Hotel Mumbai is based on the November 2008 terror attacks in Mumbai. Multiple locations were targeted by Pakistani jihadists, including the main train station, a hospital, restaurants and several hotels including the Taj Mahal Palace and Tower Hotel, which is the focus of our movie today.
The movie begins with the terrorists arriving in Mumbai via raft, listening to the voice of their leader “Brother Bull” who we hear promising the terrorists money for their families, paradise and justifying their actions in the name of Allah.
They waste no time beginning their terror attacks, a new location hit every thirty minutes, which overwhelms the local police.
Though the city is panicked, bloodied and dead bodies in the streets, there is almost a bubble of disinterest at the Taj, which has not been affected. It is the beginning of the dinner rush, and Head Chef Hermant ( Anupan Kher)is preparing the wait staff. Sihk waiter Arjun (Dev Patel) has misplaced a shoe and is told to go home. He begs to be able to stay for his shift, as his wife is close to giving birth and he needs the money. Hermant pauses then offers him a spare pair of shoes, which are way too small, but he his thankful for them. The pre shift meeting is concluded with the reminder “Guest is God”. You will hear this phrase several times during the movie.
Actual news footage of the attacks in interspersed thru out, reminding us, the
theatregoer, this is not a fictional story.
While watching, I had a bit of a Titanic moment. Here we have the Uber rich, their every wish catered to, by the everyday working man who calls the overcrowded inner city of Mumbai home. The city of Mumbai is under siege, but the calm perfection of the Taj most not be disrupted, because “Guest is God”. Just as the Titanic crew hid the crippling Iceberg inflicted gash from the passengers, the Taj staff reassures its guests, everything is fine here at the Taj. Everything was not fine on the Titanic, nor the Taj.
Just four heavily armored terrorists invaded the Taj, but with little security, and a scattered police force, the Taj is swiftly taken over by the terrorists. The employees, lead by the kitchen staff, take on the responsibility of keeping the guests safe until rescue. They are unaware there only hope of rescue is with the country’s special forces contingent which is eight hours away in New Delhi.
The Taj, was selected by the terrorists because of their clientele. The high-end luxury hotel was home to wealthy westerners, whose prominence would draw more attention to the terrorist’s causes.
We are introduced to hotel guests Zahra, an Indian heiress, her American husband David, nanny Sally and their infant son. Also, a Russian 007 type, who orders his female entertainment like others order Chinese take out, one from column A and one from column B.
Honestly, the whole David stealthily moving thru the hallways, on his quest to save the nanny and baby, ran a bit long.
The real hero’s of the movie, and I would of appreciated more attention and storyline, were Chef Hermant and Arjun.
The sad reality of this story, is it took the special forces three days to enter the Taj, and half the staff of the hotel was killed, many protecting the guests held hostage.
During the entire siege, the terrorists are told to keep their phones on, so Brother Bull can hear the screams and bullets flying. He instructs the killers to shot their victims in the head by a window, so the bullet doesn’t ricochet off the walls and hit them by accident. He repeatedly encourages their killing and congratulates them on their path to Paradise. We do see, a glimmer of fear from one of the youngest terrorists. He questions if Brother Bull will honor his pledge to honor his death, with payment to his family. He screams and cries to his father on the phone, make sure you get the money.
This movie does not hold back on the reality of the violent, automatic weapons blindly killing several at a time, just for the sake of killing. Bloody head shots, young and old alike, rich and poor, it didn’t matter.
Hotel Mumbai, is rated B minus mostly due to the whole saving the baby and nanny overwritten section. It is still worth the trip to the theatre, it’s a quick two hours, but well worth the price of seeing good can win at the end.
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