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Bhopali is a 2011 documentary film that tells the story of the 1984 Bhopal gas tragedy. The documentary features the memories and experiences of several survivors of the tragedy, including Saiba Babu, Salam Babu, and Rashida Bee. The film is directed by Max Carlson and covers the events that led up to the gas leak and its aftermath.

On the night of December 2, 1984, a Union Carbide India Limited plant in Bhopal, India accidentally released over forty tons of methyl isocyanate gas into the air. This gas is highly toxic, and it quickly spread throughout the surrounding neighborhoods. The result was one of the worst man-made disasters in history, with nearly 4,000 people dying within a few days of the accident.

The film shows how the disaster affected the lives of the survivors, their families, and the community as a whole. It highlights the ongoing struggle for justice and compensation for those affected by the gas leak, which is still ongoing more than 35 years later. The documentary also brings to light the human cost of corporate negligence and government inaction in the face of such catastrophes.

Bhopali features emotional interviews with Saiba Babu, who lost her husband, two children, and her eyesight as a result of the gas leak. Despite her personal losses, Saiba has become a leading activist fighting for economic, medical, and social justice for survivors and their children. We also hear from Salam Babu, who witnessed his sister and niece die in his arms after the gas leak. He has spent the years since the tragedy working to promote access to justice for Bhopal survivors.

Another central figure in the documentary is Rashida Bee. She is a longtime activist and survivor of the tragedy. Rashida is the co-founder of the Chingari Trust Rehabilitation Centre, which provides medical treatment, rehabilitation, and education to children born with disabilities resulting from exposure to the gas.

The film also explores the social and environmental impact of the disaster on the city of Bhopal. Carlson provides a historical context for the disaster, showing how it was rooted in the colonial legacy of the Indian subcontinent. He also highlights how the gas leak highlighted the unequal global power dynamics between multinational corporations and marginalized communities in developing nations.

Overall, Bhopali is a powerful and moving documentary that sheds light on one of the worst industrial disasters in history. It honors the victims and survivors of the Bhopal gas tragedy while also calling attention to the larger forces of profit, power, and injustice that drive such catastrophes. The courage and resilience of the survivors and activists featured in the film inspire the viewer to join in the ongoing fight for justice and human rights for all.

Bhopali is a 2011 history movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 29 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 8.0.