Indian cinema and series often find inspiration from true events, and sometimes the stories are gripping yet deeply disturbing. Whatever the reason may be—heinous crimes, systemic failures, or scenes of brutal human suffering—the viewers of these movies and shows, which capture the darker aspect of society, are unsettled.
Here are eight disturbing Indian movies and series based on true events that lay bare unsettling realities about murder, exploitation, and psychological trauma.
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Sector 36 (2024)
In this recently released one of the very disturbing Indian movies on Netflix, when several children from a local colony of Noida go missing, a corrupt cop who realises his duties on experiencing the pain of nearly losing his girl child strives to catch a ruthless serial killer who hides in the shadows of normalcy but is a true psychopath.
Sector 36 is inspired by the actual case of the 2006 Nithari serial killings in Noida, which led to the arrest of Moninder Singh Pandher and his domestic help, Surinder Koli, for abducting and killing multiple women and children.
Why is it a disturbing movie?: Being one of the most unsettling serial killing crimes in India, it didn’t just involve the brutal killings of multiple children and women but also sexual assault and cannibalism, which was stomach-churning enough on its own; however, the reluctance of Noida police to file FIRs and inefficiency in carrying out proper investigations further reminds us of how little value human lives hold in such a big country like India.
Also, read:
7 Indian True Crime Documentaries Which Will Leave You Shocked
Aadujeevitham (The Goat Life) (2024)
A cinematic adaptation of the novel of the same name by Benyamin, that is inspired by a true story. It depicts the life of Najeeb from Kerala, who leaves for the Gulf hoping for a better future.
However, his fate changes when he is enslaved and taken to the desert to care for goats. He stays out of reach from the rest of humanity and beyond anyone’s help.
Why is it a disturbing movie?: The movie speaks about human trafficking, exploitation, and the devastating impact of forced labour. The isolation, extreme weather, and deprivation the movie depicts make it a traumatising portrayal of one man’s struggle to survive physically and mentally.
Najeeb’s gruelling experiences are a grim reminder of the human cost of economic desperation, something that leaves an even greater impact on viewers.
Bhakshak (2024)
Bhakshak, which translates to “The Devourer,” is a Hindi film. One of the disturbing Indian movies among all and crime thrillers set in India, was inspired by the infamous 2018 Muzaffarpur shelter home case in Bihar, in which several girls were abused sexually in a government-funded shelter.
Why is it a disturbing movie?: The extreme degree of sexual abuse and molestation, mainly of children, wherein psychological trauma is inflicted upon the victims, corruption, and systemic failure all along create an eerie setting. It becomes even more disturbing when one realises that such brutality has occurred and is likely to occur in some other place and compels viewers to face unpalatable truths of society.
Love Sonia (2018)
Based on some real-life stories of female victims of sex trafficking, the movie Love Sonia is about a young girl from a village who is sold into prostitution in the Mumbai area.
Why is it a disturbing movie? It is unnerving because this is a film thick and raw with human trafficking and exploitation. Constantly showing the journey of Sonia through despair and brutality gives an unflinching reality, making the movie emotionally challenging to watch because it makes the audiences confront the widespread issue of trafficking, which has a massive impact on many.
Phobia (2016)
This one doesn’t draw inspiration from a specific actual incident but takes the lives of people suffering from agoraphobia-fear of open or crowded spaces—as inspiration. It is a psychological thriller where a woman, Mehak, is affected by significant agoraphobia from a traumatic episode. The case of this woman marks the descent into paranoia and psychological terror in the movie, hence blurring the line between reality and imagination.
Why it’s unsettling: The movie describes the mental deterioration, psychological breakdown, and hallucinations in such a way that Mehak can never lead a daily life. The physical and emotional loneliness she faces is incredibly disturbing to the audience as they get taken into her mindset, making the psychological horror all the more tangible and creepy. It makes one realise what has been missed in mental illnesses and lingers with a lot of uneasiness.
Talvar (2015)
One of the most notably famous cases of India, and a dramatic interpretation of this one of the disturbing Indian movies, The plot of Talvar is inspired by the sensational 2008 Noida double murder case wherein a teenage girl, Aarushi Talwar, and the family servant were found dead in the house of her family.
Why is it a disturbing movie?: The movie unmasks the police’s mishandling of the case, and the emotional damage reaped on the family. Anonymity does not enhance the hauntingness of this case; it is the fact that people do not know much about the failure of justice and the full impact of public scrutiny on the victim and her family.
No One Killed Jessica (2011)
Based on the infamous case of the 1999 Jessica Lal murder, in which a model was shot dead at a party, and the killer walked scot-free, using his political clout.
Why is it a disturbing movie?: This film unveiled India’s corrupt legal and political system, where the perpetrator escaped laws for such a long time and shocked the public with his freedom. This story hints at how justice was disallowed for the oppressed and slighted the working class.
The above was the list of disturbing Indian movies. Below are some of the disturbing Indian web series.
Disturbing Indian Web Series
Aakhri Sach (2023)
A dramatised version of the actual account when 11 members of a family were found dead in their home in Burari in Delhi in 2018 in what appeared to be, according to investigations, a case of mass suicides with eludes to spirits and ceremonial practices.
Also, read:
House of Secrets: The Burari Deaths On Netflix That Left Us Speechless
Why is it unsettling? Akhri Sach depicts the darkness, threat, and ominousness of what transpired in Burari with a dark, foreboding tone. The series finally makes someone aware of the depth of human behaviour under pressure and with psychological influence. The series makes you face the fragile nature of family dynamics and the possibility of inherent darkness in mundane lives.
Whether in unsolved criminal cases, exposing darker aspects of society or the shaky framework that the human mind is made of, these films and series mark a viewer and act as cautionary tales and reminders in a confusing world of a need for justice and empathy by forcing the viewers to confront the harsh truths surrounding human nature.
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