Neerja Movie Review - An absolute must watch - A heartwarming true tribute
This is going to be my first movie review and please bear with me for the silly mistakes if they come but after watching Neerja I could not stop myself from writing about it.First of all the latest change that our beloved Bollywood is going through have really astonished me.Movies like Baby,Airlift,Mardaani,Talvaar,Madras Cafe and Neerja are coming up which are completely changing the ideas of the new generations whose assumptions are that Hindi movies only consist of melodramas,mediocre love stories and dancing in rains.Well its not that I don't like Hrithik Roshan's dance moves and SRK's romance but a change,rather a change for better is always welcome.
Neerja, well honestly I did not have much idea about the bravest girl in the country until I got the news of the movie in making and I liked the idea of Sonam playing the role of an Air Hostess.After the release the movie got overwhelming response and great reviews which is not quite common for Sonam Kapoor's movies so I trusted that this movie might be a special one.
Story
The film is set on September 1986, when Neerja Bhanot the young purser of Pam Am 73 was being shoot point blank while she tried and succeeded in saving the passengers of the flight in Karachi which was being hijacked. The movie opens in a middle class happy-go-lucky family in Mumbai celebrating and dancing with their neighbours and their dearest daughter Neerja who is a flight attendant, a model, a lover and a die hard fan of Rajesh Khanna. She is peppy, bubbly, filmy, repeats the dialogues of her favourite hero every time she is in a funny conversation. She is friendly to everyone and keeps on repeating the dialogue " Babumoshai zingadi badi honi chahiye, lambi nahi(our lives should be grand not long)". On the other side it shows the plots and planning of the hijack taking place in Karachi at the same time. Shabana Azmi plays the character of Neerja's loving and caring mother, Rama Bhanot who is always worried about her "Ladoo's(which is Neerja's pet name) health and safety and keeps on reminding her about everything. She is the closest to Neerja in the family and she believed that after her two sons Neerja is the fruit of her prayer to god for a daughter. Shekhar Ravijani of Vishal - Shekhar has got a very little role as Neerja's love of life does his debut,who keeps on encouraging Neerja on starting a new life by forgetting her past which consists of a broken bad dowry burden marriage where Neerja was being tortured mentally and physically. Yogendra Tikku is perfectly cast in the role of Neerja’s father, effectively offering a glimpse into the welled-up emotions of a concerned parent.
What I think of the Film -
For me the real hero of the movie is the stupendous script by Saiwyn Quadras and director's Ram Madhvani's work which wastes very less time in setting up the drama. Sonam Kapoor who is famous for her fashionable attires and titzy bitzy roles in Bollywood proves everyone wrong and have done an excellent job in showcasing the country's youngest Ashok Chakra recipient's role.
The atmosphere of dread and violence is created well, for the most part.
We see the hijackers brutally put down any hint of resistance.
We see the terrified passengers cowering in their seats.
We see the crew being cowed into submission, being jabbed repeatedly by AK 47s. And we see the exact moment when
Neerja draws upon her memories of being defeated in a
past life, and reaching out for steely resilience: most
importantly, we see Kapoor do this, believably.Although in some scenes she was a little blank instead of being scared but they are momentary. She makes us believe that she is, was Neerja.The hijackers seems to be little ill planned and weak to me, could have been better in certain scenes.
Shabana Azmi is the one of the strength in this movie who plays the role of a very loving and caring mother so effortlessly that sometimes it will make you forget that she is playing a role. The scene where Neerja's body was being brought in a coffin and her mother putting the yellow dupatta which her dearest "Ladoo" has asked for her birthday is definitely going to bring tears in your eyes. Her last speech for Neerja is again a very important scene in the film and its definitely going to give you a lump in your throat.
Songs were soothing especially the " Kyun Ma" song which I came out humming while leaving the theatre but honestly this movie does not need any song and sometimes I feel that they are unnecessary and misplaced.
Rating - 4/5
Yes this movie has done great in box office and will continue to do so, but thankfully this time it is way better than our regular "100 crores club" movies. So guys I know weekend is over, those who have already seen it do share your feedback and those who have not please go fast and make a plan, its really worth it and do not forget to carry a tissue, you will need it, trust me.
Quotes of the day -
“Expose yourself to your deepest fear; after that, fear has no power, and the fear of freedom shrinks and vanishes. You are free.”
― Jim Morrison
Neerja, well honestly I did not have much idea about the bravest girl in the country until I got the news of the movie in making and I liked the idea of Sonam playing the role of an Air Hostess.After the release the movie got overwhelming response and great reviews which is not quite common for Sonam Kapoor's movies so I trusted that this movie might be a special one.
Story
The film is set on September 1986, when Neerja Bhanot the young purser of Pam Am 73 was being shoot point blank while she tried and succeeded in saving the passengers of the flight in Karachi which was being hijacked. The movie opens in a middle class happy-go-lucky family in Mumbai celebrating and dancing with their neighbours and their dearest daughter Neerja who is a flight attendant, a model, a lover and a die hard fan of Rajesh Khanna. She is peppy, bubbly, filmy, repeats the dialogues of her favourite hero every time she is in a funny conversation. She is friendly to everyone and keeps on repeating the dialogue " Babumoshai zingadi badi honi chahiye, lambi nahi(our lives should be grand not long)". On the other side it shows the plots and planning of the hijack taking place in Karachi at the same time. Shabana Azmi plays the character of Neerja's loving and caring mother, Rama Bhanot who is always worried about her "Ladoo's(which is Neerja's pet name) health and safety and keeps on reminding her about everything. She is the closest to Neerja in the family and she believed that after her two sons Neerja is the fruit of her prayer to god for a daughter. Shekhar Ravijani of Vishal - Shekhar has got a very little role as Neerja's love of life does his debut,who keeps on encouraging Neerja on starting a new life by forgetting her past which consists of a broken bad dowry burden marriage where Neerja was being tortured mentally and physically. Yogendra Tikku is perfectly cast in the role of Neerja’s father, effectively offering a glimpse into the welled-up emotions of a concerned parent.
What I think of the Film -
For me the real hero of the movie is the stupendous script by Saiwyn Quadras and director's Ram Madhvani's work which wastes very less time in setting up the drama. Sonam Kapoor who is famous for her fashionable attires and titzy bitzy roles in Bollywood proves everyone wrong and have done an excellent job in showcasing the country's youngest Ashok Chakra recipient's role.
The atmosphere of dread and violence is created well, for the most part.
We see the hijackers brutally put down any hint of resistance.
We see the terrified passengers cowering in their seats.
We see the crew being cowed into submission, being jabbed repeatedly by AK 47s. And we see the exact moment when
Neerja draws upon her memories of being defeated in a
past life, and reaching out for steely resilience: most
importantly, we see Kapoor do this, believably.Although in some scenes she was a little blank instead of being scared but they are momentary. She makes us believe that she is, was Neerja.The hijackers seems to be little ill planned and weak to me, could have been better in certain scenes.
Shabana Azmi is the one of the strength in this movie who plays the role of a very loving and caring mother so effortlessly that sometimes it will make you forget that she is playing a role. The scene where Neerja's body was being brought in a coffin and her mother putting the yellow dupatta which her dearest "Ladoo" has asked for her birthday is definitely going to bring tears in your eyes. Her last speech for Neerja is again a very important scene in the film and its definitely going to give you a lump in your throat.
Songs were soothing especially the " Kyun Ma" song which I came out humming while leaving the theatre but honestly this movie does not need any song and sometimes I feel that they are unnecessary and misplaced.
Rating - 4/5
Yes this movie has done great in box office and will continue to do so, but thankfully this time it is way better than our regular "100 crores club" movies. So guys I know weekend is over, those who have already seen it do share your feedback and those who have not please go fast and make a plan, its really worth it and do not forget to carry a tissue, you will need it, trust me.
Quotes of the day -
“Expose yourself to your deepest fear; after that, fear has no power, and the fear of freedom shrinks and vanishes. You are free.”
― Jim Morrison
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3 comments
While going through your review my feelings n emotions after watching this movie got rejuvenated. I too had never heard about this brave Neerja Bhanot before the release of this movie, who died just 2 days prior to her 24 th birthday while saving the lives of passengers of Pan Am 73, honestly I watched d movie only with d anticipation that is this going to be a comeback for Sonam Kapoor?? The answer is yes! As the movie progressed, we are bound to forgot about d career of Sonam Kapoor, rather we sat in anticipation about the future of those 359 passengers whose life the young airhostess saved so bravely. We felt the helplessness of the situation, the heartbroken cry for help, the courage in Neerja's eyes n the selfless ness with which d brave girl carried out her duty till d last breath of her life. U r right! It's an absolute must watch. Thanks for posting d review, feels great some one else also shares d same feeling :-)
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