One of 2008′s best Hindi movies was arguably A Wednesday. The story of a common man’s response to living in fear on a daily basis captured the imagination of a country fed up of government’s lame duck responses to the acts of terrorism unleashed upon the common people.

One of the key protagonists in the movie, the character of Mumbai Police Commissioner Prakash Rathod (played by Anupam Kher), was widely appreciated. The reason being that in Comm. Rathod, the people saw their ideal police chief – one who was firm, intelligent and brook no interference from the political class. It was, to some extent, like the “Harrison Ford for President” feeling that rippled through the US after his portrayal of President James Marshall in the 1997 movie Air Force One.

So when I heard a story about NSG Director-General J.K. Dutta from the 3 days of terror after 26/11, I thought we need not look for fictional heroes. Real life heroes like the reel-life Comm. Prakash Rathod do exist. [Read more →]