No matter how seasoned a professional you are, watching shows or films that depict crimes against children can be an incredibly unsettling experience, especially for parents. These narratives force us to confront the raw fears of not being able to protect our children from the horrors that exist in the world. Recently, I engaged with three poignant stories—Sector 36 on Netflix, The Buckingham Murders, and Manvat Murders on SonyLIV—that delve into the harrowing realities of crimes against children. What struck me was not just the brutality of these acts, but the intricate web of societal issues that often underlie them.
In The Buckingham Murders, featuring Kareena Kapoor Khan, we follow the tragic case of a young boy named Ishpreet, who goes missing and is eventually found dead. Ishpreet, adopted by Daljeet (played by Ranveer Brar), becomes the victim of a heinous crime fueled by a toxic mix of familial dysfunction and societal pressures. Daljeet’s abusive behavior toward his wife, Preeti (Prabhleen Sandhu), coupled with his inability to provide for the family, creates a suffocating environment. The shocking twist reveals that it is Ishpreet’s own mother who orchestrates his murder, driven by a desperation that stems from years of emotional neglect and oppression.
As the investigation unfolds, Kareena’s character, mourning the loss of her son, confronts Preeti, who reveals her own torment: she was treated like a maid in her own home, forced into a role of motherhood she never desired. The director, Hansal Mehta, skillfully portrays how emotional suffocation can lead to tragic outcomes. Preeti’s actions, though unforgivable, are depicted against a backdrop of societal issues, including the immigrant experience, economic struggles, and deep-rooted gender discrimination.
The film compels the audience to grapple with uncomfortable truths about how personal tragedies are often intertwined with larger societal problems. While the crime is committed by individuals, the circumstances—poverty, patriarchal oppression, and community dynamics—play critical roles in shaping these events. This nuanced approach invites us to consider the broader implications of such crimes, extending our understanding beyond mere acts of violence to the systems that allow them to thrive.
In exploring these themes, The Buckingham Murders becomes a mirror reflecting not just individual choices but the collective failures of society to protect its most vulnerable members. The need for empathy and systemic change becomes all the more pressing, reminding us that tackling these issues requires more than just addressing individual culpability; it demands a concerted effort to dismantle the underlying structures that enable such tragedies.
