#Airlift : There are two kinds of
people in the world , one who get bogged down by adversary and find an escape
route . And then there is another tribe,
who when pressed against the wall, rise like phoenix from the ashes. Adversity
brings the best out of them. They are
the ones who stand testimony to the indomitable human spirit. They are the men
in Ernst Hemmingway’s words “who can be destroyed but cannot be defeated”. They are the Heroes. And many of them remain unsung heroes whose
heroics have been buried in the pages of history.
Raja Krishna Menon’s Airlift is
an attempt to celebrate the heroics of these unsung heroes who toiled hard to
evacuate the 1,70,000 Indians stranded in Kuwait during the 1st Gulf
war in 1990. Menon makes it clear at the
onset that his film is not a historical adaptation; rather it is a dramatic representation,
where the main protagonist, Ranjit Katyal’s character (played by Akshyay Kumar)
is an amalgamation of two Indians Mr. Sunny Matthews and Mr. Vedi whose valiant
attempt ensured the safe return of Indians.
Airlift is a deftly done film
which balances beautifully between fact and fiction. It evokes emotion without
attempting to be too melodramatic. Akshyay Kumar sinks his teeth into the role
to give one of the finest performances of his career. He is supremely
convincing as his character moves from being a Kuwait loving Indian for whom “
Profit Explains Everything” to an Indian Living in Kuwait who is trying to
rescue his countrymen probably at the cost of his own life. His restraint is
remarkable. Nimrit Kaur , whom I have
always admired , takes a bit of time to
come to form. But once she is in, she stays put with some brilliant dialogue delivery
and some deft expression. Kumud Mishra once again provides a good supporting hand. Inaamul
Haq as the quirky Iraq Major with a peculiar accent is a delight to
watch. Priya Seth’s cinematography is another high point of the film. However Airlift would have been a much better
film had it stayed away from the unnecessary song and dance sequence. They
spoil the narration and sometimes even seem out of place.
Yet Airlift’s success lies in its
honest attempt and in its ability to stay away from the conventional bollywood format.
Menon stays true to his story and doesn’t go for any heroics. And that makes
Airlift a winner. I will go out with 3.5 out of 5.And as the end credits roll,
showing news clippings of the gulf war evacuation and photos of the real heroes,
the audience stands on its feet and claps. That for sure is enough to lift the
mood just before the republic day.
