Film by Noted Director Ram Gopal Varma
A Chronicle of the Mumbai Killings - Nothing more, nothing less
After the Obama-killing and ‘Zero Dark Thirty’, the American hostage-crisis and ‘Argo’, it’s now the Mumbai terrorist killings, and the Indian film ‘ The Attacks of 26/11’.
The much-awaited film by noted director Ram Gopal Varma, resurrects the dastardly killings on 26 November 2008, when ten Pakistani terrorists literally sauntered into Mumbai by boat, and killed 166 people, in three of the best-known spots of the city- the legendary Tajmahal Hotel, the popular Leopold café, and the crowded Chatrapati Shivaji railway station .
Varma visited the terrorist spots almost immediately after the killings , inviting criticism and controversy for his voyeur-like interest .While he extensively researched on the film to get his facts right, the movie does little more than mechanically unleash the killings, without any story-line or dramatic tension. If the director wanted to ‘chronicle’ the event, as he said needed to be done, he succeeded. Nothing more, nothing less. But if he wanted to capture the ‘emotion’ of the event, as he said he wanted to do, he failed.
The only emotion the film could possibly elicit, is anger - at the utter ruthlessness of the Pakistani terrorists and the total incapability of the Indian security forces. But this is not a time to re-open dead wounds and resurrect the pain of the living. No wonder the film has been panned by the Mumbai audiences.
Nana Patekar, the Jt. Police Commissioner, is the protagonist of the story, who recounts the killings in a painfully slow and laboured manner. His ‘knowledgeable' words about the Islam religion, seems a gimmick by the director to pacify Muslim sentiments, in a film where they are totally black. Even more gimmicky, is the use of the patriotic ‘Raghupati Raghava’ song and the holy ‘Shiva Tandava’ mantra.
The real drama of the real-life terrorist attack, lay in the terrible fire at the Tajmahal Hotel, which stretched for many days, and consumed the lives of many well- known people. But that important incident is totally glossed over in the film.
The highlight of the movie is ironically, the performance of Sanjeev Jaiswal, as the lone Pakistani terrorist who was caught, and eventually executed. Not only did he look uncannily like the real-life terrorist Ajmal Kasab , but ‘acted’ so cold-bloodedly ,that he could well win an award for ‘Best Villain' , if there ever was such an award. He had better also watch out, and ensure that his dastardly role does not have a negative impact on his career, or his life!
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05.03.2013 | LEKHA SHANKAR's blog
Cat. : The Mumbai Killings on Film FILM