Bravery —how does one characterize it? Normally, regular heroes don't look unique (no extravagant outfit) or emerge in a group. You see them just when they confidently sustain under pressure when they do not think about themselves, and they become extraordinary for their astounding courage. Ram Madhvani’s ‘Neerja’ tells a story of such a courageous girl. 
 

In view of a real incident that occurred in 1986, the film makes you imagine of the circumstance of being caught in a plane captured by terrorists. It's a difficult thought and as the film goes on, you wind up pondering—what might you do in the event that you were the Head Purser of that flight like Neerja, if you were the parents of such a person, if you were one of the passengers, or if you were the airport staff negotiating with the terrorists?

Story:

Neerja (Sonam Kapoor) is the daughter in a family that has two older brothers. Lovingly called as Laddo (loved one), she is cherished by her parents Rama (Azmi) and journalist-father Harish (Tiku).  It was her first one as Head Purser when she left for her flight. Before leaving, Neerja requested to her parents for a yellow salwar-kameez for her birthday. The boyfriend (Shekhar Ravjiani) drops her to the airport handing her a letter to be opened on the birthday. Her friends are happy for her, urging her to forger her past and give life a second chance. We observe an admirable sense of self-respect in how the parents’ guide Neerja through a bad marriage and stand by her. And, of course, their anxieties, frustrations, when they are a long distance away from Karachi with no information on how their daughter is doing in the hijacked plane. Neerja’s flight was scheduled to fly to Frankfurt with a stopover at Karachi, where the stationary plane gets hijacked by a group of terrorists.  
 

Neerja loved to fly and loved her job.  An ardent Rajesh Khanna fan ‘Neerja’ who follows his father’s life lessons "don't let anyone kill your spirit” left a last message to her mother ‘Pushpa I hate tears’. 
 

What's Hot: The atmosphere of dread and violence is created well, for the most part. We see the hijackers brutally put down any hint of resistance. Yogendra Tiku (trying to unsuccessfully comfort his wife on phone) and Shabana Azmi keep it low key and real in conveying the helplessness and pain. It’s masterful how the central character’s present situation (the hijack) takes her back to the days of Neerja’s abusive marriage. These intercuts show us a unique insight into the probable workings of her mind at the time. And the fact that she chooses to remember what her father always said to her, “Galat kaam na karna, na sehna” (don’t do wrong, don’t tolerate wrong). Adding to the smart writing-direction are strong performances, good cinematography and editing, sound production design bringing out the ‘80s in an elegant, understated manner, and wonderful songs.


 

What's Not: The upsetting end of the film lets it down when the emotional strength and steadiness get compromised. Speeches, claps, salutes and “Pushpa I hate tears” turn it into a soppy tissue-box weepie. Overflowing tear ducts of the audience may get the moolah in as well as the acclaim but reduced its importance in a slighter way. 
 

Performance: The question was always there; can Sonam Kapoor, who has always played itty-bitty ditsy roles before, carry off that demanding role? Short answer: yes she did. Despite the small fumbles she makes us believe she is, was Neerja. 
 

The finest performance delivered in the film is none other than Neerja’s distraught mother Shabana Azmi as Rama Bhanot. She is outstanding while portraying the pain of losing a child remained impossible to express. We felt the same pain while watching her. Yogendra Tikku is perfectly cast in the role of Neerja’s father, effectively offering a glimpse into the welled-up emotions of a concerned parent.
 

Everybody played their part quite confidently Shekhar Ravjiani as Jaideep, Abrar Zahoor as Zayd Safarini, Jim Sarbh as the Khalil (terrorist)
 

Neerja is a heart-felt biopic that rises above ordinary with a great direction and stellar performances. A must watch.