Matchbox Shots, directed by filmmaker Sriram Raghavan, has acquired the screen rights of the book gurugram school massacre By journalist Leena Dhankhar. The project, announced on May 27, 2026, is based on a 2017 incident involving a seven-year-old student at a Gurugram school. The optimization is supported by the family and works on titles like andhadhun And Scoop.
Author Leena Dhankar’s The Gurugram School Murders is set for screen adaptation by Matchbox Shots
The story focuses on September 8, 2017, when a student was found dead inside a school bathroom. The case gained attention after the initial arrest of a school bus conductor, who was later found innocent. A subsequent investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) led to the arrest of one student. The book details the legal complexities and struggle for justice.
“What happened in this case is every parent’s worst nightmare,” said Jyot Routray, the initiator of Matchbox Shots. He added, “This is a tragedy that also highlights dark truths about the pressures placed on young children in contemporary urban India. Our commitment is to tell this story with the carefully researched nuance it deserves.” Writer Leena Dhankhar said, “This is not just the story of a crime, but the story of a family’s pain and years of struggle for justice.”
The victim’s father shared his support, saying, “Not a single day has gone by when we have not remembered or missed her. Our fight has been long and it will continue until the culprits are given the harshest possible punishment. We want the truth to reach more people, so the society understands our pain and ensure that those responsible are never spared.”
Matchbox Shots is led by producers Sanjay Routray, Deeksha Jyot Routray and Sarita Patil. The studio is preparing for the release of Operation Safed Sea on Netflix. Other notable works include IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack and Khauf. The adaptation addresses the themes of institutional accountability and child protection.
