Is Sector 36 a copy of the award-winning Pakistani film Kukri?

Netflix's latest release, Sector 36, isn’t just popular in India—it's also the most-watched film in Pakistan on the platform. Released on September 13, the film is loosely based on the 2006 Noida serial murders that shocked India.

Vikrant Massey plays the serial killer, while Deepak Dobriyal portrays a corrupt police officer who reforms after a similar incident involving his daughter.

While folks in both India and Pakistan are loving the Netflix film, Pakistani actor Yasir Hussain has a different take. The actor voiced his concerns, claiming Sector 36 shares significant similarities with Kukri, where he portrayed serial killer Javed Iqbal.

Directed by Abu Aleeha, Kukri is the censored version of Javed Iqbal: The Untold Story of a Serial Killer, which starred Yasir Hussain and won him several international awards. His portrayal of Javed Iqbal was so unsettling that Pakistan’s Censor Board hinted that it was one of the reasons why the film's release was halted, shortly after its Karachi premiere.

Why Yasir Hussain's comments deserve attention

In an interview with Nukta, Yasir Hussain expressed frustration that while Sector 36 was widely celebrated in Pakistan, Kukri faced bans and heavy censorship, preventing its full release.

Earlier, the actor wrote on social media that since Javed Iqbal: The Untold Story of a Serial Killer couldn't get a proper release, the audience should watch Sector 36, suggesting that both films have a lot in common. Though some may dismiss his comments, Hussain’s critique holds merit given the similar themes both films explore.

Both films are loosely based on real-life events: Kukri tackles the Lahore killings of the 1990s, while Sector 36 focuses on the 2006 Noida serial murders.

The key difference between the two cases is that while Javed Iqbal allegedly committed suicide in prison, Indian suspect Surinder Koli was initially convicted but later acquitted due to lack of evidence.

Why did the Javed Iqbal biopic run into trouble in Pakistan?

Small-budget films, especially darker biopics like Kukri, face significant challenges in Pakistan, where the cinema industry primarily focuses on big-budget romantic comedies released during the Eid holidays.

Abu Aleeha, who has made a name for himself as a director who can churn out small-budget films, wrote and directed Javed Iqbal: The Untold Story of a Serial Killer with renowned actor Yasir Hussain as the main lead. Ayesha Omer portrayed the determined police officer seeking justice, while Rabya Kulsoom appeared in a powerful supporting role.

The Punjab Government banned the film, claiming it glorified the serial killer, though many believe it was censored for exposing the alleged incompetence of the Punjab Police.

Despite having a successful premiere in Karachi, the film was banned one day before its release on 28 January 2022. The Punjab Government which was behind the decision, claimed it glorified the serial killer, though many believe it was censored for exposing the Punjab Police's alleged mishandling of the case.

After winning international awards, including Best Actor for Yasir Hussain and Best Director for Abu Aleeha at the UK Asian Film Festival, the film was re-released on June 2, 2023, as Kukri, a censored version of the original.

Is Sector 36 a copy of Kukri?

While Sector 36 does share thematic similarities with Kukri, it can’t be classified as a copy. First of all, the Netflix film is a fictionalized account, with the names of characters and places altered. Secondly, Vikrant Massey’s character, Prem Singh, isn’t the main culprit but an accomplice to a more powerful businessman, Balbir Singh Bassi (played by Akash Khurana), a fictionalized version of the real-life Moninder Singh Pandher.

Similar to Ayesha Omer’s role in Kukri, Deepak Dobriyal plays a police officer, but while the Pakistani cop is portrayed as honest and relentless, Dobriyal’s character starts as corrupt and only prioritizes the case after his daughter is nearly abducted.

After uncovering key evidence, Pandey confronts the powerful businessman, only to be suspended by his superior, leading to his tragic downfall.

Where Kukri thrived on its fast pace and gripping performances, Sector 36 suffers from a slower, more predictable pace that hampers its narrative impact.

Ultimately, Sector 36 highlights a corrupt system that allows a serial killer to operate with little resistance, whereas Kukri concentrates more on psychological tension and fast-paced storytelling.