Neerja. Translated in Indian languages as “lotus”, the name is beautiful.
The last time I remember being enamoured by a leading lady’s name was in Rituparno Ghosh’s 2004 romance Raincoat. Aishwarya Rai’s Neerja remains her best-performed role till date. Cut to 2016… here comes a role of a lifetime for Sonam Kapoor. Although the film is based on a real-life heroine by the same name, the name Neerja and the poetry in it instantly draw me in.
As we know, the film is about Neerja Bhanot and her bravery as a head purser aboard the unfortunate Pan Am Flight 73, hijacked by Libyan terrorists at Karachi airport in the autumn of 1986. Surprisingly, the film heads straight to the point. It wastes little time on milieu-building or character establishment. The protagonist and her adorable shenanigans are briefly sketched in the opening credits, while the more serious aspects of her life unfold through flashbacks.
Minutes into the film, Neerja boards the ill-fated plane and a thrilling ride begins, intermittently marred by the customary “Intermission” (popcorn won’t digest, duh!). There is also no deliberate attempt to make the terrorists speak Hindi or Urdu. They are comprehensible, but subtitles are extremely helpful. Among the moments of terror, the one that truly takes the cake is when Khalil, the leader of the terrorist group, loses his temper. In another remarkable scene, where Neerja locks herself in the lavatory after witnessing a gruesome act, Sonam Kapoor reveals her range like never before.
Neerja is not devoid of light moments. How warm is the scene where a passenger’s grandmother tries to matchmake him with a gorgeous flight attendant! The camaraderie between Neerja and her father is equally touching, as is her banter with the taxi driver who drops her home. Not to mention the lovely Rajesh Khanna references sprinkled throughout.
One question remains: why did our fraternity take three decades to make a film on this valiant heroine? I can easily visualise this story being told in 1995 with a lissom Manisha Koirala as Neerja. Perhaps it needed a writer as sensitive as Saiwyn Quadras and a director of Ram Madhvani’s calibre. Neerja’s tale could easily have been dismissed as arthouse, or worse, mishandled (remember Bollywood’s hijack films of the past!). This sensible team ensures that doesn’t happen.
Neerja’s is a story meant to be loved by default. Like last year’s Mary Kom, the protagonist’s looks or histrionic abilities are secondary. That said, Sonam Kapoor emerges triumphant in a role tailor-made for her. The moment she munches the chocolate cookie her suitor gifted her is proof of her mettle.
Shabana Azmi is a delight, as always. Though she seems slightly theatrical in the initial reels, she soon turns the tables and delivers a bravura performance. The film’s best scene belongs to her: the climactic speech. Yogendra Tiku is wonderful and looks every bit the doting father. The new-age Anupam Kher? No complaints there. Shekhar Ravjiani impresses in a brief role.
Vishal Khurana’s music is outstanding. Both “Jeete Hain Chal” and “Gehra Ishq” are stirring compositions. Mitesh Mirchandani’s cinematography is functional, while Monisha R. Baldawa’s crisp editing keeps the film slick and no-nonsense. Sanyuktha Chawla Shaikh’s dialogues suit the genre perfectly. Special mention to how she pens Azmi’s final speech. I am sure many mothers would have shed a tear or two when she says, “Pushpa, I hate tears!”
“Empowering” best defines Neerja. It fills us with pride to belong to a country that gave birth to such a valiant citizen. At the same time, it leaves us feeling small for not having taken life decisions with consequences even remotely close to Neerja’s. When her father asks her twice, “Bahadur bachcha kaun?”, I had no other answer but Neerja.
Rating: ★★★★
Neerja is now streaming on JioHotstar.
