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This limited eight-part series is a co-production between BBC One and Netflix chronicling the crimes of real-life French serial killer Charles Sobhraj (Tahar Rahim), who murdered young tourists between 1975 and 2000. Sobhraj, a man of Vietnamese and Indian descent, drugged and robbed young travelers in Thailand and elsewhere, stealing victims identities, passports, and traveler s checks, and used the money to buy stolen gems at a discount to sell at a profit in Europe. With the help of his Québécois girlfriend, Marie-Andrée Leclerc (Jenna Coleman), and Indian henchman Ajay Chowdhury (Amesh Edireweera), they seemed untouchable . until a relentless Dutch junior diplomat, Herman Knippenberg (Billy Howle), began investigating the disappearance of two Dutch tourists. (eight 58-min. episodes)
The Serpent on Netflix is popular because it fits with the times, but there’s a great alternative in the form of a from-the-air journey around the Niagara region
WHAT IT S ABOUT:
In the 1970s, merciless killer Charles Sobhraj preys on travelers exploring the hippie trail of South Asia.
WHAT WE THOUGHT:
The Serpent, now streaming on Netflix.
What followed was an Easter weekend binge and hours spent on the internet, getting to know the man identified and later charged as a murderer, thief and seductive master of disguise in the mid-70s.
The Serpent, which first aired on BBC One earlier this year, follows Dutch diplomat Herman Knippenberg (Billy Howle) as he investigates the disappearance of a pair of Dutch backpackers in Bangkok. With recruited help from anyone he can get, including his then-wife, Angela (Ellie Bamber), his pursuit leads him to Sobhraj (Tahar Rahim) and his accomplices, including Marie-Andrée Leclerc (Jenna Coleman) and Ajay Chowdhury (Amesh Edireweera). All of whom have been drugging, robbing and killing young tourists travelling between Europe and South Asia.
The Serpent’s Ajay Chowdhury is played by Amesh Edireweera: What else has he been in?
Thu Apr 08, 2021 at 1:29am ET
Netflix’s new action-thriller The Serpent has been leaving its audience with major chills.
The series follows the real-life crimes of con-man and serial killer Charles Sobhraj (Tahar Rahim). Along with his girlfriend, Marie-Andrée Leclerc (Jenna Coleman), Sobhraj went on a murder spree throughout Thailand, Nepal, and India, targetting Western travelers.
His victims were often on the young side, as he was known for having a tick against “hippies.”
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Amesh Edireweera plays Ajay Chowdhury, Sobhraj’s associate. He is able to sympathize with his character, recognizing that he is a man who “came from nothing.”