Thunder Road Pictures, Arclight Films, Electric Pictures and Xeitgeist Entertainment Group’s Hotel Mumbai (dubbed from the English film of the same name; UA) is the dramatic representation of the attack on Hotel Taj Mahal, among many places in Bombay, by Pakistani terrorists on 26th November, 2008. It explains vividly what happened to the guests and staff of the hotel that fateful night. It is inspired by the documentary, Surviving Mumbai.
John Collee and Anthony Maras have penned a heart-wrenching screenplay from the real-life tragic happenings of the day. The drama is so true to life that the viewers feel as if it is unfolding for the first time right in front of their eyes. The drama scares the audience, terrifies them, shocks them, makes them feel emotional — in short, the viewers go through a gamut of emotions ranging from anger and hatred towards the terrorists to empathy, sorrow and shocking disbelief for the victims. The screenplay is so all-consuming that the audience gets up at the end, thanking God that they or their near ones were not in the Taj Mahal Hotel that fateful night.
Agreed, the screenplay is a recounting of all that has already happened and is well-known but the way it has been penned, it makes for engaging viewing. In fact, it wouldn’t be wrong to say that the viewer often refrains from even blinking for fear of missing out on something. The writers have succeeded in keeping the tension alive right from the word ‘go’.
Dev Patel gives a superb account of himself as Arjun, an employee of the Taj Mahal Hotel. Armie Hammer is good as David. Nazanin Boniadi is very natural in the role of Zahry. Tilda Cobham-Hervey lends wonderful support as nanny Sally. Anupam Kher is terrific as chef Hemant Oberoi. Jason Issacs makes his presence felt as Vasili. Natasha Liu Bordizzo (as Bree), Angus McLaren (as Eddie), Nagesh Bhosle (as DC Vam), Pawan Chopra, Vipin Sharma (as Dilip), Amandeep Singh (as terrorist Imran), Suhail Nayyar (as terrorist Abdullah), Manoj Mehra (as terrorist Houssam), Dinesh Kumar (as terrorist Rashid), Amritpal Singh (as terrorist Ismail), Kapil Kumar Netra (as terrorist Ajmal Kasab), Adithi Kalkunte (as Dimple), Alex Pinder (as butler Jamon), Sachin Joab (as Vijay Goswami), Carmen Duncan (as Lady Wynn), Ansuya Nathan (as opthalmologist Layla), Pawan Singh (as the voice) and the others lend excellent support.
Anthony Maras’ direction is first-rate. He has narrated the human drama with so much empathy that the viewers get sucked into the unfolding drama as if they were a part of it. Volker Bertelmann’s background music is fantastic. Camerawork (by Nick Ramy Matthews) is outstanding. Steven Jones-Evans’ production designing is superb. Art direction (by Dilip More and Marita Mussett) is lovely. Editing (by Anthony Maras and Peter McNulty) is razor-sharp. Dubbing is excellent.
On the whole, Hotel Mumbai is a heartfelt recounting of a tragic chapter in Bombay’s history. It is a praiseworthy film which will find takers, more among the classes because of its treatment and also because the masses may find the drama too heavy for their liking. It will pick up due to positive mouth publicity but, of course, the increase in collections will be limited.
Released on 29-11-’19 at Inox (daily 2 shows) and other cinemas of Bombay by Zee Studios. Publicity: fair. Opening: very dull. …….Also released all over.