Discover the real story behind the movie Major, based on the life of NSG commando Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan, who sacrificed his life during the 26/11 Mumbai attacks. A tribute to a national hero.
🇮🇳 Major (2022): The Story of Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan and the 26/11 Mumbai Attacks
The film Major (2022), directed by Sashi Kiran Tikka and starring Adivi Sesh, is more than a biopic — it’s a soul-stirring tribute to Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan, a National Security Guard (NSG) commando who made the ultimate sacrifice during the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks in 2008.
While India watched the horror unfold on live TV, Major takes us behind the scenes — into the mind of a soldier, a son, and a savior.
👤 Who Was Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan?
- Born: 15 March 1977, Kozhikode, Kerala
- Family: Son of K. Unnikrishnan (ISRO officer) and Dhanalakshmi
- Schooling: Frank Anthony Public School, Bengaluru
- Joined NDA: 1995 (87th Course)
- Commissioned: Into 7th Battalion of the Bihar Regiment, 12 June 1999
- Joined NSG (Black Cats): 2007, as Training Officer and Team Commander
Career Highlights
- Served in Operation Vijay during the Kargil War (1999)
- Participated in counter-insurgency ops in Jammu and Kashmir
- Trained in High Risk Hostage Rescue and Urban Warfare with NSG
- Posted at NSG hub, Manesar, Haryana, when 26/11 occurred
26/11 Mumbai Terror Attacks – Timeline of Heroism
26 November 2008, 9:30 PM – Mumbai Under Siege
- 10 Pakistani terrorists infiltrate Mumbai via sea.
- Begin coordinated attacks at:
- Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus
- Oberoi-Trident Hotel
- Leopold Café
- Nariman House
- Taj Mahal Palace Hotel
🧨 27 November – NSG Deployed
- NSG, India’s elite anti-terror force, is airlifted from Delhi to Mumbai.
- Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan leads the 51 Special Action Group to neutralize terrorists at the Taj Hotel.
The Taj Operation – Inside the Hotel of Fire
🔽 Infiltration and Rescue
- NSG begins the operation at Taj Hotel, where terrorists are holed up with hostages.
- Major Sandeep leads his team through narrow hallways and fire-ridden corridors.
🛡️ Protecting His Comrade
- NSG commando Sunil Kumar Yadav is shot during a floor sweep.
- Major Sandeep directs his team to evacuate Yadav, saying: “Do not come up, I will handle them.”
- He goes in solo pursuit of the terrorists.
💔 Final Stand
- In close-quarters combat, Major Sandeep is fatally shot.
- His body is recovered the next day.
- He dies saving several hostages, fighting till his last breath.
🎖️ Honors and Legacy
| Recognition | Details |
|---|---|
| Ashoka Chakra (Posthumous) | India’s highest peacetime gallantry award, awarded on 26 January 2009 |
| NSG Training Centre Renamed | NSG Complex, Hyderabad, now named Sandeep Unnikrishnan Training Centre |
| Statues & Memorials | Memorial at Ramamurthy Nagar, Bengaluru; Streets named after him |
| Family’s Foundation | Sandeep Unnikrishnan Foundation supports education for underprivileged. |
🎥 Major (2022) – Film Overview
| Element | Details |
|---|---|
| Director | Sashi Kiran Tikka |
| Lead Actor | Adivi Sesh as Major Sandeep |
| Languages | Telugu, Hindi |
| Production | Sony Pictures India, Mahesh Babu Entertainment |
| Release Date | 3 June 2022 |
🎭 Fact vs Fiction
| Film Scene | Based on Real Event? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| School scenes with passion for uniform | ✅ | Reflects his real childhood fascination |
| NSG training montage | ✅ | Based on interviews with his peers |
| Hostage rescue tactics | ✅ | Tactical accuracy verified by NSG advisors |
| Love story with Isha (Saiee Manjrekar) | ⛔ | Fictionalized for emotional arc |
| Final solo entry scene | ✅ | Based on accounts from fellow NSG commandos |
🧠 Character Traits of a Real Hero
- Fearless: Entered a building under fire to rescue others
- Selfless: Sacrificed himself for a fellow soldier
- Disciplined: A product of NDA and NSG’s toughest training
- Patriotic: Motivated by service, not recognition
💬 Iconic Dialogues from the Film
“Don’t come up, I will handle them.”
(Based on his real last words to his team.)
“A soldier doesn’t think of dying, he thinks of saving.”
(Captures the spirit of his sacrifice.)
📚 Sources and Research Materials
- NSG Operation Archives
- “The Siege: The Attack on the Taj” – by Adrian Levy & Cathy Scott-Clark
- Interviews with:
- Unnikrishnan family
- Surviving NSG commandos
- Press trust reports from November–December 2008
- Ashoka Chakra award citation
💡 Untold Facts About Major Sandeep
- He was an animal lover and avid reader of Indian mythology.
- His last mobile activity was a call to his mother just before the mission.
- He once saved a Kashmiri girl during an encounter in Kupwara, shielding her with his own body.
- At NDA, his nickname was “Selfless Sandeep” for always helping juniors.
🕊️ Message of the Film
Major is not just about a uniform, gun, or glory. It’s a personal story of loss and duty — showing how soldiers are human beings first, with families, fears, and fierce resolve.
🎞️ Impact and Reception
- Critics praised Adivi Sesh’s immersive performance.
- NSG officials and Sandeep’s parents called it a “dignified and heartfelt portrayal.”
- Film grossed over ₹64 crore worldwide, despite releasing in multiple languages with limited screens.
🧭 Lessons from Major Sandeep’s Life
- Courage is contagious.
- True heroism lies in self-sacrifice, not recognition.
- India is secure because of silent warriors who never ask for fame.
Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan didn’t live to witness the medals or tributes. He lived and died by a code: Service Before Self. The film Major immortalizes a hero whose name should be spoken in every classroom, not just on anniversaries.
Also read: Shershaah – Capt. Vikram Batra’s bravery in Kargil