Mission Raniganj Story:-
Based on a real-life rescue mission of 1989, the film pays tribute to the late Jaswant Singh Gill, who heroically saved the lives of 65 miners trapped in a flooded coal mine in Raniganj, West Bengal.
Movie Ratings
| Release Date | 6 October 2023 |
| Language | Hindi |
| Genre | Drama |
| Duration | 2h 15min |
| Cast | Akshay Kumar, Parineeti Chopra, Gaurav Prateek, Rajesh Sharma, Ravi Kishan, Kumud Mishra, Virendra Saxena, Pavan Malhotra |
| Director | Tinu Suresh Desai |
| Writer | Deepak Kingrani, Vipul K. Rawal |
| Cinematography | Aseem Mishra |
| Music | Sandeep Shirodkar |
| Producer | Vashu Bhagnani, Deepshikha Deshmukh, Jackky Bhagnani, Ajay Kapoor |
| Production | Pooja Entertainment, AK Productions |
| Certificate | 16+ |
Tragedy struck on November 13, 1989, in the Mahabir colliery in Raniganj when the underground water table ruptured during coal extraction, imperiling the lives of 65 trapped miners. In a race against time, engineer Jaswant Singh Gill (portrayed by Akshay Kumar) proposed a daring solution: drilling a well and deploying a specially designed rescue capsule. Despite challenges like the absence of a crane and corruption within CIL (Coal India), the film depicts how Gill and his team of courageous experts rescued each miner, one by one, utilizing the innovative capsule.
While bringing real events to the screen and honoring India’s unsung heroes is commendable, it’s crucial that storytelling does justice to their bravery and the harrowing events that unfolded. Unfortunately, “Mission Raniganj” falls short of this mark by a significant margin.
Films headlined by Akshay Kumar that aim to make social statements or depict India’s history often follow a predictable pattern. They typically start with a Punjabi wedding song, feature brief scenes with the heroine who then disappears, include the hero’s dramatic entry, and conclude with his heroic triumph as the ultimate savior. While these films aren’t devoid of intent, they often lack the effort to push boundaries or explore characters deeply. In “Mission Raniganj,” there’s a missed opportunity to understand who Jaswant Singh Gill was beyond surface-level information available on the internet.
The first half of the film is poorly executed, lacking character development and suffering from subpar production values and visual effects. The depiction of the impending water disaster in the mine feels anything but authentic, and the supporting performances also fail to impress. Even veteran actors like Ravi Kishan come across as overly theatrical. The gravity of the situation isn’t effectively conveyed through the narrative, further diminishing the impact of the story. Although the film gains momentum in the second half, it’s weighed down by immature conflicts and trivial internal politics. Parineeti Chopra’s fleeting appearance barely leaves an impression.
An evacuation thriller has the potential to be engaging, nerve-wracking, and a test of humanity. For instance, “Thai Cave Rescue” succeeded in emotionally investing viewers in each character’s fate. However, “Mission Raniganj” falls short in its attempt to delve beneath the surface, resulting in a loud and melodramatic portrayal that leaves viewers indifferent to the significance of the events depicted. While the film highlights the brave efforts made to rescue the trapped miners, it fails to effectively convey the sentiment underlying the story.
