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Airlift

  • 2016
  • Tous publics
  • 2h 10m
IMDb RATING
7.9/10
60K
YOUR RATING
Akshay Kumar and Nimrat Kaur in Airlift (2016)
Watch Official Trailer
Play trailer2:53
1 Video
82 Photos
Period DramaDramaHistory

When Iraq invades Kuwait in August 1990, a callous Indian businessman becomes the spokesperson for more than 170,000 stranded countrymen.When Iraq invades Kuwait in August 1990, a callous Indian businessman becomes the spokesperson for more than 170,000 stranded countrymen.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
    • Sonu Sinha
    • Ritesh Shah
  • Stars
    • Akshay Kumar
    • Nimrat Kaur
    • Kumud Mishra
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.9/10
    60K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Raja Menon
    • Writers
      • Raja Menon
      • Sonu Sinha
      • Ritesh Shah
    • Stars
      • Akshay Kumar
      • Nimrat Kaur
      • Kumud Mishra
    • 222User reviews
    • 43Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 3 wins & 18 nominations total

    Videos1

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:53
    Official Trailer

    Photos81

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    Top cast55

    Edit
    Akshay Kumar
    Akshay Kumar
    • Ranjit Katyal
    Nimrat Kaur
    Nimrat Kaur
    • Amrita Katyal
    Kumud Mishra
    Kumud Mishra
    • Sanjeev Kohli
    Prakash Belawadi
    Prakash Belawadi
    • George
    Inaamulhaq
    Inaamulhaq
    • Major Khalaf Bin Zayd
    Lenaa
    Lenaa
    • George's Wife
    • (as Lena Kumar)
    Nissar Khan
    Nissar Khan
    • Ashok
    Ninad Kamat
    Ninad Kamat
    • Kurien
    Kaizaad Kotwal
    • Poonawalla
    Feryna Wazheir
    • Tasneem
    Ajay Kumar
    Ajay Kumar
    • Joseph
    Purab Kohli
    Purab Kohli
    • Ibrahim Durrani
    Gunjan Malhotra
    Gunjan Malhotra
    • Meher Poonawala
    Pooja Nair
    • Preethi
    Taranjit Kaur
    Taranjit Kaur
    • Nair's Wife
    • (as Taranjeet Kaur)
    Ajay Arya
    Ajay Arya
    • Nair
    Avtar Gill
    Avtar Gill
    • Amrit Pal
    Pawan Chopra
    Pawan Chopra
    • Brij, Indian Ambassador
    • Director
      • Raja Menon
    • Writers
      • Raja Menon
      • Sonu Sinha
      • Ritesh Shah
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews222

    7.960.1K
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    Featured reviews

    10gurucena

    Historic Airlift..... One of India's best movie ever..... Akshay Kumar is just awesome He's the Best

    What a beautiful gift to the Indian Cinema by Akshay Kumar, Raja Menon & the whole team of Airlift. The story of biggest human evacuation told amazingly well. Its so good from the start to end that you can feel what condition those 1,70,000 Indians would have gone through. Clap, clap & clap in the end that's what me & the whole theater was doing.

    Akshay Kumar as Ranjit Katiyal was just awesome he has taken his acting to another level with this one. Salute to him for doing amazing & inspirational movies like OMG, Holiday, Baby, Gabbar & now Airlift. Nimrat Kaur as his wife was just too good, her scene with Prakash Belawadi is awesome & clap worthy. Purab Kohli, Kumud Mishra & especially Prakash Belawadi were too good.

    Direction by Raja Menon is fabulous he has done a great work in researching this true story.

    Feeling so proud to be an Indian & realized what great thing my country India has done for all of us. Salute to all those unsung heroes of this biggest human evacuation ever.

    And Thank You to the whole team of Airlift for this historic movie. One of India's best ever.
    10krishnacv

    Great Movie. Nice start for 2016

    Airlift is simply a great movie whether you talk about direction or acting,its simply mind blowing. Akshay kumar's gritty acting is simply mesmerizing.Unlike other movies , songs of this movie are soothing and full of melody. Its great that they didn't put a item song. The film is based on the real-life conflict and bloodshed that took place twenty five years back in Kuwait, and the way it is done—with a sense of urgency and immediacy, bringing alive a city over-run and under siege—sends out a crucial message to star-driven-yet-drivel- producing Bollywood.Other than that Nimrat kaur's was also very good. Overall, 'Airlift' is a good film,solidly plotted, well executed and well- acted. A must watch. Its a perfect movie for Republic Day Week !
    10rhindistar

    Airlift movie review: Akshay Kumar film is well executed and well-acted

    Over the years Akshay Kumar's choice of selecting the films has certainly improved with significant examples being Holiday, Baby, Special Chabbis, Gabbar Is Back to name few. Move over commercial masala potboilers with item songs, hero smashing 10 guys with a single blow and typical song-dance routine – Raja Menon's Airlift will give you goosebumps with fast-paced gritting thrills and excitement. Based on a true story, Airlift speaks about the Ranjit Katyal (played by Akshay Kumar) who helps the Indian Government collaborate with Air India to help evacuate 1,70,000 Indians from Kuwait after Iraq raided the country. From the director of critical acclaimed films like Bas Yun Hi and Barah Aana, Raja Menon does a fantastic research about the feat that was even recorded in the Guinness Book of World Record and surprisingly people are unaware about it. Airlift will consume you right from the beginning especially when Akshay's family faces the issue of Iraqi raiding Kuwait. From here onward, there is no turning back as the movie gives you nice twist-n-turns with well- choreographed action scenes. Icing on the cake is the climax scenes which has been well executed. On the flip side, length of the movie could have been reduced little further. But brilliant screenplay, Art direction and cinematography is spellbinding. Background score gels well with the mood of the film. Dialogues are fine. The music of the film is doing well on the chartbuster. The soulful number such as 'Soch Na Sake' is already a superhit among the viewers. Besides, other tracks are catching up fast as well. It is Akshay Kumar's show all the way. A thumbs up to him for doing something different from his usual masala potboilers. After giving back-to-back hits in 2015 with Baby, Gabbar Is Back and Singh Is Bliing, Akshay Kumar is definitely on a roll. With Holiday, Baby and now Airlift, Akshay Kumar has managed to create a image of "Mera Bharat Mahaan" actor and fans will love him in new avatar. The fresh pairing of Akshay Kumar and Nimrat Kaur works well. Nimrat Kaur's realistic subtlety would harness Akshay Kumar's machismo and give us that perfect thriller Overall , Airlift is nail-biting, reality-based action thriller that is going to give you goose bumps. Brilliant 4.5/5
    9maulin5

    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!
    7dineshprakash

    Uplifts Indian cinema standard

    Director Mr. Raja Krishna Menon work is superb. You feel yourself in to the screen. Story is inspired by real incident. It is OK. Screenplay makes its interesting by adding so many good and balanced plot, like introducing Kuwaiti girl and its culmination, one scene of secretary with his father, telling him about pain of migration, which triggers him to take the matters personally, track of irritating George etc. Credit goes to screenplay writers Ritesh Shah, Suresh Nair, Director himself and Rahul Nangia . Dialogues by Ritesh Shah, are real and impactful. Transformation of characters are very good, like a hardcore businessman to an extra emotional human being of main character. Productions design by Mustafa Staionwala needs to be applauded. Film looks so real and then great work by Director of photography, Priya Seth, to capture it perfectly. It could have been brutal but makers kept it very balanced. One scene where lead actor scuffles with Iraqi soldiers is a note above but its culmination again makes it worth clapping. Performance wise Akhshay Kumar is fantabulous. He is just amazing in every scene, especially in emotional ones. Nimraut Kaur as Amrita is OK. She had a good scene but it was just OK performance by her. Inaamul Haq as Iraqi Major Khalaf Bin Zayd, is first rate. He had gone deep into character that its hard to believe that he is an Indian. His balanced greed in eyes and accent make his character believable. Kumud Mishra as secretary Sanjeev Kohli is impressive. Purab Kohli as Abraham makes his presence felt. Ajay Arya Singh as Akshay kumar first driver is fine in his brief role. Feryana Wazheir as Kuwaiti girl, Tasneem looks innocent as the requirement of character. There was least scope for music but when it comes gives the much needed relief and boosts the pace. Credit goes to music directors Ankit Tiwari and Amaan Malik.

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      After the real life mission was successful, Air India entered the Guinness Book of World Records for being a civil airline that helped evacuate the highest number of people ever.
    • 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.
    • Quotes

      Ranjit Katyal: The only thing that sets us apart is that we are Indians and not Kuwaitis. If we are together, we matter. Otherwise, we mean nothing.

    • Crazy credits
      Before the end credits roll, cards stating the contributions of Mr. Mathunny Mathews and Mr. Vedi, on whose efforts this film is based, are shown.
    • Connections
      Featured in Housefull 3 (2016)
    • Soundtracks
      Soch Na Sake
      Written by : Kumaar

      Produced by: Amaal Mallik

      Performed by: Arijit Singh, Tulsi Kumar and Amaal Mallik

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    FAQ19

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    Details

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    • Release date
      • January 22, 2016 (France)
    • Country of origin
      • India
    • Official sites
      • Airlift Movie
      • Flight Booking
    • Language
      • Hindi
    • Also known as
      • 撤離科威特
    • Filming locations
      • Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, India
    • Production companies
      • Cape of Good Films
      • Emmay Entertainment
      • T-Series
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $4,400,000 (estimated)
    • Gross worldwide
      • $9,323,484
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 10 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Atmos
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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