Airlift
Tags: historical fiction

Plot synopsis:
The film opens in Kuwait (Aug 1990) with Indian businessman Ranjit Katiyal clinching a business deal with the Emir of Kuwait. Katiyal is a ruthless businessman who will go to any lengths to make a profit. He is successful and well connected in Kuwait and Iraq. Katiyal calls himself a Kuwaiti and is generally derisive towards Indians. He has a large and well appointed mansion in Kuwait, he makes a happy home with his wife Amrita and his sweet little daughter Simu.Late that evening he receives word that Iraq has attacked Kuwait. (He explains that Iraq and Kuwait have had tense relations: Iraq owes a large dollar debt to Kuwait and Saddam has urged the Kuwaiti establishment to reduce oil supply so prices can rise. When Kuwait refused and remained defiant Saddam ordered the attack.) At this point Katiyal believes the attack is one of the many minor border skirmishes. He asks Amrita to take the child away to London for a few days until things cool down.In short order he discovers that the attack was not a minor skirmish. Iraqi soldiers are overruning Kuwait and plundering the city and indiscriminately targeting and murdering Kuwaiti citizens. Katiyal and Nair drive to the Indian Embassy. They are stopped by angry Iraqi soldiers (still in their teenage years) and when Nair begins pleading in Arabic he is shot dead. Katiyal manages to reach the Embassy. The consul, a friend of Katiyal, explains that the Kuwaiti government (the Emir family and others) has fled and Kuwaiti money is now worthless. The 170,000 Indians in Kuwait are now refugees until India decides its policy.Katiyal returns. He is pulled out at a checkpost and taken to the Emir palace. Iraqi Major Khalaf is now in charge. He chides Katiyal for not remembering him from his previous visits to Iraq. He explains that Iraq has always enjoyed good relations with India and now he extends his own personal friendship to Katiyal by which he means Katiyal should transact business with him; business now includes supplies, transport out of Kuwait and anything else that may be needed. Katiyal hurries home; his mansion is looted but his wife and child are safe at his office. Katiyal meets with his friends (one of them owns a supermarket). After some initial confusion he manages to convince them to stay together. A makeshift camp is set up at a nearby school and some 500 Indians move in. Amrita urges Katiyal to use his clout to extricate his own family but Katiyal (who ordinarily would have just looked to himself) appears to have a change of heart.Katiyal decides to stay and help the others get out. He eventually discovers that the Indian Embassy has been evacuated as well. He phones the Indian External Affairs Ministry in New Delhi where he reaches Joint Secretary Kohli who, as is common in the Ministry, redirects him to another officer. As Katiyal is trying to reach someone the camp is looted by Iraqi soldiers. Katiyal reaches the Major who explains that his soldiers need food and may return again. The Major also reveals that Saddam has already permitted Indians to leave Kuwait. Katiyal goes to Baghdad to try and set up a way out of Kuwait.Arriving in Baghdad Katiyal discovers that the Indian Embassy is of no help. (The consul explains that they cannot issue passports since many others - Pakistanis and Bangladeshis - use war as a convenient excuse to claim Indian nationality.) Kuwaitis in Iraq have also fled. The only remaining option, Iraqi Foreign Minister Aziz is somewhat helpful. He is a friend of Katiyal and is sympathetic to the cause. He discloses that an Indian merchant ship is due to arrive in Iraq and he will tacitly permit the 500 Indians to leave on the ship. Katiyal is grateful and returns to Kuwait with the news. But as soon as the buses are loaded and ready to leave Katiyal receives the distressing news that there is a UN embargo and ships are barred from entering or leaving Iraq. One of Katiyal's cantankerous employees rails against him. Amrita comes to his defense and after a loud argument everyone is resolutely supportive of Katiyal.Katiyal continues to keep in touch with the Indian Ministry officer Kohli but Kohli is somewhat of a sluggard. But when his own father recounts their tale of woe during the partition of India, Kohli awakens and begins to actively petition the Minister. The Minister sadly explains that they are in a weak coalition government and the Kuwaiti problem is not a high priority. But Kohli persists and the Minister, half in frustration and half in agreement, asks Kohli to handle it. Kohli approaches Air India (then national airline) and orchestrates an evacuation of the 170,000 Indians in Kuwait.The last part of the plan is arduous. Katiyal bluffs and threatens the Major to get him to let them leave. (The Major had thought he would have obtained more concessions from Katiyal.) Kohli pleads and wrangles the Indian establishment to get the Amman Embassy to issue permits. When Katiyal finally loads up the Indians and leaves he encounters hostile Iraqi soldiers who stop him at a border checkpoint and threaten to rape Amrita. Katiyal fights them off when he finds the Indian contingent right behind him. The Iraqi soldier drops his weapons and lets them pass. They all arrive in Jordan and the Amman Embassy receives word in the nick of time to let them leave for India. Kohli has successfully negotiated safe passage of all the Indians. Air India supplies the planes and the pilots, previously unwilling to fly over war zones, have had a change of heart towards their brethren. The Indian tricolor is hoisted over the Jordan airport.The film ends as the Indians salute Katiyal as they board the planes that will take them home.From Wikipedia

Review: Move over commercial masala potboilers with item songs, hero smashing 10 guys with a single blow and typical song-dance routine – Raja Menon's Airlift will give you goosebumps with fast-paced gritting thrills and excitement.Based on a true story, Airlift speaks about the Ranjit Katyal (played by Akshay Kumar) who helps the Indian Government collaborate with Air India to help evacuate 1,70,000 Indians from Kuwait after Iraq raided the country.From the director of critical acclaimed films like Bas Yun Hi and Barah Aana, Raja Menon does a fantastic research about the feat that was even recorded in the Guinness Book of World Record and surprisingly people are unaware about it.
Nimrat Kaur's realistic subtlety would harness Akshay Kumar's machismo and give us that perfect thrillerOverall , Airlift is nail-biting, reality-based action thriller that is going to give you goose bumps.
The film is based on the real-life conflict and bloodshed that took place twenty five years back in Kuwait, and the way it is done—with a sense of urgency and immediacy, bringing alive a city over-run and under siege—sends out a crucial message to star-driven-yet-drivel- producing Bollywood.Other than that Nimrat kaur's was also very good.
Yes, I'm talking about Akshay Kumar starer Airlift, directed by Raja Krishna Menon, and which is based on true events!
Airlift is the best film of Akshay kumar till date.
What a beautiful gift to the Indian Cinema by Akshay Kumar, Raja Menon & the whole team of Airlift.
Purab Kohli, Kumud Mishra & especially Prakash Belawadi were too good.Direction by Raja Menon is fabulous he has done a great work in researching this true story.Feeling so proud to be an Indian & realized what great thing my country India has done for all of us.
Airlift movie review: Akshay Kumar film is well executed and well-acted.
Based on a true story, Airlift speaks about the Ranjit Katyal (played  by Akshay Kumar) who helps the Indian Government collaborate with Air  India to help evacuate 1,70,000 Indians from Kuwait after Iraq raided  the country.
Nimrat Kaur's realistic  subtlety would harness Akshay Kumar's machismo and give us that perfect  thriller  Overall , Airlift is nail-biting, reality-based action thriller that is  going to give you goose bumps.
Guys a must watch movie for all peoples we are always watching Hollywood movie and think they are awesome and if u want a Indian heroism story so go and watch airlift best performance by akshay and nimrat and other star cast "Some stories *should* be told.
It is one of those movies which will test your sensibilities and in the end will only make you stand up and clap.Just like an aircraft takes time to lift ,same is the case with Airlift.It takes time to build up in the first half but in the second it just flies and knocks you left right and center.Credit goes to Akshay Kumar who invested in the script.He brought the real patriotic Indian on screen.His performance was a total standout.It is a must watch for all those cynical and worthless Indians who do nothing but portray the essence of the nation in a bad light.Feeling really proud after watching this.Such movies really need to be encouraged!!!Vande Matram.
Raja menon proved that one can make a superb thriller from an real life incident.Direction and acting is superb.Akshay proved again that he is one of the most versatile star today.Overall this movie is a treat for all Indian .Every one should watch it irrespective of whose fan you are.Release time is great(near republic day).Movie will keep you on the edge of seat all the time.Believe me this one is better than baby(akshay 2015 thriller movie) with more detailed and entertaining story line.It will face good competition from kkhh3 but as we all know content is king so the competition will be initial..in longer run airlift will be a sure shot winner..
Awesome Movie, quite a Realistic Depiction of of Iraqi Invasion of Kuwait, great Direction by Raj K menon, Akshay Kumar has played his part in q realistic way, His Best performance so has Nimrat Kaur and the entire crew as well.a great movie of decade and movie of patriotism.
Some of the most engrossing moments in the deviously- scripted political thriller find Ranjit Katyal making contact with an officer in the Minister Of External officers in the slim of getting help from the Indian government.All the actors, never known to let down there characters, creates tremendous empathy for there roles, at one point of time struggling to convince an apathetic Indian administration to send help for the stranded Indians in Kuwait.
One thing I've found prevalent among Indian cinemas are the ratings.Some of them are absurd to a point where you doubt the authenticity of IMDb as a source for checking the quality of any movie.This movie is one of the good ones but still it does not deserve its rating at all.There is no way it comes close to it.For example consider the latest release like Deadpool or Batman vs Superman.Both are equally excellent in terms of story,cinematography and both possess a line of star studded casts.Yet both of them do not have a rating they deserve because of the fair and right ratings from experts and viewers not from a particular or single place but from all over the world.Looking at this rating,I seriously doubt the entire Indian cinema ratings and would rather skip than waste my time and energy to go through any of the high rated movies and would skip the ones that do not even reach 5.This is my personal opinion but all I'm saying is the fans are not doing anyone any favors by giving outrageous ratings..
he film is well shot, with cinematographer Priya Seth achieving the right mix of impressive aerial shots and cramped hand-held bits, and reasonably well-textured with credible Middle Eastern detailing.There are hiccups -- like Kumar singing a Hindi song moments after refusing to listen to Hindi songs -- and the songs do indeed get in the way every single time they come on, but things are smoothened over by the solid character artists populating this film, from the surprisingly effective Purab Kohli to the ever-excellent Kumud Mishra to the businessmen who play Kumar's buddies to the fascinatingly helpless Feryna Wazheir, who plays a Kuwaiti woman hoping to make her escape with the Indians.It isn't all on the up and up, though: Prakash Belawadi, who seems to be in every film now post his star turn in Talvar, plays an infuriatingly pigheaded and badly written character.Meanwhile Nimrat Kaur, who plays Kumar's wife, seems challenged by the brief of speaking softly with a strain of Punjabi, like a woman from a Pakistani play, while constantly wearing make-up regardless of how harrowed her character is, like a woman from an Indian television show..
And Akshay Kumar as always was superb.The ending was a bit rushed up but that did not matter because the entire film was explicitly thrilling.Viewers will literally feel a sense of sympathy for the Indians trapped in Kuwait.
looks like Director has complete belief in Akshay to uplift the movie Airlift.And he got the Good Result.
Finally we can say Airlift is a must watch film for all the Indians with a strong story line and Action to the peaks..
One of the finest films in Indian History...Akshay Kumar is Terrific , his career best till date...Must Must Watch...Don't miss it !!.
#‎Airlift‬ is an engaging historical drama showcasing the emotions, fear, hope n spirit of 1,70,000 Indians stuck in Kuwait during Iraqi invasion in 1990 n finally how they were successfully evacuated by our Indian Government with the help of Air India...Akki has delivered the finest performance till date by completely owning the character of Ranjit Katiyal (it's a combination of 2 real characters who actually planned this evacuation in 1990), with much needed emotional layers, intensity, realism n subtlety...he is absolutely terrific (an award winning performance :))...other actors have done a great job too n supported him well...Film is technically brilliant n detailed in every aspect from writing, cinematography to art direction...Kudos to the director, Raja Krishna Menon for doing so much of research on this subject n courageously bringing out this heroic untold story to the world...he has done superb direction n handled it very realistically making it less jingoistic n more subtle n real in terms of Patriotism...It is one of the finest n outstanding films from India...gripping, engaging, beautiful, moving n most importantly makes us proud as an Indian...Go n be a part of this emotional journey n celebrate India's biggest victory...don't miss this Gem (they come rarely)...a must must watch !!
Akshay Kumar one of the best actor of Bollywood deserves Oscar for this movie..Movie full of emotions ..full of patriotism ..Never seen any movie better than this ..Great songs and at the right time ..No stupid drama no illogical scenes...If you are emotional tears will roll out of eyes at the end...Direction is amazing .....amazing screen play.......Will not be able to leave your seat in the second half .
Rest all junior artists have done their parts well.I appreciate Akshay Kumar for doing films like this because apparently he's the only actor in bollywood or maybe in the entire country who is trying to bring films like Special 26 and Airlift into the mainstream category.Conclusion - Bollywood must make more non-commercial movies like this if it really want to be in the Oscar race..
> Hats off to Raja Menon and Akshay Kumar for backing a film that deserves to be seen by every Indian.
Never before has Indian film industry been able to make such a brilliant movie.It has crisp and superb acting and heart touching scenes which give goosebumps specially the one when Indian flag is raised is high in the sky.
Must watch for everyone.Songs in background are relevant and pleasing.direction is crisp.But if u are looking for bollywood style drama then u would be in for a surprise.Akshay perfectly fits in his role.Nimrat kaur has a short role but does that perfectly.Looks like a documentary but it is epic.Will be worth your money.Have an exciting 2 hrs with this superb flick..
Akshay Kumar leads from the front, but shares space when it is needed: Nimrat Kaur, keeps pace with her co-star ; Inaamulhaq as Saddam's man-in-Kuwait, is suitably menacing, Belawadi (George) as the annoying refugee, Kohli is kohl-eyed and restrained and makes us feel for him, Kumud Mishra as the MoEA Babu, disinterested at first, then taking charge, fits right in.
Movie: Airlift (U/A)Rating : 4.75/5It's a true fact that we Indians love our heroes and protectors, who spend their lives for us, and when we see a film related to them, we all like those films and start to have a respect for the makers.
10/10Guys a must watch movie for all peoples we are always watching Hollywood movie and think they are awesome and if u want a Indian heroism story so go and watch airlift best performance by Mr.akshay.
It's a really nice movie to watch if you want to know Indian POV for Kuwaiti war and problems they face You might actually like the movie if you are whole hearted tricolored flag lover, that is why I feel it's give 9.7 till this review.
Honestly saying it's one of the best have all time...It's all about Kuwait War in 1990...I'll not expose the movie here...Now a days the quality of Indian Cinema is increasing...Last year Akshay Kumar gave us Baby which was also a masterpiece itself...But Now every year he's giving us minimum 1 masterpiece...And Airlift is one of them and even better than so many other great movies, there's nothing to compare it with those other great movies but you must watch it in theaters if you're an Indian...This is truly the most heroic mission had done by India...
Thanks for taking out such an idea of bringing this story to every Indian and made us proud.This movie had every thing which can make it a Superhit or rather one of the finest in BollyWood So far.Storyline acting screenplay cinematography has been on its peak.Awesome.
Akshay Kumar perfectly demonstrated the frustration, will for survival and humanity everything in all aspects.I loved the movie and yes surely wants say "Well Done" to real the person "Sunny Mathews" who made this all possible back in 1990 when India was not as renowned among the world as it is today..
I am not complementing because I like Akshay Kumar but since few years He had blast in Film Industry, He has worked in best movies, I noticed that if there is a best story in movie they don't need Item song or Item girl, He has proved that He is "One Man Show", If we talk about Airlift, I feel that this movie is One of The Best Movie, I will suggest every Indian to watch this movie because this kind of movie should not miss it if you are real Indian then must watch, Congratulations Akki Sir, Last but not in the list his Special 26, Holiday, Baby, Brothers, Airlift all are the best movies and all the best for his upcoming movie Robot 2..
One of the best movie i ever seen , what a performances , Akshay Kumar is really a great actor proved once again.As i do not know Hindi fluently i am able to understand easily because of wonderful direction.
it shows unity in diversity of India, i don't know where to start and where to end to praise the air lift team.Especially this is the perfect time to come these kind of movies to know about the real Attitude and character of Indians.
Akki is a great actor as well as comedian,but he should do movies like BABY,SPECIAL 26 and of course AIRLIFT.Nice movie,great story and salute to Mr. Kohli(the govt officer),one of the most important character who made possible of the evacuation.And friends forget to compare the khans and akki and any other actors with each other.Everyone has their own speciality.We have a trend of non-sense and good movies test,thats the credit going to bollywood.But this is the best movie i ever seen in Hindi film industry so called bollywood.And what a performance given by akki and nimrit kaur and everybody..
What a performance of all actors, salute to Akki.What a great movie I have ever seen in Bollywood.I would say, don't think about the region or language, the movie is about the Nation.You will feel like: Proud to be Indian.
Airlift is a Brilliant movie driven by Akshay Kumar in a splendid way.
I would like to say only one sentence that is "Bhai_saab_maza_aa_gaya" The film is belongs to 1990 incident, You probably remember the moment you first heard of Iraq's invasion of Kuwait, of Saddam Hussein, and of the incident that sparked off the Gulf War. In Airlift, he plays Ranjit Katyal, the unsung, unknown hero who masterminded the evacuation of thousands of Indians stranded in Kuwait in August 1990 when Saddam Hussain's army decided to take over.
I would say that you should go and watch the film it is extremely good and one of the best movie done by Akshay Kumar.
This is the first movie I seen in which people were clapping rather than whistle.This movie looks just like a real story at all time from beginning to end.The superstar Akshay Kumar also look like a simple business men(Ranjit Katyal).
However, Singh is Bliing was not a success, Airlift would definitely manage to make its way.The movie is directed by Raja Krishna Menon starring Akshay Kumar and Nimrat Kaur in the lead.
The story is about Mr.Ranjit Katyal(Akshay Kumar), an Indian businessmen living in Kuwait.
The grips you from the very first scene and stays with you as you the hall.The movie has finest performances from stalwarts like Akshay Kumar, Nimrat Kaur, Purab Kohli, Prakash Belawadi.
Based on India's biggest rescue operation of its citizens in war-torn Kuwait,Airlift is one of Akshay's best films till date!
Airlift is a 2016 Indian war thriller film directed by Raja Krishna Menon, starring Akshay Kumar and Nimrat Kaur.[4] The script, written by Raja Krishna Menon developed the idea after studying the whole incident of the war, and which he subsequently expanded.
The second part after the intermission is based on the evacuation of 1,50,000 Indians from the invaded Kuwait city by a true patriot Ranjit Katial (Akshay Kumar).
He goes into the depth of his character and what we get is the best performance of Akshay's career.Nimrat also does her best .The other supporting cast including Purab Kohli does justice to their roles.Raja Menon ,the director, has successfully evolved the human drama in this war- thriller.But there is another plus point which is the songs which are brilliantly written.The cinematography is awesome and same for the VFXs.This is a movie which will be remembered as a classic, for its effort ,especially for AKSHAY KUMAR..
Airlift not just probable akshay kumar is best film but also one of the best bollywood I have ever seen I just liked every thing about this film be it the performances of the cast specially akki he has done tremendous work as Ranjit Katiyal also supporting cast is excellent be it Nimrat Kaur,Kumud Mishra,Purab Kohli or Prakash Belawadi all are good.
Definitely a one time watch it loved it though it was a bit slow still is a very nice movie Akshays best Performance ever till date Nice direction Songs were fine Dialogues were amazing And it makes u proud of being an Indian as it's based on a real story My best movie till now U might hate if u prefer riot comedies like Housefull , Hera pheri etc But u will love it if u like serious movies like baby,special 26,Taalash etc.
The real life evacuation of these Indians have been conveyed through Ranjit Katiyal (Akshay Kumar) in the movie.