The Railway Men opens with a scenario that occurs after the 1984 Bhopal gas leak tragedy, which is thought to have killed over 15,000 people and is the world’s worst industrial disaster.
A brief coda that describes the circumstances of the tragedy follows this. Union Carbide’s chief executive officer, Warren Anderson, is detained and arrested upon his arrival in India.
The Railway Men
- Director:
- Shiv Rawail
- Cast
- Kay Kay Menon
- R Madhavan
- Babil Khan
- Divyenndu Sharma
- Sunny Hinduja
- Juhi Chawla
- Dibyendu Bhattacharya
- Episodes:
- 4
- Run-time:
- 50-60 minutes
- Storyline
- When a fatal gas leak occurred in 1984 at the Union Carbide chemical factory in Bhopal, Indian Railways workers rushed to the aid of the trapped individuals.
Official Trailer
He was taken to an official aircraft and flown out of the country a few hours later. Sunny Hinduja portrays a reporter who relentlessly and mercilessly records events from a distance. When the journalist mockingly quotes Gandhi, saying, “An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind,” in the voiceover, it raises questions about what nonviolence and forgiveness really mean in a nation where mass murderers escape free from punishment.
This is an extremely significant reference, considering that chemical exposure caused the actual blindness of hundreds of people.
The Railway Men is a performance that may be staged in a variety of ways because it encompasses such a wide range of historical events and has such a diverse cast. The fact that director Shiv Rawail, who is making his YRF Entertainment debut, started with this specific scene is highly instructive.
It opens with a memorial to the decades of public anger and hatred connected to the Bhopal disaster before telling the inspiring tale of civilian bravery and optimism.
Read More
- Poorly Written, Outdated Action Drama Bandra Tests Patience
- Finding a wonderful purpose in ‘Loki’ season 2, episode 6.
This is a standard introduction for disaster-related documentaries. Four episodes make up this Netflix series that tells the account of a horrific historical event from the perspective of those who assisted those impacted by it. Rumour has it that it was inspired by the 2019 miniseries Chernobyl, which won over many critics’ praise.
On the evening of December 2–3, it was discovered that a Union Carbide factory in Bhopal had leaked very toxic methyl isocyanate (MIC) gas. A group of Indian Railways workers are shown in this photo valiantly attempting to protect the public from the gas.
Iftekaar Siddiqui, played by Kay Kay Menon, is the methodical and devout stationmaster of the Bhopal Junction railway station. Even though he was in a horrible accident ten years ago, he still experiences the same terror and humiliation.
The middle-aged, white-haired, and spectacle-wearing Iftekaar is going over his evening ledgers when he sees some activity on the platforms. Many of the people are seen crying uncontrollably, gagging with laughter, and falling to the ground in piles.
Although he is not aware of this specific incident, the chemical facility adjacent is releasing hazardous gas into the city. Balwant, a thief acting as an RPF officer, gives Iftekaar (Divyenndu Sharma) instructions to round up the passengers who are still in the station’s waiting area and close the doors. Iftekaar follows these guidelines.
Later, he tries to get in touch with the closest junction and asks that they stop the inbound Gorakhpur Express from reaching Bhopal and also send out a rescue train, with a little assistance from loco pilot Imad (Babil Khan), a new recruit. With a little assistance from Imad, a recent recruit, he does this.
Read More
Iftekaar is attempting to communicate a message that is remarkably misinterpreted. However, the peculiar Central Railways general manager, Rati Pandey, recognises the early warning signs of an impending disaster.
This is due to Rati Pandey’s portrayal by R. Madhavan. He calls the Delhi Railway Board under the guise of his former friend Rajeshwari in an attempt to get help (please, Netflix, cast Juhi Chawla in a part that lasts the entire episode!).
The show makes comparisons between the general greed and complacency that prevailed in the years preceding the Bhopal tragedy and the selfless and brave acts of the railway personnel that are highlighted in it.
We’ve heard that significant disruptions to the Union Carbide facility’s safety protocols occurred, maybe as a result of US business officials writing off the plant that made pesticides in India at a loss. This is a newfound understanding.
The series occasionally discusses how the dangerous facility was allowed to operate in such a densely populated region. Before and after the leak, the federal and state governments are fairly clear; only police violence and bureaucratic resistance are revealed.
Since it happened in winter 1984, there may be more poisons. Anti-Sikh violence has spread nationwide since Indira Gandhi’s killing. A vigilant guard (Raghubir Yadav) protects two Sikh passengers from rioters on a moving train.
This graphic reflects Rajiv Gandhi’s famous phrase, “When a big tree falls, the earth shakes.” In imitation of a recent political dog whistle, some rioters yell, “Indira ke hathyaro ko, jaan se maaro saalo ko (Indira’s killers deserve to die)”.
The collection includes more modern ideas, especially COVID-19 ones. These include handkerchief-covered faces, communal cremations and burials, and Iftekaar’s warning to his villagers not to act quickly.
Read More
- Review of Movie Tejas: Kangana Ranaut’s frantic trek
- One innocuous Halloween prank is Five Nights at Freddy’s.
As the old stationmaster, Kay Kay Menon skillfully blends sternness and humanity throughout her portrayal. She is always on guard. His subordinates address him with the double honorific “Sir Sahab,” demonstrating their esteem for him.
Although the rise of streaming platforms has greatly aided Kay Kay’s career, his first feature film, Bhopal Express (1999), was actually based on the same tragic event. Although they are modest in their parts, R. Madhavan and Divyenndu both give energetic performances.
Rawail uses vivid shades of green, grey, and yellow to add a pop of colour to the fragile sculpture. Cinematographer Rubais creates a sense of grave confidence in the way he moves the camera. Due to the strange angles and rapid camera rotations that made me feel physically dizzy, it is not the best experience to watch up close on a small screen. Seeing it up close on a little screen is not the best experience, even if the producers tried for maximum realism.
A few of the characters in The Railway Men who have their own personal burdens of obligation are Iftekaar, Imad, and Rati. Consequently, it aids people in staying resilient throughout this critical time. The story does not specifically address the fact that a sizable portion of the victims of the 1984 tragedy and the main cast members of the television series are Muslims.
Rather, and maybe a little too optimistically, the presentation’s emphasis moves to how well-integrated the Indian Railways and the Bhopal community as a whole are. At the opening of the narrative, Imad proclaims, “This is my city; this is my slum.” He tries his hardest, yet ultimately he is unable to hold onto anything.
Share this content:
