Stylish and edgy, with a deep, dark twist, Gurgaon is a neo-noir (a la Anurag Kashyap) based on the true life story of a kidnapping gone awry, in the shiny outer reaches of the fast growing Delhi metropolis. Kehri Singh awaits the day when his daughter Preet will return from her studies abroad and take over the real estate business named in her honor. Her brother Nikki Singh, however, is not so pleased. Feeling emasculated by her success, Nikki simmers and broods, edging his family towards an explosive denouement, and forcing Kehri Singh to confront a dark secret in the recesses of his past.

Raman delves deep into the psychology of his characters, fleshing out an extremely compelling story that keeps the twists and turns coming — each one completely believable and integral to the plot. A cautionary tale against the the caustic logic that drives patriarchy, and the predatory and corrupt ecosystem that undergirds material success, this unassuming tour-de-force reminds us of the consequences of pursuing economic prosperity at all costs.