I read a Geekdad article a few days ago titled ‘Airlift’ and ‘Neerja’: A New Breed of Bollywood Film about two new historical Bollywood films that weren’t the typical song and dance musical. One of them was Neerja, a based-on-true-events film currently available on Netflix for online streaming. As
Neerja tells the real-life story of model and air-hostess Neerja Bhanot, whose efforts saved hundreds of lives when PanAm flight 73 was hijacked in Karachi, Pakistan in 1986. The story weaves between her doting family, flashbacks to the abusive marriage she escaped, and the events on the plane and in the airport. The story touches upon the sexist attitudes that still prevail in India, and celebrates this brave woman who defied them.
Actress Sonam Kapoor (daughter of Bollywood film legend Anil Kapoor) does a fantastic job as Neerja Banot. She did a great job portraying this brave, sympathetic, vivacious woman who stands up to the Abu Nidal hijackers. With the aforementioned flashbacks to her previous abusive marriage, you saw this woman as a survivor. And here she is in the middle of a life-or-death hostage situation, and you are hoping that she can survive it too, and get back home to her family.
Neerja (2016)