Hey! Did anyone get the girl something to eat?
We did, but she refused.
Refused?
How arrogant! Fine, let her bloody starve then!
Where is that Pradeep guy?
Sir, he's outside. I'll get him.
Have him come downstairs.
Does this even look like a police station?
Every time there's a festival,
all the problems of the world land on our heads!
It's my fate…
ever since I put on this uniform.
Silence!
Silence, I say!
I'll give you ten minutes!
Not a single rogue, rascal, wastrel, or good-for-nothing crook should remain!
Get them all out of here!
I'm out of patience!
Get everyone out of here! Chase them out!
I won't spare you!
You're going to get it from me!
Sir!
What should we do with the guy who robbed the candy shop?
He hasn't showered in three days! Get him out first!
Get lost!
Scumbag of the highest order!
My horoscope says there’s going to be a cataclysm today!
Hey!
- Sir! - You son of a corpse!
Because you leaked the story to the Maaru TV reporter,
the D.I.G. is making me pull out my tongue with his questions!
Bastard!
If anyone leaks anything again, I’ll skin them alive!
The D.I.G. is here!
- Can't you give me a heads-up? - We got calls from other stations!
Apart from these two girls, six other girls have surrendered.
Hey, hold on!
Seven of them. All women, too.
Surrendering at seven stations simultaneously? It’s unreal.
It's got us stumped as well, sir.
And the girl we arrested at the crime scene isn't saying a word.
Eight suspects for one murder.
They're all young women. They must be handled with care.
The reputation of the police depends on it.
Okay…
- Nothing must leak to the press. - Sure.
I've given strict instructions to all police chiefs.
- Okay, sir. - Okay?
- Okay, sir. - Moorthy, too.
Got it? Take care.
Let's go.
- Constable! - Sir?
I want the phone records of all the women who surrendered.
- Okay, sir. - The logs of their conversations.
Did they ever speak to Chellappa? I want it all.
I want to send a team--
Send a team, inform local stations,
and get everyone's details.
Their paramours, their parents, where they live, where they work.
Their entire life story from beginning to end.
That's it, right?
Don't take this the wrong way, young man.
Actually, it doesn’t matter if you do!
I’ve been a cop since you were in diapers.
Just because the D.I.G. put you in charge of the case,
don’t assume the world rests on your shoulders.
You won't be able to bear the weight. Got it?
- Douglas! - Yes, sir?
No one gets in here! Understood?
- See to it. - Okay, sir.
Ask that girl with the jasmine flowers to sit inside. And switch on the fan.
I'll question her now.
The first day of the Ashtakaali Festival.
It must have been around 11:30 p.m.
I went to meet Chellappa at his cottage.
I rang the doorbell.
He answered immediately.
He looked around a bit and then let me in.
As I went in, he told me to sit down.
He settled into his chair behind the table.
Sit down.
I was nervous.
I saw a gun on the side table.
I glanced at Chellappa,
then back at the gun.
He noticed it too and tried to grab the gun.
Without any hesitation, I grabbed the gun.
Without hesitation, I shot him.
He did not expect me to shoot him.
He looked shocked when the bullet struck him.
He slumped back onto the chair.
Dead.
Why did you kill Chellappa?
Hey!
Sir asked you a question! Answer him!
How did you escape from the cottage after killing Chellappa?
SUZHAL-THE VORTEX
Illusions and deceptions…
Wounds many, the vortex reveals
Endless and relentless…
Wails many, the vortex rains
Won't life triumph?
Won't grief cease?
O vortex!
Swirling within Shadows… dark shadows
Riddles within
Will you unravel, O God?
O vortex!
Swirling within Shadows… dark shadows
Riddles within
Will you unravel, O God?
Chellappa didn't expect me to shoot him.
I saw the shock in his eyes.
He just slumped back. Dead.
The same story, word for word.
Muppi.
Fine. Who else was with you?
There was no one else.
I did this all alone.
In the surrounding darkness,
the only light was from Chellappa's cottage.
- I rang the doorbell-- - He immediately answered,
you went in, he asked you to sit,
you saw the gun, picked it up, and shot him.
Right?
First, tell me why you went to his cottage at that hour.
Hey! How is Chellappa related to you?
Why did you kill him?
Tell me that! Good grief!
Get me a glass of tea!
Phone records?
Anything to connect these girls to Chellappa?
Wouldn't I have told you if I had the details?
They are making fools out of us.
And you're out here barking orders.
The gun was at the side table. The murder weapon.
I shot him with his gun.
The bullet entered his right temple. Fatal shot.
As the victim was at close range, he died on the spot.
You bitches all dance the same routine!
- Can't you find a new routine? - Inspector!
Be respectful, sir!
What routine?
- What are you implying? - Fine!
Never mind that.
Tell me about your family.
- Your husband, kids-- - I'm single.
Unmarried. I don't wish to drag my family into this.
Listen up! I don't give a damn about your wishes!
When questioned, answer!
- Or I'll take action-- - I won't be spooked by these threats!
I'm a lawyer, too. Criminal law.
I voluntarily confessed that I killed Chellappa.
Just take my statement and arrest me, sir.
Instead of that--
Tell us why you killed Chellappa.
Tell us!
Fine.
After you shot Chellappa, what did you do with the gun?
I dropped it right there! It must be in that room!
- Watch your tone! - The murder weapon wasn't lying around.
I don't know!
The door to the cottage was locked from the inside.
How did you get out?
I've said what I have to say!
File a case and figure it out!
Isn't that your job?!
Sakkarai!
Asking her nicely won't cut it!
- She needs a few smacks-- - Don't, Sir! Don't!
- Don't do it, sir! - Shoot her!
Let it go, sir!
Who's the person in this photo?
I don't know. I haven't seen her before.
Why are you showing me some random girl's photo?
Just show me my statement, and I'll sign it.
Enough with the questions.
We may have our differences, Sakkarai,
but you show patience beyond your years. I admire that in you.
Perfection in your work. Good!
Sandhanam, isn't it?
You're a paramedic, right?
You're no stranger to blood.
How can you prove that you went to Chellappa's cottage that night?
Chellappa was wearing a green shirt and a white dhoti.
The green border on the dhoti had some mud on it.
She got that right.
Okay.
Why did you kill Chellappa?
Open the cell.
Oh, God! The heat is unbearable!
Oh, God!
What, Sherlock? Unable to find any link between those women?
Can't find a single bloody connection!
Checked their call records dating back months.
There's no trace of any communication among the girls or with Chellappa.
Then why did those shrews memorize the same story
and repeat it without a single flaw?
None of their numbers are saved on any of the others' phones.
- Oh! - Sir?
Sir.
We've thoroughly checked the backgrounds of all eight women.
They're all single,
have decent jobs, and are independent.
They have no immediate family.
We are checking to see if there are any boyfriends
at their residences or offices.
They're not close to anyone.
No bonds that hold them back.
It appears there is no common link among these eight girls.
I need to leave soon, sir.
Damn it… Ask him!
Sir?
I have to go. There's an event at home--
Are you in your right mind, Geetha?
There are two women behind bars!
You're the only female officer in the station!
Any sense of duty--
Why are you mouthing off?
Everyone here has their family.
Only you have a personal stake in this case!
You're on compulsory leave, right?
You're handling this case unofficially, right? What gives?
This is Mariam, Saroja sister.
And her daughter Ivana.
They're in our block.
I'm aware. She was born here, wasn't she?
Yes, sister. She's five and a half years old.
At six, she'll be moved out of here.
To a relative's house or to a government home?
Yes, sister. I pleaded my case with the warden, too. But…
The warden's hands are tied. Government rules.
Fair enough.
How can she face the real world if she grows up between these walls?
But there's no one out there who can take care of her.
Her father?
I killed him, sister.
Why so ashamed about that?
Most of the women here are here for that.
Can I put her up in a government home?
Don't worry.
Once I'm out, I'll enroll her in a good school.
She is my responsibility.
- Are there no amenities in your block? - No, sister.
I'll talk to Security. Send her to my block.
She can come over anytime to play or watch TV. Okay?
Tell Aunty, "Thank you."
Thank you.
I'll be out in three to four months.
Find another mediator to handle any issues. Got it?
If this prison didn't have a kitchen, I'd have gone mad in here.
Be more brisk, Viji.
Needs salt, right?
Yes, sister.
You had a biryani shop back home, right?
Yes, we did. But no one showed up to have biryani at a transgender joint.
Now we only handle wedding catering.
We just send out biryanis in bulk. We don't deliver it.
But you and Mariam have a purpose, right?
That's what I seek, too.
You can throw a ball only if there is a bat, right?
Nandini!
The warden wants to see you.
See you, sister.
Sit.
Nandini, did they inform you about your lawyer?
What happened, ma'am?
Advocate Chellappa is dead.
How?
A case of murder.
The police are investigating.
Here, have some water.
The judge wanted to discuss this with you on a video call.
Nandini,
I'm sorry to say this,
but the case is stuck in a complex legal situation.
If an advocate dies during an ongoing case,
it'll be declared a mistrial.
Judgment cannot be delivered.
So, you might have to face a retrial.
What's a retrial?
You need to conduct the case all over again with another lawyer.
I get it.
For victims, especially abuse victims,
a retrial involves reliving the trauma once again.
I've sought an opinion from the Chief Justice of the High Court.
But be prepared for a retrial.
I'm trying to cut down on it.
Sorry, sir.
I shouldn't have shouted at Geetha.
Never mind that!
When a case dead-ends, you're bound to take it out on the weaker ones.
Sir, what if those eight women killed Chellappa together?
Hypothetically speaking,
if they did that, why would they surrender instead of escaping?
Maybe they all did it together, but Muthu ended up in our custody alone,
and they caught wind of that.
What if they're trying to save Muthu, divert the investigation, and break it?
Your logic is pretty damn sound.
One of them is a lawyer, too!
Sure, she could have coached them all, but they are not connected in any way!
How do we link them to Chellappa?
Once we find the link, we'll know why they killed Chellappa.
On the surface, there's no link to be found.
What if we dug deeper?
The families and colleges of those eight women…
Do they belong to some organization?
If we trace back to their school days, we’ll surely find something.
I'll inform the neighboring stations. Let's dig it out!
We've had this girl Muthu in custody since yesterday, sir.
We can't keep her beyond 6 p.m. today.
The other stations have called, too, asking what to do with the other women.
Okay. I'll call you back.
We can't hold the women at the station beyond 6 p.m.
We need to move them to judicial custody.
So where do we send them?
There's only one sub-jail
housing female suspects for all five surrounding districts.
Sataiyur Jail for Women, Virudhunagar District.
You may sign over here.
SPECIAL PRISON FOR WOMEN, SATAIYUR
Nandini!
You have a visitor!
Open the gate. I have the warden's permission.
Chellappa sir…
How?
Who did it, Sakkarai?
Move along! Get in!
Get in, I say!
New meat?
Move in a single file!
Stand in line!
Come on!
Stand in a straight line!
- What are they in for? - Murder, ma'am.
"Murder"?
They seem like toddlers to me!
Take off your jewelry!
Collect it!
Make it fast!
Damn! Let your hair down!
Hey!
Untie your hair.
Think you're some big shit?
Get the scissors!
Arrogant bitch!
I'll hack it all off!
Strip!
Hey!
Strip down!
Strip, I say!
Strip down!
Strip down, bitches!
Strip down, spread your legs, and bend over!
Let me see who's got what stashed where!
Strip down!
You heard me! Strip!
See that, Sarala? All young skin.
These don't come by often.
A royal screwing awaits them!
- Hey! Quit crying like babies! - Get the gloves.
Strip!
Must I tell you separately, Ms. Vodka?
Strip down!
Take off your pants!
Take them off!
All done?
Bend over!
Give me the gloves.
Bend over, I say!
Bend over!
I've known Chellappa sir since I was a child.
I can't believe that he's dead.
Sakkarai…
Why did they kill him?
I don't know.
I don't understand.
They're all in the 22 to 24 age group.
So young.
Why?
That's why I need your help, Nandini.
They've all surrendered according to plan.
They show clarity in their words and behavior.
They won't add a word to the statement they gave to the police.
I can't proceed further without knowing their motive.
How can I help with that?
They can tell you things they won't tell cops, right?
There are over 300 female prisoners here.
Why would they come to--
I'm not saying they'll come up to you on their own.
I've asked the warden to put them in your block.
If you try striking up a conversation with them…
You're the only one who believes in me.
Even I don't believe in myself.
Do you really believe those women killed Chellappa sir?
What does your intuition say?
My intuition has been wrong many times.
You've seen it happen.
If you be my eyes and ears in this prison, everything will go down smoothly.
Will you do it?
What? Giving me a job while I'm sitting idle here?
Hey!
Nothing like that, Nandini.
- I truly think-- - Alright!
I'll handle it.
What's this? A bribe for doing your job in here?
Sure, let's go with that.
Then this won't suffice.
I want many more Karupatti sweets!
Here you go.
I heard the case might be up for a retrial.
- Come what may, I've got your back-- - I got this.
Thanks for the sweets.
Look, Ranjitham! Fresh pieces!
We got ourselves quite a treat!
Can I come to your cell tonight?
- Expect them to wait that long? - In quite a hurry, are you?
Let them wait! They're not going anywhere!
Young girls.
They might be putting up a brave face, but they're terrified.
It'll take a few days for them to get to know us.
Hey, move!
Move aside!
Hold this.
Hey, look at this girl here! So, what is it?
Robbery or assault?
Just focus on serving.
Don't you know better than to ask new inmates what they're charged with?
I'm aware. You mind your own business!
Thinks she's all that!
What? This is our spot.
Sister!
She's new. It's her first day. Let her be.
Go there.
Go!
Let it lie! Why are you butting in?
Noticed the seven other women?
None of them intervened.
They pretend like they don't know each other.
Maybe they really don't know each other.
Just because they were arrested together doesn't mean they're acquainted.
Hello?
Sundar?
Yes, Sakkarai?
How is Malathy maa?
She hasn't stopped crying yet.
They're releasing your father's body tomorrow.
- Make arrangements for the last rites. - Alright.
It'll take two days for the autopsy report to come in.
No matter what we do, the report will come in only when it comes in.
Why did you send those girls to the sub-jail?
That's not your job.
You're trying something?
Care for a drink?
- Just one drink! - No, sir.
Not during duty hours.
Sakkarai, I'm not relaxing during working hours.
Rather, your work has extended into my relaxing time!
That is true.
That'll do.
Twelve years.
Eight months.
Sixteen days.
Twelve years,
eight months, and sixteen days.
That's how long it's been since my sense of duty was squashed out of my uniform.
Did you have anything to eat?
- Hey! Get us two dosas! - Okay, sir!
I was handling security for a minister.
I had to take his kids to coaching classes.
That breed of dog…
The kind that's hairy all over?
Pomeranian!
If that dog got sick, I had to take it to the vet.
I had to buy vegetables,
take his wife to the shopping complex,
and accompany their guests to special rituals at temples.
They sucked my sense of duty out of me!
Punishment duty.
Why were you punished?
First, eat this, Sakkarai.
What was that you asked?
I asked why you were punished.
There was a robbery at an influential household.
The Inspector arrested their driver and domestic helper
and had me file the charge sheet.
Upon questioning them, I knew they were innocent.
I tracked down the real culprit.
They screwed me.
Why?
Why twelve years for that?
The thief was the minister's cousin.
The robbery happened at the minister's house.
The real punchline? The minister himself planned the robbery.
How the hell do I sell that narrative?
- Moorthy sir… - Oh my…
So because you didn't let it go, they royally screwed you at their house.
Exactly!
I was like you, too.
When I started this job, I was a blazing fire.
Make sure they don't put your fire out by suspending you over your revolver
and transferring you out.
They've been assigned to your cell.
There's no space for two here.
Why not write to the Union Minister about it?
Welcome!
Welcome to our palace!
Let's get to bed.
- Sister! - What is it?
I need to make a call tomorrow.
Can you put my name down for it?
Alright. Meet me in the morning.
Thanks, sister.
I need to talk to Chellappa sir's wife about the funeral.
How do you know Chellappa?
He was my lawyer.
Do you know Chellappa sir?
Hey!
Hey! What's wrong?
What's the matter?
Vimala!
- Vimala! - Coming!
- Hurry! - What's wrong?
Get the doctor!
- Get the doctor right away! - On it!
Madam!
Don't bite your tongue!
Don't bite it! Here!
Don't bite your tongue!
Okay…
Don't bite your tongue! Bite this!
Grab her head!
- She's on her way, Nandini! - Lift her up!
Hold that!
- Hold the bar! Hold it! - Hold it.
Hold it tight!
Relax.
What is this?
THE CEREMONIAL SEEKING OF ALMS
How do we find him in such a huge crowd?
Wasn't he playing the king?
Hey!
See if that's him.
No. It's not him. Let's go.
Dhamu! Hey!
We've been looking all over for you!
What's with this look? Weren't you playing the king?
Yes, like sir.
In his memory.
Since I have this amulet on,
I cannot even attend his last rites.
Fine! Do you know where Sundar is?
It's time to go to the cemetery.
Malathy maa is waiting!
We can't find him. His phone is off.
- I know where Sundar is. - Let's go.
Move aside, kid!
Move aside!
The guy dressed as the Red Goddess you just asked to step aside?
He owns two factories in Madras.
He's a multi-millionaire.
No matter how busy he is, he comes here for the festival.
He begs for alms in this costume.
Why would he do that? That too in this hot sun? So unnecessary!
Every person has an inherent arrogance of "I" within them.
They need to put their ego aside.
We must realize we are just small drops in the vast ocean of the world.
That's what the begging is for.
I’m from this town, too, but I'm not familiar with all of this.
The keystone of this festival comes at the end.
On the last day, after the demon has been slayed,
multitudes of people take a dip in the sea and shed their disguises.
That's the most special part.
What's special about that?
It's not just their disguises that get washed away
but also their anger, jealousy, guilt, sin, and ego.
Every vice inside of us is shed along with the disguise,
and we start life anew.
Step on it! Hit it!
Hit it!
Make way! Please make way!
Sundar!
- Sundar! - Sundar.
- Brother… - Sundar!
- Brother! Wake up, brother! - Sundar!
Look at me, brother!
Wake up, brother!
Hold him.
Wake up, brother!
Sundar…
Get up. Look at me.
What is this, Sundar?
Of all times…
Your mother and others are waiting.
My… My father…
I haven't spoken to my father in years.
Only after the body arrived from the mortuary did it sink in.
After we cremate him, that will be the end of it.
I will never be able to speak to my father again!
Sundar…
Help him.
Get up, brother!
Let's go, brother!
Dad!
O soaring temple tower Why have you toppled over?
O undying flame, why have you died out? Why, oh why?
Chellappa sir ought to have had a sea of mourners on his last journey.
Instead, he is sent away like an orphan because of the festival!
As you fly away into the vast sky
A wild river gushes from the eyes
O glorious God with a golden heart…
How can you become A fistful of ashes upon the earth?
Like a towering elephant We saw you stride on the street
Now, why do you burn Like an abandoned corpse in town?
Why, oh why do you burn so?
Why burn so?
Who could be the deceitful one Who committed this sin?
Who could be the deceitful one Who dethroned the colossus?
Who, oh who?
O soaring temple tower Why have you toppled over?
O undying flame, why have you died out?
Why, oh why?
Why have you left us crestfallen? Why, oh why?
Why has the king fallen? Why, oh why?