Hollywood Film on 26/11 Attacks Criticised for Not Naming Pakistan

The film stars Dev Patel and Armie Hammer in lead roles.

Dev Patel in Hotel Mumbai.

(Photo courtesy: Twitter)

Hotel Mumbai, an Australian film based on the Mumbai terror attacks of 26 November, starring an international cast including Dev Patel, Armie Hammer and Anupam Kher, is facing harsh criticism from the Indian media after its premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival.

Hotel Mumbai is one of the first major international films depicting the act of terror and focuses on the attack at the Taj Palace Hotel. After the film was screened at the festival, many critics were quick to point out that the film omits any reference to the terrorists being from Pakistan. It has been established that the attackers were members of the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), and had handlers in Pakistan, possibly associated with the Pakistani Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).

At a question and answer session director Anthony Maras was asked about why David Coleman Headley was not featured in the film. Maras responded that he wanted to focus on the period of the attacks, when Headley’s involvement was not known.

Author and film critic Aseem Chhabra tweeted out his concern with the film.

Gaurav Mishra, a producer involved with the film, had this response.

Hotel Mumbai does not have an Indian release date yet.