Poor Script, Flawed Direction Dilutes The Impact…

Rana Daggubati and Kay Kay Menon film could have been an engrossing crisis-at-sea drama but the film is so busy slaying Pakistanis that it loses sight of its core strengths.

Really, an engaging piece of cinema. But what was Taapsee Pannu – as an East Pakistani refugee rescued by Varma from the high seas — doing in the movie? Totally wasted after her performance in Pink. The rather poor dubbing is another minus point. But on the whole Ghazi is gripping.

The Ghazi Attack is an interesting choice for this weekend unless you aren’t willing to watch a patriotic film which the makers haven’t projected it as at all. But don’t expect the chills you get after seeing films like Border, Chak De India, Rang De Basanti or Dangal. Watch it for its performances and technicalities.

The Ghazi Attack is a riveting telling of a war story and absence of any unwanted distraction is only justified, though one is literally at sea trying to make sense of Tapsee Pannu’s — yes she is a East Pakistani refugee onboard a merchant vessel that is sunk by the Pakistani submarine — presence in this war film.

Nevertheless, if you love watching a war movie, that too about a mission that is mired under the weight of being ‘classified’ and under the sea, the truth about which can surface only exploring the depth of the sea bed, then The Ghazi Attack is a must watch film.

The film delivers many a riveting moment and is bolstered by the talent of a few capable actors. Its plot however, is devoid of any mystery…

While the visuals and special effects lack finesse, the film compensates for it with its riveting story. The second half keeps you on the edge of your seat as the submarines go head-to-head, firing torpedoes while dodging and defending themselves. Despite the hitches, this underwater thriller is worth a watch. It leaves you in awe of the soldiers, who lay their lives for their country.

“The Ghazi Attack” is stylishly shot and employs technology on screen better than many other Bollywood films, but its story-telling is reminiscent of patriotic films from the 60s and 70s, when a “Bharat Mata Ki Jai” slogan and the waving of a tricolor was enough to evoke rapturous applause from the audience.

Watch it once. More so, if you haven’t watched the likes of Hollywood films Crimson Tide or U-571. Watch this one for Rana and some great underwater action sequences.

The Ghazi Attack has a riveting story and good performances from its lead cast. It lacks perfection in terms of its visual appeal.

Stripped of all the saturated fats that we associate with Indian war films (courtesy JP Dutta) such as sentimental backstories of soldiers, romantic subplots that only serve to bore and unrealistic heroism, The Ghazi Attack, helmed by first-time filmmaker Sankalp Reddy, deserves kudos for its smart, smart filmmaking.

This taut thriller has a no nonsense approach. There are no songs, masala twists and over the top action. This is a good clean thriller that makes good with history and the naval setting.

THE GHAZI ATTACK is a rare phenomenon on Indian screen. We don’t have much war epics and further its shows underwater submarine combats and most important in today’s Bollywood days – this ode to Mother India doesn’t feature the current poster boy of patriotism Akshay Kumar and still its satisfyingly entertaining cinema that rings the right bells on our macho patriotisms meter.

Yup, you don’t take your eyes off the screen. The production design appears exceptional, because it’s unexpected. We don’t make such movies in India, even while we’ve been watching such from the West since forever.

The Ghazi Attack Looks Patriotic But Mediocre…

It’s a fictionalized account of a brave unsung Indian submarine that downs the Pakistani super submarine that has better capabilities and a supposed most decorated Captain. Shoddily made, with terrible special effects and worse physics, you will be bombarded with melodrama and patriotism that will make you upchuck. Completely avoidable.

‘The Ghazi Attack’ is a meticulous attempt with some great performances by the lead actors. Such movies are different and deserves to be seen and should be supported for the betterment of our film industry.

If you want to see an inspiring story into which great effort has been put in to make it as real as possible, The Ghazi Attack is definitely for you. Also, there’s Kay Kay Menon.

A brilliant film…Three rousing cheers to producer PVP Cinemas for pumping in so much money, effort and technical expertise into this movie.

The film alternates between the murky blue, deep sea and the cringy, clanky, claustrophobic insides of a submarine without any respite. This makes the film stand out from the usual Hindi films and helps it stay true to what it wants to be – an uncomfortable, edgy watch. If only, the consistency in tone had stuck through the other departments of the film – especially the writing.

…the good news is that we left the hall with one single happy thought – the film works.

If you ain’t in the mood for some lovey-dovey watch, then ‘The Ghazi Attack’ is a perfect pick for you to turn back the pages of the Indian history and revisit a gripping tale of unsung heroes who risked their lives to rescue the tricolor!

Underwater thriller ‘The Ghazi Attack’ dives deep for patriotism. Passions are roused and the national anthem plays twice as an Indian Navy crew faces a Pakistani submarine in 1971.

…it’s been long since we have had a war film and what’s better is that debutante director Sankalp Reddy’s ‘The Ghazi Attack’ is a complete underwater affair, in fact its India’s first underwater war film. So go watch it.