Archive · 9 Nov 2025
‘Gonoshatru’ anthology explores Bengal's real-life criminals
Imagine a TV show that tells the stories of really bad guys from Bengal.
This show, called 'Gonoshatru', is like a detective who tries to figure out why these people did terrible things.
Each part of the show is like a mini-movie about a different criminal.
Some were from long ago, and some were more recent.
The show makes you wonder if people are just born bad, or if the way they grow up and the world around them make them do bad things.
It looks at sad and difficult parts of their lives that might have led them down a dark path.
While some parts are really exciting, others don't tell the whole story very well.
But it makes you think about what makes a person a 'monster'.
‘Gonoshatru’ is a five-part anthology series on ZEE5 exploring the lives of notorious Bengali criminals.
The series attempts to understand if criminals are born or made by society, examining cases from different eras.
Episodes cover figures like Sajal Barui, Kamaruzzaman Sarkar (the 'Chainman'), Trailokya Tarini, Rashid Khan, and Hubba Shyamal.
The anthology blends documentary-style elements with dramatized non-fiction, though its execution is noted as uneven.
The series consistently returns to the theme that societal neglect and abuse may contribute to criminal behavior.
- Who
- Five filmmakers, exploring the lives of Bengal's notorious criminals
- What
- A five-part anthology series, 'Gonoshatru', delving into the stories of infamous criminals and questioning the origins of evil
- When
- Episodes cover events from the 1990s, 2013-2019, British-era Calcutta, and recent decades
- Where
- Kolkata and its surrounding areas in Bengal
- Why
- To explore whether criminals are born evil or are shaped by societal neglect, humiliation, or abuse
Nature vs. Nurture
Inherent Evil vs. Societal Influence
Criminality Origin
Nature vs. Nurture
The anthology questions if individuals are inherently born evil or if societal factors shape them into criminals.
Inherent Evil vs. Societal Influence
The series suggests that every killer is a product of their society, often stemming from neglect, humiliation, or abuse in their upbringing.
- Platform
- ZEE5
- Format
- Five-part anthology
- Genre
- Documentary-style dramatized non-fiction
- Episodes Cover
- Sajal Barui, Kamaruzzaman Sarkar (Chainman), Trailokya Tarini, Rashid Khan, and Hubba Shyamal
- Settings
- Colonial-era Calcutta to modern Kolkata