A still from the film Neerja.
Its Hollywood vs Bollywood at the box office with a smattering of films up for release today. But the one that most movie goers seem to be looking forward to is the Ram Madhvani-directed biopic
Neerja, based on the life of Neerja Bhanot, the stewardess who died while saving lives on the hijacked plane Pan Am Clipper 73.
Neerja, which stars Sonam Kapoor in the titular role, recreates the life and fatal last flight of Neerja Bhanot. Sonam earlier spoke to
NDTV about her character. The actress said, "I realized this was someone I can look at as someone who is aspirational. And we do not have enough aspirational strong female heroes. She saved everyone's life. She did not differentiate between an Indian, an American, a Pakistani's life, and that is what a true Indian is. We are the largest democracy and if you know the true definition of a democracy is you will understand what I mean: we are secular, we are the only country in the history of the world that hasn't invaded another country. So all these things put together, she is a true definition of what India stands for."
Director Pankaj Batra's romantic comedy
Direct Ishq and Sameer Sippy's
Ishq Forever, starring Krishna Chaturvedi, Ruhi Singh, Lisa Ray and Javed Jaffrey, also hit screens today. As do South films
Sethupathi,
Miruthan and
Krishnashtami.
The
Spotlight is also on director Tom McCarthy's Oscar-nominated Hollywood film starring Mark Ruffalo, Michael Keaton and Rachel McAdams. Based on real-life events, the film narrates how a team of Boston Globe's journalists investigated and uncovered a child molestation scandal within the Boston Catholic Church.
Fans of Hollywood films can also opt for
Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, a spin on author Jane Austin's 19th century classic tale about the Bennet sisters. Only, this time they are faced with a new challenge - an army of dead zombies.
Directed by Burr Steers, the film stars Lily James, Lena Headey, Douglas Booth and Charles Dance.