Ghazi Movie Review

February 15, 2017

2 minutes read

Review Overview

Performances

Screenplay and Direction

Technical Effects and BGM

Gripping, Impressive & Awe-Inspiring War-At-Sea Thriller!

Director Sankalp has accomplished a remarkable feat in Ghazi by delivering a stunning, engrossing war thriller as his debut feature. Sankalp impressively details the unfamiliar surroundings of a submarine with mock training drills and common operating procedures that leave audiences with kickass cliffhanger moments.

Cast: Rana Daggubati, Kay Kay Menon, Atul Kulkarni, Taapsee, Om Puri, Nasser, Rahul Singh

Cinematographer: Madhie

Music: K

Editing: Sreekar Prasad

Dialogues: Manikandan

Written & Directed by: Sankalp

Produced by: PVP Cinemas & Matinee Entertainment

Release Date: 17-02-2017

Director Sankalp has accomplished a remarkable feat in Ghazi by delivering a stunning, engrossing war thriller as his debut feature. Ghazi deftly balances genuine human emotions, compassion, patriotism and technical wizardry in fine blend. Sankalp has sketched a superb character interest in the screenplay, which is enhanced by a visually dynamic reconstruction of submarines – PNS Ghazi and INS Vikrant.

The movie kicks off with a crystal-clear voice over of Suriya who gives a brief backgrounder on Indo-Pakistani wars and conflicts. Set in the backdrop of Visakhapatnam port, the story narrates a tense account of the mysterious sinking of Pakistani submarine Ghazi. While chroniclers have different versions of stories about the sinking of Ghazi, Sankalp has surmised his narrative on the basis that PNS Ghazi was destroyed by INS Vikrant.

The first half majorly revolves around three important characters on board INS Vikrant: the level-headed Lt.Commander Arjun Varma (Rana Daggubati), who is also a stickler for the rules, the fiery and hot-tempered Captain Ranvijay Singh (Kay Kay Menon), the dutiful Executive Officer Devraj (Atul Kulkarni), who is also the go-between whenever there is any disagreement between Arjun and RV Singh. Kay Kay Menon as RV Singh is an understated delight to watch and Atul Kulkarni does full justice to his role.

Never once do you feel detached from these three main characters, thanks to Sankalp’s matter-of-fact writing, which makes all the goings-on in the submarine fascinatingly compelling. Sankalp impressively details the unfamiliar surroundings of a submarine with mock training drills and common operating procedures that leave audiences with kickass cliffhanger moments. The second half is packed with absorbing underwater scenes, with RV Singh, Arjun and Razzaq (Commanding Officer of PNS Ghazi; aced by Rahul Singh) outsmarting each other with thrilling mind-games.

Ghazi neither has nerve-shredding action sequences nor prolonged shots of blood-splattering, as you would expect in a war film. But, Sankalp’s narrative meticulously demonstrates the times of uncertainty and danger associated with the Navy forces. The impeccably-staged steady stream of torpedo attacks and the precision with which it’s re-created, are something we have never witnessed before in Indian cinema. The emotions of the unsung heroes of our armed forces are admirably conveyed in the film without any jingoistic ideas.

Kudos to Rana Daggubati and PVP Cinema for supporting this gem, which the director originally intended to make it for the YouTube platform. While Hollywood has delivered a handful of noteworthy war-at-sea dramas, Ghazi is India’s first in the genre and Sankalp has given his all to make it a significant maritime encounter for audiences.

The near-flawless visual effects by the Hyderabad-based Eva Motion Studios and the gorgeous set-pieces make for an exciting two-hour-long ride; courtesy veteran editor Sreekar Prasad. Madhie’s cinematography captures the deep vein of claustrophobia and the camaraderie aboard INS Vikrant with great dexterity. The partly tolerable and partly bad mouthing of lines are the only let down in an otherwise must-watch submarine war thriller.