Since childhood, many of us have heard, “not all heroes wear capes”. However, what we have learnt during the course of our lives is that some of these heroes carry a stethoscope in their hands, while others wear a uniform, and some others just carry on doing their bit, quietly, without any fear or concern for themselves.

With the magnificent Gateway of India forming the iconic backdrop, Amazon Prime Video hosted ‘Sahas ko Salam’ - an event that paid homage to the bravery, commitment and selfless sacrifice of Mumbai’s frontline warriors like doctors and police force. The event marked the trailer launch of upcoming fictional medical drama set against the backdrop of 26/11 attacks - Amazon Original Series Mumbai Diaries 26/11. ‘Sahas ko Salam’ celebrated the invaluable sacrifices of Mumbai’s frontline heroes in the presence of youth icon and Honourable Minister of Environment Tourism & Protocol, Government of Maharashtra, Shri Aaditya Thackeray, Aparna Purohit, Head of India Originals, Amazon Prime Video, India, director and creator Nikkhil Advani along with the producers and the cast of the series.

Mumbai Dairies tariler launch
Honourable Minister of Tourism, Environment Protocol, Government of Maharashtra, Shri Aaditya Thackeray
Mumbai Dairies tariler launch
Nikkhil Advani and Aaditya Thackeray honouring Police Inspector Bhaskar Kadam
Mumbai Dairies tariler launch
Director Nikkhil Advani with the cast of Mumbai Diaries 26/11
Mumbai Dairies tariler launch
Aaditya Thackeray and Shreya Dhanwantary honouring Dattaram Sahadev Karanje, Jr. Supervisor, Solid waste management, BMC
Mumbai Dairies tariler launch
Aaditya Thackeray and Konkona Sen Sharma honouring Nursing Officer Anjali Kulthe
Mumbai Dairies tariler launch
Aaditya Thackeray and Mohit Raina Honouring Dr. Urmila Patil
Mumbai Dairies tariler launch
(L-R) Satyajeet Dubey, Mrunmayee Deshpande, Konkona Sen Sharma, Prakash Belawadi
Mumbai Dairies tariler launch
(L-R) Madhu Bhojwani, Aparna Purohit, Nikkhil Advani, Monisha Advani

Edge-of-the-seat medical drama

Mumbai Diaries 26/11 is a fictional edge-of-the-seat medical drama that is set against the terrifying, unforgettable night that, on one hand ravaged the city, but on the other hand also united its people and strengthened their resolve to stand resolutely against any adversity. The series is an account of events that unfold in a government hospital and explore the challenges faced by the medical staff at the hospital as well as other first responders across the city of Mumbai while dealing with a monumental crisis. Mumbai Diaries 26/11 will launch on Amazon Prime Video on September 9th, 2021, across more than 240+ countries and territories.

Mumbai Diaries - Official Trailer | Amazon Original

Beautiful and memorable performances

The evening had some beautiful and memorable performances – a moving monologue by Mohit Raina, an actor par excellence as well as a soul-stirring song rendition of ‘Tu dafn bhi hai’, an exclusive track from the Amazon Original Mumbai Diaries 26/11 by Altamash Faridi

Aparna Purohit, Head of Originals at Amazon Prime Video, presented an electrifying speech that focussed on ‘The spirit of Mumbai’, ‘The resilience of Mumbaikars’, and how the city may have gone through its share of crises – but has always managed to bounce back on to its feet. This was followed by a brief presentation by the director of the Amazon Original Mumbai Diaries 26/11, Nikkhil Advani, who set the stage for the launch of the trailer of the Show Mumbai Diaries 26/11. The show boasts a stellar star cast that brought it all to life on the screen, including Konkona Sen Sharma, Mohit Raina, Tina Desai, Shreya Dhanwanthary, Satyajeet Dubey, Natasha Bharadwaj, Mrunmayee Deshpande & Prakash Belawadi.

Riveting panel discussion

The trailer paved the way for an interesting and riveting panel discussion on how ‘Life Changes in a Heartbeat’. The panellists included some very renowned names like of Dr Mohan Joshi who is presently working as a Dean of Lokmanya Tilak Municipal General Hospital and Sion Hospital and played a pivotal role in combating the pandemic, Mr Prabhat Rahangdale, Deputy Municipal Commissioner (DMC), Disaster management for Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) who led the sanitizing mission during the pandemic, Jt. Commissioner of Mumbai Police, Mr Vishwas Nangre Patil who was awarded the President's Police Medal (gallantry) for his role in the counter terrorist operations during 2008 Mumbai attacks as well as director Nikkhil Advani and actor Mohit Raina. It was an insightful discussion with the panellists sharing their experiences of handling difficult and sticky situations, even sometimes having to put their own lives at stake – from the 26/11 terrorist attacks at Mumbai to the more recent, yet devastating, COVID-19 pandemic.

Homage to the frontline warriors

However, the highlight of the evening was the homage to the frontline warriors who tirelessly gave of themselves for the nation, as Shri Aditya Thackeray along with the Director General of Police, Shri Sanjay Pandey felicitated them. Among those felicitated were Dr. Urmila Patil who was instrumental in turning Mumbai’s Seven Hills Hospital to a full fledged Covid-19 hospital from a quarantine center, Chief Nursing Officer Anjali Kulthe who’s bravery saved several pregnant women during the 26/11 attack at Cama Hospital. Dattaram Sahadev Karanje, Jr. Supervisor at the BMC’s Solid Waste Management Department who played a pivotal part during the first wave of the pandemic, providing PPE kits to private clinics in high risk containment zones and helping contain the pandemic spread by contact tracing and effective sanitization and waste disposal practices and Police Inspector Bhaskar Kadam of the Main Control Room who risked his life, during the 26/11 attacks and captured Ajmal Kasab, the key perpetrator in the terrorist attacks.

The event, just like the upcoming Amazon Original – Mumbai Diaries 26/11 – was a true and heartfelt salute to heroes who put themselves in the line of fire when the going got tough. Unke sahas ko salam (hats off to their bravery)!