The Railway Men (2023) Review!!

Synopsis – After a deadly gas leaks from a factory in Bhopal, brave railway workers risk their lives to save others in the face of an unspeakable disaster.

My Take – The night of December 2, 1984 changed everything for the citizens of Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India. As over the course of the night over 500,000 people, especially the small settlements around the plant, became exposed to the highly toxic gas methyl isocyanate (MIC) that leaked from the Union Carbide factory killing most almost immediately and other severely injured.

By the next morning, streets were littered with corpses of humans and animals, and understaffed hospitals that saw themselves overflowing with those suffering from burning eyes and constricted chests. Considered the world’s worst industrial disaster, the Bhopal Gas Tragedy has since held quite a pivotal moment in India’s modern history.

Though over the years we have seen multiple documentaries and a few films, with Bhopal: A Prayer for Rain (2014) being a standout, revolving around the main events of the tragedy and the aftermath, this latest revisit from YRF Entertainment (the streaming division of Yash Raj Films), covers the unknown few acts of bravery carried out at the Bhopal Junction railway station that ended up saving countless lives.

And in the capable hands of debutante creator/director Shiv Rawail and writer Aayush Gupta, this four-episode limited series, that premiered on Netflix, is hard-hitting, powerful, and undoubtedly one of the best Indian series of the year.

Coupled with a tight screenplay, driven by exceptional performances from the likes of R Madhavan, Kay Kay Menon, Divyenndu and Babil Khan, and a matter-of-fact tone that refuses to indulge the poetics of heroism, this limited series is the stuff that streaming was born for. Even the color grading adds to the authenticity, creating a visually immersive experience.

Yes, there are a few familiar tropes that are introduced but they all blend in perfectly. What is best is the fact that the pace does not slack and the editing is just perfect. Here, director Rawail brings in the old style of storytelling, putting several hard-hitting sequences at the beginning of each episode to give a backdrop and provide more insight. It proves effective and you are, at once, sucked into the subsequent events that unfold.

Beginning a few hours before the city of Bhopal will be covered by a fatal gas, the story follows Iftekaar Siddiqui (Kay Kay Menon), the station master of the Bhopal Junction railway station, who is still haunted by memories of a child he couldn’t save, yet tends to his usual tasks, overseeing the running of a compact but fairly chaotic station. He is joined in his pursuit of control and order by new recruit Imad Riaz (Babil Khan), an ex-truck driver of the chemical company Union Carbide India Limited’s plant, who has since then also become an informant of journalist Jagmohan Kumawat (Sunny Hinduja), ever since his close friend became a scapegoat in an earlier gas leak.

There’s also Balwant Yadav (Divyenndu), an infamous thief who arrives at the station to get his hands on the hefty locker, but awkwardly positions himself as a Railway Protection Force officer. The three men become the center of an unfolding crisis and the disastrous implications that have to be responded by the minute.

Meanwhile, as the tragedy unfolds halfway through, Rati Pandey (R Madhavan), the general manager of the West Central Railway zone of the Indian railways and Rajeshwari Janglay (Juhi Chawla Mehta), a Railways Ministry bureaucrat, begin measures to send help and get important answers from closed doors at the top. Simultaneously, a separate narrative unfolds involving a Sikh woman and her son, targeted by extremists seeking revenge for Indira Gandhi’s death.

The four-episode series, each around an hour long, does not waste time and starts right with a bang. Directed by Shiv Rawail, as the title suggests, follows the overlapping arcs of a couple of good men who rose to the occasion on a night from hell. The story line takes a poignant turn as it unravels the valiant efforts of railway men, preventing the ominous transformation of Bhopal station into a graveyard. The collaborative assistance from neighboring railway stations adds a layer of community resilience in the face of adversity.

One of the strengths of series is its focus on the relief operation and the workings of the government machinery. The series provides a balanced view, showcasing both the sacrifices and timely decisions that resulted in saving thousands of lives, as well as the consequences of corrupt practices.

The inclusion of the background stories of each individual adds depth to the characters, allowing viewers to empathize with their struggles. The series remind us, time and again, of the physical, financial and psychological costs of negligence and impunity. In service of its against-the-clock grammar and pace, the limited series feels just the right length. It neither overstates its doggedness nor overstays the defiance that men, stalled by responsibility, can summon. And doesn’t shy away from exposing the callousness of Union Carbide.

Their failure to offer timely help, coupled with attempts to conceal the extent of the disaster, paints a grim picture of corporate negligence. The unfathomable repercussions of their actions continue to haunt Bhopal, with children grappling with enduring health issues even today.

Sure, while watching, one can’t help but draw parallels with the HBO miniseries Chernobyl. The progression of events mirrors the intensity seen in recreation of the Chernobyl disaster of 1986, and surprisingly, it works well. The makers have used real-life footage fittingly to make the viewers feel the pain of that fateful night.

It also helps that performances are excellent all around. Kay Kay Menon shoulders the miniseries and shines in his role as the stationmaster, bringing depth and authenticity to the character. R Madhavan nails his character with ease and, as usual, delivers a good performance. Divyenndu plays a cheeky character, who is selfish because he has to fend for himself all his life, but rises up at the right time. It’s heartening to see him in a role that does justice to the talent he has.

Babil Khan, the youngest of an excellent cast, without a doubt elevates even moments of narrative laxity. Reminiscent of his late father Irrfan Khan‘s legendary acting prowess. Sunny Hinduja is exceptional at the anchor of the story. In smaller roles, Juhi Chawla, Dibyendu Bhattacharya, Mandira Bedi and Raghubir Yadav leave a strong impact. On the whole, ‘The Railway Men’ is an enthralling, thrilling and inspiring retelling of a dark day which deserves to be appreciated all around.