
Based on Sunetra Choudhury’s book, Black Warrant is Netflix India’s first prison drama. The series, which is created by Vikramaditya Motwane, portrays Tihar Jail from the viewpoint of jailer Sunil Kumar Gupta. Viewers have given the series positive feedback.
The show is presented by Confluence Media and Andolan Production Applause Entertainment. Zahan Kapoor, Rahul Bhat, Paramvir Singh Cheema, Anurag Thakur, and Sidhant Gupta are among its key actors.
Due to its gripping portrayal of life inside Tihar Jail, Black Warrant, the most recent OTT sensation, has gone viral online.
Narrative
Based on the book Black Warrant: Confessions of a Tihar Jailer by Sunil Gupta and Sunetra Choudhury, the series centres on an honest jailer who works at Tihar, India’s infamous prison establishment. The story is about the brutal reality of injustice, violence, and corruption inside the prison walls. And how he stands up for reform and effects real change.

Splendid performance by the cast
In a strong performance, Zahan Kapoor plays an easy target who is unsure of himself but is adamant about doing the right thing. Rahul Bhat does a fantastic job portraying Rajesh Tomar, capturing the nuances of a cunning, selfish leader combined with genuine care for his staff. Anurag Thakur’s portrayal of a harsh, unforgiving Haryanvi police officer is excellent, accurately expressing the local dialect and idiom. In his brief role as the stylish “Bikini Serial Killer,” Sidhant Gupta leaves a positive impression, while Charles Sobhraj and Paramvir Cheema both make a mark as the sympathetic but firm jailer.
The magnitude of the series
One of Black Warrant’s best features is its accurate and uncensored depiction of the prison environment. The division of the prisoners based on their caste, religion, and socioeconomic standing has been seen in numerous scenes.
The way the various gangs operate inside the prison forces viewers to consider the system’s flaws, where there is little room for change. The predicament of innocent inmates—the group that certain malignant police personnel target—is another topic covered in the web series.
Black Warrant also focuses on how the jail administration frequently views the inmates as inhuman. A research scholar is involved in a particularly interesting scene. This individual visits Tihar jail in order to gain psychological insight into the thoughts of inmates. “Why do you want to do research on people like us struck in a cage? Are we animals?” an inmate asks in answer.
“I am researching to prove you people are not animals,” the character responds. This encapsulates the jail administration’s overall mindset. The part where Sunil and his coworkers learn that a senior jailor is profiting by denying the inmates their basic necessities is quite upsetting.
Performances and technical elements
Cinematography by Saumyananda Sahi is another significant advantage. Both the grittiness of the prison sections and the mood of the 1980s are expertly recreated by him.
In addition to Zahan Kapoor’s breakout performance, Rahul Bhatt’s incredible turn enhances the show. Rahul Bhatt, a primarily self-serving employer who occasionally shows true compassion for his coworkers, is just amazing. Although Sidhant Gupta’s screen time as Charles Sobhraj is limited, the young actor leaves a lasting impression. Beginning with the delivery of the accented words, he flawlessly nails the body language.
With the exception of Rajshri Deshpande, who plays the intrepid reporter, the female characters in Black Warrant are largely marginalised. This is merely the web series’ minor shortcoming.

Black Warrant Review: What Works for the series?
The series, which has been meticulously planned and researched, gives the four inmates of the Tihar Jail—Rahul Bhat, Zahan Kapoor, Paramveer Singh Cheema, and Anurag Thakur—edgy, risqué, and profound character development. Rahul leads the other three. Despite their tough beginnings—two of the juniors band together against Sunil, the one who doesn’t appear “much macho” as a jailer and whose frail body doesn’t fit the stereotype—the three eventually become friends and come to understand one another.
Black Warrant’s strongest feature is the carefully designed storyline for each episode, which focuses on a single subplot. Each episode has its own high and shines on its own. The background music that accompanies the story is quite helpful.
Another lovely thing about the series is that it doesn’t have a lot of literary highs or heavy conversation. It provides incredibly realistic documentation of the life that goes on inside the fortified walls of Tihar Jail, and Vikramaditya Motwane eventually leads you to feel that the inner and outer worlds are not all that different. As corrupt as the outside world is, so is Tihar Jail. Betrayal, violence, planning, conspiracies, empathy, sympathy, lies, love, loyalty, caste division, bigotry, and everything in between are all part of it.
Lastly,
Black Warrant’s first season is a strong, subversive jail drama that strikes a balance between victimisation and compliance. It features some amazing performances that make it an excellent viewing experience. This is likely already a strong contender to be the greatest show of 2025. Highly recommended and accessible on Netflix!
The genuine storytelling and emotional depth of Black Warrant make it a compelling and thought-provoking series. In addition to illuminating the terrible realities of prison life, it delves deeper into concepts of morality, justice, and salvation. It holds audiences’ attention from beginning to end with its compelling story, outstanding direction, and strong acting. Long after the series concludes, viewers are still affected by the emotional impact of the portrayal of actual events like the Ranga-Billa tragedy.
The series is a gripping watch that poses significant queries regarding crime and punishment, even with slight pace problems. Black Warrant is a must-watch if you like criminal dramas or stories based on real-life incidents. It’s more than just a series; it’s a window into the intricacies of the Indian penal system and the human tales that are told there.
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