Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl, released on 12 August, 2020, has got the limelight due to some controversies. Recently, retired wing commander, Namrita Chandi, who served in the Indian Air Force with Gunjan Saxena has written an open letter criticizing a few points about the film. The pointers that she mentioned are about how the Indian Air Force is portrayed. The letter also speaks about the false abuse and maltreatment shown in the film.
Namrita Chandi writes an open letter for Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl:
In the letter, that is published by Outlook, Namrita wrote, “I have myself served as a helicopter pilot and I have never faced the kind of abuse and maltreatment as was portrayed in the movie. In fact, men in uniform are true gentlemen and professionals.” She also mentioned that Gunjan and she trained together and both have seen each other’s worst struggles & circumstances. The letter also brings humiliation for Dharma Production. Pointing out the penny dreadful story and screenplay writers, she said, that they have shown the “proud blue inform in very poor light.”
Appreciating the “true gentlemen” she said, “They go out of their way to make lady officers comfortable and adjust. Yes, initially there were teething troubles like no changing rooms or exclusive ladies toilets; yet the men made space for us. Sometimes, my brother officers stood guard outside the curtain while I changed. Never in my entire career span of 15 years have I been disrespected or mistreated.”
Accused filmmakers for peddling lies:
She also blamed Karan Johar’s Dharma Productions and the filmmakers for peddling lies. She said, “Srividya Rajan was the first lady pilot who flew to Kargil – not Gunjan. Though, I am certain that Srividya has no complaints about this credit being taken away from her. There is a scene in which the Army Major asks the character of Gunjan Saxena: “tum join karogi”. Even an imbecile knows that once you are a commissioned officer, you are committed to the constitution of India. Please do not make a civilian even imagine that it is even possible to disobey orders.”
Namrita further added, “Officers are officers. Whether with long hair or short. Never are they paraded for losing in a childish strength game. Never are the briefings interrupted in that rude and ugly manner. Quite naturally, Gunjan’s erstwhile flight commander is extremely peeved at being portrayed so negatively and so far from the truth. I can vouch for it.”
Defending the male officers, she said, “My fellow lady officers, and I, down the years, fiercely defend our male colleagues. They have welcomed us and given us equal respect. We learned, albeit the hard way, but to co-exist with utmost harmony and respect for each other.”
Towards the end of the letter she advised Janhvi Kapoor, “Lady, let me advice you, please, never again do a film of this kind if you are a proud Indian woman. Stop showcasing Indian professional women and men in such poor light.”
Share with us your views on the movie Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl and what you all think about Namrita Chandi’s remarks.
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