She is the senior flight-attendant on Pan Am Flight 73 flying from Mumbai to the United States of America. Story: Neerja Bhanot (Sonam Kapoor), a big fan of Bollywood’s first superstar Rajesh Khanna, is a air hostess cum model. Directed by Ram Madhavani, the film stars Sonam Kapoor playing the role of Neerja. It’s a biographical on the life of flight-attendant Neerja Bhanot, who fought bravely for the lives of passengers on-board a hijacked plane. Share with us your experience of watching Neerja.Neerja is one of the most keenly-awaited films of the year. I suggest you fasten your seat belts for this weekend with Neerja. Neerja is a heart-felt biopic that rises above ordinary with a great direction and stellar performances. The director seemed to have hurried too much in the main rescue event execution and focused more on giving it an emotional ending. While the first half builds a great pace, towards the start of the second half, there is a little slump.
The whole ‘Mera Jee Ghabra Raha Hai’ moment too comes across as overly cinematic for a story that otherwise sticks to realism.Īt the very start of the film, there is a scene where Neerja is enjoying a party at her building and how the director focuses on the balloons being burst and its similarity to the sound of gun fire shots that will occur ahead in the story is good symbolism. Luckily, he does not indulge in too much melodrama and that’s what makes the film watchable.ĭefinitely, he could have strayed away from a song in such an engaging tale but then its Bollywood. Hence, he keeps it simple moving from Neerja’s cosy family moments to her life-risking event. Ram Madhvani’s Neerja is a heart-felt biopic. His ‘nudge the bull and it will kill’ moment is brilliant. I hope this is his only attempt at acting because he seems quite uncomfortable on screen.Īmongst the terrorists, Khalil’s character truly stands out.
Shekhar Ravjiani does a small cameo as Neerja’s love interest. After Queen, once again he is seen as an endearing father. Yogendra Tiku should officially be Bollywood’s best dad. Her performance in the final scene is extremely moving. She is proud of her daughter at the same time wants her to be safe. Shabana Azmi does a brilliant job as the emotional, loving and superstitious mom. In her pre-hijack scenes, she is just like what she has been in any other film. She is specifically praiseworthy in a scene where she reads her abusive husband’s letters to her family. Sonam Kapoor does a much better job than what I expected her to do. It will make sure everyone will leave the theaters with moist eyes. Also the film will help change the mindset of how the jobs of models or air hostesses are treated poorly even today. Especially in today’s time, we need to celebrate personalities like Neerja who have been brave females. One thing that the film stresses on beyond its on the face plot is empowering women.
But their portrayal of even the terrorists being ill-prepared and having conflicts amongst themselves looks quite realistic. What the writers do not delve much into is the Palestinian angle of it and if they had, it could have been slightly more intelligent. Another unnecessary addition would be a song which is sort of a link breaker for an engaging tale. The whole evacuation process looks too good to be true with terrorists shooting randomly when the passengers are alighting through the emergency exit. What seems quite apt is the fact that the script does not show Neerja to be a super-girl.Īmongst the flaws, one really feels there is too much hurry towards the end. The slain flight attendant’s failed arrange marriage with an abusive husband is introduced to us at her weakest times on plane seems well connected. Where Neerja truly excels is how it connects Neerja Bhanot’s personal life struggle with the gravest incident that took her life. The film, it seems, has been banned in Pakistan but let me tell you, this is one film that goes extremely easy on them, forget portraying them in bad light. Sonam Kapoor in a still from movie ‘Neerja’ Neerja Review: Script Analysis How her quick thinking and dedication to her job saved the lives of those on board is what the story focuses on. With 300 passengers on board and terrorists with an agenda, Neerja’s life is in danger. Flight Pan AM 73 which is a New York bound flight via Karachi is hijacked at Karachi international airport. On her first flight as the head purser, Neerja is faced with an untoward event. With a supportive family, who are proud of her, Neerja’s life is near perfect until her destiny takes a detour. She is an independent girl who juggles two careers of being an air hostess and a model with immense dedication. Neerja Bhanot (Sonam Kapoor) is introduced to us as a huge Rajesh Khanna fan.