Tihar… the name itself elicits gasps of fear and revulsion. Jails in our country are not meant to reform: they are meant to break the prisoners’ spirit.
So goodbye Shantaram’s Do Aankhen Barah Haath, hello Applause Entertainment applause-worthy Black Warrant on Netflix. A slowburn drama with surprisingly lowkey writing and performances Black Warrant takes some time for us to get into. Once we in, there is no turning back.
The characters speak to us in a voice that never seems exaggerated or attention-grabbing. Vikramaditya Motwane and the co-directors waste no time in telling the visceral story the way it is. The narration is flab-free and highly inflammable, especially the portions on the hanging of Ranga and Billa which insinuate that all was not right in the serving of justice in this case.
But then, when is it always right? Besides, why try to create empathy for two criminals who brutally violated two children? Black Warrant raises several questions on the legal system and prison reforms. It is a gutsy thought provoking series which never falls short of breath or breadth.
The non-theatrical subdued performances lend considerably to the series authentic aura. While Zahan Kapoor as the callow protagonist jailor Sunil Kumar Gupta , desperately trying to bring in reforms, is pitch perfect (this is his actual debut), Raahul Bhat as the caustic DSP and Paravmvir Singh Cheema as the jailor Shivraj Singh Mangat are the anchors of this not-to-be missed show .
Black Warrant pulls no punches. It is raw real and reformative without making a noise about its intentions.
