One of the worst industrial tragedies that the world has seen is the Bhopal Gas Tragedy of 1984, and The Railway Men chronicles that event. Directed by Shiv Rawail, the four-episode limited series stars Kay Kay Menon, Divyenndu, R Madhavan and Babil Khan in primary roles. When deadly gas leaks from a factory in Bhopal, a group of railway workers risk their lives to save others in the face of a disaster. The Railway Men is inspired by a series of true stories and brings the focus to some of the unsung heroes of the 1984 Bhopal gas tragedy. The Bhopal Gas Tragedy is one of the biggest wounds in the country’s soul, and as such, the series has the colossal task of invoking a sense of loss and grief in the audience. Does The Railway Men manage to make you feel the pain, loss and despair? Read our review to find out.

A tale of survival and bravery

The Bhopal Gas Tragedy of 1984 is a prime example of how capitalism has the potential to ruin lives. The Union Carbide Factory in Bhopal should never have been set up in the first place, especially since there was proof that the factory would be housing deadly chemicals without any necessary precautions in place. The workers of the Union Carbide Factory were never trained properly, and the American management of the company was constantly refusing to take accountability.

On the nights of December 2-3, 1984, a toxic gas, methyl isocyanate (MIC), escapes from the Union Carbide plant in Bhopal, which leads to everlasting consequences. As soon as the gas is in the air, people drop like flies, with no clue about what is coming for them. With no idea about what is happening and no antidote in sight, the situation is heartbreaking and chaotic. Amongst them, three railwaymen and a bandit become the heroes the common man needs.

The station master Iftekaar Siddiqui (Kay Kay Menon), inexperienced loco pilot, Imad Riaz (Babil Khan), General Manager of the Central Railways Rati Pandey (R Madhavan) and a railway bandit Balwant (Divyenndu Sharma) try to save the lives of numerous people, even at the risk of their own lives.

Power-packed performances that blow your mind

The performances are the highlight of this four-episode limited series. Kay Kay Menon is a guilt-stricken stationmaster who was unable to save a life in a previous accident. So, the principled man is even more so when the gas leak happens. He is determined to save the lives of the people who are with him and does everything in his power to do that. 

Babil Khan as an ex-Union Carbide employee and a loco pilot, is determined and righteous. He immerses himself in his character, and you can see the effort Imad is taking to protect the people around him. Much like Iftekaar, Imad is also selfless and only wants to save lives. 

One of the more interesting characters is Divyenndu’s Balwant. Unlike the other stand-up characters, he is a good-hearted thief masquerading as a police officer to rob the Bhopal Junction station. All he wants is money, but he is roped into being a hero due to the situation. While he still tries to fulfil his initial agenda, he never steps back from saving the people who need saving. 

R Madhavan, as GM Rati Pandey, is a grandstanding man. He is all about giving powerful speeches and invoking a sense of righteousness in people. He is quick on his feet and quickly catches on to what’s going wrong in Bhopal and how to help the people.

Another amazing performance is by Sunny Hinduja, who essays the role of an investigative journalist who had predicted that the Union Carbide factory was bad news. His integrity and obstinate nature work in his favour. 

The Railway Men is not an easy watch. It will make you uncomfortable and empathetic, but more than that, it’ll make you feel indignant over the injustices caused by human decisions. The series is now streaming on Netflix. 

Can you watch The Railway Men with your family?: It’s best to avoid watching it with kids. But mind you, it is not an easy watch even for adults.

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