Mar. 01, 2013|India|116 Min.|n/A
Genre: Action;Bollywood;Crime;History;Thriller
Description: “The Attacks of 26/11” (2013) is a film that stands out among Ram Gopal Varma’s recent works, though this comes after a series of underwhelming projects like *Department* and *Bhoot Returns*. The movie revisits the tragic events of November 26, 2008, when Mumbai faced a devastating terrorist attack. Ten armed men arrived by boat and unleashed chaos across the city, resulting in over 160 deaths and 300 injuries—one of the worst terror strikes in India’s history.
The narrative unfolds through the eyes of Nana Patekar, who plays joint police commissioner Rakesh Maria. He recounts the horrific 60-hour ordeal to an inquiry commission, detailing how the attackers roamed South Mumbai, indiscriminately firing at innocent civilians in locations like the Taj Hotel, Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, and Leopold Café. The Mumbai police fought bravely, but the situation demanded the intervention of NSG commandos to finally bring it under control.
While the film captures the grim reality of the events, it often relies on slow-motion gunfire, graphic violence, and excessive gore, such as scenes of a man’s neck being slit or another’s skull exploding in bloodshed. Although rooted in truth, the retelling lacks the visceral impact or fresh insights that could justify revisiting the trauma, as much of it has already been experienced through real-time media coverage.
Despite its flaws, the movie does have moments of stark revelation, such as the heartbreaking sight of poorly equipped constables facing heavily armed terrorists with nothing but stones and batons. While *The Attacks of 26/11* is a chilling reminder of that dark day, it struggles to offer much beyond a rehash of what the world already knows.
Cast director: Ram Gopal Varma
Cast actor: Nana Patekar, Asif Basra, Sadh Orhan, Sanjeev Jaiswal, Atul Kulkarni, Jitendra Joshi, Ganesh Yadav, Farzad Jehani
Original name: The Attacks Of 26/11