Akshay Kumar is renowned for his commitment to telling impactful stories based on true events and unsung heroes. In his latest film, “Mission Raniganj: The Great Bharat Rescue,” Kumar steps into the shoes of Jaswant Singh Gill, the Additional Chief Mining Engineer at Coal India. Gill played a pivotal role in rescuing 70 miners trapped in the flooded Mahabir Colliery in Raniganj, West Bengal in 1989. In a race against time, when conventional engineering methods failed, Gill ingeniously devised a solution to save the miners.
While Kumar delivers a sincere and convincing portrayal of Gill, the storytelling falls somewhat short of fully honoring the plot. Director Tinu Suresh Desai keeps the audience engaged with impactful moments, but occasionally lets the hero take precedence, pushing the core story into the background. During segments where Kumar dominates the screen time, the focus shifts primarily to his actions and efforts rather than the plight of the trapped miners. This prompts the feeling that more attention could have been directed towards other characters.
With a runtime of 2 hours and 18 minutes, “Mission Raniganj” is well-paced, but the first half takes its time setting up the plot. It’s laden with technical jargon and machinery details that might be overwhelming to absorb all at once. The story gains momentum in the final minutes before the interval, and the second half intensifies. This is when the audience truly feels the tension experienced by the trapped miners. The story by Vipul K. Rawal had potential for a broader narrative than just one night. The dialogues, penned by Deepak Kingrani, are average, rarely provoking any enthusiastic reactions. That said, Kumar’s ability to inject humor even in the most intense scenes is noteworthy.
In the role of Gill, the rescue operation officer, Kumar exudes a calm demeanor amid chaos, displaying his unwavering determination in making difficult decisions. Kumar leaves no stone unturned in paying a heartfelt tribute to Gill’s relentless efforts, where he risked his own life to save the miners. However, despite being the central character, Desai misses an opportunity to acquaint the audience with Gill’s personal side, sticking mostly to available information. Apart from his relationship with his wife Nirdosh Kaur Gill (played by Parineeti Chopra), who serves as his source of strength, little is revealed about Gill’s character.
“Mission Raniganj” not only narrates a gritty and courageous tale of valor, but also exposes the corruption within the system. Characters like the cunning mining engineer D. Sen (played by Dibyendu Bhattacharya) exemplify how certain officers would jeopardize the efforts of others. Among the noteworthy performances, Kumud Mishra as R.J. Ujjwal, the chief of Mahabir Colliery, and Pavan Malhotra as Bindal, stand out. Additionally, Ravi Kishan, Varun Badola, and Jameel Khan give earnest portrayals as the terrified miners.
The film ultimately leaves the audience with a sense of triumph and pride in heroes like Gill. However, one can’t help but wish for a deeper and more soulful narrative that transcends heroic acts to encompass a greater sense of humanity.
