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Binged watched - Black Warrant ( Netflix) last night. 7 episodes each of around 45 minutes . Set in Tihar Jail during the late 70s and early 80s, Black Warrant is a retro drama seen through the eyes of a rookie jailor, played brilliantly by Zahan Kapoor (grandson of Shashi Kapoor). If you enjoy Vikramaditya Motwane's work (Jubilee, Udaan, Lootera, Trapped, Sacred Games), this series is a must-watch. Based on a book by a Tihar jailor and journalist, it covers key events of the time, including Charles Sobhraj's imprisonment, high-profile executions like those of Ranga-Billa and Kashmiri terrorist Maqbool Bhat, and the impact of Indira Gandhi's assassination on a burning Delhi and Tihar Jail. The performances stand out. Zahan Kapoor shines as a jailor - torn between his conscience and harsh realities. Rahul Bhat is excellent as a corrupt yet skilled senior jailor managing the overcrowded, filthy prison. Paramveer Singh Cheema impresses as a young Sikh jailor juggling chaos at work and personal turmoil, with a magnetic screen presence. Sidhant Gupta captures Charles Sobhraj's charisma, from his French-accented English to his luxurious lifestyle even in jail. Another actor who plays young Hariyanvi Jailor is also good and so is Ranjendra Gupta as upright jail accountant. Slow, gripping, and very realistic Black warrant is highly recommended!

I binged-watched "Brinda," a Telugu web series on SonyLiv yesterday . For Trisha Krishnan fans, there's little reason to miss it, but here's my review for everyone else. First of all, it's a commendable collaboration within southern cinema. A first-time Telugu director managed to bring together an ensemble cast from Telugu, Kannada, Tamil, and Malayalam cinema (including a Bangalorean in a key role).

Though Trisha's physique may not seem suited for a cop in uniform, she brilliantly portrays an introverted junior sub-inspector with a traumatic past. As is typical in police procedural web series, she has a companion, played by Ravindra Vijay (who you might recognize from "Family Man-2"), and he is simply outstanding. Other notable actors include Indrajith Sukumaran (Prithviraj's brother) and Anand Sami (the serial killer, who also delivered a memorable performance as a Sri Lankan rebel in "Family Man-2"). Additional standout characters include the corrupt station in-charge who dislikes Brinda, the police commissioner who recognizes Brinda's talent and brings her into the SIT team (both from Telugu cinema), and Jayaprakash (a Tamil actor we've seen in many movies) as Brinda's father. Apart from the fine acting talent they have assembled, what is truly commendable is their handling of sensitive topics such as religious dogma, superstition, honor killings, and similar social evils. The story revolves around individuals whose lives have been destroyed by these social practices, leading them to become atheists. It's refreshing to see an atheist who doesn't suddenly start believing in God but instead thinks that religious extremism and evil practices should be fought with righteous violence. It's also a reflection of our current times, where violence in the name of religion is normalized in Indian society.

Even a director like Dibankar can't make him act . What a wasted opportunity. Ahlawat , who recently acted in some good movies / web series is entirely wasted here.