The true story of the Taj Hotel terrorist attack in Mumbai. Hotel staff risk their lives to keep everyone safe as people make unthinkable sacrifices to protect themselves and their families.
In November of 2008, an Islamic group from what was believed to be connected with a Pakistani organization called Lashkar-e-Taiba, carried out a terrorist attack in Mumbai. Armed with automatic weapons and grenades, they opened fire in several locations including a railway station, a cafe, and finally, ended up at the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel where many people who escaped those locations ran for safety. Unfortunately, there was no police army in Mumbai so the city was forced to call in help from Dehli that took nearly 7 hours to arrive. Meanwhile, four local officers attempted to take down the terrorists with no luck.
A small staff working that night including Arjun (Dev Patel) and his boss Hemant (Anupam Kher), were key players in trying to keep the guests alive.
Hemant allowed the pedestrians to enter the hotel after they escaped the gunshots, but he had no idea that along with the crowd, the terrorist had also slipped in. Young, focused and ready to kill and be killed, two of the men set up their weapons and within minutes, opened fire right in the hotel lobby. Dining in the restaurant were a couple, Zahra (Nazanin Boniadi) and her American husband David (Armie Hammer), who were considered one of the important wealthy guests in which the terrorists were ordered by their leader to hold hostage. When Arjun received word that the gunmen were in the building, he informed the guests to hide under the tables until further notice. The main concern for Zahra and David, besides making it out alive, was that their baby was still in their room with the babysitter, Sally (Tilda-Cobham-Hervey), who had no idea of the situation.
The story becomes more intense as the terrorists make their way upstairs and begin to knock on each door only to open fire on the guests when they answer. Meanwhile, Hemant plans to safely get everyone to the chamber room, which is said to be the most secure building in the hotel. The difficulty they face is dodging the rounds of bullets that rapidly go off through the halls. I loved this film! The cast was absolutely incredible! Dev Patel’s character, Arjun, provided hope and calmness in the middle of the chaos. He made you believe that everything was going to be okay and you trust him. Every character brought a different dynamic of emotion to the story. Even one of the terrorists showed vulnerability and you do feel for him in a human way, despite what he has just done.
This movie will have you on the edge of your seat, waiting to see what happens next and constantly making you wonder if the couple will make it out alive and if they will ever see their child again. Does the babysitter escape before the terrorists reach her room? Despite their heroism, do Arjun and Hemant make it home to see their families? What happens to the terrorists? And the questions go on and on. This is one of those incidents that also reminds you of how easily this can happen where you live. “Hotel Mumbai” is a must see! The energy is powerful all the way until the very end and even when it is over, you are still in disbelief.
In theaters Friday, March 22nd
