Lakshanika Santhakumar

Freelance true crime researcher and scriptwriter with experience writing long-form, fact-checked narrative scripts for an established true crime YouTube production. Journalism & Communication postgraduate (MA) who writes every script from scratch, cross-verifying claims across multiple news sources and court documents rather than working from a pre-built brief. Specializes in international case research, legal-system translation for a U.S. audience, and victim-centered narrative structure.

Lead Scriptwriter & Researcher - Dark Asia with Megan - YouTube

(2025-01)

Write long-form narrative true crime scripts adapted from international and U.S. cases for established true crime YouTube production hosted by Megan Lee.

• Write long-form (5,000–16,500+ word) narrative true crime scripts adapted from international and U.S. cases, including the Hae Min Lee / Adnan Syed case made famous by the podcast Serial, the death of Chinese actor Yu Menglong (the channel's one of the highest-viewed episode to date), and the "My Way Killings," a two-decade pattern of karaoke-related deaths across the Philippines.
• Build each script from a case name alone: independently identify and verify primary sources, cross-check every claim before drafting, and incorporate U.S.-audience legal translation (plain-language editor's notes contextualizing foreign courts and charges).
• Maintain a consistent host voice across 40+ scripts through multiple revision rounds; deliver victim-first narrative structure with a documented "justice gap" framing (what was never disclosed, who walked free, what the system owed).
• Write every script entirely from scratch: no templates, no AI-generated drafts. Each case is independently cross-verified across multiple news archives, court documents, and primary records before a single line is written.
• Apply a postgraduate Journalism background to every script: sourcing discipline, attribution standards, and editorial judgment that most scriptwriters in this space don't bring to the work.

Media Planning Executive - Bleevo

(2025-06 - 2026-05)

OOH media planning and client servicing including a ₹1.5 Cr annual campaign for NAC Jewellers.

Journalism Intern - Dinakaran

(2023 - 2023)

PR writing, press releases, and field reporting.

PR Intern - D'One Channel 1

(2024-01 - 2025-05)

PR writing, press releases, and field reporting.

Strategic Brand Management and Communication - Brand Management and Communication - MICA

MA - Journalism & Communication - Ethiraj College for Women (2023-01 - 2025-12)

BA - English Literature - NPR College (2020-01 - 2023-12)