'Sector 36' Review: Deepak Dobriyal towers over Vikrant Massey in this grisly crime drama

Way back in 2006, the whole of India was hooked to the Noida Murders, popularly known as the Nithari Killings. The names of the two accused, Surinder Koli and Moninder Singh Pandher were on everyone’s lips. The cannibalism aspect of the case shocked everyone. From illegal organ trade to child pornography, there were various aspects to the case that intrigued cops and public at large. Sector 36 produced by Maddock Films and Jio Studios is inspired by this and many other such cases that shook the nation. 

Plot and Premise

Sector 36 starts off like a quintessential serial killer psycho thriller. We see how sexual abuse gives birth to a psychopath in a small-town in India. Decades later, the scene shifts to Shahdara, a Delhi district on the Yamuna River known for its marginalized migrant population. An overstressed cop ignores the pleas of a Bengali migrant whose daughter is missing. It seems the adolescent was working as a prostitute with her father managing the business. Inspector Ram Charan Pandey (Deepak Dobriyal) ignores the compliant at first, but when his own child narrowly escapes an abduction attempt, he is shaken. Pandey takes it upon himself to find out what happened to missing children in the neighbourhood, and it leads him to an unusual suspect, Prem (Vikrant Massey), the servant of a high profile businessman Balbir Bassi. What happens next is the crux of the story? 

Screenplay and Direction

Sector 36 unfolds like a thriller film, and not a docu-drama. This is one of its biggest strengths. It is directed by Aditya Nimbalkar while Bodhayan Roychaudhary is the writer. Some of the scenes are written and executed in a fine manner, especially the ones involving Pandey (Deepak Dobriyal) and the police machinery. The writer has touched upon the main angles like cannibalism, organ trade, pedophilia in a superficial manner. Aditya Nimbalkar does not waste too much time on a build-up and plunges straight into the investigation. 

Performances That Shine

Deepak Dobriyal is terrific as Ram Charan Pandey, a cop who plays along with the system until his conscience gets a jolt. Darshan Jariwala is also formidable as Deputy SP Rastogi while Ajeet Singh is Pathak. Coming to Vikrant Massey, who plays Prem, a character inspired by prime accused Surinder Koli, the actor tries hard to falters in places. Vikrant Massey does not bring the sense of quiet terror on screen, something Ashutosh Rana did brilliantly in Dushman. The writing is also responsible for the same. The cinematography, locations, dialogues, background score and lighting is first rate.  

What does not work

Sector 36 based on one of India’s most gruesome cases of serial killing hardly has a shock value. This is its biggest drawback. There is enough gore on screen but none of it brings about that sense of repulsion, which the makers hoped for. Filmmaker Aditya Nimbalkar touches on how life of the poor has little value in Sector 36 but the rest of the film is too simplistic in its narrative. While it is not a docu-drama per se, the story is marred by a lack of detail, emotion and thrill. 

Verdict

Sector 36 does well to get you curious about the infamous Nithari Killings if you have not heard about the case yet. The film does not offer anything new to audiences who are well-versed with the matter. Aditya Nimbalkar’s film has its moments and is a fairly passable investigative drama. But it lacks the horror element of the original case that left the nation shocked beyond measure. The matters do not offer a closure to the movie, maybe they’re hoping for a part two in the future. Maddock Films and Jio Studios are the producers. 

Ratings

***1/2 (3.5/5) stars