Haytarma Screening Marks Crimean Tatar Flag Day in New Delhi

In a solemn yet stirring tribute to history, identity, and resilience, the Embassy of Ukraine in India hosted a special screening of the critically acclaimed film Haytarma to mark Crimean Tatar Flag Day.

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The event, held at Alliance Française de Delhi, brought together members of the diplomatic community, scholars, cinephiles and friends of Ukraine, and served as a powerful reminder of the suffering and strength of the Crimean Tatar people.

Haytarma (meaning “Return” in Crimean Tatar) is based on the life of Amet-Khan Sultan, a Crimean Tatar pilot and decorated Hero of the Soviet Union. The film revisits the 1944 deportation of the Crimean Tatars by Stalin’s regime—a tragedy that saw nearly 200,000 people uprooted from their homeland, forced into exile under brutal conditions, and denied their identity for decades.

"People want peace. People seek prosperity."

H.E. Dr. Oleksandr Polishchuk, Ambassador of Ukraine to India, during a discussion opened up about the emotional weight the film continues to carry for him—even after multiple viewings.

"This is probably the fifth time I’m watching this film, and yet it still moves me deeply every single time. It touches my heart in ways words can hardly express," he said.

Speaking of his personal ties with the Crimean Tatar community in Ukraine, Ambassador Polishchuk explained the symbolic importance of screening Haytarma on this particular day.