Airlift (2016)

When Iraq invades Kuwait in August, 1990, a callous Indian businessman becomes the spokesperson for more than 170,000 stranded countrymen.

Director:

Raja Menon

Writers:

Raja Menon (story), Sonu Sinha (screenplay)

Stars:

Akshay Kumar, Nimrat Kaur, Kumud Mishra

Top Rated Indian Movies #92 | 3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Akshay Kumar	...	Ranjit Katyal
Nimrat Kaur	...	Amrita Katyal
Kumud Mishra	...	Sanjeev Kohli
Prakash Belawadi	...	George
Inaamulhaq	...	Major Khalaf Bin Zayd
Lena	...	George's Wife (as Lena Kumar)
Nissar Khan	...	Ashok
Ninad Kamat	...	Kurien
Kaizaad Kotwal	...	Poonawalla
Feryna Wazheir	...	Tasneem
Ajay Kumar	...	Joseph
Purab Kohli	...	Ibrahim Durrani
Gunjan Malhotra	...	Meher Poonawala
Pooja Nair	...	Preethi
Taranjit Kaur	...	Nair's Wife (as Taranjeet Kaur)

Storyline

It is in this scenario that Ranjit Katyal (played by Akshay Kumar), a wealthy and powerful Indian businessman, who has always seen himself as a Kuwaiti, rather than an Indian, realizes that he no longer wields any influence on the Iraqis, and that he and his family are in as much danger as anyone else. Ranjit unknowingly becomes the man who all 170,000 Indians look up to for getting them out safely from Kuwait. Airlift is the story of Indians stranded in Kuwait during this traumatic time. A story of how they, with the help of Ranjit Katyal, managed to survive the Iraqi invasion, and against all odds traveled a thousand kilometers across the border into Amman, Jordan. From Amman, 170,000 Indians were brought home by the largest and the most successful evacuation ever attempted by any country, in the history of the world. Over 59 days, the Indian government systematically flew over 488 Air India commercial flights into a war zone to evacuate all 170,000 Indians and safely bring them ...

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Plot Keywords:

kuwait | businessman | evacuation | 1990s | historical fiction | 

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Taglines:

1,70,000 refugees. 488 flights. 59 days. 1 man

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Genres:

Adventure | Drama | History

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official Facebook

Country:

India

Language:

Hindi Malayalam Arabic

Release Date:

22 January 2016 (USA)

Also Known As:

Gong-su-jak-jjeon

Filming Locations:

Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, India

Box Office

Budget:

$4,400,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

INR 443,000,000 (India), 24 January 2016

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$28,000,000, 5 February 2016

Company Credits

Production Co:

Cape of Good Films,Emmay Entertainment,T-Series

Technical Specs

Runtime:

130 min 119 min (Netflix)

Sound Mix:

Dolby Atmos

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Airlift is the first Indian film which is based on the Gulf War.

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Goofs

In the movie, the characters are shown as drinking and eating from Al Manama Supermarket. In reality, Al Manama Supermarket only has branches in United Arab Emirates and India but not in Kuwait.

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Connections

Featured in Housefull 3 (2016)

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Soundtracks

Mera Nachan Nu
Written by : Kumaar
Produced by: Amal Mallik
Performed by: Brijesh Shandilya, Divya Kumar and Amal Mallik

User Reviews

Airlift will surely touch all Indians by heart!

As this year has been started well with Wazir, the good work of Bollywood is on the road with increasing the speed and performance. Yes, I'm talking about Akshay Kumar starer Airlift, directed by Raja Krishna Menon, and which is based on true events! Film starts in Kuwait. Rajiv Katyal (Akki) has been reached on the top level in business with his ability. He refers himself as a Kuwait citizen. But when the government leaves their citizens when Iraq attacks on Kuwait under the order of Saddam Hussain, the people becomes needless. Rajiv now feels that he is an Indian, and so along with other 1,70,000 people who are actually Indians but lives in Kuwait, he starts the mission to run from Kuwait as soon as possible. His tries, his communication to India for the help, and the officer's help from India - These things you can find out in this movie. Some factors, like emotions of love for the family, for the nation, for the coworkers and their relatives, for the people who are only belongs to the same nation, have been described very well. Many moments where we can feel patriotism. Raja has directed a superb film. Akshay has given a stunning performance as usual. I was comparing Baby film with this, but both are different. But if you ask for just one movie, than I'll go with this one. Nimrat Kaur is my favorite since The Lunchbox and Dairy Milk commercials. She has delivered a fine supportive job. She shines as a wife of a rich businessman and a caring mother. Kumud Mishra fits absolutely in the character of a government officer. Poorab Kohli has a small role. Supportive cast are fine, too. De Di and Soch Na Sake are very small songs. Perfectly situated. Tu Bhula Jise is the song to remember. Background score suits to the film. Dialogues are good. Nimrat's 3/4 minuets long conversation with a unsatisfied man of the camp who always complains, is a must! Cinematography is good. Some scenes give are shaky, those could have been shoot better. Editing is fine. Indian flag has been waved by an airport staff of Jordan and Akki is watching that, while Tu Bhula Jise song is playing - the scene has been brought so many whistles and shouts. And than one more, in which Air India plane is taking off, while Akki is watching that and in background Vande Mataram is playing - a truly emotional scene! It will surely gives you goosebumps! Overall, a must watch movie for every Indians, to know the largest human evacuation. Salute to all the real heroes! Jai Hind!