The Hunt for Veerappan

Crafting a truthful story can be tricky, as different narratives can be established from each disparate viewpoint. Most often than not, the truth is relative to the storyteller. It’s even more problematic when portraying a notorious historical figure whose life and crimes are shrouded in mystery.

Such is the case with The Hunt for Veerappan, a multi-layered and masterful deconstruction of a polarizing criminal as told and sourced from several narrative voices, news clips, and archival footage. By weaving the story through several points of view, the docuseries paints a thorough yet complex portrait of Veerappan, a mustachioed gun-wielding criminal whose reign of terror sparked the biggest and costliest manhunt in India.

Veerappan was a man of contradictions. He was a forest dweller who plundered its natural resources for profit. He lived a life of crime and bloodshed but yearned for a normal life. To the authorities, he’s a ruthless cold-blooded murderer. But to his wife, gang members, and village people, he was a “forest angel,” a Robinhood-like figure who stole from the rich to feed the poor.

By showing different sides of his story and providing factual evidence, the docuseries tries to provide a fair and balanced portrayal of Veerappan’s life, death, and legacy. Whether it succeeds or not is immaterial. What’s important is that the series is not afraid to ask important questions and address controversial topics. From the plunder of nature to the countless innocent lives lost in the manhunt, police brutality to political machinations, to the questionable circumstance of his capture and ultimate demise — the creators tried to leave no stone unturned.

Lifting the veil and decoding the mystique of a criminal mastermind who evokes strong reactions can be a balancing act. On one end. it’s important to show the origin story, how he came to be, and why he chose the life of crime. On the other, it’s necessary to shed light on the trail of blood he left in his wake. It’s a delicate dance. The Hunt for Veerappan handles the weight of the subject matter with deft, heft, and fearlessness.

Though the series has received a lot of rave reviews and attention (it’s the 10th most-watched series on Netflix globally), some critics are accusing it of glorifying a criminal. Did the docuseries humanize a cold-blooded murderer and sensationalize his exploits to justify his atrocities? Somehow, the answer depends largely on the viewers’ interpretation. Undoubtedly, what the docuseries accomplishes is to spark a conversation by asking tough but important questions. What gives birth to criminal behavior? Is it nature or nurture? Does the end justify the means? Is murder a courageous act? In The Hunt for Veerappan, the questions are more important than the answers.