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Sky Force (film)

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Sky Force
Theatrical release poster
Directed by
Written by
Produced by
Starring
CinematographySanthana Krishnan Ravichandran
Edited byA. Sreekar Prasad
Music bySongs:
Tanishk Bagchi
Score:
Justin Varghese
Production
companies
Distributed byPVR Inox Pictures
Release date
  • 24 January 2025 (2025-01-24)
Running time
125 minutes[1]
CountryIndia
LanguageHindi
Budget₹160 crore[2]
Box office₹109.88 crore[3]

Sky Force is a 2025 Indian Hindi-language action drama film centred around India's first airstrike, the Sargodha airbase attack of Pakistan in the Indo-Pakistani air war of 1965.[4][5] The film stars Akshay Kumar and newcomer Veer Pahariya, alongside Sara Ali Khan and Nimrat Kaur.[6] It is directed by Abhishek Anil Kapur and Sandeep Kewlani, and produced by Maddock Films and Jio Studios.[7]

Officially announced in October 2023, Sky Force began filming in May 2023 in Mumbai.[8] The principal photography wrapped up in late-April 2024, spanning 100 days, with shooting held in parts of India and the UK.[9][10]

Sky Force was theatrically released on 24 January 2025, coinciding with the Republic Day weekend.[11]

Plot

In 1971, the Pakistan Air Force suddenly attack an Indian airbase over the Kashmir conflict. In retaliation, the Indian Air Force captures a Pakistani pilot, Ahmed. Upon interrogating him, Wing Commander K. O. Ahuja discovers that he was awarded for killing an Indian officer in the 1965 war.

In 1965, Ahuja and his teammates including T. K. Vijaya are at the Adampur Airbase. Vijaya a.k.a. Tabby always sets his seniors for breaking protocols nonetheless is a skilled and patriotic pilot. He shares a close bond with Ahuja as he considers him as his mentor while Ahuja sees his late brother Monu in Vijaya. Ahuja's senior David Lawrence informs him that the USA has strengthened Pakistan by giving them 12 Star Striker Fighter Planes. On receiving confidential information about a possible attack from Pakistan, David instructs Ahuja to go on a recce along with one more officer and cross the border at his own risk. During the recce, Ahuja and Tabby discover several weapons and artillery at the Pakistan border. Despite getting noticed by Pakistani officers, Tabby clicks pictures of the weapons.

After analysing the pictures, Ahuja suggests that India should attack before Pakistan can execute their plan. Lawrence dismisses the idea as the government would not agree with India attacking first as a result of human rights. Soon after, Pakistan attacks the Indian airbase at night, knowing that India does not have any planes that can fight at night. They destroy the airbase, stationed fighter planes, and kill Indian soldiers. In retaliation, the Indian government decide upon a counter attack to destroy Pakistan's important air bases and their Star Striker planes. While strategizing, Ahuja gets to know from the Pakistani PM's speech that the Star Striker planes are placed in the central part of the country, at the Sargodha Airbase. The mission is named "Sky Force".

The mission is tough for India, due to the existing planes not having the fuel capacity which can bring them back to Adampur after attacking Sargodha. Ahuja assembles four teams for the mission but on Lawrence's order, he keeps Tabby on standby and not apart of the four core teams. The mission gets accomplished and all the officers return back to their bases. On returning, Ahuja learns that Tabby took off a few minutes after his designated time and has gone missing. The Indian government turns a blind eye to finding Tabby, labelling him as rebellious for not following orders. In the meantime, Tabby's wife Geeta urges Ahuja to find him as he had earlier promised her that he will take care of Tabby as his younger brother. Despite his best efforts, he does not receive any support from the government, who try to label his disappearance as his own fault.

In the present in 1971, after several years, Ahuja is guilt-stricken for failing to keep his promise to Geeta and losing another brother in a war. While all the soldiers involved in the mission received Vir Chakra, the authorities leave out Tabby despite his contributions to the mission. Heartbroken, Ahuja removes his Vir Chakra and places it on Tabby's portrait. After interrogating Ahmed, he becomes closer to locating Tabby, but receives no support from the government to facilitate the investigation.

20 years later, a retired Group captain Ahuja, receives a parcel from Ahmed, which contains a book regarding the Indo-Pakistani war of 1965. With more evidences, he successfully reopens the case and even becomes part of the investigating team. They travel across the world to inquire with several people and finally meet Ahmed in Pakistan, who tells them the true story. He recalls having the best fight of his life with an unknown Indian soldier, who dodged US technology and saved himself twice from the missiles. He reveals that the unknown pilot was Tabby, whom he presumed to be dead since the first missile launch. However with his skills and bravery, shot down Ahmed's aircraft by sacrificing himself and died in Pakistan territory. After being presented with proof of his bravery, Tabby is awarded the Maha Vir Chakra and becomes the only Indian soldier to be posthumously awarded the Maha Vir Chakra.

Cast

Production

The film first came into development in June 2022, with pre-production done by March 2023.[14][15] The film was officially announced on 2 October 2023, on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti.[16][17] The film is inspired by India's retaliatory attack on Pakistan's Sargodha airbase in the Indo-Pakistani air war of 1965.[18][19]

Filming

Principal photography began on 31 May 2023 in Mumbai.[20] Filming moved to Lucknow in August 2023.[21][22] The shooting was officially wrapped up on 26 April 2024.[23][24]

The film was shot over a period of 100 days (including 60 days for Akshay Kumar) in locations such as Mumbai, Lucknow, Sitapur, Amritsar, Hyderabad, Delhi, Pathankot and United Kingdom.[25] A special song involving Veer Pahariya and Sara Ali Khan was shot in Mussoorie.[26] Filming including patchwork concluded on 17 December 2024.[27][28]

Soundtrack

Sky Force
Soundtrack album by
Tanishk Bagchi
Released28 January 2025
GenreFeature film soundtrack
Length21:48
LanguageHindi
LabelSaregama
Tanishk Bagchi chronology
Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3
(2024) 		Sky Force
(2025) 		Loveyapa
(2025)
External audio
audio icon Audio Jukebox on YouTube

The songs of the film are composed by Tanishk Bagchi which marks his debut as a solo composer while the background score is composed by Justin Varghese. The lyrics are written by Irshad Kamil, Manoj Muntashir and Shloke Lal. The first single titled "Maaye" was released on 8 January 2025.[29] The second and third and fourth single titled "Kya Meri Yaad Aati Hai" and "Aankhon Mein Base Ho Tum" and "Maine Dil Se Poochha" was released on 11 January 2024.[30] The third single titled "Rang" was released on 17 January 2025.[31] The 1963 Lata Mangeshkar song "Ae Mere Watan Ke Logon" is used for an emotional tribute to India’s soldiers.[32] The fifth single "Tu Hain Toh Main Hoon" was released on 22 January 2025.[33]

Track listing
No.TitleLyricsSinger(s)Length
1."Maaye"Manoj MuntashirB Praak4:50
2."Tu Hain Toh Main Hoon"Irshad KamilArijit Singh, Afsana Khan4:08
3."Rang"Shloke LalSatinder Sartaaj, Zahrah S Khan3:42
4."Kya Meri Yaad Aati Hai"Irshad KamilVishal Mishra4:15
5."Ae Mere Watan Ke Logon"Kavi PradeepLata Mangeshkar4:53
Total length:21:48

Release

Initially planned to release on 2 October 2024, Sky Force was later theatrically released on 24 January 2025 in IMAX, 4DX, D-Box and ICE formats.[34]

Reception

Critical response

Ganesh Aaglave of the Firstpost rated the film 4/5 stars and opined "Sky Force will leave you with goosebumps, a lump in your throat, and maybe even a few tears in your eyes. Right from the action sequences to emotional moments, every frame strikes a chord with the audience. The film brings to life a tale of courage, sacrifice, and unwavering patriotism."[35] Sarika Sharma of Moneycontrol rated the film 4/5 stars and noted "Akshay Kumar and debutant Veer Pahariya pass with flying colours in this patriotic film which has released well on time ahead of Republic Day. It is a must watch this weekend."[36] Dhaval Roy of The Times of India rated the film 3.5/5 stars out of 5 and wrote "Sky Force stands out for its balanced portrayal of patriotism, avoiding overt sensationalism or antagonism. The film is a fitting tribute, making it a must-watch for those who are drawn to war dramas that blend action with heartfelt storytelling. A few bumps in the narrative aside, it’s a cinematic flight worth boarding."[37]

Anuj Kumar of The Hindu reviewed the film and highlighted "Skewed storytelling prevents this fictionalised retelling of the feat of a war hero from hitting the horizon".[38] Risabh Suri of the Hindustan Times reviewed the film and noted "Akshay Kumar's measured act balances vulnerability and toughness, elevating this emotional war film. Overall, Sky Force is a well-made film that leaves you pondering what makes our soldiers so selfless."[39] Nandini Ramnath of Scroll.in reviewed the film and highlighted "Unfortunately, what should have been jettisoned, like fuel during an emergency, is what constitutes the bulk of the plot. By flying into different directions at the same time, Sky Force does itself a disservice."[40]

Sky Force received 3 out of 5 stars from Vineeta Kumar of India Today. Kumar praised the film's restrained approach to jingoism, instead focusing on the story of an unsung war hero.[41] Saibal Chatterjee of NDTV rated the film 2.5 stars out of 5 and wrote "It isn't as punishingly long as such action films usually are. The heightened rendition of true events works only intermittently. It loses its way in a surfeit of computer-generated air combat sequences." He also mentioned although Sky Force is patchy, the acting is adequate.[42] Shubhra Gupta of the The Indian Express rated the film 2.5 out of 5 stars and opined "Sky Force, coasting on the same elements as Fighter, except this one is a thinly-disguised account of a real life incident during the 1965 Indo-Pak conflict." She praised the minimal use of jingoism, the background score and Pahariya's debut.[43][44]

Box office

Pinkvilla reported that after a strong opening weekend (due to heavily discounted ticket rates), the film's collections witnessed a major drop on Monday.[45]

Controversies

The film was banned across several Arab Gulf states, including the U.A.E., Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Oman.[46]

Some in the Kodava community have disapproved of the misrepresentation of Ajjamada B. Devaiah as Tamil in the film.[47]

References

  1. ^ "EXCLUSIVE: Akshay Kumar-starrer Sky Force passed with U/A 13+ certificate and ZERO cuts". Bollywood Hungama. 20 January 2025. Retrieved 20 January 2025.
  2. ^ "Sky Force Budget". NDTV. 25 January 2025. Retrieved 25 January 2025.
  3. ^ "Sky Force Box Office Collection". Bollywood Hungama. 25 January 2025. Retrieved 25 January 2025.
  4. ^ "Akshay Kumar's Sky Force sheds light on India's first and deadliest airstrike; release date unveiled". The Indian Express. 2 October 2023. Archived from the original on 8 October 2023. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
  5. ^ Giri, Aditi (2 October 2023). "Sky Force: Akshay Kumar To Headline Film Based On India's First Air Strike Attack Against Pakistan". News 18. Archived from the original on 3 June 2024. Retrieved 3 June 2024.
  6. ^ "Sara Ali Khan to be paired with ex-boyfriend Veer Pahariya in Sky Force". Bollywood Hungama. 3 June 2023. Archived from the original on 28 March 2024. Retrieved 28 March 2024.
  7. ^ "Sky Force Movie | Review, Cast, Trailer". Gadgets 360. Archived from the original on 30 November 2024. Retrieved 3 June 2024.
  8. ^ "Sky Force: Akshay Kumar announces next film on India's 'first and deadliest' airstrike, Veer Pahariya to make his debut". Daily News and Analysis. 2 October 2023. Archived from the original on 28 March 2024. Retrieved 28 March 2024.
  9. ^ "Akshay Kumar shoots for 'Sky Force' in Lucknow; videos from sets leak online - WATCH". The Times of India. 26 August 2023. Archived from the original on 17 November 2023. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
  10. ^ Arya, Prachi (25 August 2023). "WATCH: Akshay Kumar begins 'Sky Force' shoot in Lucknow after 'OMG 2' success". India Today. Archived from the original on 28 March 2024. Retrieved 1 March 2024.
  11. ^ "Akshay Kumar starrer Sky Force to release on January 24, 2025, makers to drop trailer on Christmas: Report". Bollywood Hungama. 19 October 2024. Retrieved 20 October 2024.
  12. ^ a b "Sky Force Real Story: Akshay Kumar, Veer Pahariya's Film Is Based On These True Events Of 1965". Free Press Journal. Retrieved 5 January 2025.
  13. ^ Fricker, John (1979). "Battle for Pakistan, The Air War of 1965". p. 113. Retrieved 25 January 2025.
  14. ^ Mankad, Himesh (8 March 2023). "EXCLUSIVE: Akshay Kumar to start Dinesh Vijan's Sky Force from May". Pinkvilla. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
  15. ^ "Akshay Kumar to team up with Dinesh Vijan for a new film Sky Force; deets inside : Bollywood News - Bollywood Hungama". Bollywood Hungama. 8 March 2023. Archived from the original on 17 November 2023. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
  16. ^ "Akshay Kumar to headline aerial action film 'Sky Force', teaser and release date out". The Hindu. 2 October 2023. Archived from the original on 6 October 2023. Retrieved 6 October 2023.
  17. ^ "WATCH: Akshay Kumar Announces Upcoming Film Sky Force, To Release on October 2, 2024". The Free Press Journal. 2 October 2023. Archived from the original on 3 June 2024. Retrieved 3 June 2024.
  18. ^ Srivastava, Aditi (11 March 2024). "Sky Force - Did you know Akshay Kumar's film is based on the 1965 Pakistani Sargodha attack?". OTTPlay. Archived from the original on 21 March 2024. Retrieved 21 March 2024.
  19. ^ "Akshay Kumar starrer Sky Force, based on India's first and deadliest air strike, to release on October 2, 2024 : Bollywood News - Bollywood Hungama". Bollywood Hungama. 2 October 2023. Archived from the original on 5 December 2023. Retrieved 21 March 2024.
  20. ^ Saxena, Deep (24 August 2023). "Akshay Kumar lands in Lucknow, begins shoot for Sky Force in Sitapur". Hindustan Times. Archived from the original on 14 October 2023. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
  21. ^ "Akshay Kumar reaches Lucknow to shoot for 'Sky Force' co-starring Sara Ali Khan, Nimrat Kaur". Mid-Day. 25 August 2023. Archived from the original on 22 September 2023. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
  22. ^ "Latest updates on Akshay Kumar beginning his shoot for Sky Force in Sitapur". Filmfare. 25 August 2023. Archived from the original on 30 September 2023. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
  23. ^ "Akshay Kumar starrer Sky Force wraps up; to retain its scheduled date on October 2, 2024". Bollywood Hungama. 26 April 2024. Archived from the original on 26 April 2024. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
  24. ^ Anand, Akriti (26 April 2024). "Akshay Kumar Completes Next Film Sky Force Shoot, Action Drama To Release On THIS Date; Report". News 18. Archived from the original on 3 June 2024. Retrieved 3 June 2024.
  25. ^ Arya, Prachi (25 August 2023). "Watch: Akshay Kumar begins 'Sky Force' shoot in Lucknow after 'OMG 2' success". India Today. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
  26. ^ "Sara Ali Khan Shoots For A Song Sequence For Akshay Kumar-Starrer Sky Force". News18. Retrieved 18 December 2024.
  27. ^ "It's a wrap! Akshay Kumar starrer Skyforce concludes shoot with song, announce directors Sandeep Kewlani and Abhishek Anil Kapur". Bollywood Hungama. 17 December 2024. Archived from the original on 17 December 2024. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
  28. ^ "Akshay Kumar's 'Skyforce' concludes the shoot with a song; directors call the film 'challenging'". The Times of India. 17 December 2024. Archived from the original on 17 December 2024. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
  29. ^ "Sky Force first song Maaye OUT: Akshay Kumar starrer's soulful track is giving fans 'Kesari vibes'; will ignite your patriotism". Pinkvilla. Retrieved 8 January 2025.
  30. ^ "Sky Force song Kya Meri Yaad Aati Hai OUT: Akshay Kumar, Veer Pahariya, Nimrat Kaur, Sara Ali Khan's emotional track celebrates memories of our heroes". Pinkvilla. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
  31. ^ "Nimrat Kaur & Akshay Kumar share electrifying chemistry in 'Rang' Song From 'Sky Force'". The Times of India. Retrieved 19 January 2025.
  32. ^ "Sky Force: Akshay Kumar's Film Revives Lata Mangeshkar's Ae Mere Watan Ke Logon As A Tribute To India's Bravehearts". News18. Retrieved 20 January 2025.
  33. ^ Juneja, Apeksha (22 January 2025). "Sky Force song Tu Hain Toh Main Hoon OUT: Veer Pahariya and Sara Ali Khan's magical chemistry coupled with Arijit Singh's soulful voice is perfect treat". Pinkvilla. Retrieved 22 January 2025.
  34. ^ "Akshay Kumar's 'Sky Force' eyes Republic Day 2025 release; to clash with Sunny Deol's 'Jatt'". The Times of India. 19 October 2024. Archived from the original on 20 December 2024. Retrieved 20 October 2024.
  35. ^ Aaglave, Ganesh (23 January 2025). "Sky Force movie review: Veer Pahariya makes a smashing debut in Akshay Kumar's compelling action-drama". Firstpost. Retrieved 24 January 2025.
  36. ^ Sharma, Sarika (23 January 2025). "Sky Force Movie Review: Akshay Kumar's impressive performance and Veer Pahariya's excellent debut make this patriotic film a must watch". Moneycontrol. Retrieved 24 January 2025.
  37. ^ Roy, Dhaval (23 January 2025). "Sky Force Movie Review : A cinematic flight worth boarding". Times of India. Retrieved 24 January 2025.
  38. ^ Kumar, Anuj (24 January 2025). "'Sky Force' movie review: Akshay Kumar hijacks this tale of valour". The Hindu. Retrieved 24 January 2025.
  39. ^ Suri, Risabh (24 January 2025). "Sky Force review: Akshay Kumar's stellar act makes this cinematic recreation of 1965 Indo-Pak War a tearjerker". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 24 January 2025.
  40. ^ Ramnath, Nandini (24 January 2025). "'Sky Force' review: Thrilling dogfights and dull catfights". Scroll.in. Retrieved 24 January 2025.
  41. ^ "Sky Force review: Akshay Kumar, Veer Pahariya in positive, non-fussy film about emotions, valour". India Today. Retrieved 24 January 2025.
  42. ^ Chatterjee, Saibal (24 January 2025). "Sky Force Review: Akshay Kumar In A Patchy, Inconsistent Film". NDTV. Retrieved 24 January 2025.
  43. ^ Gupta, Shubhra (24 January 2025). "Sky Force movie review: Veer Pahariya should have been the lead of this film, not Akshay Kumar". The Indian Express. Retrieved 24 January 2025.
  44. ^ Mukjhee, Andrea (26 January 2025). "Sky Force box office Day 2: Akshay Kumar, Veer Pahariya's film takes off well". India Today.
  45. ^ Dixit, Mohit (27 January 2025). "Sky Force Day 4 Box Office: Akshay Kumar, Veer Pahariya movie witnesses a dip post weekend, collects Rs 6 crore on first Monday". Pinkvilla. Retrieved 28 January 2025.
  46. ^ "BREAKING: Akshay Kumar-starrer Sky Force banned in several territories in the Middle East'". Bollywood Hungama. 24 January 2025. Retrieved 24 January 2025.
  47. ^ Raj, Sagay (25 January 2025). "Why Akshay Kumar's Sky Force is facing Kodava community's ire in Karnataka". India Today.
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