Is Hotel Mumbai based on a true story? Plot and Ending Explained
by Rajalaxmi
Updated Apr 24, 2023
Hotel Mumbai
Hotel Mumbai is an action thriller film directed by Anthony Maras and co-written by Maras and John Collee, is a gripping cinematic portrayal of the 2008 Mumbai attacks at the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel in India. The film is an Indian-Australian-American co-production and is inspired by the 2009 documentary Surviving Mumbai.
The film features a talented cast, including Dev Patel, Armie Hammer, Nazanin Boniadi, Anupam Kher, Tilda Cobham-Hervey, Jason Isaacs, Suhail Nayyar, Nagesh Bhosle, and Natasha Liu Bordizzo. The star-studded cast brings to life the harrowing events that took place during the attack and add a layer of depth to the film's characters.
Hotel Mumbai premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 7, 2018, and had its Australian premiere at the Adelaide Film Festival on October 10, 2018. The film was released in Australia and the United States on March 14 and 22, 2019, respectively. It was later released in India on November 29, 2019.
The film's plot follows the events of the terrorist attacks that occurred in Mumbai in November 2008, specifically the events that took place at the iconic Taj Mahal Palace Hotel. The story focuses on the hotel's staff, including the head chef, played by Anupam Kher, and a waiter, played by Dev Patel, as they desperately try to protect their guests and loved ones from the attackers.
The film is a masterful work of suspense and action, with the tense atmosphere and heart-pounding sequences keeping viewers on the edge of their seats. Director Anthony Maras expertly balances the action with the emotional weight of the tragedy, making for a poignant and affecting cinematic experience.
Is Hotel Mumbai based on a true story?
Hotel Mumbai is a compelling and true story of bravery and resilience that captures the 2008 terrorist siege of the Taj Hotel in Mumbai, India. The movie vividly depicts the gripping events that took place during the three-day ordeal, as the hotel staff and guests faced off against heavily armed terrorists in a desperate struggle for survival.
The movie provides a vivid account of the events that took place on the evening of November 26, 2008, when a group of ten militants launched a coordinated attack on multiple locations across Mumbai, including the Taj Hotel. The terrorists were armed with automatic weapons and grenades and took hundreds of people hostage, including staff and guests of the Taj Hotel.
What followed was a brutal and harrowing siege that lasted for three days, as the terrorists went on a killing spree, indiscriminately targeting anyone who crossed their path. In the face of overwhelming odds, the hotel staff and guests displayed extraordinary courage and resourcefulness as they banded together to survive.
The movie focuses on the story of the hotel staff, led by the head chef Hemant Oberoi and the hotel's staff supervisor, Arjun. They worked tirelessly to protect the guests and keep them safe, even as the terrorists roamed the halls of the hotel. The movie also follows the story of an American couple, played by Armie Hammer and Nazanin Boniadi, who find themselves trapped in the hotel during the siege.
Hotel Mumbai Ending Explained
The 2008 terrorist attacks on Mumbai were a harrowing event that shook the world. The attacks were orchestrated by a man known as "Brother Bull," who was never found or apprehended, despite the best efforts of law enforcement agencies. The attacks resulted in the deaths of over 160 people and left many more injured.
In the aftermath of the attacks, the city of Mumbai was left reeling. The people were in shock and disbelief that such a heinous act could take place in their beloved city. But amidst the tragedy and chaos, there were also stories of heroism and courage. One such story was that of the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, which was one of the primary targets of the terrorists. The staff at the hotel worked tirelessly to protect the guests and keep them safe.
Many of them risked their own lives to help others escape. In the end, all of the terrorists that attacked the hotel were killed, but Brother Bull remained at large. The news that the terrorists had been killed was met with mixed emotions. While there was a sense of relief that those responsible had been brought to justice, there was also a deep sadness for the lives lost and the trauma that the survivors would carry with them forever. The fact that Brother Bull had not been apprehended only added to the bittersweet nature of the ending.
Hotel Mumbai Plot
On 26 November 2008, Arjun, a waiter at the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel in Mumbai, India, arrived at work to report for duty under the watchful eye of head chef Hemant Oberoi. Little did Arjun know that this day would turn out to be one of the most terrifying experiences of his life.
The hotel was bustling with guests, including Zahra Kashani, a British-Iranian heiress, her American husband David, their infant son Cameron, and his nanny Sally. Also present was ex-Spetznaz operative Vasili. The day started like any other, but before long, the guests and staff found themselves in the middle of a nightmare.
Terrorists from the Lashkar-e-Taiba organization, led by "the Bull," launched a coordinated attack on 12 different locations throughout Mumbai, including the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel. The local police were not adequately prepared to handle such an attack, and they had to wait for reinforcements from New Delhi, leaving the hotel guests and staff to fend for themselves.
Arjun, David, Zahra, and Vasili were trapped in the hotel restaurant with several other guests, while Sally remained in Cameron's hotel room. As chaos ensued, a woman fleeing from the terrorists entered the hotel room where Sally and Cameron were hiding. Sally quickly hid with Cameron in a closet as the terrorists shot the woman and left.
David, upon hearing of Sally's close encounter, decided to risk his life and try to reach Sally and Cameron. Meanwhile, Arjun escorted the other guests to the Chambers Lounge, an exclusive club hidden within the hotel, hoping it would be a safe haven. David, Sally, and Cameron attempted to regroup with the others, but David was captured and bound by the terrorists, while Sally and Cameron were trapped in the closet.
The events that unfolded that day were both terrifying and tragic. The siege lasted for four days, during which time the terrorists killed 166 people, including 18 staff members and guests of the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel. Arjun was one of the lucky ones, as he survived the attack and was hailed as a hero for his bravery and quick thinking in helping to evacuate guests to safety.
Hotel Mumbai Summary
On November 26, 2008, Mumbai, the financial capital of India, was shaken by a series of coordinated terrorist attacks carried out by members of Lashkar-e-Taiba, a Pakistan-based militant group. The attacks targeted several locations in the city, including the iconic Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, which was stormed by the terrorists in a bid to take hostages.
Amid the chaos and terror that ensued, two unlikely heroes emerged from the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel's kitchen: Hemant Oberoi, the executive chef of the hotel, and his kitchen worker, Vijay Bist. The two men had been preparing for a banquet when they heard gunshots and screams coming from the lobby. Without hesitation, they decided to risk their own lives to try and protect the frightened guests.
Hemant and Vijay quickly sprang into action, directing hotel staff and guests toward the hotel's kitchen and out of harm's way. They used their culinary skills to provide food and water to the guests who had taken refuge in the kitchen, as well as medical aid to those who were injured.
Hotel Mumbai review
The film "Hotel Mumbai" takes the viewers on a thrilling journey through the events that occurred during the 2008 Mumbai attacks. While the main character, Oberoi, is a real person, the rest of the characters are fictional, with plenty of dramatic embellishments added to supplement the basic story.
Throughout the film, the audience witnesses the various challenges faced by the survivors of the attacks. Phones run out of battery, families get separated, and egotism becomes certain individuals' worst enemy. Racial profiling also plagues a group of exhausted survivors' unity. However, the filmmakers, Maras and Collee, do not give white privilege an easy pass when the circumstances grow direr by the second.
Except for an earlier scene, where David orders an extremely Americanized burger meal at Taj's world-class restaurant, which somehow grants him overconfidence. Maras establishes unassailable directorial authority throughout the film, guiding the viewer through a maze of rooms, hallways, and backdoor escape routes with clear orientation. Even when one loses count of the fallen bodies, the film's documentary-like cinematography by Nick Remy Matthews, and the work of co-editors Maras and Peter McNulty, weave together a massive canvas.
Hotel Mumbai Trailer
Is Hotel Mumbai based on a true story - FAQs
Hotel Mumbai is a 2018 action thriller film that is based on the 2008 Mumbai attacks at the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel in India. The film follows the events of the terrorist attacks and focuses on the hotel's staff, who try to protect their guests and loved ones from the attackers.
The film features a talented cast, including Dev Patel, Armie Hammer, Nazanin Boniadi, Anupam Kher, Tilda Cobham-Hervey, Jason Isaacs, Suhail Nayyar, Nagesh Bhosle, and Natasha Liu Bordizzo.
The film was directed by Anthony Maras, who also co-wrote the screenplay with John Collee.
Hotel Mumbai premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 7, 2018, and had its Australian premiere at the Adelaide Film Festival on October 10, 2018. The film was released in Australia and the United States on March 14 and 22, 2019, respectively, and in India on November 29, 2019.
Yes, the film is based on the 2008 Mumbai attacks at the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel in India. The filmmakers were inspired by the 2009 documentary Surviving Mumbai, which chronicled the events of the attacks.