11th October 2023 Mumbai: The recent Patriotic Saga by Akshay Kumar titled ‘Mission Raniganj’ hit the theatres on October 6 th 2023, has collected 12 Plus crores in its opening weekend. The film is directed by Tinu Suresh Desai and produced by Pooja Entertainment based on the Raniganj Coalfields collapse of 1989 in West Bengal.
Akshay Kumar’s Moderate Start
“Mission Raniganj” had a moderate start at the box office on its first Friday, collecting ₹2.8 crore. However, the movie witnessed a significant boost in earnings on the first Saturday, with a notable 71.43% increase, reaching ₹4.8 crore. The upward trend continued into the first Sunday, albeit with a slight dip, as the film garnered ₹5 crore. Unfortunately, the earnings took a downturn on the first Monday, dropping by a substantial 70%, yielding ₹1.5 crore. In total, the film accumulated ₹14.1 crore over its first four days in theaters. The fluctuating figures suggest a mixed response from the audience, and it remains to be seen how the film’s performance unfolds in the coming days.
Mission Raniganj Review
A tragic incident unfolded on November 13, 1989, at Mahabir colliery in Raniganj, marked by a harrowing event during coal extraction blasts. Pressure from these blasts ruptured the underground water table, resulting in a sudden deluge that posed a grave threat to the lives of 65 miners trapped in the mine. Faced with a dire situation and unsuccessful conventional approaches, Engineer Jaswant Singh Gill, portrayed by Akshay Kumar, proposed a novel solution: drilling a well and employing a specially designed rescue capsule. The film vividly portrays the challenges, including the lack of a crane and deep-rooted corruption within Coal India, as Gill and his team of courageous experts execute a daring rescue mission, successfully evacuating all 65 miners using this innovative capsule method, saving them one by one.
The initial half falls short, with no character developments and suffering from average production and unconvincing visual effects. The supporting cast’s also average and unimpressive, notably Ravi Kishan. The intensity of the situation isn’t effectively conveyed through the dialogues and performance.
Telling true stories and honoring India’s brave heroes on screen is good, but “Mission Raniganj” misses the mark. It doesn’t really show the intense fear and bravery in life-threatening situations as it could have.
Akshay kumar and Social subjects
Akshay Kumar often stars in movies that highlight Indian stories or social issues. But these films tend to follow a predictable pattern: starting with a lively Punjabi wedding song, brief moments with the heroine, a dramatic entrance by the hero, and a heroic conclusion where he’s celebrated as the ultimate savior. However, the issue lies in these films not going beyond surface intent. They lack the effort to dig deeper into characters or push creative boundaries. For instance, in “Mission Raniganj,” there’s a missed opportunity to explore Gill’s character beyond basic internet information.
By Harsh Rathod