HBO Asia’s first original documentary, THE TALWARS: BEHIND CLOSED DOORS is a gripping documentary that examines the double murder of a teenage girl and her family’s household servant in Noida, India, that quickly became one of India’s biggest murder mysteries, capturing worldwide attention. Produced in association with Star India, the four-part hour-long HBO Asia Original Documentary Series premieres on Sunday, November 26 at 9pm exclusively on HBO. Parts 2, 3 and 4 will debut on subsequent Sundays at the same time. The documentary will also be streaming on HBO GO.
The documentary begins with Drs. Rajesh and Nupur Talwar on the morning of 16 May 2008, discovering their daughter, Aarushi Talwar, lying dead in her bed, bludgeoned and with her throat cut. Their Nepali servant, Hemraj Banjade, is missing and believed to be the culprit until his bloated and battered body is discovered on the apartment roof terrace. There were seemingly just the four people in the apartment that night and only two of them are still alive. To the police investigation teams leading the inquiry, the parents must be the murderers, but after nine years, three investigations, a trial and appeal, and now an acquittal, nothing is as it seems. In English and Hindi with English and local language subtitles, the documentary features never-before-seen exclusive interviews with Aarushi’s parents, THE TALWARS: BEHIND CLOSED DOORS speaks with those most closely involved in this twisted tale of intrigue, mystery that has turned this double murder into one of India’s most notorious crimes.
Mr. Jonathan Spink, CEO of HBO Asia, says, “THE TALWARS: BEHIND CLOSED DOORS marks HBO Asia’s first original documentary, adding to our ever-expanding repertoire of HBO Asia Original productions which includes series and movies. With this documentary, HBO Asia continues to showcase interesting and relevant stories from around the region that resonates strongly with the Asian audience.”
Episodes Include:
Part 1
Debut: Sunday, November 26 at 9pm on HBO
After the brutal murder of their teenage daughter, Aarushi, hopes of swift justice crumble for the Talwars as the prime suspect, the family servant, is found dead and decomposing on the roof terrace of the family home. Under intense media scrutiny, the local police scramble to find the culprit quickly, leading them to arrest the grieving father.
Part 2
Debut: Sunday, December 3 at 9pm on HBO
What appears to be a botched local police investigation into the double murder, forces authorities to quickly replace the police with India’s elite investigative unit – the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The CBI clears the father of killing his daughter and servant as the investigation’s focus swings to nearby servants and staff, escalating social and class tensions.
Part 3
Debut: Sunday, December 10 at 9pm on HBO
A new officer reinvigorates the stalled CBI investigation, switching track and pursuing both parents. Despite little hard evidence and increasingly desperate legal battles, Drs. Nupur and Rajesh Talwar eventually find themselves in the dock charged with murdering their own daughter and servant.
Part 4
Debut: Sunday, December 17 at 9pm on HBO
After more than nine years and three investigations, this is a case that still haunts India. As the parents win their appeal, the case is reassessed and troubling questions emerge over what really happened the night Aarushi and Hemraj died.
THE TALWARS: BEHIND CLOSED DOORS is HBO Asia’s fourth Original production this year following the second season of HALFWORLDS, the dark action fantasy drama series set in Bangkok which premiered in January, the award-winning THE TEENAGE PSYCHIC, HBO Asia’s first original Chinese series set in Taiwan that premiered with breakthrough ratings in April, and SENT, HBO Asia’s first comedy drama series that premiered in September. To date, HBO Asia has produced ten Asian Originals with more slated to premiere in the coming years.
HBO Asia’s first original documentary, THE TALWARS: BEHIND CLOSED DOORS, premieres exclusively on HBO on Sunday, November 26 at 9pm. New episodes from the four-part hour-long series will premiere on subsequent Sundays at the same time. The documentary will also be streaming on HBO GO.