Hotel Mumbai
Ratings: 3.5/5
Duration: 2 Hrs 08 Mins
Director: Anthony Maras
Genre: Drama. History. Thriller
Release Date: 29 Nov 2019 (India)
Star Cast: Vipin Sharma, Tilda Cobham-Hervey, Natasha Liu Bordizzo, Angus McLaren, Carmen Duncan, Nazanin Boniadi, Suhail Nayyar, Armie Hammer, Jason Isaacs, Dev Patel, Anupam Kher
Plot: Hotel Mumbai is the true story of the Taj Hotel terrorist attack in Mumbai. Inspired by the 2009 documentary 'Surviving Mumbai', 'Hotel Mumbai' recounts the terror attacks on the Taj Mahal Hotel on 26th November 2008. The movie also briefly outlines two other attacks that happened earlier, on the same night - at Chhatrapati Shivaji Station (CST) and at the Leopold Café.
Review: The Australian director Anthony Maras recreates the horrific destruction witnessed inside the corridors of the Taj. In his interviews, he has indicated that to respect the privacy of the actual individuals, the characters of the film are fictionalized, though inspired by real-life people, except for Chef Hemant Oberoi (Anupam Kher).
The movie captures strikingly how a wonderful holiday for some of the hotel guests turned from a dream into a nightmare. Also, the bravery and kindness of the Taj staff, fear, and vulnerability of the staff and victims were portrayed well by the characters. The makers respected the sensitivity of this subject and portrayed it precisely without sensationalizing or being insensible.
Anupam Kher is exceptional as he captures the essence of his character with skillful precision. Even Dev Patel stands out as he gives a remarkable heartfelt performance. Additionally, Armie Hammer, Nazanin Boniadi, Jacob Issacs, Tilda Cobham –Hervey exhibits aptly the panic, confusion and the agonizing fear of those hours through their solid performances.
Though the movie was not shot in the actual location Taj, as some of the staff members who survived are still working there, the production design team attentively captured the grandeur of the Taj at other locations. And the scenes are gut-wrenching. And not for a moment can one breathe easy as every turn in the corridors that the characters make, as they try to flee or hide, makes you feel dreadful. Even the sound of the gunshots would start haunting the viewers.
Moreover, real news footage from the 72-hour siege that shook Mumbai are also used intermittently to give an overview and even the helplessness of the Mumbai police as they bravely hold the fort while waiting for the Special Force to arrive from Delhi, is depicted effectively. What stands out is how ordinary people emerge as extraordinary humans, with exemplary courage.
As the film releases in India close to the date of the actual terrorist attacks (eleven years ago), therefore risks triggering horrifying memories and re-opening emotional wounds. On the technical front the cinematography, sound design, and background score are top-notch. Overall ‘Hotel Mumbai’ is a nerve-wracking, well-crafted film.
