Is ‘Trial By Fire’ Based On A True Story? The Facts Behind ‘Trial By Fire’

Sunny Anderson
Jan 16, 2023
Jan 16, 2023

Trial By Fire is a fictionalized story about two parents, Neelam and Shekhar Krishnamoorthy (Rajshri Deshpande, Abhay Deol) who look for justice after their two teenage children were killed in the infamous 1997 fire at the Uphaar Cinema in Delhi. Fifty-nine people were killed in the tragedy, mostly due to smoke inhalation after being trapped by a door locked from the outside. However, there is a true story behind this fictional movie.
The primary characters are kept the same as their real-life inspirations, the series also introduces a string of fictional characters to lay emphasis on the effect that the accident had on various lives.Here are the facts behind the movie.

#1. Is ‘Trial By Fire’ Based On A True Story?

Is Trial By Fire Based On A True Story Source: IMDb

“Trial by Fire” are accurate depictions of what actually transpired in reality. On the morning of 13th June, a faulty electrical transformer on the ground floor of the Uphaar Cinema theater caught fire due to what was later revealed to be internal parts being completely burnt out. Since the transformer was installed and owned by the city’s electric agency, the Delhi Vidyut Board, engineers from the DVB, soon reached the place to look into the matter. After repairs were done, the transformer was put back into service, and it was declared to be alright once again. However, there were reportedly flaws in this repair, some of which apparently left loose connections, which caused sparks and then the fire later on.

Is Trial By Fire Based On A True Story Source: Yourstory

While the show ‘Border’ had started at 3pm, the devastating fire broke out at some time around 4:55 in the evening. As the smoke entered the hall, people started to realize what had happened and panicked to get out of the place. The space inside the theater had been crammed up by an unlawful increase in seats and the unlawful establishment of shops, which were all done by the theater owners to increase profits. While there was already a lack of space for more than two hundred people trying to rush out, the cinema hall also did not have any emergency lights or visible markings that would lead to the exit. This meant that those trapped inside also did not know where exactly to go, and amidst the darkness and toxic smoke, all they could do was panic and desperately keep trying to escape. It must be mentioned that “Trial by Fire” deserves praise for its presentation of this tragic incident in the very last episode, as it is truly marvelous by the general standards in the country at this time.

#2. Who Are The Fictional Characters Added By ‘Trial By Fire’ Series?

Is Trial By Fire Based On A True Story Source: Cinema Express

There are a number of fictional characters that “Trial by Fire” presents to tell its story in an effective manner. While some of them are well done in some aspects, this addition also gives away the series’ main limitations. The work seems to suffer from a habit of introducing characters, giving them a storyline and then keeping them out before rushing through their stories.
Neeraj Suri is initially quite intriguing and has a mystique about him. He appears to be involved in the trade of dry fruits all over the world. Suri's true identity as an assassin hired by the Ansals' attorneys to make sure the families of the victims accept some financial compensation is gradually made known. According to the "Trial by Fire" series, the Ansals were directly bribing the families with money to keep quiet about the situation. According to their estimation of how much would be sufficient to keep a family quiet, the compensation amount varied depending on the status and well-being of the family. Suri was the one going from one house to another, offering this money and also leaving behind his card with pictures of dry fruits on it. For the first few minutes, Suri’s character almost reminds one of the unassuming LIC agent Bob Biswas from “Kahaani,” who was actually a murderer in plain clothes. But Suri here gradually keeps changing, and there is a feeling that he himself does not want to be in the profession that he is stuck in. There is even a direct mention of his frustrations at one point when he is livid at the fact that his hired goons have beaten up one of the victims’ families instead of just verbally threatening them.

Is Trial By Fire Based On A True Story Source: Yourstory

An ex-Indian army general, Captain Hardeep Bedi, and his wife, Mrs. Bedi are also fictional characters created by the show. Captain Bedi had served in the Army for many distinguished years, but he seemed to have taken voluntary retirement right before the 1971 Indo-Pak War. This decision of his was pushed mostly by his wife, and even though the man had completely agreed with it at the time, he has kept complaining about it ever since. At his most bitter, Captain Hardeep Bedi believes that the only reason he could not serve his country properly and gain some more accolades for himself was that his wife and family asked him not to. The couple ultimately reconciles, with the husband and wife apologizing to each other for a recent argument, and they decide to go watch the film “Border” on its day of release at the Uphaar Cinema theater. When the fire broke out in the hall, the two were seated inside watching the film, and it was Mrs. Bedi who first noticed the smoke. Ultimately, the ex-army official was pushed by someone in the panic-stricken stampede, and he lost his life by falling into the fire. Mrs. Bedi survived the accident, but she never became a part of the AVUT organization.

Is Trial By Fire Based On A True Story Source: IMDb

There are also a few other characters that have been added to bring some more color to the story. The DVB engineer who was made the scapegoat and sentenced to prison in order to save the reputation of the higher-ups has been presented in an episode too. The fact that the poor and lower officials in this country are the ones always held accountable for crimes is well presented in this manner. There is also the character of a staff member of the Uphaar Cinema who was supposed to pay off his personal debts on the day of the fire. This man also survived the accident, and during this time, he ended up with Unnati Krishnamoorthy’s necklace, which could have cleared off all his debts. But upon realizing who it belonged to, possibly from the news, the man decided to leave the necklace by the side of a memorial service held in honor of the victims who had been killed.
As the Krishnamoorthys and the AVUT members had to work extremely hard to ensure justice, the lengthy court case that followed is also depicted in "Trial by Fire." The series' ambiguous conclusion also fits with the very real question of whether actual justice was ever served in this case. The primary offenders, Gopal and Sushil Ansal, were found guilty of the charges but were only sentenced to six months in prison. Even though it appears that society, governments, and times have changed since 1997, India still has a relatable problem with the rich getting away with the unbelievable.
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