Home Entertainment Witness the crime that shocked a nation in Netflix’s true crime drama Delhi Crime

Witness the crime that shocked a nation in Netflix’s true crime drama Delhi Crime

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Delhi Crime is the upcoming true crime drama that’s based on the infamous 2012 Delhi gang-rape case that caused mass protests throughout India due to the brutality involved. It led to a massive cultural shift in the country around the taboo subject of sexual violence towards women, and the culture of silence and victim-blaming associated with it.

On 16 December 2012 23-year old physiotherapy student Jyoti Singh Pandey, who was subsequently known as Nirbhaya (Fearless, due to the way she fought to survive both during and after the attack) in the Indian media due to the country’s laws which prevent the media from naming a rape victim, boarded a private charter bus with a male friend, Awindra Pratap Pandey, to make their way home after watching a movie.

Shortly afterwards he was beaten and bound, while she was violently gang raped and tortured by six men aboard the bus. The pair were then thrown off the bus into the street, where the driver reportedly also attempted to drive over her, but her friend managed to pull her out of the way. The pair were found by a passerby who contacted the police, who launched a massive manhunt for the perpetrators. The men, one of whom was underage, were arrested within days of the incident, and charged with rape and murder after Jyoti died of the injuries she sustained during the attack less than two weeks later.

The case caused widespread demonstrations across the country, with protestors clashing with police. The bus driver, Ram Singh, was found dead in his cell, with it being unclear if he committed suicide or was murdered. The remaining five were found guilty of a number of crimes related to the incident. The underage perpetrator was sentenced to a three-year sentence in a reform facility, which is the maximum sentence permitted under Indian law, while the remaining four men were sentenced to death by hanging. However this sentence is still tied up in legal challenges.

The official plot synopsis is as follows:

In 2012, a heinous crime enraged a whole country. Based on the case files of the Delhi Police, the story follows the unfailing determination of Varthika Chaturvedi (Shefali Shah), the investigating officer, to find the perpetrators of the crime. This time, the hunt is personal.

Let’s take a look:

I know one thing: no one is going to be binge watching this show because this is one dark and heavy drama, and you’re going to need a break between episodes. That’s a good thing too, because any less would be an insult to the real victim and her family. It looks very well directed and acted, and gives a thorough ,albeit fictionalised, portrayal of events – from the police investigation, to the protest action on the streets, and the high level social and political upheaval that resulted from this heinous crime that shook a nation to its core.

What do you think?

Delhi Crime’s 7-episode-long first season is due to premiere on Netflix on 22 March. Written and directed by Richie Mehta (Amal), it also stars Rasika Dugal, Adil Hussain, and Rajesh Tailang.

Last Updated: March 13, 2019

7 Comments

  1. Do you know why they have fictionalised the story?

    Reply

    • Alien Emperor Trevor

      March 13, 2019 at 13:22

      I would assume to make it more engaging to watch. A straight documentary would be very dry, and the BBC did one in 2015 as well. This was also originally planned as a movie, but switched to a miniseries when the director started digging into it more & fleshing out the whole story.

      Reply

  2. RinceThis

    March 13, 2019 at 13:22

    This looks heavy as hell.

    Reply

    • Weanerdog

      March 13, 2019 at 15:38

      I must be honest I think I am going to struggle to watch this. I remember reading about it at the time and I was truly horrified.

      I am not a believer in the death penalty, but these guys make a serious case against that belief.

      Reply

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