Mission Raniganj

Directed by Tinu Suresh Desai and produced by  Pooja Entertainment, The Great Bharat Rescue is a 2023 Hindi disaster thriller Based on the true account of mining engineer Jaswant Singh Gill, an IIT Dhanbad graduate who bravely saved 65 miners caught in the 1989 Raniganj Coalfields disaster in West Bengal, the film stars Akshay Kumar and Parineeti Chopra. Filming across the UK, Raniganj, Jharkhand, and Mumbai from July 2022 until August 2023. Though it underperformed at the box office, the October 6, 2023 film had good critical reviews when it was released in theaters.

Plot

A detonation in one part sets off an emergency as water starts to flood the mine in 1989 during a late-night shift change in the Raniganj Coalfields. A group of sixty or more miners in the “Behra” section—led by a deaf miner—miss the evacuation signal while most of the more than two hundred miners flee. Six miners sink in an effort at escape. When the nearby mine manager, Jaswant Singh Gill, sees the problem, he chooses to help despite first opposition from those who think a rescue is hopeless. But the head of the mine, Ujjwal, asks Gill for assistance.

Gill orders a drilling engineer, Bindal, and a surveyor, Tapan Ghosh, to mark the highest point of the mine and dig an 8-inch well, so alerting the miners with a torch. The miners are still imprisoned behind a brick wall, hence they cannot see the light. Sen from Coal India, who harbors resentment toward Ujjwal, questions the rescue and suggests a perilous path into a flooded hole, recovering the bodies of six miners. The activity stops, and the flashlight is taken out just as the miners are getting ready.

The mission picks back up when a dog tells Gill about the cries of the miners. Gill delivers supplies down the borehole, but growing carbon dioxide and water endanger the imprisoned miners. He plans to raise them with a 29-inch capsule, but Sen ruins the rescue by taking components off the crane. The crew personally lifts miners up until the crane is desperately needed as oxygen supplies are running low. Sen fixes the crane under duress; Gill, having almost blacked out, signals his last rescue with his kaṛā. Gill gets a promotion and bonus; Ghosh is also praised for his work.

Cast

Akshay Kumar was as the mining engineer Jaswant Singh Gill, an ISM Dhanbad Graduate, Parineeti Chopra was placed opposite Kumar, their second project following Kesari.19 [19] August 2022 saw Actor Dibyendu Bhattacharya cast in a major part.

Supporting Cast

Kumud Mishra as R.K. Ujjwal
Pavan Malhotra as T.P. Bindal
Ravi Kishan as Bhola Raut
Gaurav Prateek as Diwakar
Varun Badola as Shaligram
Dibyendu Bhattacharya as D Sen
Dinesh Lamba as Kaseem
Rajesh Sharma as Govardhan Roy (MLA)
Virendra Saxena as Tapan Ghosh (surveyor)
Vipul K. Rawal as Middle-aged 

Direction and Cinematography

Director Tinu Suresh Desai increases the suspense of the film by effectively recreating the cramped environment of the mines. Dim lighting and close-ups help to heighten the suspense and let viewers to experience the anxiety and desperation of the miners. Desai’s directing maintains the brisk pace; sequences naturally move from one pivotal point to the next.

Realism and Historical Accuracy

Although Mission Raniganj uses artistic license, the movie primarily follows the real events and captures the overwhelming scope and difficulty of the rescue effort. It pays tribute to Jaswant Singh Gill’s legacy by presenting him as a national hero completing one of the toughest and most innovative rescue operations in India.

Key Theme

The movie honors the courageous miners and engineers who gave their lives to save one another
People from many backgrounds come together for a similar goal in the midst of hardship, therefore fostering unity and hope.
The narrative emphasizes the need of original problem-solving under great pressure.

Reception

Critics of Mission Raniganj gave conflicting opinions. Though several visual effects flaws, Toshiro Agarwal of Times Now gave the movie 4 stars out of 5 and commented “The film’s captivating narrative, superb acting, and smart direction make it a must-watch. This is a solid and realistic story of bravery and fortitude.” Critics of Bollywood Hungama rated the movie 3.5 out of 5 stars and said, “On the whole, Mission Raniganj makes an impact due to the subject, clap worthy moments in the second half, nail-biting events and Akshay Kumar’s performance.”
News18‘s Sonil Dedhiya gave the movie 3 stars out of 5.
The Times of India‘s Renuka Vyavahare rated the film 2.5 out of 5 stars.

Final Verdict

A huge rescue mission spanning Indian history and a riveting homage to an unsung hero, Mission Raniganj is For those like real-life dramas, Akshay Kumar’s gripping performance and solid direction make for an inspirational viewing. Though it features some melodramatic events and slight pacing problems, the film is a strong, touching drama because of its emotional impact and meticulous attention to detail.