No Attempt To Show MEA In Bad Light: Airlift Director

30 January, New Delhi

Countering criticism from the Ministry of External Affairs that his film was ”short on facts” and that the Ministry has been shown in a bad light, the director of Airlift Raja Krishna Menon has said is no attempt to show the ministry in a poor light.

“I haven’t shown the Ministry in a bad light. I appreciate the efforts by the government (during the Gulf crisis). However, that’s not the story of the film. The story is about a businessman Ranjit Katyal and his efforts,” Menon said defending his movie Airlift which released on January 22.

The Ministry has said Akshay Kumar’s latest flick, which revolves around the evacuation of Indians from Kuwait during the 1990 Gulf war, took ”artistic liberties” with actual events. ”Great entertainment but short on facts,” said Ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup on Twitter while commenting on the film.

In the movie, the Ministry has been shown as lacking a proactive approach, which spokesperson Vikas Swarup claimed was far from reality. Responding to the criticism Menon said the motive behind making the film, based on true events, was to evoke a feeling of patriotism by highlighting one of the biggest civilian evacuations in the world.

”Our story is about Ranjit Katyal and the feeling of Indianness. Therefore, the way Ministry reacted is not a part of the film. It’s unfortunate that people feel that maybe that should have been a part of the story. Why did the Ministry come and make such a statement is a question for them. I made my film that tried to tell the glory of this country to its people. How this is understood is upto the people who watch it,” Menon said.

He said the film has succeeded in infusing a spirit of patriotism among people.