Dupatta Killer is a harrowing documentary that examines one of India's most chilling crimes; the brutal murders of young women by a man who became known as the "Dupatta Killer." With sensitivity, the documentary exposes not just the horror of the murders, but the cultural systems that allowed the murderer to thrive. What's worse is that these systems may now permit the perpetrator to walk free.
As India grapples with its deeply troubling record on women's rights and gender-based violence, this documentary serves as both a powerful piece of storytelling and a stark warning: justice delayed, undermined, or undone only adds to the trauma endured by survivors and victims' families.
What makes Dupatta Killer especially impactful is its refusal to sensationalise. Instead, it centres the voices of those affected, while also interrogating the wider failures of the legal system, law enforcement, and social attitudes that too often fail to protect women. The looming possibility of the killer's release is a chilling reminder of how fragile justice can be; particularly in cases involving violence against women.
The documentary compels its audience to ask difficult but necessary questions: What message does early release send to the public? How seriously do we, as a society, take crimes against women? And why, after so many high-profile tragedies, does India continue to rank among the most dangerous countries for women?
