Karan Tejpal’s “Stolen” opens with a harrowing scene: a woman named Jhumpa sleeps at a rural railway station with her infant daughter, Champa. In the dead of night, an unknown figure abducts the baby. Two brothers, Gautam and Raman Bansal, find themselves entangled in the aftermath. Raman, a freelance photographer, becomes a suspect when Champa’s cap is found in his possession. Despite his claims of innocence, the situation escalates. Jhumpa, desperate to find her child, suspects a local tea vendor, who confesses to aiding a woman named Surili in the kidnapping. The trail leads to a place called Kasuni Manor, rumored to be cursed. As the trio delves deeper, they confront police apathy, mob hysteria fueled by misinformation, and a web of deceit involving child trafficking. The narrative unfolds over a tense 24-hour period, highlighting themes of trust, societal divides, and the consequences of digital misinformation.
The True Events Behind Stolen
The chilling story of “Stolen” is inspired by real events. Tejpal drew from a tragic incident in 2018 in Karbi Anglong, Assam, where two men were lynched by a mob that mistakenly believed they were child kidnappers. This misunderstanding was fueled by false information spread through WhatsApp messages. Tejpal was deeply affected by this event and began researching the broader phenomenon of mob violence incited by digital misinformation.
His exploration revealed a disturbing pattern of child kidnappings and the societal panic they incited, especially among the poorest communities in India. This research laid the foundation for “Stolen,” aiming to shed light on these pressing issues.
The 2018 Karbi Anglong Incident
In June 2018, a horrifying act of mob violence shook India and exposed the dark consequences of digital misinformation. Two young men—Nilotpal Das, a 29-year-old sound engineer, and Abhijeet Nath, a 30-year-old businessman—were lynched in a remote village in the Karbi Anglong district of Assam. The duo was on a weekend trip, exploring the scenic routes of the region, when they stopped in a village to ask for directions.
Unbeknownst to them, the area had been gripped by fear due to viral WhatsApp messages warning villagers about “child lifters” operating in the region. These messages were false, yet widely believed. When the villagers saw Nilotpal and Abhijeet—outsiders speaking in Hindi, with dreadlocks and urban attire—they were immediately suspected of being child abductors. Despite their desperate pleas and explanations, including Nilotpal’s attempts to tell the crowd in Assamese that they were tourists and not kidnappers, the mob didn’t stop. The entire lynching was caught on video. The footage shows the two being dragged from their vehicle, brutally beaten with sticks, and ultimately killed while screaming for help.
What stood out was the scale of misinformation-fueled panic. These fake WhatsApp forwards were not isolated; around that time, multiple incidents of lynchings and mob violence had been reported across India based on similar hoaxes. The deaths of Nilotpal and Abhijeet became a national conversation point on the dangers of misinformation, mob mentality, and digital illiteracy. For director Karan Tejpal, this incident was more than just a headline. It lingered. In interviews, he has mentioned how he was haunted by the video and the lack of compassion shown by people in it. Tejpal began to look into similar incidents and was disturbed by how frequently such violence occurred, especially against people from marginalized or misunderstood backgrounds.
“Stolen” is not a direct retelling of the Karbi Anglong case, but it channels the same themes: fear born out of ignorance, the loss of trust between communities, and the dangers of quick judgment amplified by digital virality. In the film, when villagers turn on Gautam, Raman, and Jhumpa, believing they’re kidnappers, it mirrors how quickly innocent lives can be endangered by misinformation. By weaving this very real and tragic source material into a fictional thriller, “Stolen” grounds its suspense in social commentary. It’s a cinematic echo of a reality that still exists in parts of India, where suspicion spreads faster than truth, and the price of a false message can be someone’s life.
Fictional Elements Reflecting Real Issues
While “Stolen” is rooted in real events, it incorporates fictional elements to explore broader societal themes. The characters of Gautam and Raman represent the urban elite, initially detached from the struggles of the rural poor. Their journey into the heart of the crisis forces them to confront their own biases and the harsh realities faced by those less privileged.
Jhumpa’s character embodies the desperation of a mother in a society that often overlooks the marginalized. The film also delves into the complexities of child trafficking, the failures of law enforcement, and the impact of social media-fueled hysteria.
Trust, Conscience, and Societal Divides
“Stolen” delves deep into themes of trust and conscience. Gautam and Raman’s transformation from passive observers to active participants in Jhumpa’s quest reflects a broader commentary on societal apathy. The film critiques the class divide, showcasing how privilege can blind individuals to the struggles of others. It also examines the consequences of digital misinformation, illustrating how quickly false narratives can lead to real-world violence. Through its characters and plot, “Stolen” urges viewers to question their perceptions and the societal structures that perpetuate injustice.
A Fictional Tale Grounded in Harsh Realities
“Stolen” is a compelling narrative that intertwines fiction with real-life events to shed light on pressing societal issues. By drawing inspiration from the 2018 Karbi Anglong incident, Karan Tejpal crafts a story that is both gripping and thought-provoking. The film serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of misinformation, the perils of mob mentality, and the deep-seated societal divides that continue to plague communities. Through its characters and storyline, “Stolen” challenges viewers to reflect on their own roles within these dynamics and the importance of empathy and understanding in bridging societal gaps.
