Let me start with the positives of this movie:
Why should you watch it? If you're a fan of Bollywood and its often overhyped actors and actresses, this is a typical Bollywood film that taps into national pride and the Indian Air Force theme, packed with stars and a big budget to impress you. Just remember to leave facts behind, as the film includes a subtly hilarious "aman ki asha" agenda, meaningless songs, a confused storyline, and more. Thanks to access to the Indian Air Force, the movie does manage to showcase some impressive aircraft in action, even if they are a mix of reality and VFX.
Now, why does this movie deserve a critical review?
1. Storyline: It attempts to blend factual events with imaginary ones, diluting the seriousness of historical events. This is important because many viewers might mistake the fictional parts for reality, which portrays indiscipline, emotional impulses, and an overreliance on one or two individuals in the Air Forceโthis is derogatory at best.
2. Weak acting by the lead stars: The poor performances of the main actors are evident. It reflects how the leftist agenda and their disconnect from ground realities affect their portrayal of war heroes. Their best acting seems to be in stereotyping India as patriarchal or expressing anger against authority.
3. Weak music and songs: Not a single song is memorable or likely to stay with you.
4. Weak dialogues: Like the songs, there isnโt a single thought-provoking dialogue. Most of the dialogues resemble street talk, lacking intellectual depth. One dialogue even mocks "How is the josh" by turning it into "How is the gosht," showcasing the extent of the film's descent into cheapness.
5. Promotes leftist agenda: The film promotes various leftist agendas that are far from reality, such as the parents of a female fighter pilot being ashamed of her until the hero makes them realize her worth. Ironically, it repeatedly portrays women as weak at the sight of a macho man or making mistakes just to impress their macho trainer. It also promotes non-vegetarianism as "cool." The film tries to strike a religious balance when depicting the sacrifices made by the Air Force.