MapsofIndia.com/MyIndia.in Rating: 4/5
Director: Tinu Suresh Desai
Plot
The movie Mission Raniganj is based on the real-life rescue mission led by Jaswant Singh Gill, who saved the lives of 65 miners trapped in a flooded coal mine in Raniganj, West Bengal, India. The film introduces Jaswant Singh Gill, played by Akshay Kumar, who is portrayed as a righteous and daring individual. The story then shifts to Raniganj, where many villagers work overtime in the coal mines to earn extra money. One night, while miners are exploding a wall in the mine, they encounter a water leakage. They start to run for their lives, but a water explosion occurs, and the mine is flooded. Out of all the miners working that night, 65 were trapped.
Jaswant Singh Gill, a general manager and rescue specialist at a mining company, arrives at the site of the Raniganj mine collapse to lead the rescue mission. He works closely with Officer Ujjwal, but the higher-ups at Coal India have officially hired the corrupt official D Sen to implement his rescue mission. With the lives of 65 miners hanging in the balance and the rescue officers above not even sure if they are alive, Gill must race against time to save them. But how can he successfully run his rescue mission when a corrupt official obstructs him? The answer lies in the rest of the thrilling and inspiring film.
Performances
The film’s best part is its stellar performances. Akshay Kumar plays his usual patriotic and courageous persona, which does justice to his character. But the most terrific performance is given by Ravi Kishan, who plays a minor who appears cold and arrogant from above but is the most terrified in his life. His character development in this film is worth watching. The other actors did a phenomenal job, too, especially Kumud Mishra, Pavan Malhotra, Rajesh Sharma, and Dibyendu Bhattacharya. Pareeniti Chopra receives even less screen time than Kesari, and her character is similar to the latter film.
Analysis
The screenwriting of the film is excellent. However, the film is too fast-paced, and the first half quickly passes. But the incredible performances by the star cast will compensate for this. Every actor tries to do his best with the character they play, no matter how essential the character is. The music is nothing special, except the ‘Jeetenge’ song that plays in one of the important scenes. The cinematography is lacking in a few spots, with clear use of unnecessary greenscreen and bad visual effects. The film would have been even better without its fast pacing and disrupting visuals.
Verdict
Akshay Kumar once again brings to the screen an inspiring story that history has largely forgotten. The entire cast’s performances are exceptional, and you connect with most of the characters on a personal level. The only thing that lets the film down is its cinematography. If this film had been a slower-paced, three-hour cinematic experience like Lagaan and Lakshay, it could have become a cult classic for years. However, films today are often made to cater to audiences with short attention spans, so it is understandable why the filmmakers chose to make a fast-paced, two-hour film. Despite that, the film does justice to the original Mission Raniganj and would be enjoyed by all.
