Plot
Inspired
by
the
2009
documentary
'Surviving
Mumbai',
'Hotel
Mumbai'
begins
with
a
few
young
male
jihadists
making
their
way
towards
the
city
of
Mumbai
through
water
while
a
radical
voice
guides
them
over
the
phone
to
execute
a
deadly
attack.
Meanwhile,
Arjun
(Dev
Patel)
shares
some
tender
moments
with
his
baby
and
pregnant
wife
before
rushing
to
the
Taj
Mahal
Palace
where
he
works
as
a
waiter.
After
getting
reprimanded
by
the
Head
Chief
Hemant
Oberoi
(Anupam
Kher)
for
his
improper
footwear,
Dev
begins
his
shift
at
work.
The
guests
stationed
at
the
hotel
include
David
Duncan
and
Zahra
(Armie
Hammer
and
Nazanin
Boniadi),
an
influential
couple
along
with
their
nanny
Sally
(Tilda
Cobham-Hervey).
There's
a
Russian
playboy
Vasili
(Jason
Isaacs)
as
well
who
has
some
wild
plans
for
the
evening.
Things
take
a
barbaric
turn
when
the
terrorists
enter
the
Taj
Mahal
Hotel
and
begin
their
hate-fuelled
massacre.
Direction
Debutante
director
Anthony
Maras
recreates
the
horrific
26/11
Mumbai
terror
attacks
on
the
big
screen
with
sensitivity
and
a
gripping
narrative.
As
each
scene
unfolds
inside
the
Taj
Hotel,
you
feel
the
fear
in
the
air.
Every
time,
a
trapped
guest
tries
to
flee
and
hide
from
the
attackers,
your
heart
is
in
the
mouth.
The
filmmaker
never
tries
to
glamorise
the
depiction
of
the
attacks
and
that
works
in
favour
of
the
film.
Maras's
depiction
of
the
terrorists
isn't
unidimensional.
You
see
them
sharing
a
joke,
yelling
in
pain
when
wounded
and
turning
into
killing
machines
when
brainwashed
in
the
name
of
religion.
The
film
also
shows
us
how
ordinary
people
turn
into
extraordinary
superheroes
when
tragedy
strikes.
Like
the
staff
at
the
hotel
who
put
their
lives
at
stake
to
help
the
guests
to
see
daylight.
On
the
flip
side,
the
screenplay
does
get
a
bit
sluggish
at
places
and
a
little
more
characterisation
of
the
hotel
staff
in
the
film
would
have
worked
more
wonders.
Performances
Dev
Patel
puts
up
an
honest
performance
as
Arjun.
Anupam
Kher
as
Chef
Hemant
Oberoi
pulls
off
a
restrained
act
with
a
lasting
impression.
Armie
Hammer
and
Nazanin
Boniadi
stir
up
a
gamut
of
emotions
and
so
does
Tilda
Cohham
-Hervey.
Jason
Isaacs
lends
a
mysterious
touch
to
his
character.
Technical
Aspects
Nick
Remy
Matthews's
cinematography
perfectly
captures
the
claustrophobic
atmosphere
of
the
hotel
and
presents
the
attacks
as
realistic
as
possible.
Peter
McNulty
and
Anthony
Maras's
taut
editing
makes
the
film
more
gripping.
Music
Volker
Bertelmann's
background
score
adds
more
layers
to
Maras's
storytelling
and
keeps
you
glued
to
the
screen.
Verdict
Just
like
how
the
phoenix
rises
from
the
ashes,
Mumbai
too was
back
on
its
feet
within
two
days
post
the
attacks.
'Hotel
Mumbai'
captures
the
horrific
night
of
26/11
in
a
chilling
way
but
at
the
same
time,
it
also
makes
you
salute
the
undying
spirit
of this
city's inhabitants
who
turn
into
extraordinary
heroes
during
times
of
crisis.
I
am
going
with
3.5
stars.