Before watching Airlift, I thought to myself, “When was the last time I wrote about an Akshay Kumar film?” Well… never! “How many times in the past 10 to 15 years have I watched one of his films in a theatre?” Thrice.
This pattern has nothing to do with my perception of his histrionic abilities. From whatever old and new films I have watched of him, it’s pretty clear that Akshay is indeed a competent actor. That emotional outburst in Hera Pheri will vouch for that. His breezy presence in that dud of a melodrama called Dhadkan confirms this. He could come out unscathed from a grotesque Tashan and a disturbingly regressive Kambakkht Ishq.
Earlier, I never really cared about what kind of films he was up to. The mindset was, “By chance, if it’s good, I’ll watch it on television!” Then came this interesting association with Neeraj Pandey, T-Series, and the likes. I wouldn’t dare call this move ‘offbeat’ like those trade portals that believe box office collections can only be generated from outdated Bollywood masala. Special 26, Baby, and now Airlift. Three quality films that won our hearts and also raked in decent money.
Oh, let me tell you about Airlift, which is full of Malayali characters. The background gabs in Malayalam instantly call for a smile. How can a Gulf tale be complete without them (or us)? The film’s most striking supporting character, played with aplomb by Prakash Belawadi, is that of a bitter, cynical Malayali man.
Airlift opens without any thunder as the characters are introduced rather lazily. An unnecessary song and maybe a couple of scenes later, we get the news of Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait. There begins the tumultuous journey of Ranjit Katyal, played by a gold-standard Akshay Kumar. From someone who only had disdain for his homeland, Ranjit’s transformation into a patriot is brought out convincingly.
Able support is lent by the luminous Nimrat Kaur, who has her goods. This could have been yet another bummer like the wife character in Kumar’s last thriller flick, Baby. But Kaur makes sure to stand on her feet.
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Having said that, the film has an array of interesting characters. A Hindi-speaking Iraqi general (Inam-ul-Haq), a kind Indian government official (Kumud Mishra) who goes above and beyond, a Muslim man (Purab Kohli) who has lost his wife, a Kuwaiti woman (Feryna Wazheir) he feels protective of, and many more. Together, they give the story, which might have otherwise been a cliché of a hero saving his people, depth and adaptability. The hero, on his part, doesn’t get too heroic either. The fight scene towards the end is barely choreographed.
Giving it to the faces of the sexist industry is Priya Seth with her astounding camerawork. The pacing is so deft that you will refuse to munch the popcorn you have in your mouth. Dialogues are sharp here and there, without going overboard on the patriotism bit. Songs, other than the smooth “Soch Na Sake”, could have been avoided.
All in all, for a film as engaging as this one, minor flaws and hiccups are acceptable. Director Raja Krishna Menon’s deft handling of a sensitive and complex subject in Airlift leaves a lasting impression. From the way he has visualised his frames to how he balances the odds as a writer, Menon is remarkable. And by the way, I still can’t get over the moment I felt like a war refugee while rushing to the loo during intermission! Haha.
RATING: ★★★ 1/2
Airlift is now streaming on Jio Hotstar.
