A series of terror attacks rocked India’s financial capital, Mumbai, claiming the lives of 166 people, including 18 security personnel, and leaving many more injured. On November 26, 2008, ten terrorists of Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) entered Mumbai by sea and opened fire indiscriminately at several locations, including the Taj Mahal Hotel, the Oberoi Hotel, Leopold Cafe, Nariman (Chabad) House and Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST) railway station. During the 60-hour siege, the city witnessed widespread destruction and loss of life.
Ajmal Amir Kasab was the sole terrorist captured alive, early on November 27, hours after the attacks began. He was subsequently tried in court and hanged on November 21, 2012.
Years after the horrific attacks, Bollywood has brought the story of the trial to the big screen with Prahaar: The Untold Story of Ujjwal Nikam. The courtroom drama explores the legal proceedings against Kasab and the challenges involved in bringing the accused to justice. It also shows Advocate Nigam’s personal life and the turmoil he faced during the trial.
Starring Rajkummar Rao, Wamiqa Gabbi and Jaideep Ahlawat, the film is told from the perspective of senior lawyer and Padma Shri awardee Ujjwal Nikam, who played a key role in prosecuting Kasab. While many have described the film as Nikam’s biopic, the lawyer has clarified that it is a courtroom drama rather than a biographical account of his life.
Netizens review Prahaar
The film’s portrayal of the 26/11 trial has received appreciation from several viewers, particularly for bringing attention to the courtroom proceedings that followed the attacks. Those who have watched the film have also praised Rajkummar Rao’s performance and dialogue delivery.
One viewer praised its emotional impact and the way it revisits the events of 26/11. The user wrote, “We’ve seen several films on 26/11, and many of them have been good, but this one is right up there.”
Another wrote,”There have been many films made on 26/11 episode and its aftermath, but there has been no films that shows how the trial was conducted,” the user wrote, praising director Avinash Arun’s depiction of the legal proceedings.
However, not all reactions have been entirely positive. One user, who described themselves as a fan of Rajkummar Rao, questioned the actor’s decision to take up the project. While acknowledging the subject and its intention to celebrate India, the viewer expressed uncertainty about whether the film would find the audience it deserves amid current box-office trends.
Ujjwal Nikam reveals Prahaar is not his biopic
Speaking to ANI, Nikam revealed that director Avinash Arun and the producers at Maddock Films approached him with the idea of depicting the landmark trial and addressing questions surrounding the legal proceedings.
“It’s not my biopic. This whole movie is about what happened in court after Ajmal Kasab was caught and arrested, and the trial that followed,” Nikam said.
Recalling his conversation with the filmmakers, he said he initially questioned the idea of making a film about a lawyer’s life.
“I asked them, ‘What kind of movie will you make about a lawyer’s life? Nothing much has ever happened in our lives. There’s no dancing or much singing. Still, you want to make a movie?'” he recalled.
According to Nikam, the filmmakers wanted to address key questions surrounding the trial, including why Kasab was prosecuted through the legal system despite public demands for his execution, why the proceedings took several years and what the trial ultimately established.
Explaining the scale of the case, Nikam said, “I answered all three questions by saying that Ajmal Kasab was caught on 26/11. But the charges against him were framed on May 6, 2009, and his execution was announced on May 5, 2010. There were 650 witnesses.”
He suggested that the film would offer audiences a deeper understanding of the legal proceedings while leaving some aspects for viewers to discover on screen.
Ujjwal Nikam praises Rajkummar Rao's performance
Nikam admitted that watching Prahaar was an emotionally intense experience, as it brought back memories of the personal hardships he endured while handling high-profile cases.
“This is one movie that made me feel like I, and my family, were the real accused,” he said, describing the impact of seeing aspects of his life portrayed on screen.
He also praised Rajkummar Rao’s portrayal of him. Recalling his initial response when director Avinash Arun told him that Rao would play his character, Nikam said he left the creative decision to the filmmakers.
Nikam added that several of his lawyer friends had praised the actor for recreating his distinctive courtroom style.
“After watching the film, many of my lawyer friends said that the forceful way you argue in court, Rajkummar did the exact same thing,” he said.