The Railway Men is a Netflix original mini-series that tells the true story of the 1984 Bhopal gas tragedy, one of the worst industrial disasters in history. The series focuses on the brave railway workers who risked their lives to save others in the face of an unimaginable horror.
The series stars R. Madhavan, Kay Kay Menon, Divyenndu and Babil Khan as four railway employees who work at the Bhopal railway station. They are ordinary men with ordinary lives, until one night, a deadly cloud of toxic gas escapes from a nearby pesticide plant, killing and injuring thousands of people in the city. The railway men, along with their colleagues and families, are caught in the middle of this nightmare, and have to make some tough choices to survive and help others.
The Railway Men is a gripping and heart-wrenching tale of courage and sacrifice, that shows the human side of a tragedy that is often reduced to statistics and headlines. The series does not shy away from depicting the horrors of the gas leak, but also balances it with moments of hope, compassion and resilience. The series also exposes the negligence and corruption that led to the disaster, and the injustice that followed it.
The Railway Men Review: Brilliantly Scripted, Well-thought casting and immersive story telling
The series is directed by debutant director Shiv Rawail, who does an impressive job of creating a realistic and immersive atmosphere of the 1980s Bhopal. The series is produced by YRF Entertainment, as part of their multi-year creative partnership with Netflix. The series has four episodes, each about an hour long, and is available in Hindi with subtitles.
The performances of the cast are outstanding, especially Madhavan and Menon, who portray their characters with nuance and depth. Divyenndu and Khan also deliver convincing performances as the younger railway men, who have their own struggles and aspirations. The supporting cast, which includes Priitamm Jaiswal, Philip Rosch Madsen, Connor Keene, Juhi Chawla, Dibyendu Bhattacharya, Raghubir Yadav and Mandira Bedi, also add to the authenticity and emotion of the story.
The Railway Men is a must-watch for anyone who wants to learn more about the Bhopal gas tragedy, or who appreciates a well-made drama that explores the themes of heroism, survival and justice. The series is not for the faint-hearted, as it depicts some disturbing scenes of death and suffering, but it also celebrates the spirit of humanity that shines through in times of crisis.
The Railway Men is streaming on Netflix now.