The Hunt for Veerappan Docu Series Review
“Who is Veerappan?”
And with that question, begins the four-part Netflix documentary ‘The Hunt for Veerappan’ on the notorious forest brigand, bandit, activist, poacher, smuggler, and murderer.
Investigative journalist Sunaad serves in large parts as the narrator of this documentary, created by Selvamani Selvaraj. “There has never been a man, a criminal like Veerappan,” Sunaad’s heavy assertive voice says over an engaging introductory montage, accompanied by a catchy gangster-like song that sounds like it is out of a crime-thriller blockbuster.
Interestingly, the documentary opens with a crucial interviewee, Veerappan’s wife Muthulakhsmi, who spent significant time with him in the forest while he was on the run from the police. Her side of the story establishes the kind of charisma and hold the bandit had over those close to him. Selvamani Selvaraj and the team provide her with a disparate amount of screentime to tell her version of the tale, and Muthulakhmi seizes the opportunity to romanticize the already larger-than-life personality her husband was.
Source: Netflix
Titled “The Forest King,” chapter one begins with a hauntingly beautiful shot of the dense mountainous forests Veerappan once called home. Soon, we are taken back to 1989, and file footage of the bandit’s hometown appears on the screen, accompanied by accounts dwelling on what set him apart from the average criminal. The creators skillfully blend present-day shots of South-Indian forests with archival footage, including Veerappan’s voice recordings, delivering a riveting and factual account of his life. To balance out the gruesome details of his life, the creators pepper the docu-series with stunning shots of thick jungles and mountains. Some part were slightly reminiscent of “The Elephant Whisperers”, which was also set in Tamil Nadu and is about rescuing elephants, while Veerappan was all about killing them for their ivory.
The creators line up a string of interesting interviews to chronologically graph the rise and fall of the man who held two states at ransom with his antics. On one hand, there are Muthulakshmi and some of Veerappan’s former associates who portray him as a fearless leader, a sort of messiah for lower income families from in and around his village. On the other hand, there are interviews of forest officials and police officers who played a crucial role in the hunt for Veerappan. His story plays out like a movie, where he is the dual faced protagonist, hero for some, villain for others.
Interviewees reveal details that the average viewer would not know unless they have extensively researched the man. The hunt for Veerappan spanned years, and his case perplexed the system, pushing officers to desperate measures, including running an alleged camp where suspects were detained, beaten, and tortured. Muthulakshmi claims she was administered electric shocks in custody while she was pregnant, painting a vivid picture of a wife who voluntarily suffered due to her husband’s actions. However, for discerning viewers, she also lets her mask slip when she simply smirks at the camera in response to a question about whether her husband could’ve avoided the brutal beheading of a forest officer.
Chapter Three, titled “The Revolutionary,” delves into Veerappan’s growing proximity to the LTTE and his attempts to re-brand himself as a political revolutionary. It also sheds light on one of the most sensational kidnappings in the country’s history – that of legendary Kannada actor and icon, Dr. Rajkumar, in July 2000, along with three other men. Dr. Rajkumar’s kidnapping sparked massive unrest and reignited animosity between the states of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. Veerappan, a Tamil man, had dared to abduct a man who symbolized Kannadiga pride and culture. The chapter features an interview with Nagesh, a relative of Dr. Rajkumar who was also abducted, and he recalls his terrifying ordeal. However, the interview doesn’t provide much insight into the mystery surrounding the nearly 4-month long hostage situation the actor endured.
The last chapter on how the hunt for Veerappan finally came to an end marks the most interesting part of the series. It features interviews with the informant who betrayed the bandit and N. K. Senthamarai Kannan, the officer who led “Operation Cocoon” alongside K. Vijay Kumar, which culminated in Veerappan’s encounter. N. K. Senthamarai Kannan reveals how the new STF team worked meticulously to collect all possible information on the elusive and aging criminal (Veerappan was 52 at the time of his death). However, the eventual circumstances of the encounter remain shrouded in question marks, raising doubts about how Veerappan was really killed. But Senthamarai gleefully responds that he doesn’t care what stories are spun around the manner of his death; the bottom line remains – he and his men ended Veerappan’s reign of terror and had the body to prove it.
Despite its flaws, the documentary remains a compelling watch, giving viewers a glimpse into the enigmatic world of Veerappan and the events that shaped his infamous legacy. Whether he was a hero, or a villain remains a subject for further exploration in a different documentary.
You can stream “The Hunt for Veerappan” on Netflix.
Read Next: Rahman’s Music Elevates ‘Maamannan,’ Tedious Drama Pulls It Down
Also Read: ‘The Madman’s Library’ Book Review (audio version below)
