/socialketchup/media/media_files/2025/01/13/Lq7u8JDmPXyN1Js3XT0c.png)
After a long time, Black Warrant is one of those rare shows that reignite the thrill of intense binge-watching while stirring something deep within.
Crime and punishment are like two peas in the same pod in a way where we associate them together where if crime is about us committing to a morally wrong action then the punshiment is the deservedly consequence to. But apart from this understanding of one following the other do we really understand the psychology behind and, in turn, the entire system of justice? That's where Black Warrant steps in as just like Mindhunter, it divulges deeper into this complex thread of understanding the psychology behind making of a criminal as the stories from Asia’s largest prison, Tihar Jail, go on to lay bare the naked truth that the real fault hides at the core of society, and the refusal to explore this is the biggest violence of it all!
Based on the book Black Warrant: Confessions of a Tihar Jailer by Sunil Gupta and Sunetra Choudhary, the show follows the life of Sunil Kumar Gupta (Zahan Kapoor), a jailer in 1980s who, from his timid appearance, looks like he ended up in the wrong profession. It’s almost as if the show constantly wants to toy with this idea of assumptious perceptions to call us out on it! As we enter into the dark gallows of Tihar, riddled with famous crime stories orchestrated by those it holds behind bars, we begin to see the nuance between human beings who have committed crimes and the monsters society paints them to be. It’s like looking inside the high walls and the bars of the prison that is overflowing with people waiting on under trial, to see gang wars, class divisions, corruption, underbelly illegal trading business, and police complicity that lead to the exposure of the complex harsher truths.
Also Read: #KetchupTalks: “The industry has been in a slump throughout 2024,” says Sudeep Nigam
Vikramaditya Motwane is one of those few filmmakers whose method of madness could only be described as the one who swims against the norm. His projects, although varied from each other, stay true to their honest storytelling. And Black Warrant is no exception as well! This time, in collaboration with Satyanshu Singh and Arkesh Ajay, this seven-episode series unfolds as one where life imitates art as well as art imitates life. At a time when most shows are fixated on injecting meta-references for pop culture appeal, Black Warrant distinguishes itself by subverting this trend, using cinema not as a gimmick but as a tool to enhance its deeper narrative. Set in the 1980s, an era where the “Angry Young Man” cop archetype had become an escapist fantasy, this prison drama weaves the chaotic social and political tensions of the time directly into the fabric of its storytelling without sacrificing its cinematic impact. For instance a Gangs of Wasseypur style introduction of gangs or heist like student jailbreak. As the towering presence of a snake-like Charles Sobhraj hovers around, we see a moralist cop fighting with the corrupt system only to find himself stuck amid the chasm of what is perceived as right or wrong.
Sunil Gupta isn’t portrayed as a typical heroic figure, and the show has no intention of making him one. Instead, he’s simply a jailer trying to challenge the oppression of the system from within—despite being repulsed by it. This adds to the show’s essence: a fictional retelling that draws heavily from real events. Moments like India’s 1983 World Cup win, Indira Gandhi’s tumultuous relationship with Punjab, and a nation struggling to define itself in its diversity are mirrored inside the prison, which is built like a corporate structure where hierarchical fights, diplomacy, hunger strikes, jailbreak, unjust system and class divisions create a microcosm of the outside world. As if the jail is designed as a thematic ecosystem, with each episode centered on a specific case exploring the inmates’ and police lives that reveal the societal and systemic flaws.
This is further highlighted by Saumyananda Sahi’s deeply reflective camerawork, Mukund Gupta’s immersive production design, and Ajay Jayanthi’s atmospheric score that elevates this prison drama, bringing an Indian authenticity that surpasses our expectation that is built mainly on a Westernized prison narrative. One of the most striking aspects of the show is its refusal to romanticize or idealize its own message or craft, leaving room to surprise us at every turn while giving us space to form our own interpretations. Everything in the show functions as a metaphor, with the truth lying between the lines, like the realisation that the show’s real protagonist isn’t Sunil—it’s Tihar itself, and Sunil is merely the lens through which we experience it. Unlike any other show following a template, the wide-ranging storyline is devoid of the typical commercial hooks that our commercialised conditioned minds usually expect. This may prove the show to be a challenging watch for some, but the ensemble cast grounds the narrative. A solid Zahan Kapoor leads with quiet intensity, while the piercing gaze of Rahul Bhat, humorously crackling Anurag Thakur, sincerely sweet Paramvir Cheema, and the scene-stealing Sidhant Gupta deliver performances that will undoubtedly be remembered!
Ultimately, Black Warrant is not a rise of an underdog prison drama—it’s a searing political commentary on the nature of justice and, in turn, the society at large. Every black warrant in the show, from the botched one, the underprivileged one to a separatist leader hanged to death, raises profound questions about the true definition of crime. If the authorities administering punishment are as morally compromised as the criminals they judge, what does “justice” even mean? As the pen nibs that sign the black warrant break, so must the chains of the oppressive system perpetuating these sentences that feel more like injustice. By the end, the show leaves us with an uncomfortable but essential question for us to find the answer: Who decides on what is truly right?
Black Warrant is currently streaming on Netflix!
For more reviews, follow us on @socialketchupbinge.