The Last Salute: How Aalok Shrivastav's poem adds emotion to MiG-21 tribute

Aalok Shrivastav’s poetry sets the tone for The Last Salute: A Tribute To MiG-21, Netflix’s documentary on the fighter aircraft’s 62-year legacy with the Indian Air Force. The film opens with a poem written by the eminent poet and voiced by actor Sharad Kelkar, adding an emotional note to a story centred on the MiG-21 and the pilots who flew it.The documentary arrives as Operation Safed Sagar continues a strong run on Netflix. The six-episode series is ranked No. 2 on Netflix’s Global Top 10 Non-English TV List, has made the Top 10 across 40 countries, and is No. 1 in 10 countries. With the series drawing attention for its portrayal of the Indian Air Force and its aerial action, Netflix has now turned its focus to the MiG-21 itself through The Last Salute.The makers said the literary elegance of The Last Salute has been enhanced by the poem written by Aalok Shrivastav.Speaking about his association with the film, Shrivastav said, “I feel honoured to be part of this film which is saga of our brave hearts. Am thankful to Kushal Shrivastav who made me part of his creative journey. Am amazed that the poem in voice over of Sharad Kelkar is getting so much appreciated. I feel blessed that the film is getting so much recognition.” Aalok Shrivastav is a prominent contemporary Hindi poet, writer and film lyricist known for bringing the beauty of Hindi-Urdu poetry closer to modern audiences. His poetry collection Aameen & Aasaan, published by Penguin India, established him as an important voice in contemporary poetry.His poems on Amma and Babu Ji are widely shared on Instagram, Facebook and other digital platforms, while his writing on parents, home and relationships has found a strong emotional connection with readers. His lyrics have been recited by Amitabh Bachhan and Ashutosh Rana, and rendered by artists such as Jagjit Singh, Pankaj Udhas and Hariharan.From series to documentary Netflix announced The Last Salute: A Tribute To MiG-21 as a companion piece to Operation Safed Sagar. While the series is set against the backdrop of the Kargil War and features the MiG-21 in key aerial combat sequences as the aircraft flown by the Golden Arrows Squadron, the documentary turns the lens directly on the fighter jet and its service history. The film has been positioned as a tribute to the MiG-21 as it bids farewell to the Indian Air Force and the nation. After the success of Operation Safed Sagar, Kushal Srivastava directed The Last Salute, while Mihika Routray and Antara Srivastava produced it for Matchbox Shots, the production company behind the series. The documentary premiered on Netflix on August 26.It features Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh, along with pilots who flew the MiG-21 across decades of service, and brings together personal memories, untold stories and never-before-seen moments linked to the aircraft’s legacy.- EndsPublished By: Priyanka SharmaPublished On: Aug 29, 2026 15:44 IST