When Drishyam released in Malayalam on December 19, 2013, it redefined suspense in Indian cinema. It told the story of a simple family man who cleverly manipulates the police after an accidental crime to save his family. The film’s plot, built on misdirection, timing, and emotional desperation, resonated across the country and led to remakes in multiple languages, including the widely loved Hindi version starring Ajay Devgn. But what began as fiction has now become a grim reality in several corners of India.
Over the years, police have uncovered multiple m*rder cases where the suspects allegedly borrowed directly from Drishyam’s playbook—especially its methods of covering up evidence and building false alibis. Here are five cases where cinematic tactics crossed into real crime.
Vijay Chavan M*rder (Nalasopara, Maharashtra) – July 2025
In a case that stunned Maharashtra, 35-year-old Vijay Chavan’s body was discovered on July 21, 2025, buried beneath floor tiles inside his own home. He had been missing for more than two weeks. When his brothers noticed fresh tile work and reported it to the police, a search revealed his decomposed remains.
Police suspect his wife Komal Chavan, along with her alleged lover, carried out the murder. The method—killing followed by strategic concealment under newly laid tiles—was immediately compared to Drishyam’s climax, where the body is hidden beneath a newly constructed police station floor.
Ramavva M*rder (Siddipet, Telangana) – July 2025
In Peddamasanpalli village, 60-year-old Ramavva was initially believed to have d*ed in a road accident on July 7, 2025. But investigators soon discovered that her death was staged. Her son-in-law, T. Venkatesh, had allegedly planned the entire event to claim a ₹55 lakh insurance payout.
Using call records, CCTV footage, and forensic evidence, police revealed that Venkatesh deliberately staged the scene to make it look like an accident. Officers confirmed that the complexity of the cover-up bore direct resemblance to Drishyam’s scripted deception.
Geeta Ahir Fake D*ath Case (Patan, Gujarat) – May 2025
In Patan district, Geeta Ahir, a 22-year-old woman, wanted to escape her marriage and start anew with her lover. On May 28, 2025, she and her partner allegedly strangled a man, dressed his body in her clothes, and burned it to simulate her own d*ath.
When police eventually located Geeta alive and well, the story took a disturbing twist. She reportedly admitted she had planned the crime using inspiration from Drishyam. The tactic of switching identities and misdirecting investigators echoed the film’s deeper psychological gameplay.
Magadi Beautician M*rder (Magadi, Karnataka) – 2019
This case resurfaced in June 2025 when Karnataka police finally cracked a m*rder from May 2019. A beautician had gone missing in Magadi under suspicious circumstances, and for five years, the case lay cold. Then, skeletal remains were found in a forest area, and the woman’s ex-husband was arrested.
Police allege he used Drishyam-like tactics to cover his tracks: burying the body in an isolated area, staging false leads, and manipulating timelines to misguide investigators. His methods were so calculated that the murder remained undetected for half a decade.
Gariaband Husband M*rder Case (Gariaband, Chhattisgarh) – July 2024
In Gariaband district, police arrested a woman and her lover for the m*rder of her husband in July 2024. But what startled the investigators was not just the k*lling—it was what came after. The accused allegedly buried the body, then dug it up and reburied it at a new location to confuse authorities.
This dual burial, according to police, was a conscious effort to mislead forensic timelines and delay discovery—techniques lifted from the narrative arc of Drishyam, where timing and location manipulation were central to evading the law.
When Cinema Crosses Into Crime
Each of these cases highlights how a fictional story meant for entertainment has been twisted into a real-world template for m*rder. Drishyam gave audiences a suspenseful look at survival and moral dilemma—but in the wrong hands, its strategies are being adopted with chilling precision.
Law enforcement now consider pop culture references while examining suspicious deaths, and Drishyam is often mentioned in interrogation rooms. While the film remains a cinematic milestone, its unintended impact on real-world crime is now a case study of horrifying crimes.
