Release Date : November 18, 2023
123telugu.com Rating : 3/5
Starring: Kay Kay Menon, Madhavan, Divyendu, Babil Khan, Sunny Hinduja, Juhi Chawla, Dibyendu Bhattacharya
Director: Shiv Rawali
Producer: YRF Entertainment
Music Director: Sam Slater
Cinematographer: Rubais
Editor: Yasha Jaidev Ramchandani
Related Links : Trailer
Popular production house Yash Raj Films has now entered into the OTT space with The Railway Men. The show stars Kay Kay Menon, Madhavan, Divyendu, and Babil Khan in pivotal roles.
Story:
The series is about railway workers who saved people’s lives during the Bhopal Gas Tragedy, which is considered the world’s worst industrial disaster. The incident occurred on the night of December 2, 1984, at the Union Carbide India Limited (UCIL) pesticide plant in Bhopal.
Plus Points:
The makers of The Railway Men deserve special appreciation for bringing into the limelight the sacrifices of unsung heroes (railway workers) who saved the lives of thousands of people. The lack of proper training for Union Carbide workers and poor safety measures at the plant are the main reasons for the disaster, and this has been shown in a neat manner.
The way the industrial disaster has been recreated is terrific, and it is gut-wrenching to see many innocent souls losing their lives. As the people of Bhopal didn’t even know what was happening around them, they started fighting among themselves, leading to absolute chaos, and all these scenes will move us to tears.
The performances of the lead cast are splendid. Among all, Kay Kay Menon stands out with his remarkable portrayal as a station master. He lived in the character completely, and the way he goes all out to save people is superb. Mirzapur fame Divyenudu and Babil Khan packed a punch and gave nice support to Kay Kay Menon.
Minus Points:
The main problem with The Railway Men is that it has too many subplots. Most of them are not handled well and add up to the show’s length. The subplots don’t have a proper ending, either. A few scenes are over-dramatized, and this hinders the impact to an extent.
If you are a fan of the English web series Chernobyl, then The Railway Men may not captivate you completely. Both deal with similar disasters, but Chernobyl is a masterpiece in every sense. Madhavan’s character could have been written better. The pacing gets slow in a few instances.
Technical Aspects:
YRF Entertainment has spent huge on the series, and the production values look stunning. The sets look amazing, and the bygone period was neatly shown. The visuals by cinematographer Rubais are solid, and the background score by Sam Slater is stunning.
Director Shiv Rawali has done a decent job with the series. The team did comprehensive research as far as the Bhopal Gas Tragedy, but in order to make the show more appealing, things were over-dramatized. But the positive aspects of The Railway Men outweigh its flaws.
Verdict:
On the whole, The Railway Men is about the unsung heroes who laid down their lives for others during the Bhopal Gas Tragedy. The series majorly benefits from its stupendous performances from Kay Kay Menon, Divyendu, and Babil Khan, and there are a good number of intriguing moments. But multiple subplots and the slow pacing at times are its key issues. Despite its flaws, The Railway Men is worth watching.
123telugu.com Rating: 3/5
Reviewed by 123telugu Team