Sky Force, directed by Abhishek Anil Kapur and Sandeep Kewlani, is based on India’s first airstrike on the Sargodha airbase in Pakistan in 1965. A power-packed movie with great aerial action, Sky Force looked promising when the trailer was released. And Akshay Kumar in a patriotic movie mostly never goes wrong. But does Sky Force look, feel, and sound extremely similar to Siddharth Anand’s aerial action, Fighter? Does it bring a wave of emotion and entertainment, or is it just another Republic Day film? Read this Sky Force movie review to find out.
India-Pakistan war, 1965
Every Republic Day and Independence Day, we see some sort of patriotic movie rolling out, keeping the India-Pakistan animosity at the centre. This is why I kept my hopes at a bare minimum when booking my tickets for Sky Force. But to my surprise, this aerial action movie, which retells the story of the brave IAF soldiers in the 1965 war, made for a pleasant watch.

Based on India’s first airstrike in Sargodha, the heart of Pakistan’s air force, Sky Force is a gripping watch. A brutal attack by Pakistan on September 6, 1965, at an Indian airbase led to major casualties, rattling the Indian Air Force. But the attack didn’t go unanswered as the IAF planned an overnight retaliation attack to destroy Pakistan’s Sargodha base. India attacked one of Pakistan’s most secure air bases, taking them by surprise and weakening their air and ground operations. In the film, this mission is led by Wing Commander Kumar Om Ahuja, played by Akshay Kumar (fictionalisation of OP Taneja), along with Sqn Leader T Krishna “Tabby,” played by Veer Pahariya (fictionalisation of Ajjamada B. Devaiah), and his squad.
A spirited tale of honour and bravery
Some movies are meant to be watched in cinemas, and Sky Force is one of those. The film has some seriously great aerial action sequences that will have you gripping your seat. For a change, the direction doesn’t feel like a vomit of emotion. Instead, it lets the emotion simmer under the surface by not giving you an unnecessary dose of drama.

The crew is the heart of the story
Along with the storyline, the cast and crew bring Sky Force to life, giving it an emotional, memorable, and powerful impact. Akshay Kumar does a great job, and let’s be honest, he’s meant for such roles. Veer Pahariya debuts with Sky Force and delivers some fine acting. Throughout the movie, you’ll feel like he should have gotten more screen time, as his acting is crisp, not over the top, and definitely not stiff. The supporting actors, including Sara Ali Khan, Nimrat Kaur, Manish Choudhary, Mohit Chauhan, and Varun Badola, make up the heart of this compelling story. And a special mention to Sharad Kelkar for an emotional and heartwarming portrayal of Pakistani pilot Ahmed Hussain, who lends an important lead in the story.
Sky Force is now in cinemas near you.
Can you watch it with your family?: Yes. It’s Akshay Kumar in a patriotic movie full of action and emotions. No brownie points for booking tickets for your whole family.