Sky Force Review: Honest attempt to tribute an unsung hero of the Indian Air Force
Sky Force Movie Rating: 3 Stars
Watched Sky Force movie in Cinema. Let’s focus on the complete details, story, positive/negatives and at last my personal view on this movie.
Cast: Akshay Kumar, Veer Pahariya, Sara Ali Khan, Nimrat Kaur, Varun Badola, Manish Choudhary and Sharad Kelkar
Director: Sandeep Kewlani & Abhishek Anil Kapur
Release Date: 24th December 2025 in cinema
Story: The film tells the story of the late Squadron Leader Ajjamada Boppayya Devayya, who died during a strike mission in Pakistan in 1965. 23 years after his death, Devayya was posthumously awarded the Maha Vir Chakra (The second highest military decoration in India).
Movie begins with India capturing a Pakistani pilot Ahmed (Sharad Kelkar) in 1971 when the Indian air base is suddenly attacked by Pakistani Air Force. India Air Force’s Group Captain K O Ahuja (Akshay Kumar) is informed about the capture and during the interrogation he comes to know that Ahmed was awarded for assassinating an Indian Air Force officer during the 1965 Sargodha attack.
The story then shifts to a flashback set in 1965, where Squadron Wing Commandar Ahuja is stationed at the Adampur airbase, accompanied by his team, including youngster T Vijaya (Veer Pahariya) and others. TK. Vijaya, aka Tabby, is always called out by seniors for breaking protocols, but he is a very sharp pilot and a diehard patriotic. Ashok shares a brotherly bond with Tabby, seeing in him a reflection of his late brother Monu. In turn, Tabby regards him as a mentor and holds him in high regard.
After the Pakistani Air Force destroyed Indian bases on the Punjab border, the Indian Air Force decided to target their Sargodha base, which housed Star Fighter aircrafts. These were supersonic aircrafts, superior to the existing Indian aircrafts and hence destroying them was a priority.
Ahuja forms four teams for the mission, but David orders Pilot Tabby to be kept on standby. The mission is completed successfully, and all the officers return to their bases. However, Ahuja soon realizes that Tabby, who had stayed behind, did something significant that ultimately led to the success of the mission.
However, Tabby is presumed dead or missing because he never returns. His name is intentionally left out from the list of awardees by Kumar’s boss, Lawrence (Manish Chaudhari) because he had gone against protocol and without orders. Years later, Ahuja gets a hint of Tabby’s acts of bravery in air when Team Sky Force was accomplishing its mission. What happens thereafter?
Positives
1. Performances
2. Cinematography
3. Climax
4. Story
5. Background Music
Negatives
1. Length
2. Direction
3. Comparison with Fighter
4. Underdeveloped supporting characters
5. Slow & uneven screenplay
Durgesh Tiwary’s View: When I watched the trailer of this film planned to watch this movie in cinemas on release day as loved the trailer and always liked patriotic and real untold stories Indian soldiers. Inspired by true events during the 1965 Indo-Pak War, Sky Force follows the Indian Air Force’s daring airstrike on Pakistan’s heavily fortified Sargodha airbase. The film centres on a maverick pilot, his mysterious disappearance, and his Wing Commander’s relentless pursuit of the truth spanning nearly two decades.
Skyforce story is based on true-life incidents. The movie’s brisk runtime is a refreshing change in an era of lengthier films, allowing for a concise yet impactful storytelling experience. It resonates with a powerful sense of patriotism and national pride. Even the first half has some fine moments and sequences but the portions in the beginning slacken the pace. Some scenes stand out for their emotional undercurrent. Instances: death of admin officer Mehta; breakdown of Tabby’s wife, Geeta with her baby in her arms; the revelation about Tabby’s heroic deeds during Mission Sky Force; and, the best of all, the honor given to Geeta and her grown-up daughter by not just members of Team Sky Force but by all their seniors too. The good part of the screenplay is that the drama keeps moving and involving the viewers, even in mid-air action scenes. There’s only one clap-worthy dialogue in the film and ideally, a movie like this should have had more exhilarating one-liners. Akshay Kumar shines as the steadfast and empathetic mentor, embodying the gravitas of a senior officer with ease. Rest is good. What sets Sky Force apart is its balanced narrative, which highlights the courage and professionalism of both Indian and Pakistani pilots. It’s not just a tale of heroism but also a subtle commentary on the shared respect among soldiers, even across enemy lines.
Its narrative trajectory does not send the film soaring into the stratosphere nor does it help it land with the kind of force one would expect from a war movie of this scale and nature. But there is just enough in here for the film not to be deemed a failed sortie. The aerial sequences are visually striking but often suffer from excessive CGI, and the sound design, while immersive, is sometimes overpowering. The screenplay could have benefited from tighter editing and stronger dialogues to enhance the emotional connection. Including Lata Mangeshkar’s iconic “Ae Mere Watan Ke Logo” in the finale adds a deeply patriotic touch. It uses all the basic elements of a commercial patriotic cinema in India but avoids over-doing them. There are no romantic numbers, no dialogues that distract you from the agenda of the film, and no larger-than-life action sequences to impress you. After a great start in the second half, the narrative again dips for a few minutes, though it picks up eventually. The soundtrack doesn’t work and lastly, the mass appeal of the film is limited.
Overall, movie is a thrilling cinematic experience that successfully blends emotion, action, and patriotism into a compact package. Its strengths lie in its storytelling, technical excellence, and compelling performances. It’s an engaging watch for those who appreciate military-themed dramas with a heart. For its emotional depth and exhilarating aerial sequences, it deserves and demands a theatrical viewing. My view on this movie Recommended but don’t compare with any other film and keeps your expectation check.
For more Movies and Cricket updates visit my page on Facebook Durgesh Tiwary’s View and website Cricket Movie Website