- Cast: Anupam Kher, Dev Patel
- Director: Anthony Maras
Writer-Director Anthony Maras brings back again the horrific memories of the terrorist attack on the economic capital of India, Mumbai on 26 November 2008 through this film.
Maras, assisted by co-writer John Collee, open the film with the arrival of a group of young men in their 20s armed with heavy bags of guns and ammunitions and guided by a voice in their ears giving them constant instructions on how to carry out the mission and reach the heaven.
‘Hotel Mumbai’ focuses mainly on the Taj hotel massacre touching upon the attacks on VT Station and Café Lilopal.
TajMahal Hotel, on the fateful night, was all set to receive few renowned guests like newly married couple Zahra and David (played by Nazanin Boniadi and Armie Hammer) with their infant child and nanny Sally (played by Tilda Cobham – Hervey), a Russian businessman (played by Jason Issacs). With this backdrop, Taj Hotel in seconds get shattered and lifeless when those terrorists break loose in. Smoke of gunpowder, human cries, noise of glass breaks immediately fill the air with panic and remorse. Thereby, the feeling of helplessness reaches the audience seamlessly.
Audience witness the devastation, fear, horror and attempt of escape tragedies via 2 characters namely the Head Chef Hemant Oberoi, played by Anupam, who was supported by one of his associates, a hotel staff member named Arjun, played by Dev Patel. As the film progresses, these characters played by Kher, Patel, Hammer, Boniadi capture the desperation, stress, sacrifice and helplessness remarkably.
The film is definitely fictional but what as an audience, we could relate to are the real life clippings the makers have inserted all through the film, allows it to progress effectively and has blended brilliantly with the screenplay depicting the real chaos Mumbai faced for 72 hours then.
The hotel set deserves mention along with the background score – its gripping mostly.
Hotel Mumbai is definitely a must watch. It is a tribute to those individuals who have been trapped in such a disastrous situation for hours together – it was not only about physical injuries they suffered, but for those who were lucky enough to escape, the kind of mental trauma they had to suffer can’t be expressed in words.
The film and its actors are real and sensitive, it salutes the spirit of so many who despite of not knowing each other, stood by each other and took risks for survival of others trapped in that chaotic situation. Saalam Bombay!
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