NEERJA- story of India's Braveheart

The much-acclaimed and much-appreciated movie, 'Neerja', based on the true story of the courageous 23 year old air hostess Neerja Bhanot, who died on duty trying to save the lives of hundreds of her passengers during a hijack - is simply beyond any critique or review.

Stories like these when retold and re-enacted for cinematic viewing, cannot be judged using the usual parameters employed for movie reviews. Yet any story has to be well told to leave a worthwhile impact. And this one succeeds to the hilt. The direction, cinematography, acting, and other departments have excelled in bringing alive an otherwise forgotten story of a real-life heroine making it a compelling viewing. Sonam and Shabana Azmi do ample justice to their roles and give restrained performances which stop the movie from degenerating into a shallow melodrama. Sonam's father's angst and pain are so understated yet so tangible! The in-flight ordeal of the passengers and crew at the hands of four hyper and agitated terrorists transports you back into those tortuous hours of uncertainty and impending gloom. The ending wasn't really a surprise but still brought tears to the eyes. 

One can only salute the young lady who displayed such a remarkable presence of mind, an exemplary agility, quick thinking, selflessness and spirited valor in those crucial, trying hours. In this age where the media focus is more on silver screen stars' shenanigans and politicians' tug-of-war, not much attention is paid to real life heroes who mostly go unsung except for a sporadic loud applause which dies down soon after the gallantry award felicitation. 

It is in this context that 'Neerja' comes like a much-needed shot-in-the-arm to revive the jaded and cynical public mindset and infuse a hearty respect for those who in their, unfortunately, short mortal lives, lived a lifetime. Always hoping that the youth of the nation emulate worthy role-models like Neerja who went down stoically while saving human lives (irrespective of their religion and nationality), rather than perennially attack the nation guns blazing and sully the spirits of all those who lost their lives in their line of duty, at the borders and beyond.

Blusters And Blisters

There is a marked difference between expressing general dissent on state policies and deliberate and pre-meditated efforts towards disgracing the nation publicly. As also between being anti-establishment and being anti-national. You can espouse anti-government slogans, lambast corruption, slow economic growth, regressive social policies, even go ballistic on intolerance charge but for heaven's sake how can these 'youth' (most in their late 20's and 30's ) be allowed to chant 'India murdabad' and similar diatribe with media in full attendance and not expect some sort of backlash. If this doesn't call for universal condemnation in the strongest terms I wonder what provocation is required to awaken one's dormant patriotic instincts. I say dormant because most of the educated middle-class and upper-class populace tread on caution and neutral grounds in such matters. We leave the dramatics to the other half which occupies the political centre stage either by holding offices of power or the huge number of wannabes and no-gooders jostling all their lives for five minutes of fame translating into a 5-year stint in politics if they are lucky. They are the ones calling the shots in our democracy by being its visible face. Generally, the sensible reaction is to mostly ignore or generously condone unsavoury public demonstrations which make us uncomfortable. However at times, diplomacy and complacency ought to give way to a more serious and systematic approach to tackling distastefully provocative actions by youthful minds which should ideally be brimming with positive outlook and hopes for the nation. 

Even if the JNU students are given a benefit of the doubt that they do not actually mean or stand by all of their dramatic outbursts that fateful day. Then that in itself is a grievous pathetic commentary on student politics in India; sloganeering for cheap titillation and not any genuine passion for the cause in hand. And is India's pride so cheap and marketable that it can be prostituted by a bunch of buffoons? Did the government overreact by arresting and pressing sedition charges on them? Maybe. Did the students cross the line of tolerance (that dreaded word again)? Most definitely YES! Freedom of speech and expression ( misused blatantly and ever-so-often) is a salient feature of a democracy. But every freedom brings an equal amount of responsibility along with it. Both go in tandem and can only then create a peaceful symphony of a civilised society and a responsible state.  

"Sedition charges are ridiculous", "hot-headed youths treated like terrorists" etc are the baffling responses by the self-anointed saints of India. Equally uncalled for is the right wing's demands to crucify the 'traitors' publicly. Extremely polarised views are being expressed with equal intensity. Quite clearly, the hardliners and liberals are walking a tight-rope in India, battling out the rights and wrongs based on their subjective interpretations and individual preferences. The moot point is that no matter who wins the battle, the idea of India and the spirit enveloping it cannot be compromised. That, my dear friends, is utterly non-negotiable.