For each actor, there is a role that unlocks his without exploiting talent and turns his career. Vikrant Massey’s last departure in Netflix sector 36 as a psychopathic murderer could be. While Massey has done its fair share of negative roles in the past, its personality on screen is enough to send a chill through the spine. In this original Netflix that tells a fictitious story based on true events of Naida Serial Murders, the actor plays Prem singh, a predator behind the mysterious disappearance of several children in a poor neighborhood in the titular sector 36.
With a disconcerting sense of pride and fascination, it takes advantage of its victims, the dislikes cunningly, it is involved in necrophilia and, sometimes, they even look at their remains, without a rumble. In any case, these carnal acts bring catharsis, pushing the psychopath to a celebration trance. In a scene we see him lying on the couch enjoying the satisfaction of successfully killing a woman after she could not correspond to her romantic feelings.
Deepak Dobiryal plays a corrupt police officer who then has a change of mind and is invested in the case
Massey’s representation of a pahedophilic cannibal is one of the best and most disturbing performances that will see in recent times. The experienced actor has collected the most subtle contractions and muscle movements of a pathological murderer with a disturbing glow. Even the most horrible acts are scored for moments of immense satisfaction and a worrying degree of indifferent. Massey’s Prem singh works as a help in a businessman’s house. If you are aware of the real life case of life, it will not be surprised that the film also implies the owner of the house in heinous crimes. Sector 36 frames murders as part of a larger organ traffic ring. But for Massey’s character, these acts are not only he following the orders of his boss, but rather a crime of passion that keeps him sane: and Massey has perfectly used the skin of this sick bastard.
The inspiration of the film, the infamous and horrible Nithari case, shook the nation and pushed India to a dark point internationally. More than 16 children and women were sexually abused, killed, served in dishes and abandoned in drains.
The Netflix version does not waste the time to give an elaborate context and establish a feeling of suspense. In the first ten minutes, we are witnesses of necrophilia, bloody mutilation of a limb and meat bags floating by the drain. We know that Massey is the culprit and that it is destined to be caught. With a blood flow that flows by a rotten knocker, the sequence of the title, establishing the tone for the various bloody scenes that follow. We see the organs packed and sent as plots, decomposition skull lines at exhibition, femards floating in drains and more.
Cinematography in sector 36 is quite impressive
Deepak Dobriyal plays the corrupt police officer who begins to take the mysterious disappearance of the children of the marginal neighborhoods after a tragedy arrives home. Thus begins your search to dig in search of truth and drag to the culprit after bars, even when the Police Department is still reluctant to do more.
However, the film does not cover the thorough investigation behind the case, or the expansive traffic network of organs linked to it. Dobriyal makes a superficial excavation for the truth and the part of the traffic is wrapped in no more than three scenes in a dreary clinic that serves as a center for organ trade. The film also conveniently avoids the judicial aspect of the case, probably because even after 17 long years of court trials, the culprits went free.
Aditya Nimbalkar’s film tries to limit his approach mainly to the twisted psyche, instead of deepening other aspects. While it is understandable that Nimbalkar would like to choose a unique aspect, a brief conclusive narration of the final decision of the Court could have been better. Perhaps the debutant director wanted to avoid a disappointing end for his film, ending with a hopeful note.
The character of Akash Khurana is based on Moninder Singh Pandher, who was one of the suspects in the Nithari case
The film is not free with the representation of atrocious acts such as necrophilia, pedophilia and cannibalism. In addition to the bloody images and suggestive background scores, the master expressions and body language of Massey demonstrate powerful stories narration tools, which makes the film even more shocking. The way in which his eyes light up at the site of a corpse or the way he calculates a small child tied, captures the horror of the act to commit. The intelligent writing and intense dialogue of Bodhayan Roychaudhury add further to the nuanced narration. The subject is handled with the care and sensitivity that these incidents deserve, avoiding tasteless and sensational exploitation while transmitting their inhumanity.
The film also stands out in the impressive cinematography of Saurabh Goswami, which incorporates many visual metaphors and symmetrical compositions of paintings, which adds to the depth of the story. There is a particularly intriguing scene in which Massey confesses his crime to a police officer, placed at an equal distance from the camera like him. It is difficult to ignore the depth that the framing also induces, of course, the chilling actions of Massey and Dobriyal.
If it were not for the dark theme, I would forgive it for comparing the frame in sector 36 with the symmetry of the firm of Wes Anderson. While the camera in the extravagant Anderson films transmits a playful aesthetic of the storybook, here it has an unpleasant effect.
Sector 36 offers many visually impressive frames
Lighting also comes into play as an element of storytelling, along with visual metaphors. Different moods are represented in several tones, which will surely capture the attention of enthusiastic cinephiles. Round stairs shots accompany the moments of mysteries of brain food by the description of the abduction of the goddess located by Ravana at a Ramlela fair. Even the butcher shop has a soundtrack in the form of “Man Kyoon Behka Re Behka Aadhi Raat Ko” by Mangeshkar can, which translates into a wandering mind in the middle of the night.
Nimbalkar’s masterful representation of the Nithari case achieves a perfect balance between facts and fiction, avoiding the traps of a dry documentary style approach. The film maintains its cinematographic charm while it is still faithful to the real events, evoking a feeling of horror and restlessness that will leave you shocked. He successfully combines the power of good script, reflexive cinematography and chilling performances, creating a convincing narrative that will persecute you. Massey’s outstanding performance is particularly remarkable, ready to promote her career at new heights. By skillfully weaving these elements, Nimbalkar has created a film that will leave a lasting and disturbing impact on the public.
Qualification: 7.5/10
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