Airlift. It really did lift my spirits. For reasons more than one. First, it was a thoroughly enjoyable movie, fast paced, though the ubiquitous song and dance numbers interrrupted the narrative, but excusable, we might conclude. Patriotism and humanism are in high doses...and why not? The story is all about the Indian diaspora during the Kuwait invasion of Iraq and how they were evacuated through the humane actions of one very rich man, Ranjit Katyal. Part fiction, part history, one doesn't know where one ends and the other begins, though the makers have safely declared that it is all just a story.
At the end of the movie, when people get up to leave the cinema, we are told via the writing on the screen that this man, the hero, Ranjit Katyal, is loosely based on the character of Sunny Mathews, who facilitated the evacuation with his friend. I felt cheated. Airlift tells the story of a supposedly unsung hero but this hero remains unsung, with his name changed to Ranjit Katyal. They should have given this info along with the credits in the beginning. His grand daughter wrote a post about him on her FB page. I found a picture of Mr Sunny Mathews too.(I really hope it's the right pic! Found it on the net) I would love to hear what he has to say about the movie though.
I am indeed proud of the lion's share of Malayali presence in Airlift. Director Raja Krishna Menon, Lena, Suresh Nair who co-wrote the script. Pardon me being slightly parochial!
Airlift is special for another reason, its talented cinematographer, Priya Seth, one of the leading underwater cinematographers in the nation. Her tastefully portrayed belly dancing scenes, without showing the faces, is a first of its kind. T^he vast canvas...deserts, bombings....ships, fights....it was a nice feeling that a certain Priya Seth was DOP.
Acting honours: Yes, Akshay Kumar is good, very good at times, but just a few times, he overdid it. Prakash Belawadi as Georgekutty, Lena's husband, had a well written character role which he put across to the viewers, justifying every nuance of the role, the look, gait et al. Nimrat Kaur as Katyal's wife had a big role but nothing much to write home about. Inamulhaq as major Khalaf bin Zayd rolled his 'r's well enough while addressing 'Ranjit" Katyal and had that quiet wicked demeanor.
Raja Krishna Menon, director, ah....let's hope he will give the seasoned film makers of Bollywood hot competition. For that he must stand on his own ground and not swim with tide. Airlift is not in the bracket of some Bollywood movies 'for timepass.'...worth the ticket money in a multiplex.
At the end of the movie, when people get up to leave the cinema, we are told via the writing on the screen that this man, the hero, Ranjit Katyal, is loosely based on the character of Sunny Mathews, who facilitated the evacuation with his friend. I felt cheated. Airlift tells the story of a supposedly unsung hero but this hero remains unsung, with his name changed to Ranjit Katyal. They should have given this info along with the credits in the beginning. His grand daughter wrote a post about him on her FB page. I found a picture of Mr Sunny Mathews too.(I really hope it's the right pic! Found it on the net) I would love to hear what he has to say about the movie though.
I am indeed proud of the lion's share of Malayali presence in Airlift. Director Raja Krishna Menon, Lena, Suresh Nair who co-wrote the script. Pardon me being slightly parochial!
Airlift is special for another reason, its talented cinematographer, Priya Seth, one of the leading underwater cinematographers in the nation. Her tastefully portrayed belly dancing scenes, without showing the faces, is a first of its kind. T^he vast canvas...deserts, bombings....ships, fights....it was a nice feeling that a certain Priya Seth was DOP.
Acting honours: Yes, Akshay Kumar is good, very good at times, but just a few times, he overdid it. Prakash Belawadi as Georgekutty, Lena's husband, had a well written character role which he put across to the viewers, justifying every nuance of the role, the look, gait et al. Nimrat Kaur as Katyal's wife had a big role but nothing much to write home about. Inamulhaq as major Khalaf bin Zayd rolled his 'r's well enough while addressing 'Ranjit" Katyal and had that quiet wicked demeanor.
Raja Krishna Menon, director, ah....let's hope he will give the seasoned film makers of Bollywood hot competition. For that he must stand on his own ground and not swim with tide. Airlift is not in the bracket of some Bollywood movies 'for timepass.'...worth the ticket money in a multiplex.
