Discover the real events behind The Ghazi Attack, India’s first underwater war film based on the mysterious sinking of Pakistan’s PNS Ghazi submarine during the 1971 Indo-Pak war.
The Ghazi Attack (2017) – India’s Secret Naval Victory Beneath the Sea
A Battle Nobody Saw
In the murky depths of the Bay of Bengal, India and Pakistan’s navies clashed in one of the world’s most mysterious underwater battles. The 2017 film The Ghazi Attack, directed by Sankalp Reddy, explores the secret sinking of PNS Ghazi, Pakistan’s most advanced submarine at the time.
Set in the run-up to the 1971 India-Pakistan War, the film merges naval strategy, underwater warfare, and patriotism, introducing Indian audiences to a rarely discussed but monumental naval triumph.
Historical Background: Prelude to 1971 Indo-Pak War
The Bangladesh Liberation War (1971) was reaching a boiling point. Pakistan feared India’s naval superiority, especially the INS Vikrant, India’s aircraft carrier stationed in the eastern waters.
To neutralize INS Vikrant, Pakistan deployed PNS Ghazi, a fast-attack Tench-class submarine acquired from the US Navy. Its mission: track and destroy Vikrant, which was allegedly stationed near Visakhapatnam on India’s east coast.
What Was PNS Ghazi?
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Type | Tench-class submarine (ex-USS Diablo) |
| Origin | Leased from USA to Pakistan in 1964 |
| Capability | Long-range, capable of laying mines |
| Range | ~11,000 nautical miles |
| Armament | 22 torpedoes, 28 mines |
PNS Ghazi was the only long-range submarine in Pakistan’s fleet and was seen as a strategic weapon that could shift naval power.
INS Rajput – The Hunter
While the film fictionalizes the Indian submarine as INS S21, in reality, it was the INS Rajput — a R-class destroyer of the Indian Navy — that played a central role in the encounter.
True Incident: The Mysterious Sinking of Ghazi
📆 Date: 3 December 1971
PNS Ghazi sank off the coast of Visakhapatnam under mysterious circumstances.
💥 Competing Theories:
- Indian Navy Claims:
- INS Rajput, commanded by Captain Inder Singh, detected suspicious underwater activity.
- It dropped depth charges at midnight.
- A massive underwater explosion followed. Wreckage washed ashore.
- Pakistani Account:
- Ghazi struck one of its own mines accidentally and sank.
- No definitive combat engagement occurred.
- US Intelligence:
- Declassified CIA documents are inconclusive.
- They acknowledge Ghazi’s loss as a “major blow to Pakistani naval capability.”
Inside the Film: Fact vs Fiction
| Element | Film Version | Real Version |
|---|---|---|
| Submarine Name | INS S21 | INS Rajput |
| Indian Crew | Fictional characters (Arjun, Rannvijay) | Captain Inder Singh, Naval officers |
| Enemy Sub | PNS Ghazi | PNS Ghazi |
| Location | Off Visakhapatnam | Same |
| Outcome | Depth charges lead to Ghazi’s destruction | Claimed similarly by Indian Navy |
The film compresses real and speculative events into a tense psychological thriller, capturing the claustrophobia and tension of underwater warfare.
Depiction of Submarine Warfare – Realism Breakdown
| Warfare Aspect | Accuracy Rating | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Torpedo evasion | ★★★★☆ | Creatively adapted |
| Sonar tracking | ★★★★☆ | Realistic sequences |
| Command tension | ★★★★★ | Excellent portrayal |
| Battle simulation | ★★★☆☆ | Fictionalized for cinematic impact |
| Naval procedures | ★★★★☆ | Based on real naval logs |
Main Cast and Roles
- Kay Kay Menon as Captain Ranvijay Singh: No-nonsense commander resembling real-life military leadership.
- Rana Daggubati as Lt. Arjun Varma: Young, principled officer with a strong moral code.
- Atul Kulkarni as Executive Officer: Voice of reason, torn between orders and morality.
- Rahul Singh as Pakistani Commander: Brings tension and stakes from the enemy side.
Military and Nationalist Themes
- Code of Honor: Emphasized through character conflicts.
- Sacrifice over safety: Seen when the crew chooses to risk death rather than retreat.
- India’s Naval Strength: Portrayed as silent but decisive.
Military Sources Referenced
- INS Rajput’s war diary
- 1971 Indian Navy Operation Reports
- Indian Navy’s Eastern Naval Command war logs
- Commodore G. M. Hiranandani’s naval history series
- CIA declassified reports on 1971 war
Legacy of the Battle
| Impact | Description |
|---|---|
| Naval Superiority | India maintained dominance in eastern waters |
| INS Vikrant’s Role | Free to conduct air raids on East Pakistan |
| Strategic Morale Boost | First major submarine kill by India |
| Shift in Warfare | Triggered investment in India’s own submarine fleet (later INS Arihant project) |
Wreckage of Ghazi
- Located near Visakhapatnam coast in 46 meters depth
- Inscribed plaques confirm vessel origin
- In 2003, divers from Indian Navy filmed the remains
- The naval museum in Vizag has a dedicated Ghazi memorial
Cinematic Merits
- First Indian Submarine Film: Introduced Indian audiences to the complex naval war genre.
- Realistic Set Design: Submarine interiors recreated meticulously in a Mumbai studio.
- Tense Score by K: Heightened claustrophobia and urgency.
- National Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu (original language).
Notable Dialogues
“Samandar mein jo gyaani hota hai, wahi zinda bacha rehta hai.”
(Only the wise survive in the ocean.)
“Ek galti… aur paani ke neeche humari kabar ban jayegi.”
(One mistake… and the sea will be our grave.)
Lesser-Known Facts
- The Indian Navy officially recognized the film’s historical foundation and supported its screening.
- Sankalp Reddy, the director, was inspired by an obscure newspaper mention about Ghazi in an archival library.
- The story is included in Indian Navy training academies to demonstrate silent warfare strategy.
- Ghazi was laying mines along the Indian coast, which makes the accidental mine theory plausible but not confirmed.
🇮🇳 Patriotism Through Silence
Unlike mainstream war films filled with guns and glory, The Ghazi Attack is quiet — just like the deep sea. It honors the unknown sailors, the submerged heroes, and the victories never celebrated on TV screens.
India’s Cold War Beneath the Bay
Whether the Ghazi sank due to mines or was destroyed by depth charges, the truth lies buried beneath the sea — both literally and metaphorically. What The Ghazi Attack does is dredge up this forgotten chapter of Indian bravery and immortalize the silent victory that may have altered the course of the 1971 war.
In a country that often glorifies land battles, The Ghazi Attack reminds us that sometimes, the deepest battles are fought without ever surfacing.
Also read: Lakshya (2004) – From Directionless Youth to Kargil War Hero