIythichanda Ramesh Uthappa, an author of a Kannada book on the 1965 Indo-Pak War, has alleged that the filmmakers failed to credit him for his research and misrepresented the war hero.
Speaking to The Kodagu Express, Ramesh Uthappa said, “While the filmmakers used my research, they failed to give me proper credit. Although I initially refrained from raising a controversy, believing the film would highlight this forgotten war hero, I am deeply upset by the distortion of the story.”
Kirloskar Solar: Call Now For Enquiry: 98807 08002 , 97401 48800
Uthappa expressed outrage over the renaming of Devayya as T. Krishnan Vijay in the film. “This is not only an insult to this proud warrior but also to the martial race of Kodavas. The filmmakers did not consult with Devayya’s family, authors, or publishers before releasing the film. I demand a public apology from the directors for misrepresenting the warrior and disrespecting the people of Kodagu,” he added.
Directed by Abhishek Anil Kapur and Sandeep Kewlani, and produced by Dinesh Vijan and Amar Kaushik under Maddock Films, alongside Jyoti Deshpande under Jio Studios, Sky Force stars Akshay Kumar as Wing Commander O.P. Taneja (Veer Chakra), Veer Pahariya as Squadron Leader Devayya, and Sara Ali Khan as Sundari Devayya, his wife.
Kirloskar Solar: Call Now For Enquiry: 98807 08002 , 97401 48800
Squadron Leader Ajjamada B. Devayya, born on December 24, 1932, in Manchalli village near Kutta in Karnataka’s Kodagu district, joined the Indian Air Force on December 26, 1954. Married to Keethiyanda Sundari, he displayed exceptional bravery during an airstrike on Pakistan’s Sargodha airbase on September 7, 1965. Piloting a French-made Dassault Mystère, inferior to the US-made F-104 Starfighter used by Pakistan, Devayya heroically downed the enemy aircraft in a dogfight before crashing. His valour was recognised posthumously with the Maha Vir Chakra in 1988, 23 years after his sacrifice.
The Kodava community’s disappointment stems not only from the perceived inaccuracies but also from the lack of consultation with Devayya’s family and researchers. The controversy has reignited calls for filmmakers to approach historical narratives with greater sensitivity and authenticity.
To advertise on The Kodagu Express website, kindly call us at 9108795369 or mail us at thekodaguexpress@gmail.com
Join The Kodagu Express WhatsApp Group: CLICK HERE
Follow us on Instagram and X(Twitter)
It is a real shame for the producers of SKYFORCE, the latest 1965 Indo-Pak War movie, to deviate blatantly, & at will, make it with incorrect ethnic details, & misrepresent the Mahavir Chakra hero, Major Devaya & his wife & daughter. This Heto who belonged to the Warrior Kshatriya Kodava community, to be shown as Tamilian?
And also by not obtaining permission from the surviving Wife of Major Devaya, Mrs. Sundari Devaya to edit or corroborate all the facts as represented in the movie? Such a shameful lapse..