The feeling of excitement is still alive to do significant films even after completing thirty years in the Indian film industry, said the critically-acclaimed actor K K Menon at an ‘In-Conversation’ session held at 54th International Film Festival of India in Goa today.
The honesty of the character of station master in the series The Railway Men becomes very interesting for me to explore the depth and the height of the role within a particular space, remarked K K Menon.
Responding to a question on the reason behind making a four episode series on a real incident, Director, Shiv Rawail said that for a film-maker, pushing yourself and to tell the most difficult story to the audience is the best part of making cinema.
Tanya Bami, Series Head, Netflix India said, ‘Creating content that shape trends and which translates to authentic storytelling for the audience is the key to gain maximum viewership in OTT platforms now.’
The Masterclasses and In-Conversation sessions are being organised jointly by Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute (SRFTI), NFDC, Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) and ESG. More than 20 sessions comprising masterclasses and in-conversations are being conducted this year to encourage the students and enthusiasts of cinema in every aspect of filmmaking.
“The series is a homage to the valour of Railway Men that we all take for granted, it gives space to the unsung heroes, especially those who sacrifice themselves to save people on that fateful night of Bhopal Gas Tragedy,” said, Kay Kay Menon. The four-episode web series is based on true events of the Bhopal Gas Tragedy of 1984.
Director, Shiv Rawail shared insights into the creative process behind the making of the film. He also spoke about the dedication of the cast and crew in ensuring that the right message was being delivered to audiences considering the sensitivity of who the protagonists were portraying. Expressing the same he said, “As producers, directors, writers and actors, it is our responsibility to be sensitive towards the pain because of the emotional attachment a lot of families have with the tragedy”. He also mentioned that no stone was left unturned to try and depict the real life events and although some amount of dramatisation is essential taking into account the medium.
Speaking about the idea behind the Railway Men, writer, Aayush Gupta, said it was aimed at telling the story of the Railways and of how the organisation mounted rescue efforts that mobilised its entire national network to rescue people.
The cast featuring R Madhavan, Kay Kay Menon, Divyenndu Sharma, and Babil Khan in lead roles promises to captivate audience with its emotional depth and real-life narratives. The series is currently streaming on Netflix and was released on 18th November 2023.
