Trial by Fire

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 (2023) is an Indian miniseries created by Kevin Luperchio and Prashant Nair for Netflix. Set in Delhi, it follows two grief-stricken parents, Neelam Krishnamoorthy (Rajshri Deshpande) and Shekhar Krishnamoorthy (Abhay Deol), whose children die in the Uphaar cinema fire. Their daily life becomes a relentless campaign for accountability, pitting them against bureaucrats, lawyers and powerful figures who would rather the tragedy be forgotten. Principal supporting roles are filled by Ashish Vidhyarthi as Neeraj Suri, Anupam Kher as Captain Hardeep Bedi and Ratna Pathak Shah as Mrs. Bedi, each drawn into the long fight. The seven-episode run is built around hearings, negotiations and private grief, with each episode unfolding as a step in a slow, painful pursuit of justice. The tone is sombre, harrowing and intimate, with a steady focus on mourning and the anger that grows from it. Its real-event dramatization and courtroom focus invite comparisons with Chernobyl and Mare of Easttown, and fans of grief-driven true tragedy will find resonance here. Netflix's TV-MA framing reflects its frank depiction of the disaster and its aftermath.

• Chernobylshared grief-driven justice fight, tragic real-event courtroom drama tone
• Mare of Easttownshared bereaved parents pursuing accountability after a public disaster
• Dhamaalshared real-tragedy dramatization centered on institutional negligence and victims' families
• Erin Brockovichshared legal fight for justice against powerful interests after a tragedy

Created by

Kevin Luperchio, Prashant Nair

Release Date

2023-01-13

Episode runtime

45 min

Rating

7.7 / 10 (28)

What is Trial by Fire about?

After the deadly Uphaar cinema fire, two grief-stricken parents fight for justice while navigating the loss of their children.

What is Trial by Fire like to watch?

Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Trial by Fire as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.

Is Trial by Fire violent?

Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Trial by Fire as mild.

Which shows are like Trial by Fire?

Shows with a similar feel include Chernobyl, Mare of Easttown, Dhamaal, and Erin Brockovich.

How long is Trial by Fire?

Trial by Fire: 1 season, 7 episodes.

Is Trial by Fire still running?

No, Trial by Fire has ended.

Where can I watch Trial by Fire?

In United States, Trial by Fire streams on Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads.