In Mahesh Narayanan’s riveting war-zone drama Take Off
(2017), there’s a small character yet one who plays an important role in the
narrative arc. He is a Saudi-based Malayalam businessman (named Jayamohan) who may
possess the power to hold unofficial talks and free the devastated Indian
nurses stranded in a Iraq hospital, at the mercy of IS terrorists. When the
Indian Ambassador for Iraq approaches him for help, the millionaire businessman
turns him away. But later at different points, he sees the nurses’ predicament over the news and hears their wail through a satellite phone call. What he sees
and hears eventually tugs his heart enough to make the vital move. The scenes
may seem out of place at some other language movies (especially European or
American). The rich man (who deserves all due credit for his involvement) is
clearly explained what’s at stake and yet he only allows himself to be swayed
by emotions. That’s something very Indian. Although they often say ‘Indians
wear the heart at their sleeves’, the sleeves need to be tugged at sometimes to
act as per the demands of heart. In fact, Take Off is a movie full of heart.
It’s a story of heroic women and men who attain that status without picking up any
weapons. It delicately balances the know-how of the rescue operation with acts
of humanity that’s not just born out under the covers of idealism.
Take Off is based on the 2014 rescue of 46 Indian nurses who were trapped
in IS-held Mosul, Iraq. On a broader viewpoint, it’s a significant diplomatic
victory in Indian history. But when observed little closer from the ground,
there hails the intricate events and people with different temperament who led
to the monumental rescue. Some of the freed nurses said in media that IS
militants didn’t harm them and even treated them with dignity. Director Mahesh
Narayanan reduces the number from 46 to 19 and shapes the drama according to
cinematic essentials. Yet, the momentous element is that doesn’t turn the film
into a one-woman show (as Akshay Kumar starrer did in Airlift –based on 1990
rescue of Indians from Kuwait). It touches upon the complexities involved in
such an operation and even the small characters are well-fleshed out rather
than being disposable narrative devices.
I am not a big fan of films that treat wars and bloody ethnic
conflicts as a mere spectacle (a form of pop-corn entertainment). Indian films, particularly, strip off the complexities of a violent clash and reduce it into
story of good vs evil or hero vs villain. Mani Ratnam’s technically magnificent and thematically annoying films like Roja (1992) & Bombay
(1995) are perfect examples of this Indian film trend. Similarly Take Off’s
protagonist Sameera (Parvathi), a nurse, is ailed by personal & economic
problems to grab the chance to work in conflict-ridden Iraq. The pay is four
times higher than their current salary. Sameera could pay off all her family’s
debts. But she also wants get away to fend off depression. She has divorced
from her husband Faizal who lives in UAE. Their eight year old son Ibru is
unaware that his parents had been divorced. Sameera faces harassment in
the working place and is stifled by patriarchal restrictions at home (which
were the reason for her divorce since she is seen as too independent to fulfill
the role of a wife). The new job may give her the coveted economical freedom and may lead
her to the reunion with son Ibru.
Right from the start, it’s made clear that Sameera’s
colleague Shaheed (Kunchacko Boban) is in love with her. She keeps a hardened
face to discourage his courting attempts. But Shaheed is not the typical
celebrated stalker of Indian/Malayalam cinema. He sensibly proposes his love and he seems like the right
guy to support and encourage Sameera. When an uncle dismisses Sameera’s plans
saying women shouldn’t travel alone to foreign countries, she eventually
decides to marry Shaheed. It’s a marriage born out of necessity but slowly they
discover love. Sameera, however, becomes worried when she gets pregnant. She
dreads over Ibru’s reactions as he is about to visit her in Iraq during his
vacation. Caught in all the web of personal problems, Sameera comprehends much
more threatening troubles when the group of nurses land in Iraq. They are
stationed in a hospital in Tikrit and the condition worsens day by day. Shaheed
goes separately on a relief mission after the arrival of Ibru. The ensuing meaty
part of the film chronicles the elaborate rescue operation led by Manoj (Fahadh Faasil), the Indian Ambassador to Iraq.
As I mentioned similar to Bombay, Take Off’s first-half
starts with personal battles and second-half paves way to the real overpowering
battle. But the central character and her conflicts are more sensibly written
to keep us hooked as we wait for narrative shift to Iraq. Moreover, the horrors
of human disgrace are kept at the forefront in the Iraqi portions.
Director/writer Mahesh Narayanan (script co-written by P.V. Shajikumar) doesn’t
spew out loud messages to terrorists. He doesn’t use the uplifting real event
as a springboard to enlace jingoistic notions. Most importantly, the strict
lines between good and evil are blurred at times to show how ignorance and
apathy plagues the alleged ‘good’ side and how humanity brings different
perspective to the alleged ‘evil’ side. Of course, it doesn’t mean that the script
is entirely devoid of blunt approach. But such deft characterization and
agreeable realization of the shocking conflict remains fairly good for Indian
rescue or war-zone drama. Time and again, good Malayalam films communicate with
our heart without resorting to melodramatic conventions. Parvathy’s gritty
performance as Sameera reflects this. She effortlessly expresses Sameera’s
despair and dilemmas. The character isn’t written and Parvathy doesn’t play it
as the proverbial ‘idealistic’ character. She has a fine knowledge on when to
go for emotional upheaval and when to keep it subtle. Apart from Fahad Fasil
fantastic supporting performance, special mention must be made about the film’s
production design. It’s a great achievement considering its small budget and
adds to the atmospheric dread, finely wrought by director Mahesh.
Trailer
Bound by crushing restrictions and frustrating powerlessness,
Take Off (139 minutes) is a journey of a woman winning over the internal and
external conflicts with a great display of integrity and compassion. Thanks to
Parvathy’s outstanding performance and Mahesh Narayanan fascinating directorial
debut, the film takes off with ease.
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