The problem with Delhi Crime’s new season arises when social commentary is used to divert attention from a weak plot

When the first season of Delhi Crime was released in 2019, sceptics weren’t pleased with the excessive glorification of the police force in the series. Even so, the Indian crime drama was lauded for its refreshing take on the gritty, grim realities of policing and portrayal of the gut-wrenching Nirbhaya case. That the series was based on a real incident rather than a fictitious one made it come through as a veritable eye-opener – a haunting addition to the crime sagas associated with the Indian capital. Using fiction as a springboard to understand reality, Delhi Crime hit close to home because it drew heavily upon fears that weren’t entirely beyond the realm of possibility.

The second season of the series, which was released on Netflix in late August, comes across as a pale shadow of the first offering. While watching the first episode, viewers are struck by a soaring sense of nostalgia when we see DCP Vartika Chaturvedi (Shefali Shah) sporting her khaki uniform on screen. Seeing her motley team of reliable and industrious officers in action also inspires a similar reaction. Viewers who watched the first season in 2019 might need some time to remember each character’s quirks and the intricate details of their lives. However, this shouldn’t be construed as a sign that viewers should re-watch the initial season to understand the new season. Once the characters find a suitable crevice to rest their heads, they can easily garner the audience’s empathy. The creator ought to be commended for presenting the police personnel as the beating hearts of the show rather than as crime-busting agents. Fuelled by sincere intentions and the spirit of humanity, the police officials come through as somewhat reliable, if not angelic.

Viewers are unlikely to be incensed as the series seeks to painstakingly adopt a balanced outlook this season to avoid another sympathetic portrayal of the Delhi Police. The creators have included in the cast a corrupt cop who struggles to keep his machinations in check. With that, Delhi Crime offers a biting critique on the dichotomies within India’s police infrastructure. Any traces of discrepancy or malpractice are attributed to not just personal ambition, but also a systemic failure.

Even so, deft characterisation cannot be the only benchmark to assess the merits of the Indian crime series. The problem arises when social commentary and the desire for political correctness is used to divert attention from a plot that is weak and unwieldy.

The premise of this season is radically different from that of the previous one. This time around, Vartika and her team have to reckon with a series of murders orchestrated by the Kachcha Banyan gang. The creators have modelled the new villains on a miscreant group that terrorised Delhi through murders committed in the 1990s. It is refreshing to see that they haven’t relied too heavily on a specific instance. As a consequence, the second season is allowed to operate within a fictional realm – albeit one that isn’t disconnected from reality.

The Kachcha Banyan gang targets older adults from fairly affluent backgrounds by using the same techniques with considerable ingenuity. It is amply clear from the outset that the criminals are engaged in acts of copycat violence – a blatant sign that more nefarious forces are involved in the murders. Vartika and her team of competent personnel remain cognisant of this fact. Yet, they are overwhelmed by the frequency of the murders and constrained by orders given by high-ranking officials.

The team eventually pursues the predictable course in their investigation instead of going off the beaten path. As a result, audiences have to endure episodes filled with heartbreaking scenes where members of denotified tribes are hauled out of their homes and mistreated at the hands of the cops. Though such instances of scapegoating and police brutality are rampant in society, it is distressing to see the morality of the impoverished being called into the question in this manner. These scenes aren’t suitable for the faint-hearted. Cynical viewers might even see this form of scapegoating as an attempt to the blame the poor for crimes committed against the elite. This, however, is a rather extreme viewpoint that shouldn’t be entertained when it comes to serious cases involving murder.

It is reassuring to note that Vartika and her team aren’t particularly keen on these disconcerting tactics. Once they realise the fault in their strategies, the DCP and her crew opt for a refreshing change of tack. The outcome of the investigation is far from compelling and even stands the danger of coming across as cumbersome and clichéd.

If viewers adopt a less cynical approach to the events that unravel on our screens in season two of Delhi Crime, they will understand how most crimes are steered by socioeconomic inequalities and injustices. Be that as it may, discerning viewers may find it difficult to stomach the fact that the denouement uses the dichotomies between the haves and the have-nots in such an unflattering manner. If audiences choose to keep the power dynamics out of the equation and watch the season just for its entertainment value, the Indian crime drama may not rattle them as much.

Another concern that remains palpable throughout the five-part series pertains to the image crisis surrounding the Delhi Police. It is tough to brush aside the notion that Vartika and her team’s actions are prodded by the desire for damage control rather than any justice considerations. Given that the series has a history of whitewashing the police force, viewers might find it difficult not to arrive at this conclusion.

Despite its occasional lapses and partiality towards the police, Delhi Crime does succeed in depicting some memorable moments. In one such scene, Vartika has to reckon with the daunting task of informing a woman that her parents have been brutally murdered. Buoyed up by a mix of pain and discomfiture, this scene highlights the difficulties involved in police work. The realistic nature of these scenes makes it difficult to rule out Delhi Crime as yet another agenda-driven crime series. -Ends