The story of Gorur Ramaswamy Iyengar Gopinath, widely known as Capt. Gopinath, is nothing short of extraordinary. As the founder of Air Deccan, India’s first low-cost airline, he revolutionized the aviation industry, making air travel accessible to millions who had never dreamed of flying. His life story described in the critically acclaimed Tamil film “Soorarai Pottru” and the upcoming Bollywood film “Sarfira,” starring Akshay Kumar.
Early Life and Education
Born in 1951 to a poor teacher in Karnataka’s Haasan district, Gopinath’s early life was marked by humble beginnings. He was home-schooled by his father until he joined a Kannada medium school in the fifth grade. At the age of 11, Gopinath cleared the admission test for Sainik School, Bijapur. This institution played a pivotal role in shaping his future, helping him clear the National Defence Academy (NDA) entrance exams. He later graduated from the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun, and spent eight years in the Indian Army, fighting in the 1971-72 Bangladesh Liberation War and earning the rank of captain.
The Path to Entrepreneurship
Despite his successful military career, Gopinath felt unfulfilled and retired at 28. As he described in his biography, “Simply Fly,” he was “forever seeking and forever striving.” This restless spirit led him to explore various ventures, from cattle rearing and poultry farming to becoming a motorcycle dealer, stock broker, and agriculture consultant. Each venture was a stepping stone, teaching him valuable lessons that he would later apply in the aviation industry.
The Birth of Air Deccan
Inspired by the story of a Vietnamese orphan girl who flew helicopters to help rebuild her country, Gopinath envisioned an airline that could make flying affordable for everyone. His motto was clear: “It is not the elite that I consider as my customers. It is the humble cleaning women of my office, the auto-rickshaw driver and other such people that we would like to cater to. We want them to dream that they too can fly, and we want to make that dream happen.”
On August 25, 2003, Air Deccan launched its first flight from Bengaluru to Hubbali. The airline’s low fares and extensive network appealed to middle-class travelers and quickly gained popularity. By 2007, Air Deccan had become India’s second-largest carrier, spurring the growth of other low-cost airlines such as SpiceJet, GoAir, IndiGo, and JetLite.
Overcoming Challenges
Gopinath’s journey was fraught with challenges. From securing funding to navigating regulatory hurdles, he faced numerous obstacles. However, his never-give-up attitude and relentless hard work ensured his dream came to fruition. The success of Air Deccan was not just a personal triumph but a transformative moment for the Indian aviation industry.
From Real Life to Reel Life
Capt. Gopinath’s inspiring story caught the attention of filmmaker Sudha Kongara, who adapted it into the Tamil film “Soorarai Pottru.” The movie received critical acclaim, bagging seven National Film Awards, including Best Actor and Actress for Suriya and Aparna Balamurali, respectively. Now, the same director is bringing the story to a wider audience with the Hindi adaptation, “Sarfira,” starring Akshay Kumar, Radhika Madan, Seema Biswas, and Paresh Rawal.
In an interview with Galatta Plus, Kongara expressed her admiration for Gopinath: “Here is this man who never gives up. For 10 years straight, the man keeps going to get his license. Everybody is telling him, ‘all you need to do is bribe,’ he said, ‘I can’t look at my face, I won’t bribe’. His wife was sponsoring him. When I heard his story, I was like ‘I love this guy, he is just fabulous’. He gets angry, he is short-tempered and because he is intelligent, he has little patience with people who are not moving at the same speed as him. All these qualities of Gopinath really intrigued and interested me.”
Legacy and Impact
Capt. Gopinath’s story is a testament to the power of perseverance and the impact of visionary thinking. His contributions to the aviation industry democratized air travel in India, enabling millions to experience the joy of flying. As his life continues to inspire films and narratives, Gopinath remains a symbol of resilience and innovation, embodying the spirit of dreaming big and achieving the impossible.