With the fresh-faced cast and the sleek camerawork, Black Warrant, at first, didn't seem to be the gritty adaptation of the exposé outlining the systemic corruption of the Tihar Jail in the 1980s. But, aesthetic aside, that's precisely what Black Warrant is. Opening to Zahan Kapoor as Sunil Gupta being interviewed for the job as jailer, the show takes him and the audience to the tour of the notorious prison, and it's a gripping one not because of the usual prisoner shenanigans, but because of the way the officers themselves happen to be in on the drugs and alcohol trade inside– and they're ready to pin it all on Gupta if things go down. Showrunner Vikramaditya Motwane pulls it all together with excellent performances from the cast, an eerie score, and the real life headlines of some of India’s notorious prisoners.
Synopsis
When an upright officer accepts a job at Tihar Jail, he vows to make amends after witnessing cold-blooded corruption within its walls.
Storyline
New Delhi, 1980s. In order to support his family, Sunil Gupta applies for the job as a rookie jailer in the Tihar Jail, one of the largest prison complexes in the country. However, as he tries to acclimate to the role, he discovers the injustices that lurk within the jail, leading him in an unexpected quest to beat the systemic corruption inside.
TLDR
Man, if even a cop is trying to get some help from a serial killer, of all people, then things must’ve been pretty dire.
What stands out
There's plenty of great performances here, but I gotta say Sidhant Gupta is particularly menacing as the real life serial killer Charles Sobhraj.
