Sarfira (2024) Review!!

Synopsis – An incredible story, set in the world of startups and aviation, Sarfira will inspire the common man to dream big and to chase your dreams even if the world calls you crazy.

My Take – In a time when pan-Indian films are becoming a staple in the release schedule, mainly due to their growing acceptance and increasing box office numbers, a remake simply sounds like a bad idea.

Especially of a film like the Suriya starrer Soorarai Pottru (2020) that released directly on Prime Video at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, with English subtitles and a Hindi dubbed version called Udaan.

The Sudha Kongara directorial, which itself was an adaptation of G. R. Gopinath‘s memoir Simply Fly: A Deccan Odyssey, not just about received acclaim from every possible corner for its tale of how a man who sets out to a make affordable airlines for low income people while facing many obstacles, but also ended up nabbing five awards at the 68th National Film Awards for Best Feature Film, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Screenplay and Best Background Score.

Being a remake, the Hindi version is almost a scene-to-scene rehash of the original, with the primary location shifted from a village in Tamil Nadu and Chennai to a hamlet in Maharashtra and Mumbai. The character names have been changed accordingly, but everything else remains the same.

But what saves this one from becoming a simple rehashed tale is returning director Sudha Kongara Prasad and Shalini Ushadevi’s co-writing and the inspiring tale at the center of it all, both which reinstate the fact that the simplest of stories told well can re-create magic in any language.

Sure, at 153 minutes, the film feels a bit long, especially in the second half, but backed by Akshay Kumar‘s earnest outbursts and witty interludes, director Sudha smartly maneuvers her way around to create a social entertainer that has the potential to keep the masses emotionally engaged and silently appreciate its nuanced storytelling.

Resulting in a tear-jerking, inspiring, and a gratifyingly wholesome entertainer. It will most definitely help if you watch this one with a clear mind and don’t let the excellent Suriya starrer color your opinions.

The story follows Vir Jagannath Mhatre (Akshay Kumar) who grew up in a village where electricity has come after years of petition and have to travel hours to reach the closest train station. Exhausted by the non-violence principles of his teacher-father (Ravi Khanvilkar), who he calls a coward, Vir believes that one has to take charge to bring about the necessary change. Though he joins the Air Force to find stability in his life, a tragedy causes him to leave.

But joined by two fellow trainees, Sam (Saurabh Goyal) and Chaitanya Rao (Krishnakumar Balasubramanian), he decides to finally pursue his entrepreneurial dream: a low-cost airline that will break down economic and social barriers. He even pitches his idea to aviation tycoon Paresh Goswami (Paresh Rawal), who not only ridicules him, but ends up becoming his arch nemesis.

Yet, backed by the immense support of his wife Rani (Radhikka Madan), who is equally ambitious and wants to grow her successful bakery business, and the residents of his village, Vir heads down a path full of obstacles like corruption, power play, red tape ism, betrayal, and class divide.

Indeed, right from the very first scene of a plane declaring ‘Mayday’ to deep diving into the psyche of Vir and his never-die attitude, the film has several high points. Throughout its runtime, the film highlights and celebrates Vir’s journey of perseverance and strength to battle all obstacles. It gets a bit repetitive in between, but there’s enough to draw you back into the actual story at hand. Which is beyond just being a rags-to-riches story.

It talks about resilience, and how when one decides to stand against the system and fight all odds, there’s no stopping them. Though there have been way too many films on people chasing unachievable dreams, this one stands out in its treatment and execution, and definitely for the consistency in its script.

There’s just right amount of every emotion it plays with and it doesn’t get stuck in it for long. You experience happiness and sadness, and the next moment, there’s a sense of pride in seeing the events unfold in the manner they do. And while you may feel that the makers have pumped up the dramatic quotient in the film a few notches, you’ll soon realize that it’s relevant to its tone and texture.

It helps that Akshay Kumar carries the film with a heartfelt and emotional performance. Marking his 150th film, this is an Akshay Kumar show from start to end. He is in full form and brings a myriad of emotions to life with his earnest performance. The actor has made a solid comeback in a performance that is so rooted.

The scenes when he breaks down where is asking people at the airport to loan him some money so he can go back home to meet his ailing father, or when he asks his wife to lend him ₹15,000 so he can close a deal, with a promise that he would return it soon, are heartbreaking, and performed so beautifully.

Complementing him is Radhikka Madan who is in her element quite well and brings a strong and confident portrayal. Paresh Rawal is exceptional as the antagonist, reprising his role from the original version.

In supporting roles, Seema Biswas, Anil Charanjeett, Saurabh Goyal, Krishnakumar Balasubramanian, Jay Upadhyay, Ravi Khanvilkar, Prakash Belawadi, and R. Sarath Kumar make a notable impact. On the whole, ‘Sarfira’ is an inspirational and moving biopic that marks a return to form for Akshay Kumar.