Etched in history as among the world’s most catastrophic industrial accidents, the events of the 1984 Bhopal gas disaster have been brought to life in Netflix’s compelling limited series “The Railway Men – The Untold Story Of Bhopal 1984”.
The Indian tragedy unfolded just after midnight on that fateful Dec 2, when 40 tonnes of lethal methyl isocyanate gas started leaking from the American-owned insecticide plant Union Carbide. The gas rapidly spread to the densely populated neighbourhoods around the plant, killing thousands in the dead of night.
In the chilling aftermath, the world learnt not only of the staggering fatalities – ranging from 15,000 to 20,000 – but also of the inadequate operational and safety protocols that allowed the chemical to escape.
Directed by Shiv Rawail, “The Railway Men” stars Kay Kay Menon, R Madhavan, Divyenndu Sharma, and relative newcomer Babil Khan.
This four-episode series, however, focuses less on the mass casualties and more on the railway workers who risked their lives and raced against time to save countless others at Bhopal station with their quick thinking and resolute spirit.
The story is inspired by Ghulam Dastagir, the real-life Bhopal railway deputy station master and his team, and a series of articles written by investigative journalist Rajkumar Keswani, who covered the events before and after the tragedy.
In “The Railway Men”, Jagmohan Kumawat (Sunny Hinduja) is an investigative journalist who sets out to expose Union Carbide following the death of one of its workers a year earlier.
Against this backdrop, viewers are introduced to the hustle and bustle of the Bhopal train station under the leadership of station master Iftekaar Siddiqui (Menon). It also happens to be former Union Carbide worker Imad Riaz’s (Khan) first day of work as a loco pilot.
Things take a dark turn when a combination of faulty infrastructure and untrained workers causes the chemical leak. With people dying at the station, Iftekaar gathers the survivors and joins forces with Imad on an unlikely rescue mission amidst chaos, misinformation, and other external forces working against the railway men.
Anchoring this harrowing series is Menon’s subtle and layered performance as the station master: the veteran actor brings brokenness and childlike determination to his character as he puts the safety of others above his own.
Similarly, Bolly- and Kollywood actor Madhavan offers a nuanced performance as Rati Pandy, the general manager of the West Central Railway Zone, who is based on the real-life GM of Northern Railways during the Bhopal incident.
Much like HBO’s “Chernobyl” miniseries, “The Railway Men” offers an insightful look at the heroic and sacrificial actions of ordinary people, the selfishness of humanity in the face of a threat, and the apathy of those in power.
The miniseries also succeeds in creating a nerve-wracking viewing experience akin to a zombie apocalypse: much of the story happens at night; there’s a deadly “disease” without a cure; and a populated city turns into a mass graveyard and a ticking clock that ramps up the tension.
One of the most memorable scenes is when a mass panic breaks out in the waiting hall. As exhaustion and uncertainty grips the survivors, many decide to turn against the station master.
As they push him against the flimsy door that separates them from the contaminated outside world, the tension rises. The door is about to break. What happens next? Will Iftekaar survive? You’ll have to tune in to find out!
Adding to the impending doom is the haunting and immersive score by two-time Grammy winning composer Sam Slater, who infuses the goings-on with a melodic darkness.
All in all, this is a suspenseful and revealing series that not only honours the men who risked their lives but also prompts reflection on the responsibilities of those in power.
‘The Railway Men – The Untold Story Of Bhopal 1984’ is streaming on Netflix.