What’s it about?
Maha aka Chandra Mahesh (Suriya) is a villager and son of a school teacher. During Airforce days, an incident in his life makes him determined to launch a low-cost airline. He has a brilliant idea for running such an airline, but venture capitalists don’t believe in him. More than two dozen ventral capitalists reject his proposals. His wife Baby (Aparna Bala Murali) runs the home with her bakery when he is chasing the dream. On the other hand, Paresh Goswami (Paresh Rawal), the owner of Jazz airlines, creates hurdles to make sure that Maha’s dream doesn’t take off. How will Maha achieve his dream?
Analysis
Films based on the life stories of celebrities, business persons, sportspersons, and political leaders have become a trend in Indian cinema lately. Suriya starrer ‘Aakaasam Nee Haddhu Ra’ that is currently streaming on Amazon Prime Video is also based on the life of Captain Gopinath, the pioneer of low-cost flights in India. He is the founder of Air Deccan.
However, the makers have put a note saying that the film is based on “Simply Fly” and stories from the world of aviation, not exactly a biopic of Gopinath.
Directed by Sudha Kongara, whose previous credits include Venkatesh starrer ‘Guru’, this is a tale of a rebel who dreamed the impossible to make every Indian fly at an affordable price.
To generate drama, the director (who is also one of the writers) has fictionalized much of Gopinath’s life. She also explores the relationship of a father and son, a wife and husband to provide an emotional anchor to this tale. While the protagonist’s troubles are regular tropes that we see in such biopics, it is the pre-interval emotional sequences and Suriya-Aparna’s track that have given a depth.
How Chandra Mahesh, with only ideas as his investment, made the dream of affordable flying is told engagingly despite some repetitive situations.
On the downside, the characterization of the villain should have been better. It doesn’t make sense when Paresh Rawal being such a big entrepreneur goes extra length, sometimes indulging in criminal activities, to crush a yet-to-be formed airlines company. The director has also taken certain liberties too far to achieve a dramatic effect.
It takes a while to take off post-interval, but it soars high in the end.
Suriya is terrific, delivers a delightful performance. The character arc of the protagonist from a young rebel to an entrepreneur is noticeable in his body language and his expressions. He doesn’t get a chance to do regular fights, dances, but only to deliver an intense act. He owns the role. The scene where he seeks the forgiveness of his mother stands out. Telugu actor Satyadev has dubbed Suriya’s voice for the first time, and the dialogue delivery has made a difference.
Aparna Balamurali matches to Suriya. She gets better scenes in the second half and gives a stunning performance. She is a big surprise in the film. Veteran actors Mohan Babu and Paresh Rawal are functional, but Urvashi shines as a mother.
Cinematography is first-rate, one of the main pillars on the technical side.
GV Prakash’s background score has elevated the mood.
The artwork is good. The dialogue writing is neat. The film, however, needs to be trimmed. It is too long.
Director Sudha Kongara has deftly handled the film with a lot of conviction. She has command over her craft.
Bottom-line: ‘Aakaasam Nee Haddhu Ra’ keeps you glued. And, it has robust performance from Suriya. If we excuse the excess cinematic liberties the director has taken, it provides an emotional ride.
By: Jalapathy Gudelli
Film: Aakaasam Nee Haddhu Ra
Cast: Suriya, Aparna Balamurali, Mohan Babu,
Paresh Rawal, Urvashi, and others
Music: GV Prakash Kumar
Cinematography: Niketh Bommi
Producers: 2D Entertainment & Sikhya Entertainment
Story & direction: Sudha Kongara
Release Date: November 12, 2020
OTT Platform: Amazon Prime
