deepamgupta4 This movie is based on the final moments of a model cum air hostess Neerja Bhanot, where she died on a hijacked plane in an attempt to save the passengers. Although many people watching this movie know the final outcome, the scenes beautifully powered by Sonam Kapoor and Shabana Azmi are a treat to watch. The moments especially focusing on Shabana Azmi and her attempt to keep hope in times of despair are gut wrenching and will definitely leave you in tears. The story stays true to the real life, with no extra melodrama and no unnecessary song sequences. This movie, unlike many other stories, does not specify from the beginning that Neerja was a brave girl. We are with her when she is frantic, when she is remembering moments from her past abusive marriage. We see her develop as a character. Majority of the film takes place in the plane and none of the scenes appear to be wasted. One particular scene where Neerja locks herself in the bathroom of the plane after a certain tragic incident is beautifully shot. The director and the cameramen skilfully compare the abusive husband with the terrorist and slowly Sonam gathers courage. Honestly, I am not a big Sonam Kapoor fan. I have watched some of her movies and the only movie that I liked her in was Raanjhana. But in this movie, she acts literally from every pore of her body. She pulls off scenes involving intense emotions and scenes with some respite with utter grace. We get a good ensemble of large supporting cast in terms of passengers and Neerja's family. This is a film which will definitely make you teary eyed.

cinemacula I'm compelled to write this review for the movie Neerja. This is a mockery. It fails in every aspect of narration. I do realize that Indians have this 'adjustment' mentality but this piece has the ability to push even an Indian beyond his adjustment tolerance.Worst possible direction for such an epic story and casting is poorest to honest. The extras are horrible in the movie. They are neither interested in active story nor there was any effort made to groom them for the scene.Screenplay is the real buzz kill. It switches to personal story from a high point hijack scene at an abrupt point, it kills all the moment gained so far. And fails to push the movie back to similar pace.I hardly remember listening to any soundtrack or music score. Such an emotional roller coaster movie subject with thrilling scenes and music doesn't make slightest attempt to harness those situations. An utter failure from music point of view.Shabana Azmi tries to steer the entire movie with her performance alone. And the rest of the crew fails to do justice. She must credited for being the only scorer here for the movie.And I'm very particular about cinematography and this had the worst cinematography one can imagine. Eye of the movie never attempts to make me feel the situation they are in. It was supposed to teleport me inside the plane but the plane was where it was. Never connected with the story.There are specific scenes which could've been emphasized even more because they form the load bearing actions of the movie.

Varun Chaudhary The tragic story of Neerja Bhanot, who died while saving the lives of others, is full of tears and heartbreak. What we want to know, going into 'Neerja', the film based on the last two days of her 23 years on this earth, is : will it do justice to that pretty young woman with extraordinary courage? Director Ram Madhvani's long overdue return (where did he go missing all these years, after his terrific debut 'Let's Talk'?) to the screen is invested with the urgency and the sense of impending doom which tells us just how those terror-filled hours must have been like for Neerja, who was on that hopping Pan Am flight, New Delhi-Karachi-Frankfurt-New York, celebrating her first time as chief purser. She would have celebrated her 24th birthday on the 7th of September, 1986. Instead, her bullet-ridden body comes back to her devastated family, mother Rama (Shabana Azmi), father Harish (Tikku), her brothers, and the man who loves her (Shekhar Ravjiani). The film slides swiftly into its stride, taking us back and forth between the early morning of the 5th of September, with Neerja (Sonam Kapoor) getting ready for the flight, with her parents up and gently fussing around her, and a terrorist cell in Karachi, packing guns and grenades and gearing up for the hijacking of the Pan Am jet from Karachi airport. The atmosphere of dread and violence is created well, for the most part. We see the hijackers brutally put down any hint of resistance. We see the terrified passengers cowering in their seats. We see the crew being cowed into submission, being jabbed repeatedly by AK 47s. And we see the exact moment when Neerja draws upon her memories of being defeated in a past life, and reaching out for steely resilience: most importantly, we see Kapoor do this, believably. The question was always going to be, can Kapoor, who has always played itty-bitty ditsy roles before (with patchy​ results in a string of others), carry off that demanding role? Short answer again : yes. Sonam Kapoor fumbles in a couple of initial phases, where we find a blankness rather than terror on her face. But those are only momentary. Then she locks onto the correct tone, and we get the whole complement of feelings flit across her face – from shaking with fear to finding a place of strength. Kapoor makes us believe she is, was, Neerja. And that takes us past the few places which slacken. The lead terrorist is given a couple of ultra-histrionic moments. The end threatens to become too maudlin. There's a completely superfluous song bunged right into the middle of it all : yes, we know it's a flashback, but a song in a film like this? Can Bollywood ever get rid of this ​mistrust​ of ​its​ audience​ ? This is a film which needs to be as taut as a drum​. Why hamstring it with a song?​ Minus the songs and the excessive schmaltz, 'Neerja' could have been outstanding. But still, the film holds, and hold us with it. Both Shabana Azmi and Tikku, as the parents hoping for the best and dreading the worst for their 'Laado' (Neerja's 'pet name'), are excellent. They shine a light on the tragically-cut-short life of their daughter, a true inspirational heroine whose deeds need more than a memorial. They need to be remembered. I came out of the theatre, wet-eyed.

Rajesh Konsam One of the best movies I've ever watched in Bollywood. Neerja shows us that you don't have to be a superpowered being to bring about a change in the world. But that every person, man or woman, young or old can make a difference. This movie stays for long in one's memory.Sonam Kapoor has given one of the best female performances in the history of Bollywood, and this will be remembered by generations. Her acting was organic and commendable. That you don't have to be a crotch-kicking tomboy or a silk-saree wearing savitri to prove your mettle as an actress.Great narrative and screenplay backed up by strong performances from the actors makes this my favourite movie in 2016.