Mission Raniganj : Akshay Kumar shines brightly in the dimly lit rescue drama!

About quarter of a century back, a film #KaalaPatthar, based on #ChasnalaMiningDisaster, featuring #AmitabhBachchan and #ShatrughanSinha, which dealt with rescuing trapped miners underground was released. The film was a hit. Similarly recently released #MissionRaniganj, starring #AkshayKumar, is based on the 1989 #RaniganjCollieryDisaster, a true incident. But both do not have any connection. It tells the story of a mining excerpt #JaswantSinghGill’s brave story of how he managed to rescue 66 miners trapped in the Colliery. It’s a biopic story of Jaswant Gill which underlines his bravery and personal life. Akshay Kumar returns to real life story once again with Mission Raniganj and delivers a role with a ‘depth’.

Mission Rangaraj starts with the happy moments in the life of Jaswant Singh Gill (Akshay Kumar). He is a young engineer from the School of Mines, Dhanbad. His wife Nirdosh (Parineeti Chopra) is pregnant and the couple is in a happy space. While travelling Gill comes to know about the tragedy in Raniganj. Due to a blast at a wrong place in tunnel, water starts filling up the mine, endangering miners’ lives. Many make it to the top but with the water force increasing 71 miners remain trapped underground. When the government body starts rescue mission they find 6 miners lying dead in the pit. They give up feeling that no one would be alive. But Jaswant decides to give it try to at least find out if any miner is alive despite opposition from the local officers. He gets a steel capsule fabricated and lowers it down to the high point drilled in the deep tunnel. Luckily the miners have reached that point but escalating water force and formation of CO2 hampers the rescue. How the rescue takes place forms the rest of the remaining part of the narration.

The movie had the potential to make the drama more dramatic and engrossing throwing in the human emotions of trapped men and theirs family members eagerly waiting above. But the director (Tinu Desai) sticks to the straight forward narration. Still he has succeeded in keeping viewers invested in the proceedings. In sub plot he comments on the North East divide and how politicians try to encash even the tragedies. The regional politics adds to the drama. Cinematography is excellent which captures the tense moments with damning surroundings. The background score is effective but a bit loud at times. Akshay Kumar has excelled in the role of Jaswant Singh Gill. He underplays the role with conviction for the maximum effect. He delivers his one of the finest performances of recent times. Parineeti Chopra looks beautiful and looks convincing in a limited screen time. Kumud Mishra, Pawan Malhotra, Ravi Kishan, Rajesh Sharma, Dibyendu Bhattacharya, Varun Badola offer splendid support.

Mission Raniganj is a decent rescue drama and a one time watch.