Screen Adaptation of ‘The Gurugram School Murder’ in Progress
Matchbox Shots, under the guidance of filmmaker Sriram Raghavan, has secured the rights to adapt Leena Dhankhar’s book, The Gurugram School Murder, for the screen. This announcement was made on May 27, 2026. The project will portray the tragic events surrounding a seven-year-old student’s death in a Gurugram school in 2017. The adaptation has the support of the victim’s family and follows Matchbox Shots’ previous successes, including Andhadhun and Scoop.
The story revolves around the tragic incident on September 8, 2017, when the young student was discovered dead in a school bathroom. Initially, a school bus conductor was arrested but was later exonerated. A deeper investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) ultimately led to the arrest of another student. The book delves into the legal complexities and the family’s long fight for justice.
Dikssha Jyote Routray from Matchbox Shots expressed the gravity of the situation, stating, “What happened in this case is every parent’s worst nightmare.” She emphasized the tragedy’s reflection on the pressures faced by children in today’s urban India and vowed to handle the story with the sensitivity it requires. Dhankhar shared her view that this story is not merely about a crime; it is also about a family’s enduring pain and quest for justice.
The father of the victim voiced his unwavering support for the adaptation, saying, “Not a day goes by when we don’t remember or miss him. Our battle has been long and painful, and it will keep going until the guilty are punished. We want the truth out there so that society understands our pain and justice prevails.”
Matchbox Shots, led by producers Sanjay Routray, Dikssha Jyote Routray, and Sarita Patil, is also gearing up for the Netflix release of Operation Safed Sagar. The studio has produced notable works like IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack and Khauf, and this new adaptation will address serious themes of accountability and child safety in institutions.
