“Sky Force,” released on January 24, 2025, directed by Sandeep Kewlani and Abhishek Anil Kapur, and produced by Maddock Films and Jio Studios, arrived as a Republic Day offering with high expectations. Starring Akshay Kumar, debutant Veer Pahariya, Sara Ali Khan, and Nimrat Kaur, this action thriller aimed to honor the Indian Air Force’s valor during the 1965 Indo-Pak War, focusing on India’s first airstrike on Pakistan’s Sargodha airbase. “Sky Force” does have moments of promise, but the movie ultimately crashes under weak storytelling and middling performances.

The plot centers on Wing Commander Kumar Om Ahuja (Kumar), a disciplined officer at Adampur Air Base, and his protégé, Squadron Leader T. Krishnan “Tabby” Vijaya (Pahariya), a rule-breaking pilot inspired by real-life hero Ajjamada B. Devaiah. When Pakistan attacks India’s airbase in 1971, Ahuja’s reconnaissance photos—ignored by superiors—prove prophetic, sparking a retaliatory mission dubbed “Sky Force.” Tabby’s solo sortie into enemy territory ends in his mysterious disappearance, leaving Ahuja on a decades-long quest for truth. It’s a tale of sacrifice and patriotism, but the narrative nosedives with a disjointed mix of war drama and melodrama, failing to capture the visceral stakes of its historical roots.

Akshay Kumar anchors the film with a restrained, earnest turn as Ahuja, his weathered gravitas a nod to his Airlift days. He shines in emotional beats—like bonding with Tabby or mourning losses—but the script shackles him with preachy voiceovers and cliched heroics that feel dated. Veer Pahariya’s debut as Tabby is a letdown; his stoic delivery and limited range make his “maverick” label unconvincing, a stark contrast to the real Devaiah’s legacy. Sara Ali Khan’s Geeta, Tabby’s pregnant wife, is a nonentity—her brief role reduced to teary glances, wasting her potential. Nimrat Kaur’s Preeti Ahuja and Sharad Kelkar’s captured Pakistani pilot add fleeting depth, but they’re underused, sidelined by a cluttered cast.

The film’s ambitions are undercut by its execution. The aerial action, touted as a highlight, is a letdown—Santhana Krishnan Ravichandran’s cinematography and VFX aim for grandeur but deliver dated, PlayStation-era dogfights that lack tension. Tanishk Bagchi’s songs (“Maaye,” “Kya Meri Yaad”) and Justin Varghese’s score try to stir patriotism, but they often feel like intrusive filler in a 125-minute runtime that still drags. The first half meanders with expository fluff, while the second picks up with an emotional climax—Tabby’s fate and real-life photos of heroes—but it’s too little, too late.

“Sky Force” wants to be a tribute to unsung warriors, and its restraint on jingoism is admirable compared to Fighter (2024). Yet, it stumbles with a predictable plot, flat dialogue (barring one clap-worthy line), and a failure to flesh out its historical intrigue.

This isn’t a total crash Akki’s sincerity and a few stirring moments keep it aloft, but “Sky Force” never takes flight as the epic it aspires to be. It’s a middling war drama that honors its heroes more in intent than impact, grounded by a script that can’t match its lofty goals.

Rating: 2.5/5

A well-meaning but underwhelming sortie— “Sky Force” stalls where it should soar.