Air Lift is a 2016 Indian Hindi-language historical drama film directed by Raja Krishna Menon. It stars Akshay Kumar and Nimrat Kaur in lead roles, and tells the true story of the evacuation of Indians from Kuwait during the Invasion of Kuwait by Saddam Hussein’s Iraq. The film was released on 22 January 2016 to critical acclaim and commercial success. It was a box office hit, grossing over ₹323.3 crore (US$45 million) worldwide, making it one of the highest-grossing Bollywood films of 2016.
Plot Summary
The story of Air Lift revolves around Ranjit Katyal (Akshay Kumar), a Kuwait-based businessman, and his wife Amrita (Nimrat Kaur). When Iraq invades Kuwait in August 1990, Ranjit is forced to take the lead in organizing the evacuation of 1,70,000 Indians from Kuwait. He manages to get the support of the Indian government and successfully evacuates the Indians from Kuwait, thus becoming a national hero.
Cast
The film stars Akshay Kumar in the lead role as Ranjit Katyal, Nimrat Kaur as his wife Amrita, Kumud Mishra as the Indian ambassador to Kuwait, Prakash Belawadi as the Indian prime minister, and Purab Kohli as Ranjit’s friend and colleague. The supporting cast includes Lena, Inaamulhaq, Purab Kohli, and Prakash Belawadi.
Production
Air Lift was produced by Nikhil Advani, Aruna Bhatia, Madhu G. Bhojwani, Bhushan Kumar, and Krishan Kumar. The film was shot in locations in Kuwait, India, and the United Kingdom. The film was edited by Hemanti Sarkar.
Music
The music of Air Lift was composed by Amaal Mallik, Ankit Tiwari and Jeet Gannguli. The lyrics were written by Kumaar. The soundtrack was released on 18 December 2015 by T-Series. The song “Soch Na Sake” became popular and was a chartbuster.
Reception
Air Lift received critical acclaim from critics. The Times of India gave the film 4 stars out of 5, praising Akshay’s performance and the film’s direction. The Indian Express also gave the film 4 stars out of 5, praising Akshay’s performance and the film’s subject matter. The film was commercially successful, with a worldwide gross of ₹323.3 crore (US$45 million).
Awards and Nominations
Air Lift was nominated for several awards, including five Filmfare Awards, two Star Screen Awards, two Zee Cine Awards, one International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) Award, and one Producers Guild Film Award. The film won three Filmfare Awards, including Best Story and Best Dialogue for Raja Menon, and Best Film for Nikhil Advani. The film also won the National Film Award for Best Popular Film.
Critical Analysis
Air Lift is a well-made film that succeeds in telling an important story in an engaging way. The film shows how ordinary citizens can come together to achieve great things in difficult times. The performances of Akshay Kumar and Nimrat Kaur are top-notch, and the direction of Raja Krishna Menon is excellent. The film is an important reminder of the sacrifices made by ordinary people in difficult times.
Conclusion
Air Lift is an inspiring film that tells an important story in an engaging way. The performances of Akshay Kumar and Nimrat Kaur are top-notch, and the direction of Raja Krishna Menon is excellent. The film was a commercial success, with a worldwide gross of ₹323.3 crore (US$45 million). The film won several awards, including three Filmfare Awards and the National Film Award for Best Popular Film.