Cast: Akshay Kumar, Nimrat Kaur, Kumud Mishra, Prakash Belawadi, Inaamulhaq, Purab Kohli, Avtaar Gill
Director: Raja Menon
Release Date: 22nd January, 2016
Airlift is the story of Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait by Saddam Hussein on August 2, 1990, which led to the Gulf war. Told in the eyes of a wealthy Indian businessman (Akshay Kumar as Ranjit Katyal) in Kuwait who played a major role in aiding the evacuation of 1,70,000 Indian men, Airlift remains authentic to the original events conveyed in a simplistic way.
A movie such as this needs to be constantly engaging so that the audience do not lose track of what’s going on. Airlift exactly does that. Often riveting with brilliant and underplayed performances, the movie is a true gem when it comes to an amalgamation of both storytelling as well as meticulously planned film making.
Akshay Kumar sheds off his massy, over-dosed commercial image that he is known for and portrays his character with such ease and dedication that makes us relive those events without any such effort. Nimrat Kaur (as Amritha Katyal), on the other hand, takes her time to blend in to the movie’s scope until a monologue where she stands up for her husband’s actions and acts as an emotional support. She aces it with her homely, yet powerful performance.
Backed with gritty and taut sequences, amazing cinematography, extemporaneous screenplay and well-guided acting by the supporting characters, Airlift leaves you with an emotional high when the end credits start rolling.
Undertaken for more than 59 days, over 488 Indian airlines and Air India flights and bringing almost 1,70,000 Indians home, it is the largest evacuation that has ever happened. Though slow at times, the movie is full of passion and patriotism, which makes us leave with a full-heart when we come out of the theatres.
I’m going with three and a half stars out of five. Other than the occasional drags in the screenplay, Airlift deserves a watch for its earnestness and brilliant performances by its cast.
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