Airlift Review: A gripping story till the last breath

I saw Airlift last evening. I knew the base premise from the trailers but the movie was far more fetching as it unfolded there scene by scene. The backdrop and the feel of a gulf country in 1990 is a refreshing change from all the similar looking European destinations covered in the numerous movies nowadays. Kudos to the team for bringing it so lifelike in front of us. The story brings to our knowledge one of the events in history which many Indians like me were not even aware of until it became the talk of the town as soon as the movie promotions started. Now suddenly we are introduced to the two gentlemen Sunny Matthews and Mr. Vedi who were instrumental in coordinating an evacuation from war zone with the help of the Ministry of External Affairs and on whom apparently Akshay's character Ranjit Katyal is based. Just today, I read a post by a person who as a teenager had been evacuated from Kuwait in 1990 highlighting how the actual circumstances and the chronology of events was very much different from the one depicted in the movie. As far as I was concerned, even before I went for the movie, I more or less considered it fictitious and just generally inspired by an event and the efforts of these two gentlemen. After all, cinematic liberties are expected in mainstream cinema and the producers and directors were not making a documentary here anyway. But yeah, I can also understand this person's viewpoint and the irritation one suffers when one knows the actual facts and sees them twisted before one's eyes. I only want to say that as a movie, Airlift was brilliant, whether or not it was very close to the actual incident of evacuation in 1990. Also, whether it evokes feelings of patriotism or not, as claimed, I think it is more of how a person will relate to the story. For me, it is more of a story of one person's willpower to make a difference and his innate goodness and empathy that he lets preside over his and his family's safety.

Without any spoilers here, I just want to render a praise for the lead actors. Akshay Kumar looks just as mean in the first fifteen minutes of the movie as he looks humane in the remaining bit. There is no trace of the aura of a 'superstar' here. I guess the same was said about him in Baby but even there his body language was that of a 'superstar' and a 'hero'. In Airlift, he effortlessly shifts his body language from one belonging to a 'devil-may-care' classy and filthy rich businessman surrounded and hailed by powerful and important people, to one highlighting the helplessness of a common man unwittingly raised on a platform as a leader who is actually struggling to prove to the people who trust him that he is doing his best despite destiny not supporting him. He is a class apart and though I have never really been a fan but at least in Airlift, one cannot just leave the theatre without being touched by the magnanimity and empathy of Ranjit Katyal.

Now coming to Nimrat Kaur. I had previously seen her in 'The Lunchbox' though not in 'Homeland'. In that one, I had thought of her as a naturally talented and effortless actor but not the mainstream kind. But in Airlift, she dispels all the impression of her not being the mainstream kind of an actor. I still believe that she would do good for herself by keeping away from the non-challenging hardly-any-acting-prowess-required hero's sidekick kind of roles, but I am now convinced that she would easily excel in any meaty role, like the one that Aishwarya essayed in 'Jalwa', Deepika / Priyanka essayed in 'Bajirao Mastani' or even the one Kangana essayed in 'Queen'. She is very much the relatable woman next door in Airlift with just a fair amount of glamour becoming the wife of a proud super-rich businessman as well as the endearing warmth of a concerned mother and wife. I'm really impressed with her here.

The humongous supporting cast is also fabulous. Purab Kohli demonstrates the resourcefulness and agility of the indispensable and trusted right-hand man of the hero and even the pain of someone who is unable to find a loved one and is on verge of losing hope. The actor who played George is very believable as the insufferable know-it-all. And even the actor who played the willing-to-help MEA official Kohli looks very much like a typical government 'babu' in his mannerisms and delivery.

All in all, the movie had brilliant performances all across and I would definitely recommend it as a good watch. Best dialogue: "Insaan ki fitrat hoti hai ki jab bhi uspar museebat aati hai vo maa ke paas bhagta hai". True that!