Title: Great Indian Railway Journeys
Director: Cassie Farrell
Presenter: Michael Portillo
Where: Streaming on BBC Player- Prime Video
Rating: 3 stars
This series presented by the ever-affable Michael Portillo, is a documentary that embarks on an ambitious railway odyssey through the Indian subcontinent. Armed with Bradshaw’s “Handbook of Indian, Foreign and Colonial Travel,” a relic from 1913, Portillo attempts to unravel the enigma of India through its extensive railway network. However, much like a crispy samosa, this series, while outwardly appetizing, leaves one yearning for more substance.
Portillo, a former British Secretary of State for Defence and a seasoned traveller with a repertoire that includes Great British Railway Journeys and its continental and American counterparts, dives into the Indian experience with his characteristic charm. One can’t help but appreciate his enthusiasm as he travels through Northern India in the first episode, covering Amritsar, Ludhiana, Ambala, Chandigarh, and Shimla. His journey continues through the deserts of Rajasthan in the second episode, touching Jodhpur, Osiyan, Jaipur, Bandihui Junction, Agra, and Delhi, before heading south to Karnataka and Tamil Nadu in the third episode, and finally meandering through Uttar Pradesh and Bengal in the concluding episode.
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While Portillo’s itinerary reads like a grand tour, the documentary itself falls short of its epic potential. The series, unfortunately, adheres too closely to Bradshaw’s century-old guide, resulting in a narrative that feels as outdated as the handbook itself. The documentary is perfunctorily mounted, with the soul conspicuously missing. Portillo’s wry British one-liners, usually a delightful garnish, here seem forced and uncalled for, failing to add the expected zest to the narrative.
Visually, the documentary is a mixed bag. The wide-angle shots of historic sites and the diverse Indian terrain are undeniably breathtaking, capturing the essence of India’s vast beauty. However, the repeated use of certain images becomes tiresome, and the viewer is left with an odd sense of déjà vu.
The series does, however, have its moments of brilliance. Old, rare archival footage interspersed throughout the episodes elevates the travelogue. Portillo’s interactions with a plethora of talking heads – authors, entrepreneurs, historians, experts, employees, and fellow travellers – offer intriguing insights into the history and culture of India, both past and present. Yet, these moments are sporadic and lack a more consistent depth of exploration.
One glaring misstep is the documentary’s background score, which ranges from the repetitive to the incongruous. The third episode, in particular, features an inexplicable choice of music with “Laal Meri… Laal Meri…” blaring in the background of the southern city of Chennai, creating a jarring auditory dissonance. It’s as if the sound engineer or the editor, in a moment of whimsical folly, decided to mix North Indian folk music with South Indian urban landscapes, to bizarre effect.
Overall, this series is a well-made documentary but provides a superficial overview of India’s railway connections and their historical significance. For those seeking a comprehensive and enriching exploration of India, this documentary may leave you at the station, waiting for a more fulfilling journey.
