Black Warrant - Into the Darkness of Tihar

Black Warrant

Hindi - Drama

7 Episodes ~ 45 mins
Netflix

The first thing i learnt from this one was that many of us pronounce one of India's most popular destinations 😀 as "Tihaar" while the correct local pronunciation is  "TihaaD" . The second thing was the series' title - it  refers to the official  authorization to carry out the execution of a prisoner on death row. 

Based on a book Black Warrant : Confessions of a Tihar Jailer by Sunetra Choudhury and former jailer Sunil Gupta, who spent 35 years in Tihar, the  series is fronted by acclaimed writer director Vikramaditya Motwane and writer  Satyanshu Singh. It chronicles Gupta's initial journey as a God fearing 24 year old  signing up as an Assistant Jailer (ASP) (to pay the family's bills),  in one of the most infamous places on earth.

Sunil Gupta, who had also studied law before joining Tihar,  eventually became a lawyer practicing in High court and the Supreme court of India. His insider perspective on the prison's workings, the gang wars, systemic inequalities (some lived in five star conditions, while others barely shared a blanket!),  rampant corruption, the inhuman conditions (1300 sharing the space for 800) - provides a gripping narrative.

Set in the fascinating early 1980's, the series also shines a light on some of famous inmates at the time, Charles Sobhraj, Billa, Ranga.  Drawing from the rich source material, the series offers a rare and thought provoking glimpse into the ordeals of the jailers and the prison staff, grappling with the thankless pursuit of maintaining order, while struggling with their own personal situations. 

Sunil Gupta (Zahan Kapoor), along with Haryanvi Vipin Dahiya (Anurag Thakur) and a Sikh Shivraj Singh Mangat (Paramvir Cheema) join as assistants to DSP Rajesh Tomar (Motwane and Anurag Kashyap staple Rahul Bhat). The trio is thrown into the depths of hell on day one, when Tomar rewards Gupta's righteousness with the task of finding the prisoner who killed a snake. We are told that any prisoner who kills a snake gets 15 days off their sentence, which explains why there is more than one piece of snake discovered!

Gupta is a proper mummy's boy, "Baby" to his family, recites the Gayatri mantra when scared, grows a moustache to up his image as a toughie, his uniform barely fits his short frame. His fear is palpable and all this feels too much for the young recruit. But for him, it's this job or nothing. The story follows how the trio carves their paths, tackling both professional and personal challenges while navigating the headstrong leadership of Tomar.

Thanks to Netflix's self censorship, much of the brutality, inhumanity, exploitative situations have been toned down, making the show easier to watch without cringing or looking away. While this does dilute some of the impact, it also broadens the show’s accessibility to a larger audience. With material this rich, one can imagine how gloriously—and grotesquely—it might have been portrayed if Motwane had gone all out, as he and Kashyap did in "Sacred Games". 

The performances anchor Black Warrant. Zahan Kapoor (Shashi Kapoor's grandson) is the standout! His body language (the gravitas belying his little frame), his diction and nuanced expressions are all wonderful. It will be exciting to see how his career unfolds, especially in urban, lighthearted roles.

Anurag Thakur as the slang spewing Dahiya is terrific, you can't help but hate him! Paramvir Cheema . who impressed in  Tabbar, conveys honesty and vulnerability with expressive face. Rahul Bhat as the seasoned alpha male, who compromises his conscience for survival, delivers a solid performance.

The series has plenty of cameos which are noteworthy. Sidhant Gupta as the suave, slimy Charles Sobhraj is absolutely delicious!  Veteran Rajendra Gupta as Tihar's accountant and moral compass Saini Sahab is nice. Rajshri Deshpande, Tota Roy Chowdhury , Joy Sengupta all do their part in the limited screen time. 

On the technical front, Black Warrant is top-notch. The production design and costumes authentically recreate the 1980s. Shot in the beautiful 1:66:1 aspect ratio, the cinematography is superb, while the background score, infused with 1980s energy, adds a layer of nostalgia.

Black Warrant is a strong start to the year for Netflix and already feels like an early contender for one of the year’s top 10 shows.