Review: Can a film capture the horror of one of India’s most gruesome crimes while still engaging its audience? Sector 36 attempts to do just that. This 123-minute film is a gripping crime thriller, loosely inspired by the Nithari serial killings of Noida (2005). With creative twists, the film revisits this harrowing story, offering a chilling and relentless narrative that’s not for the faint of heart. If crime thrillers are your genre, this film won’t disappoint.
The film opens with a deeply unsettling scene where Prem (Vikrant Massey), a seemingly ordinary caretaker in Sector 36, Delhi, brutally dismembers a girl’s body. On the surface, Prem appears to be a devoted family man, with a routine that includes watching ‘Sab Banenge Crorepati’ religiously. However, his dark side is revealed as he derives pleasure from murdering teenagers. As the cases of missing teenagers pile up, Inspector Ram Charan Pandey (Deepak Dobriyal) takes charge of the investigation.
Aditya Nimbalkar, in his directorial debut, delivers a provocative portrayal of the harsh realities and systemic issues in the quest for justice. The film sets a grim tone from the start, portraying Prem’s descent into madness while underscoring themes of social inequality. The glimpses into Prem’s troubled past are well-conveyed, but they do little to evoke empathy for his character. Despite the compelling storyline by Bodhayan Roychaudhury, the film struggles to match the emotional intensity of the real-life events it draws inspiration from.
The film’s relentless pace and dark lighting heighten the tension, with no unnecessary songs to disrupt the flow. Nimbalkar excels in execution, creating a strong impression with his first film. The background score is appropriately subtle, allowing the narrative to maintain its grip. However, the latter half, which focuses on investigative procedures and introduces new characters, becomes somewhat chaotic. The twists leading to the climax are particularly shocking, leaving a lasting impression.
Vikrant Massey stands out with a restrained performance, confidently portraying Prem, although he falls short of delivering the full intensity required for such a psychotic character, especially during confrontations with Inspector Pandey. Deepak Dobriyal excels as the gritty cop, bringing depth to his role as a man determined to uncover the truth despite numerous obstacles. His portrayal of a vulnerable yet resolute law enforcer adds a layer of realism to the film. Akash Khurana as Prem’s master Balbir Bassi and Darshan Jariwala as DCP Rastogi provide decent support.
Sector 36 is a brutal, hard-to-stomach story, but one that needed to be told. Though the film may not fully capture the raw horror of the Nithari killings, it delivers a tense and unsettling narrative that will resonate with fans of the crime thriller genre.
While not for everyone, Sector 36 is a stark reminder of the real-life horrors that can lurk beneath ordinary facades.
