ENTERTAINMENT
Trial by Fire review: Rajshri Deshpande, Abhay Deol star in this masterful and beautifully made Netflix show based on Uphaar Cinema tragedy.
Trial by Fire
Cast: Rajshri Deshpande, Abhay Deol, Ashish Vidyarthi, Ratna Pathak Shah, Anupam Kher, Rajesh Tailang, Shardul Bharadwaj
Director: Prashant Nair
Where to watch: Netflix
Rating: 5 stars
In depicting a real-life tragedy on screen, one has to walk a tightrope where it has to be entertaining and engaging while being sensitive. The story must resonate and show the horrors of what happened but still not feel exploitative. And in trying to tone down the gloom, it can never get into a sermonising mode. Most shows and films based on real life events end up doing one of these many things wrong. Yet, they are still watchable and sometimes even praiseworthy. But Netflix’s new show Trial by Fire amazingly manages to tick all these boxes. It’s a rare production that justice to its subjects, its plot, and the viewers all at the same time. It won’t be hyperbole to call it one of the best shows made in India in recent times, if not ever.
Trial by Fire is based on the book of the same name by Shekhar and Neelam Krishnamoorthy, who lose both their teenage kids in the Uphaar Cinema fire 26 years ago. The fire in the theatre led to the deaths of 59 people inside, who were watching the matinee show of Border, which had released that day. The seven-episode series tells the story of the Krishnamoorthys’ two-decade-long legal battle against the Ansals, owners of the cinema hall, and also shows us how the incident changed the families of those affected, both the victims and the ‘villains’.
Right from the start, what Trial by Fire gets right is how to depict grief. It shows how the emotion consumes people, getting them to behave erratically. It shows how the banality and logistics of death in our society, and more than anything, it holds up a mirror to the systemic failure of our institutions. The show is not to be binged. It is a difficult, taxing watch that takes a toll on you. But it is what the narrative of this story should do.
For the first six episodes, there will hardly be a shot or scene that you’d call loud or dramatic. There are no histrionics, no sermons, no long monologues about greed and corruption. Director and showrunner Prashant Nair masterfully crafts a subtle, slow-burn drama that never falters and keeps you engaged throughout. He does so without reorting to the age-old tropes like melodrama but still manages to keep the plot’s emotional core intact.
Through a non-linear narrative that makes sure the passage of time in a 20-year-journey is not jarring, the show tells the stories of people who lost loved ones in the fires, the management of the theatre trying to come to terms with their roles, lawyers who take up the case, and the ecosystem around the Ansals who try and protect their bosses. Every character earns their place in the narrative and most actors do justice to their roles. Rarely are shows or films so well cast and well performed, let alone well made. What is truly refreshing is the use of real names, right from the Ansals and the Krishnamoorthys to lawyer KTS Tulsi. That choice helps establish this story in reality, making the stakes that much higher and the pain that much more real.
If the script sets the tone for the show, the cinematography elevates it to another level. Some of the close up shots of Deshpande and Deol are exquisitly framed, allowing the actors to bring out their best. And the performances accentuate all the work put in behind the camera. Rajshri Deshpande is a tour de force as Neelam Krishnamoorthy, the middle-class crusader seeking justice for her kids. She manages to portray a wonderful balance of pain, vulnerability, resilience and grit in every scene. Abhay Deol as her husband Shekhar delivers yet another memorable performance. The entire ensemble is solid and what I liked the most is how the ‘big’ actors never overshadow the narrative or their co-actors. Names like Ratna Pathak Shah, Anupam Kher, and Rajesh Tailang bring in their A-game and some gravitas but in the end, blend into the narrative like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle.
The two actors who really did stand out for me were Shardul Bharadwaj and the veteran Ashish Vidyarthi. Bharadwaj plays an employee at Uphaar who we see as a selfish, unlikable man in the beginning. Hats off to the actor for not just pulling that off but still managing to portray him in a way that the viewer manages to empathise with him in the chaos of the tragedy. Vidyarthi plays a character that is arguably the best of the show, with so many layers, tones to him and a graph that allows an actor of his caliber to unleash his full talent. And boy, does he do it in style!
It would be amiss to talk about the show’s depiction of the actual fire and the mayhem that ensued. It is a difficult sequence where the show has to depict a chaotic fire with multiple characters battling for their lives. It is the only part of the show that does not opt for subtlety and that works. Trial by Fire is not cathartic. But it is an important show for India. It is one of the rare productions based on a real incident that tries to keep it as real as possible, without using pseudonyms and fictionalising things. Yet, it isn’t a documentary. A must watch on all parameters!
Actress Ana de Armas caught kissing Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel’s son in viral photos
Oreshnik's Shadow: Will Russia's hypersonic missile force west to back down?
‘You’re So Beautiful’: World’s tallest woman meets world’s shortest woman over tea, pics go viral
Delhi-NCR Air Pollution: Consequences of GRAP-4 are drastic, may have adverse effects, says SC
Delhi-NCR Air Pollution: Schools likely to stay closed till..., check city-wise update
Maharashtra: 3 killed, 9 hospitalised after gas leak at fertiliser plant in Sangli
THIS farm is selling a cup of coffee for Rs 28000, but there's a twist, it is...
Chhattisgarh: 10 Maoists killed after encounter with security personnel in Sukma
Mukesh Ambani's SUPERHIT plan for Jio users, offers unlimited 5G access for 1 year for just Rs...
IND vs AUS 1st Test: KL Rahul's dismissal sparks DRS controversy in Perth Test
Dense fog, heavy rain predicted in these states till November 25; check here
Oreshnik Hypersonic Missile: Which nations are within its range?
Bihar teacher, principal reach school in drunken state; know what happened next
'I have faced a lot of...': Arjun Kapoor REVEALS his biggest fear amid break up with Malaika Arora
How millions of Indians may get affected due to US indictment of Gautam Adani in bribery case
Amid divorce rumours with Aishwarya Rai, Abhishek Bachchan says 'missing someone is okay but...'
After Bibles, watches and sneakers, Donald Trump is now selling autographed guitars, price is...
Delhi pollution: Air quality improves to ‘very poor’ category, AQI at...
Vladimir Putin's BIG threat, warns he could strike UK with new ballistic missile if...
Shillong Teer Results TODAY November 22, 2024 Live Updates: Check winning numbers here
Somebody misbehaved with Alia Bhatt on Highway sets then Imtiaz Ali had to...
Zomato CEO Deepinder Goyal reveals twist behind Rs 200000 job fee, closes application window
Days after Ratan Tata's demise, Tata Group's Rs 131000 crore company inks pact with ADB for...
WATCH: Woman makes Biryani with Parle-G biscuits, viral video fumes internet
Only train in India in which passengers can travel for FREE; check route, timings and more
'Justice for biryani': Parle-G biryani takes internet by storm, video goes viral
DNA TV Show: Why Gautam Adani charged with bribery and fraud in US
IND vs AUS: Records Virat Kohli can break during Border-Gavaskar Trophy
Diljit Dosanjh fans get angry over Ananya Panday's birthday post for her grandmother, here's why
Reddit suffers outage with ‘upstream connect error’ message, says 'currently investigating...'
Border-Gavaskar Trophy: How has Jasprit Bumrah fared in Tests in Australia?
Delhi records coldest night of the season, temp drops to...
Crossing the Line: Ukraine's Use of Storm Shadow Missiles and the Escalation of Conflict
When Malaika Arora talked about the controversial ‘instant pleasure’ ad, it was for…
This is the world’s most expensive shopping street, not Fifth Avenue, New Bond Street, it is...
Big setback for Gautam Adani, Kenya cancels Rs 6216 crore deal with Adani Group due to...
Viral video: Man’s jugaad to stay warm in winter will leave you SHOCKED, watch here
Hinduja Group firm gets key approval for acquisition of Anil Ambani's debt-ridden Reliance Capital
Viral video: Middle-Class man lives dream of having tea at Taj Hotel, netizens applauds
Shloka Mehta looks stunning in white floral kurta as she clicked with Akash Ambani, it costs Rs....
Who is Sagar Adani, Gautam Adani's nephew, accused of bribery, fraud charges in US?
PayPal down: Several users face issue while logging into accounts, say 'no one could...'
IND vs AUS: Jasprit Bumrah, Pat Cummins eye historic captaincy milestone in Perth Test
BGT 2024, Ind vs Aus: Can Shubhman Gill be the new Cheteshwar Pujara? Is he really ready?
The Ultimate Guide to Luxury Gifting: Discover Heirloom Pashmina by Pashmina.com
Effortless Relocations: The Perks Of Professional Removalists In Melbourne
Watch: Pakistan fan with 'Imran Khan' poster asked to leave Hobart stadium in Australia
International Criminal Court issues arrest warrant against Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu for...
What is demisexuality? Everything you need to know about this lesser-known sexual orientation
WATCH: World’s shortest woman meets world’s tallest woman, video goes viral