Sky Force Cast/Actors: Akshay Kumar, Veer Pahariya, Sara Ali Khan, Nimrat Kaur, Sharad Kelkar, Mohit Chauhan & Manish Chaudhari
Sky Force Director: Sandeep Kewlani & Abhishek Anil Kapur
Sky Force Movie Production House: Maddock Films & Jio Studios
Sky Force Movie Release Date: 24th January, 2025
Sky Force Movie Available On: Theatrical Release and (likely to be released on Jio Cinema OTT Platform)
Sky Force Movie Released/Available In Languages: Hindi
Sky Force Movie Runtime: 2h 5m
Sky Force Movie Critic Review:
There is honour among enemies – sometimes.
When the Indian Air Force captures decorated Pakistani officer Wing Commander Hussain Ahmed (Sharad Kelkar) in the 1971 war, Wing Commander Om Ahuja (Akshay Kumar) interrogates him. And learns that Ahmed got his gallantry award for shooting down an Indian aircraft in the Sargodha attack in 1965. But the Pak officer won’t reveal anything more.
After the ceasefire, Ahmed is sent back to Pakistan. India has acted honorably with a PoW.
The downing of the Indian aircraft in Sargodha opens unhealed old wounds.
Return to 1965. The Tigers under Wing Commander Ahuja are known for their skills in the air even if the aircraft they fly is an outdated Mystere as compared to the swifter Sky Striker aircraft that the US has gifted Pakistan.
Directors Abhishek Anil Kapur and Sandeep Kewlani have a scene where Ahuja demonstrates to young Squadron Leader TK Vijaya (Veer Pahariya) how skill can win over speed.
In practice dog fights that are a tad too long, two factors are established by the directors and the team of writers (Niren Bhatt, Sandeep Kewlani, Aamil Keeyan Khan). Young Vijaya (Tabby to squadron mates) has a combination of natural skills in the cockpit and courage unfettered which makes him reckless, almost bordering on madness. Recognising his unique skills, Ahuja is indulgent, seeing in Tabby his own late younger brother. They are as close as family and whenever Tabby’s pregnant wife Geeta (Sara Ali Khan) expresses anxiety over his safety, the senior officer assures her that he’ll make sure nothing unforeseen happens to the brash young fighter pilot.
After a devastating attack on an Indian air base in 1965, Wing Commander Ahuja leads his squadron right into Pakistan to blast the fleet of Sky Strikers parked in Sargodha.
That’s the mission the Tigers accomplished with a flourish.
That’s the mission which won them Vir Chakra gallantry awards.
That’s the mission where standby pilot Tabby had taken off on his own, never to return.
After a leisurely start, the question mark over Tabby takes off. He was impetuous, paid no heed to orders.
But he was also the bravest of them all.
It’s a discovery made by Ahuja’s dogged investigation, guided by an invaluable tip from across the border. As stated earlier, there is honour among enemies, sometimes.
The team crafts the untold story of daredevil Tabby and Ahuja, his sibling-like senior, with a warmth that makes it stand out among the slew of patriotic films being churned out with speed. As Ahuja tells a panel, madness, patriotism, nationalism, are a package.
Akshay Kumar is ageing well and he plays Wing Commander Ahuja with the stature demanded of the position. Veer Pahariya has role that’s short in length but a double whammy in its impact. Sara Ali Khan and Nimrat Kaur are mere side pieces.
The storytelling is straightforward, even banal in places, with an overuse of BG score. Dog fights have ‘Bang bang’ going on in the background, a flashback number must be played when Tabby’s aircraft is shot down, a mandatory party song and dance with all four – Ahuja, Preeti, Tabby, Geeta – must abruptly end with orders to report to base immediately.
But a family receiving their loved one’s medal, posthumous honours denied in an officer’s lifetime, a single malt opened only for a special occasion and Lata Mangeshkar’s ‘Ae mere watan ke logon’ as visuals of the real officers bid goodbye, leave you with a lump in the throat.
Sky Force – Watch Or Not?: This is ideal Republic Day viewing. But that’s only if audiences are ready to step into a theatre.
Sky Force Review Score Rating: 3 out of 5 (i.e. 3/5)
Sky Force Movie Official Trailer:
Credits: Maddock Films
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