"Sky Force" Review: A Blend of Clichés and Emotional Highs with Akshay Kumar
Sky Force Story: Captain Ahuja (Akshay Kumar) leads The Tigers, an elite battalion of the Indian Air Force renowned for their bravery and success. Among them is TK Vijaya, also known as Tabby (Veer Pahariya), a fearless young soldier who prioritizes saving the day over following strict protocol. After the Pakistan Air Force launched an attack that left many Indian cadets dead or wounded, The Tigers retaliated with a powerful strike. The mission is deemed a success, but Tabby goes missing and is declared lost in action for a decade. Ahuja, however, uncovers a clue that leads him to reopen the investigation.
Sky Force Review:
Raise your hand if you instantly recognize a patriotic movie by B Praak belting out lyrics filled with words like Mitti, Maa, Tiranga, Pyaar, and Shaheed. Well, both my hands are up, and I can't help but hold the makers accountable for turning the singer into a cliché, relying on a formula they think will guarantee success. Akshay Kumar has already had his share of B Praak patriotic tracks, and when these clichés are recycled and become a routine, you end up with the first half of Sky Force. However, when the makers break away from those predictable tropes and venture beyond the obvious, that's when the film finds its redemption—and that’s the second half of Sky Force.
Directed by Abhishek Anil Kapur (known for Sarfira, Bhediya, Stree 2) and Sandeep Kewlani (also the writer of Runway 34), Sky Force is penned by Sandeep, with additional dialogues by Niren Bhatt (Bala, Stree 2, Bhediya) and Aamil Keeya Khan (Drishyam 2, Shaitaan). Despite their impressive resumes, none of the filmmakers are backed by a major name behind the scenes. They have the immense responsibility of honouring the real-life story of Air Force pilot and Mahavir Chakra recipient, Squadron Leader Ajamada B. Devayya, whose tale is at the heart of this film.
Sky Force makes an earnest attempt at telling its story without succumbing to jingoism (for the most part), and it keeps the screenplay tight. However, the film’s biggest misstep is in highlighting the creative liberties taken, specifically mentioning that it is ‘loosely’ inspired by the life of a celebrated martyr. This claim feels contradictory when the film ends by comparing the casting to real-life figures, almost presenting it as a biopic. What are audiences supposed to make of this? Sky Force plays it 'safe'—for lack of a better word—never subtle enough to be The Forgotten Army and not loud enough to be a chest-thumping spectacle like URI: The Surgical Strike.
The movie starts by acknowledging the clichés and formulas typical of patriotic films, and only brings the main conflict into the second half. For a film about Veer Pahariya’s Tabby, the first half largely focuses on worshipping Akshay Kumar’s character. While it’s understandable given his star power, making him the secondary character until the film's final moments feels like a hard-to-swallow structure. This imbalance becomes even more apparent in the second half when the movie shifts to the real conflict of finding Tabby after indulging in every cliché and B Praak song. Someone get B Praak some hot water, please.
The post-interval section of Sky Force is where the film finally finds its own identity, breaking free from borrowed elements and becoming more original. The action scenes are impressive, though the CGI is noticeable, which can occasionally pull you out of an otherwise gripping moment. While realistic CGI does exist, its presence here creates a minor disruption in the experience. The film truly resonates when you realize it’s based on a real-life story and not fiction. The system has forgotten a man who fought for it because he chose to disregard protocol and save eight lives. There’s tremendous weight in that situation, yet the film reduces this struggle to a montage and a brief two-minute monologue. Perhaps more time could have been spent exploring the quest to uncover his story and earn the respect he deserves.
While aerial combat has been explored countless times in cinema, a deeper focus on the bureaucracy behind it could have offered a more fresh perspective. In terms of acting, Veer Pahariya has room to grow, but he does show a lot of effort. Sara Ali Khan seems to be following a similar approach in different looks, and it may be time for her to change up her style. Akshay Kumar, for much of the first half, delivers his lines as if he’s reading from a script, which is surprising given his stature in the industry and his reported high fees. The art department does a decent job, but the music lacks any lasting impact.
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