Netflix Hindi series Trial By Fire (2023) stars Abhay Deol as Shekhar Krishnamoorthy, Rajshri Deshpande as Neelam Krishnamoorthy, Ashish Vidyarthi as Neeraj Suri, Shilpa Shukla as Shalini, Anupam Kher as Captain Hardeep Bedi, Ratna Pathak as Mrs Bedi, along with Rajesh Tailang, Nimisha Nair, Sidharth Bharadwaj and others. Directed by Prashant Nair, Randeep Jha, and Avani Deshpande, it is based on Shekhar Krishnamoorthy and Neelam Krishnamoorthy’s book of the same name. There are 7 episodes.
The synopsis reads, “After the deadly Uphaar cinema fire, two grief-stricken parents navigate the loss of their kids and a dogged fight for justice.”
Trial By Fire Series Review Contains No Spoilers
Trial By Fire Plot Summary
Trial By Fire is a real-life tragic incident that cost many lives. On June 13, 1997, South Delhi’s Uphaar Cinema caught fire due to a spark in an electricity transformer. Hundreds of people were in the jam-packed theatre and were watching the movie Border. These people could not escape the fire and run out because the doors were locked from the outside. In the fire, Neelam and Shekhar lost their teenage children, Unnati and Ujjwal.
The theatre, owned by the Ansal Brothers, didn’t take any responsibility for such a catastrophic event that cost many lives. In the Netflix show, we see Neelam and Shekhar fighting for justice for over 2 decades. When the system failed to help them, they built an army of every person who lost one or more loved ones in the fire. They started the Association of Victims of Uphaar Fire Tragedy (AVUT) and filed a case in court against the cinema hall owners.
Trial By Fire Review: Discussion
Shows based on true devastating incidents are always tough to watch but are very needed to tell significant stories. Trial By Fire is one such show. It immerses you from the first episode itself. You feel the loss and pain the characters are going through. You sense their few moments of helplessness that they’re trying to suppress as they want justice for their deceased loved ones.
Neelam and Shekhar Krishnamoorthy’s battles were many, and none were easy. As common people, they showed the courage to stand up against wealthy and powerful people. The series makes you respect and commend their courage while constantly acknowledging they are hurt and grief-stricken.
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What I appreciate more about the Netflix series is how it never went overboard with its depiction of the horrific event and its aftereffect. It didn’t shy away from showing the loopholes in the system, the extremely delayed justice and the unfair treatment these families were subjected to. While one episode about the electrician felt like a drag, the last episode again hits hard and is also difficult to watch. The show’s impact will last for a long time.
Coming to performances, Abhay Deol and Rajshri Deshpande have given earnest and effective performances as Shekhar and Neelam Krishnamoorthy. The duo portrayed their characters’ sufferings, tragedy, loss, and fierce side without going over the top. Their performances make the series sincere and poignant, along with the balanced and real narrative. The rest of the cast also plays their part well.
Netflix’s Trial By Fire Review: Final Thoughts
Overall, Trial By Fire on Netflix is a must-watch. It tells us the stories of people who dared to fight back. It speaks of the AVUT members’ resilience and determination despite many difficulties. It is a profound story of brave parents who fought for justice for more than 2 decades.
The series is now streaming on Netflix.