{ "id": "ep34mabxyz", "slug": "state-of-siege-26-11", "title": "State of Siege: 26/11", "updated": "2026-11-01", "topic_path": [ { "id": "culture", "label": "Arts and culture", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture" }, { "id": "culture.performance", "label": "Screen and stage", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen", "label": "Film and television", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.series", "label": "Series and fictional screen worlds", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.series" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.series.series_unscripted", "label": "Unscripted, reality, and web-native series", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.series.series_unscripted" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.series.series_web_native", "label": "Web-native and streaming-original series", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.series.series_web_native" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.series.series_web_native.indian_southasian_webseries", "label": "Indian and South Asian web series", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.series.series_web_native.indian_southasian_webseries" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.series.series_web_native.indian_southasian_webseries.yr-2003-2020", "label": "Premiered 2003 to 2020", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.series.series_web_native.indian_southasian_webseries.yr-2003-2020" } ], "geo": [ { "id": "geo.ind.t2001.culture.performance.screen.series.series_web_native", "label": "India · 2001 to 2020: Web-native and streaming-original series", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t2001.culture.performance.screen.series.series_web_native", "path": [ { "id": "geo.ind", "label": "India", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t2001", "label": "India · 2001 to 2020", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t2001" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t2001.culture", "label": "Arts and culture", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t2001.culture" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t2001.culture.performance", "label": "Screen and stage", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t2001.culture.performance" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t2001.culture.performance.screen", "label": "Film and television", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t2001.culture.performance.screen" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t2001.culture.performance.screen.series", "label": "Series and fictional screen worlds", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t2001.culture.performance.screen.series" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t2001.culture.performance.screen.series.series_unscripted", "label": "Unscripted, reality, and web-native series", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t2001.culture.performance.screen.series.series_unscripted" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t2001.culture.performance.screen.series.series_web_native", "label": "Web-native and streaming-original series", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t2001.culture.performance.screen.series.series_web_native" } ] } ], "excerpt": "State of Siege: 26/11 is a 2020 ZEE5 Indian web series, 8 episodes, directed by Matthew Leutwyler, based on Sandeep Unnithan's book Black Tornado, dramatizing the NSG response to the 2008 Mumbai attacks.", "snippet": "State of Siege: 26/11 is a 2020 ZEE5 Indian web series, 8 episodes, directed by Matthew Leutwyler, based on Sandeep Unnithan's book Black Tornado, dramatizing the NSG response to the 2008 Mumbai attacks.", "node": "culture.performance.screen.series.series_web_native.indian_southasian_webseries.yr-2003-2020", "markdown": "# State of Siege: 26/11\n\n**State of Siege: 26/11** is an Indian action-thriller web series that dramatizes the 2008 Mumbai attacks and the [National Security Guard](https://www.edgepedia.org/national-security-guard) (NSG) operation to end them. Produced by Contiloe Pictures as the company's first digital series, it premiered on the ZEE5 streaming platform on 20 March 2020 and runs for eight episodes of roughly 30 minutes each.[1](https://indiantelevision.com/iworld/over-the-top-services/contiloe-pictures-ventures-into-digital-200314/) • [2](https://www.justwatch.com/us/tv-show/state-of-siege-26-11) The screenplay by Joshua Caldwell is based on the book *Black Tornado: The Three Sieges of Mumbai 26/11* by Sandeep Unnithan, and the series was directed by the American filmmaker Matthew Leutwyler.[3](https://theenvoyweb.com/reviews/state-of-siege-26-11-review/) • [4](https://www.digit.in/digit-binge/shows/state-of-siege-26-11-736898.html)\n\n| Key fact | Detail |\n|---|---|\n| Premiere | 20 March 2020 on ZEE5; Contiloe Pictures' first digital series[1](https://indiantelevision.com/iworld/over-the-top-services/contiloe-pictures-ventures-into-digital-200314/) |\n| Format | 8 episodes, about 30 minutes each; action, crime, thriller[2](https://www.justwatch.com/us/tv-show/state-of-siege-26-11) |\n| Source material | *Black Tornado: The Three Sieges of Mumbai 26/11* by Sandeep Unnithan; screenplay by Joshua Caldwell[3](https://theenvoyweb.com/reviews/state-of-siege-26-11-review/) |\n| Director / creator | Matthew Leutwyler (director); Abhimanyu Singh (creator)[4](https://www.digit.in/digit-binge/shows/state-of-siege-26-11-736898.html) |\n| Lead cast | Arjan Bajwa, Arjun Bijlani, Vivek Dahiya, Mukul Dev, Tara Alisha Berry[2](https://www.justwatch.com/us/tv-show/state-of-siege-26-11) |\n| Languages / rating | Hindi, Tamil, Telugu; U/A 16+[5](https://www.zee5.com/web-series/details/state-of-siege-26-11/0-6-2370) |\n| Historical basis | The 26 November 2008 Mumbai attacks, in which ten Lashkar-e-Taiba gunmen held the city under siege for about 60 hours[6](https://mwi.westpoint.edu/mumbai-under-siege-an-urban-warfare-project-case-study/) |\n\n## Spoilers\n\n### Plot and structure\n\nThe series opens before dawn on 26 November and covers the three days of the attacks. Colonel Kunal Sahota ([Arjan Bajwa](https://www.edgepedia.org/arjan-bajwa)) struggles to obtain upgrades for the NSG while the terrorists make their way toward Mumbai; the gunmen then strike the CST station, Leopold Café, Taj Hotel, Oberoi Hotel, and Chabad House simultaneously. Later episodes follow Kasab and Ismail's attack on Cama Hospital, Kasab's capture after the killing of the ATS chief, the NSG's evacuation of the Taj, a helicopter-borne attempt to enter Chabad House through the roof, and a final battle titled \"Black Tornado.\"[5](https://www.zee5.com/web-series/details/state-of-siege-26-11/0-6-2370) The eighth episode, \"The Making of a Terrorist,\" is devoted to [Ajmal Kasab](https://www.edgepedia.org/ajmal-kasab)'s background, covering indoctrination and weapons training.[2](https://www.justwatch.com/us/tv-show/state-of-siege-26-11) • [3](https://theenvoyweb.com/reviews/state-of-siege-26-11-review/)\n\nUnlike many screen treatments of the attacks, the story is told largely from the perspective of the NSG.[10](https://www.indiatoday.in/entertainment/ott/story/state-of-siege-26-11-review-arjun-bijlani-s-web-series-is-a-stirring-retelling-of-mumbai-attacks-1658846-2020-03-23) It covers every major location hit, from the Leopold Café and [Nariman House](https://www.edgepedia.org/nariman-house) to the two hotels, and it depicts the role of news channels whose live reporting may have kept the handlers in Pakistan informed of the forces' movements.[3](https://theenvoyweb.com/reviews/state-of-siege-26-11-review/) • [11](https://www.hindustantimes.com/tv/state-of-siege-26-11-review-an-unflinching-portrayal-of-mumbai-terror-attacks/story-STeMetUYBNmAq0rCZ8CYKJ.html)\n\n### Cast and characters\n\nThe leads play officers modeled on real participants. Arjan Bajwa's Colonel Kunal Sahota is based on Col. (now [Brigadier](https://www.edgepedia.org/brigadier)) Sunil Sheoran; [Arjun Bijlani](https://www.edgepedia.org/arjun-bijlani)'s Major Nikhil Manikrishnan is based on Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan, the NSG officer killed during the Taj operation; and Vivek Dahiya plays Captain Rohit Bagga.[3](https://theenvoyweb.com/reviews/state-of-siege-26-11-review/) Mukul Dev plays the [Lashkar-e-Taiba](https://www.edgepedia.org/lashkar-e-taiba) handler Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi, in contact with the gunmen from Pakistan.[3](https://theenvoyweb.com/reviews/state-of-siege-26-11-review/) • [2](https://www.justwatch.com/us/tv-show/state-of-siege-26-11) The supporting cast includes Tara Alisha Berry as a journalist, Sid Makkar as her channel boss, Suzanne Bernert as Yocheved Orpaz, and Avinash Wadhawan as JCP Sidana.[2](https://www.justwatch.com/us/tv-show/state-of-siege-26-11)\n\n## Historical background\n\nThe series depicts the attacks that began on the evening of 26 November 2008, when ten members of the Pakistan-based militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba came ashore from the [Arabian Sea](https://www.edgepedia.org/arabian-sea) in small boats and attacked high-profile targets across Mumbai with automatic weapons and explosives.[7](https://www.everycrsreport.com/reports/R40087.html) • [6](https://mwi.westpoint.edu/mumbai-under-siege-an-urban-warfare-project-case-study/) The targets included the Taj Mahal Palace and Oberoi-Trident hotels, the main railway terminal (Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus), a Jewish cultural center (Nariman House/Chabad House), the Leopold Café, a cinema, and two hospitals.[7](https://www.everycrsreport.com/reports/R40087.html)\n\nThe siege lasted about 60 hours. Accounts of the death toll differ by source and counting method: a Congressional Research Service report put it at about 165 people plus nine terrorists killed, with hundreds injured;[7](https://www.everycrsreport.com/reports/R40087.html) the Modern War Institute case study gives 174 people killed by the attackers;[6](https://mwi.westpoint.edu/mumbai-under-siege-an-urban-warfare-project-case-study/) and an Associated Press retrospective states at least 175 dead including nine of the attackers.[8](https://apnews.com/article/8562c62f14faa7121459526022bd2073) Nine of the ten attackers were killed and one, Ajmal Kasab, was captured alive.[6](https://mwi.westpoint.edu/mumbai-under-siege-an-urban-warfare-project-case-study/)\n\nSeveral factors prolonged the response. The terrorists were better armed and equipped than the Indian security forces that first responded; they stayed in constant contact by satellite telephone with handlers in Pakistan who monitored live Indian news coverage; and gaps among Indian security agencies delayed and uncoordinated the response.[6](https://mwi.westpoint.edu/mumbai-under-siege-an-urban-warfare-project-case-study/) According to a RAND report cited by TIME, it took nearly 10 hours for India's elite NSG commandos to reach Mumbai, in part because the rapid-reaction force was based near Delhi, hundreds of miles away; the siege of the Taj Hotel ended on the morning of 29 November.[9](https://time.com/5556215/hotel-mumbai-movie-true-story/)\n\n## Production\n\nThe tactical sequences drew on the involvement of actual NSG \"Black Cat\" commandos and Army officers during production, which reviewers cited as a source of the operation's accurate depiction.[3](https://theenvoyweb.com/reviews/state-of-siege-26-11-review/) Dialogue moves among English, Urdu, Hindi, Punjabi, and Hebrew, with music by Kartik Shah.[12](https://amp.scroll.in/reel/957208/state-of-siege-26-11-review-nsg-commandos-to-the-rescue-in-series-about-mumbai-terror-attacks) The series was released in Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu audio with English and Hindi subtitles.[5](https://www.zee5.com/web-series/details/state-of-siege-26-11/0-6-2370)\n\n## Reception\n\nReviewers generally praised the restraint of the retelling. The [Hindustan Times](https://www.edgepedia.org/hindustan-times) described it as an unflinching portrayal that neither over-dramatizes the attacks to pump up patriotism nor fictionalizes them, and noted its questions about communication lapses among task forces and the media's live coverage.[11](https://www.hindustantimes.com/tv/state-of-siege-26-11-review-an-unflinching-portrayal-of-mumbai-terror-attacks/story-STeMetUYBNmAq0rCZ8CYKJ.html) The Envoy Web called it a stellar rendition and highlighted the ensemble performances and authentic tactics.[3](https://theenvoyweb.com/reviews/state-of-siege-26-11-review/) Scroll.in praised the decision to give weight to many participants rather than one heroic figure, and its criticism of the system's preparedness and of newsroom behavior, while finding some non-dramatic scenes weak and noting production compromises such as hotel interiors that do not match the real Taj.[12](https://amp.scroll.in/reel/957208/state-of-siege-26-11-review-nsg-commandos-to-the-rescue-in-series-about-mumbai-terror-attacks) PeepingMoon rated it 3 of 5, crediting the lead performances but faulting the handling of hostages' family members and hotel staff.[13](https://www.peepingmoon.com/index.php/webcast-news/news/42666/State-of-Siege-Review-Arjan-Bajwas-Arjun-Bijlanis-and-Vivek-Dahiyas-show-is-a-faltering-ode-to-the-NSG-commandos-during-Mumbai-terror-attacks.html) On IMDb the series holds a rating of 7.9 from about 3,000 users.[2](https://www.justwatch.com/us/tv-show/state-of-siege-26-11)\n\n## Availability\n\nIn India the series streams on ZEE5, which holds the streaming rights.[14](https://www.justwatch.com/in/tv-show/creator) In the United States it is available free with ads on [The Roku Channel](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-roku-channel) and Tubi.[2](https://www.justwatch.com/us/tv-show/state-of-siege-26-11)\n\n## References\n\n1. [Contiloe Pictures ventures into digital, Indian Television Dot Com](https://indiantelevision.com/iworld/over-the-top-services/contiloe-pictures-ventures-into-digital-200314/)\n2. [State of Siege: 26/11, JustWatch](https://www.justwatch.com/us/tv-show/state-of-siege-26-11)\n3. [State of Siege 26/11 review: A stellar rendition of the Mumbai attacks, The Envoy Web](https://theenvoyweb.com/reviews/state-of-siege-26-11-review/)\n4. [State of Siege: 26/11: Release Date, Trailer, Cast & Episodes, Digit Binge](https://www.digit.in/digit-binge/shows/state-of-siege-26-11-736898.html)\n5. [State of Siege: 26/11, ZEE5](https://www.zee5.com/web-series/details/state-of-siege-26-11/0-6-2370)\n6. [Mumbai Under Siege: An Urban Warfare Project Case Study, Modern War Institute, West Point](https://mwi.westpoint.edu/mumbai-under-siege-an-urban-warfare-project-case-study/)\n7. [Terrorist Attacks in Mumbai, India, and Implications for U.S. Interests, Congressional Research Service R40087](https://www.everycrsreport.com/reports/R40087.html)\n8. [Today in History: November 26, Mumbai terror attacks of 2008 begin, Associated Press](https://apnews.com/article/8562c62f14faa7121459526022bd2073)\n9. [The True Story Behind the Movie Hotel Mumbai, TIME](https://time.com/5556215/hotel-mumbai-movie-true-story/)\n10. [State of Siege 26/11 review: Arjun Bijlani's web series is a stirring retelling of Mumbai attacks, India Today](https://www.indiatoday.in/entertainment/ott/story/state-of-siege-26-11-review-arjun-bijlani-s-web-series-is-a-stirring-retelling-of-mumbai-attacks-1658846-2020-03-23)\n11. [State of Siege 26/11 review: An unflinching portrayal of Mumbai terror attacks, Hindustan Times](https://www.hindustantimes.com/tv/state-of-siege-26-11-review-an-unflinching-portrayal-of-mumbai-terror-attacks/story-STeMetUYBNmAq0rCZ8CYKJ.html)\n12. [State of Siege: 26/11 review: NSG commandos to the rescue, Scroll.in](https://amp.scroll.in/reel/957208/state-of-siege-26-11-review-nsg-commandos-to-the-rescue-in-series-about-mumbai-terror-attacks)\n13. [State of Siege 26/11 Review, PeepingMoon](https://www.peepingmoon.com/index.php/webcast-news/news/42666/State-of-Siege-Review-Arjan-Bajwas-Arjun-Bijlanis-and-Vivek-Dahiyas-show-is-a-faltering-ode-to-the-NSG-commandos-during-Mumbai-terror-attacks.html)\n14. [State of Siege: 26/11 streaming in India, JustWatch](https://www.justwatch.com/in/tv-show/creator)\n\n---\n*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Series and fictional screen worlds › Unscripted, reality, and web-native series › Web-native and streaming-original series › Indian and South Asian web series › Premiered 2003 to 2020*\n\n*Initially written Oct 3, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 21, 2026; Oct 25, 2026; Nov 1, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*\n\n*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*\n\nLicense: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license\n", "same_as": [], "url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/state-of-siege-26-11", "markdown_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/state-of-siege-26-11.md", "license": { "name": "Edgepedia Community License 1.0", "url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license", "summary": "Free with credit, commercial use included. AI training is open to everyone. For other uses, organizations over USD 100M in revenue or 100M monthly users license separately.", "spdx": "LicenseRef-Edgepedia-Community-1.0" }, "credit": "\"State of Siege: 26/11\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/state-of-siege-26-11. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "credit_md": "\"[State of Siege: 26/11](https://www.edgepedia.org/state-of-siege-26-11)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), [https://www.edgepedia.org/state-of-siege-26-11](https://www.edgepedia.org/state-of-siege-26-11). [Edgepedia Community License 1.0](https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license).", "credit_html": "\"State of Siege: 26/11\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/state-of-siege-26-11. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "speakable": "State of Siege: 26/11 is a 2020 ZEE5 Indian web series, 8 episodes, directed by Matthew Leutwyler, based on Sandeep Unnithan's book Black Tornado, dramatizing the NSG response to the 2008 Mumbai attacks." }