Gunjan Saxena biopic passes with flying colours despite rocky performances

Talking openly about sexism in workplaces is still risky business in India, especially with institutions like the armed forces. But Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl takes a smart, refreshing and uncomfortably real look at what women experience in a man’s world, through an inspiring true story.

The film, directed by Sharan Sharma and produced by Dharma Productions, is based on the life and struggles of Flight Lieutenant Gunjan Saxena, the first Indian female combat pilot to fly in a war — the Kargil War.

Starring Janhvi Kapoor, Pankaj Tripathi and Angad Bedi, the film takes you through Gunjan’s life. It begins with her childhood when she was bitten by the flying bug but was discouraged by many people around her because becoming a pilot was ‘no dream for a girl’.

Only her father (Tripathi), a military man himself, supported Gunjan and told her that she could be whatever she wants, as long as she worked hard. Her strong determination to become a pilot lands her in the Indian Air Force, where she faces demoralising discrimination when she sees that it is a man’s world after all, and she has no place in it.

But even though she loses faith initially, thanks to the sexist and misogynistic attitude of her squad, her love for flying eventually takes her straight to the top — all the way to Kargil.

From casual sexism in families to overt discrimination

Gunjan’s story, in a way, is most women’s story and that is where its success lies. Writers Nikhil Mehrotra and Sharan Sharma bring out the subtle sexism women face in everyday life, from family, friends and society, aside from the more overt discrimination.

Women were allowed to participate in combat roles only recently, because for the longest time the government and many of those in the forces believed in stereotypes of frail, weak women unfit for a tough, strong job.

The writers smartly use the men around Gunjan as personifications of different forms of toxic masculinity and sexism. Her brother (Bedi) loves her but is a constant voice of discouragement and a perfect example of subtle sexism. From casually telling her that women don’t become pilots to warning her of the dangers of entering the ‘men-only’ world of defence. and even arguing with their father for supporting her dream, he is every man with a saviour complex.

Then, there are the men in Gunjan’s squad, who show exactly how fragile masculinity can be when they are threatened by her mere presence, to the point where they refuse to work with her.

The screenplay also wins because it is well-paced and well-tailored. It does not lag or bore, nor does it hasten without explanation. Sharma doesn’t overdo the drama and manages to drive the point home with finesse. Humour is injected at all the right points, which acts as a refreshing buffer between dramatic scenes.

Film struggles due to Kapoor’s performance

But where the film struggles is performances. Kapoor as Gunjan shows some genuine emotion and skill — a marginal improvement from her previous films.

While she does well in sentimental scenes — thanks to her big, doe eyes — she falters in scenes requiring anger, anxiety or any kind of nuance. Tripathi shines as the doting, encouraging father, who always has her back despite criticism from his wife and son.

However, the film is worth a watch for a number of other reasons.

In a deviation from some other recent and past military films, patriotism is not the central theme in Gunjan Saxena.

In fact, in a scene, Gunjan asks her father if she’s doing the right thing by joining the IAF because she is motivated more by her love for flying, and not her love for her country. Her father’s response makes this movie worth watching.

The movie premiers on Netflix on 12 August.

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