There is a sequence in the film when the man responsible for keeping a tab on the Indian submarine’s movement informs his captain, “Yeh to upar hi jaa raha hai,” to which the Captain of the Pakistani submarine replies. “Yeh toh accha hi hai, inko toh aakhir mein upar hi jaana hai”.
This sequence to me sums up more or less what the film is all about. The Ghazi Attack is a film which is an amalgamation of both yawns and thrills. The film begins on a promising note but the predictability of the climax makes it join the list of numerous Bollywood films with a tepid climax. The film’s core idea is to encash the oft-repeated theme of jingoism involving the two neighbours – yes, India and Pakistan.
The film begins with the Eastern Command HQ of the India at Vishakhapatnam where higher echelons are informed of a surprise attack after the Indian Navy is able to decode a cryptic message. This sets a chain in motion. Captain Ranvijay Singh (Kay Kay Menon), Lt Commander Arjun Varma (Rana Daggubati) and Executive Officer (Atul Kulkarni) are given the responsibility to thwart any attempt by the Pakistani army. It’s a battle where the playground is sea, chariots are submarines and bows and arrows are torpedoes. And thus begins a cat and mouse game with a very predictable ending.
Image Source: youtube/DharmaProduction
Kay Kay Menon as the Captain of the Indian submarine shines in the role, his no nonsense attitude and ‘victory at any cost’ mannerism has an appeal. Atul Kulkarni too has done full justice to his role, but I do have issues with the mono-expressions that Rana carries throughout in the film. And Taapsee Pannu should definitely be given a place in the Guinness World Records for playing a role which is inconsequential, non-existent, blunt-with-no-teeth and carries no impact after coming from Pink and Running Shaadi (which released today). Any further lines on Taapsee will amount to wastage of the sacrosanct digital space.
Before I get butchered by naysayers, I must add here that I love my country but what was the thing about the Indian submarine crew members singing both the National Song and the National Anthem at a situation when they are in dire stress. While the climax of the cricket match in Lagaan was breathtaking, the climax of The Ghazi Attack required no maths to figure out what the outcome will be after Pakistani torpedoes miss a stranded target in succession. It was a foregone conclusion.
Image Source: youtube/DharmaProduction
I also have serious issues with the way Pakistani characters are portrayed in the film. Was it essential to make Rahul Singh, the Pakistani counterpart to Kay Kay Menon’s character, a caricature with loud mannerism and audacious behaviour? He is shown as someone who is extremely intelligent but his role is smeared with stereotypes.
But all is not bad with the film. It picks up a topic from history which no one knows about and judging by the treatment it has been given by a debutante director, Sankalp Reddy, it surely calls for a loud applause.
The tensed moments between Kay Kay Menon and Rana Daggubati coupled with the VFX effects are well handled by the director. While the sinking of the Pakistani submarine by the Indian Navy is an incident that is missing from our archives, The Ghazi Attack will remain a film that will sink but remain in archives.
I will go with Two-and-Half.
Thumbnail Image Source: youtube/DharmaProduction & twitter/TheGhaziAttack