The Attacks of 26/11

The Attacks of 26/11 is a 2013 Indian Hindi-language action thriller film[5] directed by Ram Gopal Varma, based on the book Kasab: The Face of 26/11 by Rommel Rodrigues about Ajmal Kasab, perpetrator of the 2008 Mumbai attacks.[7] 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.[8][9]

The Attacks of 26/11
Theatrical release poster
Directed byRam Gopal Varma[1]
Written byRam Gopal Varma
Rommel Rodrigues[2]
Based onKasab: The Face of 26/11
by Rommel Rodrigues;
2008 Mumbai Attacks
Produced byParag Sanghvi[3]
StarringNana Patekar[4]
Sanjeev Jaiswal
CinematographyHarshraj Shroff
M. Ravichandran Thevar
Music byAmar Mohile
Production
company
Alumbra Entertainment
Distributed byEros International
Release dates
  • February 2013 (2013-02) (Berlin)
  • 1 March 2013 (2013-03-01)
Running time
116 minutes[5]
CountryIndia
LanguageHindi
Budget₹22 crore (US$2.8 million)[6]
Box office7.9cr India 23 cr worldwide

The first look of the film was revealed on 17 January 2013.[10][11] The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) passed the film, uncut, with an 'Adults Only' certificate.[12] The film was premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival, in the Panorama as well as the Competition section.[13][14] 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.[15][16][17]

Background

On December 30, 2008, Ram Gopal Varma toured the ravaged Taj Mahal Palace Hotel just days after the attacks, drawing widespread condemnation.[18] 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.[19]

Cast

Production

Under the art direction of Uday Singh a replica of Taj Hotel was created with a cost of ₹40 million.[21] Varma auditioned 500 applicants and selected Sanjeev Jaiswal to play Ajmal Kasab, the prime accused terrorist in the 26/11 attack on Mumbai.[22] Varma had also asked policemen to watch 15-minute trailer of The Attacks of 26/11.[7] 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.[23] The shooting of the film completed on 10 December 2012 with last shot of the massacre at Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus railway station.[24][25] The owner of Leopold Cafe plays himself in the film.[26] 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.[27][28]

Locations

The film was shot on real locations.[29]

Marketing

The film's first 7 minutes were released on 23 November 2012, online on YouTube through the channel of Eros International.[30] A special screening of the film was arranged by the director for Karan Johar and Rakesh Maria.[31] The first trailer of Satya 2 was attached with the film.[32]

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".[33] 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.[34] 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".[35][36]

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."[36] 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.[36] 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."[37]

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".[38][39] 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".[40]

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."[41]

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.[42]

No.TitleLyricsSinger(s)Length
1."Maula Maula"Irshad KamilSukhwinder Singh, Rooshin Dalal5:05
2."Aatanki Aaye"Jaspreet JaszShreya Ghoshal, Shabab Sabri, Aman Trikha2:45
3."Khoon Kharaba Tabaahi"Rashid IqbalChaitra Ambadipudi5:54
4."Raghupati Raghav"Irshad KamilChorus5:45
5."Nazam track 26/11"Liaqat JafriChorus3:15

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.[43]

See also

References
  1. "The Attacks of 26/11". Times News Network. 20 February 2013. Archived from the original on 25 February 2013. Retrieved 6 March 2013 – via The Times of India.
  2. Fernandez, Fiona (10 January 2011). "The face of terror unveiled". Mid Day. Retrieved 21 June 2019.
  3. Razdan, Esha (31 August 2012). "RGV builds replica of Taj hotel worth 2.5 crores for 26/11". Daily Bhaskar. Archived from the original on 6 March 2016. Retrieved 22 September 2012.
  4. Tuteja, Joginder (13 September 2012). "Ramu and Nana reunite after 10 years". Koimoi. Retrieved 22 September 2012.
  5. "The Attacks on 26/11". British Board of Film Classification. 25 February 2013. Retrieved 27 February 2012.
  6. Baksi, Dibyojyoti (26 November 2012). "Makers of RGV's next to distribute BO earnings among 26/11 victims' families". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 27 November 2012.
  7. "The Attacks of 26/11: Ram Gopal Varma asks policemen to watch his film". Indo-Asian News Service. 21 November 2012. Archived from the original on 28 November 2012 – via IBNLive.
  8. "Real story of The Attacks Of 26/11" - The Official First 7 Minutes!". Eros Now. 23 November 2012. Retrieved 21 June 2019 – via YouTube.
  9. "RGV's 26/11 movie goes on floors". Indo-Asian News Service. 16 March 2012. Retrieved 22 September 2012 – via India Today.
  10. "'The Attacks of 26/11' First Look: What exactly happened on that day". IBNLive. CNN-IBN. 17 January 2013. Archived from the original on 23 January 2013. Retrieved 21 June 2019.
  11. "The Attacks of 26/11 new poster: Terrorists arrive in a dinghy". BollywoodLife. 17 January 2013. Retrieved 6 March 2013.
  12. "'The Attacks of 26/11' cleared without cuts". Indo-Asian News Service. 19 February 2013. Retrieved 6 March 2013 – via Deccan Herald.
  13. "The Attacks of 26/11: Ram Gopal Varma's film gets selected for Berlin film festival". Indo-Asian News Service. 30 December 2012. Archived from the original on 2 January 2013. Retrieved 21 June 2019 – via IBNLive.
  14. "Ram Gopal Varma's film selected for Berlin Film Festival". The Indian Express. 2 January 2013. Retrieved 6 March 2013.
  15. "Advani praises RGV's The Attacks of 26/11, advocates Parliament screening". Hindustan Times. 28 February 2013. Archived from the original on 6 March 2013. Retrieved 6 March 2013.
  16. "Critics review The Attacks of 26/11, find it watchable". Hindustan Times. 1 March 2013. Archived from the original on 5 March 2013. Retrieved 6 March 2013.
  17. "The Attacks of 26/11 Movie Review". Koimoi.com. March 2013. Retrieved 6 March 2013.
  18. Kumar, Krishna (14 December 2011). "Ram Gopal Varma's Taj hotel tour was indeed for 26/ 11 movie". India Today. Retrieved 20 June 2018.
  19. Dubey, Bharati (24 November 2012). "Ram Gopal Varma says sorry for hotel visit post-26/11". The Times of India. Times News Network. Retrieved 20 June 2018.
  20. Pandey, Chulbuli (14 September 2012). "Nana Patekar essays Rakesh Maria in RGV's 26/11 film". Mid Day. Retrieved 6 March 2013.
  21. "RGV's film on Mumbai terror attacks faced permission issues". Times News Network. 24 February 2013. Archived from the original on 27 February 2013. Retrieved 6 March 2013 – via The Times of India.
  22. "First Look of Ram Gopal Varma's 'The Attacks of 26/11': See who plays Ajmal Kasab". News18. 24 November 2012. Retrieved 21 June 2019.
  23. "Why Ram Gopal Varma changed his film's ending..." Times News Network. 23 January 2013. Archived from the original on 16 February 2013. Retrieved 6 March 2013 – via The Times of India.
  24. "26/11 film has changed me: Ram Gopal Varma". Indo-Asian News Service. 11 December 2012. Archived from the original on 26 January 2013. Retrieved 6 March 2013 – via The Times of India.
  25. "'The Attacks of 26/11' has changed me as a person, says Ram Gopal Varma". Indo-Asian News Service. 11 December 2012. Archived from the original on 14 December 2012. Retrieved 21 June 2019 – via IBNLive.
  26. "Cafe Leopold owner to play key role in Ram Gopal Varma's 26/11". NDTV Movies. 25 July 2012. Archived from the original on 16 February 2013. Retrieved 6 March 2013.
  27. "Censor will not have issue with The Attacks of 26/11: RGV". Firstpost. 18 January 2013. Retrieved 6 March 2013.
  28. "The Attacks of 26/11 not on Kasab: RGV". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 25 February 2013. Retrieved 6 March 2013.
  29. Chaubey, Vedika (7 June 2012). "Sorry, Ramu, you can't shoot 26/11 film at the CST". Mid Day. Retrieved 22 September 2014.
  30. "The Attacks of 26/11: First 7 minutes". MSN. Archived from the original on 30 November 2012. Retrieved 27 November 2012.
  31. "RGV to hold special screening of The Attacks of 26/11 for Rakesh Maria". India Today. 22 February 2013. Retrieved 6 March 2013.
  32. "'Satya 2' trailer to launch with 'The Attacks of 26/11'". Indo-Asian News Service. 23 February 2013. Retrieved 6 March 2013 – via Daily News and Analysis.
  33. Jha, Subhash K. (1 March 2013). "Movie review: The Attacks of 26/11". Indo-Asian News Service. Archived from the original on 2 March 2013. Retrieved 21 June 2019 – via Deccan Herald.
  34. Sengar, Resham (28 February 2013). "'The Attacks of 26/11' review: A moving sketch of ghastly terror attacks". Zee News. Retrieved 21 June 2019.
  35. Adarsh, Taran (27 February 2013). "The Attacks Of 26/11 Movie Review". Bollywood Hungama. Archived from the original on 2 March 2013. Retrieved 6 March 2013.
  36. "Critics review The Attacks of 26/11, find it watchable". Hindustan Times. 1 March 2013. Archived from the original on 5 March 2013. Retrieved 6 March 2013.
  37. Chatterjee, Saibal (7 March 2014). "Movie review: The Attacks Of 26/11". NDTV Movies. Archived from the original on 4 March 2013. Retrieved 21 June 2019.
  38. Masand, Rajeev (1 March 2013). "'The Attacks of 26/11' review: Ram Gopal Varma sets a one-dimensional, jingoistic and almost hysterical tone". IBNLive. CNN-IBN. Archived from the original on 4 March 2013. Retrieved 21 June 2018.
  39. Masand, Rajeev (1 March 2013). "A tragedy exploited". RajeevMasand.com. Retrieved 21 June 2018.
  40. Chopra, Anupama (1 March 2013). "Anupama Chopra's review: The Attacks of 26/11". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 21 June 2018.
  41. "Movie review: RGV's 'The Attacks of 26/11' recreates Mumbai's horrific night". Firstpost. 1 March 2013. Retrieved 18 May 2013.
  42. "Ram Gopal Varma turns singer for The Attacks of 26/11". Bollywood Hungama. 20 February 2013. Archived from the original on 24 February 2013. Retrieved 21 June 2019 – via Hindustan Times.
  43. Tuteja, Joginder (18 February 2013). "The Attacks Of 26/11 Music Review". Bollywood Hungama. Archived from the original on 27 February 2013. Retrieved 6 March 2013.
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