Story: The monster, who had terrorised them for years, is said to have been lynched by a group of enraged women in 2004. This took place inside the courtroom in broad daylight. Their tale is told here.
In Kasturba Nagar in Nagpur, it was a plot straight out of a Bollywood movie, but sadly for the residents, especially the women, it was all too true. They were enduring the terror that a single individual named Akku Yadav had brought upon them, turning their existence into an agonising nightmare. Akku Yadav had allegedly killed countless women in his neighbourhood mercilessly for ten years prior to being brutally stabbed up to 70 times inside a courtroom, all without ever being held accountable for his heinous crimes. He received an absurdly long sentence in prison for crimes that the police ignored. These brief incarcerations only strengthened his resolve to carry out more heinous crimes and literally get away with the murders.
The most shocking event from this true story is presented first by writer-director Umesh Vinayak Kulkarni, who then takes us back to the beginning of Akku Yadav’s corrupt life. He is able to accurately recreate Yadav’s terror and unpredictable actions by using numerous eyewitness accounts from his friends, attorneys, and victims. However, because Kasturba Nagar’s homes and alleyways are so dark and gloomy, there is a lot of visual monotony in his execution. Given how extensively the case was covered by the local, national, and international media, it appears that the women have spoken about their experiences and Akku Yadav’s crimes on camera before. However, a few terrifying passages stand out for the way they were written shot. At the same time, it’s delicate, exciting, and unsettling. Similar to how Asha Bai’s brutal murder is depicted with no bloodshed but has a profound psychological effect on the audience.
The narrative of the show is well-rounded in that it considers opposing points of view regarding Akku Yadav’s long list of transgressions. It only demonstrates what is already in the public domain, though. More information about Yadav’s background, including where he came from and what led to his manic behaviour, would have been very relevant. After all, it’s crucial to understand the conditions that give rise to characters like Akku Yadav.
The show also doesn’t clearly explain what he did to have such influence among police officers that he received special treatment while in custody and frequently made fun of our legal system. A few conspiracy theories surrounding Akku Yadav’s brutal murder in court, including those involving Ambedkarites and urban naxals, are briefly discussed by the film’s creators. Due to the fact that Akku Yadav allegedly only targeted Dalit women, there is mention of severe caste bias. But none of this is examined in depth.
Indian Predator chooses an extremely puzzling case of women’s empowerment and vigilante justice for its third season, but a more in-depth examination of this crime and its perpetrators would have made for a more interesting and insightful viewing experience.
