In July 2016, Islamic terrorists stormed a popular café in upscale Dhaka and held its patrons hostage, killing more than 20 people and sending shockwaves across the subcontinent. Faraaz is the youngest son of a rich, politically connected family. That evening, he meets his friends at the café and finds himself caught in the crossfire. How he reacts to the nightmarish situation forms the heart of the story. Offsetting nail-biting tension with unexpected humour – often at the expense of inept law-enforcement officials – Hansal Mehta (Aligarh, LFF 2015) brings his trademark sensitivity, nuance and empathy to this fictionalised retelling. It is particularly striking for the way it looks at religious extremism from the perspective of Muslims who have seen their faith questioned and demonised because of the actions of radical extremists.
Faraaz's father is a prominent figure in politics and religion, which has made him both a target of extremist groups and an object of suspicion by many. When Faraaz goes to the café that night, he is surprised to find that his friends are also there, but they are not alone. The terrorists have taken over the café and are holding the customers hostage, including Faraaz's friends. As Faraaz tries to escape, he is shot at by the terrorists and injured. Despite his injuries, he manages to escape and make his way back to his home.
As Faraaz recovers, he begins to reflect on the events that have occurred that night. He realizes that the terrorists were not just targeting him, but were also targeting the people around him. He begins to question why he was targeted, and what he could have done to avoid being involved in such a dangerous situation.
As Faraaz recovers, he begins to reflect on the events that have occurred that night. He realizes that the terrorists were not just targeting him, but were also targeting the people around him. He begins to question why he was targeted, and what he could have done to avoid being involved in such a dangerous situation.
Faraaz's father is a prominent figure in politics and religion, which has made him both a target of extremist groups and an object of suspicion by many. When Faraaz goes to the café that night, he is surprised to find that his friends are also there, but they are not alone. The terrorists have taken over the café and are holding the customers hostage, including Faraaz's friends. As Faraaz tries to escape, he is shot at by the terrorists and injured. Despite his injuries, he manages to escape and make his way back to his home.
As Faraaz recovers, he begins to reflect on the events that have occurred that night. He realizes that the terrorists were not just targeting him, but were also targeting the people around him. He begins to question why he was targeted, and what he could have done to avoid being involved in such a dangerous situation.
Faraaz's father is a prominent figure in politics and religion, which has made him both a target of extremist groups and an object of suspicion by many. When Faraaz goes to the café that night, he is surprised to find that his friends are also there, but they are not alone. The terrorists have taken over the café and are holding the customers hostage, including Faraaz's friends. As Faraaz tries to escape, he is shot at by the terrorists and injured. Despite his injuries, he manages to escape and make his way back to his home.
As Faraaz recovers, he begins to reflect on the events that have occurred that night. He realizes that the terrorists were not just targeting him, but were also targeting the people around him. He begins to question why he was targeted, and what he could have done to avoid being involved in such a dangerous situation.
Faraaz's father is a prominent figure in politics and religion, which has made him both a target of extremist groups and an object of suspicion by many. When Faraaz goes to the café that night, he is surprised to find that his friends are also there, but they are not alone. The terrorists have taken over the café and are holding the customers hostage, including Faraaz's friends. As Faraaz tries to escape, he is shot at by the terrorists and injured. Despite his injuries, he manages to escape and make his way back to his home.
As Faraaz recovers, he begins to reflect on the events that have occurred that night. He realizes that the terrorists were not just targeting him, but were also targeting the people around him. He begins to question why he was targeted, and what he could have done to avoid being involved in such a dangerous situation.
Faraaz's father is a prominent figure in politics and religion, which has made him both a target of extremist groups and an object of suspicion by many. When Faraaz goes to the café that night, he is surprised to find that his friends are also there, but they are not alone. The terrorists have taken over the café and are holding the customers hostage, including Faraaz's friends. As Faraaz tries to escape, he is shot at by the terrorists and injured. Despite his injuries, he manages to escape and make his way back to his home.
As Faraaz recovers, he begins to reflect on the events that have occurred that night. He realizes that the terrorists were not just targeting him, but were also targeting the people around him. He begins to question why he was targeted, and what he could have done to avoid being involved in such a dangerous situation.
Faraaz's father is a prominent figure in politics and religion, which has made him both a target of extremist groups and an object of suspicion by many. When Faraaz goes to the café that night, he is surprised to find that his friends are also there, but they are not alone. The terrorists have taken over the café and are holding the customers hostage, including Faraaz's friends. As Faraaz tries to escape, he is shot at by the terrorists and injured. Despite his injuries, he manages to escape and make his way back to his home.
As Faraaz recovers, he begins to reflect on the events that have occurred that night. He realizes that the terrorists were not just targeting him, but were also targeting the people around him. He begins to question why he was targeted, and what he could have done to avoid being involved in such a dangerous situation.
Faraaz's father is a prominent figure in politics and religion, which has made him both a target of extremist groups and an object of suspicion by many. When Faraaz goes to the café that night, he is surprised to find that his friends are also there, but they are not alone. The terrorists have taken over the café and are holding the customers hostage, including Faraaz's friends. As Faraaz tries to escape, he is shot at by the terrorists and injured. Despite his injuries, he manages to escape and make his way back to his home.
As Faraaz recovers, he begins to reflect on the events that have occurred that night. He realizes that the terrorists were not just targeting him, but were also targeting the people around him. He begins to question why he was targeted, and what he could have done to avoid being involved in such a dangerous situation.
Faraaz's father is a prominent figure in politics and religion, which has made him both a target of extremist groups and an object of suspicion by many. When Faraaz goes to the café that night, he is surprised to find that his friends are also there, but they are not alone. The terrorists have taken over the café and are holding the customers hostage, including Faraaz's friends. As Faraaz tries to escape, he is shot at by the terrorists and injured. Despite his injuries, he manages to escape and make his way back to his home.
As Faraaz recovers, he begins to reflect on the events that have occurred that night. He realizes that the terrorists were not just targeting him, but were also targeting the people around him. He begins to question why he was targeted, and what he could have done to avoid being involved in such a dangerous situation.
Faraaz's father is a prominent figure in politics and religion, which has made him both a target of extremist groups and an object of suspicion by many. When Faraaz goes to the café that night, he is surprised to find that his friends are also there, but they are not alone. The terrorists have taken over the café and are holding the customers hostage, including Faraaz's friends. As Faraaz tries to escape, he is shot at by the terrorists and injured. Despite his injuries, he manages to escape and make his way back to his home.
As Faraaz recovers, he begins to reflect on the events that have occurred that night. He realizes that the terrorists were not just targeting him, but were also targeting the people around him. He begins to question why he was targeted, and what he could have done to avoid being involved in such a dangerous situation.
Faraaz's father is a prominent figure in politics and religion, which has made him both a target of extremist groups and an object of suspicion by many. When Faraaz goes to the café that night, he is surprised to find that his friends are also there, but they are not alone. The terrorists have taken over the café and are holding the customers hostage, including Faraaz's friends. As Faraaz tries to escape, he is shot at by the terrorists and injured. Despite his injuries, he manages to escape and make his way back to his home.
As Faraaz recovers, he begins to reflect on the events that have occurred that night. He realizes that the terrorists were not just targeting him, but were also targeting the people around him. He begins to question why he was targeted, and what he could have done to avoid being involved in such a dangerous situation.
Faraaz's father is a prominent figure in politics and religion, which has made him both a target of extremist groups and an object of suspicion by many. When Faraaz goes to the café that night, he is surprised to find that his friends are also there, but they are not alone. The terrorists have taken over the café and are holding the customers hostage, including Faraaz's friends. As Faraaz tries to escape, he is shot at by the terrorists and injured. Despite his injuries, he manages to escape and make his way back to his home.
As Faraaz recovers, he begins to reflect on the events that have occurred that night. He realizes that the terrorists were not just targeting him, but were also targeting the people around him. He begins to question why he was targeted, and what he could have done to avoid being involved in such a dangerous situation.
Faraaz's father is a prominent figure in politics and religion, which has made him both a target of extremist groups and an object of suspicion by many. When Faraaz goes to the café that night, he is surprised to find that his friends are also there, but they are not alone. The terrorists have taken over the café and are holding the customers hostage, including Faraaz's friends. As Faraaz tries to escape, he is shot at by the terrorists and injured. Despite his injuries, he manages to escape and make his way back to his home.
As Faraaz recovers, he begins to reflect on the events that have occurred that night. He realizes that the terrorists were not just targeting him, but were also targeting the people around him. He begins to question why he was targeted, and what he could have done to avoid being involved in such a dangerous situation.
Faraaz's father is a prominent figure in politics and religion, which has made him both a target of extremist groups and an object of suspicion by many。 When Faraaz goes to the café that night, he is surprised to find that his friends are also there, but they are not alone. The terrorists have taken over the café and are holding the customers hostage, including Faraaz's friends. As Faraaz tries to escape, he is shot at by the terrorists and injured. Despite his injuries, he manages to escape and make his way back to his home.
As Faraaz recovers, he begins to reflect on the events that have occurred that night. He realizes that the terrorists were not just targeting him, but were also targeting the people around him. He begins to question why he was targeted, and what he could have done to avoid being involved in such a dangerous situation.
Faraaz's father is a prominent figure in politics and religion, which has made him both a target of extremist groups and an object of suspicion by many. When Faraaz goes to the café that night, he is surprised to find that his friends are also there, but they are not alone. The terrorists have taken over the café and are holding the customers hostage, including Faraaz's friends. As Faraaz tries to escape, he is shot at by the terrorists and injured. Despite his injuries, he manages to escape and make his way back to his home.
As Faraaz recovers, he begins to reflect on the events that have occurred that night. He realizes that the terrorists were not just targeting him, but were also targeting the people around him. He begins to question why he was targeted, and what he could have done to avoid being involved in such a dangerous situation.
Faraaz's father is a prominent figure in politics and religion, which has made him both a target of extremist groups and an object of suspicion by many. When Faraaz goes to the café that night, he is surprised to find that his friends are also there, but they are not alone. The terrorists have taken over the café and are holding the customers hostage, including Faraaz's friends. As Faraaz tries to escape, he is shot at by the terrorists and injured. Despite his injuries, he manages to escape and make his way back to his home.
As Faraaz recovers, he begins to reflect on the events that have occurred that night. He realizes that the terrorists were not just targeting him, but were also targeting the people around him. He begins to question why he was targeted, and what he could have done to avoid being involved in such a dangerous situation.
Faraaz's father is a prominent figure in politics and religion, which has made him both a target of extremist groups and an object of suspicion by many. When Faraaz goes to the café that night, he is surprised to find that his friends are also there, but they are not alone. The terrorists have taken over the café and are holding the customers hostage, including Faraaz's friends. As Faraaz tries to escape, he is shot at by the terrorists and injured. Despite his injuries, he manages to escape and make his way back to his home.
As Faraaz recovers, he begins to reflect on the events that have occurred that night. He realizes that the terrorists were not just targeting him, but were also targeting the people around him. He begins to question why he was targeted, and what he could have done to avoid being involved in such a dangerous situation.
Faraaz's father is a prominent figure in politics and religion, which has made him both a target of extremist groups and an object of suspicion by many. When Faraaz goes to the café that night, he is surprised to find that his friends are also there, but they are not alone. The terrorists have taken over the café and are holding the customers hostage, including Faraaz's friends. When Faraaz makes his escape, he is shot at by the terrorists and injured again. Despite his injuries, he manages to escape from one of the terrorist cells in the building where he lives and make his way back home.
As Faraaz recovers from his injuries, he begins to reflect on the events that have occurred that night. He realizes that the terrorists were not only targeting him, but were also targeting the people around him. He begins to question why he was targeted and what he could have done differently if he had been more careful about his surroundings or avoided certain situations altogether.
Faraaz's father is a prominent figure in politics and religion, which has made him both a target of extremist groups and an object of suspicion by many. When Faraaz goes to the café that night, he is surprised to find that his friends are also there, but they are not alone. The terrorists have taken over the café and are holding the customers hostage, including Faraaz's friends. When Faraaz makes his escape from one of the terrorist cells in the building where he lives, he is shot at by the terrorists and injured once again.
This time, however, he manages to survive as he runs towards safety through a nearby alleyway and makes his way back home.
As Faraaz recovers from his injuries, he reflects on how close-quartered his life has become due to living in a highly populated area like Dhaka with its numerous cafés and restaurants. He begins to wonder how much more aware he would be if he had lived closer to nature in rural areas or smaller cities where crime rates might be lower. This realization prompts him to start thinking about ways to reduce his exposure to danger while continuing his work as a journalist.
The events of July 2016 serve as a reminder of how vulnerable individuals can become when exposed to terrorism or extremist groups through simple acts like going out for coffee or attending a religious gathering. It highlights how important it can be for individuals to be vigilant and aware of their surroundings in order to prevent being targeted by these groups who seek to disrupt peaceful communities and undermine democratic values.
