Hotel Mumbai Brings Back Memories of 26/11
Review –Shama Bhagat
Directed by: Anthony Maras
Produced by : Basil Iwanyk, Gary Hamilton, Andrew Ogilvie
Jomon Thomas, Mike Gabrawy, Julie Ryan, Brian Hayes
Screenplay: John Collee and Anthony Maras
Starring : Dev Patel, Armie Hammer, Nazanin Boniadi
Tilda Cobham-Hervey, Anupam Kher, Jason Isaacs, Suhail Nayyar
Music by:Volker Bertelmann
It’s been 11 years since Mumbai was attacked by the terrorists on 26/11. Its been a long time but except director Ram Gopal Varma no one has captured the moment on celluloid nor have they taken the pain to revive those horrendous memories of the attacks.
Australian filmmaker Anthony Maras has taken the effort to remind us Indians of the ghastly attacks that took place on 26/11. The CST Station, the Nariman House, the Leopold Café at Colaba and worst hit was the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel of Mumbai. So many lives were lost and the memories still haunts the common man of the city who till today is alert when he is travelling on the streets of Mumbai.
Story:
Anthony Maras’s Hotel Mumbai starts with the journey when few young terrorists land in Mumbai through boats in Colaba and disperse to various locations in Mumbai as they are instructed by a voice over the phone. The film begins on a slow note, he captures the bustling city and the daily lives. A young waiter Arjun (Dev Patel) who lives in the slums of Mumbai, picks up his crying child as he drops her to her working mother. In the process he does not realize that he has dropped his shoe at his door step. He kisses his wife goodbye and rushes to work in his daily slippers. Slowly the camera focuses on the busy schedule of the hotel Taj Mahal Palace in Colaba and how the staff is busy preparing the VIP guest list and how they plan to welcome them. The day's guests include British-Muslim heiress Zahra and her American husband David, with their infant son Cameron and his nanny Sally, as well as ex-Spetznaz operative Vasili. Arjun reports in his slippers while his boss the Chef of the hotel Hemant Oberoi (Anupam Kher), reprimands him and asks him to leave for home. Arjun begs and pleads and the Boss tells him to use his shoes. Arjun reports back in the boss shoes which are tight for him. Limping back to work Arjun tries to please the chef. In another street two guest have a beer in Leopold Café as they are ready to leave two terrorists open fire in the café. The young couple manage to escape and come to Hotel Taj Palace seeking refuge alongwith a hoard of other people. Two terrorists enter the Hotel along with these people and slowly start firing at the guests. . At the CST station there is mayhem as two terrorists open fire on the railway station killing people on a spree. When Chef Hemant Oberoi comes to know of the terrorist attack he locks the door of the restaurant and escorts his 50 guests to the Chambers Lounge on the sixth floor. The drama begins as the terrorists go on a killing whoever they see on their way. British-Muslim heiress Zahra and her American husband David are upset that their Nanny is with their only child. The drama continues, director Maras shows the vulnerable side of the terrorists who are illiterate and ignorant and do as they are directed by a man known as "the Bull" unkown to them if their families have received money as they have been promised. They are aware of their fate in the end.
Meanwhile, police officer DC Vam and his partner decide to enter the hotel in the hopes of reaching the security room so they can track the terrorists' movements only to be shot dead by them. Arjun manages to reach the security room and avert some mishaps. Finally the special forces arrive and the terrorists are gunned down. The film ends with Taj Mahal Hotel opens after six months and regular work begins.
Review: A salute to Director Maras for keeping alive the memories of the ghastly attacks in the city. He has captured the gruesome attacks and keeps you on the edge of the seat with some taut moments as well as heart rendering moments when the mother of a child is trying to reach her child. The Nanny trying to save the baby. There are heart breaking moments as Maras captures Arjun’s pregnant wife watching the news and waiting to hear about her husband. He keeps you engaged from the first frame to the last as he goes on capturing the moments when the guests and the staff try to escape the attacks and get killed in the process.
Cinematography by Nick Remy Matthews is brilliant as he captures the city of Mumbai and the attacks that took place in different venues of the city. Taut editing by Peter McNulty create scope for such an impact. Music by Volker Bertelmann adds to the gripping tale.
Acting: One gets to see Dev Patel after his last film Slumdog Millionaire (2008). An excellent performer Dev Patel has very few dialogues throughout the film and expresses his feeling through his eyes. Anupam Kher is brilliant as chef Hemant Oberoi. . Armie Hammer and Nazanin Boniadi, as a couple whose newborn child is stranded upstairs with the nanny (Tilda Cobham-Hervey) are superb. Amandeep Singh and Suhail Nayyar as two key terrorists, Imran and Abdullah, are impressive.
Hotel Mumbai tells an extraordinary story of unsung heroes who saved many lives during the terrorists attacks. A must watch for all Indians as it brings back memories of the gruesome attacks that took place on 26/11.