Black Warrant: Geständnisse aus dem Tihar-Gefängnis

Black Warrant kicks off 2025 with a firework of tremendous performances, brilliantly directed by a visionary showrunner on the solid base of some terrific writing. This is a show which excels in every aspect as it transports its viewers back to the 80s and right into the middle of Delhi's infamous Tihar Jail. The series follows the transformation of a young and naive Jailer as his principles and identity are challenged by the diverse grey characters and situations that encircle him.

The story feels very realistic and is further grounded in reality by the splattering of real life criminals and incidents through the season. The authors of the original novel have done a great job in capturing the working of Jailers, the operations of the gangs, the divide between the poor, rich and famous behind the walls of Tihar. The social isolation of the Jailers both within and outside Tihar has also been captured really well.

Every actor in the series has done a great job and fit very well into their characters even if they have a small appearance as a Journalist, an accountant, a gang member, a lawyer or Tihar's most infamous prisoners like Ranga, Billa and the one and only Bikini Killer AKA Charles Sobhraj. Siddhant Gupta is just phenomenal as Sobhraj as he charms his way through every scene and showcases how the Serpent exerted his influence over almost everyone who came across his path.

Rahul Bhat is exceptional as the DSP in charge of the 3 new Jailers. His character is very nuanced and well written as he juggles multiple gangs, influential individuals and his family while walking the thin line between right and wrong. Paramvir Cheema and Anurag Thakur do justice to their well sketched out characters as the Jailers who are much better suited for their jobs as compared to the the main protagonist of the series.

However the breakout performance of the series is the completely unexpected and brilliant portrayal of the fragile rookie Jailer Sunil Kumar Gupta by Zahan Kapoor. Sunil Gupta starts the series as a complete misfit in this hostile prison surrounded by an unforgiving mix of grey characters on both sides of the law. Zahan is a Kapoor unlike all the generations of Kapoors that have entertained audiences for almost a century, yet there is something about him that feels a lot like the artistic and experimental side of his grand father Shashi Kapoor during his early collaborations with Merchant Ivory. Zahan doesnt look like the stars Prithviraj, Raj, Shammi, Shashi, Rishi or Ranbir Kapoor but he feels like artists Prithviraj, Raj, Shammi Shashi, Rishi and Ranbir Kapoor.

Zahan channels his character's inner anxiety and lack of confidence so effectively that the audience quickly start to feel for him and come on board on his challenging journey. Zahan masters the accent, his character's mannerisms, his fragility, his innocence, his inner strength, his wisdom, his resolve and desire to make things better.....he becomes his character.....he is Sunil Kumar Gupta. His performance is so good that I wished that Shashi Kapoor was still alive to see his grandson shine in this exceptional role. A really tender, emotional and transparent performance. Loved it. A must watch Series. 9/10.