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Bhopal Express
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'Bhopal Express' Guaranteed to set you thinking

By Ajay Chaturvedi
Film critic, ApunKaChoice.Com

Mahesh Mathai, ad-filmmaker-turned-feature-filmmaker's debut film Bhopal Express is set against the backdrop of the Bhopal gas tragedy which claimed 6,000 lives instantly and ten thousand more perished later while 50,000 were maimed for life.

The film weaves together several real-life incidents through the two main characters – a newly wed couple, Verma, a foreman at the Carbide plant, Tara his wife and Bashir who is a former Union Carbide employee.

The film opens with a man trying to stop a train. A gas leak is detected in the factory and the entire maintenance department is shown missing.

A tragedy unfolds against the backdrop of a love story. Newly married Verma (Kay Kay) works for Union Carbide. His young bride is Tara (Nethra Raghuraman). His friend Bashir (Naseeruddin Shah) walks out of Union Carbide to drive an auto-rickshaw.

When his wife goes to her mother’s house, Verma and his friend go to Zohrabai's (Zeenat Aman) place for some fun.

They emerge from Zohrabai's den to see people running for their lives. A mist of death descends over the city. Over 40 tonnes of toxic gas spreads over old Bhopal. While factory officials deny it is toxic, the hospital is helpless.

Morning reveals corpses lying all round. There are mass burials and tears. And despite this disaster, a train full of people is allowed to enter Bhopal.

Bhopal Express is not your typical Hindi film. It will make people discuss the movie and the disaster.

Kay Kay, an experienced stage actor, portrays his character sensitively. Model-turned-actress Nethra Raghuraman looks natural in the role of the young devoted wife. Naseeruddin Shah is excellent. Zeenat Aman, back after an 11-year gap, proves she still has it in her.

Other star contributions to the film include the voice of Amitabh Bachchan and performances by Lucky Ali, Ila Arun and Jagjit Singh on the soundtrack. The film does not have the usual song-and-dance sequences

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