State of Siege Temple Attack review: Akshaye Khanna shines in a loosely written film

A group of bearded, kohl-eyed terrorists with a peculiar accent, and a handler who gives them commands over the phone. Innocent, hapless people who are held hostage, with a few who will end up as collateral damage before uniformed men barge in to save lives. Pressure building up as politicians are forced to take a tough call — whether to barter dreaded terrorists in return for people’s lives. Do these scenarios sound familiar? Well, this is how most of the terror-attack thrillers shape up, and ZEE5’s latest offering State of Siege: Temple Attack is no different.

The 110-minute film, led by Akshaye Khanna, is for everyone who likes to see a cat-and-mouse chase between ghastly, heavily armed men and brave, ‘can do anything for the nation’ soldiers. But if you are looking for a nuanced treatment of a harrowing tale involving flesh-and-blood monsters killing many randomly, then you are in the wrong place.

The movie picks the 2002 terror attack on Akshardham Temple in Gandhinagar, Gujarat on September 24, 2002. Two armed men killed 33 people, including a National Security Guard (NSG) commando and two Gujarat police officers, and injured 80 people. The attack followed the Godhra riots.