The Dupatta Killer Review: An important and engaging re-telling of Goa’s famous serial killer that has its flaws

The Dupatta Killer delves into the story of Mahanand Naik, who was accused of raping and murdering 16 women with their dupattas but was convicted for only 2.

We come across so many news pieces and documentaries of gruesome crimes that we've grown accustomed to turning a blind eye towards them and move on with our day. However, the details and patterns marking some stories are so chilling that you can’t help but get drawn towards the case. The story of Mahanand Naik, the most notorious serial killer of Goa is one of those. A rickshaw driver, whom crime psychologists describe as a ‘characterologist’, studied women. He preyed on the most vulnerable of them under the guise of love, lured them with false promises of marriage, strangled them with their dupattas and decamped with their money and jewelry. DocuBay’s, latest -crime documentary The Dupatta Killer unravels the story of this man.

The documentary, which is nearly an hour long, explores a series of murders allegedly committed by Naik between the 90s and 2000s. Writer and director Patrick Graham presents the story in an engaging manner but not without some flaws. 

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Watch the trailer here:

The Dupatta Killer is decently handled with crisp editing that keeps the viewers invested in the story. The visuals and sound design are effective in conveying the moods and atmospheres of the story and the use of interviews with archival footage and re enactments are well-balanced and honor the sensitivity of the subject without sensationalizing the violence.  

The documentary raises an important point with this case, but with many shortcomings. The makers seems to rush judgement and steer the documentary on the conviction that its subject is guilty. The interviews of social workers, government officials and Naik’s neighbours reinforce this narrative as well. I do agree that our system is flawed and the criminals do get away with the most serious of offenses owing to the incompetency and lethargy of our authorities. However, a documentary’s job is not to play judge but present an account as sincerely as possible and let the audience decide their opinion on the incident.

The research remains another problem with the documentary as it heavily relies on a single journalist who calls himself an ‘expert’ on the subject. The makers do not conduct their own independent investigations which effects the overall experience of watching the documentary as it only presents aspects of the case that are well-known and have been reported in almost every Indian publication. I understand this format of storytelling has its limitations, however, some background on Naik’s surroundings, his family and his upbringing would have elevated the experience. Having said that, a track involving a woman, whom Naik allegedly stalked and raped over the years and who became the reason of his arrest, is the most inspiring aspect of the film.

Despite the many flaws in the documentary, it still compels you to think of the regressive nature of our society and judicial systems. Naik is accused to have committed the first murder in 1994 until getting caught in 2009 and the reason he could continue his atrocities is the hesitation of families to report cases of their missing daughters, suspecting them of eloping with their lovers and the anticipation of the ‘shame’ and ‘dishonor’ it will bring to their family. Another incident documented in the film is that of a judge dismissing nude photographs of one of Naik’s victims as evidence, which he allegedly used to blackmail her, only because she was looking at the camera. This, according to them, conveyed consent. These incidents aren’t exclusive to this case and we know how cases of crimes against women are approached in general, especially in rural areas of our country. 

Naik, however denies his crime and pleads innocent to date. The documentary not only reports incidents of the past but also addresses contemporary questions on his potential release after 15 years of imprisonment on the grounds of his ‘impeccable conduct’. The considerations have once again sparked debates over rehabilitation and accountability in our system. 

As a citizen of this country, I take great pride in the philosophy of our penal system that is more rehabilitative than punitive. I strongly believe a criminal can be reformed and that they deserve a second chance at life for themselves and their surroundings. However, as a woman, I’m also left with a question today - does every criminal deserve a chance to be reformed?

The Dupatta Killer is now streaming on DocuBay

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