Director: Ram Gopal Varma
Producers: Eros International and Alumbra Entertainment
Writer: Rommel Rodrigues
Cast: Nana Patekar, Sanjeev Jaiswal, Saad Orhan, Ganesh Yadav
Music: Rooshin Dalal, Amar Mohile, Vishal R Khosla, Sushil R Khosla and Mohan Khan
Genre: Drama/ Thriller
Rating: * * *
Plot: Just after the ghastly attacks of 26/11, the then Joint Commissioner of Mumbai Police Rakesh Maria (Nana Patekar) narrates every account of the event in front of an inquiry committee. The film portrays the terror attack and its consequences in detail including the arrest of the infamous terrorist Ajmal Kasab (Sanjeev Jaiswal).
Review: Not just every Mumbaikar but the whole of India is aware about the 26/11 attacks in detail due to the shocking nature of the crime. Therefore, Ram Gopal Varma had his task cut out in The Attacks Of 26/11. Despite some unwanted alteration of facts and too much of sadistic visuals, we can say that the fearless filmmaker has carried out his task well and given a much deserved tribute to the Mumbai Police.
The writer and the director succeed in the extremely vital task of recreating the insane event and making the audience feel the same horror. For this reason alone, the whole team deserves thumbs up. The gory visuals and bloodshed, however, is overdone in most of the occasions, especially in the first half. Although it can be argued that it was needed due to the subject, it will surely stop the film from getting a wider acceptance.
Being a feature film, it was necessary to dramatize some of the events but the serious alteration of facts in some important events wasn’t necessary because the original events itself were dramatic. Some examples – The all-important arrest of Kasab (read the actual account HERE) and, later, his confrontation with the Joint Commissioner. Especially, the confrontation scene over here appears sillier because we have seen the actual confrontation video which is still viral on the internet. (Watch it HERE.) However, one wouldn’t mind the alteration of facts in the pre-climax and climax for it provides a moving effect.
The film receives wonderful support from some artistic camerawork (Harshraj Shroff and M. Ravichandran Thevar) and a thrilling background score (Amar Mohile). Don’t worry, there aren’t any irritating camera angles here. The track ‘Maula Maula’, which is used in the background, produces goose bumps and is apt for the proceedings. ‘Raghupati Raghav’ suits the situation too.
The veteran artist Nana Patekar hit bulls-eye with one of his career best performance! The actor shows why he should be considered as one of the best in the business when it comes to playing character roles. His act in the climax will force you to shower applause.
Playing the role of the most hated individual Ajmal Kasab in your first film can be more than a daunting task for anyone. Sanjeev Jaiswal does that and that too very convincingly. He is surely a lookout for the future! The film is also well supported by cameos from Ganesh Yadav, Atul Kulkarni, Jitendra Joshi (well-known Marathi cinema actor), Ravi Kale (of Sarkar fame), Asif Basra and the actors playing the roles of Kasab’s gang members.
Overall, despite the distortion of some of the facts and the gruesome nature, The Attacks Of 26/11 deserves to be seen for the tribute it pays to the victims and heroes of the terror event.
P. S: The character name of Nata Patekar isn’t mentioned at any point in the movie or during the credits. But since Rakesh Maria was the Joint Commissioner of Mumbai police at that time, the name of the character is assumed in the review.
