Daily Recco, November 24: Delhi Crime, the other side of the Delhi gang rape
Delhi Crime portrays how the Delhi Police handled the investigations of the infamous 2012 Nirbhbaya gang rape case in the face of public anger against it.
Barely three weeks before the calendar marks eight years of the infamous Delhi gangrape case, the 2019 Netflix original, Delhi Crime, based on the case, has bagged the Best Drama Series trophy at the 48th International Emmy Awards.
Aptly titled Delhi Crime, the series follows the story in the aftermath of the case. The show goes on to do what it is meant to do — wrench out our guts and slap the shock of the case on our faces, lest we ever forget what happened to the 23-year-old girl who dared to step out to watch a film on a cold winter evening eight years ago.
The main lead, DCP Vartika Chaturvedi (played by Shefali Shah) is a woman on a mission to find the culprits. The character is based on Chhaya Sharma — former Delhi Police DCP who cracked the brutal gangrape case within 72 hours.
Despite her years in the profession, Vartika is shown to be shocked by the brutality of what has happened to the victim. The case is almost personal for her, as her daughter (Chandni, played by Yashaswini Dayama) is almost the age of the victim. There is political pressure, drama, a keenness to redeem Delhi Police officials in the right light, and of course, the DCP’s successful nabbing of all the six culprits in what seems like finding a needle in a haystack.
For most parts, Delhi Crime is nail-biting as one roots for DCP Vartika to try and find the criminals. Creator, writer and director of the series — Richie Mehta — clarified in multiple media interviews that his motive was to bring the point of view of the Delhi Police forward. In the aftermath of the case, the institution and the officials bore the brunt of public anger for not being efficient. So it comes as no surprise when DCP Vartika’s teenaged daughter is shown to be facing the consequences of the negative wave against the department where her mother works — because since when has objectivity ever been a strong point of the public? It is not easy being a cop, and especially not when the angry public is always ready to lash out at the police force for the smallest of incidents.
You don't need us to justify the acting prowess of the cast — including the likes of Shefali Shah, Rasika Dugal, Adil Hussain and Rajesh Tailang — to you. The cinematography by Johan Heurlin Aidt is brilliant as he shows the cold (literally and metaphorically) capital in the lights that make it hard for even the strongest supporter to root for safety in the city, yet brings out the beauty that makes every Delhiite root for this city.
The makers have already announced the second season of Delhi Crime. Before they release it, watch Delhi Crime on Netflix to understand the magic of the city that can be only understood by those who love, hate, and live in it, despite all its flaws.