A spate of significant films — from Mardaani (2014) and Mardaani 2 (2019) to Kahaani 2: Durga Rani Singh (2016), Ajji (2017), Bhakshak (2024), and this month’s Gandhari and Daayra — has explored the dark reality of sexual crimes against women and children. Can such films actually curb real-life crimes, such as the recent Noida-Delhi bus gangrape?