Neerjia Movie Review

Neerja is a 2016 Indian Hindi-language biographical thriller film written by Saiwyn Quadras, and directed by Ram Madhvani starring Sonam Kapoor, Shabana Azmi and Shekhar Ravjiani. The film was produced by Atul Kasbekar under the banner of Fox Star

StudiosThe film revolves around the Libya backed Abu Nidal Organization's hijacking of Pan Am Flight 73 in Karachi, Pakistan on 5 September 1986, specifically focusing on head purser Neerja Bhanot who thwarted the hijack attempt by preventing the plane from taking off, which resulted in the lives of 360 hostages being saved.

The film opens with Neerja Bhanot, 22 years old, arriving (late) for a house party. She's loved by everyone, the life of every party. Later that evening her mother expresses concern once again about Neerja's job as a flight attendant and suggests Neerja return to her old job of modeling. Neerja likes her job and is driven to the airport by her boyfriend Jaideep. (Her mother is not totally thrilled about this either.) Neerja's colleagues love Jaideep, he adores her and gives her an advance birthday present.

Neerja reflects on her brief and unhappy arranged marriage. Her former husband was a professional in Doha, Qatar. He constantly harangued and abused Neerja over dowry. (It is revealed that Neerja's family had made it clear there would be no dowry, but the husband had expected something anyway.) He also abused Neerja as she could not cook or clean. She eventually returned home to honor a modeling contract. He sent back a humiliating letter attacking her parents about dowry, her lack of domestic skills and suggesting that she had better bring something (money) back or not come back at all. She broke off with him and landed a highly competitive job with Pan Am.

As Neerja boards Pan Am 73 (Sep 5, 1986) it is revealed that a terrorist group has planned to hijack the plane in Karachi. The plane takes off from Mumbai and lands in Karachi where the terrorists board the plane disguised as security officers escorting a Libyan diplomat. They reveal themselves and hijack the plane. Neerja quickly alerts the cockpit and the American pilots escape through the overhead hatch and run into the terminal. (The plane cannot be flown.)

In January 2015, it was reported that Sonam Kapoor had been selected to play the role of Neerja Bhanot, the senior flight crew member who became the youngest recipient of the bravery award, Ashok Chakra in her biopic. It was also reported that the movie has been tentatively titled Neerja and will be directed by ad filmmaker Ram Madhvani.

Shabana Azmi was reported to play the role of Neerja's mother in the film.

It was reported in May 2015 that, Shekhar Ravjiani, one half of Bollywood's music directing duo Vishal–Shekhar, would play a short role in the movie marking his acting debut

Rucha Pathak (head of creative and development at Fox Star Studios) said the following in a statement: "When we heard the script of Neerja, we immediately knew we wanted to make the film. It's the kind of content that Fox Star instinctively believes in and wants to back. Captained by Ram Madhvani, and with Sonam Kapoor and Shabana Azmi, Neerja, we believe that this is a cracker of a film. Principal photography of the film began around 19 April 2015, and is set to release on February 19, 2016The film's music has been composed by Vishal Khurana and the lyrics have been penned by Prasoon Joshi.The film's music rights were acquired by T-Series.