I was in Mumbai at the invitation of Netflix to discuss their series “The Railway Men” with its cast, but it was taking me back to my own life, my own journeys, and my own questions about why many people do what they do.
Have you ever noticed how so many people around us go out of their way again and again, sometimes every day, to do things they are not expected to do? The world does not understand such people but they still throw themselves into challenges, even into situations of danger, for others?
The Railway Men is about a group of such people — who went out of their way to save lives when they were expected to save their own. Directed by Shiv Rawail, it is an extraordinary saga of courage that recreates for me a “Jatayu moment” in time — just like Jatayu went out of his way to try and save Sitaji from being abducted by Ravan, and lost his life in the process. I talked about it when Netflix invited me to host an interview with the incredibly talented cast of `The Railway Men,’ their new series. It was more than just talking about the show – it was like delving into an emotional journey together.
The actors – R Madhavan, KK Menon, Juhi Chawla, Babil Khan, Divyenndu and Sunny Hinduja– brought so much warmth and maturity to the table – each talking about the depth of their characters with honesty and grace. In fact, it was not just a regular interview for me – it was an exploration of the human spirit.
Neelesh Misra Interview with `The Railway Men’ Cast (Netflix India New Series)
I have often thought of this — why do some people exhibit a far greater degree of selflessness than others? I explored this question in an episode of “The Neelesh Misra Show” that I did years ago for our venture Gaon Connection. You can watch it below.
At Gaon Connection, we have also recently launched a project to document and honour such people — The Changemakers Project. People who change lives are rarely documented, celebrated, supported. Most of us feel that doing good is the job of others; we are only here to live our own lives to take care of ourselves and our families.
Which is why I feel The Railway Men is a story that must be told and this series must be watched.
Have you watched \’The Railway Men\’ yet? Trust me, it\’s not just a regular show – it\’s like a painting of real-life heroes who risked everything to help others during a very tough time. The 1984 Bhopal Gas tragedy.
As I reflect on this experience, I am once again reminded of how powerful the stories can be. They bring us together, help us heal, and make us feel alive.
I am reminded of how powerful the stories can be. They bring us together, help us heal, and make us feel alive.
