By Florine Roche
Aug 30: It looks like the widely speculated 'why Kattappa killed Bahubali' question has taken a backseat. Now the entire nation is hooked to the drama unfolding in front of it just like the numerous soap operas we are fed on our television channels regularly. Interestingly the era of the soap operas that began with “Kyon ki Saas bi Kabi Bahu thi” was started in Star Plus when Peter Mukerjea was its CEO and it is ironic that the Sheena Bora murder case and Mukerjea family soap opera plot looks even more interesting, intriguing and is filled with more suspense and drama than with any other soap operas that are telecast by our various television channels.
Enough has been written and talked about the sordid saga of the Mukerjea family, particularly Indrani Mukerjea ever since the sensational murder of Sheena Bora came into the open almost after three years the murder was carried out. Some call it as the ‘mother of all crimes’ and rightly so. This write up is not about who, what, where why and how of the murder mystery. It is more about how the incident has caught the fascination of the entire nation keeping them hooked to the television, to the internet or scouting through various newspapers to get to know more about the incident, new revelations, finding new angles to the story and also more speculations as to the motive of the crime. It has become the topic of discussion at most gatherings and parties. The incident had evoked such widespread interest mainly because it is a atypical case of a mother killing her own daughter and secondly because it involves a high- profile celebrity and that took a media tycoon couple.
The case is taking different turns everyday and the media blitzkrieg over this is understood considering that people are also too eager to know what happens within the four walls of the homes of the high-fi and celebrity families in our country. Indrani Mukerjea incident has everything to make it a Hollywood-Bollywood pot-boiler. There is murder, plots, sub-plots, treachery, lies, damn lies, love-affair, jealousy, sleaze, lust, mystery, suspense, drama, over- ambition, and of course lot of money. How this high suspense drama will reach a climax and reveal the real culprits involved cannot be said at this point in time for the simple reason that what ultimately matters is evidence and hard evidence. Knowing the competence of some of our highly paid lawyers who will use every trick up their sleeve to drag the case for years together, nothing can be said at this moment whether the real truth will be known or not.
Not since the Arushi murder case the media in our country has gone gaga over a murder incident like the Indrani Mukerjea incident. Of course there was this charge that Arushi murder case was a trial by the media which went on and on speculating about the ifs and buts in the process even maligning the dead girl who could not defend herself when her character assassination went on without any restraint. It was really unfair for late Arushi that she wasn’t there to defend some of the baseless allegations levelled against her. Though there is no enough evidence to prove such allegations and even if the verdict comes in her favour from the court, it is not easy to undo what is already registered in the minds of the people.
When the top police are investigating the matter with the seriousness it deserves I fail to understand why the entire nation and its hyper active media is belabouring over the issue even when the matter is murder mystery is taking peculiar twists and turns every hour, every day. Many of us lament saying our ethos and family values are deteriorating and this incident is cited as an example to show our fast eroding family values It is also said that humanity has disappeared and only materialism has encircled us from all directions. Nothing satisfies as we have become too ravenous, nosey and tittle-tattle.
A few aspects are quite apparent from the Indrani Mukerjea soap opera. Firstly over ambition and greed often make way for tragedy. Second noticeable aspect is human appetite for crime related incidents and stories which we all devour more voraciously. Psychologists say this is mainly because we all are criminals with secret and dark instincts. Some say crime news give people the thrill of fear and help them get rid of anxiety.
In the meantime we may discuss, debate and pass judgements of our own on this ‘mother of all crimes’. But law will take its own course and as long as we have intelligent lawyers to deal with the o let us hope and pray only truth, nothing but truth shall prevail in today’s vainglorious society.