critic's rating: 4.0/5

In a culture obsessed with larger-than-life heroes, Neerja comes like a breath of fresh air. She's terrified, she's weak and she breaks down under pressure. Yet, she finds the courage to defend what's right and to help those who need assistance. She's selfless not out of some righteous personal cause, but because her parents raised her so. She's real and her actions make her a hero. Her love for Rajesh Khanna makes you want to hug her tight. Hers is the story that deserves to be told. Director Ram Madhvani and his team of writers (Saiwyn Quadras and Sanyuktha Chawla Shaikh) have done every bit of justice to this hero's tale. Not only is this biopic a good film, it's relevant to modern society. It shows that sometimes, giving others more importance than yourself is just part of being a good human being.

The story as Wikipedia or news archives will tell you involves Neerja Bhanot acting courageously under duress from four terrorists who've hijacked a plane travelling from Bombay to New York. She was the head air hostess on that ill-fated Pan American flight and her efforts were instrumental in helping save the lives of 359 passengers. What most sources will not tell you is that Neerja was part of a common middleclass household. She was the youngest of her siblings and she'd experienced a rough and failed marriage at the early age of 22. Everything this woman did on the day of her death was a natural process of catharsis. She was exorcising demons of the past and with every painful memory she garnered new vigour to serve her passengers.

That Neerja, the film, takes that stance makes all the difference in cinematic quality. You can see a lot of thought and effort was put into crafting this film. They didn't try to portray Neerja as someone ideal or inspirational. But just one person who found courage under fire. There's no jingoism or heavy handed use of formula. Instead, there's a streak of honesty and civility by the filmmaker. An effort to tell the story like it happened. An attempt to recreate the emotions, the fears, the frustrations and the experience of an ordeal that allowed a beautiful but normal girl to become an international hero. It's just a reminder that writers are the real heroes of filmmaking.

Biopics good or bad are usually driven by the performance of the lead actor, portraying the person on whose life the story is based. Sonam Kapoor is playing Neerja and the very fact that she doesn't have the perceived image of a great actress, works in her favour. With each passing scene the actress surprises you with her restraint and control. Her performance is convincing and it supplements the story telling with great effect. When the terrorist makes her sing at gun point you feel for a moment, that it could’ve been done better, but then succeeding scenes like when she breaks down in front of her parents and the scene when she's dying are proof of a spectacular performance.

The supporting actors are just phenomenal. Whether it's Shekhar Ravjiani playing the cameo as the boyfriend or Yogendra Tiku playing the doting father, the actors chip in with fantastic results. Sushil Tyagi as the security head of Karachi airport contributes to the impact of the film. Performances from Abrar Zahoor, Jim Sarbh, Ali Baldiwala and Vikrant Singta, who play the terrorists, are just brilliant. Jim Sarbh and his manic intensity is brilliant. And then you have a master of the art, Shabana Azmi expressing motherly love and heartbreaking grief with flawless authenticity. The actors of Neerja make a team effort and it counts.

Neerja won't steal your heart or make you hate terrorists. It won't resort to highlighting the inefficiency of Indian and/or Pakistani governments. It doesn't over dramatize the story. It takes an emotional and mature stance about its subject. It makes you believe in the power of human beings. That ordinary people can make a difference if they try. That heroes need not be worshipped, but they need to be thanked. That just a little bit of kindness goes a long way.