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Mission Raniganj: The Great Bharat Rescue Movie Review : Mission Raniganj makes you want to escape some loud bad acting and jarring indifference

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Refrain from posting comments that are obscene, defamatory or inflammatory, and do not indulge in personal attacks, name calling or inciting hatred against any community. Help us delete comments that do not follow these guidelines by marking them offensive . Let's work together to keep the conversation civil.

ganesh bodake 15 56 days ago

Must watch movie. Instead of watching blunder biopics like ms dhoni must watch and get inspired by such true heroes biopics.. AK did it well...

khushisingla24 143 164 days ago

I never reviewed any movie before. Must-watch! Idk why people gave that low rating to this movie, I want to tell you this movie is wholesome. Please watch it. Super movie. Akshay Sir, I �� you.<br/>(P.s. I'm not die-hard fan of any actor, but Akshay sir, you're amazing).

Teslathegod 171 days ago

Visual were not so good but acting and build up was amazing

Tiyashasadhu 201 days ago

Masterpiece

Naina Krishen Pandita Pandita 77 205 days ago

Please give it an unbiased review. Don't become slaves of nonsensical movies

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Mission raniganj review: an exceptional story of courage gets lost in the noise, 'mission raniganj' is inspired by jaswant gill's heroic mission during the 1989 coal mine disaster at raniganj..

How often does a story of courage and heroism get overshadowed by theatrics and melodrama? The clear answer is, disturbingly often. Mission Raniganj is one such film, where the theatrics are hammed up the maximum; a film that is so loud that its own story frequently gets lost in the noise.

In November 1989, a coal mine at the Mahabir Colliery in Raniganj, West Bengal was flooded and 71 miners couldn’t make it out in time (others evacuated following the distress calls). What followed was a rescue mission of unprecedented valour and wit, led by Freedom Sale Senior engineer Jaswant Gill. 

Akshay Kumar in a still from Mission Raniganj,

(Photo Courtesy: YouTube)

The movie focuses solely on Gill’s ingenious idea to use a capsule to rescue the miners from the mine when all other efforts failed. In this effort, several roadblocks arise, not limited to the “villain” of the film, a mining engineer D. Sen (Dibyendu Bhattacharya). Most of the Bengali characters in the film are stereotypes and often unnecessarily animated. 

At one point, a man is literally tied to a pole and beaten; perhaps the film’s idea of “justice” but this entire time, the film’s actual plot is occurring elsewhere. 

A still from Mission Raniganj,

Akshay Kumar plays Gill with impressive restraint – he is equally humble and self-assured. Kumar’s skill becomes evident in scenes where he seems to be fighting an invisible force; the need to “do something” – he stands by waiting for the order to come from the man-in-charge Ujjwal (Kumud Mishra) but the entire time, he seems tightly wound, ready to spring into action. 

Gill was definitely the hero of the rescue mission but there are other heroes in the film – from the people who tirelessly work behind-the-scenes to make the mission possible to the miners trying to stay alive in disastrous conditions. We see most of these people in action, including a disgruntled former employee Tapan (Veerendra Saxena) and the jugaadu Bindal (Pavan Malhotra). 

The actual mechanics of the rescue mission are riveting to watch. When things go wrong, it is difficult to not share a collective gasp with those around you or to not grip the edge of your seat in dejection. 

There is so much story left in Mission Raniganj - one that would’ve only made Gill’s story richer. As survival and hope become tougher to grasp, divisions arise between the surviving miners; tempers flare, blame is passed.

There are flickers of the film trying to delve into the way human nature develops in the face of suffering and strife but that aspect doesn’t completely materialise. 

There are dialogues that seem written to be yelled out, punches are thrown – all believable under the circumstances but where are the emotions that lie underneath the noise? 

Other than a typical Bollywood “there’s fear under his anger” trope, nothing else is seen. One thing the film does well is portray Bashu (Jameel Khan), one of the miners, who tries to rally his comrades together and attempts to be the voice of calm and reason. 

Kumud Mishra in a still from Mission Raniganj,

Mission Raniganj doesn’t shy away from questioning authority, albeit in the first half– administrative negligence becomes evident and we see how personal gain often trumps the desire to work towards a collective good. Kumud Mishra aces one of the film’s most effective scenes where he almost begs his colleague to not hold his need for petty vengeance above the possibility of saving lives. It makes you wonder. 

There is inherent drama to the base story – it’s a story that will elicit emotion even in the most stone-hearted and if director Tinu Suresh Desai had trusted the merit in that story, Mission Raniganj would’ve become an unforgettable film. One of the film’s most glaring flaws is in its technical execution – the camerawork and the editing both seem rushed; it feels like we’re being forced to feel the tension in a scene. 

One can't help but think of Kaala Patthar, the 1979 Amitabh Bachchan-starrer based on the Chasnala mining disaster. The maturity of the text in Kaala Patthar and how honest and earnest it comes off is missing in Mission Raniganj.

The camera swivels in 360 degrees, way too fast to let you focus, creating a confusing haze of colours and voices. The VFX, an important aspect of the story considering how much of it is set in a flooding mine, is often shoddy. It adds an artificial quality to the film that is saved only by the fact we’re watching a story inspired by real life. 

I’ll leave you with this: I often complain about pacing but not this time. Despite all its flaws, Mission Raniganj remains engaging to a fault – it’s taut, gripping, and intense; it always feels like you’re waiting for the other shoe to drop. 

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Mission Raniganj review: Akshay Kumar stands tall in this daring and daunting rescue thriller

Mission raniganj review: while akshay kumar is perfect as the leader of the pack, other characters and their stories do get sidelined in this rescue thriller..

Trust Akshay Kumar to always lead the pack when it comes to taking up hard-hitting stories inspired by true events and heroic tales of unsung warriors. In his latest outing, Mission Raniganj: The Great Bharat Rescue, the actor steps into the shoes of Jaswant Singh Gill, Additional Chief Mining Engineer at Coal India, who put all his might into saving the lives of 70 miners trapped in the flooded bowels of Mahabir Colliery in Raniganj, West Bengal, in 1989. In a race against time, when all conventional engineering methods failed, Gill came up with a 'jugaad' to rescue the miners. (Also read: Thank You For Coming review: Bhumi Pednekar's sex comedy is peachy, not preachy )

While Kumar delivers a sincere performance showing immense conviction portraying Gill's part, it's the storytelling that doesn't do full justice to the plot. Director Tinu Suresh Desai weaves the screenplay in a manner that it keeps you engaged and invested, with several hard-hitting moments. However, he majorly falters at places where he lets his hero take the centerstage, putting the story at the backseat. In portions where Kumar dominates most of the screen time, the focus is primarily on his actions and efforts rather than the ordeal of the miners stuck deep in the mine. That's when you feel that perhaps a little more attention could have been paid to others as well.

At 2 hours 18 minutes, Mission Raniganj is well-timed but the first half takes forever to build the plot. It is overloaded with jargon and machinery mumbo jumbo that's gets too much to take in all at once. It's only in the final minutes pre-interval that the story picks up, and the second half gains momentum. That's when you feel the tension that the miners are also feeling. The story by Vipul K. Rawal had so much more to be told than just one night. Dialogues written by Deepak Kingrani are average, and rarely call for any whistles or loud cheers. That being said, I must say that the way Kumar manages to expertly land jokes even in the most intense scenes is commendable.

As the rescue operation officer, Gill doesn't bat an eyelid when taking difficult decisions, and his body language signals a deep sense of calm amid chaos. Kumar leaves no stone unturned to pay an honest tribute to the relentless efforts of Gill, who risked his own life to rescue the miners. Despite being the hero of the story, Desai hardly attempts to familiarize us with Gill's real side, and only sticks to the material that's already available. Other than his relationship with his wife Nirdosh Kaur Gill (Parineeti Chopra), who stands as his pillar of strength and support, we don't know anything else about how Gill was as a person.

Besides showing the gritty and gutsy tale of valour, Mission Raniganj also shed light on the corruption within the system, where some cunning and insecure officers like mining engineer D. Sen (Dibyendu Bhattacharya) would make sure to put other people's efforts in jeopardy. Among some noteworthy performances, Kumud Mishra as Mahabir Colliery chief R.J. Ujjwal and Pavan Malhotra as Bindal stand out. Also, playing the terrified miners, Ravi Kishan as Bhola, Varun Badola as Shaligram and Jameel Khan as Pasu, are earnest in their respective parts.

The film overall leaves you with a sense of victory and feeling proud of having heroes like Gill, yet you wish the story had more soul and depth, and rose beyond the heroic deeds to give way to some more humanism.

• Akshay Kumar

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Mission Raniganj

Mining engineer Jaswant Singh Gill leads a challenging rescue mission to save 65 miners trapped in a flooded coal mine. Mining engineer Jaswant Singh Gill leads a challenging rescue mission to save 65 miners trapped in a flooded coal mine. Mining engineer Jaswant Singh Gill leads a challenging rescue mission to save 65 miners trapped in a flooded coal mine.

• Tinu Suresh Desai
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• Trivia Was initially titled "Capsule Gill" which was later changed to "The Great Indian Rescue". In September 2023, with the poster release, the name was changed to "Mission Raniganj: The Great Bharat Rescue".

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Mission Raniganj Review: The Intrepid Engineer Played By Akshay Kumar Deserved A Much Better Film

Mission raniganj review: the film reinforces the lingering belief that hindi cinema should leave true stories alone, especially if akshay kumar is to be placed at the centre of the action..

Akshay Kumar and Parineeti in a song from the movie. (Courtesy: AkshayKumar )

The unprecedented rescue of 65 trapped miners by a real-life hero, a Coal India officer who put his life on the line in the process, is reenacted in Mission Raniganj, directed by Tinu Suresh Desai and written by Vipul K. Rawal. The film is marred by excesses of the kind that leave no room for addressing themes beyond the surface of things.

Mission Raniganj , set in Mahabir Colliery in West Bengal's Raniganj area, does not dig deep enough as it mines the story of Jaswant Singh Gill, an intrepid engineer whose valour is part of Indian mining folklore. The man deserved a much better film.

The film reinforces the lingering belief that Hindi cinema should leave true stories alone, especially if Akshay Kumar is to be placed at the centre of the action.   Mission Raniganj suffers the deleterious consequences of the spotlight being focused on the star rather than on the issues surrounding the mining disaster.

Cast your mind back to Kala Patthar . Yash Chopra's 1979 film, inspired mainly by the Chasnala mining tragedy from four years earlier and partly by Joseph Conrad's Lord Jim, had a disgraced Merchant Navy captain who sought redemption in the depths of the earth. The principal character and the story had layers that imparted power to the film.

  Mission Raniganj , which does have references to Chasnala in passing, has no depth of any sort. Barring the pretty obvious unwaveringly good guy versus a bunch of bad (and worse, lazy) guys and a mining disaster construct, the film has little to offer.

Gill is reduced to a single-note character and his incredible story is rendered merely as an ear-splitting, broad strokes spectacle. The lead actor's limited-bandwidth performance is of no help. As the makers of this film envision him, he is a larger-than-life figure who isn't assailed by any doubts or moments of weakness.

Undeterred by the chaos around him and never dithering, he goes about the job of saving the workers gasping for breath in an inundated coal mining pit as if he were a man strolling in a park. The enormity of his achievement - he devises an untested rescue method - and the magnitude of his courage and commitment are undermined in the process.

Gill's pregnant wife, Nirdosh Kaur (Parineeti Chopra, seen in four and a half sequences), is an epitome of fortitude and patience. When her husband advises her to exercise caution, she retorts that women back in her pind (village) work in the fields one day and go into labour the very next day without batting an eyelid. Contrast that with the locals, men and women alike - they are either despairing crybabies or habitual no-hopers who cannot do without a saviour from a land of warriors.

The trapped miners - among them are men played by Ravi Kishan, Sudhir Pandey, Jameel Khan and Omkar Das Manikpuri - bicker incessantly as their chances of getting out alive recede, oxygen levels fall  and the water that has gushed into the pit gets closer to the elevated part of the channel that they have sought refuge in.

The desperate men are frequently at each other's throats and, as panic mounts, do everything in their power to jeopardise their own lives. Their distressed family members, mostly women and elderly men, rave and rant and howl and holler. One of them, having lost hope of seeing her son again, slaps Gill in the heat of the moment only to regret her action soon enough.

The officer takes it on the chin and continues to do what has got to be done to ensure that the miners are rescued even as a bunch of recalcitrant Bengalis try to make things difficult for him. This bunch of men is led by mining engineer D. Sen (Dibyendu Bhattacharya), a well-worn pop-culture stereotype of the slothful native of Bengal.

Sen, stationed in Ranchi, is the villain of the story. He claims that he knows the area like the back of his hand and should, therefore, be in charge of the rescue operation. He wants to see Jaswant Singh's daring mission fail because he cannot stand the Mahabir Colliery chief R.J. Ujjwal (Kumud Mishra).

His disruptive interventions border on the farcical as does his general demeanour. He is shown eating, drinking hot milk, putting his feet up without a care in the world and getting a lackey to massage him while Gill and his team do not so much as take a single breather.

The Raniganj mine crisis occurred in November 1989 in the coal belt of West Bengal on the border of what was Bihar back then. The Left Front was in its third term as the ruling formation in Calcutta.

Although the film offers frequent flashes of red party flags being waved in the background, it isn't interested in exploring the impact of trade unionism on the mines or questions of safety measures and working conditions.

That would have required a great deal of research as well as knowledge and understanding of contemporary state-level politics and the workings of Coal India. All this is beyond the makers' ken. So they choose the easiest way out.

The film pits a fearless and fastidious North Indian knight in shining armour not just against a mining accident of daunting proportions but also against a bunch of not just unhelpful but also corrupt, cowardly and self-serving locals, which includes a smarmy politician, Gobardhan Roy (Rajesh Sharma).

The bashing of Bengalis assumes a literal form late in the film when one of them is subjected to lathi blows by a man who holds him and his ilk responsible for giving Bengal a bad name. In a crunch situation, Sen exhorts his two assistants, a Sengupta and a Roy, to show the world what a Royal Bengal Tiger is made of. The pair develops cold feet. The 'tigers' chicken out.

Mission Raniganj opens with a sequence in which a workers' leader, a blustery Bengali of course, demands the reinstatement of a miner dismissed from service on the charge of being drunk on duty. In walks Gill and puts the man in his place. Suitably chastened by the Sardar's iron-fist-in-velvet-gloves toughness, he beats a hasty retreat. We immediately know what the protagonist is up against.

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All this would be dismissed as plain silly had the film's superficial ways not undermined the innately dramatic tale so irretrievably. Mission Raniganj is the sort of film that manages to reduce an actor of Kumud Mishra's range to a nonentity. He struggles to breathe life into a man who is grappling with blood pressure and sinking spirits and who is, therefore. compelled to let Gill hog the limelight.

In conclusion, all that one can say about a film that makes a hash of a wonderful tale of grit, gumption and glory is: what a disaster! Mission Raniganj  is high-intensity drama undermined by low-calibre filmmaking.

Akshay Kumar, Parineeti Chopra, Kumud Mishra, Pawan Malhotra, Ravi Kishan

Tinu Suresh Desai

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Mission Raniganj Movie Review: Akshay Kumar led biopic-drama is an eye-opener on the lives of the miners

Akshay Kumar led biopic-drama Mission Raniganj is engaging and a must watch.

Language: Hindi and Bengali

Director: Tinu Suresh Desai

Cast: Akshay Kumar, Parineeti Chopra, Kumud Mishra, Pavan Malhotra

Nobody really knows about the incident of the miners being trapped in a dark hole in the small industrial town of Raniganj, West Bengal. Akshay Kumar’s Mission Raniganj talks about the resilience and dedication of the miners. People are aware of the armed forces contribution to the nation and how their lives are always in danger. But not many are actually aware of the risky lives led by the miners?

Mission Raniganj is an engaging film based on real incidents and that is what works for the audience. With minute details on research and not trying to glamorise a serious happening makes the film stand out. When the incident happened in 1989, The Left Front was the rulling part and we do catch a few glimpses in the movie of the fluttering red flag.

The story is on what happened in Raniganj, West Bengal, in 1989 when the coal mine got flooded. And how Additional Chief Mining Engineer Jaswant Singh Gill (Akshay Kumar) along with his team evacuates 65 mine workers. It is about how these brave miners never gave up hope and continued to fight for their survival. Jaswant Singh Gill (Akshay Kumar) at the risk of his life saved these miners from the dead hole facing several challenges. The movie shows how some of the people of West Bengal tried to politicize the whole incident at the cost of the life of the miners. But Gill never gave up on hope and finally succeeded in saving the miners.

The best thing about Mission Raniganj is that it is based on solid facts. But yes ever movie needs some spices and Mission Raniganj was no exception. But what cannot be appreciated is the ornamental role given to Parineeti Chopra. It was bit too unrealistic and obviously she didn’t add any value to the story. And again the Bengali bashing is very evident in the film which could have been done in a better way. They are shown as a bunch of self-centred and  lazy people. Well, how true is that bit of the story?

It was an out and out typical Akshay Kumar film. A lot could have been done to show the lives of the miners. But the total emphasis was on Jaswant Singh Gill (Akshay Kumar). True he is a brave heart and when nobody agreed to go down the dead hole to save the miners, he was the only person who volunteered. But these miners, according to me, were the bravest. But to some extent all the actors who played the role of miners were not given their due.

The management in charge Ujjwal ( Kumud Mishra ) is seen to be continuously smoking frantically with his hands shaking and weeping away to glory. Kumud Mishra, considering the kind of brilliant craftsman he is, could have done a better job. On the othwr hand, the characters of Bindal (Pavan Malhotra) and Tapan (Veerendra Saxena) have a lot of layers. Tapan initially disagrees to help Gill in his mission. It is Bindal, the man Friday of the film who supplies drills for operation and it is Tapan who helps in pinpointing the exact location where the miners could be waiting to save themselves from the flood.

But above everything, the movie rightfully highlighted how life of the proletarait class is considered to be nothing as compared to the egos of the big shots in the business. It also highlights how the proletariats are still ignored  in India. They go down the dead hole for meagre wages at the risk of their lives and not even a proper medical kit is provided to them. The film also shows corruption at different levels. Leaving aside the drawbacks of the film,  Mission Raniganj on the whole is a well- researched film  and an engrossing human-drama which needs to be watched.

Rating: 3 out of 5

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Lachmi Deb Roy is the entertainment editor of Firtspost, Network18. She reviews films and series with a gender lens. Her interviews are called 'Not Just Bollywood' because she takes huge interest in world cinema. OTT over theatrical releases is her preference unless and until its a King Khan film. She takes interest in fashion, food and art reviews too. see more

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Mission Raniganj: Here's why Akshay Kumar starrer is the most important & relevant film of 2023

Mission Raniganj Movie Review: Akshay Kumar Shines In This Engaging Film

Written By : Sonil Dedhia

Edited By: Shrishti Negi

Last Updated: October 06, 2023, 10:17 IST

Mumbai, India

Mission Raniganj U/A

• 6 October 2023 | Hindi
• 2 hrs 14 mins | Action, Biography, Drama
• Starring: Akshay Kumar, Parineeti Chopra, Rajesh Sharma, Ravi Kishan, Pawan Malhotra
• Director: Tinu Suresh Desai
• Music: Sandeep Shirodkar

Mission Raniganj Movie Review: Akshay Kumar film is a story of human triumph which has been narrated well. It is an engaging experience that will resonate emotionally with the audience.

Mission Raniganj Movie Review: A rescue thriller, Mission Raniganj chronicles the story of how Additional Chief Mining Engineer Jaswant Singh Gill (played by Akshay Kumar) along with his team evacuates 65 mine workers from a flooded coal mine in Raniganj, West Bengal, in 1989. It is the story of how a brave heart rescued the miners when almost everyone had given up on the thought of their survival. Gill and his team faced numerous challenges and hurdles during the rescue operation which went on for three days, but they eventually succeeded in their mission, making it one of the bravest rescue operations in the country.

Such a fantastic, riveting plot based on a true story, but it’s sad to see director Tinu Suresh Desai succumb to the lazy tropes of Hindi films. There is no need for a song right at the start of the film. Scenes giving a sense of the disorder and destruction lack the dramatic punch. Like his protagonist, Desai is better with dialogue than action. He deftly shows what happens when you cram too many people in a small space. Tempers flare, compassion kicks in, and despite all of it united we stand.

But Desai’s execution is inexplicable. The director has a talented primary cast in place, but the production design and VFX departments appear too weak. His poor direction coupled with a screenplay by Vipul K Rawal that urgently required more thought, results in a silly, tacky, confusing film. As critics, we often complain about the slow pacing of the films. In Mission Raniganj’s case, the first half is which mostly explains the entire structure of the mines, moving at the neck break speed. A great deal happens on the screen and rather than explaining to the audience, it just leaves them confused. The operation required the involvement of scores of minds at the top and the bottom of Coal India and the Indian government, but the film claims that one and only one man was responsible.

That is not to say that Mission Raniganj has no redeeming features at all. It does. By far the best thing about the film is its surprisingly uncluttered storytelling in the second half. The film picks up pace in the second half and that is where all the action happens. Less talk and more action are always the best policy when a film flies into a haze. Desai finally manages to redeem the film and fashions a taut, engaging thriller out of an incident that would, on paper, appear to be more worthy of a documentary.

The film turns the real-life story into a one-man mission, but we do see other players. There’s the committed senior mining officer (Kumud Mishra), who works tirelessly alongside Gill sifting through government procedures and pleading within the company to get things going. Pawan Malhotra as T P Bindal, a jugadu who has a welding workshop is first-rate. Dibyendu Bhattacharya is appropriately annoying as the cantankerous mining officer who is against this rescue mission due to internal politics.

But Mission Raniganj, expectedly, rests on Akshay Kumar’s shoulders, and he underplays the heroism beautifully, bringing quiet but steely resolve to the character, even delivering the stray note of humor almost conversationally. There’s almost none of his starry baggage in this performance, which easily counts among his best. On the other hand, Parineeti Chopra who plays his wife (Nirdosh Gill) doesn’t have any screen time and hardly has anything to do in the film. Ravi Kishen, Inaamulhaq, and Jameel Khan among others who play the miners are decent.

There are logical loopholes, but for the most part human tragedy is always the focus. Even as it raises the patriotism card it restrains itself from stooping to melodrama. It could have been taut and more gripping, but it still works because ultimately it’s all about the story, which is often set aside in Bollywood. It is a story of human triumph which has been narrated well. It is an engaging experience that will resonate emotionally with the audience.

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Mission Raniganj: The Great Bharat Rescue Movie Review

Mission Raniganj: The Great Bharat Rescue Devesh Sharma , Oct 6, 2023, 20:57 IST

Mission raniganj: the great bharat rescue.

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Mission Raniganj Movie Review

06 Oct 2023 | U/A | 134 Mins

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Mission Raniganj Review: Akshay Kumar led biopic-drama will make every Indian's chest swell with pride

Akshay kumar led mission raniganj: the great bharat rescue, directed by tinu suresh desai, is a very gritty and engaging evacuation-drama. before planning to watch the film, read our full review., by rishil jogani.

Mission Raniganj is a gritty evacuation drama that hits the right notes (Credit: Pooja Entertainment)

Key Highlight

• Mission Raniganj: The Great Bharat Rescue is a very thrilling and engaging film
• Akshay Kumar reprises the role of Jaswant Singh Gill in Mission Raniganj
• Mission Raniganj plays at a theatre near you from today

Name: The Great Indian Rescue

Director: tinu suresh desai, cast: parineeti chopra,akshay kumar,ravi kishan,dibyendu bhattacharya, rating: 3.5.

Mission Raniganj is the story of how Additional Chief Mining Engineer Jaswant Singh Gill ( Akshay Kumar ) along with his team evacuates 65 mine workers from a flooded coal mine in Raniganj, West Bengal, in 1989. It is the story of how a braveheart rescues the miners when almost everyone has given up on the thought of their survival. Through the three days that the rescue operation goes on for, Gill and his team face numerous challenges and hurdles, but they eventually succeed in their mission, making it one of the greatest and grittiest rescue operations in the country.

What works:

Mission Raniganj is a very engaging and thrilling film that will keep you on the edge of your seats. At just over 2 hours, the biopic-drama is a very smooth sail. The film is high on emotions and by the end of it, one is sure to have chills through their spine. The scenes in the coal mine are very suffocating and that should be seen as a great win as it ensures that the audiences are able to feel even a fraction of what the mine workers went through, when they were stuck in the coal mine. Mission Raniganj is able to successfully track down the moles in the entire system and also show how oppressed and surpressed the labour class still is in India. At numerous junctures, the life of mine workers is reduced to nothing by corrupt officials and it isn't much different even in real life where a big fat paycheck suits their pockets more than human lives. Talking about the technical aspects, the film has been shot well, particularly the scenes in the mines. The background score is high on adrenaline. The song 'Jeetega' gives instant goosebumps. Editing is super sharp.

What doesn't:

Mission Raniganj has multiple clichés through its course. The writing is convenient at a few instances, which if avoided, could have made the film even more compelling than it already is. The film gets unneccessarily loud in certains portions. Lastly, the antagonist feels poorly written. The writing of antagonists in Hindi films has become stereotypical now. Apart from that, there's not much to complain about this well made film.

Watch the Mission Raniganj trailer:

Mission Raniganj Movie Acting Performances:

Akshay Kumar as Jaswant Singh Gill is very dependable. He delivers a good performance but really shines in the last 30 minutes of the film. Parineeti Chopra doesn't have much role in the film but she lights the screen whenever she appears. Mission Raniganj boasts of a great supporting cast. Everyone from Kumud Mishra to Ravi Kishan and other mine workers, is brilliant. They are the life of the film. How much ever is said about them feels very little.

Mission Raniganj Movie Final Verdict:

Mission Raniganj is a film that should be right on top of everyone's watchlist. It is among the best films starring Akshay Kumar in recent times and warrants a theatre watch. Strongly recommended.

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Mission Raniganj movie review: Despite Akshay Kumar’s sincere performance, the film comes off as a tiresome plod

Mission raniganj movie review: do bollywood's big stars ever think of how their efforts are derailed by outdated melodrama, and the pointless insistence on heroics rather than heroism.

In 1989, more than 200 miners were deep in the bowels of the Raniganj Colliery, established during British rule. It was a late-night shift, and when disaster struck, flooding part of the mine, around 70 workers were trapped (the rest were extricated immediately) with their condition becoming more perilous by the minute. Water was gushing through the tunnels, and poisonous CO2 was forming rapidly: would they be rescued in time?

This real-life incident becomes the basis of Akshay Kumar ’s new film ‘Mission Raniganj: The Great Bharat Rescue’ in which he plays the eponymous role of mining expert Jaswant Singh Gill, who launched an operation the likes of which had never been seen in India before. In a brilliant instance of ‘desi jugaad’, he thought of fabricating a steel capsule which could be lowered all the way down to the high point in the deep tunnel where the miners were huddled. The capsule was just big enough to house one man, and the operation, lasting several tense hours, was a resounding success — every single terrified worker, barring the handful who went missing, was pulled out to safety.

Given the inherent drama in the long-drawn operation, with the family members of the trapped men waiting anxiously, and the patent sincerity with which Akshay plays Gill, ‘Mission Raniganj’ should have been a deeply engrossing human drama. But the way in which the loud background music ratchets up the theatrics, and the manner in which local ‘netas’ and high officials in Calcutta try and scuttle the operation, with each person bearing the bad news running across the screen in exactly the same manner, the film comes off a tiresome plod.

Watch Mission Raniganj movie trailer here:

Does Bollywood, especially the Bollywood fronted by big stars, ever think of how their efforts are derailed by outdated melodrama, and the pointless insistence on heroics rather than heroism? The real-life Gill was, by all accounts, a team player who fought an arduous battle to save lives; his cinematic equivalent fails this inspiring story, and the character’s nobility, by pushing to the forefront, and staying there.

Mission Raniganj movie cast: Akshay Kumar, Parineeti Chopra , Kumud Mishra, Rajesh Sharma, Ravi Kishan, Pavan Malhotra, Dibyendu Bhattacharya, Arif Zakaria Mission Raniganj movie director: Tinu Suresh Desai Mission Raniganj movie rating: 1.5 stars

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'Mission Raniganj' Review: Akshay's film loses depth in overtly-dramatised plot

'mission raniganj: the great bharat rescue' was released in theatres on october 6. starring akshay kumar, the film is based on the exemplary bravery showcased by jaswant singh gill to save 65 miners stuck in a flooded coal mine..

Listen to Story

• 'Mission Raniganj' was released in theatres on October 6.
• The film features Akshay Kumar as Jaswant Singh Gill.
• It is based on Gill's rescue mission to save 65 miners stuck in a flooded coal mine.

Cast & Crew

Akshay Kumar

Parineeti Chopra

Release Date: 6 Oct, 2023

Akshay Kumar has often been criticised, in recent times especially, for the kind of films that he has been choosing. In fact, the recurrent joke is that if someone is making India proud or any Indian is doing something historic, Kumar would definitely be seen playing that character on-screen. From ‘Padman’ to ‘Toilet: Ek Prem Katha’, biopics have seemingly become one of his favourite genres.

This time around, the actor essays the role of Jaswant Singh Gill, aka Capsule Gill, in ‘Mission Raniganj: The Great Bharat Rescue’. And like all his other biopics, the engineer here is turned into a larger-than-life character with the already extraordinary events being dramatised for more effect. While it does make the story entertaining, what goes missing is the depth, in terms of the story and how it is told.

Right from the very first frame of the film, JS Gill (played by Akshay Kumar) is introduced as a character who fears no one . He is portrayed more as a superhero than a human being. While his relationship with his wife Nirdosh (played by Parineeti Chopra) could have lent some humane touches to his character, that too is reduced to cheesy romance, like Gill banging his head on a door because he was too busy looking at his wife (sigh).

Watch the trailer here:

So, when a crisis occurs, you know that he will be the first person to stand up and that he will showcase exemplary bravery. The problem is that this larger-than-life persona actually dilutes the fact that Gill, in real life, has showcased bravery like no other and saved the lives of 65 miners stuck in a coal mine in West Bengal’s Raniganj in 1989.

However, what mars the extraordinary story is Akshay's one-dimensional on-screen portrayal. Nevertheless, the actor is sincere in his performance as Gill, and that can't be taken away from him. He gives it his hundred per cent. However, because of the similarity to what he has done before and how the character has been portrayed, you will feel that the film goes over-the-top in several moments.

'Mission Raniganj' not only had a great subject, but also a pool of talented actors, who, unfortunately, were wasted. I mean, there are actors like Pavan Malhotra, Kumud Mishra, Dibyendu Bhattacharya, Ravi Kishan, Varun Badola and Jameel Khan in this film. Yet, they were reduced to mere caricatures at times. Ravi Kishan played an over-the-top pessimistic miner, whose only redemption was a breakdown scene.

Director Tinu Desai, who had collaborated with Akshay Kumar in ‘Rustom’, has made a brave attempt. ‘Rustom’, which was also a biopic, worked wonders and even earned Kumar his first National Award. However, here, he dramatises the plot from start to finish. In a bid to make the film entertaining, Desai misses out on the depth of the narrative.

However, there is some genuine effort and a few scenes, which will certainly evoke a lot of emotions in the audience.

The biggest killjoy of the film is the shoddy VFX. Let’s just say that it is so bad that it will distract you from engaging with the film.

Overall, if you are looking for just entertainment, you will probably enjoy the film. But, if you want to see the extraordinary story of Gill on-screen, you will be disappointed. Published By: Zinia Bandyopadhyay Published On: Oct 6, 2023 ALSO READ | ‘Mission Raniganj’ trailer out, Akshay Kumar brings Jaswant Gill's bravery alive

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Mission Raniganj

Release date: 06 october, 2023, mission raniganj movie.

MISSION RANIGANJ is the story of a man trying to rescue miners against all odds. The year is 1989. Jaswant Singh Gill (Akshay Kumar) is a rescue officer and is based in Raniganj, West Bengal. On November 11, hundreds of miners descend into the mine of Mahabir Coillery at night. ...  An underground blast goes wrong and water starts gushing with powerful force. The miners attempt to escape. Several of them safely make it to the ground. But a group of 65 miners get stuck. The next morning, Jaswant volunteers to rescue the miners. D Sen (Dibyendu Bhattacharya), who is a local contact, however, attempts to take over the rescue operation. He comes up with a plan and tries to save the miners. However, his plan fails. On the other hand, Jaswant finds out the highest point in the underground mine. He then drills a hole at that very place and attempts to establish contact. The miners, too, realize that they need to be at the highest point for better chances of rescue. With great difficulty, they try to reach there but get stuck due to a stoppage wall between them and the highest point. Meanwhile, time is running fast and Jaswant needs to rescue them before they drown or die by inhaling a poisonous gas present in the mine. What happens next forms the rest of the film.

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Mission Raniganj Review

Average Ratings: 3/5 Score: 69% Positive Reviews Counted:9 Positive:5 Neutral:2 Negative:2

Ratings: 4/5  Review By: Taran Adarsh Site:Twitter

An edge-of-the-seat rescue thriller that leaves a solid impact€¦ Gripping narrative, nail-biting moments and breathtaking finale, this is an inspirational film that deserves a watch€¦ AkshayKumar brilliant, RaviKishan excels

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Ratings: —  Review By: Komal Nahta Site:Filminformation

On the whole, Mission Raniganj is a well-made film but it doesnt connect emotionally half as much as it shouldve. As such, it will not be able to realise its potential at the ticket windows. In fact, given the weak start, it will entail huge losses to all concerned.

Ratings: 1.5/5  Review By: Shubhra Gupta Site:Indian Express

Does Bollywood, especially the Bollywood fronted by big stars, ever think of how their efforts are derailed by outdated melodrama, and the pointless insistence on heroics rather than heroism? The real-life Gill was, by all accounts, a team player who fought an arduous battle to save lives; his cinematic equivalent fails this inspiring story, and the characters nobility, by pushing to the forefront, and staying there.

Ratings: 1.5/5  Review By: Saibal Site:NDTV

In conclusion, all that one can say about a film that makes a hash of a wonderful tale of grit, gumption and glory is: what a disaster! Mission Raniganj is high-intensity drama undermined by low-calibre filmmaking.

Ratings: 2.5/5  Review By: Renuka Site:Times Of India

An evacuation thriller can be engaging, unnerving and an ultimate test of humanity. Netflixs 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 Desais film is loud, over the top melodramatic, largely evoking indifference over reverence. Portrayal of a brave attempt made to rescue the poor and not just billionaires in submersibles is great, but it needs more than intent to get the sentiment across.

Ratings: 3/5  Review By: Sonil Site:News18

There are logical , but for the most part human tragedy is always the focus. Even as it raises the patriotism card it restrains itself from stooping to melodrama. It could have been taut and more gripping, but it still works because ultimately its all about the story, which is often set aside in Bollywood. It is a story of human triumph which has been narrated well. It is an engaging experience that will resonate emotionally with the audience.

Ratings: 3.5/5  Review By: Sonal Site:Zee News

While there are some cliches in the film, and the makers could have done a better job with the writing, the gritty evacuation drama deserves applause and should be on the watch list of everyone. Do watch ‘Mission Raniganj’ in theatres for Akshay’s acting and fabulous effort by the makers to depict the gripping saga from the 80s on the screen.

Ratings: 4/5  Review By: BL Site:Bollywood Life

The story offers elements of survival, heroism, and human determination against all odds. It delivers a truly cinematic experience as it showcases the world’s largest and most successful rescue operation against all odds. The film’s narrative is enthralling. It is visually captivating and skillfully executed, boasting remarkable camera work, special effects, and lighting. All in all, this heroic act is a treat to watch on the big screens and every Indian will leave the theatre with a sense of pride in their hearts. Go and watch Mission Raniganj with your family.

Ratings: 4/5  Review By: Rohit Site:Zoom TV

Despite a few visual effects shortcomings, the film’s compelling storyline, exceptional performances, and masterful direction make it a must-watch. Mission Raniganj: The Great Bharat Rescue is a tribute to the indomitable spirit of the human soul and undoubtedly deserves a well-respected 4 out of 5 stars.

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Mission Raniganj Story:

The film is based on Jaswant Singh Gill, a brave and diligent mining engineer from IIT Dhanbad who rescued 65 trapped miners at the Raniganj Coalfields in 1989

Mission Raniganj Release Date:

6 October 2023 straight to Theaters

Mission Raniganj Cast:

Akshay Kumar Parineeti Chopra

Mission Raniganj Director: 

Tinu Suresh Desai

Mission Raniganj Producer: 

Vashu Bhagnani Deepshikha Deshmukh Jackky Bhagnani Ajay Kapoor

Mission Raniganj Production Companies:

Pooja Entertainment AK Productions

Mission Raniganj Distribution Companies:

PVR Inox Pictures

Mission Raniganj Run Time: 

2 Hour 14 Minutes (134 minutes)

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Rajeev Masand , Taran Adarsh, Komal Nahta , Anupama Chopra Reviews are awaited for this movie

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‘Kalki 2898 AD’ Review: Lavish Tollywood Sci-Fi Epic Is an Unabashedly Derivative Spectacle

Telugu cinema superstar Prabhas swashbuckles as a Han Solo clone.

By Joe Leydon

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With “ Kalki 2898 AD ,” Telugu cinema filmmaker Nag Ashwin rifles through a century of sci-fi and fantasy extravaganzas to create a wildly uneven mashup of everything from Fritz Lang’s “Metropolis” to Marvel Comics movies, underpinned by elements from the Hindu epic poem “Mahabharata.” It’s billed, perhaps optimistically, as the first chapter of the Kalki Cinematic Universe franchise — which makes it part of a larger trend, since it launches the same weekend that Kevin Costner’s multi-film “Horizon” saga does in the U.S.

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Bhairava (Telugu superstar Prabhas ), a roguish bounty hunter who rolls in a tricked-out faux Batmobile equipped with a robotic co-pilot, yearns to earn enough “credits” to buy his way into the Complex, where he can crash the best parties, ride horses through open fields and avoid all the debt collectors hounding him in Kasi. He seizes on the opportunity to make his dreams come true when a colossal reward is posted for the capture of SUM-80 (Deepika Padukone), an escapee from the Complex’s Project K lab, where pregnant women are routinely incinerated after being drained of fluids that can ensure Yaskin’s longevity.

While on the run through a desert wasteland, en route to the rebel enclave known as Shambala, SUM-80 is renamed Sumati by newfound allies and, more important, protected by the now-ancient Ashwatthama (Amitabh Bachchan), who has evolved into an 8-foot-tall sage with superhuman strength, kinda-sorta like Obi-Wan Kenobi on steroids, and a sharp eye for any woman who might qualify as the Mother, the long-prophesized parent of — yes, you guessed it — Kalki.

Bhairava and his droid sidekick Bujji (voiced by Shambala Keerthy Suresh) follow in hot pursuit, and are in turn pursued by an army of storm troopers led by Commander Manas (Saswata Chatterjee), a cherubic-faced Yaskin factotum who always seems to be trying a shade too hard to exude intimidating, butch-level authority. Ashwatthama swats away the storm troopers and their flying vehicles like so many bothersome flies, and exerts only slightly more effort by warding off Bhairava and his high-tech weaponry. (Shoes that enable you to fly do qualify as weaponry, right?)

For his own part, Bhairava has a few magical powers of his own, though it’s never entirely clear what he can or cannot do with them. After a while, it’s tempting to simply assume that, in any given scene, the bounty hunter can do whatever the script requires him to do.

But never mind: He and Ashwatthama do their respective things excitingly well during the marathon of mortal combat that ensues when just about everybody (including Manas and his heavily armed goons) get ready to rumble in Shambala for the climactic clash.

All of which may make “Kalki 2898 AD” sound a great deal more coherent than it actually is. Truth to tell, this is a movie that can easily lead you at some point to just throw up your hands and go with the flow. Or enjoy the rollercoaster ride. And if this really is, as reported, the most expensive motion picture ever produced in India, at least it looks like every penny and more is right there up on the screen.

Reviewed at AMC Fountains 18, Houston, June 26, 2024. Running time: 181 MIN.

• Production: An AA Films release of a Vyjayanthi Movies production. Producer: C. Aswini Dutt.
• Crew: Director, writer: Nag Ashwin. Dialogue: Sai Madhav Burra. Camera: Djordje Stojiljkovic. Editor: Kotagiri Venkateswara Rao. Music: Santhosh Narayanan.
• With: Prabhas, Amitabh Bachchan, Deepika Padukone, Kamal Haasan, Disha Patani. (Telugu, English dialogue)

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Review: In the underpowered ‘Daddio,’ the proverbial cab ride from hell could use more hell

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The art of conversation has been a casualty in these deeply divided days of ours, and the poor state of talk in the movies — so often expositional, glib or posturing — is an unfortunate reflection of that. The new film “Daddio” is an attempt to put verbal discourse front and center, confining to a yellow taxi a pair with different life paths, as you would expect when your leads are Sean Penn and Dakota Johnson. (Guess which one is the cabbie.)

Johnson’s coolly elegant, nameless traveler, a computer programmer returning to New York’s JFK airport from a trip visiting a big sister in Oklahoma, may be getting a flat rate for her journey, but the meter’s always running on the mouth of Penn’s gleefully crusty and opinionated driver, Clark. He’s a twice-married man prone to streetwise philosophizing about the state of the world and, over the course of the ride, the unsettled romances of his attractive fare. And as she drops clues about her life — sometimes unwittingly, then a little more freely — she gives back with some probing responses of her own, trying to pry him open.

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Writer-director Christy Hall, who originally conceived the scenario as a stage play, lets the chatter roll — there’s a significant stretch in which the cab isn’t even moving. And when silence sets in, there’s still an exchange to tend to, as Johnson occasionally, with apprehension, responds to a lover’s insistent sexting. This third figure (unseen, save one predictable picture sent to her phone) becomes another source of conjectural bravado for Clark, a self-proclaimed expert in male-female relations, who makes eye contact through the rearview mirror.

Watching the unremarkable “Daddio,” you’ll never worry that anything untoward or combustible will happen between the chauvinist driver with a heart of gold and the smart if vulnerable young female passenger who “can handle herself,” as Clark frequently observes. That lack of tension is the problem. The movie is less about a nuanced conversation between strangers than a writer’s careful construction, designed to bridge a cultural impasse between the sexes. Hall is so eager to stage a big moment that upends expectations and triggers wet-eyed epiphanies — He’s a compassionate blowhard! She can laugh at his crassness! — that we’re never allowed to feel the molecules shift from moment to moment in a way that isn’t unforced. Life may be the subject, but life is what’s missing.

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It doesn’t help that in directing her first feature, Hall has given herself one of the hardest jobs, getting the most out of only two ingredients and one container. It’s probably why Jim Jarmusch went the variety route with five different tales for his memorable 1991 taxi suite “Night on Earth.” That film conveyed a palpable sense of time and space.

“Daddio,” on the other hand, is nowhere near as assured visually or in its pacing. Hall has an experienced cinematographer in Phedon Papamichael (“Nebraska,” “Ford v Ferrari”) but chooses an unfortunate studio gloss that suggests utter control, rather than a what-might-happen vibe. Not that there’s anything wrong with a movie so clearly made on a set. But Johnson’s well-rehearsed poise and Penn’s coasting boldness make them seem like the stars of a commercial for a scent called Common Ground rather than flesh-and-blood people. At times, they hardly seem to be sharing the same car interior, leaving “Daddio” feeling like a safe space, when what it needs is danger.

'Daddio'

Rating: R, for language throughout, sexual material and brief graphic nudity Running time: 1 hour, 41 minutes Playing: In limited release Friday, June 28

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FWICE claims producer Vashu Bhagnani owes over Rs 65 lakh to crew members

29 june 2024, 01:31 pm ist.

Vashu Bhagnani, Mission Raniganj poster (Photo: pti)

Mumbai: The Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) president, B.N. Tiwari, has claimed that veteran film producer Vashu Bhagnani owes more than Rs 65 lakh to crew members who worked on three of his films: "Mission Raniganj," "Ganapath," and "Bade Miyan Chote Miyan."

According to Tiwari, Bhagnani's production house owes Rs 31.78 lakh to over 250 set workers involved in these films. The affected movies include the recently released "Mission Raniganj," starring Tiger Shroff's "Ganapath" (2023), and the upcoming "Bade Miyan Chote Miyan" (2024) featuring Akshay Kumar and Tiger Shroff. Despite repeated attempts, Bhagnani was unavailable for comment.

Additionally, a complaint was filed on March 19 with the Indian Film & Television Director's Association (IFTDA) by a crew member, Desai. He stated that he worked on "Mission Raniganj'' from February 2022 until its release on October 6, 2023. According to the contract, Desai was supposed to receive Rs 4,03,50,000 but has only been paid Rs 3,70,36,092 to date.

The allegations raise significant concerns about payment practices within the industry, spotlighting the financial struggles faced by crew members who contribute to the filmmaking process.

“A written complaint was filed by the director of ‘Mission Raniganj' regarding non-payment of his dues of Rs 33.13 lakh from Vashu Bhagnani last year in March. We've been following up with Pooja Entertainment but still they haven't made the payment. They have said by July end they will clear the dues,” Tiwari told PTI.

According to FWICE President, IFTDA has written multiple letters to Pooja Entertainment but they kept delaying the payment.

“In February they sought time to pay citing Jackky Bhagnani's wedding via an email dated February 20, 2024 to IFTDA and later they didn't reply. After FWICE wrote them a letter in March 2024, they again sought time to make the payment saying they would do so after the release of their film, ‘Bade Miyan Chote Miyan', again that has not happened,” Tiwari said.

“This is unfair what they are doing, they are leading a luxurious life, and when it comes to paying the dues they are making excuses. In their latest email, they have said they will clear the dues by July end but if they don't do so then our workers will not work on any of their films,” he added.

About 200 to 250 workers, who are part of Film Studios Setting & Allied Mazdoor Union, are yet to receive payment of Rs 31,78, 327 from Pooja Entertainment, Rakesh Maurya, a union leader, claimed.

“There are three to four categories of workers who construct a set, they usually receive somewhere between Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,400 per day. The pending dues of a single worker could range between Rs 10,000 to 20,000 or more,” Maurya of Film Studios Setting & Allied Mazdoor Union, told PTI.

They have about 48,000 daily wage workers in different departments like set department, lightmen, and spot boy. FWICE general secretary Ashok Dubey told PTI that it has been a while since the release of “Mission Raniganj”, “Ganapath” and “Bade Miyan Chote Miyan” but workers payment is still held up.

“The workers are helpless. The artist receives money first, but not our workers. It is heartbreaking to see the condition of the workers in the industry; they don't have job guarantee here. Even when they get to work on a project, they don't receive the money on time. They have to wait endlessly for months to get their hard earned money,” Dubey said.

Last week, several crew members accused Pooja Entertainment of non-payment of dues and laying off the majority of its staff. In a media statement, Bhagnani had said people claiming Pooja Entertainment is yet to clear their dues must engage in a conversation with the banner.

"If there are people who claim that we owe them money, they should come forward and talk to us. Do they have a proper contract with Pooja Entertainment? Have they filed a case regarding this? There are so many ways to sort this rather than ranting on social media,” he had said dismissing reports that his production banner was shutting down.

Dubey said workers should get the payment earliest.

“In Marathi films, there's a rule that if the workers do not get their daily wages from the producers the censor certificate will not be given to the producers, we want the same rule, he added.

Pooja Entertainment has produced hits such as “Coolie No. 1”, “Hero No. 1”, Amitabh Bachchan and Govinda's “Bade Miyan Chote Miyan”, “Kucch Kehna Hai”, “Rehnaa Hai Terre Dil Mein”, “Om Jai Jagadish”, and “Shaadi No. 1”, among others in the past but their last few releases have not worked at the box office. PTI

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Bollywood film producer Vashu Bhagnani owes over Rs 65 lakh to crew members, says FWICE

Fwice president bn tiwari has revealed that vashu bhagnani’s pooja entertainment owes over rs 65 lakh to crew members on three films.

Published - June 29, 2024 11:54 am IST

Producer Vashu Bhagnani. | Photo Credit: Shanker Chakravarty

Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) president BN Tiwari on Friday said veteran film producer Vashu Bhagnani owes over Rs 65 lakh to crew members who worked on three of his films Mission Raniganj , Ganapath and Bade Miyan Chote Miyan .

Bhagnani’s company Pooja Entertainment owes Rs 33.13 lakh to director Tinu Desai, who helmed their 2023 film, Mission Raniganj , Tiwari said. The movie was headlined by Akshay Kumar.

The production house owes Rs 31.78 lakh to over 250 set workers who worked on movies like Mission Raniganj , Tiger Shroff’s Ganpath (2023), and Akshay Kumar and Shroff’s Bade Miyan Chote Miyan (2024), Tiwari added.

Bhagnani remained unavailable for comment. In a complaint filed on March 19, 2023 to Indian Film & Television Director’s Association (IFTDA), Desai said he worked on Mission Raniganj from February 2022 to October 6, 2023 (the release date of the film) and the amount to be received as per the contract was Rs 4,03,50,000 and he has only received Rs 3,70,36,092 so far.

“A written complaint was filed by the director of Mission Raniganj regarding non-payment of his dues of Rs 33.13 lakh from Vashu Bhagnani last year in March. We’ve been following up with Pooja Entertainment but still they haven’t made the payment. They have said by July end they will clear the dues,” Tiwari told PTI.

Desai declined to comment when contacted by PTI. According to FWICE President, IFTDA has written multiple letters to Pooja Entertainment but they kept delaying the payment.

“In February they sought time to pay citing Jackky Bhagnani’s wedding via an email dated February 20, 2024 to IFTDA and later they didn’t reply. After FWICE wrote them a letter in March 2024, they again sought time to make the payment saying they would do so after the release of their film, Bade Miyan Chote Miyan , again that has not happened,” Tiwari said.

“This is unfair what they are doing, they are leading a luxurious life, and when it comes to paying the dues they are making excuses. In their latest email, they have said they will clear the dues by July end but if they don’t do so then our workers will not work on any of their films,” he added.

About 200 to 250 workers, who are part of Film Studios Setting & Allied Mazdoor Union, are yet to receive payment of Rs 31, 78, 327 from Pooja Entertainment, Rakesh Maurya, a union leader, claimed.

“There are three to four categories of workers who construct a set, they usually receive somewhere between Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,400 per day. The pending dues of a single worker could range between Rs 10,000 to 20,000 or more,” Maurya of Film Studios Setting & Allied Mazdoor Union, told PTI.

They have about 48,000 daily wage workers in different departments like set department, lightmen, and spot boy. FWICE general secretary Ashok Dubey told PTI that it has been a while since the release of Mission Raniganj , Ganapathy and Bade Miyan Chote Miyan but workers payment is still held up.

“The workers are helpless. The artist receives money first, but not our workers. It is heartbreaking to see the condition of the workers in the industry; they don’t have job guarantee here. Even when they get to work on a project, they don’t receive the money on time. They have to wait endlessly for months to get their hard earned money,” Dubey said.

Last week, several crew members accused Pooja Entertainment of non-payment of dues and laying off the majority of its staff. In a media statement, Bhagnani had said people claiming Pooja Entertainment is yet to clear their dues must engage in a conversation with the banner.

"If there are people who claim that we owe them money, they should come forward and talk to us. Do they have a proper contract with Pooja Entertainment? Have they filed a case regarding this? There are so many ways to sort this rather than ranting on social media,” he had said dismissing reports that his production banner was shutting down.

ALSO READ: ‘Bade Miyan Chote Miyan’ movie review: Akshay and Tiger jest and joust in this loud and clear mass entertainer

Dubey said workers should get the payment earliest. “In Marathi films, there’s a rule that if the workers do not get their daily wages from the producers the censor certificate will not be given to the producers, we want the same rule, he added.

Pooja Entertainment has produced hits such as Coolie No. 1 , Hero No. 1 , Amitabh Bachchan and Govinda’s Bade Miyan Chote Miyan , Kucch Kehna Hai , Rehnaa Hai Terre Dil Mein , Om Jai Jagadish , and Shaadi No. 1 , among others in the past but their last few releases have not worked at the box office.

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‘Horizon: An American Saga — Chapter 1’ Review: The Beauty, and the Bloodshed

In the first of a projected four-film cycle, Kevin Costner revisits the western genre and U.S. history in a big, busy drama.

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By Manohla Dargis

Midway through Kevin Costner’s big, busy, decentered western “Horizon: An American Saga — Chapter 1,” the actor Danny Huston delivers a brief speech. The year is 1863 — two years into the Civil War — and his character, a colonel in charge of a military fort in the southwest, is discoursing on a nearby settlement called Horizon. Apaches have recently burned the hamlet to the ground, killing scores of settlers. You simply need look at the land, the colonel says, to see why the newcomers will keep coming.

“You may recall that’s what drove us across the ocean to this country in the first place.”

Huston, an imposing presence with a rich, sepulchral voice that can suggest depths, delivers this nod at Manifest Destiny with arid sobriety. His words certainly sound meaningful yet this reference to American expansionism just hangs in the air, untethered from history or ideology. Given this nod as well as the film’s large scale, crowded cast, multiple story lines and nearly three-hour run time, it’s reasonable to assume that Costner will add context, commentary or, really, anything . Yet all that’s clear from “Chapter 1,” the lead-in for his splashily publicized four-film cycle , is that the land was vast and beautiful, and everyone wanted a piece.

“Chapter 1” is the first movie that Costner has directed since his 2003 western “Open Range,” an earnest period drama about free-grazing cattlemen facing down a wealthy rancher. What’s striking about that film, beyond how Costner draws from so many different genre touchstones — John Ford, Clint Eastwood and Sam Peckinpah, among others — is how he tries to honor old-fashioned westerns that he so clearly loves while also complicating the myth of the American West through his character, a violence-haunted gunfighter.

A version of that same man — tough, terse, good with a gun, not bad with the little ladies and now named Hayes Ellison — rides into “Chapter 1” about an hour in, handsomely framed against a bright blue sky. What takes him so long? Given how the movie plays like an extended prologue, I suspect that Costner timed his entrance for a four-part project rather than for a stand-alone film. That makes it tough to get a handle on precisely what he’s up to here, other than gesturing at history, re-engaging with an archetypically American genre and readying the foundation for an epic that will continue when “Chapter 2” opens in August.

Written by Costner and Jon Baird, “Chapter 1” features uneven lines of action that jump across the map, from the southwest to the Territory of Wyoming. In one section, bad men with good cheekbones, their dusters trimmed with animals skins à la Gladiatorial Rome, chase after a righteously violent woman (Jena Malone in a lively, credible turn). In time, they end up in one of those frontier towns with muddy streets and desperate characters, a sinkhole where Hayes rides in with some gold and exits with Marigold (Abbey Lee), a lady of the evening (and afternoon). In another section, Luke Wilson leads a wagon train peopled with tough Americans, Laplander goons and two British twits itching for some punishment.

The story line that revs up the action centers on the settlement, a riverfront hamlet on a ribbon of green that winds through the desert and has attracted the attention of a tribe of White Mountain Apache led by Tuayeseh (Gregory Cruz). Soon after the movie opens, the settlers are swinging their partners to fiddles like good John Ford folk; not long after, many are dead, cut down by Apaches. Among the survivors are the newly widowed, impeccably manicured Frances Kittredge (Sienna Miller) and her daughter, Elizabeth (Georgia MacPhail), who take refuge in the fort. There, they meet a first lieutenant, Trent Gephart (Sam Worthington), a thoughtful soul who refers to Native Americans as Indigenous.

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'Stars Don't Make A Movie But Vice-Versa'

'Stars have made stacks of wealth at the cost of the rest of the film industry.'

News reports stated that Producer Vashu Bhagnani's production company Pooja Entertainment was facing losses to the tune of Rs 250 crore (Rs 2.5 billion) due to a series of flops.

Film-maker Suneel Darshan , who has made films like Jaanwar (1999), Ek Rishta: The Bond Of Love (2001) and Talaash: The Hunt Begins (2003), gives his point of view to Subhash K Jha .

Akshay Kumar's salary was reportedly Rs 165 crore (Rs 1.65 billion) for the four consecutive duds he did with Vashu Bhagnani ( Bade Miyan Chota Miyan , Mission Raniganj , Cuttputlli and BellBottom ). Should he not shoulder a part of the blame for the crisis?

I wouldn't like to comment on that.

But I will say this: Vashu Bhagnani had enjoyed a Midas touch phase in the 1990s when he collaborated with David Dhawan for almost half a dozen movies.

What happened thereafter?

The David-Vashu collaboration lost its sheen.

Vashu ji was a highly resourceful entrepreneur. He produced several films in the second phase but success eluded him.

But through the past two decades, he has met with success in his construction business.

Did Vashu Bhagnani recently branch into business other than film production?

Yes. His migration to the UK recently ( Bhagnani has reportedly set up a film studio in the UK town of Luton, where films like Bellbottom, Mission Raniganj and Cuttputlli were reportedly shot ), and availing of handsome tax breaks lured him into wooing Akshay Kumar and Tiger Shroff for his half a dozen movies, which misfired miserably.

Do you think the star system is bringing the industry down?

Unfortunately, the realisation that stars don't make a movie but vice-versa is now dawning upon the corporates, who have disrupted the nature of the movie-making business while the stars have made stacks of wealth at the cost of the rest of the film industry.

What's the solution?

As we enter the correction phase, it's time to watch their new strategy which, hopefully, should put the movie industry on to the right track, provided that the actions initiated are in the interests of the film industry at large rather than with a myopic view.

More like this

Guess how many movie tickets were bought, the rise of the mid-range movie hit.

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