Neerja Movie Review!

Source-bollyspice.com

She was kneeling by the flight’s door; in front of her a scared passenger. And like a dark nightmare, were two men standing behind with blood on their mind and guns in their hands. They were trying to negotiate with voices outside. There were tactics, resistance, convincing and frustration and within seconds a gun shot. A life lost, lost in front of the 22 year old flight purser.

Neerja, is a film by Ram Madhvani, based on the real life brave heart: Neerja Bhanot. The story captures the hijacking of the ill-fated flight Pan Am 73, by four terrorists from the Libya backed terrorist organisation Abu Nidal , with a focus on depicting the immense courage, devotion and quick thinking of the Ashoka Chakra awardee Neerja Bhanot.

                                                        source-indianexpress.com

The story is one that must be shared and let me say Ram Madhvani and Saiwyn Quadras have done a pretty good job. The cinematography is well done, with both the sequences done at home and in the flight. The screenplay is only descent ; it is nothing extra-ordinary or new. There is as expected, a dose of foreshadowing, but marginally avoiding clichés. There are some attempts to creatively infuse extra melodramatic situation in the story like the singing scene in the flight or the one featuring all the kids but they seem superfluous and filmy. With a story like this, the viewers automatically experience very deep respect and easily connect with the gravity of the situation and so those attempts are unnecessary. But let me warn you, the story will make you cry a river.

                                  source-pinkvilla.com

Crucial to stories like these is the casting. Sonam Kapoor as the lead actor did make me skeptical but I have to say ever since the first look, she looked promising.She has done a great job. She not only looks the part but has wonderfully conveyed the emotions, we can only imagine Neerja must’ve experienced.

                                                                      source-india.com                      

Supporting the protagonist is the fantastic Shabana Azmi, who fits like a glove to role of Rama Bhanot(mother). She feels like the second lead, the audiences feel her worry, her pain and sympathise with her. 

Yogendra Tikku , as Harish Bhanot (father) has done an amazing job too. Shekhar Ravjiani as Neerja’s love interest Jaideep, in his short role, is very endearing. The music of Neerja by Vishal Khurana is very appropriate to the story. It pairs well with the plot except the one time where it seems to be just placed for the emotional milking. There are some soulful numbers as Gehra Ishq and Jeetein hain chal.

At the end of the day any movie, which is based on real life bravery, is expected to evoke emotions like motivation, pride and makes you question life and your actions. Ram Madhavni’s Neerja does a good enough job on the scale.

Neerja Bhanot’s story is an incredibly awe-inspring one. She suffered, she overcame and she displayed paramount courage and loyalty!This is the story you must know.

 You should watch the movie:

    1.For Neerja and her story     2. For the great acting performances by Sonam and the cast.  

       Rating-3.5/5