We Must Break The Cycle of Hate, Says This Shaurya Chakra Awardee

Undefeated S01E01 profiles Colonel Pillay, who was 24 when conferred with India’s highest peacetime bravery award.

Colonel DPK Pillay. (Photo Courtesy: Paper Weight Entertainment)

“I didn’t think I would have survived. I had lost a lot of blood.”

With these words opens the first episode of Undefeated, a web series that chronicles the real-life stories of Indian army soldiers.

The first episode, titled ‘Humanity and Courage’, narrates the story of Colonel DPK Pillay and how he came to be awarded India’s highest peacetime gallantry award, the Shaurya Chakra, at the age of 24.

Also Read: From Army Kid to Teacher: The Tale Of a Martyred Officer’s Wife

Noreen Sodhi, producer and CEO of Paper Weight Entertainment, the team behind the series, said about Undefeated:

As an army kid, we have seen how life is in the Indian Army community, and heard about it a lot of times... <i>Undefeated</i> tells the stories of the brave men and women who live their life with a spirit instilled in them by the Indian Army.

A behind-the-scenes photograph of the Paper Weight team shooting with Col Pillay. (Photo Courtesy: Paper Weight Entertainment)

The first episode, which premiered on 26 January, gives the audience a glimpse into the life of Col Pillay. From bicycle rides to a visit to the local temple – it explores the different aspects of his life.

The decision to join the army, say Pillay, was “natural”. The colonel, whose grandfather and father too had served in the army, said joining the defence services was a chance to discover himself.

‘Humanity and Courage’ also looks closely at the colonel’s relationship with children. Fondly remembering the time when he got the chance to work with them in Bengaluru, he calls it “therapy”.

Col Pillay says joining the army was a chance to discover himself. (Photo Courtesy: Paper Weight Entertainment)

Col Pillay remembers another experience, of working in the North-East, which he considers one of the most beautiful regions in the country. After a comfortable, small-town life and being a student at the National Defence Academy, coming face-to-face with the insurgency in the North-East was a jarring experience for which he was unprepared, he states.

Coming face-to-face with the insurgency in the North-East was a jarring experience for which he was unprepared, Pillay states. (Photo Courtesy: Paper Weight Entertainment)

While locating militants during a mission, Col Pillay suffered injuries to his leg and spine. However, despite all the hardships he faced, he talks of breaking the cycle of hate and rejects the ‘eye-for-an-eye’ argument.

The Paper Weight team shoots with Col Pillay during a visit to the local temple. (Photo Courtesy: Paper Weight Entertainment)

The director of the web series, Harsh Vardhan Singh, says of Col Pillay, who was incidentally his teacher at the Bangalore Military School:

It’s emotional and humbling when you hear a man who has such wonderful ideals. As his student, I had always looked up to him and today, after understanding the depth of his soul, I look upon him as the ideal Indian citizen.

The third episode of the web series comes out on 25 February. You can check out its promotional trailer below.