MUMBAI: Delhi Crime is a fictionalised crime drama based on the events that occurred in the investigation of the Nirbhaya gangrape case in Delhi in 2012. It is a powerful and gritty seven-episode show that manages to make the viewer feel a range of emotions despite the topic being so grim and tragic.

The narrative of the show can be divided into two parts, the first being the experiences of the three main female characters and the second being the investigation and eventual apprehension of the perpetrators. DCP Vartika Chaturvedi (Shefali Shah) is the protagonist of the show and faces a number of challenges while playing the roles of a mother, a leader of the investigating team, and a peg in the machinery of the government. Neeti Singh (Rasika Duggal), a newly recruited police officer, gives us an outsider's perspective into the world of policing. Chandani (Yashaswini Damaya), Vartika's daughter, faces the backlash for her mother being in the police force that failed to prevent the crime. All three actors have done a great job of bringing these characters and their emotions alive on our screens. 

Interspersed with the high drama of these women dealing with their challenges is the story of the investigation team's experiences while they track down and arrest the accused. The show successfully manages to portray the humanity of the criminals without making any excuses for them or taking away their agency. This part of the story keeps the viewer engaged and makes the show binge-worthy.

The set design in the show is commendable. The dull and dark environment of police stations, government offices, and public hospitals not only help make the scenes appear realistic but also add to the grim reality that the show aims to reflect. The show makers were able to produce several gut-wrenching moments with one character describing the details of the crime to another, who then silently processes it. The story also touches upon a number of themes and aspects of life in India such as misogyny, difficulty in policing such a large country, and the opportunism of politicians and the media, without distracting the viewer from the main plotline. The show could have spent more time fleshing out the characters of the men in the investigating team. Moreover, Chandani’s story arch is stereotypical, and despite Yashaswini's commendable performance, it does not fit in well with the rest of the story. On the whole, Delhi Crime is a must-watch because of the unforgettable performances of its actors and the sensitivity with which the makers have dealt with such an important event in the recent memory of our country.