Jobaaj Stories
Sky Force is Bollywood's Republic Day release this year, based on a real-life story from the 1965 Indo-Pak war. It follows the tale of a brave Indian pilot who disobeyed orders, flew a damaged plane, and saved his squadron during a critical mission. While the story is inspiring, the movie doesn’t do justice to it.
Veer Pahariya, playing the heroic pilot T Vijaya, gives a strong performance. But instead of letting him take the lead, the movie focuses more on Akshay Kumar’s character, Wing Commander KO Ahuja. Akshay’s storyline, about finding a missing teammate years later, takes center stage, which makes the film feel unbalanced.
The movie starts in 1971, when a captured Pakistani pilot gives clues about a missing Indian airman. The story then flashes back to the 1965 war, showing pilots in action, aerial dogfights, and military strategies. While the action scenes are exciting, the emotional depth of the real story gets lost because the focus stays on Akshay Kumar’s character instead of Veer Pahariya’s.
The film avoids over-the-top patriotism, which is a good thing. Sharad Kelkar, playing a Pakistani pilot, adds some depth, showing that even enemies can have a human side. Unfortunately, the female characters, played by Nimrat Kaur and Sara Ali Khan, are sidelined, only appearing as supportive wives.
The background music adds drama during the flight sequences, but the storytelling feels uneven. Akshay looks much better in the present-day scenes as a senior officer, but in the flashbacks where he’s supposed to be young, it feels unconvincing.
The most emotional moment of the film comes from a supporting character, highlighting the deep bond between soldiers. It’s a reminder of what this movie could have been if it focused on the right character.
In the end, Sky Force had a powerful story to tell but chose star power over substance. Veer Pahariya’s character should have been the main focus, but instead, the film gets weighed down by Akshay Kumar’s unnecessary spotlight.
