26/11 India Pai Dadi Movie Review

Filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma is known for psychological and horror thrillers, underworld gang warfare films, politician-criminal nexus and experimental films. His last two releases Department and Bhoot Returns bombed at Box Office. The director, who often does movies based current issues, is back with a crime-thriller film The Attacks of 26/11, which is released in Telugu as 26/11 India Pai Daad

Movie Review : 26/11 India Pai Dadi
Rating : 3.5 / 5
Banner : Eros International, Alumbra Entertainment
Cast : Nana Patekar, Saad Orhan, Atul Kulkarni, Ganesh Yadav, Asif Basra, Ravi Kale, Farzad Jehani and Others
Cinematography : Harshraj Shroff, M. Ravichandran Thevar
Music : Amar Mohile
Editor : Sunil M Wadhwani, Ajit M. Nair
Action : Javed Eijaz
Producer: Parag Sanghavi
Director: Ram Gopal Varma
Released Date: March 01, 2013

Ever since Ram Gopal Varma announced it, 26/11 India Pai Daadi has been creating a positive buzz because the movie is based on the 2008 Mumbai attacks, which had left the whole world shocked. Much have been written and shown on various TV channels about the terrorist attack that has taken place at the Taj Hotel and Nariman House on November 26. Now, RGV has brought the same real and raw events on screen without much commercial values, which makes it an interesting watch.

Story:

The movie opens with Joint Commissioner of Police, Rakesh Maria (Nana Patejar) narrating the shocking events of 26/11 to a committee. He reveals how the terrorists hijack a boat, enter the city, their plans to attack various buildings and kill innocent people. The story heads towards the acts of Ajmal Kasab (Sanjeev Jaiswal). Rest of the story is all about how the police force fights back and regains control of the city.

Performances:

One is Nana Patekar who played the role of Mumbai Police Commissioner. He looked sober at times, but reasonable many times. He portrayed the feelings of a responsible police cop who was well trained to carry after crime activities but not trained to combat ongoing mishap. He leaves an indelible mark as a performer.

Second one is Sanjeev Jaishwal who played Ajmal Kasab. He is a theatre artist who shot to national fame with this film. He carried the role with such a conviction that many times audiences tend to tear the screen to kill him.

Third is Ramgopal Varma, the man behind this film. He passed with distinction this time after series of flops.

Atul Kulkarni did his best as police cop at CST.

Ganesh Yadav is remembered more than anyone else as Indian boat wala-thanks to the long 7 min trailer that was released long ago.

Amar Mohile’s music and background score deserves great mention as it perfectly elevated the mood set by director.

Technical Departments:

Rooshin Dalal, Amar Mohile’s background score is the main highlight in the technical front and it helps the director to elevate the intensity of firing and merciless killings. Their song compositions are also good and surely add to the narration of the film.The camera work is another highlight in the technical front and Harshraj Shroff has nicely captured the scenes featuring the brutal terrorists’ attack and killi

Highlights:

Direction and Screenplay
Taj and CST attack scenes
Kasab and Police Commissioner encounter
The replica of the Taj Hotel

Drawbacks:

No grand star cast

Analysis:     

Ram Gopal Varma has been facing a lot of criticism over the past few years for his eccentric style of filmmaking, his poor grip over the content and many other aspects. But to those who always regarded him as a trendsetting and shock value moviemaker, they will see his comeback with a vengeance in this one. The way RGV adapted the entire episode and condensed it into a two hour story is commendable. The challenge for him is the way he repeated a story known to all in the most interesting manner and was able to generate the emotions which forms the key.

The way the whole scenario was recreated and the way it was presented in the most realistic fashion needs applause. The film takes off on a high note and there is not a moment of idling anywhere. The first scene gets you into the story and the interval bang leaves you speechless. The second half is equally intense and at the end of it, the audience would leave the theaters with mixed emotions of pain, pride, remorse and nostalgia. Overall, this is a film which has everything going right so success is guaranteed at the box office.

Final Word:Overall, Ram Gopal Varma has done a very brave attempt and his movie 26/11 India Pai Daadi is a best presentation of the 2008 Mumbai attacks.The first half is very good but the second half is philosophical. As a result, the film can get very slow here.But this does not mean that he has not committed any mistake in it. Of course, the movie has several minor drawbacks, Excellent making, stupendous narration, don’t miss it