If you are a big Sully fan like me, then this is what Runway34 would look like.
Sully and Runway34 – differences :
There it was bird hit, here there’s bad weather. There the co-pilot was male, here female. There they landed on the Hudson River, here they dramatically land on a tabletop runway (which by the way Trivandrum is Not). There it’s the pilot’s experience, here it’s his photographic memory. There it looked all genuine, here…oh the Bollywoodization…
All through the 1st half, our pilot, Ajay Devgan, parties hard in Dubai, then flies a plane, takes a nap mid-flight, smokes, frightens the co-pilot, lands with his eyes closed, but finally gathers applause.
Then you have weird passengers with funny accents, some rude, some sick, some scared, but they add to the running time.
How does the 2nd half look like?
The 2nd half is a typical Bollywood courtroom drama, Amitabh Bachhan plays the powerful righteous, and intimidating lawyer. He walks in slow motion, mocks and screams, something he’s done in plenty. Of course, there’s the swanky villainous airline owner, read Boman Irani and his team of fashion model like lawyers, who don’t contribute much.
But having said that, if you haven’t watched Sully, Runway34 is definitely a One Time Watch. It’s sleek, stylish, and yes, a fresh concept. Some dramatization notwithstanding, there are no boring songs or needless romantic angles. Unlike the recent Bollywood potboilers, it’s fast-paced and doesn’t drag.
Of the cast, Ajay Devgan shines, he plays the pilot’s role with elan. His dialogue delivery and expressions are honest and restrained. The rest of the cast do what they have to, with nothing much to talk about.
All said and done, Runway34 has been Inspired from Sully, but isn’t exactly a rip off. The VFX is top-notch and it does hold your attention till the end. You can watch it once for Ajay Devgan, he has indeed done a good job, of acting & directing.
By Preethi Warrier
Preethi Warrier has completed her Masters in Electronics Engineering and is an Assistant Professor. She is one among the winners of the TOI Write India Campaign Season-1, for the famous author Anita Nair. She can be contacted at : warrier.preethi@yahoo.com
Facebook Comments