Neerja Movie Review – This courageous tale of Neerja Bhanot’s life is a must watch!
Divay Agarwal
The story of Neerja Bhanot's life is one such story that moves every bit of you and leaves an ever-lasting thought in your minds and the honesty with which it is adapted onto the screen is commendable. The film narrates the courageous and inspiring tale of the 23 year old Neerja Bhanot, an air hostess who lost her life while saving passengers from terrorists on board the hijacked Pan Am Flight 73 on 5th September 1986.
Neerja Bhanot (Sonam Kapoor), an independent young girl has everything going right for her - a supportive family, a very dear friend and two professions of that of an air hostess and modelling until her first flight as head purser gets hijacked at Karachi International Airport. How she manages to rescue the 359 passengers in the airplane is the main plotline of the story.
This film is an out and out a director’s film. With his honesty, creative skills, very real treatment and the ability to take out the best from his actors, Ram Madhvani brings to you the incredible story that deserved to be told to Indian public, especially the younger generation. He not only tells the story convincingly but also inspires his audience to be motivated to stand up for what’s right. And all this he does without being too melodramatic and keeping things real and simple.
The writers have done their job wonderfully well and so has the DOP Mitesh Mirchandani with some excellent shots and the editor Monisha Baldawawith the engaging cuts and pace. Even the music of the film is wonderful especially the song “Jeete Hain Chal” with Kavita Seth’s gripping voice. Though at one point, the songs disrupt the flow of the story.
Talking about the performances, there is no doubt that Sonam Kapoor has improved but again I would have loved to see a more potential actress donning the role. Shabana Azmi is brilliant in the film, particularly in the last sequence. But for me, Yogendra Tiku is the highlight of the film with his very competent portrayal of Neerja’s father.
This film is a must watch. So go watch it in theaters and get inspired : “Zindagi badi honi chahiye, lambi nahi”!
Rating – 4/5
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