Black Warrant, a new gripping Netflix release, details the story of lives in India’s Tihar Jail, which holds some of the country’s most notorious criminals. The crime drama set in the 1980s traces themes of systemic oppression, political corruption, and the struggle for justice, offering a raw and unflinching look at the harsh realities of India’s penal system. Directed by Vikramaditya Motwane, the show stars Joy Sengupta, Shivam Rathore, and Zahan Kapoor in lead roles.
Black Warrant is inspired by an eponymous book authored in 2019 by former Tihar Jail superintendent Sunil Gupta and journalist Sunetra Choudhury. Choudhury has also written Behind Bars: Prison Tales of India’s Most Famous, about the lives of India’s ‘VIP inmates’ — the rich and powerful criminals.
Who Is Sunetra Choudhury?
Sunetra Choudhury is an acclaimed journalist who is currently the National Political Editor at Hindustan Times. Born in Shillong, she pursued her education at reputed institutions like the Indian Institute of Mass Communication, Delhi; Cardiff University/ Prifysgol Caerdydd, UK; East-West Center; and the University of Chicago.
According to Choudhury’s LinkedIn profile, she started her career at Indian Express in 1999 and became the Deputy Chief Reporter at the young age of 24. In 2000, the publication sent her for Japan’s Foreign Press Centre Fellowship. After working there for three years, she worked at NDTV for over 15 years, before joining Hindustan Times in 2019.
In 2010, Choudhury authored a book called Braking News, about the electoral climate of India ahead of the 2009 elections. She travelled everywhere from bustling cities to remote villages, to capture voters’ insights on Indian politics. She describes it as a ‘Part travelogue, part election special, part candid confessions of an inveterate TV cameratime junkie.’
In 2015, Choudhury received the Red Ink Award for her story on how disabled children were being adopted by Indian families for the very first time. In 2017, she authored Behind Bars: Prison Tales of India’s Most Famous (2017), published by Roli Books. Two years later, she wrote Black Warrant: Confessions of a Tihar Jailer with Sunil Gupta.
Choudhury earned the Mary Morgan Hewett Award from Friends of East-West Center in 2018. She is known for her expansive reporting career, spanning diverse topics including politics, crime, investigative stories, and natural disasters. Her ability to provide insightful analysis and compelling narratives has earned her a reputation as a trusted voice in journalism.
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