Filled with a cast like no other, Netflix’s The Railway Men is a historical drama set in the 80s. Produced by YRF Entertainment, this 4-episode mini-series is a retelling of the tragic Bhopal Gas Tragedy that happened in the late nights of December 1984.
The show centers on railway workers and other people who were caught up in the tragedy and were responsible for saving the lives of thousands of people before succumbing to the gas themselves. These normal people, who turned into courageous men when the situation called for it, ended up becoming the silent heroes of the unforgettable Bhopal night.
Production for The Railway Men began way back in December of 2021, with it being the first series coming from YRF Entertainment. The cast of this thriller series is what made the show much more intriguing, as it consists of R. Madhavan in the role of Rati Pandey and Kay Kay Menon playing the role of Iftekaar Siddiqui.
Babil Khan, known for his role in Qala, plays the role of Imad Riaz, while Divyenndu portrays Balwant Yadav, a clever dacoit from the 80s. The Railway Men premiered on Netflix earlier this month, and despite the short time since its release, it has managed to gather just as much attention as Kaala Paani.
The Railway Men: About The Plot
The series starts in Bhopal, India, where Union Carbide India Limited is exploiting poor workers and making them work in unsafe environments. Way before the gas leak even happened, workers were still dying in the company due to inhalation and toxic chemicals being sprayed on them.
However, it was not until the fateful night of 2nd December that a major leak happened in Union Carbide. The corrosive gas, Methyl isocyanate, leaked out of the plant and started flowing towards the nearby city.
Once the situation calls for it, an unassuming railway manager, a station master, and a young loco pilot become the heroes of the tragedy. These men selflessly help the Bhopal citizens even while their own eyes & lungs are filled with pain.
Is The Railway Men A True Story?
The major event that The Railway Men is based on, the Bhopal Gas Tragedy, is unfortunately very real. As we see in the Netflix series, Union Carbide India had one of its plants in Bhopal. To utilize cheap labor and space, the American company hired multiple local workers and built a factory close to Bhopal city.
Bhopal Gas Tragedy is regarded as the worst incident related to chemicals from a factory, and before it took place, there were multiple signs that the plant wasn’t using the best practices. Multiple workers had already died or suffered the consequences of inhaling toxic intermediates like Methyl isocyanate.
Thousands of locals ended up dropping dead, just like what we see on the show. Those who managed to survive the tragedy ended up suffering from chronic conditions like eye conditions, cancer, and many other problems.
The owners and operators of Union Carbide India had the chance to deal with leaks and spills beforehand, but it was their carelessness that ended up killing thousands of people in just a single night. The pesticide plant exposed 500,000 people to the deadly gas and left them dead or with permanent disabilities.
Soon after the incident, Union Carbide was asked to compensate the family members and pay almost $470 million as a settlement. CEO of Union Carbide Corporation, Warren Anderson, arrived in India shortly after the horrific incident.
Since the public was outraged, the government decided to put Warren on house arrest and asked him to go back to his country. This way, Warren didn’t have to face major consequences for his actions, and the ones who suffered the most in the end were innocent citizens.
Shiv Rawail’s The Railway Men is a great attempt at bringing the spine-chilling day back to life. With perfect actors and an interesting storyline inspired by real events, this show offers an inside look into how chaotic and horrifying the Bhopal Gas Tragedy was for those who lived through it.
All four episodes of The Railway Men are now available to watch on Netflix globally.
