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Black Warrant Review: A gripping portrayal of Tihar Jail and a broken system

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A scene from Black Warrant showing a young jailer walking through Tihar Jail’s corridors, surrounded by inmates.

Black Warrant, a seven-episode Netflix series co-created by Vikramaditya Motwane and Satyanshu Singh, delivers an intense and thought-provoking narrative centered on the life of a young jailer navigating Delhi’s overcrowded Tihar Jail in the 1980s. Rooted in reality, the show paints a vivid picture of a flawed system through the eyes of a principled protagonist battling corruption and moral dilemmas.

An authentic prison drama

Based on the book Black Warrant: Confessions of a Tihar Jailer by Sunil Gupta and journalist Sunetra Choudhury, the series provides a nuanced glimpse into the understaffed and chaotic prison environment. Spanning from 1981 to 1986, it explores pivotal moments in India’s socio-political landscape, such as Punjab militancy, the assassination of Indira Gandhi, and the subsequent anti-Sikh riots.

The show’s protagonist, ASP Sunil Gupta, portrayed by Zahan Kapoor, is a soft-spoken law graduate thrust into the harsh realities of Tihar. Kapoor’s portrayal imbues the character with vulnerability and quiet determination, making his struggles relatable. His fight against a deeply entrenched corrupt system, while staying true to his principles, forms the emotional core of the series.

Stellar performances and character depth

Kapoor’s performance is supported by a strong ensemble cast, including Rahul Bhat, Paramvir Cheema, and Anurag Thakur, who play his colleagues. Each actor brings depth and individuality to their roles, presenting contrasting approaches to the challenges of prison management. Tota Roy Choudhury and Rajshri Deshpande deliver impactful performances in key supporting roles, adding complexity to the narrative.

Unflinching realism

Black Warrant doesn’t shy away from the grim realities of the criminal justice system. It sheds light on overcrowding, class disparities, and the politics surrounding executions. The presence of notorious criminals like Billa and Ranga and the depiction of their execution is one of the series’ most tense moments. The show also examines the systemic issues that perpetuate inequality, emphasizing the role of poverty and social status in determining culpability.

Themes of resilience and reform

At its heart, Black Warrant is a story of resilience. It follows Gupta’s baptism by fire as he witnesses gruesome executions, faces constant skepticism, and struggles to maintain his integrity. His journey underscores the urgent need for systemic reform, both within prisons and society at large.

The show balances its gritty narrative with moments of introspection, using Sunil’s personal life as a lens to explore the human cost of his professional struggles. From his mother’s concerns about his safety to a budding romance with a lawyer’s daughter, these subplots add emotional layers to the story.

A technical triumph

The series excels in its technical execution, with Saumyananda Sahi’s cinematography enhancing the atmosphere with stunning visuals that capture the grim yet textured world of Tihar. The restrained direction avoids sensationalism, relying instead on the inherent drama of its subject matter to engage the audience.

A must-watch series

Black Warrant is more than just a prison drama; it’s a reflection of a nation grappling with systemic flaws and societal upheavals. With its compelling narrative, stellar performances, and insightful commentary on justice and reform, the series warrants a binge-watch.

Entertainment

Border 2 box office collection day 12 crosses Rs 286 crore, eyes Rs 300 crore milestone

Border 2 box office collection reaches Rs 286.75 crore after 12 days, putting the Sunny Deol-led film close to the Rs 300 crore milestone.

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Sunny Deol in Border 2

Sunny Deol’s Border 2 continues its impressive run at the domestic box office, edging closer to the Rs 300 crore mark by the end of its second week. The war drama, which hit theatres on January 23, has shown consistent collections since its release.

On its second Tuesday, the film earned an estimated Rs 5.75 crore, taking its total earnings to Rs 286.75 crore after 12 days.

Border 2 box office performance so far

The film matched its Monday earnings on February 3, adding Rs 5.75 crore to its tally. With this, Border 2 has managed to hold firm on weekdays, a sign of sustained audience interest.

The film delivered a robust opening week, collecting Rs 224.25 crore, supported by the extended Republic Day holiday period.

Second weekend boosts collections

The second weekend provided another lift to the film’s box office numbers. Friday saw collections of Rs 10.75 crore, followed by Rs 17.75 crore on Saturday. Sunday emerged as the strongest day of the weekend, contributing Rs 22.5 crore to the total.

Monday, which coincided with Republic Day, turned out to be the film’s highest single-day performer so far, with earnings touching Rs 59 crore.

With its current pace, Border 2 has already surpassed the opening weekend figures of Ranveer Singh’s Dhurandhar.

Border 2 review

In a review, film critic Saibal Chatterjee noted that Border 2 succeeds in highlighting the courage of soldiers while also touching upon their emotional vulnerabilities. The film explores themes of separation, loss, fear, and hope, presenting moments of heroism amid personal struggles.

About the film

Directed by Anurag Singh, Border 2 features an ensemble cast including Sunny Deol, Diljit Dosanjh, Varun Dhawan, and Ahan Shetty. Set against the backdrop of the 1971 India-Pakistan war, the film is positioned as a spiritual successor to the 1997 classic Border.

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Why Dhurandhar on Netflix runs shorter than its original theatrical cut

Dhurandhar’s Netflix release sparked confusion over its shorter runtime. The difference is linked to muted dialogue and an updated theatrical cut.

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Dhurandhar

Dhurandhar has finally made its much-awaited debut on Netflix, just days after the Ranveer Singh-starrer completed a blockbuster theatrical run across India. While the film crossed Rs 1,000 crore domestically and went past Rs 1,300 crore worldwide, its OTT release has triggered confusion and criticism over its shorter runtime.

Several viewers took to social media early Friday, claiming that a “censored” version of Dhurandhar was streaming on Netflix. The runtime displayed on the platform is 3 hours and 25 minutes, nearly nine minutes shorter than the film’s originally reported duration of 3 hours and 34 minutes.

What caused the runtime difference

The confusion stems from changes made after the film’s initial theatrical release. According to the revised censor certificate, Dhurandhar now has an approved runtime of 3 hours 28 minutes and 56 seconds. This updated version replaced the earlier cut in cinemas starting January 1.

The revision followed directions to mute two specific words and one dialogue referring to the Baloch community. These changes were implemented without removing scenes, resulting in a marginally shorter runtime.

What viewers noticed on Netflix

Audiences streaming the film on Netflix observed muted portions during a scene involving Sanjay Dutt’s character, SP Chaudhary Aslam. In the original version, the dialogue included a direct reference to a former Baloch police partner. In the revised cut now available on Netflix, those references are muted, while English subtitles offer a generalised translation without naming the community.

Some viewers also pointed out that the film appears to play slightly faster on the platform, contributing to the perception that content had been trimmed.

Is Netflix streaming a censored cut

Industry insiders have clarified that Netflix is carrying the final theatrical version approved by the authorities. As an OTT distributor, the platform uploads films exactly as provided by the producers. The version streaming online is the same revised cut that has been screening in theatres since January.

Importantly, the film’s intense and graphic depiction of violence remains unchanged in the OTT version.

In short, Dhurandhar on Netflix is not a specially edited or censored cut for streaming. It is the updated theatrical version, adjusted for muted dialogue and presented with a slightly faster frame rate.

Following its OTT release, audiences can now look ahead to the sequel, Dhurandhar: The Revenge, scheduled for release on March 19, 2026.

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Border 2 box office collection day 1 crosses Rs 30 crore

Border 2 opens to Rs 30 crore on day one, becoming the biggest opener for Varun Dhawan, Ahan Shetty and Diljit Dosanjh.

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Sunny Deol in Border 2

Border 2 has made an impressive start at the Indian box office, collecting Rs 30 crore on its opening day. The war drama, headlined by Sunny Deol along with Varun Dhawan, Ahan Shetty and Diljit Dosanjh, opened to largely positive audience and critical response.

According to industry tracking data, the film recorded an overall occupancy of 32.1 per cent on day one. Night shows contributed the highest footfall, indicating strong word-of-mouth towards the end of the day.

Strong show count and urban traction

Border 2 was screened in nearly 6,000 shows across the country on its opening day. Major centres reported heavy traction, with over 1,000 shows in Mumbai and more than 1,500 shows across the Delhi-NCR region. Trade sources noted that urban circuits played a key role in pushing the film past the Rs 30 crore mark.

The opening performance places Border 2 ahead of Dhurandhar, which collected Rs 28 crore on its first day despite having a similar nationwide show count. Dhurandhar later saw consistent growth over its opening weekend, a trend that Border 2 is also expected to follow.

Career-best opening for key cast members

Border 2 has emerged as the biggest opening-day film in the careers of Varun Dhawan, Ahan Shetty and Diljit Dosanjh. For Varun Dhawan, the film marks his first box office success since Bhediya in 2023. Ahan Shetty, who made his debut with Tadap in 2021, has registered his first theatrical hit with the war drama.

For Sunny Deol, however, Border 2 does not surpass the opening records of Gadar 2, which remains his highest-grossing film with a worldwide collection of Rs 686 crore.

Dhurandhar sees slowdown after Border 2 release

Meanwhile, Dhurandhar’s box office run has slowed following the release of Border 2. The film reportedly earned under Rs 1 crore for the first time in nearly 50 days, reflecting the impact of the new release.

Directed by Anurag Singh and produced by JP Dutta and Nidhi Dutta, Border 2 also features Sonam Bajwa and Mona Singh in prominent roles.

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