The Indrani Mukerjea Story: Buried Truth: The docu-series leaves you with no answers and does exactly what its title suggests

The Indrani Mukerjea Story: Buried Truth is a four-part docu-series that rehashes the Sheena Bora murder case when there’s really nothing much to uncover!

The Indrani Mukerjea Story: Buried Truth review:  April 24, 2012, was the fateful night when Sheena Bora, a 25 year-old girl was murdered in a car by her ‘sister’ Indrani Mukerjea. Since then, in the past decade, we’ve heard many things surrounding the case. Instead of a whodunnit, people were more interested in the ‘Why’. Strangely, the more answers that were given, the more questions arose with each one of them. The four part Netflix docu-series made by Uraaz Behl and Shaana Levy, digs up everything we know about the case so far and more. The series speaks to the prosecutor and defendant’s side, but it’s very clear who it's more partial to. 

For those of you who aren’t well-versed with what happened, Sheena Bora, who was said to be business and media tycoon Indrani Mukerjea’s ‘sister’ was murdered by her and her ex-husband Sanjeev Khanna in a lonely lane in Bandra, inside their car and buried the body next morning in the woods in Raigad. Sheena’s fiance Rahul Mukerjea who is Indrani’s current husband Peter Mukerjea’s son frantically looks for her as she disappears out of nowhere. He is collectively told by Indrani and Peter that she has disappeared out of her own will and has decided to cut ties with everyone. Rahul refused to buy this story as Sheena was due for a promotion at work and was to join Oxford University in a few months. Why would someone who had their life on the right track decide to vanish in thin air? Until in 2015, Indrani Mukerjea, Sanjeev Khanna, her driver Shyamvar Rai and Peter Mukerjea were all arrested in conspiracy to murder her. Following that, shockingly the world found out that Sheena wasn’t Indrani’s sister, she was in fact her daughter. In 2022, the Supreme Court granted bail to all four accused, but the trial is still ongoing. 

Also Read: Laapataa Ladies review: In all its fun and quirkiness, it's a celebration of Indian womanhood!

The docu-series relies less on the facts of the case but more on the theories that surround it. In the end credits, it is said that out of the four accused, Indrani is the only one who agreed to participate in the docu-series, and you can clearly see why. The minute she enters the frame, she looks directly at the camera as if she is ready to take questions head on. But once she starts narrating her side of things, it reveals a horrific past incident, many weak alibis and the thought that she has done a lot of things without remorse. The entire docu-series feels like her one big shot to gain sympathy from the audiences and maybe turn things around for herself, but you can clearly see through her playing the victim card, and she actually comes off as a narcissist. 

Filmmaking wise, the series shows an eerie scenario of what might have happened that night and it does spook you out. It also keeps certain parts like Indrani whispering to keep parts vague to her lawyer intact to keep things as authentic as possible but it's conflicting because on one hand it looks like they’re showing us everything they can but on the other hand, it feels as if she is made to look like the center of everything. The title as it says is ‘Indrani Mukerjea’s’ story, when it really should’ve been Sheena’s. Also, making a docu-series about an on-going case with the one who is accused being directly involved might not be the wisest decision in my opinion. The series also does its questioning with the interviewee in a way that makes you feel like it's trying to change your mind about the accused. For instance- the way Mikhael (Sheena's brother) was questioned about buying a car when he barely had any money, or when he was asked what he did personally to look for Sheena, really plays with your mind and does make you question if she is really alive. But you have to recognize the bias and snap out of it. Journalists who covered the case at the time, including Rajdeep Sardesai, were also a part of the documentary and the way they decode every situation is more interesting than what Indrani or the docu series is trying to show us. 

Overall, even after being a propaganda, and not really having a conclusive ending, the docu-series is still one that will engage you throughout and is binge worthy. The topic is such that you just cannot help but watch it one go. It is the story of a highly dysfunctional wealthy family and there’s barely anyone who can skip or resist watching how twisted one can be. In a country being a mother is kept in the highest of regard, this is one story that leaves you completely shocked in that aspect.

The Indrani Mukerjea Story: Buried Truth is currently streaming on Netflix!