Prime Video‘s shocking crime drama Poacher, is sure to upset many viewers with its subject matter, all the more so given it’s based on the true story of a real-life poaching case in Kerala, India. While obviously embellished for the sake of drama, many details of the series are distressingly authentic.
Is Poacher based on a true story?
Sadly, many of the elements of Poacher are true, and the series is based on the Malayattoor poaching case that happened in Kerala, India.
Between the 1970s and 1990s, there was a shocking boom in the trade of ivory, and many elephants were killed for their tusks. It was estimated that around eighteen elephants were murdered, and the poachers that were behind the massacre were apprehended and put in jail. A raid would reveal about four hundred and sixteen kilograms of ivory stolen from the elephants and being prepared to be sold.
Although the series has taken creative license with the real-life details, it presents the terrible crime of poaching in a way that is sadly realistic. The series blends a mix of real-life events and a dramatic narrative to present this terrible story.
What is the TV Show about?
The series starts with a confession from a man who appears in a Forest Department outpost, confessing to the murder of elephants. This opening sets off an intriguing and unusual crime story, uncovering the devastating effects of illegal poaching activities and the intricate cover-ups by the very people tasked to protect wildlife. A team of investigators strives to find out the truth behind the killings.
Here’s the official synopsis, courtesy of IMDb:
A group of Indian Forest Service officers, NGO workers, police constables and Good Samaritans risk their lives trying to track down the biggest elephant ivory poachers in the history of India and bring them to justice.
It seems fair to warn you that the show is open when it comes to its depiction of the terrible atrocities that occur involving crimes of this nature. The show features scenes of dead elephants and the subject matter may disturb many viewers, especially those who are particularly invested in animal rights.
There are eight episodes in Poacher. Episode 1 is titled “The Confessor” and sets the wheels in motion for the rest of the run. Episodes come in at around the forty-five-minute mark. Almost all the episodes open with an overhead shot of the crime scene.
Poacher was directed by Richie Mehta who also created the series and was a head writer on the production too. He previously worked extensively on the series Delhi Crime and is also known as a producer.
The talented cast on the show includes Nimisha Sajavanas as Mala, Roshan Mathew as Alan, and Dibvendu Bhattacharya as Neel. Other roles are played by:
- Kani Kusruti
- Ranjitha Menon
- Maala Parvathi.
