01x02 - Devil is in the Details"

[bunniefuu]

Hey! Hey, hey! No! No!

You're safe.

You're gonna be alright.

I thought you were only consulting

with him regarding that case.

I didn't know you were

sending him out in the field.

Sir, he took the initiative

to check out a lead.

He kept me informed throughout.

Still, it was a huge risk!

-What if things had gone wrong?

-Sir.

He saved a girl's life!

He caught the m*rder*r and

stopped him from k*lling more people.

We should appreciate him for that.

Sir, it's been three years

since that tragic incident.

Rishi has worked very

hard to move on from that.

We must reinstate him, sir.

But how, sir?

As per our protocols,

we can't reinstate someone

who has monocular vision.

Will the false images shown by the heart

Break in front of the eyes?

Will time solve this clueless puzzle?

As the depth of eerie silence

Echoes all over

Will this wild run after the shadows

In the dark, stop?

Will the unresolved legends

Unearth the truth

And the apparitions

Of the mystery die away?

And then?

Kathy!

Selvi!

Selvi!

What happened?

A creature?

What kind of creature?

Sir I cannot explain it.

What did it look like?

Sir

it disappeared before

I could see properly.

You are hiding something, Kathy.

Out with the truth.

What did you see?

It was the Vanaratchi, sir.

What?

Sir I too didn't believe it

when I heard the stories before.

But I saw her with my own eyes.

I guess you are still delirious.

You must have seen some black panther.

They roam around here.

Does a black panther

wear a red sari?

You think I'm delusional, don't you?

I swear on my family God Muneeswaran!

I saw the Vanaratchi.

She saw it too.

-But she is afraid to admit it.

-Enough!

Did you two smoke ganja or something?

If you spread such rumors,

I will fire you both.

Alright. You two, go and get some rest.

A good nap might help.

Now leave.

Go.

Sir, please come with me.

We'll talk about this.

Why are you getting so upset?

Please don't yell at forest guards.

Poor souls.

They have an immense workload.

Each guard is doing the work of two.

It's been months since they went home.

We already have a shortage of manpower.

We cannot afford

to lose them too.

We should be kinder to them.

I know, brother.

Tell those two girls

to take a few days off.

-Okay.

-We will manage without them.

Should we report this to the CBCID?

Report what?

That two forest guards

saw a spirit in the forest?

They will take us for fools.

She is going to spread the story

all over the village anyway.

What will we do then?

Hello.

I am just getting in, where are you?

I'm also just rushing in!

What to do?

I got a message from the

inspector just half an hour ago.

I also got the message

just a while ago.

He could've informed us yesterday itself!

We were with him, right?

He informs us at the last minute,

makes us come late, and humiliates us.

He does it on purpose.

We have been doing everything right.

Then why is he doing this?

He already ruined the

chances of my promotion.

Now, he wants to ruin

our reputation also, I guess.

According to Robert's medical history,

there were no serious health issues

to warrant a cardiac arrest.

Come in, take a seat.

He was very fit.

SI Chitra mentioned that

oleander flowers were

found at the crime scene.

She asked if the cardiac arrest

was caused by oleander poisoning.

But I didn't find any traces

of oleandrin in his blood.

Since his body was stiff and rigid,

I suspected some

other kind of poisoning

and asked the

toxicologist to look into it.

Certain types of coral snakes,

scorpions, and snails

use the poison in their body,

to completely fry the

prey's nervous system.

The chemical makeup of

their venom has calliotoxin.

That shock could also cause

cardiac arrest.

However, no traces of calliotoxin

or other similar chemical

were found in the victim's blood.

So

we suspect that it's a m*rder.

But nobody knows

what the m*rder weapon is.

Unfortunately, yes.

The cocoon?

No traces of chemicals,

plastics, metal, or glue.

It is organic. The webspinner

insects have weaved it.

I heard that Robert's body

had been sent to Delhi.

His wife requested a second autopsy

in Delhi, before his funeral.

Yesterday, we received

that report as well.

They too have not found anything new.

I'm sure you realize that there

are no errors from our side.

Thank you, doctor.

-I'll be in touch.

-Sure.

Has any similar incident

happened in that forest before?

Unexplained death?

Dead body in a cocoon?

Not that we know of.

Why?

Are you suspecting serial murders?

Why must someone put so

much effort into a single m*rder?

Think harder.

One

a similar incident might

have taken place before.

Or this could be the first

of more such killings.

Sir, in case a similar incident

had happened before,

the forest officials would

have informed us, right?

Let's ask them.

Morning, sir.

What is he doing here?

Is he going to question us

like criminals, again?

No, he wants to meet the DFO.

Welcome, sir.

The DFO is waiting for you.

Thanks for arranging the meeting.

Without your department's support,

there won't be any

progress in this case.

No problem, sir.

Anything you need.

Please.

You can call me Rishi.

Okay, Rishi. Come.

Sathya, how long have

you been working here?

It is going to be four years

this December.

And before that?

I was working as a

forest ranger in Ottapalam.

My native is Palakkad.

That's nice.

-Are you from this place?

-No, Nagore.

I came here right after marriage.

My kids were born here.

I started as a forest guard and

then became a forester.

It's been 30 years.

Thaenkaadu is my native now.

-The vehicle is ready, sir.

-Yeah, let's go.

I shall take leave now.

I have survey duty.

Okay. I'll also join

you after the meeting.

-Later, sir.

-See you, sir.

Come on.

-Are these the weekly reports?

-Yes, madam.

Send them to the Division office.

We can send it to ACF

once I've checked it.

-Okay, madam.

-Okay?

-Okay, madam.

-Ma'am.

Inspector Rishi and team.

-Hello.

-Hello, ma'am.

Please come inside.

You wanted to know if a similar incident

like Robert's

had happened in

Thaenkaadu before, right?

That's right.

Five years ago, a

truck driver named Bala

lost control of the vehicle

and rammed into a tree.

Due to the high impact, he

crashed out through the windshield.

The sharp branches of the

tree had pierced his abdomen.

He died shortly after that.

Later

the guards found his body

only on the following morning.

We honestly did not think that

these two incidents were connected.

That's why, we never brought it up.

Webspinners spinning cocoons around

the corpses of dead animals,

is not an unusual sight in this forest.

But, this is the first time we found them

weave a cocoon around a human being.

Then again, weaving such a

big cocoon in such a short time

it was strange indeed.

We could not explain this behavior.

The causes of death are also different.

Exactly.

The autopsy report stated that

Bala died due to the injuries

sustained during the accident.

Since we didn't see any

other possibilities or evidence

we never suspected

it to be a m*rder.

Remember you put your gold chain in a box?

Did you take that?

It's right next to the mirror.

Are you upset with me?

Of course!

Couldn't you have told the officer

that you also saw it?

You made me look like a fool

in front of them.

Do you think they would have believed us?

Fine.

When will you be back?

I doubt if I'll even come back.

I left my newborn with my mother-in-law

and came here.

It's been eight months

since I saw my child.

I heard that she has

already started walking.

Seems she even called out "Mommy"

when she saw my photo.

I'm so unlucky to have

missed everything.

This profession sucks!

Is your husband

coming to pick you up?

No, his work is also hectic.

Sudarkodi will accompany me

to the bus stop.

I'll go from there.

Wait.

Kathy, listen to me.

You also leave this place.

It's scary to think about what

might happen here.

Where would I go?

Then why don't you come with me?

Stay at my place

till you find another job.

No, Selvi.

I don't want to trouble you.

It's okay. I'll manage.

Don't worry about me.

Come back soon.

Oh, Holy Lord

The savior of my spirit

Everything is Your grace

The Son of Mother Mary

Friend from the land of Calvary

Everything is Your grace

Wearing a crown of thorns

You cleared all my sins

Oh Lord, You are my guidance

By bearing the cross

You freed me from my sins

Oh, savior

You are my guidance

Who's that?

Kathy, is that you?

Yes, Mother.

Been so long since I saw you.

How are you?

I went to the orphanage,

looking for you.

They told me you were here.

But I didn't expect to see you

in this condition.

It hurts me to see you like this.

God

don't cry, my dear.

This is what comes with old age.

Are you also going to abandon me

and leave me as an orphan?

Don't talk like that.

Well, that's the truth.

You are all I have.

I don't have anywhere to go

in this world.

As long as the lord is there,

you will never be an orphan.

Be strong.

He will always be there to protect you.

-Are you Bala's father?

-No, his father-in-law.

After his death,

my daughter and grandson

have moved in with me.

Do you know any details

about his accident?

Where do I start?

How did the truck

suddenly ram into a tree?

Even cops didn't have an answer.

His truck was new

and it was in good condition.

My son-in-law was

an experienced driver.

He was not the kind of person who

used to drink and drive recklessly

But still, that mishap took place.

Sir

we can go.

Do you remember what Bala was

carrying in his truck on that night?

The usual stuff, sir.

Vegetables and fruits.

Locally grown produce.

He would drive in shifts, to and

from the local town or Coimbatore.

How was his state of mind

before the accident?

Did he have any issues?

Like any issues with his

co-workers or relatives?

He never poked his nose

in others' matters.

He always minded

his own business.

How did he behave

towards people at home?

Did he ever get angry?

I have never seen him get angry, sir.

He never once

raised his hand on me.

He was also very loving towards our son.

Do you believe that your

husband's death was an accident?

That's what everyone said.

But what do you think?

I

I have no idea.

You loved him a lot.

Didn't you ever notice anything

strange in his behavior?

Please do not hesitate.

Tell us whatever it is.

Well

a week before the accident,

he had trouble sleeping.

He kept complaining that he

was having disturbing nightmares.

I could see that something

was troubling him, sir.

He'd suddenly wake up

in the middle of the night,

and scream at the wall saying,

"Let me go! Let go!"

I thought

it was some female spirit

that was haunting him.

The following weekend

we were planning to go to the temple

and perform a ritual in his name.

But when he went for his work shift

he didn't return alive!

He didn't return alive.

Go ahead.

It's true. We have heard it quite often.

He used to wake up in the

middle of the night and scream.

Poor guy.

We were sure that he encountered

something that terrified him.

He fell sick one day with a high fever.

His wife came crying

to my doorstep for help.

I took him to the hospital.

Bala seemed very tense

before his trip that night.

He tied the sacred lemon

and chili dangles in his truck.

Since my sister's wedding

preparations were going on,

I couldn't travel with him.

A week before the accident, when

he was traveling in a forest road,

Bala said he saw a ghostly woman

in a red sari standing by the road.

We mocked him saying that

it would have been some hooker.

But, he was quite serious about it.

He said that it was a forest spirit.

He was blabbing that she

chased him everywhere.

Who would believe all this?

Nature Spirits.

That is water, fire, air,

earth, and forest.

There are many cultures that

believe in such Nature Spirits.

There are thousands of stories

about such spirits in many literatures.

Since ancient times, people

have worshiped Nature Spirits.

People worshiped them not

just out of devotion but also fear.

Because not every Nature Spirit

possesses only pure traits.

Some have evil powers too.

They are fierce creatures who

appear like ghosts and devils,

and terrorize the humans.

Vanaratchi is also like that.

Since she is the savior of the forest,

this Nature Spirit is named as

"Vana-Ratchi" which

means Forest Protector.

We recovered a yellow-colored two-wheeler

in the marshland near Velachery.

It was confirmed that it belonged

to the m*rder*d victim Saumya.

For a long time, we couldn't find

any lead in this serial m*rder case.

Then we found an important clue

in Saumya's bike.

It was a major twist

in this investigation.

Where is Kandhan?

He didn't turn up, brother.

-What about Maari and Pandi?

-They also didn't come.

Are they all deliberately bunking work?

I don't know.

I think they took up some other work

in the neighboring village.

No, brother. I think they

are scared to work here.

Hey, engineer!

Why is everyone standing idle?

I can hardly see ten workers!

Where are the other laborers?

I had arranged for 50 laborers

but only a few have turned up.

Why? What's the issue?

We promised good pay, right?

Boss

What is it? Tell me what the problem is!

Please come here.

What's with him?

There is a rumor that there is some

kind of a spirit roaming in the forest.

One of our workers swears that

he saw it a couple of days ago.

What? A spirit?

What rubbish is this?

Ever since that photographer's death

became a news,

this rumor has been spreading fast.

People are scared to step

into the forest, even to work.

These fools!

Look here, Harish!

I had to fall at many strangers' feet

and shell out millions

to get this contract.

The work must go

on at any cost, got it?

I get it. Shall I get workers

from the neighboring village?

No, thanks!

I will bring 40 North Indians

who don't speak Tamil.

That's the only viable option.

Get the work done using them.

-Got it?

-Okay.

Name? Kaazhi Killivalavan.

Such an old-fashioned

name in these modern times?

-It's so funny, Auntie.

-Hey!

Kaazhi Killivalavan is a beautiful

Tamil name.

That was my grandfather's name too.

Your son is not

going to forgive you

if you give him this name, Auntie.

His friends in school are going

to bully him for this.

Think of modern names

like Dhruv, Ashwin, Harish

Pick any of those.

You just spat out cinema actors' names.

Get lost!

Fine, forget it.

What would you name her if you had a girl?

Who is that?

Is that Sangeetha?

Yes, Grandma. How are you?

My vision is blurring out day by day.

Where have you been?

That too at this dark hour,

especially when you're pregnant?

I went for a check-up, Grandma.

Really? Alright, hurry up

and reach home soon.

Do you have any iron objects handy?

No, why?

If the Ratchi smells

the baby in your womb,

she will come for it.

Vanaratchi died before she

could live out her human life.

She wasn't lucky enough

to experience motherhood.

And that anger still lingers in her.

If she spots a pregnant woman,

she'll come to take her baby away.

Don't you know that?

Are you out of your senses, you old hag?

Just ignore her, Auntie.

Come, let's go home.

Hear me out!

If you find any iron object

on your way, then take it.

Iron objects repel that spirit.

Shut up, you old hag!

I'll go on my own from here. You leave.

No, I'll drop you home.

No need. It's already late.

Look, your mother is waiting

for you at the doorstep.

Why so late? Didn't get a bus?

No, there was a huge crowd

in the hospital.

My token number was 67.

Had to wait two and a half hours

to see the doctor.

Alright. Is the baby healthy?

Yes, the baby is fine.

The doctor advised me

to drink lots of water.

-Anyway, I'll take leave.

-Okay. Go home safe.

See you, Dhanam.

God!

Dear, wake up!

Dear, come here!

Please come here!

Oh Goddess, I beg you.

Please spare my child!

Dear, open the door!

Open the door!

Please open the door!

Oh my God! What's happening?

Please open the door!