The latter half saves it from a skyfall – Beyond Bollywood

Squadron Leader A.B. Devayya’s belated glory tale needed better storytelling, better acting, but one cannot question the noble intention of lead actor Akshay Kumar.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️ (2 / 5)

By Mayur Lookhar

In retaliation for the Pulwama terror attack, the Indian government launched a stunning airstrike in Balakot, Pakistan. The events of 2019 sent shockwaves through Pakistan, which, fearing a full-scale war with India, decided to release the captured Indian pilot, Wing Commander Abhinandan.

The brave Abhinandan did what every Indian soldier would do, but his early release wouldn’t have been possible without a strong Indian government and India’s rising global clout. Prisoners of war were exchanged in previous wars too, but the ones that remain ‘missing in action’ are perhaps forgotten over time. Squadron Leader A.B. Devayya is one such hero.

During the Indo-Pak war of 1965, Devayya, who was on standby, flew his Mystere aircraft into hostile territory and never returned. He was long presumed to be ‘missing in action,’ and it wasn’t until English writer John Fricker  book’s Battle for Pakistan – The Air War of 1965 was published in 1979, that the details of Devayya’s fate became known.

The man who took an active interest in Devayya’s whereabouts was Group Captain O.P. Taneja. His efforts bore fruit after Devayya became the first and only Indian Air Force oficer to be posthumously awarded the Maha Vir Chakra in 1988.

Sixty years later, Devayya’s belated glory story has inspired Sandeep Kewlani and Abhishek Anil Kapur to helm their maiden directorial, Sky Force (2025).

Given this history, why would the makers claim that this is a work of fiction inspired by true events? The mystery surrounding this episode opens avenues for fiction. The key, however, is whether it is believable and is there any emotional connect.

Kewlani, who previously contributed as a writer to films like Bholaa (2023) and Runway 34 (2022), and Kapur, who previously assisted director Amar Kaushik on Stree (2018) and Bala (2019), have joined forces for Sky Force (2025).
The screenplay for Sky Force is a collaborative effort between Kewlani, Aamil Keeyan Khan, and one Carl Austin (UK). Austin has notably worked with filmmaker Jug Mundhra. Meanwhile, Niren Bhatt has penned additional story and dialogues.

Four hands on the pen, yet the quartet fail to provide a taut, gripping screenplay. The wafer thin first half screenplay reeks of bad writing, silly charactisation, and the uninspiring acts up till now, is likely to leave the viewer disappointed. There is an endeavour to give it a slight Top Gun flavour, which boomerangs badly. Panther, Bull,Tabby, such nick names in an air force are fine, but why would anyone in the Indian Air Force be nicknamed Cockroach? This ignominy belongs to actor Soham Majumdar. What’s bizarre is how this officer is shown as a nervy guy in the skies, and upon landing heads to leak. Will such a guy even make it to the air force?

The film’s title is named after a Polish video game, but Kewlani and Kapur depict it as an Indian Air Force mission inside Sarodha air base in Pakistan. The 1965 war marked the first instance of aerial strikes by both nations. Pakistan had received 12 F-104 Starfighter jets, considered superior to India’s fleet of Folland Gnat and Dassault Mystère IV. However, Group Captain K.O. Ahuja (Akshay Kumar) believes the pilot, not the machine, determines the outcome of aerial combat.
The early action sequences lack conviction, and aviation experts may find fault with T.K. Vijaya aka Tabby’s (Veer Pahariya) audacious aerial maneuvers, particularly regarding aerodynamics. One scene, where he performs an astonishing stunt between a canyon while flying mere feet above the ground, may seem implausible. It’s not so much the action but the men behind it that don’t inspire.

Pahariya’s character, Vijaya, and Kumar’s character, Ahuja, are inspired by real-life Indian Air Force officers: O.P. Taneja and A.B. Devayya, respectively. Ah, it’s a Bollywood thing to give fictional names to real heroes.

Akshay Kumar shows familiar frailties, lacking in passion early. He, however, ups the intensity in the final sequences, thus bringing some respectability to his performance. Kumar hasn’t faltered in his choice of script, but how often in the recent years have critics pointed that Kumar the actor needs to reinvent. Mind you, he has to endure some bizarre dialogues. Here’s Tabby expecting his first child, and Ahuja is telling his wife Geeta (Sara Ali Khan) that a good pilot will be blessed with a daughter. Oops, so those Air Force officers having sons are they bad pilots?

Tabby is certainly not a bad pilot, but is Pahariya a good actor? His performance lacks passion and the adrenaline required for such a role. Merely being named Veer doesn’t qualify him to play this character. Pahariya’s privilege and past connections may have influenced his casting. Sara Ali Khan’s former boyfriend and the grandson of former Maharashtra CM Sushil Kumar Shinde has a long way to go as an actor.

Similarly, Sara Ali Khan fails to build any emotional connection as Vijaya’s wife, Geeta. Needless to say, Devayya and his wife Sundari hailed from South India, but Khan’s Geeta and Pahariya’s Vijaya are anything but South Indian in appearance or overall portrayal.

The dependable Nimrat Kaur is reduced to having an academic presence as Ahuja’s wife.

Sharad Kelkar consistently delivers strong performances. He excels as Flight Lt Ahmed Hussain of the Pakistani Air Force. While Sky Force carries a subtle political message, its greatest strength lies in its classy ‘honour between enemies’ message. Kewlani and Kapur have skillfully avoided jingoism, allowing not just Ahuja, but also the audience to respect Hussain by the film’s conclusion.

The film becomes more engaging in the second half, with the search for Vijaya building intrigue. While most viewers may be moved to tears, it is the grim reality of the situation, rather than the actors’ performances, that primarily triggers these emotions.

The inclusion of playback music in such stories is unwarranted unless it’s of high quality, which is not the case in Sky Force. While Indian Armed Forces personnel enjoy life and celebrate occasions, the portrayal in the Rang track is inaccurate and unrealistic. The scene depicting a Group Captain atop a huge chandelier, along with the poor choreography and the tacky dance moves of the officers and their partners, undermines the decorum typically maintained in our Armed Forces. Also, Manoj Muntashir and singer B. Praak’s Maaye is not even a shadow of their hit patriotic number Teri Mitti from Kesari (2019).

Despite its flaws, Sky Force demonstrates Akshay Kumar, Kewlani, and Kapur’s sincere intent to honour the memory of A.B. Devayya. The audience should also honor the film by embracing Sky Force.

Video review to follow.