Bollywood film on Aarushi murders case

On May 16, 2008, 14-year-old Aarushi Talwar was found dead in her home in New Delhi. The following day, the Talwar’s domestic help Hemraj was found murdered on the terrace of the building.

The Central Bureau of Investigation claimed that Aarushi’s parents — doctors Rajesh and Nupur Talwar — were guilty of the murders and criminal conspiracy and that they had enough evidence to prove it. The case, currently being heard in the Ghaziabad sessions court, has sparked off enough interest and curiosity not only nationwide, but also among filmmakers ever since it came to light.

Ekta Kapoor’s popular TV soap, Kahaani Ghar Ghar Kii (now off air), started with a track inspired by the case, but the makers were compelled to take a step back after Aarushi’s mother moved the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights against Balaji Telefilms. The latter, in turn, wrote to the Information and Broadcasting Ministry, which then directed the channel airing the show to withhold the telecast of the episode in question. This was in 2008 itself.

Recently, filmmaker Milan Luthria announced his plans to make a film based on the case. Manish Gupta’s Rahasya is also inspired by the real life incident. So, why are filmmakers so keen on making movies based on this gruesome incident? Luthria says, “When investigations are not conducted properly and people do not know how the system works and who to point a finger at, there comes the desire to tell a story. Also, there’s always this grey area that’s intriguing and, as filmmakers, we have always responded to the stimulus around us.”

Gupta adds, “The case gives a classic premise for an Agatha Christie kind of murder mystery, which would keep the audience guessing and hooked. Plus, there’s the emotional quotient of the parents being accused of murdering their only daughter, something that the Indian audience has always felt for.