Movie Review: Mission Raniganj - 2.5/5

Story: Based on a real-life rescue mission of 1989, the film pays homage to the late Jaswant Singh Gill, who saved the lives of 65 miners trapped in a flooded coal mine in Raniganj, West Bengal.

Review: Tragedy struck on November 13, 1989, in the Mahabir colliery in Raniganj. While triggering blasts to extract coal, the underground water table ruptured under pressure, unleashing a torrent of water and risking the lives of 65 miners trapped inside. In a race against time, when the usual methods failed, engineer Jaswant Singh Gill (played by Akshay Kumar) suggested to drill a well and deploy a specially crafted rescue capsule. In the absence of a crane and corruption within CIL (Coal India), the film shows how Gill, and his bunch of valiant experts rescued all 65 miners, one by one through the innovative capsule.

Bringing true events to screen and honouring the valour of India’s unsung heroes is great, provided the storytelling does justice to the brave hearts and the perilous events that unfolded. Mission Raniganj with all its potential to tap into the human psyche and behaviour when put in a life-threatening situation, misses the goal by a mile.

The films headlined by Akshay Kumar that make a social statement or unfold from the pages of India's story have followed a pattern. They start with a Punjabi wedding song, two brief scenes with the heroine who then disappears, the hero's slowmo entry scene and a heroic ending, where he is hailed as the ultimate saviour. It's not that the films lack intent, what it lacks is the effort in pushing boundaries or delving deeper into the characters. There's no attempt to understand who Gill was as a person beyond the basic information available on the internet.

The first half is poorly made. There’s no character buildup for you to feel for them. Shoddy production value and visual effects don’t help either. The ferocious water waiting to explode in the mine looks and sounds anything but real, and the supporting performances also don't hold up. Even someone as senior as Ravi Kishan, who plays one of the miners comes across as too theatrical. No conversation in the narrative brings out the gravity of the situation as it should. The film gains momentum in the second half, however, it's weighed down by immature tussles and trivial internal politics. Parineeti Chopra in a blink and miss role barely makes an impact.

An evacuation thriller can be engaging, unnerving and an ultimate test of humanity. ‘Thai Cave Rescue’ for instance, made you invest in each character and their fate emotionally. With a poor attempt to scratch beneath the surface, director Tinu Suresh Desai’s film is loud, melodramatic, leaving you indifferent towards an important event. Portrayal of a brave attempt made to rescue the poor and not just billionaires in submersibles is great, but it takes more than intent to get the sentiment across.