New Delhi: 'Airlift' was no airlift, contrary to the reviews it has recieved. I refuse to give it a four star.
A story set in real time Kuwait when Iraq invaded Kuwait in 1990. The facts rightly narrated at the begginning why Iraq invaded Kuwait I would rate it as an average film.
Real time incidental films are in vogue in Bollywood as they generally prove instant money spinners. They do well too. Lately a lot of them have hopped their way to the banks, the likes of Bajirao Mastani, Mary Kom, Bhag Milka Bhag etc.
The concept of Airlift is great....human suffering that invariably touches our hearts. Then in war zone it touches the patrioitic chord. But this depiction fell short of making an impression. Simply said it just ran through and did not really sink into my heart as I left the theatre. The plot could have been handled in a better fashion.
Though the dialogues were made to appear spontaneous the delivery did not creat that impact. Akshay doesn't seem to fit in well in the genre. Good in action, and may carry comedy well too. Many a times in the film like when he says 'We need help, and we need it now,' looked straight down a copy from the Hollywood trying to be replicated in here. Nimrat Kaur, a one time but an acclaimed actor for her Lunch Box, though appeared realistic as a wife standing by her husband in all times but her dialogue rendition did not really move the feelings, they looked so straight. Her last big monologue was low pitched though it did get the applause of the common filmlovers for its intention (remember her repartie to George!) George though did appear very realistic and genuine as a character and actor. You surely find some like these around.The Iraqi general...was his accent genuine!!! I wonder.
The cresendo built well but the film was surely not a nailbiting 3 hrs. Airlift, as it is supposed to be depicting, was just a minutes glimpse as the climax, much against the expectation of my creative sense. Ranjit Katyal, a businessman stuck in Kuwait with a lakh plus Indians, negotiating with India's Ministry of External Affairs, Iraqi government and also Jordan government skirted at the symbolic. MEA was shown as a typical babudom where the foreign officials sleep over files waiting for lunch time religiously (the department has taken offence mind you). The minister equally lackadisical and non responsive and insensitive (maybe). Despite the notification that the film is purely fictitious, the reality is that it distorts recent history and reduces facts to fantasy. This will mislead millions of Indians who were born after 1990.
The film has not all its facts correct as alleged by some foreign officials having worked during that crisis. Well, the Director's take that its a story filmed around a real situation and intended to be taken as a film does not go down if measured by the hype of propaganda of the film's patriotic fervor. The Direction didn't really impress though Airlift's success will bring Nikkhil in the category of recognisable Directors.
In totality Airlift could have been handled better. It was not surely a paisa wasool though real time patriotic flicks do anyways attract more attention and praise than the usual ones.
