At an early screening of “Crew” at a local theatre, a unique phenomenon for a 9 am show was observed: a sizable attendance predominantly comprising women, undoubtedly the demographic bullseye for the film’s creators. This alignment in viewership can be attributed to the high-profile casting of Tabu, Kareena Kapoor Khan, and Kriti Sanon, each an icon in her own generation.
The narrative orbits around these central characters, adorned in the regal attire of flight attendants aboard Kohinoor airlines. Yet, beyond their professional veneer, they engage in illicit activities, moonlighting as contraband smugglers. The film’s premise teases an engaging chick flick, one that potentially offered a semblance of “Thelma & Louise” dynamics. However, the alchemy amongst the characters does not venture into such legendary comparisons.
The freshest presence amongst the lead trio, Kriti Sanon, offers a carefree charm that provides a lively counter to the established gravitas of Tabu and Kareena Kapoor Khan. Their collective performances are nestled within a genre familiar to Rhea Kapoor’s — occasionally in concert with Ekta Kapoor — past production ventures such as “Aisha,” “Khoobsurat,” and “Veere Di Wedding”: a blend of medium-budget filmmaking aimed at delivering light-hearted narratives centered around female leads.
The film indulges in nods to contemporary culture; notable Punjab celebrities Kapil Sharma and Diljit Dosanjh make brief appearances. In directing, Rajesh A Krishnan of “Lootcase” fame brings a similar vibe to “Crew,” showcasing an ensemble cast in a comedic caper.
The imaginative world of domestic flight attendants is at the forefront of the film’s appeal. They traverse the globe with allowances in cash-dollars, serving an airline verging on insolvency led by the carefree Vijay Walia, a character whose inspiration from embattled tycoon Vijay Mallya is thinly veiled. Parody seems to be the weapon of choice here, with the film even drawing parallels to a recent Mallya-inspired film, “Neeyat,” featuring Vidya Balan.
What unfolds is a cinematic experience interlaced with subtle satire, gold smuggling escapades, intermittent melodrama, and ample musical cues from the Bollywood songbook, including the likes of “Choli ke peeche” and “Dilli sheher mein maro ghagro.” Commercial spots for brands such as Ajio and Goibibo infiltrate the narrative to the point where even the anxiety medication one of the characters consumes becomes a quiet endorsement.
“Crew,” with its shot at a girl-power punchline and its sub-two-hour runtime, initially promises to arrest audiences in a tale of glamor and wit. However, as the film progresses to its midway point, the viewer is confronted with an uneasy realization: the story, after a promising setup, meanders into a labyrinth of unfounded subplots and confusing detours. With its lack of robust narrative bandwidth, the film elevates into a flight of fancy so unhinged that it threatens to eject even the most forgiving of spectators.
This aasmani kahaani (sky story) — though carried by the star power of its leading ladies — ultimately succumbs to a jumbled confusion of genre-bending escapades that seem too ambitious for its creative reach. The resulting turbulence compromises any smooth storytelling, leaving the audience straddling between disappointment and the brink of disengagement.
While “Crew” certainly ascends with lofty ambitions, the crux of its premise belies the potential thrill of its aesthetic ascent. It is, in essence, a cinematic journey that begins with promise, only to plateau and veer off into an unexpected tailspin. One can only hope that the film finds its audience amidst the clouds of its vivid, albeit disjointed, imagination. Nevertheless, for this reviewer, it is time to touch down and disembark from a flight that, though spirited, arguably struggled to find its trajectory.
