Introduction:
A high-flying pilot in command of a flight from Dubai to Kochi must use all of his renowned expertise to power through terrible weather and diminishing visibility. Is he successful?
Is that even a question? The best disaster films keep the stakes and tension high, but in 'Runway 34,' my heart was never in my mouth. In part because the film is based on a true story (a 2015 flight from Doha to Kochi had a successful trajectory), and in part, because it stars an indomitable Bollywood icon.
You can watch the trailer below:
Runway 34 Review:
Runway 34 is based on the true story of a flight from Doha to Kochi that narrowly avoided disaster due to poor visibility and bad weather a few years ago. Captain Vikrant Khanna (Ajay Devgn, who also serves as director and producer) is a high-flying pilot who is confident and borderline arrogant about his talents, particularly in dealing with turbulence and crises 35000 feet above sea level. He works for an airline company.
He encounters terrible weather on what looks to be a routine trip from Dubai to Cochin. Much to the anger of his first officer Tanya Alburqurque (Rakul Preet Singh), he not only alters the flight's alternate destination but also issues the 'May Day' warning soon before landing, only inches from a crash. The outcome of the investigation is crucial to the plot.
Despite precedents in Hollywood such as Sully and Flight, Ajay Devgn's directing is a first in many aspects of Hindi cinema, and a distinct and pleasant difference from his prior attempts to helm the megaphone. His development as a storyteller is undeniable. The film's cutting-edge visual treatment of the narrative, a crisp story (Sandeep Kewlani) and screenplay (Sandeep and Aamil Keeyan Khan) with no unnecessary romantic and dramatic digressions or interludes, smart use of VFX, moments of thrill that bring one to the first half's conclusion, the film's sound and production design are just some of its undeniable plus points.
It has a running time of about two hours and 28 minutes, but it doesn't feel that lengthy, and it is equally interesting in the thrill and drama departments. The performances of Amitabh Bachchan, Boman Irani, and Ajay are well-composed and on-point with their characters. The music, which is intertwined with the tale, also adds to the proceedings.
The trial-driven second half, on the other hand, could have benefited from a little more drama and depth. To begin, even as the screenplay proceeds to closely analyse whether it was the weather or the pilot's mind space that led to the 'MayDay' call, it fails to answer a few critical questions. One of these is why, despite his first officer's encouragement, the pilot chose not to divert to the flight's designated alternative destination. And why wasn't this component emphasised enough during a closed-door trial?
Smaller supporting characters, such as the aviation journalist, the irate businessman, and the gentleman filming the journey on his phone, seemed to play a larger role in the trial sections. Unfortunately, they did not. Also, when Boman Irani appears, he doesn't get much of a chance to shine. Rakul plays her part with complete honesty, achieving a fine balance between a range of emotions, but her role should have been fleshed out a little further. Angira Dhar and Aakanksha Singh could have used bigger roles and contributed more to the story.
Conclusion:
To summarise, Runway 34 keeps you captivated and allows you to feel the turbulence while sitting comfortably. It's edgy, fast-paced, and intriguing, and it delivers a big-screen cinematic experience that won't let you down.
The loose ends are left dangling, the jury is mute observers, and the tough questions are pushed under the carpet — Devgn is the one who keeps it on track, with a performance that fits right into his film.
My Rating: 7/10
