The sight of the tricolor unfurling before the victorious hero is one that has characterised many a Bollywood movie. And yet, very few manage to evoke genuine emotion even after resorting to lofty dialogue and( ear-shattering) patriotic background music.
But in Raja Krishna Menon’s “Airlift”, that moment is beautifully captured. Our hero, bedraggled and exhausted after a dangerous journey, emerges into the dappled sunlight, spots his country’s flag, and feels a sense of relief that is beyond words. Menon and his lead actor Akshay Kumar resist the temptation to embellish the moment.