Mission Raniganj: The Great Bharat Rescue Movie Review : Falls short of effectively portraying the heroic rescue mission and the characters involved

Mission Raniganj: The Great Bharat Rescue Movie 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 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. While the film's premise is based on a heroic and challenging rescue mission, the execution of the storytelling and character development falls short of expectations.

However, the movie fails to provide sufficient character development, making it difficult for the audience to connect emotionally with the characters involved in the rescue mission, especially the protagonist, Jaswant Singh Gill (played by Akshay Kumar). This lack of depth in character portrayal can hinder the audience's ability to empathize with the heroes of the story.

The film follows a familiar pattern seen in many of Akshay Kumar's socially relevant films, including a Punjabi wedding song, a limited role for the heroine, a dramatic entry scene for the hero, and a triumphant ending. This formulaic approach makes the film feel predictable and repetitive. The first half of the film is poor in execution, including weak character development, low production values, and unconvincing visual effects. 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 fails to scratch beneath the surface of the characters and the events, resulting in a melodramatic and unengaging portrayal.

In total, 'Mission Raniganj' falls short of effectively portraying the heroic rescue mission and the characters involved. While it may have a noble intent to honor the unsung heroes, the film's execution, character development, and storytelling are lacking and formulaic.