Last week on a stay at home Thursday night, like many of us living in the Netflix generation, I found my self endlessly scrolling through titles in a near zombie like state. Whether it was the aesthetic artwork or the simple, bold print title that finally enticed me to click on 'Delhi Crime' I'm not entirely sure. Whatever the motivation it turned out leading to one of the most intense and rewarding viewing experiences that Netflix has ever offered and more than anything led me to appreciate the massive talent of the Indian entertainment industry that it still largely unknown to viewing audiences outside of the direct region.
'Delhi Crime' tells the fictionalized, though based on news reports largely accurate, true story of the 2012 Nirbhaya gang rape case that paralyzed the Indian capital city of Delhi. For those not aware of the events, on December 16, 2012 Jyoti Singh, a 23 year old physiotherapy intern, and her male friend boarded and off duty bus where a verbal altercation led to Singh being brutally beaten and raped with a steel rod before she was left for dead along with her friend, naked on the side of the road.
Delhi Crime follows a South Delhi police unit led by DCP Vartika Chaturvedi, played immaculately by Shefali Shah, and their chaotic manhunt for the rape suspects as each passing hour lowers their likelihood of ever finding justice for the victim. While there are numerous strong performances such as those by Rajesh Tailang and Jaya Bhattacharya as members of the investigative team, and the show has a brilliant script to work off of thanks to director / writer Richie Mehta, it's Shah's performance that takes 'Delhi Crime' from a quality Netflix original to visceral viewing experience. The mental anguish and haunted but constantly determined demeanor that Shah is able to convey, especially when she is not speaking, leave the viewer no choice but to feel her every emotion. What she does in this series rivals anything Peter Dinklage did on 'Game of Thrones, or anything that Bryan Cranston did as Walter White on 'Breaking Bad' which are both legendary performances in their own right.
While many 'true crime' series suffer from the need to sensationalize events for the sake of adding a dramatic element, the strength of 'Delhi Crime' comes from the writing team realizing their source material was in no need of manufactured drama. There are no shootouts or off the wall chase scenes in the series, and initially I was quite confused as to why so many of the show's conflicts were solved in a seemingly anticlimactic manor. After some thought however, it was apparent that this was a deliberate choice by the director. By holding true to the actual events surrounding the case, Mehta is able to craft a more emotional experience as every scene in the show oozes realness and puts the viewer into the reality of how such a heinous crime can capture an entire city and wreck emotional havoc on those pressured with catching the monsters at large.
Admittedly 'Delhi Crime' won't be for everyone. It's is a deeply intense, and at often times disturbing portrayal that may indeed turn off some viewers and those looking for a more casual experience likely won't find solace in this program. However if you are looking for high quality writing and production and enthralling acting then I insist you watch at least the first episode of the series. After that it's up to you, but I'm fairly confident in the decision that you'll make.
I must admit prior to binging 'Dehli Crime' my preexisting idea of Indian entertainment was largely rife with stereotypes of ridiculous editing and dialogue, and massive brightly colored dance numbers. While those do undoubtedly exist withing Bollywood, 'Delhi Crime' gives hope to the notion that the talent pool of actors, writers, and technicians (the series is also a beautiful display of cinematography) is capable of drawing in audiences from all around the world. As India seeks to grow it's influence, raise its brand globally, and boost its economy the nation would be wise to utilize the talent at its disposal. 'Delhi Crime' has already inspired me to take a trip down the rabbit hole of Indian television and so far I'm thrilled with what I see. If projects like 'Delhi Crime' are continually funded and top talent is brought in to work on them, the potential for a South Korean like Hallyu movement may become more of a reality.
Comments