Delhi Crime Is The Story Of Women In Capital City

The Emmy-winning Indian thriller series Delhi Crime that made waves when it was first released back in 2019 has firmly found its way to the top of our list of all-time favourites. It’s got everything we love in a drama: a gritty plotline, thought-provoking messages about real life, a female lead we can’t get enough of, true crime stories, action and more.

Directed by Tanuj Chopra and created by Richie Mehta, the show focuses on the gruesome crime investigations carried out by Delhi police officers. The sequel of the show follows the notorious ‘Chaddi Baniyan Gang’ or ‘Kachcha Baniyan Gang’ which wreaked havoc across many states in northern India, including the national capital, at their peak in the 1990s.

Shefali Shah returns for turn as DCP Vartika Chaturvedi, aka ‘Madam Sir’, leading as the formidable police officer .The series also stars Rasika Dugal, Rajesh Tailang, Adil Hussain, Anurag Arora, Yashaswini Dayama, Sidharth Bhardwaj, Gopal Dutt, Denzil Smith, Tillotama Shome, Jatin Goswami, Vyom Yadav and Ankit Sharma.

However, the show shines brighter because of its women and their commendable force of energy. The characters each with her grit and grief  gives an edge to the show. Lets take a look at the women of Delhi Crime and how their stories shape the capital city and the show.

Delhi Crime Is The Story Of Women In Capital City

Shefali Shah

In the season two, Shah stars as DCP Vartika Chaturvedi, aka ‘Madam Sir’, is tasked to investigate brutal murders in the city, all the while also navigating misogyny and sexism in a male-dominated police force. In season 2, she and her team race against time to uncover the Kachcha Baniyan gang – a criminal group in India that targets wealthy homes to rob and bludgeon to death anyone who resists them.

“The kind of cruel brutality that is displayed here is something you will never see in your entire police career,” Vartika says in one of the episodes. Not only is their lethal choice of weapon – iron rods, hammers, axes – enough to leave you with chills, but also the fact that the perpetrators cover themselves in oil to (literally) slip out of grasp if caught.

Shah talking about the latest season previously said in a statement, “This season, the audience will see a human and vulnerable side of these seasoned police officers. I can proudly say this, Delhi Crime is a reflection of our passion for storytelling and the craft and we can’t wait for the audience to watch it.”

Suggested Reading: Piercing, Loving, Sensual, Tired: The Many Gazes Of Shefali Shah

Rasika Dugal

Dugal's character was first introduced as a trainee officer Neeti Singh in Delhi Crime season 1. From a trainee to an ACP,  her journey has evolved from a wide-eyed novice to an officer with authority. Though in this season Neeti is faced with the challenge of balancing her professional and personal life. When her demanding armyman husband forces her to take an off in the middle of the case, she stands up for herself and refuses to submit. All through the show, you start rooting for her.

Tillotama Shome

Tillotama Shome, who played a Kachcha Baniyan gang member called Lata/Karishma, dominated the screen in the later episodes. Her character embodies the subtle discriminations and how women are still expected to cater to societal expectations, no matter if you are a criminal. “You can’t just shove me to the side by crushing my dreams. What is mine, is mine by right. I want a good life like yours. I don’t want to be in the kitchen. I don’t want a child, but no one has asked me,” echoing every woman's dilemma and delivering a top-notch performance.

Suggested Reading: Delhi Crime Season 2: Is Kachcha Baniyan Gang Real?