A journalist is a witness of his times. He brings out social reality through stories and photographs, but his intervention is not necessarily effective. He has only the power of the pen, which does not always succeed in awakening the consciousness of the people.
One such story is that of Rajkumar Keswani (1950-2021). Bhopal-born journalist Keswani warned about safety and negligence at the Union Carbide factory two-and-a-half years ago through reports and articles, which were ignored. The truth was not heard, the result was a gas leak in the factory and the Bhopal tragedy (1984) in which more than fifteen thousand people lost their lives. This is the story of independent India that still hurts today. Many questions remain unanswered even today.
The four-episode web series ‘The Railway Man’ follows a journalist, Jagmohan Kumawat (Sunny Hinduja), who is trying to expose safety practices at a Union Carbide factory. He gets neglect from police and system. The series begins with the question, ‘Do you know what the punishment for taking life is in this country?’ And with the help of footage and media reports, it details the detention and then release of Union Carbide Chairman Warren Anderson. In this context, here is a comment on Mahatma Gandhi’s non-violence and its relevance today. This comment, made in the form of a voice over, is as much a mark on ordinary citizens as it is on political power.
As the name suggests, following Kumawat’s investigation into the exploits of a factory, the web series takes place at the Bhopal railway station, where we come face to face with station master Iftikhar Siddiqui (KK Menon) and his associate Imad Riaz (Babil Khan) with courage, honesty towards work and easy going. Human emotions. We are introduced to the heroism of the common man in contrast to the insensitivity of the powerful system. The courageous heroes who are mentioned in the context of the epics, often come to us out of books.
The Bhopal gas disaster is infamous among industrial accidents all over the world. The series appears to be influenced by a web series (2019) based on the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant. Also, before this series, films and documentaries related to the Bhopal gas leak and tragedy have come out, however, this web series, telling the story of common people, is woven around pain and human empathy. It unfolds before us emotionally through accomplished actors like KK Menon, Babil Khan, Divyandu, R Madhavan.
This ‘Railway Man’ saved many lives by risking his life without any hope or expectation on the fateful night of 2-3 December. His sole aim was to perform his duties properly. Incidents of his personal life are also connected with the story.
Most of the events of the web series take place on the platform itself. The series skillfully blends sounds with visuals. The sound of a distant train is a hope. Amidst the struggle to stop the Gorakhpur-Bombay Express from reaching Bhopal and arrange for a relief train, fear, insecurity and the thin line between life and death have been woven dramatically among commuters gathered at the station. The director has not indulged in over-emotionalism or melodrama.
This web series touches the heart and never becomes heavy handed. One of the reasons is that the series ended in just four episodes and was not extended as we have seen in web series. The series has a sub-plot with the help of the assassination of Indira Gandhi and the communal hysteria that swept the country after that, which cannot be called very effective. This sub-story takes place inside a train.
While watching ‘The Railway Man’ series, you will be very impressed with the quality of the production. A time period of forty years ago has been realistically recreated, but not as if the soul has been lost in it. With this series made under the banner of Yashraj Films, Shiv Rawail has taken on the responsibility of director for the first time and has succeeded. He has excellent writing and full support from the cast.
Arvind DasJournalist, writer
A writer-journalist. Published books ‘Map of Media’, ‘Lost City in Bekhudi: Notes of a Journalist’ and ‘News in Hindi’. Film Appreciation Course from FTII. PhD from JNU and post doctoral research from Germany.
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