Airlift Hindi Movie

Feature Film | 2016 | UA | Drama
Critics:
Audience:
We like stories of unlikely ordinary men who obey the call of extraordinary circumstances and turn out to be heroes. The story of one of the largest rescues is nicely packaged here as a movie and presented with Akshay Kumar at his earnest best. It takes its own sweet time to set up, but when the story proceeds, it literally 'takes off'.
Jan 22, 2016 By Manisha Lakhe


Ranjit Katyal is an opportunistic Kuwaiti businessman who does not think twice before cutting out his friends in order to make profits. He lives in a plush house with his wife Amrita and kid and maid, and is shown to party with the best of them. But the moment Iraqi tanks move into Kuwait city, he realises that he is going to be saved only when he acknowledges that he is Indian.


Now all this takes so long to set up, you get a tad frustrated with how unruffled his life is even though people are shown getting shot and property destroyed.


He sweet-talks his way into getting a free pass to ride through occupied city whenever he shows his 'friend of Iraq' sticker. He is ready to escape to London with his family when he realises that he needs to save others as well.


The numbers of those 'others' swell and soon he finds himself leading all Indians out of Kuwait.


The turning point is good. The drama unfolds rather well on the screen. Akshay Kumar is so well-cast, you begin to appreciate his quiet ways. There are twists and turns and the selfish Indian refugees don't make things easy. The supporting cast of the crotchety refugees (Mr. George and Mr Poonawala), the decent guys (Purab Kohli as the Supermarket lad, Akshay's drinking buddies, the good chaps in the External Affairs ministry), the women who cook happily (and scream when face to face with Iraqi soldiers), the faceless numbers look part of the story.


There is that textbook patriotism (flag unfurling, Vande Mataram playing in the background) which makes you cringe a bit, but you have seen enough American patriotism chest thumping in movies to feel too bad.


Watch this movie, because a story of a rescue of this scale needs to be told. Watch this movie because we need more everyday hero tales...

Manisha Lakhe

   

USER REVIEWS
Victor Banerjee

Could have been a good movie, looks like not much effort was made with the acting as well as the dialogue, movie improve... Show more
Could have been a good movie, looks like not much effort was made with the acting as well as the dialogue, movie improves towards the end, but overall over rated
roy mukerji

Poor acting. Akshay kumar dissapoints. Any one could have acted in this movie. Thin, monotonous and boring story line. D... Show more
Poor acting. Akshay kumar dissapoints. Any one could have acted in this movie. Thin, monotonous and boring story line. Dont waste your time.
Waqas Raja

The only saving grace is that the movie is based on true events other than that the movie is very mediocre! They would h... Show more
The only saving grace is that the movie is based on true events other than that the movie is very mediocre! They would have made it better!! seems like very cheap production, even the direction is not very good.
nowrunning

Good movie
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