02x05 - The Conundrum

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The Demon is coming…

The Demon is coming…

Upon the town of Kaalipattinam…

A demon caused agony upon the people

THE TALE OF THE EIGHT KAALIS

The Demon is coming…

To vanquish the Demon

Nagakanni, the Snake-Maiden, sought a boon

Nagakanni!

As a boon, Nagakanni received Eight Eggs

As a boon, Nagakanni received Eight Eggs

To defeat the Demon

And ward off the darkness

Our Nagakanni protected
Those Eight Eggs for 41 days

Nagakanni!

The Eight Eggs hatched
And out came the Eight Kaalis!

The force to defeat the Demon was born

The Furious Kaali!

Dark-Eyed Kaali Gaandhari!

The Three-Faced Muppidari!

The Trident-Wielding Kaali!

Shenbagavalli Kaali!

Sandhanamari Kaali!

Goddess Muthumaari!

The Beautiful Goddess Naachi!

The Eight Goddesses merged as one
To defeat the Demon

Destroy the Demon!

Destroy the Demon!

Destroy the Demon!

Destroy the Demon!

Destroy the Demon!

Destroy the Demon!

Destroy the Demon!

Destroy the Demon!

The Eight Goddesses merged as one
To defeat the Demon

To protect the town
The Kaalis attacked the Demon

The Eight Kaalis born to Nagakanni
Vanquished the Demon

They k*lled the Demon!

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?

Nandini, since the case is going
for a retrial, as the judge said,

a senior advocate from Chellappa sir's
team is here to meet you.

Hello.

I'm Vijay Balaji. Senior Advocate.

I've studied your entire case file.

I'm sorry.

I understand your situation.

I need to ask you a few questions.

I know they might make you uncomfortable.

-But--
-What questions, sir?

Didn't you call Guna over to that spot?

Yes, I did.

What was your intention
when you called him?

What were you going to do to him?

Tell me, Nandini.

The g*n you took from Sakkarai's house…

Why did you take it?

I don't know.

Please tell me.

Didn't you take the g*n for your safety?

Here's the thing.

The more open you are with me,
the more I can help you.

Only if I understand your motive
can I argue in your favor.

Wasn't it for self-defense--

I took the g*n with me to k*ll him!

Nandini!

Nandini!

Nandini, please!

Please listen!

I came here to k*ll you!

Hold this.

What are you saying, Sakkarai?

The reason those eight girls
k*lled Chellappa…

When they were kids…

Chellappa abused…

I can't even bring myself to say it.

Is Prayamvatha ready to testify
about this in magistrate court?

Have you informed Malathy ma’am
and Sundar about this?

I get it.

I realize how big a betrayal
this is for you.

What's our next move?

Setting aside all these emotions,
I need to think like a cop.

This is just another case.

From this angle,
the holes in this case need to be fixed.

We need to get those girls out.

Could Muthu have gone in first
and k*lled Chellappa?

But all of them have confessed.

Did Muthu come here before Chellappa,

or did Chellappa open the door for Muthu?

Neither logic works.

Where are you going, Sakkarai? Slow down!

Eight feet!

Two and a half feet.

Eight feet on the outside.

Five and a half feet are missing.

What are you doing, Sakkarai?
I don't follow!

Sir, get me a flashlight.

There's a flashlight in the car.
I'll be back.

Here.

Hey, Sakkarai! Watch out!

Sakkarai!

What is this, Sakkarai?

I don't know, sir.

-There's a staircase here, sir.
-What?

Yes.

Watch your step.

Sakkarai, what is this?
It looks like a tunnel.

Look at this.

It appears they burned some files
or documents, right?

Yes.

Remember what
Chellappa sir's assistants said?

Yes.

It must be that laptop.

Muthu must have come this way.

When we asked about this town's history,
everyone said only you could help.

In my many years of research,

I learned that even
before the British arrived in 1700,

the Dutch had occupied this area.

At that time, these were army barracks.

The street along the shore?

That's the border of the barracks.

I remember well, Sakkarai.

Twenty years ago, this place
was an abandoned officers' quarters.

Chellappa renovated it
and turned it into his cottage.

You can see such underground tunnels
in many European constructions.

The Whites called this "Butler Tunnel."

"Butler Tunnel"?

The Whites had people like us cook
and serve them like sl*ves.

They didn't want our black skin
to be seen at their flashy parties.

So, this tunnel was built to connect
the dining area with the kitchen.

Not just that.

You know this, Sakkarai.

In the town of Mutharamman,
pearl fishing is very famous.

When fishermen were pearl-diving
in the sea,

the Whites would abduct our women.

Once they had their way with them,
they'd send them back through this tunnel.

When those girls returned,

the whole town would
wail over the atrocity they suffered.

But no one could do anything.

Not for nothing, Sakkarai.

The Whites exploited
our fishing community terribly!

Be careful with that!

Hold it carefully!

Brother!

My husband has some kind of lung disease.

He can't go into the sea anymore.

I thought he could find a job in the town,

but he refuses to leave the seaside.

I don't know what to do.

Every year,
our people pray to the Goddess,

beg for alms, and eat the rice
given to us as alms at night.

Isn't that how life is
for fisherfolk like us, too?

We go into the sea in the morning

and gratefully accept
what the Sea Goddess bestows upon us.

Hey!

Will you come with me to the sea tomorrow?

He'll come, brother!

Here you go.

Take care of your husband.

Thanks, brother!

After I teach him the trade,
he’ll take care of both of you!

Don’t worry!

Come along!

Hey!

He'll be coming with us to the sea!

Stop chit-chatting and get to work!

Why stop there, Sakkarai?

Come in.

Anything new on the case?

They talked about that girl on TV.

What does she have to do with the m*rder?

Why did that girl
come to the cottage, Sakkarai?

The investigation is ongoing.

I can't disclose anything at this point.

I thought if you were heading the case,
you’d keep me informed.

I thought you’d close it soon--

I'll tell you soon, maa.

Now,

about this cottage.

I came to ask about it.

I wasn't keen on
buying the cottage even then.

He thought Sundar
would like to stay near the sea,

so with great difficulty,
he filed a case to buy it.

Is this from that cottage?

Do you know anything about this tunnel?

What about Sundar?

Even if it was bought for Sundar,
he'd never go near it.

My husband was using it
as a private office.

There’s no way he knew about this, either.

How can you be so sure?

If he had known, wouldn’t he have told me?

There is no need for him
to tell you everything he knew, right?

There may have been a lot of things
Chellappa sir kept from you, right?

Malathy maa!

-Malathy maa!
-Hey, keep moving!

-Keep moving!
-Hey!

Malathy maa!

Fernandez! What happened?

-Why restrain Dhamu--
-Maa!

Is the sub-inspector here?

Yesterday, Dhamu ran off in fear
when he saw him!

He got busted today!

Why did you run off?

Fernandez brother,

set him free. I'll deal with him.

Cut him loose. He won't run anymore.

Cut him loose.

Take care, son.

-Let's go!
-Thanks.

What is going on, Sakkarai?

-Why is he--
-Malathy maa…

I need to talk to you alone.

Tell him to let me go!

Hey!

I’ll be here.

Say whatever you want.

Tell me…

Why did you run away yesterday
when you saw me?

Maa…

Why did you chase him, Sakkarai?

Didn't you tell me

how much removing the amulet means to him?

Then why did he do it?

Why? What's wrong with that?

It's not wrong!

I only wanted a casual chat with him.

But he ran off
when I started asking questions!

Why must I answer your questions?

Maa!

Ask him what he was doing yesterday
when I found him!

Dipping into the river
to remove his disguise!

-Washing the sins away in water--
-Exactly!

What sins was he trying
to wash away? Ask him!

Tell me.

Tell me!

What is that guilt inside you
that's eating at you?

Is that why you martyred your amulet
and held Sundar--

Yes!

I helped him lit the pyre!

Only a son can light his father's pyre!

What did you say?

What did you just say?

My mother…

She told me before she died.

Chellappa sir is my father.

Maa…

Muthu…

Please make the pieces smaller.

We get to eat meat only once in a while.

If those who eat last don't get any meat,
all hell will break loose.

Sister?

I want sanitary pads.

Who do I ask for that?

The ones I was given are finished.

Only six pads a month,

and you ran out in two days?

Muthu, if you have extra,
can you spare them?

Wait, I'll try asking someone else.

Nandini,

I heard.

Rather than go back to the stand
and spouting those old tales,

I feel like staying here, sister.

No, don’t think like that!

Somehow, you need to get out.

If that's not your goal,
you'll get used to this place.

That's dangerous.

Fine…

Tell me this.

Do you have anyone out there?

Meaning?

You know…

Got a boyfriend out there?

I don't know

if I have a boyfriend or not…

I get it.

Once you're in jail,
be it under trial or convicted,

your name and your image are ruined.

Husbands and kids leave you.

As for boyfriends…

That's not a problem.

Actually, there's no problem
on the boy's side.

He's liked me since our school days.

I’m the one confused
about whether I want this or not.

Thought so!

Boys must be under our control.

I got someone out there, too.

Only then will you
have the fervor to get out.

Check what's happening, Malar!

-I will go and check.
-Oh, God!

Don't go close to her! Please move back!

Please move back! Stay away!

Don't push! Don't keep moving in!

Listen to me! Step back!

Get the stretcher!

-Just wait!
-Please listen! Don't come in here!

Please move aside!

-Give way! Move!
-Move aside!

-Move aside!
-Move!

-Please be careful.
-Wait a minute!

What happened?

Oh, this girl?

She recently had seizures.

Take care of her.

Sure, I'll keep watch.

Easy!

I'm right here.

Kavitha!

A kid in the W1 block has a burn wound!
Take a look at that!

Just ten minutes, I'll be back.

Hurry up!

Inform the fire department!

Tell them it's an emergency!

Yes, madam!

Grab a bucket of water each and move fast!

Help! Over here…

Where is it?

It should be here…

RP1080292…

RP1080292.

RP1080292.

RP1080292.

RP1080292.

RP1080292.

Who's back there?

Thieving b*tch!

Get out here!

Who's back there?

Come on out!

Bhanu madam!

The warden's looking for you.
Things are out of control out there!

Go quickly!

Muppi.

Thanks. If you hadn't come--

First, tell me why you're here.

No time for that. I have to go!

Mupp--

Muppi!

We haven't found fingerprints
anywhere else, sir.

Just this one spot.

This is just
a preliminary fingerprint analysis.

We need to check more thoroughly
before we submit a report.

Going by the partial fingerprints,
they match perfectly with the eight girls.

So this is how they made it
into the cottage that night.

One minute. There's another fingerprint.

Number Two.

This particular print is on both sides.
Same direction, too.

The same direction?

Come this way.

Even I can't reach it.

No way those girls could, either.

So, they had to climb this way one time.

And that way, the other time.

Someone came twice.

Check whose prints these are.

One second, sir.

Muthu. It's Muthu's, sir.

So Muthu alone came back to the cottage.

-Amar!
-Sir?

Got the prints from the cottage?

Yes, sir.

Hey.

There were some
discrepancies during the analysis.

It's not clear yet.

Hence, the delay.

The m*rder weapon.

The g*n.

Unregistered.

Easy to acquire through the black market.

The girls may have bought it,
or it may have belonged to Chellappa sir.

The carbon dust from the g*nsh*t
was on Chellappa's right palm and forearm.

If the gunpowder was there,

is this suicide?

There's no way he committed suicide, sir!

What if she put the g*n in his hand
and made him sh**t himself?

Hey! What are you saying?

Have you seen that girl's size?

Planting a g*n on a man that tall…

Or did she knock out Chellappa sir,

and then make him sh**t himself?

No signs of such blunt force trauma
anywhere in his body.

The toxicology report came back negative.

So, no poison or sleeping pills
were used to knock him out.

All signs point to suicide.

We have forensic proof, too.

So, those girls didn't k*ll him.

If we file an FIR that this is a suicide,

we can easily get those girls out, right?

Right.

We need to properly confirm
that this was a suicide.

Here's what could have happened.

Those girls reconnected after ten years

and came to this very cottage
to question Chellappa.

But why did Muthu take the g*n
from a man who just k*lled himself?

Why did she hide in that closet?

She could've gone back through the tunnel.

Doesn't make sense.

One death.

Be it m*rder, suicide, or accident.

The only ones who react sensibly
and logically upon witnessing such an act

are police officers
and hardened criminals.

The shock Muthu felt

upon watching her demon
sh**t himself before her…

Everyone reacts differently when in shock.

We can't go looking for logic there.

Nor can we predict it.

That shock kept her
from escaping through the tunnel

and made her sit inside that closet
with the g*n.

Then why did those
eight girls surrender, Sakkarai?

Only Muthu was caught
by the police at the scene.

Upon seeing it on TV,

the rest of them surrendered
to save her and derail the case.

There's only one thing I don't get.

The door to the cupboard Muthu was in…

Who locked it from the outside?

Sakkarai sir, with the evidence we have,
we don't have all the answers we need.

When I was a kid,

despite studying well,
I'd screw up in the exams.

My father had a theory for that.

If you try to finish
the entire question paper 100%,

you'd waste a lot of time
on that one question you don't know,

not finish the exam,
and score just 70 marks.

But…

if we ignore that question
and attempt the remaining 90% of the exam,

you'd score 90 marks, right?

Like that…

That one question…

If we ignore the 10%
that is who locked the door

and focus on the rest,
we can save the girls, right?

THE GODDESS'S CHARIOT PROCESSION

Go! Go! Go!

Step back!
Go! Go! Move on!

Sir.

Please come with me.

What's so urgent?
Can't it wait until after the procession?

Please, sir. Just two minutes.

Whatever it is, tell me here!

What are you saying?

Even if his enemies had k*lled him,
this would have been wrapped up quickly!

If such a truth about Chellappa comes out,
the town will lose its hope!

My brother told me that day!

Even villains can be trusted,

but superhero glory hounds
like Chellappa can never be trusted.

I didn't take it seriously.

My brother wanted to marry Malathy,

but she chose Chellappa.

I thought he was just venting
because of that.

But now, it makes sense.

Sir,

we need to get those girls
out of prison right away.

They're innocent.

Are you sure
they aren't involved in Chellappa's death?

Those girls were
at Chellappa's cottage that night,

but they didn't k*ll him.

Sir,

how do we handle this?

Hold on! That's what I'm thinking about!

The truth must come out,

but the town isn't ready to accept it.

They'll make us cops the villains here!

Do we leave out the abuse
and just file it as suicide?

No.

Make those girls talk.

Victims' testimony is essential
for this case.

We have to believe what they say, right?
Go for it.

POLICE

Did they find out about the stunt
I pulled in the admin block?

-If so, they should only call me, right?
-I don't know, Muppi.

The warden had your names on a list
and asked me to bring you.

Hey!

Where are all of you going as a group?

I'm asking you here!

The warden has called us!

Without telling me?

Where is the warden?

Hey, why did you lie to us?

Why is a cop here? I'm leaving!

Trying to trick us with that cop?

Hey… Please stop.

I know you all faced horror as children.

It's that connection.

A bond stronger than sisters!

That night, I saw all of you together.

It moved me.

Five minutes!

Just five minutes!

Please listen to what we have to say
for five minutes.

Do you know why I'm in jail?

For k*lling the demon
who abused me as a child!

Chellappa took up my case.

Shame!

In my case…

My own uncle…

While…

the world believed he was a good man…

Not just me.

He also abused my little sister

and k*lled her.

These fingerprints

were found in the tunnel
leading into the cottage.

To confirm all of you were
at the cottage that night…

this is the forensic proof.

We even know why you were there.

I know Chellappa abused all of you
when you were kids.

But you didn't k*ll your demon.

That was suicide.

Listen to me.

If you want to be released,

I need to know everything
that happened to you.

And it's fully confidential.

It will only be presented to the judge.

It won't come out.