At the time of filing this column, I was distressed and appalled to hear that the censors in Pakistan had refused to clear the film. With razor-sharp direction, exceptional writing, proficient cinematography and editing, and top-class performances by Shabana Azmi, Sonam Kapoor, Jim Sathbe and the remaining cast, the game-changing film is a monumental triumph for cinema. I’ve seen several films about doomed voyages but this has to be the most poignant and inspirational cinematic experience in a long time. It is an ode to the terror, confusion and courage of that awful day.
There is no unnecessary sensation, no exploitation, no gimmick. Every last tiny detail is drenched with tension. With claustrophobic severity, as it is shot mostly inside an aircraft, the deeply disturbing, masterful and heartbreaking movie showcases the courage, presence of mind and duty displayed by the Indian brave-heart, Neerja Bhanot. 'Neerja' does not show Pakistan in poor light, says Shabana Azmi She was also awarded the Justice for Crimes Award posthumously by the US and the Tamgha-e-Insaniyat by Pakistan for showing incredible kindness. Above all, it is an honourable and appropriate tribute to the lady who was awarded India’s highest peacetime military award for bravery, the Ashok Chakra. Based on the 23-year-old Pan Am airhostess, who was martyred when a team of Libyan hijackers took a Frankfurt-bound aircraft hostage in Karachi in 1986, Neerja is compelling and thought-urging cinema, a blazingly powerful and gripping reconstruction and recreation of the high drama that took place between the hijack and evacuation. In the week gone by, the mind has been consumed by what I believe, is unarguably, the best and most emotionally wrenching film to have come out of Bollywood in recent times - Neerja.
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