Airlift Movie Review

Akshay Kumar has become the ideal star to get films made within a budget and recover the budget. He’s also been a part of some well reviewed films recently like Special 26 and Baby and some commercial hits like Holiday and Gabbar is Back. This time he’s back in Airlift with a film that is one of his most anticipated movies recently in terms of storyline. It deals with very sensitive subject? Will director Raja Krishna Menon be able to do justice to the subject? Let’s fine out.

Story: Ranjit Katyal (Akshay) considers himself to be Kuwaiti and loves the extravagant lifestyle of the middle East nation. Ranjit lives with his wife Amrita (Nimrat), who seems to be primarily busy with their kid. But things quickly turn sour when one night in August 1990, the Iraqi army suddenly marches onto the streets and invade Kuwait. By a twist of fate, the lives of 170,000 Indians living in Kuwait takes a turn for the worst. Ranjit suddenly grows a conscience and becomes patriotic. He takes up the mission of helping all the Indians to get out of Kuwait safely and securely. Most of the proceedings in the second half are about the impediments to their evacuation and the lackluster beauraucratic process of the then Indian external affairs ministry.

Airlift Movie Review

Airlift Movie Review

Screenplay and Direction: Airlift is a very deft movie made without any added dramatic effect and that is clearly visible in the way Raja Menon has put together the movie. It is shot realistically and the detailing is impressive. There are no spiced up revelations, the lead protagonist doesn’t end up fighting his advisories. Airlift maintains a whiff of humanity throughout its runtime and it takes a lot of courage and ambition to tell such an underknown story in such an ambitious manner. Airlift is one of the rare movies which entertains and educates. The only flaw we can think of in the screenplay is the over reliance on Akshay Kumar’s character to get everything done. It can’t possibly have been just one man doing all the work (and the makers themselves reveal this in the end credits).

Airlift is one of the most realistically shot and detailed big budget human dramas we have seen in Bollywood. The production design, the costume design, the set decoration all come together to make Airlift as authentic as possible within the budget constraints. The editing is also very good. The music of Airlift isn’t on your face and it does a good job of staying in the background and nurturing the mood of the film.

Acting: Akshay Kumar is the heart and soul of Airlift – which is great because it shows his restrained acting skills, and it’s also not so great because the story suffers from being over reliant on the life of just one man. Akshay Kumar keeps it subtle, and emotes through his eyes. We get to see a completely new side of Akshay in Airlift and it sure is better than the half baked outlandish characters he’s done in the last decade. The change in his character’s stance towards India is well brought out by the actor. Nimrat Kaur is a great inspired choice as the female lead of Airlift. Sadly, the role she is entrusted with could have been better written. She gets in and out of her Punjabi accent a lot of times. But accents don’t maketh a performance as Nimrat is excellent otherwise. Purab Kohli is first rate but Prakash Belawadi is short changed with a half haphazardly written character.

Conclusion: Airlift is a commendable and laudable film which deserves to be seen by all Indians on the occasion of Republic Day. It is made with humanity to tell a human story which could have turned out to be a tragedy. A few brave souls saved the lives of 170,000 people and it’s time more Indian directors started telling stories like this which tells Indian stories amidst a global scenario. If you are in the mood to be entertained, watch Airlift. If you are in the mood to be educated, watch Airlift. If you are in a patriotic mood, watch Airlift. You know what? Just watch Airlift.

Pros:

  • Akshay Kumar delivers one of his best performances
  • Tells an Indian story without any added drama
  • The detailing is sensational
  • The pay off is very satisfying

Cons:

  • Over reliance on the lead protagonist

Rating: ★★★★☆

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55 Comments

  • this the filmfare for best actor will be impressive.. we already got two contenders in name of Big B and akki.. still lot of movies in rope to come..it seems to be a good year ahead for bollywood.. EXCITED.

  • Very well said @sky…
    Even I liked talaash a lot.. Loved that movie .. Even I would love see aamir in these type of role again..

  • Sunny akkiholic
    Don’t dissapoint while watching Holiday someone continuously talking bad about movie i also feel same but when i watch holiday again with family i enjoyed it more

  • Akki has made a niche for himself…….with movies like S26, Baby and now Airlift………good thought….good approach.

  • Maria ji the movie is about 2hours so how could you waste ur 3hour in theater…… this movie is not made for you go and watch ur kinda movie like kkhh3

  • Watched airlift
    5 stars to it haven’t seen a well made film then this before
    akshay u were mind blowing
    proud to be ur fan

  • What a superb film..hats off to the whole team of Airlift indeed a gripping thriller. .Akshay Kumar is in top form..

  • Really Two Questions?
    Sunny Akkiholic is Akki fan?
    Salman fan @Sky Supported Akki & bashing Sunny Akkiholic… What is happening?

  • indicine sticks to its policy of staying true to the big star.. no wavering from the policy..

    it forgets that this is a slow paced boring docudrama!!
    it needn’t be seen by indians cos the premise is not interesting.. its a one minute spoken plot

  • Airlift to better Agneepath and also Akshay’s own Rowdy Rathore. Word of mouth is extremely positive. 9.6 rating on IMDB. If the Indian audiences have learnt their lessons after ignoring classy Baby last year, sky is the limit for Airlift. I’m betting on 135 Crores plus for Airlift.

  • This time no Baby OR Gabbar is Back (in collection).
    This time something Extraordinary Collection.
    Every Indian must Watch Airlift.
    I am Working in Gulf, it is my personal view that Every Indian must Watch this movie & Celebrate Republic Day With Joy.

    Happy Republic Day in Advance to All My Indian Brothers & Sisters.

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