Overview
Murder is an Indian Hindi-language erotic thriller film series produced under the banner of Vishesh Films, the production house owned by Mukesh Bhatt and Mahesh Bhatt. The series consists of three films released between 2004 and 2013. Each instalment features a standalone storyline centred on themes of marital infidelity, deceit, lust and crime, with no narrative continuity in characters across the films. The franchise is regarded as one of the commercially notable adult thriller series in mainstream Hindi cinema and contributed to the popularity of its lead performers and soundtracks.
Key facts
| Type | Hindi-language film series |
|---|---|
| Genre | Erotic thriller |
| Production | Vishesh Films |
| Producers | Mukesh Bhatt, Mahesh Bhatt |
| First film | Murder (2004) |
| Latest film | Murder 3 (2013) |
| Number of films | 3 |
| Language | Hindi |
Background
Vishesh Films, established by the Bhatt brothers, has historically focused on relationship dramas and thrillers exploring morally complex characters. The first film in the series, directed by Anurag Basu, was loosely inspired by the Hollywood film Unfaithful (2002). Its commercial success encouraged the studio to develop further thrillers under the same brand name, though each subsequent film features unrelated plots and a different cast and director.
Films in the series
Murder (2004)
Directed by Anurag Basu, Murder starred Mallika Sherawat, Emraan Hashmi and Ashmit Patel. The film follows a married woman who begins an extramarital affair, leading to events spiralling into crime. The soundtrack, composed by Anu Malik, included the popular track "Bheege Honth Tere". The film was a major box-office success and is credited with establishing Emraan Hashmi as a leading actor in the thriller-romance space.
Murder 2 (2011)
Directed by Mohit Suri, Murder 2 featured Emraan Hashmi and Jacqueline Fernandez in lead roles, with Prashant Narayanan playing the antagonist. The plot, set in Goa, centres on a former police officer working as a private investigator who pursues a serial killer targeting women. The film's music was composed by Harshit Saxena, Mithoon and others, with "Phir Mohabbat" and "Aa Zara" gaining significant popularity. It performed strongly at the box office.
Murder 3 (2013)
Directed by Vishesh Bhatt in his directorial debut, Murder 3 starred Randeep Hooda, Aditi Rao Hydari and Sara Loren. It was an adaptation of the Spanish-Colombian film La Cara Oculta (2011). The story revolves around a fashion photographer whose girlfriend mysteriously disappears, leading to disturbing revelations. The soundtrack featured contributions from Pritam, Roxen, Ankit Tiwari and others.
Timeline
- 2004 – Murder, directed by Anurag Basu, released.
- 2011 – Murder 2, directed by Mohit Suri, released.
- 2013 – Murder 3, directed by Vishesh Bhatt, released.
Recurring elements
- Production by Vishesh Films under the Bhatt banner.
- Themes of infidelity, sexual tension, betrayal and crime.
- Soundtrack-driven marketing, with each film producing chart-topping songs.
- Use of foreign or scenic locales, including Bangkok and Goa.
- Standalone narratives without shared characters.
Significance
The Murder series is considered influential in shaping a commercially viable space for adult-themed thrillers in mainstream Hindi cinema during the 2000s and early 2010s. The franchise contributed to Emraan Hashmi's screen image as a leading man in romantic thrillers, popularised soundtracks composed by emerging music directors associated with Vishesh Films, and demonstrated the studio's strategy of developing loosely connected thematic franchises, similar to its Raaz and Jism series.