Remembering 26/11: Films and series honouring the heroes and victims of Mumbai's darkest night

From Hotel Mumbai to Major a look at the cinematic retellings of the 2008 terror attacks.

Mumbai Diaries 26/11; Major

As we mark the 16th anniversary of the 2008 Mumbai attacks, several films and series continue to bring to light the harrowing events that shook the city and the nation. These productions, based on the real-life terror strikes, pay tribute to the bravery and resilience of both the victims and the heroes who fought back. These narratives offer a window into the intense challenges faced by those caught in the violence, from the gripping recount of terrorist Ajmal Kasab's role in The Attacks of 26/11 to the depiction of heroic efforts at the Taj Mahal Palace in Hotel Mumbai. Series like State of Siege: 26/11 and Mumbai Diaries 26/11 delve into the relentless efforts of the National Security Guard and medical personnel, while Major highlights the valiant sacrifice of Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan. Together, they serve as a reminder of the lives lost and the enduring spirit of courage amid the chaos of that fateful night.

Movies and series based on 26/11

The Attacks of 26/11 - JioCinema (OTTplay Premium)

Ram Gopal Varma's 2013 action thriller film The Attacks of 26/11 is based on Rommel Rodrigues's book Kasab: The Face of 26/11 which details the 2008 Mumbai attacks' perpetrator Ajmal Kasab. Sanjeev Jaiswal makes his acting debut as terrorist Ajmal Kasab in this picture, which also features art direction by Uday Singh. It also heavily features Nana Patekar.

Joint Commissioner of Mumbai Police Rakesh Maria remembers the 2011 terrorist assault that shocked the city. The unveiled memorial honours the true heroes of The Attacks of 26/11.

ALSO READ: Mumbai Diaries 26/11 review: A lacklustre series having its heart in the right place

Hotel Mumbai - ZEE5 (OTTplay Premium)

In 2018, Anthony Maras helmed and co-wrote the action thriller Hotel Mumbai with John Collee. The documentary Surviving Mumbai from 2009, which details the events surrounding the 2008 Mumbai attacks at India's Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, served as an inspiration for this Indian-Australian-American co-production. Natasha Liu Bordizzo, Jason Isaacs, Suhail Nayyar, Tilda Cobham-Hervey, Armie Hammer, Nazanin Boniadi, Anupam Kher, and Dev Patel are among the film's stars. In 2008, during the terror attacks in Mumbai, a courageous chef and the culinary staff of a well-known hotel risked everything to ensure the safety of the guests.

State of Siege: 26/11 - ZEE5 (OTTplay Premium)

Roopali Singh and Abhimanyu Singh produced the action-thriller web series State of Siege: 26/11 while Prashant Singh and Matthew Leutwyler directed it. The 26/11 terrorist attacks are the basis for the series, which is based on the book Black Tornado: The Three Sieges of Mumbai 26/11 by journalist Sandip Unnithan. Naren Kumar, Tara Alisha Berry, Arjun Bijlani, Jyoti Gauba, Vivek Dahiya, and Arjan Bajwa are some of the main actors in the show. The National Security Guard Commandos intervened to save the day after the Mumbai Police suffered heavy fatalities in the 26/11 terrorist attacks. The series follows their story through their eyes.

Mumbai Diaries 26/11 - Prime Video

Mumbai Diaries is a show that focuses on medical thrillers. It takes place in a public hospital's emergency department and centres on the difficulties encountered by doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals in the middle of a medical emergency.  Along with Nikhil Gonsalves, Nikkhil Advani was the show's creator and director. The actual sites used for the series' production during the 2008 Mumbai attacks included Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, Gateway of India, and Leopold Café.

In the first season, we follow the lives of the doctors and nurses at Bombay General Hospital as they face the horrors of that terrible night, November 26, 2008, in the wake of the assaults on Mumbai, India. Additionally, it depicts a journalist's efforts to report on events taking place at the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel.

Major - Netflix

Directed by Sashi Kiran Tikka and written by Adivi Sesh, Major is a biographical action drama released in 2022. Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan, who died in the 2008 Mumbai attacks, is the hero of this biopic. The cast includes Prakash Raj, Sobhita Dhulipala, Saiee Manjrekar, Revathi, Murali Sharma, Anish Kuruvilla, and Sesh in the role of Unnikrishnan. Reviewers gave the picture good marks, highlighting its strong director, script, score, cinematography, action scenes, and performances from the cast (especially Sesh).

This film is based on the true story of Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan, a brave soldier who rescued many captives at the Taj Mahal Palace in Mumbai on November 26, 2008, before being killed by the terrorists who had caused mayhem there.

ALSO READ: As Major celebrates its first release anniversary, Adivi Sesh meets Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan’s parents

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