Sarfira

wogma rating: Add to that never-watched 'To Watch' list (?)

quick review:

A story with so much heart told with such little spark. Instead, the telling is LOUD, s…l…o…w…and basically uninteresting.

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Director: Sudha Kongara
Cast: Akshay Kumar, Radhika Madan
Running time: 150 minutes
Genres: Social
More Movie Info

“Who are the rich to tell us what we should want!” A truer sentiment, there cannot be, right? And least expected, it was for me to hear that in a film. B-u-t, for a film that claims to be speaking for the masses, it’s sad that Sarfira decides that the masses like loud melodrama. You know the kind in which the background music is music-ing a bit too much, the drama, drama-ing you to the brink of boredom and then beyond.

Their accents are uneven and body language too performative.

That’s par for the game for an Akshay Kumar film, you say. I know-I know. I just wish it wasn’t for this story. A common man from a small, Indian village dreams of building a low-cost airline company. He feels this from his gut and puts in all his might and more to make it happen. The movie, though, makes a hotch-potch of it.

To begin with it goes back and forth in time, without there being an real reason to do so. Then it is uneven in its telling. For instance, it spends too much time on some scenes that don’t serve the film like the security check-up that Vir (Akshay Kumar) goes through. Then there are important scenes that lose impact because they are stretched out a little too long—like the desperation of a man trying to reach his village from a city.

To this weird choices in what makes it to the film and how much time it deserve, add a whole load of song-and-dance sequences. They are abruptly placed and even if you accept that they are needed to keep us interested, you cannot shake off the feeling that they broke the flow.

Maybe all these things are because the makers know that they are going to stick to just one note…Vir truly believes in his cause and there are a bunch of bad guys out to make sure he doesn’t achieve it. It is believable, the extent to which businessmen and bureaucrats can control an industry such as aviation. That even the best interests and interventions of politics cannot stop business is a remarkable side-comment. Yet, you get that gist even by watching the trailer.

Sure, the fault here lies with marketing. It annoys me no end that everything the film contains is known to you in the first two minutes of information you consume about the film. And don’t even get me started about the longer trailers.

All-in-all, you end up spending 2.5 hours and barely learning anything new or being entertained. Because, despite sharing a decent chemistry, Akshay Kumar and Radhikka Madan are not convincing you that they are poor people from a village…na-a! Their accents are uneven and body language too performative.

the background music is music-ing a bit too much, the drama, drama-ing you to the brink of boredom and then beyond.

This is sad because all they had to do was look at the supportive cast around them—Seema Biswas, not Paresh Rawal, nor Prakash Balewadi. Rawal plays a caricature of a villain and Balewadi’s dialogue delivery is unexpectedly jarring. While Biswas is loud, which seems like a directorial call, she is convincing.

Oh! That seems like a metaphor for the film! Take a good quality base and dial up the volume—figuratively and literally.

- meeta, a part of the audience

30 reviewers(?) - 18 yays 8 so-so 4 nays

Warning: clicking on "full review" will take you to an external website that could contain spoilers.

Thumbs up, by Subhash K Jha, Bolly Spice : ...Radhika Madan typecast as a firebrand, is no patch on Aparna Balamurli in the original . But Akshay Kumar is every bit as cogent as Suriya in the original. Their chemistry on screen, especially the way they burst into Maharashtrian dance moves , is delightful.... full review

Thumbs up, Bollywood Life : ...The film's narrative and character depth make it a compelling watch. Sarfira stands out as a testament to the power of dreams and the unyielding spirit required to achieve them. Watch out for Suriya's dashing cameo in the end!... full review

Thumbs up, by Manisha Chauhan, DNA : ...One thing that really touched me is the message that having people who care about you and wish for your success can protect you from anything. There's a scene where villagers and Air Force officers come to support Vir when powerful businessmen and the system were trying to stop his business. It shows how when many people want you to succeed, no powerful person can harm you.... full review

Thumbs up, by Devesh Sharma, Filmfare : ...Watch the film for its story depicting the rise of an underdog. And for the inspired acting displayed by Akshay Kumar, Radhika Madan, and the ensemble cast.... full review

Thumbs up, by Murtuza Iqbal, Filmi Beat : ...Overall, Sarfira is a well made remake. Even if you have watched Soorarai Pottru, you will enjoy watching this one and one of the major reasons for it is Akshay Kumar. So, watch this one in a theatre near you. Read more at: https://www.filmibeat.com/bollywood/reviews/2024/sarfira-review-ratings-akshay-kumar-radhika-madan-suriya-soorarai-pottru-a-well-made-remake-406091.html... full review

Thumbs up, by Lachmi Deb Roy, FirstPost : ...Sarfira , a promising film is written by Sudha and Shalini Ushadevi, with dialogues by Pooja Tolani, and a G.V. Prakash Kumar musical, Sarfira is produced by Aruna Bhatia (Cape of Good Films), South superstars Suriya and Jyotika (2D Entertainment) and Vikram Malhotra (Abundantia Entertainment). Slated for a nationwide release on July 12th, the film promises to captivate audiences with its powerful narrative.... full review

Thumbs up, by Manmath Sahu, fullhyd.com : ...This movie is a must-watch in theatres for biopic lovers, Akshay Kumar fans, or aficionados of South Indian remakes - it won't disappoint. Plus, you get to see Akshay Kumar in a role unlike any he's played in years. This film is a breath of fresh air, proving that sometimes, it really is possible to teach an old dog new tricks.... full review

Thumbs up, by Baradwaj Rangan, galatta.com : ...This is not a flavour you usually find in our films, and this is the smooth runway on which Sarfira takes off and lands..... full review

Thumbs up, by Monika Rawal Kukreja, Hindustan Times : ...Sarfira soars high and keeps you invested in the story, and at the end, you are left smiling and feeling proud of Vir's achievements. It's a perfect family watch that gets you emotional, happy and inspires you to dream big. Watch it to celebrate yet another true story, and also to witness Akshay's 150th film as a leading hero. Stay till the end if you don't want to miss Suriya's cameo.... full review

Thumbs up, by Tushar P. Joshi, india today : ...'Sarfira' is a return to form for Akshay Kumar and definitely worth a watch for the real-life drama it portrays.... full review

Thumbs up, by Jaya Dwivedie, India TV : ...Overall, 'Sarfira' is a must-watch film, which is successful in giving many messages. The story of the film gives the spirit to fight challenges, hence, we are giving it 4 stars.... full review

Thumbs up, by "Rajiv Vijayakar ", koimoi : ...After a long time, we have a biopic that is full of entertaining sequences and not just seriousness. Akshay Kumar has been having a bad patch since 2021’s Sooryavanshi (but for his cameo in OMG 2) and this one deserves to end the dull phase.... full review

Thumbs up, by TITAS CHOWDHURY, News18.com : ...In a nutshell, don’t miss out on this lovely film. It’s a masterclass on meaningful commercial films. And don’t let Akshay’s last few outings shake your conviction when it comes to Sarfira. It celebrates what’s most important in life – human spirit, dreams, simplicity and goodness and that’s all that matters.... full review

Thumbs up, by Rishil Jogani, Pinkvilla : ...Sudha Kongara, Akshay Kumar and Radhikka Madan breach 'Sarfira' heights with their deeply moving and delightfully inspiring aviation-drama, that warrants a watch on the big screen. Don't miss it.... full review

Thumbs up, by pratikshya Mishra, The Quint : ...You can’t help but indulge in Sarfira though – it might even make you cry more than once depending on how easily you tend to tear up. Towards the end, you find yourself so engrossed that you can’t help but give into what the film is asking you to do.... full review

Thumbs up, Times Now : ...However, since the remake already exists there will be several comparisons between the two and in the first half there are some noticeable flubs with the dubbing. But do stay through the end credits of Sarfira for some special scenes.... full review

Thumbs up, by Sonal Pandya, Times Now : ...But do stay through the end credits of Sarfira for some special scenes.... full review

Thumbs up, by Dhaval Roy, Times of India : ...While the film's narrative could certainly be crisper and the length tighter, ultimately, it lands safely. It turns out to be an inspiring tale elevated by top-notch performances from the lead cast. Buckle up for this flight!... full review

So-So, by Neha Sen, Deccan Herald : ...Overall a mediocre watch, Sarfira manages to neither disappoint nor soar to heights hitherto unachieved. Read more at: https://www.deccanherald.com/entertainment/sarfira-based-on-capt-gopinath-s-life-takes-off-well-but-doesn-t-fly-high-3103962... full review

So-So, by Rahul Desai, Film Companion : ...But in the context of this film, it is jarring. It’s hard to enjoy a story that’s so conscious of its themes. It’s hard to admire a hero when his heroism rests on the portrayal of others. Put it this way: Sarfira looks at economy passengers from a business class seat. It empathises with poignant ground realities, but from the sky. As a result, it’s hard to tell a soaring take-off from a choppy landing.... full review

So-So, by Shubhra Gupta, indian express : ...The nicest part of the film, like in the original, are the ordinary folk who come out of the first flight, their faces lit-up and beaming. That’s what you take away from this loose adaptation of G R Gopinath’s memoir ‘Simply Fly : A Deccan Odyssey’, as well as the freeze frames of Gopinath and his fellow pioneers who started out with an impossible dream, and turned it into reality.... full review

So-So, by Mayank Shekhar, MiD DAY : ...As the lead character, however, relentlessly overcoming multiple such obstacles—with all the masala, deliberately mixed with the meat—I think Akshay aces it, in his own athletic way. I guess it’s just easier for me to connect with Akshay, as a Bollywood audience over almost four decades, than, say, Suriya.... full review

So-So, by Sameer Ahire, Movie Talkies : ...As a whole, Sarfira is a decent watchable film for freshers, but a subpar remake for those who have loved Soorarai Pottru. Choose your side.... full review

So-So, by Nandini Ramnath, Scroll.in : ...Age presents an even greater problem in the case of 29-year-old Radhika Madan, who is cast as Vir’s wife. Did nobody on this production top to think that the Kumar-Madan pairing looks utterly unconvincing, especially since they have several lovey-dovey scenes? In Soorarai Pootru, the cute romance between Suriya and Aparna Balamurali provided a soothing touch, which is missing in the remake.... full review

So-So, by Anuj Kumar, The Hindu : ...More importantly, the intensity and purpose in Suriya’s portrayal of the character were the selling points of the film. The different looks that he donned to portray different periods felt organic but with Akshay the layers in storytelling get ironed out. Of course, he is sincere but these days his sincerity feels more like that of a punctual factory worker who has put the machine on auto mode.... full review

Thumbs down, by L Ravichander, Deccan Chronicle : ...How miscued it all is is clear from the fact that a visionary is perceived as a ‘sarfira’.... full review

Thumbs down, by Uday Bhatia, Live Mint : ...But in Sarfira, Veer hardly seems to care about becoming a profitable business. He only gets down to numbers when he has to attract or reassure investors, and then too all his talk is about breaking even. Success for him is helping ordinary Indians fly on the cheap—a part that comes attached, almost inevitably, to an actor whose penchant for playing virtuous innovators has become a ready punchline. Does anyone know which phase of the Akshay Kumar Social Work Universe we are in?... full review

Thumbs down, by Saibal Chatterjee, NDTV : ...If you have seen Soorarai Pottru, Sarfira will spring no surprises. If you haven't, are an Akshay Kumar fan and do not mind overboiled, excessively stirred drama, it might be worth a trip to a multiplex near you.... full review

Thumbs down, by Sukanya Verma, Rediff : ...It's never a good sign when the villain starts making more sense than the hero. And often the nature of Veer's actions strike more as sanki (eccentric) than sarfira (hot-headed).... full review

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This page has additional observations, other than the ones noted in the main review.

Parental Guidance:

  • Violence: None
  • Language: Clean
  • Nudity & Sexual content: None
  • Concept: A common has big dreams
  • General Look and Feel: Generic

Detailed Ratings (out of 5):

Direction:
Story:
Lead Actors:
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Comments (1)

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Raj

Thanks Meetu, and the biggest disappointment is - Why waste money on remakes when the originals are available FREE in dubbed Hindi on youtube? Same producer, same director..!? Waste of 100-200 crores production cost? For what? Fate is similar as Vikram-Vedha. Flop at box office. Why they do this? Can't understand common-sense logic..!

Raj has given this movie a Not Interested in Watching(Why they do this? Flop like remake "Vikram-Vedha"). Raj has posted 140 comments and has rated 106 movies. See Raj's page for more details.

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