Sarfira Review - Flies High!

Ashwin Ram

Sarfira is an official remake of Soorarai Pottru that starred Suriya. The actor has produced this movie in Hindi with Akshay Kumar playing the lead role. Sudha Kongara who made the original version has directed this movie too and music is scored by GV Prakash.

Premise:

Akshay Kumar is an Indian Air Force officer who resigns from his job to start a low cost airline after not being able to fly to see his father’s dead body due to money constraints. His inspiring journey forms the crux of the story.

Writing/ Direction:

Sudha Kongara has beautifully crafted this movie which revolves around aviation business in such a way that even a person who hasn’t fled on an airplane can also understand the in-depth ideas that are discussed in the film. The story is powerful and inspiring in many ways, the storytelling is captivating enough to keep us invested in the flow. Despite the hurried pace at the beginning, the first half is thoroughly gripping with many memorable sequences. The driving force which is the reason why the hero is adamant in his ambition is staged in a splendid manner. The drama builds up steadily which allows us to indulge in the ups and downs of Akshay Kumar’s character, his equation with the heroine is also rare and relatable at the same time. So many memorable scenes that are written and presented in an impactful fashion. The second half is on the decent range, engaging enough but things get repetitive and dragged towards the end by placing a lot of hurdles for the hero to achieve his goal. Suriya’s cameo at the very end is added just for fun that was not really necessary for the subject.

Performances:

Good performance by Akshay Kumar, the man has understood the mood of the scenes well and has enacted them. However, Suriya’s acting in the original is unmatchable, however this factor will only be nagging for those who have seen the Tamil version. Radhika Madan is a superb find, lovely to witness the innocent face going all in to pull-off a bold woman character, had immense scope to score and she has utilized it. But somehow the pairing on-screen is a little bit on the downside at some stretches, maybe because of Akshay Kumar’s aging. First class act by Paresh Rawal, he carried his powerful businessman role with so much attitude that suits best for his character.

Technicalities:

The original version had a significantly better and a merely perfect soundtrack, however the songs here are still on the satisfying range. But there are plenty of them and the placements at times disturb the flow of the film. Commendable background score that uplifts the drama wherever required, the perfectly mixed rumbling sound effects for the aircraft portions provide an immersive theatrical experience. Top quality visuals, staying true to the nature of the situations and localities. Editing is bothersome at places, especially during the sequences in which the narrative feels rushed and scattered, thankfully the overall output is convincing.

Bottomline

A scene-to-scene yet a solid remake about a man of conviction who started a low-cost airline in the early 2000s, sure to inspire and create an impact for the first time viewers. An engaging watch for the people who have already seen the original.

Rating - 3/ 5