In an era where the complexities of modern policing are increasingly under the spotlight, Critical Incident, a newly released show on Stan Australia, offers a poignant exploration of over-policing and its impact on vulnerable communities in Australia. Directed by Indian-origin filmmaker Neil Sharma known for his previous work on shows like Heartbreak High and Mother and Son, this psychological crime-thriller breaks new ground with its raw depiction of life in Western Sydney.
Set against the gritty backdrop of Blacktown, the show delves into the lived experiences of marginalised youth, drawing from the real-world experiences of the show’s creator, Sarah Bassiuoni. “In a previous life, Sarah was a lawyer and largely dealt with underprivileged and overpoliced youth,” Neil explains. “So this was all very much from her brain and her experience. The specificity of the script is very much because of her lived experience.”
For Neil, stepping into the world of Critical Incident was an opportunity to flex different skills and tell stories that resonate on a deeper, more authentic level. “What was exciting for me was getting the chance to direct a show that was a little bit different to the things I’ve done in the past… I got to tell stories that were a lot more authentic and a little bit more lensed with a multicultural cast, crew and location in Western Sydney.”
The show, which garnered attention even before its release with a viral TikTok filmed at Blacktown Station had everyone thinking they were filming NCIS Sydney, features a diverse cast that mirrors the multicultural tapestry of Greater Western Sydney. At the heart of the story is Constable Zilficar Ahmed, portrayed by British-Indian actor Akshay Khanna, who brings a fresh and nuanced perspective to the role of a police officer navigating the challenges of his profession.
“For us, trying to make an authentic show set in Blacktown in Western Sydney, we wanted it to look and feel authentic and real,” Sharma notes. “For the cast, it’s probably the thing I’m most proud of in the show – the casting and how diverse everybody is and the different backgrounds and stories and what they brought to each character.”
Khanna, a London-based actor, was a standout choice for the role, impressing the team with his ability to embody the character with authenticity, including nailing the challenging Aussie accent. “He blew us away with his auditions. He had the right look and feel and attitude… We wanted the show to just feel like what Greater Western Sydney is rather than what its usual lens does in other shows.”
The director was also keen to ensure that the show’s portrayal of policing was nuanced and thought-provoking. “We didn’t want to spoon-feed the audience too much. We just wanted to depict a scenario and raise the question of does over-policing create more criminals than it helps? It’s up to the audience to kind of make that call.”
This approach to storytelling is what makes Critical Incident stand out – it doesn’t offer easy answers but instead encourages viewers to engage with the material and draw their own conclusions. “For me personally, it was just important to kind of lay that question out without being too didactic about how to answer it,” the director says.
With the support of Screen Australia, the show was able to maintain its integrity and vision, with little interference in the storytelling process. “Screen Australia is incredibly supportive and through their funding, all things are possible in the show… I guess they were really happy with the content in pre-production because what was set out in pre-production seems to be what we shot.”
As for the future, Neil Sharma is committed to continuing this trend of authentic representation in his projects. “It’s a really big deal for me to make sure the diversity on screen isn’t going to go away and is a thing that is kind of set in cement now… It’s just far more interesting storytelling.”
Critical Incident is a mirror held up to society, reflecting the complexities and consequences of policing in Australia today. With its multicultural cast and its setting in the vibrant and diverse landscape of Western Sydney, the show is a powerful reminder of the importance of authentic storytelling in television.
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