The Attacks of 26/11 explained

The Attacks of 26/11
Director:Ram Gopal Varma[1]
Producer:Parag Sanghvi[2]
Based On:

2008 Mumbai Attacks
Starring:Nana Patekar[3]
Sanjeev Jaiswal
Music:Amar Mohile
Cinematography:Harshraj Shroff
M. Ravichandran Thevar
Studio:Alumbra Entertainment
Distributor:Eros International
Runtime:116 minutes[4]
Country:India
Language:Hindi
Budget:[5]
Gross:7.9cr India23 cr worldwide

The Attacks of 26/11 is a 2013 Indian Hindi-language action thriller film directed by Ram Gopal Varma, based on the book by Rommel Rodrigues about Ajmal Kasab, perpetrator of the 2008 Mumbai attacks. The film stars Sanjeev Jaiswal in his film debut, playing the role of terrorist Ajmal Kasab, with art direction by Uday Singh. It also features Nana Patekar in a pivotal role. A seven-minute promo of the film was released over the Internet on 23 November 2012.[6] [7]

The first look of the film was revealed on 17 January 2013.[8] [9] The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) passed the film, uncut, with an 'Adults Only' certificate.[10] The film was premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival, in the Panorama as well as the Competition section.[11] [12] The film had a theatrical release on 1 March 2013, to positive reviews, and was opened to critical acclaim at the Films Division of India.[13] [14] [15]

Background

On December 30, 2008, Ram Gopal Varma toured the ravaged Taj Mahal Palace Hotel just days after the attacks, drawing widespread condemnation.[16] At the time, Varma called his visit a 'coincidence' and said he had no plans of making a film based on the attacks, but later apologised for his visit prior to the release of the film.[17]

Cast

Production

Under the art direction of Uday Singh a replica of Taj Hotel was created with a cost of 40 million.[19] Varma auditioned 500 applicants and selected Sanjeev Jaiswal to play Ajmal Kasab, the prime accused terrorist in the 26/11 attack on Mumbai.[20] Varma had also asked policemen to watch 15-minute trailer of The Attacks of 26/11.[21] The film is restricted to the night of the incident and has focused on the happenings between 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. when Kasab was caught.[22] The shooting of the film completed on 10 December 2012 with last shot of the massacre at Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus railway station.[23] [24] The owner of Leopold Cafe plays himself in the film.[25] The actors in the film have met the victims and research on the subject including the eyewitnesses, police statements, judgment, charge sheets and author Romil Saxena.[26] [27]

Locations

The film was shot on real locations.[28]

Marketing

The film's first 7 minutes were released on 23 November 2012, online on YouTube through the channel of Eros International.[29] A special screening of the film was arranged by the director for Karan Johar and Rakesh Maria.[30] The first trailer of Satya 2 was attached with the film.[31]

Reception

Subhash K. Jha of the Deccan Herald gave the film 4 out of 5 stars, calling the movie "a work of riveting resonance" and "one of the best films in recent times on the wages of terrorism".[32] Resham Sengar of Zee News called the film "a moving sketch of the dreadful terror attack", and gave the film 4 stars out of 5.[33] Taran Adarsh of Bollywood Hungama gave it 3.5 out of 5 and said that the film was "A powerful retelling of a regrettable event in history".[34]

Vaihayasi Pande Daniel of Rediff.com gave it two and half stars, saying "I have a headache. My ears are still ringing. The nausea is just about abating."[35] Madhureeta Mukherjee of The Times of India said "While the thought is poignant, the horror isn't palpable throughout and the execution doesn't cut as deep as the actual tragedy." and gave it two and half stars. Saibal Chatterjee of NDTV gave 2.5 stars calling the movie "watchable" and saying "Ram Gopal Varma is still not back to his best and The Attacks of 26/11 isn't an unqualified triumph."[36]

In his review for News18, Rajeev Masand gave the film 1.5 stars, writing that the film "often resembles a tacky B-movie" and was a "tragedy exploited".[37] [38] In Anupama Chopra's review for the Hindustan Times, the film received 2.5 stars, with the author remarking that the movie's "powerful subject [is] watered down by ineffective story-telling".[39]

Nana Patekar's acting as Rakesh Maria was appreciated. Firstpost wrote in their review— "Nana holds the film together. He feels every line that he utters. His heart bleeds for each one of the 166 people who died on that night. When he tells Kasab in a choked voice, "I have a son of your age", Nana isn't faking it. His performance goes way beyond acting."[40]

Soundtrack

The first song from The Attacks of 26/11 was released at the Leopold Cafe on 11 February 2013 at exactly the time when the terror attacks began on the cafe and Mumbai city. There are total 4 songs in the album. Ram Gopal Varma sung the song "Nethutti Ruchi Mariginda" in the Telugu version of this film.[41]

Soundtrack reception

Joginder Tuteja of Bollywood Hungama gave it 2 out of 5 and stated that except "Maula Maula" the rest songs are average to hear and may just enhance the film's narrative to some extent.[42]

See also

Notes and References

  1. News: The Attacks of 26/11. Times News Network. The Times of India. 20 February 2013. 6 March 2013. 25 February 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130225213003/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-02-20/bollywood/37199938_1_nana-patekar-ram-gopal-varma-ajmal-kasab. dead.
  2. Web site: Razdan. Esha. RGV builds replica of Taj hotel worth 2.5 crores for 26/11 . Daily Bhaskar. 31 August 2012 . 22 September 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20160306143518/http://daily.bhaskar.com/article/ENT-rgv-builds-replica-of-taj-hotel-worth-2-3719812-NOR.html. 2016-03-06.
  3. News: Tuteja. Joginder . Ramu and Nana reunite after 10 years. Koimoi. 13 September 2012. 22 September 2012.
  4. Web site: The Attacks on 26/11. British Board of Film Classification. 25 February 2013. 27 February 2012.
  5. News: Makers of RGV's next to distribute BO earnings among 26/11 victims' families. Baksi. Dibyojyoti . Hindustan Times. 26 November 2012. 27 November 2012.
  6. Web site: Real story of The Attacks Of 26/11" - The Official First 7 Minutes!. Eros Now. YouTube. 23 November 2012. 2019-06-21.
  7. News: RGV's 26/11 movie goes on floors . Indo-Asian News Service. India Today. 16 March 2012 . 22 September 2012.
  8. Web site: 'The Attacks of 26/11' First Look: What exactly happened on that day. IBNLive. CNN-IBN. 17 January 2013 . 2019-06-21. https://web.archive.org/web/20130123084913/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/the-attacks-of-2611-first-look-what-exactly-happened-on-that-day/316267-8-161.html. 2013-01-23.
  9. Web site: The Attacks of 26/11 new poster: Terrorists arrive in a dinghy. BollywoodLife . 17 January 2013 . 6 March 2013.
  10. Web site: Indo-Asian News Service. 'The Attacks of 26/11' cleared without cuts . Deccan Herald. 19 February 2013 . 6 March 2013.
  11. News: The Attacks of 26/11: Ram Gopal Varma's film gets selected for Berlin film festival . Indo-Asian News Service. IBNLive . 30 December 2012 . 2019-06-21. https://web.archive.org/web/20130102010628/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/the-attacks-of-2611-ram-gopal-varmas-film-gets-selected-for-berlin-film-festival/313098-8-66.html. 2013-01-02.
  12. Web site: Ram Gopal Varma's film selected for Berlin Film Festival . The Indian Express . 2 January 2013. 6 March 2013.
  13. Web site: Advani praises RGV's The Attacks of 26/11, advocates Parliament screening . Hindustan Times . 2013-02-28 . 2013-03-06 . 6 March 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130306133838/http://www.hindustantimes.com/Entertainment/bollywood/Advani-praises-RGV-s-The-Attacks-of-26-11-advocates-Parliament-screening/Article1-1018841.aspx . dead .
  14. Web site: Critics review The Attacks of 26/11, find it watchable . Hindustan Times . 1 March 2013 . 6 March 2013 . 5 March 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130305074622/http://www.hindustantimes.com/Entertainment/Bollywood/Critics-review-The-Attacks-of-26-11-find-it-watchable/Article1-1019373.aspx . dead .
  15. Web site: The Attacks of 26/11 Movie Review . March 2013 . Koimoi.com . 6 March 2013.
  16. Web site: Kumar. Krishna. Ram Gopal Varma's Taj hotel tour was indeed for 26/ 11 movie. India Today. 14 December 2011. 2018-06-20.
  17. News: Ram Gopal Varma says sorry for hotel visit post-26/11. Dubey . Bharati. Times News Network. The Times of India. 24 November 2012. 2018-06-20.
  18. News: Nana Patekar essays Rakesh Maria in RGV's 26/11 film . Pandey. Chulbuli . Mid Day . 14 September 2012 . 6 March 2013.
  19. News: RGV's film on Mumbai terror attacks faced permission issues . Times News Network . The Times of India . 24 February 2013 . 6 March 2013 . 27 February 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130227081427/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-02-24/news-interviews/37257596_1_terror-attacks-railway-terminus . dead .
  20. Web site: First Look of Ram Gopal Varma's 'The Attacks of 26/11': See who plays Ajmal Kasab. News18. 24 November 2012. 2019-06-21.
  21. News: The Attacks of 26/11: Ram Gopal Varma asks policemen to watch his film. Indo-Asian News Service. IBNLive. 21 November 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20121128060534/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/the-attacks-of-2611-ram-gopal-varma-asks-policemen-to-watch-the-film/306688-8-66.html. 2012-11-28.
  22. News: Why Ram Gopal Varma changed his film's ending... . Times News Network . The Times of India . 23 January 2013 . 6 March 2013 . 16 February 2013 . https://archive.today/20130216074536/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-01-23/news-interviews/36485128_1_ram-gopal-varma-nana-patekar-film . dead .
  23. Web site: Indo-Asian News Service. 26/11 film has changed me: Ram Gopal Varma . https://archive.today/20130126170113/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-12-11/news-interviews/35749235_1_ram-gopal-varma-cst-station-horror . dead . 26 January 2013 . The Times of India . 11 December 2012 . 6 March 2013.
  24. News: 'The Attacks of 26/11' has changed me as a person, says Ram Gopal Varma. Indo-Asian News Service. IBNLive . 11 December 2012 . 2019-06-21. https://web.archive.org/web/20121214011653/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/the-attacks-of-2611-has-changed-me-as-a-person-says-ram-gopal-varma/309947-8-66.html. 2012-12-14.
  25. Web site: Cafe Leopold owner to play key role in Ram Gopal Varma's 26/11 . https://archive.today/20130216140354/http://movies.ndtv.com/movie_story.aspx?Section=Movies&ID=247454&subcatg=&keyword=Bollywood&nid=247454 . dead . 16 February 2013 . NDTV Movies . 25 July 2012 . 6 March 2013.
  26. Web site: Censor will not have issue with The Attacks of 26/11: RGV . Firstpost . 18 January 2013 . 6 March 2013.
  27. Web site: The Attacks of 26/11 not on Kasab: RGV . The Times of India . 6 March 2013 . 25 February 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130225175445/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-02-22/news-interviews/37241488_1_rgv-ajmal-kasab-film . dead .
  28. News: Chaubey. Vedika. Sorry, Ramu, you can't shoot 26/11 film at the CST. Mid Day. 7 June 2012. 22 September 2014.
  29. Web site: The Attacks of 26/11: First 7 minutes. https://web.archive.org/web/20121130074445/http://video.in.msn.com/watch/video/the-attacks-of-26-11-first-7-minutes/fc62gpa8 . dead . 30 November 2012 . MSN . 27 November 2012.
  30. Web site: RGV to hold special screening of The Attacks of 26/11 for Rakesh Maria . India Today . 22 February 2013 . 6 March 2013.
  31. News: 'Satya 2' trailer to launch with 'The Attacks of 26/11'. Indo-Asian News Service. Daily News and Analysis. 23 February 2013 . 6 March 2013.
  32. News: Movie review: The Attacks of 26/11. Jha. Subhash K.. Subhash K. Jha. 1 March 2013. Indo-Asian News Service. Deccan Herald. 2019-06-21. https://web.archive.org/web/20130302122610/http://www.deccanherald.com/content/315735/attacks-2611-stunning-wake-up.html. 2013-03-02.
  33. News: 'The Attacks of 26/11' review: A moving sketch of ghastly terror attacks. Sengar. Resham. Zee News. 28 February 2013. 2019-06-21.
  34. Web site: The Attacks Of 26/11 Movie Review. https://web.archive.org/web/20130302022328/http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movies/reviews/type/view/id/1256. dead. 2 March 2013. Adarsh. Taran . Taran Adarsh. Bollywood Hungama. 27 February 2013. 6 March 2013.
  35. News: Critics review The Attacks of 26/11, find it watchable. 1 March 2013. Hindustan Times. 6 March 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130305074622/http://www.hindustantimes.com/Entertainment/Bollywood/Critics-review-The-Attacks-of-26-11-find-it-watchable/Article1-1019373.aspx. 5 March 2013. dead. dmy-all.
  36. Web site: Chatterjee. Saibal. Saibal Chatterjee. Movie review: The Attacks Of 26/11. NDTV Movies. 7 March 2014. 2019-06-21. 4 March 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130304032946/http://movies.ndtv.com/movie-reviews/the-attacks-of-26-11-788. dead.
  37. Web site: Masand. Rajeev. Rajeev Masand. 'The Attacks of 26/11' review: Ram Gopal Varma sets a one-dimensional, jingoistic and almost hysterical tone. IBNLive. CNN-IBN. 1 March 2013. 2018-06-21. https://web.archive.org/web/20130304072424/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/the-attacks-of-2611-review-ram-gopal-varma-sets-a-onedimensional-jingoistic-and-almost-hysterical-tone/376027-47-84.html. 2013-03-04.
  38. Web site: Masand. Rajeev. A tragedy exploited . RajeevMasand.com. 1 March 2013. 2018-06-21.
  39. News: Chopra. Anupama. Anupama Chopra. Anupama Chopra's review: The Attacks of 26/11. 2013-03-01. Hindustan Times. 2018-06-21.
  40. Web site: Movie review: RGV's 'The Attacks of 26/11' recreates Mumbai's horrific night. Firstpost. 1 March 2013. 18 May 2013.
  41. News: Ram Gopal Varma turns singer for The Attacks of 26/11 . Bollywood Hungama. Hindustan Times . 20 February 2013 . 2019-06-21. https://web.archive.org/web/20130224035857/http://www.hindustantimes.com/Entertainment/Bollywood/Ram-Gopal-Varma-turns-singer-for-The-Attacks-of-26-11/Article1-1014391.aspx. 2013-02-24.
  42. Web site: The Attacks Of 26/11 Music Review. https://web.archive.org/web/20130227033024/http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/moviemicro/musiccriticreview/id/571127 . dead . 27 February 2013 . Tuteja. Joginder . Bollywood Hungama. 18 February 2013 . 6 March 2013.

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