Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil girl: Movie review


Awaiting a good film these days is like waiting for rain during the drought season. It was refreshing to see movies like Dil Bechara and the latest release which was biopic of Flight Lieutenant Gunjan Saxena. 

The movie is the story of her life from a little girl who harbors dreams of becoming a pilot. It goes on to showcase her trials and tribulations as the first woman in the Indian Air Force. She braves against odds and chauvinistic mindsets to finally attain her place and respect. She was the first woman to commission helicopter services during the Kargil War. 

The biopic is fast paced and has a no nonsensical approach to it. One of the USP of the film lies in the father (Pankaj Tripathi) being supportive of his daughter (Jahnvi Kapoor) with regards to her unconventional vocational choice. Something that was a rarity especially in the 90s. This exhibits a beautiful message of being respectful of your children's choices rather than being bogged down by societal pressure. 

Her training tenure in an all men's environment showcases the attitude exhibited towards women. This has apparently not gone down too well with the IAF. It makes one wonder if there is smoke without any fire. On the other hand, movie makers have a tendency to dramatize and overplay situations. So it remains to be seen what the truth is. Having said that, one cannot ignore the aspect of chauvinism that is still prevalent in many parts of the world. That includes the Indian subcontinent as well. 

It would be interesting to read Gunjan Saxena's book about the same which is slated to release sometime next week. 

Coming back to the movie, traversing through war infested zones and seeing our armed forces in action instills a sense of pride. Their selfless services and ability to guard our borders with vigor and passion never ceases to amaze me. One important aspect to be taken from the film is the lesson that it imparts-self belief coupled with confidence and courage can give wings to your dreams. It helps you not only conquer the skies but also the minds and hearts of people. 

Now coming to the cons, the main lead lacked emotion or passion in her performance. Considering she is just a newcomer, the role of Gunjan could have been allotted to someone like Taapsee Pannu. A role that she would have taken to greater heights (pun intended) in terms of her performance. A good film is further enhanced by stellar performances by the star cast. It creates a long lasting effect in the minds of the viewers. 

The icing on the cake was watching a film like this a few days before Indian Independence Day (August 15th). One would like to sign off by saying Jai Hind and also thanking the armed forces for their services. 





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