‘Black Warrant’ review: Grim show about Tihar jailers rarely lets up

Black Warrant takes place in India’s largest prison – quickly revealed to be a mere factoid, rather than a feat.

The Netflix series is set almost entirely in Central Jail in Tihar, on the outskirts of Delhi. Black Warrant begins in 1981, when the prison is a smaller version of its present self but already notorious as a hotbed of iniquity. Struggling to wrap his amply oiled head around Tihar’s culture of embedded graft while remaining tethered to his conscience is the young recruit Sunil (Zahan Kapoor).

Prison boss Tomar (Rahul Bhat) tells Sunil that everybody at Tihar is a snake – but only some bite while others get bitten. Sunil descends into this viper pit with hair partly neatly down the middle, perfectly pressed clothes, and every intention of serving honestly. There will be many occasions for Sunil to question his beliefs, from the open corruption practised by Tomar and his lackeys to the antics of fettered men fiercely guarding their turf.

Sunil joins Tihar alongside Vipin (Anurag Thakur) and Shivraj (Paramvir Singh Cheema). They soon learn that the first rule at Tihar is that the rules are not set by the jailers but by the jailed. Three gangs have carved up Tihar between themselves, running their rackets…

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