Close X
Monday, November 11, 2024
ADVT 
Bollywood

'Airlift' Took Artistic Liberties: Indian External Affairs Ministry

Darpan News Desk IANS, 28 Jan, 2016 01:59 PM
  • 'Airlift' Took Artistic Liberties: Indian External Affairs Ministry
Akshay Kumar's latest Bollywood offering "Airlift", which revolves around the evacuation of Indians from Kuwait during the 1990 Gulf war, took artistic liberties with actual events, the external affairs ministry said on Thursday.
 
"One, the fact that such a theme has been selected for a film shows how important it is," ministry spokesman Vikas Swarup said in a statement following what he called a lot of queries being received on the role played by the ministry during the evacuation.
 
"We at the ministry of external affairs consider the protection of Indian citizens abroad as among our foremost responsibilities," he said.
 
He said the ministry has done this in the past and would continue to do so in the future as well.
 
"Second, this is a film. Now, films often take liberties with actual events, with facts and this particular film has also taken a lot of artistic liberties in the depictions of the events that actually happened in Kuwait in 1990," said Swarup, whose 2005 novel "Q&A" was turned into Oscar-winning film "Slumdog Millionaire" by director Danny Boyle.
 
He said those who remember the 1990 evacuation "would also know the very proactive role played that the ministry of external affairs played".
 
He recalled the official Indian delegation that was sent to Baghdad and Kuwait and the coordination that was put in place with the civil aviation ministry, Air India and a number of other government departments.
 
"I myself can vouch for this as I myself was on the frontline of evacuating Indians from Kuwait who were coming to Turkey via Syria," Swarup said.
 
"Third, those of you who may not remember the 1990 evacuation will certainly remember the more remember the more recent evacuations that the ministry of external affairs had coordinated from Iraq, from Libya, from Yemen and from Ukraine," he said.
 
At the same time, he expressed the hope that "Airlift" would inspire people to read more about the actual events that took place and "the very proactive role that the ministry of external affairs always played in safeguarding the interest, and concerns and the security of Indian citizens who live and work abroad".
 
Swarup also tweeted that the film was "great entertainment but rather short on facts".
 
Directed by Raja Krishna Menon, "Airlift", which also stars "The Lunchbox" actress Nimrat Kaur, tells how the Indian government evacuated 170,000 people of Indian origin and also of other nationalities through 488 flights during the war.

MORE Bollywood ARTICLES

Sonam Kapoor At Gunpoint -- In 'Neerja' Poster

Sonam Kapoor At Gunpoint -- In 'Neerja' Poster
Courage is looking fear right in the eye, and that's just what Sonam Kapoor does in the first poster of Bollywood film "Neerja" -- an upcoming biopic on valiant flight attendant Neerja Bhanot.

Sonam Kapoor At Gunpoint -- In 'Neerja' Poster

Asin, Rahul Made For Each Other: Akshay Kumar

Asin, Rahul Made For Each Other: Akshay Kumar
Actor Akshay Kumar has wished newly wed couple, actress Asin Thottumkal and electronics company Micromax founder Rahul Sharma, a happy married life, and said the duo are "made for each other".

Asin, Rahul Made For Each Other: Akshay Kumar

Priyanka Chopra Earns Nomination At 8th Shorty Awards

Priyanka Chopra Earns Nomination At 8th Shorty Awards
Bollywood actress Priyanka Chopra, who has nearly 31 million followers across various social media platforms, has been nominated at the 8th Annual Shorty Awards in the Actress category.

Priyanka Chopra Earns Nomination At 8th Shorty Awards

I Have Become 'FIR Queen' Now: Sana Khan

"Jai Ho" actress Sana Khan, who was also named in the FIR regarding comedian Kiku Sharda, says she has gone from being a "controversy queen" to an "FIR queen" now.

I Have Become 'FIR Queen' Now: Sana Khan

Delhi court to hear complaint against Salman, Shah Rukh

Delhi court to hear complaint against Salman, Shah Rukh
A lawyer has filed a criminal complaint against Bollywood stars Salman Khan and Shahrukh Khan and a TV channel after the two actors were allegedly shown wearing shoes on the set of a temple.

Delhi court to hear complaint against Salman, Shah Rukh

Vindu Dara Singh, Wife Join 'Power Couple'

Vindu Dara Singh, Wife Join 'Power Couple'
Actor Vindu Dara Singh and wife Dina will enter "Power Couple" as a wild card entry.

Vindu Dara Singh, Wife Join 'Power Couple'