Vikramaditya Motwane’s 'Black Warranty' Unveils the Grit of Tihar Jail

The gritty realities of life behind bars in India’s largest prison, Tihar Jail, are set to take center stage with Black Warrant, a groundbreaking prison drama created by Vikramaditya Motwane and Satyanshu Singh. Premiering January 10 on Netflix, the series dives into the chaos and politics of Tihar through the eyes of rookie jailer Sunil Gupta, drawing from his real-life experiences as detailed in the book Black Warrant: Confessions of a Tihar Jailer, co-written by Gupta and Sunetra Choudhury.

Headlined by Zahan Kapoor as Sunil Gupta, the show boasts a stellar ensemble cast, including Rahul Bhat, Paramvir Singh Cheema, Anurag Thakur, Sidhant Gupta, with special appearances by Rajshri Deshpande, Tota Roy Chaudhary, and Rajendra Gupta. The story follows Gupta as he steps into the harsh reality of a system where power dynamics and survival instincts dictate the rules.

"Sunil’s journey through Tihar Jail provided a unique perspective like no other to capture that complexity," shared Vikramaditya Motwane. “The trailer is just a glimpse of how the series will peel back the layers of a world that is as brutal as it is complex as it is fun."

The narrative doesn’t shy away from exploring the personal stories of inmates and officers, their fraught relationships, and the overarching power structures within the prison. Gupta, along with two trusted jailers, faces the daunting challenge of navigating Tihar’s infamous corridors, rife with notorious inmates and entrenched corruption. Will the trio stand their ground or succumb to the system?

With showrunners Motwane and Singh collaborating with directors Ambiecka Pandit, Arkesh Ajay, and Rohin Raveendran Nair, the series promises a "raw, gripping, and deeply human" portrayal of a world rarely seen.

Presented by Applause Entertainment, an Andolan Production in association with Confluence Media, Black Warrant is poised to be a game-changer for prison dramas in India. As audiences gear up for its premiere, one question looms large: what does it take to survive the unforgiving labyrinth of Tihar Jail?