The film 'Border' had just been released and, with its narrative already creating a stir, cinema halls were jam-packed for the most-awaited film set against the backdrop of war. On June 13, 1997, one of the capital's most famous theatres, Uphaar Cinema broke out in a massive fire claiming 59 lives. The pitch-dark hall was not just without electricity but was also locked from the outside leaving the victims trapped together with no escape. The fire brigade was not on time, the management was a no-show, and families of those trapped inside helplessly stood outside the cinema praying the next dead body being taken out was not their loved one's.
Trial By Fire is a solid attempt at mirroring one of India's most gut-wrenching national tragedies which follows a couple's pursuit of making sense of their children's death and their fight against the collectively flawed system.
Trial By Fire Review
Let's be honest, tragedies are difficult to narrate, and those dating back more than two decades are difficult to articulate on screen today. However, Netflix's Trial By Fire got this one right. The seven-episode web series follows the account of a couple, Neelam and Shekhar Krishnamoorthy, who lose their two children in a devastating fire that breaks out at the Uphaar Cinema in South Delhi. Often referred to as the 'Uphaar Tragedy', the incident surfaced the plight of human suffering, the flaws in the legal system and the corruption carried by the powerful with zero accountability.
While several lost their loved ones, the Krishnamoorthy couple decided to enter the biggest battle of their lives. They decided to bring the Ansal Brothers to court and hold them accountable for the tragedy that could have been prevented had there been measures taken.
In one of the episodes when the couple approaches a law firm, they're told that the Ansal brothers 'own half of the Delhi law firms' and most would refuse to pursue a case against them. The series establishes the power dynamics at the beginning, showcasing the wide gap between the common person and the entitled.
The series is based on the book of the same name written by the Krishnamoorthy couple. The Hindi version of the book Agniparkeeksha is a fitting title to the anecdote where two individuals who lost their children face a never-ending challenge to get justice.
The show garnering positive feedback from audiences across social media platforms shows as well how this is one of the few times when a show set on a real-life event has connected with the masses.
Suggested reading: Trial By Fire Twitter Review; Viewers Are Moved
Substantial performances
It's impressive witnessing both Deshpande and Deol work together on screen and share a solid familiarity as their characters navigate their shared pain.
Rajshri Deshpande is an instrumental actor and my favourite performance in the series. Deshpande’s portrayal of Neelam is exceptional as a bereaved mother who just lost her teenage children to a tragedy arising from a broken system. While her dialogue delivery is as powerful in some settings, how she slips into ease of silence and reflection through her trauma is what makes her the star of the narrative.
Abhay Deol's character portrayal will surprise you. While Deol has delivered versatile performances earlier, following the footsteps of Shekhar Krishnamoorthy with such intensity and painful stagnation is applause-worthy.
All supporting characters contributed to the intense narrative that was significant but not preachy. With the likes of Ratna Pathak Shah, Anupam Kher, Ashish Vidyarthi, Rajesh Tailang and Shardul Bharadwaj, the series got its casting on point. Shilpa Shukla was noteworthy as a neighbour who dealt with personal loss and connected with that of Neelam's at the onset.
There are moments in the story where you feel both hopeful and hopeless because such was the couple's fight against the system that gives them a thread to hang on to once in a while but takes away their strength and spirit in one form or another. However, Neelam and Shekhar Krishnamoorthy got back up as often as possible, a primary reason why we're talking about this deeply significant tragedy that shook the nation.
The views expressed are the author's own.
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