On September 5, 1986, mere hours before her 23rd birthday, Neerja Bhanot turned to see 4 heavily-armed terrorists boarding Pan Am flight 73, where she was a most senior crew member.
Courage – it’s a virtue everyone possesses, but only a few choose to use it. Neerja Bhanot was one of them and that’s what makes her life so remarkable. Ram Madhvani’s film, named after the protagonist, is an intensely woven tale of the young air hostess.
We know Neerja Bhanot’s story, but are curious nevertheless to see how it unfolds on the silver screen.
Will the director go in for over-dramatic scenes in the name of ‘creative liberty’? Or, are we going to witness a film that is too ‘filmy’ to be inspired by ‘real events’?
Let me answer that question for you. Airlift was also out recently and some might agree that it has a little flair of Bollywood flavor in it.
NEERJA, however, was ruthlessly real life. With a vibrancy in it, a real life vibrancy.
It was not mounted. It was not conceptualized. It was plucked off right from its real-life chronology.
The movie had no negative pitch even once. The screen space was not wasted for a single instance. It succeeds in wonderfully building an emotionally connect with the main female protagonist with flashbacks used as a technique of storytelling very effectively. It did everything so effortlessly.
Even Bajirao Mastani despite having a story centered on emotions didn't manage to pull that out apart from Priyanka Chopra.
Neerja is easily the most smoothly invigorating movies of recent Yeats without making you realise that.
I would disagree with film critics that this might be Sonam's best acting so far. It is definitely among her best acting but it is hands down a movie that gave her innumerable shots yo depict her most flawless scenes. Sonam Kapoor is the star of this searing ‘biopic’.
Neerja is a milestone in Sonam Kapoor’s career. Not just because it’s a good film, but because she carries it entirely on her shoulder. She looks earnest, scared, benevolent and bold, all at the same time. You should see her in the scene where a terrorist frisks her: She aces it with a panache seldom seen in mainstream Hindi films. Shabana Azmi is very impressive as Neerja’s mother, her grip over emotional scenes are quite visible.
You don't realise that this is a movie bearing a woman. The feminism does not drop a minute. It's a story of human kindness and compassion. It has no unnecessary drama. Even certain core Indian issues like dowry are not tickled a lot. It's mentioned indirectly in family conversations. As such, it avoids entangling several innings to the main story telling which is beautifully executed.
Neerja shows the director’s meticulous planning, without tilting in favor of melodrama for me. The film arrives straight to the point and starts building a tension that remains with the audience till the end. Parallel narratives between Mumbai and Karachi bring out the conflict that ensues, and you subconsciously begin rooting for Neerja.
This is simply a story of sheer braveness. Nothing more, nothing less.
Superb directing. Excellent editing. Flawless acting.
Effortless storytelling.
It's a straightforward yet a web-bish conversation of a 22-year-old girl. The director adds personality to Neerja. Her life. Her zest. Her passion. Her deceptions. Her struggles. Her ambitions. Her family. Her career. All subtly sprinkled along the way without being overbearing.
She is shown as a well-adjusted happy person, but little do we know that Neerja carries a past that tugs at the heart. This is also where you realise that FEAR indeed GAVE HER COURAGE.
Mr Madhvani shows his craft at this juncture by portraying a vulnerable heroine with a composed exterior. Here, the power of a good script is also evident. Actors know their marks and bring out little details with ease.
At 122-minutes, the film stretches towards the end, but you are helplessly ensnared in its magic.
It’s an effectively narrated story that we all know, for why else you will look forward to unraveling a plot that has been widely documented. It makes you rise and salute Neerja, the extraordinary story of an ordinary person.
And, who could sum it up better than her favourite Rajesh Khanna: Zindagi lambi nahi badi honiye chahiye babu moshay (Anand, 1971). (Life should not be long, but grand babu moshay.)
In these times of misinterpreted jingoism, Neerja teaches us the real meaning of standing tall.
Neerja is a must watch. It may be a one-time watch for some, it may not be simply a one-time watch for others. But it cannot be missed. If I were to give Simone a basket of Indian Cinema's best representation of recent times, Neerja would be delicately placed at the top without second thoughts.
Until next time,
Much love,
. . .
DO NOT FORGET TO GIVE A THUMBS UP AND FOLLOW IF YOU LIKED THIS POST.
COMMENT TO LET ME KNOW HOW YOU FOUND IT OR WHAT YOU THINK OF IT.
YOU CAN ALSO ADD ME ON MY FACEBOOK PAGE.
IF YOU ARE KIND ENOUGH, PLEASE RECOMMEND AND SHARE TO HELP ME REACH MORE READERS.
. . .
'Neerja' Surpasses Priyanka Chopra's 'Mary Kom' at Box-office
Neerja, Reviews
