‘Neerja’ had great responsibility as it is not a fiction but a biopic; hence it needed a flat storyline without any exaggeration of character or situation. Well! Neerja had kept all this to concern; a lot of effort, thoughts, hard-work, creativity and control had ameliorated the film. The lead role makes a mark in films like this , Sonam Kapoor’s pace of character in the film is well taken care of and she is not portrayed as some super-hero but a very simple yet beautiful person who carried burning emotions. There is no over-dramatic frame in the film and it doesn’t instinct any issue over the lack of Indo/Pak governmental issues, but portrays Neerja evolving from a normal girl to a hero to be acknowledged for saving life of 359. There is an effort of reuniting faith in humanity. ‘Neerja’ has counted on for a must watch of 2016.

Neerja shows Madhvani’s meticulous planning as a director, even though it tilts in favour of some melodrama. The film arrives straight to the point and starts building a tension that remains with the audience till the end. Here, the power of a good script is also evident. Actors know their marks and bring out little details with ease. At 122-minutes, the film stretches towards the end, but you are helplessly ensnared in its magic. The writer has crafted Neerja in such a way that most of her personality traits become visible. Such films where the filmmakers need to work in the same time and space zone are difficult to execute, but you’ll be surprised at the finesse with which Madhvani has shown most sides of Neerja’s personality. She falls, rises, falls again and rises again, until she emerges as that one name which will be associated with Pan Am Flight 73 forever.

Defying every norm laid down in the mainstream Bollywood rule-book, Neerja coaxes a riveting two-hour drama out of a real-life tale of extraordinary courage. Neerja not only places a woman at its centre, it also showcases the pluck of a flight attendant who makes no distinction between nationalities when her passengers face a grave threat. Director Ram Madhvani opts for just the right emotional amplitude to bring to the screen the exceptional tale of a brave fashion model and flight attendant who, hours shy of her 23rd birthday, laid down her life to save over 350 passengers. Neerja needs to be applauded for avoiding the garish and gratuitous bells and whistles of commercial Hindi cinema. If it is going to be just one Hindi film this week, make sure it is Neerja. It is a powerful story that tugs gently and delicately at the heartstrings. It does not go overboard on attacking the lachrymal glands. But when it does, it is bang on.

The atmosphere of dread and violence is created well, for the most part. Sonam Kapoor fumbles in a couple of initial phases, where we find a blankness rather than terror on her face. But those are only momentary. Then she locks onto the correct tone, and we get the whole complement of feelings flit across her face – from shaking with fear to finding a place of strength. Kapoor makes us believe she is, was, Neerja. Minus the songs and the excessive schmaltz, ‘Neerja’ could have been outstanding. But still, the film holds, and hold us with it. Both Shabana Azmi and Tikku, as the parents hoping for the best and dreading the worst for their ‘Laado’ (Neerja’s ‘pet name’), are excellent. They shine a light on the tragically-cut-short life of their daughter, a true inspirational heroine whose deeds need more than a memorial. They need to be remembered. I came out of the theatre, wet-eyed.