‘Talvar’ Film Re-Opened The Arushi Double Murder Case And Gave Justice To Talwar Couple – Part 5

The film industry has often made movies on murder mysteries that are based on real life. However, film director Meghna Gulzar‘s film Talvar (2015) starring Irrfan and Konkona Sen based on the Aarushi Talwar-Hemraj double murder case has been exceptional. It is one of the rarest of the rare film which had made such a huge impact on society that it re-opened the murder case! That’s not all; the evidence in the film played a crucial role in overturning the conviction of the accused Rajesh and Nupur Talwar, the parents of Arushi. The Allahabad High Court in its judgment pronounced the Talwars’ not guilty and ordered their release from jail!!!

 

It may be noted that the doctor couple Rajesh and Nupur Talwar had been accused of killing their 14-year-old daughter in 2008. They were pronounced guilty by a Ghaziabad CBI court in 2013. However, in 2017, the Allahabad High Court acquitted Nupur and Rajesh asserting neither the circumstances nor the evidence was enough to hold them guilty.

 

It may be noted the decision was highly influenced by the film Talvar as Vishal Bhardwaj (Story writer) and Meghna Gulzar (film director) had done deep research on the Aarushi Talwar-Hemraj double murder case for almost two years and found several negligence and loopholes in the police investigation.  The film depicted relentless errors and tampered evidence by the police and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). In short, the film did make the viewer’s sympathies tilt towards the parents of the murdered child, showing in meticulous and painstaking detail how the entire investigation was messed up by the corrupt police.

 

Elated over the Allahabad High Court ordering release of Talwar couple from jail, Meghna Gulzar said, “This is a victory of the film industry.” When she was asked that her film had influenced the judgment, Megha humbly said, “Our judiciary operates free from all biases. They also looked at the facts of the case, like we did and processed them with more objectivity while writing the script of Talvar; I would indeed like to believe that the film has, to some extent changed the perspective of the people.” Meanwhile, Bhardwaj said, “We were questioned by a lot of people when we made Talvar , even though we didn’t take any sides in presenting the story and maintained as neutral a viewpoint as was possible. However, I am overwhelmed and relieved to hear of the Talwars’ acquittal and this strengthens my faith in the Indian judicial system.”