Sky Force Review: When Bollywood’s Patriotic Ambitions Lose Focus

Bollywood’s patriotic streak rolls on with the film Sky Force, taking inspiration from history in the lines of the crushing blow delivered by Indian Air Force to Pak’s advanced armada in 1965 Indo-Pak conflict.

With Akshay Kumar forming the lead with Veer Pahariya making his very promising debut for the movie trying to blend history with drama, it can’t help to be a complete patchy work that fails at finding its footing inspite of great premise and stabs at dramatic depth.

The Young Pilot's Bravery

The story revolves around a very courageous pilot, T. Vijaya (Veer Pahariya). His real-life analogue, A.B. Devayya, undertook the intriguing Sargodha airstrike. The idea here is more frustrating than engaging in a plot that gives way to Wing Commander K.O. Ahuja’s storyline, the strong narrative of the hero Vijaya goes down the drain. Akshay Kumar does carry his signature intensity in the portrayal of Ahuja, but the skewed focus robs this story of its emotional and historical core.

Veer Pahariya, as Vijaya, goes so subtly into the role. Without having even said a single line, he embodies the idealism and audacity of the young pilot. Still, it’s a poor decision to push him to the background for another more known hero who perhaps deserved a foreground role.

War Drama with a Fragmented Soul

The movie takes off in December 1971, during the Indo-Pak war for Bangladesh’s liberation. The story revolves around a mixture of war drama and investigative thriller. A Pakistani pilot captured and interrogated brings Vijaya, an old comrade whom Ahuja hasn’t seen in a long time, into the foreground. The movie oscillates between the tense aerial combat of 1965 and Ahuja’s dogged pursuit in 1971. This fragmented structure dilutes the overall impact of the movie.

The dogfights and strategic maneuvers are visually engaging but marred by over-reliance on CGI and an overpowering background score. While the aerial sequences aim for grandeur, the sound design often drowns out crucial dialogues, leaving the audience disconnected from the emotional stakes.

A Disjointed First Half

The movie Sky Force suffers in the first half due to too much exposition and bombastic action. It wastes too much of its time on noisy, computer-generated air combat and does not probe enough into the emotional guts of its characters. The film tries to establish a mentor-protégé relationship between Ahuja and Vijaya, but it remains quite superficial and does not go deep enough into detailing their conflicting philosophies about duty and courage.

Additionally, the female protagonists in the movie—played by Nimrat Kaur and Sara Ali Khan—are restricted to tokenistic roles as submissive wives. Their inclusion serves only to underscore the emotional investment of the narrative but never moves on from these familiar tropes of domesticity to offer much else in terms of balancing the story.

A Better Second Half

Post-interval, Sky Force takes off as it transforms into an investigative drama. The shift in focus allows the film to delve into themes of loyalty, loss, and the human cost of war. Ahuja’s relentless search for Vijaya adds emotional gravitas, albeit arriving too late to salvage the overall narrative.

The film’s highlight is its depiction of camaraderie and the “no man left behind” ethos. A poignant subplot involving a fellow airman underscores the sacrifices of those who serve, offering a rare moment of genuine emotional impact. Despite its uneven execution, these segments remind viewers of the bravery and resilience that defined the 1965 conflict.

A War Film That Breaks the Mold of Jingoism

Unlike most war films seen in recent years, Sky Force makes no indulgence into jingoism. For all the nods to patriotism, the story also holds fast to the humanity of the enemy. Sharad Kelkar makes the noble Pakistani pilot suitably nuance-packed, a fighter from across the border who respects his counterparts across the wall.

At moments, subtlety is overshadowed by the insistence of repeating the central theme: the spirit of the Indian Air Force that refuses to yield. Inspiring though it might be, too much repetition borders on redundancy, when the story in itself is strong enough to convey this sense.

From a technical perspective, Sky Force boasts excellent production values. The aerial combat scenes are, at times overwhelming, but always a feast for the eyes. The camera captures the magnitude of military operation grandeur, and the period details create authenticity in setting.

However, the sound design is a glaring flaw. The overuse of background music and fighter jets continuously roaring create inaudibility of dialogue, especially during the film’s first half. This oversight leaves the viewers straining to connect with the story.

Veer Pahariya: A Promising Debut

Despite short screen time, Akshay Kumar manages to win the main role in this movie. He has become perfect for the character of Vijaya, bringing together the semblance of courage and weakness of a young pilot who is put into extraordinary situations. Veer Pahariya’s subtle portrayal indicates great promise, which makes me sad whenever he is removed from the story.

Akshay Kumar: A Double-Edged Sword

Akshay Kumar anchors the film, and in this role, he is reliably good. Akshay Kumar brings a strong sense of purpose and gravitas to Ahuja, especially in the investigation sequences. But too often, his star power overrides the ensemble, throwing off the balance needed to tell a story that hinges on collective heroism.

Another misstep here is Kumar in the 1965 flashbacks, looking years older. Ahuja looks believable playing the grey-and-grizzled, 1971 version, though the younger version strains credibility and draws away from the verisimilitude of this film.

From Bravery to Blunder: How Sky Force Lost Its Way

The true story of A.B. Devayya’s sacrifice is a tale of unparalleled bravery, but *Sky Force* does not do the same justice. The fractured form of the story and misplaced emphasis water down this historic episode emotionally. A more chiseled presentation, with Vijaya at its center, might have made the movie a powerful tribute to unsung heroes.

Sky Force wants to honor the Indian Air Force legacy and fails at many levels. For example, due to an incongruous storytelling, there was less focus on its protagonists. Even at the second half, it tried to redeem but lost a character – Veer Pahariya.

For viewers seeking a war drama with emotional depth and historical significance, Sky Force offers glimpses of potential but ultimately remains a medium-yield effort. At 125 minutes, it is mercifully concise, but its rushed execution and lack of focus make it a missed opportunity to soar.