Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan Age, Death, Wife, Family, Biography & More

Some Lesser Known Facts About Sandeep Unnikrishnan

• Sandeep Unnikrishnan, an Indian Army Officer, tragically lost his life in the Mumbai terrorist attacks on 26/11. Originally hailing from Kozhikode, Kerala, Sandeep was born into a Malayali family. Eventually, the family relocated to Bangalore.

• Sandeep has been sporting a crew cut since his school days and has always harbored a desire to join the Indian Army. After completing his education at The Frank Anthony Public School, he pursued his dream by enrolling in the National Defence Academy in 1995. Graduating as a lieutenant, Sandeep was subsequently appointed to the 7th Battalion of the Bihar Regiment (infantry) on 12 June 1999. On the day of the pipping ceremony, Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan stood tall and proud next to his parents.

• Sandeep played an active role in the Kargil War of 1999, bravely stationed alongside his team at the forward posts. They confronted intense artillery and small arm fire from Pakistani troops. In December of the same year, Sandeep successfully established a post a mere 200m from the opposing side.

• On 12 June 2003, Sandeep received a promotion to the rank of captain, followed by another promotion to major on 12 June 2005. The following year, in 2006, Sandeep made the decision to join the National Security Guards (NSG). After successfully completing the necessary training, he joined the Special Action Group (SAG) of the NSG. During his training, Sandeep demonstrated outstanding abilities and achieved the top position in the challenging ‘Ghatak Course,’ which is renowned as one of the toughest training programs in the Indian Army. As a result of his exceptional performance, he received the ‘Instructor’ grading and commendation upon completion. Throughout his time in the NSG, Sandeep consistently displayed exceptional skills during various training camps.

• On 27 November 2008, Sandeep Unnikrishnan received orders to report for duty in Mumbai. The previous day, on 26 November 2008, a number of prominent buildings in Mumbai, including the historic Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, were targeted in a terrorist attack. Leading a team of NSG commandos, Sandeep’s mission was to rescue the hostages held at the hotel and secure the area for further operations. During the search for hostages, one of Sandeep’s colleagues, Sunil Kumar Yadav, sustained gunshot wounds to both of his legs when the terrorists stormed through a room. The aftermath of the 26-11 attack left the floor of the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel marked with the haunting presence of blood stains.

• Afterwards, Sandeep took charge of organizing the evacuation for his colleague, Sunil Kumar Yadav. Determined to confront the terrorists alone, Sandeep pursued their trail and eventually found himself on another floor of the hotel. Unexpectedly, he was ambushed and shot in the back, leading to his untimely demise due to severe blood loss from numerous injuries and bullet wounds. As per the NSG officials, his final words were a plea for others to stay behind as he bravely vowed to handle the situation himself.

• were conducted with utmost respect and ceremony. Despite the ongoing hostage search operation and the terrorists’ confinement, news of his tragic demise was eventually disclosed. Once the perpetrators were incapacitated and the hostages rescued, the information spread. On the day of his funeral, a gathering of mourners paid their respects, passionately chanting “Sandeep Unnikrishnan Amar Rahe” as a tribute to the late Major.

• After his passing, a 4.5 km section of road in Bangalore was renamed Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan Road, previously known as The Mother Dairy Double Road. In November 2012, a statue of Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan was placed at the Ramamurthy Nagar Outer Ring Road junction in Bengaluru. Additionally, another sculpture of him was created at the entrance of the Indian Education Society on Jogeshwari Vikhroli Link Road, Mumbai. Unfortunately, the Bengaluru sculpture was destroyed in September 2018 when a mini-truck lost control and collided with it. The damaged bust of Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan is currently located in Bangalore.

• Sandeep’s mother, Dhanalakshmi Unnikrishnan, was awarded the Ashoka Chakra by the President of India, Pratibha Patil, on 26 January 2009. The Ashoka Chakra citation recognized Sandeep Unnikrishnan’s heroic actions during a commando operation at Hotel Taj Mahal in Mumbai on November 27th, 2008. Leading the operation, Sandeep successfully rescued 14 hostages but unfortunately, one of his team members was severely injured in the intense firefight. Despite being shot in his right arm, Sandeep fearlessly engaged the terrorists, ensuring the safe extraction of the injured commando. Sadly, Sandeep fought until his last breath, displaying exceptional bravery, camaraderie, and leadership. Sandeep’s mother was honored with the Ashoka Chakra award by President Pratibha Patil in recognition of her son’s ultimate sacrifice for his country.

• Sandeep Unnikrishnan had a close bond with his uncle, K Mohanan. Unfortunately, his uncle tragically ended his own life by self-immolation in front of the Parliament in February 2011. Despite receiving medical help, his body had sustained 98% burns, and he suffered a fatal heart attack during treatment. In his suicide note, he expressed his belief that the victims of the 26/11 attack were neglected by political authorities and questioned whether the conflict truly stemmed from two nations. He also pondered if the government’s decision following the Kandahar incident played a role in the Mumbai attack. Although time may cause Sandeep Unnikrishnan to be forgotten, his uncle vowed to never forget him.

• Many filmmakers were inspired by the 26/11 attacks to depict the horrific incident through movies such as ‘The Attacks of 26/11’ (2013) directed by Ram Gopal Varma, and a ZEE5 web series ‘Operation Black Tornado’ (2018). The movie poster for “26-11: The Attacks” is also available.

• was unveiled in 2020 when Sony Pictures Entertainment registered the titles ‘Major’ and ‘Major Sandeep’ with the producers association. This biopic, centered around the life of Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan, was produced by actor Mahesh Babu. Actor Adivi Sesh was chosen to portray the lead role of Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan in the film. Fans eagerly anticipate the release of the movie, scheduled for 2 July 2021, as the initial glimpse has already created buzz and excitement.

• Prior to the start of principal photography, the movie cast arranged a meeting with Sandeep’s parents to persuade them about their intention to create a film in their son’s honor. The producers and actors required the consent of Sandeep’s parents before proceeding with the project. Adivi stated that after the intense media attention, many filmmakers approached them. Regardless of whether the film was eventually made or not, Adivi personally pledged to treat Sandeep’s parents as his own for the rest of his life. When Sandeep’s mother mentioned that she saw her son in him, Adivi was deeply moved and hugged her tightly for an extended period of time.