Sarfira Review

The year of biopics is upon us, and here comes another, a cinematic rendition of Air Deccan founder Captain G R Gopinath's memoir Simply Fly: A Deccan Odyssey. A remake of the Tamil blockbuster Soorarai Pottru, this one stars Akshay Kumar, the Bollywood star who has been stuck in a rut with critical and commercial flops for a while now, the latest being the disaster Bade Miyan Chote Miyan. The original Suriya-starrer aviation drama was a smash hit, and this one thus has all the ingredients to relaunch Akshay to success, much like Wanted did for Salman Khan.

A former Indian Air Force pilot, Vir Jagannath Mhatre (Akshay Kumar), sets out to make air travel affordable for the common man. In doing so, he faces off against the world's most capital-intensive industry, and numerous enemies, including India's biggest private airline owner, Paresh Goswami (Paresh Rawal), and the country's aviation regulatory body, DGCA, who are all determined to clip his wings. In his uphill battle, Mhatre is supported by his wife Rani (Radhika Madan), his Indian Air Force colleagues, and his village community. Added to the mix are a radio journalist and the President of India, both playing pivotal roles.

Faithful remakes of blockbusters tend to work well, but the operative word here is "faithful". A successful remake isn't just a frame-by-frame reproduction, but involves adapting the screenplay to fit the new demographic while staying true to the original material. For instance, while Pokiri was based in Hyderabad, its Hindi remake Wanted was set in Mumbai, with significant changes to the screenplay. In contrast, Bollywood's remake of Vikram Vedha stuck too closely to the original, and couldn't replicate its success. Sarfira wisely carves its own path with a clever screenplay set in Maharashtra. The film keeps you on the edge of your seat from start to finish, recapturing the magic of the original. It's so well-crafted that it might even bring a tear to your eye.

Content-wise, the movie provides a revealing look into the challenges of breaking into a big industry. The corporate-government-bureaucrat-media nexus in aviation, the sluggish processes and the financing hurdles are all depicted realistically, without exaggeration. The film showcases the oligarchic forces at play, determined to thwart any newcomer.

To maintain authenticity, the film features some of the actual people and places mentioned in Gopinath's memoir. The authentic Beech 1900D aircrafts have been restored for the movie, and are used in several scenes.

This remake boasts three Bollywood stalwarts: Paresh Rawal, Seema Biswas and Prakash Belawadi. Paresh Rawal delivers his best performance since Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye! His portrayal of Goswami, with nuanced facial expressions, vividly illustrates the adage "one man's pain is another man's pleasure". Despite his limited screen time, Rawal makes a significant impact.

Audiences will be surprised to see Akshay Kumar in such a serious role. He convincingly portrays Mhatre's pain, his dream of flying, and his reckless determination. Akshay Kumar breaks free from his long-standing Khiladi and comedy roles, fully embodying the character of Mhatre.

The age gap between Akshay Kumar and Radhika Madan (27 years) is deliberate due to the story's demands. However, their chemistry is so endearing that viewers quickly forget the age difference. Radhika, previously known for her mixed martial arts role in Mard Ko Dard Nahin Hota, shines in this starkly different role as a liberated wife who is also supportive of her husband.

Technically, the film stays true to the story and the original movie. The introductory sequence, depicting an Air Deccan crash, is a visual treat and sets the stage for the backstory, though it runs a bit long. The sleek editing by Sathish Suriya ensures that every scene feels essential. Unusually, the movie uses no background music in some scenes, which proves to be an effective choice. It's something prominently in use in Hollywood, but very few mainstream Indian movies do. While the songs are good, they aren't particularly memorable, perhaps intentionally so to keep the focus on the narrative.

This movie is a must-watch in theatres for biopic lovers, Akshay Kumar fans, or aficionados of South Indian remakes - it won't disappoint. Plus, you get to see Akshay Kumar in a role unlike any he's played in years. This film is a breath of fresh air, proving that sometimes, it really is possible to teach an old dog new tricks.