Babita Singh Reporting: Paatal Lok creator Sudip Sharma says traditional whodunnits are ‘done to death’ and explains what makes ‘Babita Singh Reporting’ different: ‘You need to find a fresher take, some nuance in it’
Crime mysteries have remained a popular storytelling format for generations, but Sudip Sharma believes audiences have moved beyond simply trying to guess who committed the crime. The creator of ‘Paatal Lok’ is now backing Prime Video’s upcoming film ‘Babita Singh Reporting’, a murder mystery that uses its investigation to explore the personal journey of its central character.In an interview with Hindustan Times, Sudip discussed how the whodunnit format has evolved and why filmmakers need to bring something different to a genre that has been explored extensively.
‘Babita Singh Reporting’ looks beyond the murder mystery
‘Babita Singh Reporting’ features Nimisha Sajayan as Babita, a suspended and insecure police officer in Madhya Pradesh. While visiting her in-laws, she unexpectedly becomes involved in a murder investigation.However, the film does not treat the hunt for the culprit as its sole focus. Babita’s investigation gradually becomes a way for her to confront her own insecurities and understand herself better.Speaking about the approach, Sudip said, “Whodunnit, as a genre, has been done to death by a lot of people, including some in the room. If you still want to do a whodunnit, you need to find a fresher take, some nuance in it. That’s true for any genre that you have explored with a certain amount of frequency.”
Investigation becomes Babita’s personal journey
For Sudip, the film’s appeal lies in how the central investigation serves a larger purpose. Instead of building the entire narrative around the identity of the murderer, the story uses the case to examine Babita’s transformation.“That is what I found exciting about this film that although it is a story about an investigation, there is a lot more to it. In some ways, the investigation becomes a conduit in her own search for herself,” he said.
Sudip says the classic whodunnit has changed
Sudip believes the traditional idea of a murder mystery, where the primary objective is to surprise audiences with the identity of the killer, no longer carries the same impact.“It’s never about the reveal. Personally, those are not the stories that resonate where it’s about ‘I could never guess who the killer is’. That genre is long gone. It died with Agatha Christie. Now, it’s really about the things that one discovers on the journey, and the larger spotlight that you can draw on the story.”According to him, the mystery still needs to deliver a convincing conclusion, but the revelation cannot be the only reason for audiences to invest in the story.
A satisfying reveal still matters
While questioning the traditional approach to whodunnits, Sudip acknowledged that filmmakers cannot completely ignore the genre’s basic promise. Audiences who enter a murder mystery still expect the central question to be answered.“You still need to give a satisfying reveal because that is the promise of the genre. But that cannot be the only promise of the film,” he added.
Barun Sobti also stars in the film
Directed by Ambiecka Pandit, ‘Babita Singh Reporting’ also features Barun Sobti in a key role. The film is set to premiere on Prime Video on August 28.With its focus extending beyond the murder investigation, the film aims to combine the conventions of a crime mystery with the coming-of-age journey of a woman attempting to find confidence and purpose through an unexpected case.
