Sky Force (2025) Review!!

Synopsis – Skyforce unravels a gripping tale inspired by true events from one of the deadliest air strikes between India and Pakistan. A hero lost, a comrade’s quest for truth-an epic tribute to bravery, sacrifice, and unbreakable courage.

My Take – While Republic day 2024, saw the release of Fighter, a glossy all-star backed Siddharth Anand directorial that mostly imitated Top Gun: Maverick (2022) but managed to be a winning entertainer with enough flag waving to rake up decent numbers at the box office, this year, we get to see debutante directors Abhishek Anil Kapur and Sandeep Kewlani, take Maddock Films and Jio Studio’s backing and play to similar themes, but with a period variation, unpicking the fallout from India’s strike on a Pakistan’s Sargodha airbase during the conflict of 1965.

But what makes this venture avoid the expected crash-and-burn route, mainly due to its lackluster marketing, is its approach to the material in-hand as it sheds light on the real-life story of Squadron Leader Ajjamada Boppayya Devayya MVC. For starters, despite the patriotic subject, the narrative is surprisingly quite sober and the xenophobia has been dialed down as far as the genre allows.

Yes, the writing gets a bit disjointed, especially when it jumps between points and leaves much to the viewer’s imagination, nevertheless, backed by Akshay Kumar‘s charismatic performance, it still manages to be impactful and delivers heart-wrenching moments, particularly in the second half and the final act.

Sure, with half of Fighter‘s budget, the VFX, particularly of the aerial combat, are sub-par at best, yet, the directors ensure that the sequences manage to be undeniably thrilling, drawing viewers into the intensity of the battlefield.

Most importantly, the film succeeds because it packs a punch without trying too hard and sets a precedent for a modern-day patriotic film where friendships and loyalties take precedence over right-wing politics and ultra-nationalism. Along with justifying the glorious Indian victory story, the film salutes the spirit of Indian brave-hearts.

Opening in December 1971, in the course of the India-Pakistan war for the liberation of Bangladesh, the story follows Wing Commander Kumar Om Ahuja (Akshay Kumar), who finds himself in a room facing captured PAF’s Flight Lieutenant Amjad Hussain (Sharad Kelkar). During the interrogation, Ahuja end up learning that Ahmed was also probably the last person to see his protégé T. Krishna Vijaya “Tabby” (Veer Pahariya) alive.

Moving back to 1965, when Ahuja was posted at Adampur Airbase, where he trains and commands a group of young pilots for war. But among them, Tabby, despite a messy reputation of not following orders and being a hothead, was his favorite, with even his wife, Preeti (Nimrat Kaur), sharing a warm relationship with the younger man’s much pregnant wife, Geeta (Sara Ali Khan).

And while the men fly on difficult sorties and have dog fights in the air for training, nothing prepares them for the sudden night attack on their base which results in immense loss of life and damage.

However, while India’s subsonic bombers were markedly inferior in efficacy and speed, Ahuja leads a successful mission to Sargodha, Pakistan’s most protected airbase, and ends up destroying all of their eleven prized Starstriker F-104s fighter planes supplied by the Americans. But, his happiness is short-lived as he finds out Tabby has gone missing in action.

Written by Kewlani, Aamil Keeyan Khan, Carl Austin and Niren Bhatt, the first half relies heavily on aerial action showcasing Pakistan’s attack on the Indian air base. It also touches upon Ahuja and Tabby’s close bond. But it is the second half which gets into the crux of the story. After Tabby goes missing in action, Ahuja spends years searching for him and travels around the world to seek answers. All leading to an ending that is dramatic, poignant and filled with heart-thumping action befitting a patriotic film inspired by real life.

With a 125 minute run time, the film employs a crisp and taut screenplay that rarely drops pace and the director duo seamlessly blend enough realism and cinematic flamboyance to keep us hooked.

Surprisingly, where most patriotic films choose to lean only into political chest thumping, this one sneaks in criticism of the government then, who let the pilots go into battle with outdated planes and drag their bureaucratic feet when quick action is required.

One of the major highlights of the film are the engaging aerial combat sequences packed with edge-of-the-seat thrill. Though never as amply slick, cool and stylish as last year’s Hrithik Roshan starrer, it works with the template and mood of the film. These scenes are punctuated with moments that accentuate the valor and sacrifices made by fighter pilots. In the last 15-20 minutes, when Tabby’s valor takes center stage, the VFX-generated somersaults finally find an emotional purpose and bring one to the edge of the seat.

But at its heart, this is a story about humanity, empathy and human relationships that aren’t born out of bloodline. And that’s why when a fighter pilot does everything in his capability to trace and extricate his junior, who reminds him of his late younger brother, just so that his wife can heave a sigh of relief and move on, you believe it.

Performances wise, Akshay Kumar, as always, shines. He presents the seriousness of a senior officer with ease. His performance is a testament to his ability to bring depth and nuance to his roles, making Ahuja a character that audiences can root for.

Veer Pahariya, in his debut role, is alright. He has got many strong dialogues but there is a lack of enthusiasm and passion in them. Nevertheless, he shares good chemistry with Akshay, something which adds an emotional layer to the film, making their journey one that resonates with viewers.

Nimrat Kaur and Sara Ali Khan are decent in their confined roles as wives. Sharad Kelkar is excellent and manages to leave a strong impression even in a few scenes. Kelkar’s character is given a hint of nobility: he may be an enemy but he understands the importance of family values. Manish Chaudhary is also impressive in the role of David Lawrence. On the whole, ‘Sky Force‘ is an enjoyable and sincerely made air force feature that benefits from genuine performances and a clear effort to honor a true story.