Neha Unnikrishnan was the wife of Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan, who died in the November 26, 2008 Mumbai attacks.
Sandeep Unnikrishnan and his wife Neha Unnikrishnan
School friends
Neha aka Isha reportedly met Sandeep Unnikrishnan at Frank Anthony Public School in Bengaluru, where they studied together for fourteen years.
Saiee Manjrekar and Adivi Sesh in Sandeep Unnikrishnan’s biopic Major
Who is Sandeep Unnikrishnan?
Sandeep Unnikrishnan, a 31-year-old Indian Army officer from Kozhikode, Kerala, laid down his life fighting terrorists while serving in the elite Special Operations Group of the National Security Guard.
Sandeep Unnikrishnan laughs while talking to a colleague
November 26 Mumbai Attacks – Operation Black Tornado
On November 26, 2008, 10 terrorists from the Pakistani Islamic terrorist organization Lashkar-e-Taiba launched a series of attacks in Mumbai, invading iconic buildings in Mumbai such as the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, the Taj Mahal Hotel, the Oberoi Trident Hotel, and the Nariman Mansion, and taking a number of hostages.
Fire and smoke billow from the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel after the November 26 attack
After the attack, Sandeep Unnikrishnan was appointed as the “Team Commander” of the 51 Special Action Group (51 SAG), which was deployed at the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel to rescue the hostages. Soon after Sandeep Unnikrishnan entered the hotel with ten commandos, they evacuated the hostages from the fifth and sixth floors. Later, while descending the stairs, Unnikrishnan and his team of ten commandos suspected that there were terrorists in a room on the fourth floor that was locked from the inside. As Unnikrishnan and his team broke into the room, commando Sunil Kumar Yadav was injured in both legs in the exchange of fire with the terrorists. Major Unnikrishnan managed to save commando Sunil Kumar Yadav and evacuate him; however, the terrorists escaped from the room after detonating a grenade inside the room. Over the next 15 hours or so, Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan and his team continued to evacuate hostages from the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel.
Martyrdom and Ashoka Chakra
Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan was killed while hunting terrorists alone at the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel at midnight on November 27, 2008. Before his death, he had cornered all four terrorists in the banquet hall at the north end of the hotel.
Last Rites of Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan
After his martyrdom, on 26 January 2009, President Pratibha Patil awarded him India’s highest peacetime gallantry award, the Ashoka Chakra; his mother Dhanalakshmi Unnikrishnan received the award on his behalf. The official citation for the Ashoka Chakra is as follows:
On 27 November 2008, Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan led a commando team to evict terrorists from the Taj Mahal Hotel in Mumbai and rescued 14 hostages. During the operation, his team came under heavy enemy fire and one of his team members was seriously injured. Major Sandeep pinned down the terrorists with accurate fire and rescued the injured commando. In the process, he was shot in his right arm. Despite the injury, he continued to fight the terrorists till his last breath. Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan displayed the most remarkable courage, camaraderie and leadership of the highest order and made the ultimate sacrifice for the country. “
Sandeep Unnikrishnan’s mother receives the Ashoka Chakra Award from Indian President Pratibha Patil
Last call
According to K. Unnikrishnan, father of Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan, a retired ISRO employee, on the night of November 26, 2008, when he (Sandeep’s father) was sleeping, Sandeep called him and asked him to turn on the TV to watch the terrorist events happening in Mumbai; this was the last call between Sandeep Unnikrishnan and his father.
Sandeep’s parents, K Unnikrishnan (father) and Dhanalakshmi Unnikrishnan (mother)
Major – Biopic of Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan
In February 2019, Telugu film actor Mahesh Babu announced a biopic titled Major, which chronicles the inspirational journey of Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan from his childhood to his last moments; the film is being produced by Sony Pictures India and A+S Movies in collaboration with Mahesh Babu’s studio G. Mahesh Babu Entertainment.
Premiere of the movie “Major”
July 2, 2021 has been chosen as the theatrical release date for the film. The film has been shot in two languages, Malayalam and Hindi. Directed by Sashi Kiran Tikka, the film stars Adivi Sesh in the eponymous role, while Prakash Raj and Revathi play Unnikrishnan’s parents. Sobhita Dhulipala and Saiee Manjrekar are also a part of the film. On April 12, 2021, the film’s makers released the trailer. Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan’s last words ring loudly in the gritty trailer —
Don’t come up, I’ll handle it.”
Trying to honor the legacy of an unsung hero… the beginning of a major journey!! Hope you all enjoy it! #MajorTeaser https://t.co/86yGLs2Jtm@AdiviSesh @sobhitaD @saieemmanjrekar @sonypicsfilmsin @GMBents @AplusSMovies @SashiTikka @MajorTheFilm
— Mahesh Babu (@urstrulyMahesh) April 12, 2021
Categories: Biography
Source: HIS Education