The 2017 Indian war film The Ghazi Attack (released as Ghazi in Telugu) holds a unique place in contemporary Indian cinema. Directed by debutant Sankalp Reddy, it represents India’s first underwater naval warfare film. Inspired by true events, the movie chronicles the mysterious sinking of the PNS Ghazi , a Pakistani submarine, during the prelude to the 1971 Indo-Pakistani War. By focusing on a highly classified submarine battle, the film departed from traditional Bollywood war formulas, offering audiences a claustrophobic, high-stakes thriller that blended historical mystery with cinematic fiction. The Historical Context: The Mystery of PNS Ghazi
The film follows the crew of the Indian submarine INS S21 , a conventional diesel-electric vessel sent on a routine surveillance mission under the command of Captain Ranvijay Singh (Kay Kay Menon). Singh is a fierce, rule-bending patriot who believes in striking the enemy before they strike back. To ensure Singh adheres to protocol, the naval headquarters assigns the methodical, rule-abiding Lieutenant Commander Arjun Verma (Rana Daggubati) to the mission.
Portrays the volatile Captain Singh with an intensity that drives the film's early conflict.
Rana Daggubati provides the necessary counterbalance. Stripping away his larger-than-life Baahubali persona, Daggubati portrays Lieutenant Commander Arjun Verma with quiet dignity, restraint, and analytical intelligence. His physical transformation and controlled performance anchor the film’s second half, where his character must transition from a rigid bureaucrat into a decisive wartime leader. the ghazi attack -2017-
: A belligerent, veteran commander who favors raw aggression and preemptive strikes over bureaucratic restraint.
Upon release, the film was critically acclaimed for its daring subject matter and execution. It was released in Telugu and Hindi (dubbed), receiving praise for avoiding the jingoism often found in Indian patriotic films. Instead of chest-thumping, the film focused on strategy, fear, and the grim reality of warfare.
His calm, stabilizing presence provides the perfect bridge between the two leads. The 2017 Indian war film The Ghazi Attack
Despite a moderate budget, the film utilized high-quality visual effects and immersive sound design to recreate underwater combat. 4. Why The Ghazi Attack (2017) Matters
Imagined communities and blind nationalism in South Asian Cinema
The story follows the crew of the , an Indian submarine sent on a classified routine surveillance mission. Led by the aggressive Captain Ranvijay Singh (Kay Kay Menon) and the rule-following Lieutenant Commander Arjun Varma (Rana Daggubati), the crew soon realizes they are the only thing standing between the PNS Ghazi and its target: the aircraft carrier INS Vikrant . By focusing on a highly classified submarine battle,
Primary Starcast. Rana Daggubati. Taapsee Pannu. Banner. Matinee Entertainment. PVP Cinema. Dharma Productions. Status. Released. ... Bollywood Hungama The Ghazi Attack | Cast and Crew - Rotten Tomatoes
The film leans into the Indian narrative, depicting a thrilling underwater battle between the S21 and the Ghazi, turning a historical mystery into a patriotic spectacle.
Ghazi, Pakistan's only long-range fast-attack submarine at the time, had been deployed on a covert and high-stakes mission: to loc... Facebook·The Hindu Zafar Muhammad Khan - Wikipedia