If Akshay Kumar’s AIRLIFT has irked Ministry of External Affairs, it has succeeded in serving its purpose!

Akshay Kumar’s recent film AIRLIFT has not only set the box office register ringing by becoming biggest grosser of one week (Rs 83.50 crore) but has also succeeded in awakening the Ministry of External Affairs, who failed to perform their duties seriously during the 1990 evacuation of Indian, who were trapped in Kuwait during the Iraq invasion of Kuwait. 

The movie not only salutes the brave Indian who stood by the side of one another in the time of crises on humanitarian ground, in the world’s largest evacuation, but also on the other hand takes a dig at lethargic attitude of the officials at the Ministry of External Affairs of India and the delayed help they provided to evacuate Indian citizens from Kuwait.

According to reports the movie has created ripples in the Ministry of External Affairs, who are fuming about their negative portrayal in the film during the crisis. Ms Nirupama Rao, former ambassador of India to the United States of America, has blasted the filmmaker Raja Menon and alleged for not doing a thorough research before making the film.

In a statement attacking filmmaker Raja Menon, Ms Rao said, “I can understand filmmakers taking liberties for cinematic excellence but I kindly don't make a "biased" and "ludicrous" projection of the government's role.”

“Our diplomats are by and large extremely dedicated and conscientious. I can give several example of competent India's Ambassador to Baghdad like Kamal Bakshi, foreign minister IK Gujral and India's Ambassador to Kuwait in 1990-91. They all had worked to ensure safety of suffering Indians in Kuwait.” She added. 

It feels good that Indian Cinema is going great guns and is moving far ahead from its ‘mission entertainment’ to ‘mission awareness’. 

Recently Meghna Gulzar’s TALVAR stirred a debate in the society about the authenticity of the 14-year-old Aarushi Talwar Murder case and now Raja Menon’s AIRLIFT has raised questions about the efficiency of the Ministry of External Affairs. 

Thus it’s great that if films like AIRLIFT or TALVAR can start a debate in society than the filmmaker can heave a sigh of relief as he/she has succeeded in serving his purpose!