In a recent interview, Sudip Sharma, the writer and creator behind the acclaimed crime thriller series Paatal Lok, shared his perspective on the current state of mystery storytelling. Sharma argued that the classic 'whodunnit' format, which relies heavily on the central mystery of identifying a perpetrator, has been exhausted by modern media.

According to Sharma, the genre reached its peak and essentially concluded with the literary contributions of Agatha Christie. He suggests that contemporary audiences are less interested in the mechanics of a puzzle-based mystery and more engaged by character-driven narratives and social commentary, which he prioritized in his own work. By moving away from the traditional tropes of the genre, Sharma aims to shift the focus toward the underlying motivations and societal structures that drive criminal behavior rather than simply asking 'who did it.'

While Sharma’s comments reflect his personal creative philosophy, they highlight a broader trend in Indian streaming content, where creators are increasingly moving toward gritty, realistic dramas that prioritize atmosphere and character development over traditional plot-driven mysteries. His critique serves as a rationale for the narrative style seen in his previous projects, which often emphasize the 'why' and 'how' of crime within complex social hierarchies.