Gunjan Saxena and Sreevidya speak to the media | NDTV Video interview - Page 2

Originally posted by: tina59

How could they Gunjan flying alone, the climax was totally fictional then they omitted the existence of a co-pilot

Gunjan and Sreevidya did not fly together to the war- this has been confirmed by both Sreevidya and Gunjan herself. They both went seperately with different co-pilots in different batches as per the interviews. And that's what's been shown in the film too- Gunjan going with a male co-pilot.

Sreevidya says the entire Air Force and pilots are shown in a negative way in the movie...

Is that true?

How can Gunjan Saxena green light the project then?

Originally posted by: BettyA1

How can Gunjan Saxena green light the project then?

I think negotiations went like this

That being said as long as Gunjan gave consent and hers was the only real name that was used. The complainers cant do much 😆

Originally posted by: BettyA1

Sreevidya says the entire Air Force and pilots are shown in a negative way in the movie...

Is that true?

How can Gunjan Saxena green light the project then?

In the interview, she said she didn't have the authority for clearance of the film, her contract was only limited to the technical parts of the film plus her personal story which probably the makers would've bought the rights from like it usually happens in every biopic.

Usually when films involve the army or the forces, the clearance comes from them as far as I am aware, a lot of strict documentation and paper work takes place to get clearance and the censor to pass the film. The IAF did have dialogue with Dharma before the release of the film as mentioned in their letter...

As per initial understanding, M/s Dharma Productions had agreed to represent Indian Air Force (IAF) with authenticity and make all efforts to ensure that the film helps to inspire the next generation of IAF Officers.

It is pertinent to highlight that the Production House was informed about the objectionable portion of the movie and was advised to delete/modify the same.

Thanks for the interview. Haven't watched the movie bt aware of the controversies. Of course Gunjan Saxena won't hold the license to clear the movie, although it should've. But in such cases the bigger department in portray do provide their approval as well. All this make me believe that this controversy is paid and lame attempt of KJo to keep the movie in the news. Nothing's gonna come out of this controversy and the movie will die in its own course of time due to the weakest link Jhanvi playing the lead role. Gunjan Saxena deserved better, lot better.

SriVidya, with all due respect, looks fundamentalist to me, who gives clean chit to IAF in all sexism accusation just because SHE did not face any. Very convenient. Yeah there was no sexism in IAF and that's very believable.

Srividya says this movie sends bad message to young girls and could scare young girls away from the Air Force

“There was some skepticism and sexism initially like any other field but we were treated with utmost respect, no humiliation like the arm wrestling scene in the movie happened”

https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/bollywood/sreevidya-rajan-says-makers-gunjan-saxena-kargil-girl-twisted-facts-says-first-lady-pilot-fly-kargil/

Gunjan seem to be happy with the final product and doesn’t seem to have any objection... Why not? They seem to have exaggerated her heroics even more at the expense of others. What’s not to like

Years from now the controversy will not be remembered but youngsters who watch it will believe the story

Sreevidya unlike feminists of today truly believes in gender equality

“In Kargil operations, male pilots had flown extensively and faced more hardships than us. But they never got or sought any publicity. We probably were given this fame because of our gender which I do not support. In defence services, there is no disparity between male or female. We are all officers in uniform,”

Originally posted by: prerna4rishav

Thanks for the interview. Haven't watched the movie bt aware of the controversies. Of course Gunjan Saxena won't hold the license to clear the movie, although it should've. But in such cases the bigger department in portray do provide their approval as well. All this make me believe that this controversy is paid and lame attempt of KJo to keep the movie in the news. Nothing's gonna come out of this controversy and the movie will die in its own course of time due to the weakest link Jhanvi playing the lead role. Gunjan Saxena deserved better, lot better.

SriVidya, with all due respect, looks fundamentalist to me, who gives clean chit to IAF in all sexism accusation just because SHE did not face any. Very convenient. Yeah there was no sexism in IAF and that's very believable.

Srividya doesn’t say that, she doesn’t give clean chit to IAF (Fundamenalst - seriously?)

“Since the two of us were the first lady pilots to be posted to that helicopter unit, we were skeptical about our acceptance in the male-dominated niche area of flying. We were received with the usual preconceived notions and prejudices from a few colleagues. However, there were enough officers to support us. We were under strict scrutiny and certain mistakes of ours were met with corrective actions which may have been overlooked had it been done by our male counterparts. We had to work harder than our counterparts to prove ourselves to be at par with them.”

However, as opposed to the film, where Gunjan Saxena played by Janhvi Kapoor who had support from only one superior officer, Sreevidya said that a majority of officers accepted and treated them well. “Some were not happy to share the professional space with us but the majority accepted and treated us as fellow officers working towards a common goal. Our flying began within a few days of our arrival and was never interrupted or cancelled for petty reasons as wrongly portrayed in the movie. The squadron commander was a thorough professional. He was a very strict and tough officer who took us to task whenever there was a mistake from our side, be it male or female,” she wrote.

https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/bollywood/sreevidya-rajan-says-makers-gunjan-saxena-kargil-girl-twisted-facts-says-first-lady-pilot-fly-kargil/

Bold - Anything is possible... Wouldn’t put anything past anybody...

But Srividya Rajan and some retired Air Force officers have to be in on that...

Originally posted by: tina59

Not only that, her being omitted from the movie is it not a distortion of facts. How could they Gunjan flying alone, the climax was totally fictional then they omitted the existence of a co-pilot who was there with you every step of the way, in every training.

Her name is in Limca book and what not and she not once thought she should clarify .....hmmmm

If it were me, I would have acknowledged that it wasn't me but someone else.

Do you think that Limca book wouldn't have verified it from the IAF officials, checked records before they put down her as the first women pilot flying in a combat zone.......why would the IAF examination have a question about the first woman pilot and the correct answer was Gunjan.......If IAF considered her the first then she is the FIRST.....people can cry and whine about it after 21 years when a movie is made for her.....but its the IAF who decides that....who was the FIRST.....and there are no two ways about it.....if anyone is to blame its the IAF....not Gunjan or Srividya......infact SriVidya should have put her foot down and demanded an explanation 20 years back when Gunjan was being touted as the first by IAF...rather than shaming her and blaming her....someone who put her life at risk for this country....great job ya'll..

and also....do u know how many astronauts went to the moon the first time...there were 3.....but Neil Armstrong is the one who is known as the first man on moon..NASA says it...US Govt says it..so he is the first.....we don't now why Gunjan was being touted as the first by IAF.....may be because she was technically.....just like Neil was technically the first person to set his foot on moon....that foot made all the difference..

Originally posted by: BettyA1

Srividya says this movie sends bad message to young girls and could scare young girls away from the Air Force

What about the end of the film where she overcame it all and defeated the obstacles ? You dont think they will see that ?