‘The Hunt for Veerappan’ honoured at 2024 Asian Academy Creative Awards

The four-part series, released in 2023, delves into the 17-year manhunt for the notorious smuggler and brigand Veerappan, who was shot dead in 2004 by a Special Task Force of Tamil Nadu Police

Netflix’s docu-series The Hunt for Veerappan has won Best Direction (Non-Fiction) at the 2024 Asian Academy Creative Awards. The award honours cinematic excellence from the Asia-Pacific region.

The four-part series, released in 2023, delves into the 17-year manhunt for the notorious smuggler and brigand Veerappan, who was shot dead in 2004 by a Special Task Force of Tamil Nadu Police.

Director Selvamani Selvaraj received the honour at the Asian Creative Awards held in Singapore. According to reports, Netflix scored 11 of 41 wins at the AACA.

In a statement, Selvaraj said, “I am deeply humbled to receive this award at the Asian Academy Creative Awards. The Hunt for Veerappan is more than just a documentary - it’s an exploration of the complexities of human nature, the blurred lines between good and evil, and the lasting impact of one man’s actions on a nation. I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to delve into Veerappan’s fascinating and tumultuous life, and to have worked with a talented team who shared my passion for storytelling.”

The Tamil-English series was produced by Apoorva Bakshi and Monisha Thyagarajan, founders of Awedacious Originals, with Kimberley Hassett. Bakshi was one of the producers on the acclaimed series Delhi Crime.