After 'Operation Safed Sagar's' global success, Netflix announces MiG-21 documentary

Netflix is extending the story of the Indian Air Force’s MiG-21 with a new documentary, 'The Last Salute', following the strong global response to its military drama Operation Safed Sagar.

The documentary will explore the fighter aircraft’s 62-year association with the Indian Air Force and the generations of pilots who flew it. 'The Last Salute' will premiere on Netflix on August 26.

MiG-21 takes centre stage again

The MiG-21 featured prominently in 'Operation Safed Sagar', which revisits the Indian Air Force’s role during the 1999 Kargil War. The aircraft was flown by the Golden Arrows squadron during the conflict and also became an important part of the series’ aerial sequences.

The series also marked the final appearance of the MiG-21 in action on screen before the aircraft was retired from Indian Air Force service.

Directed by Kushal Srivastava and produced by Matchbox Shots, 'The Last Salute' will feature Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal AP Singh along with pilots who have flown the fighter over the years.

Also Read | 'Jana Nayagan' OTT release date out: When and where to watch Vijay’s final film

Tanya Bami, Series Head, India, Netflix, said the response to 'Operation Safed Sagar' encouraged the team to explore the MiG-21’s story further.

“And we are taking our collaboration with the IAF further through another story from this world. The MiG-21 became such an integral part of the stories we heard from pilots that we knew its legacy deserved to be explored in its own right. The Last Salute, coming to Netflix on August 26, is a tribute to its 62 years with the Indian Air Force, and to the generations of pilots for whom it became much more than an aircraft.”

'Operation Safed Sagar' makes global impact

'Operation Safed Sagar' has continued to perform strongly on Netflix. The series is at No. 2 on the Global Top 10 Non-English TV Shows list for the second consecutive week and has entered the top 10 in 40 countries, topping the charts in 10.

Bami said, “We are so excited and humbled by the love and adulation that the show is getting from across the country, the world and the armed forces. You know a story has connected with the audience when the conversations and recommendations are palpable."

Also Read | At 92, Gulzar’s songs still define India’s emotional memory

A tribute to generations of pilots

Sanjay Routray, producer at Matchbox Shots, said the documentary grew from the team's experience while making the series.

“While making the series, we realised that the MiG-21 wasn’t just an aircraft, it was an emotion for generations of air warriors.”

'Operation Safed Sagar' is currently streaming on Netflix, while The Last Salute premieres on August 26.