Talvar: Putting truth to the sword

The film dwells on the shoddiness of the police in their investigations as the movie progresses - a scary scenario for anyone to be caught in.

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It is no secret that the movie – whose engrossing screenplay is written by Vishal Bhardwaj – is based on the 2008 Aarushi Talwar murder case that riveted and shocked the nation.

While watching today’s release, the Meghna Gulzar-directed Talvar, one can’t escape the sense of how close the story unfolding on the big screen is to real life. It is no secret that the movie – whose engrossing screenplay is written by Vishal Bhardwaj – is based on the 2008 Aarushi Talwar murder case that riveted and shocked the nation.

Yet, there is more to Talvar. While the film is faithful to the real crime case, there is a bold attempt here to highlight one facet: how the botched-up investigation into the Noida double murder – a day after Aarushi’s death, the servant Hemraj’s body was found in the terrace – ignored vital leads and crucial evidence that may have helped to identify the killer conclusively.

The film dwells on the shoddiness of the police in their investigations as the movie progresses – a scary scenario for anyone to be caught in. The viewer experiences fear and anger over the fact that anyone can be struck by such a tragedy and then be sucked into a bigger tragedy wrought by an incompetent system. To the credit of Gulzar and Bharadwaj, it all seems only too real. That’s because they have largely stuck to the way the case panned out in reality and became nothing short of a media circus.

The makers have made very little effort to hide the identities of the people who were involved in the case. The film’s title, Talvar, itself is played on the second name of the victim and her parents, Rajesh and Nupur Talwar. The characters of the movie have been named with minor variations made in the original names. While Aarushi is Shruti, her father Rajesh is Ramesh, mother Nupur is called Nutan and CBI is called CDI in the movie.

Given the focus of the film, it is not surprising if during the course of the movie, viewers start to sympathise with the parents while public opinion continues to be polarised on who the real killer is and if justice has been done. The lack of evidence in convicting the Talwars has been questioned time and again.

When Irrfan Khan, who plays the role of the investigator Ashwin Kumar says that it is better to release 10 guilty people than punish a single innocent person, he is not just being the voice of reason in the film. The actor is probably making a veiled plea to reconsider the fate of the Talwars.

While we might raise an eyebrow over Irrfan’s recommendation and question whether a fictional respresentation of actual events should openly take sides, we can applaud Bollywood for taking a stand and moving beyond stories of gangsters and their rivalries with romanticised characters doused in gloss.

Alaka Sahani

Alaka Sahani is a prominent film critic and journalist based in Mumbai. With a career spanning over two decades, she has established herself as one of India’s most authoritative voices in cinematic journalism, known for an analytical approach and insights that transcend the standard cycle of celebrity journalism. Expertise & Accolades In 2014, Alaka was honoured with the National Film Award for Best Film Critic. Her Swarna Kamal (Golden Lotus) citation specifically lauded her for "highlighting facets of cinema beyond glamour and gossip" and for her ability to delve into the contemporary relevance of iconic filmmakers. Her commitment to journalistic integrity was further recognised in 2019 with a Special Mention at the Red Ink Awards for her investigative feature, 'In Search of a Star'. Her article titled 'People Like Us', published in The Indian Express on March 27, 2022, was shortlisted for Red Ink Award, 2023. Global Industry Leadership Alaka’s expertise is sought after by major international and domestic film bodies: Golden Globes: In 2025, she joined the international voting body for the 83rd Annual Golden Globes. National Film Awards: She served on the prestigious jury for the 68th National Film Awards, helping select the finest contributions to Indian cinema. Global Perspective: Her work consistently bridges the gap between commercial Bollywood A-listers and emerging independent talents, offering nuanced insights into both Indian regional cinema and international film trends. Focus & Vision Beyond the screen, Alaka is a dedicated observer of Mumbai’s vibrant theatre scene and the historical evolution of the moving image. Through her long-form articles and deep-dive interviews, she continues to challenge "tried-and-tested" templates, providing readers with a deep understanding of the artistic and systemic workings of the Indian and global film industry. ... Read More