Bhopal: A Prayer for Rain 2014

The film intricately weaves together the stories of various individuals, all grappling with personal dilemmas as they approach the heart-wrenching tragedy that unfolded on the night of December 3rd, 1984. This fateful date marks the infamous Bhopal gas tragedy, which remains etched in history as the largest industrial disaster ever, resulting in the unimaginable loss of tens of thousands of lives in a matter of hours.

As the storyline unfolds, viewers are taken back to December 2nd, 1984, a time when few were fully aware of the impending disaster that would soon claim the lives of 10,000 people. Set against the backdrop of Madhya Pradesh, this tragedy reveals a shameful disregard for safety by the Union Carbide Corporation, a company based in the United States. The stark juxtaposition of an “American dream” transforming into a harrowing “Indian nightmare” highlights the legacy that continues to haunt the survivors.

Over half a million individuals were exposed to the toxic methyl isocyanate (MIC) gas and other hazardous chemicals that night, leading to an estimated death toll ranging from 4,000 to 10,000 within just 24 hours. In addition to the tragic loss of life, around 3,900 people suffered severe and permanent injuries, a grim reality further exacerbated by the corrupt governance of Madhya Pradesh. The Union Carbide India Limited (UCIL) sought to deflect blame with their narrative of “sabotage,” yet the weight of historical evidence points towards corporate negligence, an act that would be deemed criminal in any other scenario.

The film serves not only as a reminder of this tragic event but also as a critical examination of the consequences of negligence and the ripple effects that such an industrial disaster leaves on society for decades to come.