(Foot steps)
(Panting and gasping)
Lata!
Lata...open the door!
Hey! Lata! Open the door! It’s me!
Sir! He is over here!
Get him!
Got you, man!
Move! Take him away!
Put him in the jeep.
Move!
Put him in the jeep.
Lata!
(Sobs)
[SIX YEARS LATER]
[RAJAVARAM - VILLAGE PANCHAYAT]
[DON’T STICK BILLS HERE]
[RAJAVARAM POLICE STATION]
(Mobile ringing)
Mr Suresh, tell me!
Tsk!
How can you stall the release at the last moment?
I was expecting huge openings.
I relied on this one and delayed the dubbing film.
Err...
Pah!
They keep altering dates!
Hmm...
Hm!
(Bell pealing)
(Devotional Song)
Saibaba’s call sheet?
Shh!
(Song continues)
Coffee.
(Song continues)
Is Anju up?
(Song continues and fades)
Good morning! Good morning!
-Get up! Come on. It’s time for college. -Good morning, Dad!
Here’s your coffee.
Have you slept well?
Hmm. Not bad.
Hey, why are you doing all that?
Let me do it!
Hmm?
I guess the hanger is down early today!
Not hanger. Hang over!
Whatever! Those who drink would know.
Ever since you opened that wretched theatre, you are there 24/7.
Hello!
Criticize me all you want.
Not the theatre.
I will.
Of course, I will.
We had five acres and
... you sold two, the closest to the road, and bought the theatre.
I begged you not to.
Did you bother?
Hey, it’s a golden theatre.
Brings a lot of income.
Even after installment, we make profits.
Where is the profit?
Hello! Where is the profit?
The crow stole it.
The story stole it.
You are writing a story, right?
Along with that old man?
Hey! Blasphemy! He is such a great writer!
Whatever! Such a pest! You sure found each other.
Three years! Not a single story till now.
Husband! Why get into this film business?
You have been neglecting me and the kids for three years thanks to it.
Why don’t you say something?
Whatever I say right now, you won’t get it.
You keep saying that but keep telling me everything.
But when it comes to this movie, you become evasive.
From the day you decided to produce a film,
I have no peace of mind.
Added to that is your drinking habit!
During story discussion I just drink a little for the mood!
Why?
Don’t you get the mood unless you drink?
Is that a precondition for making films?
-It’s not that. Hear me... -Say no more.
Whatever is lost is lost.
Give it up, now.
Cinema is my dream; my passion; my ambition.
No way would I give it up!
No money was wasted like you think.
I narrated the story to the writer.
It has come out wonderfully!
It’s a story developed with a different concept.
First, stop watching those success-meets.
They all speak the same language.
You sound exactly like them!
I am very clear about what I am doing.
Wow!
Wiseman!
I wonder how much it cost you to gather all this wealth of knowledge.
The account must tally today.
Tell me.
How much did you squander?
Tell me! You!
Wait. Actually, er...
Oh!
Are you also playing the hero?
You do act quite a bit!
Advance for the writer, car charges, lodge expenses-
What about alcohol?
Altogether it is about 18...
Thousands?
You think it’s a short film?
Lakhs!
Eighteen lakhs?!
Huh!
When I ask you for 1000 rupees to get a maid, you come up with a thousand excuses!
I have been a maid only in our house till now.
By the time this film is done, you would turn me into a professional maid.
I can’t take it anymore!
Give me some...some...five lakhs now.
Five lakhs?
What for?
I have a dream too.
I also have a fashion!
It’s not FASHION! It’s PASSION! Passion!
Whatever!
Bloody drunkard!
Oh, no!
That idiot is beating Sarita again!
Go, stop him.
Hey, chuck it! I won’t step into his house.
He gets drunk and blabbers.
Poor Sarita!
She is my only company when you are not home.
When Anju had seizures the other day, could we have done without her help?
-Go there first. Please go. My request! -That...
Why can’t Sarita divorce him?
It would be a good riddance.
You are ready to die but won’t take out the money!
Hey, hey! Sanjay! Sanjay! Leave her!
What’s his problem early morning?
I refused him money for drinks.
-Hey, earn your own money for your drinks. -Of course!
I did work hard.
That’s how I bought your land at a fancy price and built a house.
My house, my land and my wife!
How are you interested?
Hey!
What? What can you do?
Will you hit me? Kill me?
Come on, kill me.
Come on!
You want to kill me the way you killed a boy long ago?
Who cares?
I am not afraid!
How did he get the drink early morning?
He got brokerage for selling some land, brother.
He has been drinking since last night.
Oh! So?
You snap at me but whisper to my wife!
Hey!
If you meddle with my personal issues,
-I will meddle with yours. -Hey! You!
Husband! Don’t!
Tut! Don’t talk rubbish!
Take it! Take it and destroy yourself!
If you had done this earlier, I would have finished a quarter!
Sir, thanks for coming, Sir!
“My wife, my money, my drinks...”
-This is my fate! -Sarita!
This is not the way to handle him.
Lodge a complaint with the police.
That won’t stop him from drinking, brother.
Fine, at least he would stop quarreling.
He is right, Sarita.
No, Sister.
If the police beat him, he will take out all that anger on me.
They won’t beat him.
They just give him a warning.
Fine. As you wish.
Sister!
Don’t cry, Sarita.
Things will settle down.
Come back a little early from work.
I need to talk to you.
What about, Sister?
I will tell you in the evening.
Don’t cry, ok?
Ok, Sister.
Dad!
Ok, ok!
Enough. Your hands will wear out. Go on.
Hmm.
Anu has called up from the hostel.
She is coming home this evening.
It’s Friday tomorrow, right?
No school?
She has school.
But she is missing her dad more.
Ask her to come on Saturday!
As though she will listen to me!
She has become just like you.
If I tell her something, she will prattle away in English.
St. Joseph’s school English.
If you can grasp it, it is a sheer waste of fee.
(Mobile vibrating)
Anju?
Anju!
Hmm?
Phone.
(Mbile vibrating)
Who is it?
A friend, Dad.
Why don’t you speak?
It’s about some outing.
Join them, then.
No, I am not interested.
Shall I drop you at the college?
No.
Just drop me at the bus-stop.
Hey, Chanti!
Huh?
What happened to his case?
What would happen?
In spite of all the digging, the body couldn’t be found.
What can the police do?
But would they give up so easily?
Ayesha Meera’s case.
Fifteen years old.
They are still investigating it.
But the boy’s parents have left for America.
-Who cares about it now? -True.
But the police are very furious, man.
Rambabu didn’t give them a minor jolt!
He made Veerabhadram lose his job.
He was a waste fellow. He deserved it.
True.
Good morning, brother.
-Good morning. -Brother! This is the CC TV technician.
Greetings, Sir.
How is it going on?
Sir, I have set up two cameras.
One here and the other outside.
What about the theatre?
It will be done by tomorrow, Sir.
Ok.
If you give me your phone, I will install it.
How long will it take?
About ten minutes, Sir.
-What was the cable collection today? -14000, brother.
Only Fourteen thousand?
I am going every day, brother. No one is paying.
You can’t even recover money.
Ok. Deposit it in the bank.
Ok, brother.
Hey!
Huh?
Why do they say Rambabu’s daughter is responsible for getting the boy killed?
This girl and the dead boy seem to be lovers.
That night he came from the city only to meet this girl.
Really?
Yes.
When they were intimate, Rambabu had seen them.
That’s it.
He killed the boy on the spot and hid the body without evidence.
-Shall I tell you something? -Huh.
Not for the kid.
They say he had come for the mother.
Really?
Here, Uncle. Your groceries.
Why did you bring them, Rambabu?
Your guy missed the bus and begged me to. That’s why.
If you sent word, I would have picked it up myself.
It’s ok, Uncle. See you, then.
What’s the hurry?
-First show at the theatre. I am a little... -Brother, shall I give you some ginger tea?
No. I have to go.
See you, Uncle.
Ok. See you.
Greetings, brother Rambabu!
Our hero’s movie is releasing tomorrow.
Please give us four tickets, brother.
Movie is postponed, man. I will give you when it releases.
Thanks, brother.
Brother, what a sweet guy you are!
You refuse nothing.
Right?
Brother Rambabu, stay blessed always.
Ok, ok.
-I will pay you fifteen thousand. -Don’t be so unfair, Sir.
Hey...
These are not the times for justice.
A murderer is living a king’s life.
There is no end to sin on earth.
Wonderful, Sir.
The world is changing.
If we don’t change, we don’t progress.
So should we change too?
Huh?
We can’t play the roles like earlier, right?
I know all your tricks.
Can we drag this film for a week?
Feed is sufficient, Sir.
Sir!
Some gentleman has come for you.
Who is it?
No idea, Sir.
-Check if there is a different movie on Monday. -Ok, Sir.
Otherwise, we will carry on with this one.
-I am going to Vizag today. I will be back tomorrow. -Ok, Sir.
Is this your theatre?
Huh.
It’s really good.
We came here a week ago.
I mean-
For Varun’s death anniversary-
We were here last year also.
In fact, we come every year.
We keep doing something.
But there is no satisfaction.
Some sort of hollowness.
As per tradition, rites should be conducted with body remains.
There is a kind of void at home.
Hush of death.
We can never bring Varun back.
But...
I am afraid I might lose even Gita.
With the same worry, we visited a Swami recently.
He said unless the rites are properly performed,
...the soul wouldn’t rest in peace.
I don’t personally believe in this.
But I am forced to for the sake of Gita.
Rambabu!
Can you do me a favour?
Can you give me at least Varun’s remains?
I will take them totally unnoticed.
Promise!
I won’t even inform Gita.
He was at fault.
I don’t deny it.
But for his one mistake,
...is it fair to punish us for life?
Rambabu!
Please!
I beg you!
Sir! Sir!
What is this, Sir?
Please!
It’s not because I don’t trust you.
But I am in a helpless position.
Two of you are tormented in your family.
But four are in distress in mine.
Please don’t ever try to meet me.
Don’t drag us back to those dark memories.
Rambabu...
Please!
I knew, Prabha, that your tears won’t mellow him.
As a police officer, I organized final rites for many abandoned bodies.
But for my own son forget the final rites,
I couldn’t even see him one last time.
(Sniffles)
I will kill him!
Cool! Cool, cool.
What sort of life is this, Prabha?
I don’t know when my son died.
I don’t know how he died.
Not even whether he was cremated or buried!
His killer is right before me and yet I don’t know what to do.
Damn it!
I can’t take it anymore, Prabha.
He should answer my every single tear.
Hmm.
Come on! Come on, boys. Come on!
Come on, move!
Yes!
Damn! He should have been replaced!
Tomorrow is the last date for submitting the math assignment, right?
Yes. Shall we do it in the Library?
Yeah, done.
Yeah, ok.
Didn’t you finish your assignment?
No, no.
-Hey, Anu! -I want that one.
See you.
You guys carry on.
Yeah. Come.
Three days holidays! What plans?
No plans.
Mom asked me to come home. I am going,
Shall I come along?
What would I tell mom?
Tell her I am your classmate!
Talking to boys is enough to make my mom tense.
If I take you home, I will be dead.
Why is your mom so different?
I just want to see your home and meet your people. That’s all!
You know why.
After my sister’s incident, my mom changed a lot.
But your sister was not at fault. Then why?
Huh?
Rohit! Let’s not talk about it.
Ok?
Oh! It’s you! Please come in.
When did you return from Delhi?
Two days ago.
Dad is by the swimming pool.
Please come.
Er...when shall we start the shoot?
Sir, please don’t get annoyed.
I want to tell you something.
Hmm?
Let’s not use the climax I narrated last time, Sir.
Why not?
I have discussed it with a few people.
Just like you, they also said there is a tiny element of risk in it.
So, shall we stick to the climax we discussed earlier?
No, Sir.
They didn’t like that either.
I put this story together mixing what I learnt in real life and what I watched in films.
Cinema has been my dream since childhood, Sir.
I wanted to make a film liked by all sections of audience.
Let us look for a new element, Sir.
Please have some coffee.
Being a writer, I feel small to ask a producer.
Still, I ask you.
Have you got a new idea?
Your scenes are not only real but they carry great drama.
Thank you, Sir.
Yes, mom.
I feel Anju will feel settled, if she gets married.
It’s better Anju gets out of that house.
But what does my son-in-law say?
He is too busy to think.
That’s why I have informed Sarita.
She mentioned an alliance.
She said we should go to a pundit with Anju’s horoscope.
Good. Go ahead.
Mom! Can you come home?
It’s long since I haven’t seen you.
Somehow, I feel very lonely.
Tsk. Don’t ever think that way.
Everything will fall in place. Be brave.
Ok, Mom.
I will call you again.
Sarita!
Yes, Sister!
What took you so long?
The bus came a little late.
That’s why I am late.
Give me a minute.
I will fresh up.
Hmm.
Hey! How many times did I warn you not to mingle with those people?
Don’t you care?
How many times did I beg you to stop drinking?
Did you care?
I am watching!
I am watching all your antics!
Someday I will break your limbs and use them for firewood.
Get lost! Drunkard!
Hey, why don’t you obey me?
Sister, don’t bother about his drunken talk.
-Let’s go. -Hmm.
I went against my parents’ wish and married him.
How will their grief go unpaid?
I am paying the price now.
All men are alike.
My husband also got into drinking now.
Oho, Sister! You should watch Sanjay drink.
He can empty barrels!
Brother Rambabu can drink only 1% of it.
Hmm.
Habits always begin with slow steps.
Brother knows his limits.
By the way, you said you had something to tell me?
Is it about this?
No.
You mentioned an alliance for Anju, remember?
It’s about that.
I spoke to them the same day.
They said they would get back this evening.
I will take care. Don’t worry.
Birth is full of pain; so is action.
Sin is again and again the source of sorrow.
I can sense something wrong.
Something very grave.
That sin has manifested into a spirit and is now haunting.
My sister has no peace of mind at all.
No one in the family will have peace of mind.
The girl is affected by Saturn seated in the eighth house.
It leads to physical and mental problems,
...and also affects the life span.
Her life can be in danger.
If something happens to my daughter, I won’t be able to take it.
Please show us a way.
You get absolved if you confess.
Confess it before God and you will feel relieved.
Bring the girl here when you can.
I will conduct adoration for Saturn.
Jyoti! I am not coming home tonight.
See you in the morning.
What the heck is this?
How can we sleep all by ourselves?
Look! You have Sarita, right?
Ask Sarita to sleep at our house tonight.
How can I ask her each time?
You are drinking, aren’t you?
Hey!
Vinay Sir is here.
He insisted on it.
Just a small sitting. That’s it.
Where will you stay the night?
Let me...let me take a room in a lodge.
Is Anu home?
Yes.
And she is glued to the television ever since she came.
No study...nothing!
She is becoming very stubborn.
Ok, ok. We will talk when I am home.
Bye.
Ok.
Are you going to produce this film yourself, brother?
What is your doubt, man?
You didn’t open an office.
Shooting hasn’t started.
When am I going to act, brother?
It will happen.
Everything will happen.
Krishna Nagar to Film Nagar-
Not an auto I didn’t get in.
Not an office I didn’t step in.
Exhausted, I settled down here.
You woke up the dead actor in me with drinks.
He is ruining my sleep obsessed about acting.
When am I going to act, brother?
Hey! Don’t you trust me?
Of course, I trust you, brother.
But I don’t trust film people.
If you delay,
what if the writer steals your story and makes the film with someone else?
Hey!
No pop in the world can steal my story.
Copy right! Have you heard about it?
No, brother. Is it story registration?
No, man!
Brother! Brother! Enough!
I have to go to work.
After all night duty, right?
Till seven there is always someone.
After eight, not a soul around.
We could have sat in my room happily.
This is Vodka, man. It doesn’t smell!
Hmm?
So what was I saying?
Copy right.
Ah! Copy right!
-If this story gets printed in someone’s name -Hmm?
-we get the copy rights. -Mm, hmm.
That’s why I got it printed it in the form of a novel.
But isn’t that risky?
Once people read the novel, why would they watch the movie?
This is no suspense thriller, right?
It’s just a cute family story.
Mm, hmm.
They are not printed in huge numbers.
We just released a few into the market.
Brother!
You are a shrewd guy!
Hey, hey!
Enough of your Thai massage!
By the way, I assigned you a job. What happened?
You asked me to look for a partner, right?
There is a guy from the US, brother.
I am speaking to him.
Ok.
I will make a move.
So, you didn’t come here for me?
Was it for the producer?
Hmm.
Ok.
Are you going home?
No, bro. I am going to the hotel.
A friend’s film shooting is going on.
They are editing the film in the same hotel.
I want to watch and learn.
Why do YOU want to learn?
When you start a new trade, learn all the tricks.
Otherwise, they will bankrupt you.
Learn film direction also, brother.
You can save on remuneration.
Writer, Producer and Director
-Rambabu-
It sounds so good to hear!
Say it again?
Writer, Producer and Director?
Rambabu!
But not for the first film, man.
Let us try it for the second one.
Correct, bro.
Best!
Ok, brother.
I make a move.
Brother, next time around you must stay in my room!
Take care, brother.
Ok! Ok!
Written, produced and directed by RAMBABU!
Sarita, are you not afraid to sleep alone when Sanjay is not home?
-In the beginning I was scared. -Hmm?
Then I got used to it.
Anyway, only when you have something to lose, you get scared, right?
Earlier, my husband used to sleep in the cable office only.
I used to stay alone with kids.
But now I am terrified to stay without him.
You mean since that incident, right?
Hmm.
Sister, what about what the pundit has told you?
I haven’t discussed it with him yet.
Hey, you said you would talk to the boy’ side.
Did you speak to them?
Er...Sister!
Let us find a much better match for her.
He is not even worthy to be under Anju’s heel.
But you said this was a good match?
You said they also liked Anju’s picture?
Actually....
It’s ok, Sarita.
Tell me what they said.
They seemed to have made some enquiry.
Hmm, so?
Shoot it!
Sister, it’s two years since I came to this place.
I mingle only with your family here.
I move around only with you.
I take you for my own sister.
No inhibitions with me.
Tell me, Sarita.
Everyone says Anju made friends with the boy because he was rich.
And that brother Rambabu saw them in an objectionable position that night.
So out of anger, he killed the boy...
That the boy was decent but Anju had called him over that night...
Lie! It’s all a lie!
Anju is pure as fire!
She is totally innocent.
That boy...he was lecherous!
That’s why Anju had-
Sister!
Don’t cry.
That’s why I didn’t want to tell you.
People who spoke about my daughter maliciously should become dumb!
Why?
Don’t they have daughters?
If we take the words of drunkards and badmouths to heart, we can’t survive.
Calm down.
I will get her a much better alliance than this.
Trust me, Sister.
(Sniffles)
Brother!
Did Jyoti wake up?
Yes, quite some time ago.
What happened?
-Sanjay! -Hmm.
Wives like you keep forgiving them and destroy them all the more.
Take my advice and lodge a complaint with the police. They will take care of the rest.
Will you do it or shall I?
They might thrash him black and blue, brother.
They will not. I will ensure that.
Ok, brother.
Ok. Carry on.
Shall I get you coffee?
Get me some milk.
So the hangover is not over yet!
Hey! Do I still smell sweet?
Dad!
Anu!
Huh?
Look at the way you dressed?
Get changed. Go!
Good morning!
Good morning, precious!
-When did you come? -Evening. Yesterday.
-Hey! -Hm!
Didn’t I ask you to change?
This is home. Only we are here.
This is night-wear.
So you should wear it only at night.
Mom! Everyone wears these at home.
It is not allowed at this home. This is a village.
It hasn’t modernized yet. Go and change.
Only the other day you said change helps you develop.
Today you say change should come only after development.
The stability you maintain in your ability to confuse!
Salute you for it!
(Snickers)
Hmm?
I am sorry?
What are you rattling away?
Do as you are told. Go!
Dad! Please!
Go and change, Dear!
You are always ready to irritate me.
This is too much, mom.
Do you see?
Hey! What were you grumbling in English?
Say it aloud.
Even if she says it aloud, you won’t understand.
That’s St. Joseph’s English.
Get lost, man!
Hey!
Did you say “get lost, man”? To me?
Why did you bring sambar only for yourself?
We could all share it if you brought more.
But you never told me!
Shouldn’t you ask me?
Mom! Do you want sambar?
I’ll go get it.
I don’t want.
What about you, Dad?
No, dear.
What is the problem then?
Listen!
Do we really have to make a film?
Isn’t Anju’s wedding more important?
Mom! I don’t want to get married now.
I want to study.
Not immediately, dear.
If we start looking now, in two years we will find a good match.
Dad!
I want to work at least for two years after graduation.
Think about my marriage after that.
Don’t worry, dear.
Study well and find a good job.
Marry when you want to.
It’s not that!
Let’s talk about this some other time.
Dad!
Err...Who is the hero in our film?
Not fixed yet, dear.
Let us cast Vijay Devarakonda.
One lip-lock scene and the film would be a hit.
Hey, shut up!
Let’s not talk about this EVER.
Listen!
Give a serious thought to the matter I spoke about.
Which matter?
Anju’s marriage.
Why all of a sudden?
Do you know what the others are saying?
I don’t know. Do you?
I do.
What happened to Rambabu’s case, Sir?
What would happen? Nothing would happen.
He is a smart guy.
He has been fooling the naïve policemen for six years now.
So, is the case closed, Sir?
The body was never found.
So the case is as good as closed.
Am I right, Sir?
What are you yapping about?
Can’t you sleep unless you discuss all this?
Uncle, one tea.
Hey, why do you mess with the police?
Just for fun, Uncle.
We are all Rambabu’s fans.
Of course. What do you think?
He is a super star in our village.
I should curse myself for advising you.
Idiots! Idiots!
Police haven’t given up on the case.
They met Mohan last month.
Which Mohan?
The guy who worked in Rambabu’s cable office... remember?
He left after a squabble?
Yes. That’s him.
The police went to his house and enquired about Rambabu.
But why?
They didn’t give any details.
But they told him the case was still open.
Somanna is right.
The police enquired if Rambabu was seen in suspicious situation 5 or 6 years ago.
That’s the matter.
Hey! The police are so dense they can do nothing to Rambabu.
Rambabu is a big man now.
Hey! Rambabu is innocent.
That’s the reason police don’t trouble him.
Hey! Innocent, my foot!
I can say this for sure. He was the killer.
Uncle!
Who is it?
How are you?
Janardhan! When did you come?
Is your sentence complete?
They reduced my sentence for good behaviour, Uncle. I am coming here straight.
-Will have you have tea? -Yes. I would like that.
-Hey, Raghu! -Yes, uncle.
-Get a cup of tea. -Ok.
They have announced reward for witnesses in the case.
Who would give the reward?
The boy’s parents?
The government might give it.
What are they talking about, Uncle?
Hey! What is that noise?
Is someone dead? Let’s go. Let’s go.
Hey, move aside. Move aside.
Give way. Give way.
First call the ambulance.
Mom!
Hey! Karthik!
Jana! How are you?
You have reduced a lot!
Kartik!
This is your Dad.
Come here.
Hey, get inside.
Hey, why did you come?
Who asked you to come here?
Lata, I....
You were blind-drunk and killed my brother.
You have destroyed my life.
Whom do you want to kill now?
Lata, I didn’t do it deliberately.
On the spur of the moment, I made a mistake.
You are not at fault. I am.
My biggest mistake of life was to marry you.
I can’t let you in now and make another mistake.
I won’t even allow your shadow to fall on me or my son.
Go. Get lost from here!
Lata!
Mom-in-law!
(Sobs)
-Mom! -She went through hell these six years.
Don’t misunderstand her.
Why don’t you tell her, mom?
What can I tell her?
She is good at heart.
So, I am allowed me to stay here.
You killed her blood brother.
And did I do that deliberately?
Tell me, mom.
They promised me dowry.
But when I was in need, they broke their promise.
Her younger brother wagged his tongue first.
So I didn’t know what I was doing in temper.
Why do you want to recall all that?
Even if she accepts you, how will you take care of her?
Huh?
Son, first go, find a job.
I will talk to her after that.
Dad! Are you going out?
Yes, dear.
I want to ask you something.
You forgot your phone.
What is it? Ask me.
Mom! Go inside.
I can’t ask him with you here.
You can’t ask if I am here?
Then I should know what it is.
It’s ok even if mom is here. Tell me.
No. I can’t ask you.
What is the matter, dear?
Anu! Go ahead and ask.
No.
Mom will definitely ruin it.
Oh! So it must be something totally useless.
Come on, dear. I have work to do.
Ask him, Anu.
Anyway Dad makes no decision without consulting Mom.
Hey!
Go ahead, dear.
Dad, my friends have planned a sleepover next week.
Slee...?
Sleep over?
What does it mean?
It means all of them spend a night at a friend’s place.
I thought as much that she will come up with crap like this.
This sleep or whatever...I say no.
Dad, it’s not just me.
There are so many of us.
(Police siren sounds)
Whose house did you plan this at?
R...Reshma’s house.
Where does she stay?
Close by. In Nellimarla.
What is Reshma’s Dad?
He is a big contractor.
How many of you are going?
Seven or eight of us.
Why do you ask her all that?
Don’t tell me you want to send her!
Wait!
What will you all do there?
Umm...We play games. We cook.
We play Antakshari and Housie etc, etc.
Basically, we chill out, Dad.
It’s like a picnic at home.
What about her parents?
They are also at home.
If necessary, they help us out.
Does she have any brothers?
What if she does?
How old are they?
Dad! Just this once, please.
I will never ask again.
Do one thing. Ask them all to come here.
How is the idea?
Super!
What’s wrong?
It’s very expensive, Dad.
Hey! What do you think of your Dad?
I am a theatre owner and future producer!
But the theatre is not ours. It’s the bank’s .
As for the movie, you are still cooking the story.
I cannot cook for so many.
They are ready to cook. Why are you worried?
Consider it your holiday!
They are all rich kids.
Can they stay in our house?
Where will they sit and where will they sleep?
As if our kitchen is a Taj Mahal!
How many times did I ask you to get the house repaired?
Hey!
You are diverting the topic too far.
No, Dad.
What mom says makes sense.
They all live in huge houses.
Look! Don’t encourage this inferiority complex.
Those who measure us based on our house are no friends in the first place.
Dad! They have no such issues.
They wanted to come so many times.
But I ...
Come here.
Come.
Come!
She is turning into a tomboy!
Ask them all to come here.
Don’t worry about expenses at all.
If all of you stay here, your sister will also have some change, ok?
Ok.
Hmm?
Ok.
-Ok. -Bye!
Bye!
Hmm!
(Phone ringing)
-That case is very important to us. -Ok, Sir.
We need those two in this case. -Ok, Sir.
-Understand? -Yes, Sir.
-I should get the report by evening. -Sure, Sir.
Rajavaram police station!
Yeah, yeah. One second, Sir.
Yes, I am noting it down.
Yes, Sir.
What is the name?
Ok.
The husband’s name?
Ok, Sir.
Address?
Sure. No problem, I will note it down.
Yeah.
I will take care of it.
Ok, ok.
Ok.
Venkataswamy!
Sir?
Here!
Enquire about these two.
Sarita-Sanjay.
Ok, Sir.
Sarita is working as a sweeper in the Collector’s office.
Sanjay is her husband.
He is some real-estate broker.
Sir, these people live behind Rambabu’s house, Sir.
Rambabu is the one in Varun’s case...?
Yes, Sir. The same guy-
Hmm.
-Mom! -Huh?
I guess this size will do?
Yes. Yes.
But we need more. Get them.
Hm!
Your younger daughter has given quite a long list.
What list?
List of items for the sleepover.
Serves you right!
Learnt the lesson now?
Face the music!
Dad!
Police....the police are here.
Why are you scared, sweetheart?
It’s not that, Dad. The police might-
Come here. Sit down. Come.
Come and sit.
I already told you several times.
Unnecessary tension will put us in unexpected danger.
But why did they enter our courtyard?
I don’t know.
Did you do it in the courtyard-
Shh!
Don’t be scared.
They will ring the bell now.
Go and open the door to them.
Me?
(Door bell rings)
Do you trust your Dad?
Hmm.
Then do as Dad says.
Go.
Go and open the door.
Get up. Come on.
Husband!
Dad!
They are here for Mom.
-Sir. -Greetings, Sir.
Are you Jyoti?
Hmm.
We got a call from the Collector’s office today.
Their daily wage worker Sarita complained,
...that her husband gets drunk every day and beats her.
They asked us to investigate.
When we asked Sarita, she said you knew about it.
She told us something else in secret.
That you asked her to complain to the police?
I asked you something!
Huh? Sir?
It seems you who asked her to inform the police.
Is it true?
Yes, Sir. I told her.
Hmm.
See, Madam.
We can’t trust anyone these days.
The laws made for women are being misused by some.
That’s why we called you to verify her statement.
Is her statement true?
Yes, Sir.
Did she tell you?
Or did you see it?
I saw it personally, Sir.
Hmm.
-Hey, Venkataswamy! -Sir!
-Call them both. -Ok, Sir.
He doesn’t know this happened because of you.
Even if he does, I have no problem, Sir.
Oho!
But don’t let him know.
If he comes to know, it will be a problem for the lady. Do you get it?
Come, dear.
Hey, I let you off with a warning for now.
If I hear again that you have beaten her...
No, Sir. I won’t beat her again.
Go!
Please wait.
If he abuses you again, you know the station number, right?
Hmm.
Make a call.
Don’t route it through the Collector’s office.
Understand?
Hmm. Ok, Sir.
Carry on.
You can go.
Rambabu!
Let us meet again.
Hmm.
Anju!
Hey, Anju!
Hey! Get up!
You killed my son and how can you sleep peacefully?!
Where is my son?
How did you kill him?
(Hiccups)
Why did you kill him?
(Convalesces) I asked you a question.
Tell me! Tell me!
Are you planning to escape?
Only after you speak the truth, I will leave.
Tell me! Tell me! (Convalesces)
Do you hear me?
(Alarm sounds)
Anju!
Oh, no!
Dear! Anju!
Anju!
All good, dear. All good.
You had a nightmare. That’s all.
(Weeps) Don’t be afraid.
Your dad and I are right here with you.
Don’t be scared.
Don’t, dear.
You were worried for no reason.
She is perfectly alright.
Anju, can you sit outside for a while?
Go ahead, dear.
Hmm.
Why did this happen, Doctor?
It’s a stress related attack.
Seeing the police, she probably came under pressure.
I told you not to send her.
You didn’t care.
No, no.
Rambabu did the right thing.
How long will she live in fear?
She has to be brave and face it.
Do you think she needs counselling again, Doctor?
The frequency is much less now than earlier.
So let’s continue the same way.
But this can be triggered any time.
She had seizures earlier also, right?
When she gets panic attacks, you got to be careful they don’t turn into seizures.
Do you think getting her married would help her?
Depends.
It may become better or worse.
As you advised, we make her sleep alone.
Good.
Only Anju can solve her own problem.
Our duty is only to set the ambience to help her.
So let her handle it herself.
Don’t worry, Janardhan.
Things will get fine.
First find yourself a job.
Uncle! One puri.
Ok.
Uncle!
Do you think I will get some work here?
It’s difficult.
This is no time for agricultural work.
You may find some work in the city.
Six years I have been away from home.
Without going to the city, if I can find some work here...
Here?
Do you know Rambabu?
Who? The cable TV guy?
Yes.
He is running a film theatre now.
Check with him once.
If he has a vacancy, he will definitely take you in.
I will ask him, Uncle.
But why don’t you run your own business?
We need a lot of money for that, Uncle.
I have a hundred square yard plot.
I am ready to sell it if I get a good price. -Uncle!
Where is Raghu?
Order tea for me.
-Hey, Raghu! -Hmm?
-Get a tea. -Ok, ok.
Hey!
That guy is a broker.
Oh.
Ask him if he knows a buyer.
Ok.
Greetings, Sir.
Welcome! Welcome!
Where is my IG brother?
He is inside.
How come you are so late?
My wife is the prime suspect in this crime.
I can see it.
-Did she take time to get ready? -Just two hours late, Aunty.
That shows. The sari is beautiful!
Thank you.
Hello!
Are you all making fun of my sister?
Huh?
Come on.
Where is Kamal, aunty?
He has gone out. He will be here.
I am famished.
Don’t say you have to start cooking now, please.
Just ten minutes. That’s it.
Send some snacks in the meantime.
Sure, sure!
-My husband cannot contain his hunger. -My bad!
Is it so?
Come on.
What happened to your sleepover?
From my friend’s house, it is shifted to Anu’s house, Uncle.
That’s even better.
Has Anu told you anything new?
No, Uncle.
-Gautam! -Hmm?
Do you think she would tell him even if she knew?
The culprit would never disclose it.
That would put him in danger.
But his associates never think on the same lines.
It’s impossible for them to keep the secret for years.
At some point of time they would want to get it off the chest.
They tend to share it with someone they trust.
Because sharing lessens their fear,
...and raises confidence.
Rohit!
You must win Anu’s confidence and get close to her.
Ok, Uncle.
They will study together only for another year.
Just try it.
Since you told me Anu is your classmate, I could think of this.
Don’t let your studies be disturbed though.
No, Uncle.
Good boy!
He admires you most after Sherlock Holmes.
His ambition is to become a great police officer.
Is it?
Yes, Uncle.
So, even before becoming IPS, he is dealing his first case.
Your career has taken off earlier than Sherlocks’.
Thanks, Uncle.
Your sister-in-law has completed third trimester, right?
Your brother is not able to manage alone.
He wants me to go to the US.
When are you going, mom?
I will leave as soon as I get the VISA.
He may send it in a week.
When is the delivery date?
25th of coming month.
So it would be 5 or 6 months before you returned.
Yes, dear.
I want to see you before you go, mom.
I want to come but he is too busy.
It’s ok, dear.
I will come there before I leave.
Don’t worry.
-Jyoti! I am leaving for Vizag. -One minute.
-Er, Mom! -Hmm.
I will call you back?
-Ok. -Ok, Mom.
My mother is going to the US.
Rajesh’s wife is expecting next month.
Mom will come back only after six months.
That’s good.
She will recover quickly from your father’s death.
She won’t come here anyway.
A lot of self-respect.
Hey, what happened?
I don’t know.
I feel very low.
I am scared I will be left alone with no one.
Have you started?
You mean our kids and I are nobody to you?
You always carry some problem in your head!
“The dreams I had”
“Are they all sorrows?”
“There is light all around”
“Yet am I in dark?”
“These everlasting tears”
“These ever growing fears”
“Will this solitude finally end?”
“Will the past never fade?”
“Will the good times never return?”
“The dreams I had”
“Are they all sorrows?”
“There is light all around”
“Which is truth and which is not?”
“Which is day and which is night?”
“I exist not knowing”
“Tired in turmoil never ending”
“I live behind closed doors”
“I wait with an open heart”
“These everlasting tears”
“These ever growing fears”
“Will the solitude finally end?”
I don’t think I will last much longer.
Brother, Peter! Don’t speak like that.
I am very happy for meeting you all.
My family has survived because of your father, dear.
Sir, my daughter was here recently.
She asked after you.
That’s my daughter.
Sir has helped her education and wedding.
“Masking the tremor behind the eyes”
“Veiling the faltering of the steps”
“I go on like a shadow”
“Trapped in yesterday”
“I dissolve into myself”
“I keep asking myself”
“These everlasting wounds”
“These ever growing perils”
“When will my story have a happy end?”
Anu!
Hmm?
We’ll talk later.
Yeah. It’s ok.
Hey, wait!
What were you two talking about?
Nothing, mom.
Are you lying to my face?
Why are you glaring at me?
I saw it all.
What were you telling him pointing to the tree and the window?
I never spoke about it, mom.
Then tell me. What did you talk about?
Are you planning to harm your sister?
-Huh? -Hey, hey! What happened?
What’s wrong, Anu?
Why do you cry on such a happy day??
Tell me what happened.
Ok, ok. Let us talk about it later.
Go to your friends now. Go on.
What happened?
Anu!
Wipe your tears first.
What happened?
Hey!
Hi!
We had such a great time!
(Overlapping chatter)
Bye!
-Bye! -I will call you later.
Yeah.
Ciao!
Bye!
Let’s go, Anu. I am really tired.
-Ok, ok. -Let’s have some rest.
Come on.
Hello, please ask her!
What about?
We should know what she spoke to him, right?
No.
What would she say?
-It’s not that. -tsk!
No more discussion.
Nothing went wrong till now, right? Nothing will go wrong in the future either.
By the way, aren’t you attending Baba’s bhajan today?
Aren’t you coming?
I am going to Vizaf.
Ok?
Sarita!
Huh? Sister!
I am coming.
Why didn’t you come to the temple this morning? I waited for you.
Anu’s friends were here last night.
-They left only this morning. -Oh.
Did you enjoy yourself?
Yeah, a lot.
Your brother has gone to Vizaf.
He said he will be back tomorrow.
Shall I come over tonight?
If you have no problem.
I have a lot of problem.
I will somehow adjust, hmm?
(Clears throat)
Sanjay doesn’t like us, right?
He doesn’t like me in the first place.
Why mention you?
Don’t bother about him.
Ok, see you.
Ok, Sister.
Bye.
A life was lost because of him.
Two families were destroyed.
My brother’s children are orphaned.
How can you expect me to take pity on him?
He made a grave mistake.
That’s why he took the punishment.
He is crying for you and your kid.
There is reason in your anger.
There is honesty in his grief.
That’s why I take the liberty to ask you.
Other than seeing you happy together,
I have no personal agenda.
Don’t mistake me, mom-in-law.
I am not able to accept him.
Jana!
Hmm?
Mom?
It takes time.
You need to be patient.
-Sister! -Hmm?
Why are you still awake?
What’s wrong?
I have been watching you since morning.
You look bothered.
It was raining that night too.
Ever since, I am terrified of rainy nights.
You talk in riddles, sister.
Come and sleep.
Since yesterday I feel some harm is coming our way.
He doesn’t listen to me.
Even if he does, he won’t understand.
Of late, he doesn’t even pay me attention.
The other day the pundit had asked Anju to conduct some ritual, right?
Hmm!
When I told him about it, he dismissed it for superstition.
He takes everything easy.
But I can’t.
Sister!
Express all your concerns to brother Rambabu.
Ask him all your doubts.
Talk to him openly.
He will understand.
I tried to ask him several times.
He warns me not to talk about it.
(Splashing rain)
(Sound of footsteps)
Yeah.
Sanjay...Sarita.
Sir, they are?
Undercovers.
Originally, they are husband and wife.
Take your seat, Pratap.
Thank you, Sir.
C I Pratap.
I guess you know him?
We do, Sir.
These two have been watching Rambabu’s family for two years now.
They have bugged Rambabu’s bedroom, dining room and Anju’s room.
Am I right?
Yes, Sir.
We record all their conversations, Sir.
Have you learnt anything helpful to this case?
No, Sir.
They never discuss Varun or this case at home.
Oh.
Because Rambabu doesn’t allow them, Sir.
He cuts them short even before the topic comes up.
That makes Sister Jyoti frustrated.
Er...sorry, Sir.
It’s become a habit.
It’s ok, Go ahead.
Anju and Jyoti are more frustrated now, Sir.
Oho.
But our duty is to make them discuss the topic.
So we found a small breakthrough, Sir.
I see.
From today, you three are my core team for this investigation.
-Yes, sir. -Ok, Sir.
You will keep all information confidential and report just to me.
Sure, Sir.
Before I proceed-
Let us take a look at the case summary.
Six years ago, a young man called Varun Prabhakar, vanished into thin air.
He tried to blackmail one Anju with her naked videos and died in the process.
As per the younger daughter’s statement,
-her mother and sister tied up something in a sack and buried it in the courtyard.
But when the police dug the place up, there was no body.
It was shifted.
Rambabu wasn’t at home that day.
Jyoti and Anju-
Which of them committed the murder?
Who shifted the body?
When did they shift it?
And where?
Questions that have been tormenting our department for six years!
We are now clear that Anju committed the murder.
It was an unexpected clue, Sir.
“Lie! It’s all a lie!
Anju is pure as fire.
She is innocent!
That boy!
He was lecherous!
That’s why Anju had-“
Recently, we found the answer to another question.
“Sister, share all your problems with brother Rambabu.
Ask him all your doubts.
Open up to him.
He will understand.
I tried to ask him several times.
He only warns me not to talk about it.
Do you know why?
Only brother Rambabu has total clarity on this.
You don’t.
That’s why you are scared.
Probably Anju has the same problem.
Right?
Hmm.
Brother is not handling this right.
He asks you both not to discuss it.
Unless you discuss it, how will you understand one another?
Do you know what I gather from public talk?
As long as the body is not found, the police cannot touch you.
Why should you be scared then?
Are you afraid Anu might have mentioned something to the boy?
No.
I am not afraid of that.
Without our knowledge, he shifted the body the very next night.
He feels we are better off not knowing where it is.”
So far, this is the only breakthrough for us.
With the court’s permission, we interrogated them twice in the past.
No result.
Court issued a strong warning not to touch them without solid proof.
We became fools in front of public and media.
We can’t take that chance this time.
That’s why I made Sarita and Sanjay go undercover-
-and I am secretly investigating this case.
Finding Varun’s body is the crucial point in this case.
If we find out where Rambabu shifted the body to the night after the murder-
...the case becomes stronger.
How far can we believe the body was shifted the very next day, Sir?
We can believe.
I got the soil examined to verify if there are any human remains.
Not even a single trace found!
If that is the case-
-why does the shifting of the body the next day become important now?
The date itself.
August...3rd.
Listen carefully.
Yes, Sir.
2nd August was the day of Varun’s murder.
Rambabu and his family went to Vizianagaram to attend a discourse.
That was recreated that day.
On 2n August, the mother and daughter duo buried Varun’s body.
Next day, Rambabu submerged Varun’s car in the quarry at Devarapalli off Vizianagaram.
He returned to Vizianagaram and collected the hotel bills and theatre tickets.
He took the RTC bus in the evening and reached home by nine at night.
After everyone went to bed, he unearthed the body by himself and shifted it.
Going by this, what time could Rambabu have shifted the body?
Sir, even if he sent his family early to bed, his neighbours had to be asleep too.
Also, the spot where the body was buried is clearly visible from the main road. So-
Midnight!
Say around 12 o’ Clock.
-Ok? -Hmm.
To dig out the body singlehandedly and carry it to the jeep takes a minimum of one hour.
So, 1 o’ Clock.
It means August 4th early hours at 1 o’ Clock.
Assuming he left home, disposed the body and returned home by 4:30,
...his crime time is three hours.
Sir-
Sorry. Er...three and half hours.
To dig a pit elsewhere,
...dump the body and fill it, it would take one and half hours more.
One hour for going and one hour for return.
So, in a radius of about 50 kms of Rambabu’s house-
...he must have buried the body.
What do you say?
Sir!
How logical is our assumption that he returned by 4.30?
It could also be at 5 or 6.
No.
On August 4th morning, Rambabu’s family took the 5.45 bus to Vizianagaram-
- to recreate THIS day.
To catch a 5.45 bus with three ladies for a two day trip,
-they would have to wake up at least an hour before.
Couples sleep in the same bedroom.
-Won’t the wife know when the husband leaves? -Sir!
After that incident, Jyoti had slept with the girls for six months.
Not just that.
Jyoti told me her elder daughter Anju used to get terrified at night and cry.
Going by what you said, this may not be even 50 kilometres, Sir.
The timeline you mentioned is practical for a normal person in a normal situation.
But in such a tense situation, he won’t be able to do it so quickly.
He may not have gone that far, Sir.
Absolutely.
He may not have gone that far.
He could have gone at 11 and returned by 3.
Quite possible.
Yes, Sir.
Sir, did you enquire about Rambabu’s movements that night?
Yeah, we did.
But to no effect.
We didn’t have a specific date back then.
A lot of people those days saw Rambabu keep going out for cable repair.
Now we have a solid date.
Pratap!
Please do your investigation in secret.
Sir.
In the meanwhile, you two push Jyoti hard.
Sure, Sir.
Rambabu is entirely focused on the film he is planning.
He is over confident that he won’t be caught by law.
That’s actually advantageous to us.
Before he makes a film, let us show him one.
I have already watched your film.
Preview!
Not at all good. It won’t run.
Is there any logic in the screenplay?
If I find him, I am going to thrash the idiot.
Direction?
I can do much better than him.
Hello!
Hello?
Ah! He has disconnected.
-He wants to tell me about films! -Brother, brother!
I spoke to the guy from America.
He is interested in being the co-producer.
He said he will come here in two months and talk to you personally.
Finally, I am going to realize the biggest dream of my life soon!
You are great, bro! Just great. That’s all.
Raju!
If man sets his heart on something, he will definitely achieve it.
I am the best example.
That’s true, brother.
But to become successful in the industry, we should also have luck, right?
That exactly is your problem!
Negative thinking!
It only attracts the negative.
That’s why you are on night duty here.
If you were positive, you would be in shooting on night call sheet.
Think positive!
Only good things will happen.
Keep watching!
I will rule Telugu cinema one day.
That’s all.
-Are you Arvind? -Yes, Sir.
How long have you been a newspaper agent in this area?
Almost fifteen years, Sir.
What time does the newspaper reach this area?
Err...by 3 early in the morning it reaches the town, Sir.
My boys collect it from there and distribute them house-wise, Sir.
Send me the names, addresses and telephone numbers of boys who worked in August, 2014
Er...ok, Sir.
When do the distribution boys collect milk packets from you?
From 4 to 4.30 in the morning, Sir.
I need the details of all the boys.
Ok.
Not the ones working for you now.
Those who worked in August, 2014. Ok?
Ok, Sir.
Move.
How is the public cooperating?
Very well, Sir.
Good.
Six years ago everyone in the village had some sympathy for Rambabu.
A constable named Veerabhadram had beaten Rambabu’s younger daughter badly.
The public retaliated.
Not one cooperated in the investigation.
Now this is a good sign.
Envy is the reason for this change, Sir.
No one is happy with Rambabu’s success.
In fact, they strongly believe it was Rambabu’s family that killed Varun, Sir.
They saw it some six years ago.
Do you think they would still remember?
We never know.
Try and see.
What if someone recognizes?
Mom! Don’t fret!
Where are you now?
I am in my friend, Ravi’s, house.
You said you would talk about your job?
Yes, mom.
I spoke to him.
He said he would get me work.
Ok, son.
-Greetings, Sir. -Hmm.
-Isn’t this Purushotham’s house? -No, Sir.
-What is your name? -Janardhan, Sir.
Where is Purushotam’s house?
Purushotam?
The guy who used to supply newspapers.
Oh, ok.
He met with an accident?
Purushotam Naidu!
The same guy.
From here...1, 2, 3 ...fourth lane, Sir.
Third house on the left.
Hmm. Move.
-Any use? -No use, Sir.
I spoke to all the paper boys.
Even to the milk vendors.
They say they don’t remember, Sir.
I have tried all the sources.
No result.
Ah. One source is left, Sir.
There was a wedding reception that day in the lane next to Rambabu’s.
Have you taken the details?
Yes, Sir. Yeah.
I have collected the guest list.
About 120 attended the event, Sir.
Yes, Sir.
Take a look, Pratap.
I am making enquiries, Sir.
I am on it, Sir.
Yes, Sir.
Greetings, Sir.
Ramesh?
Yes, Sir.
On 3rd August, 2014, there was a wedding reception at your friend Srinivas’ house.
Your friend said the event was over by 11:30 or 12 in the night.
I remember attending, Sir, but not the date.
That night, by any chance, did you see Rambabu?
Rmababu from here?
Yes, the same guy.
I don’t know, Sir.
I don’t remember at all.
Think well and tell me. It’s very important.
Did you see him going by jeep or on foot?
No, Sir.
Sir!
I saw Rambabu come in a Jeep that day.
Husband! Do you remember?
Our younger one had high fever that day?
Yes. So?
Mom!
Dear, nothing will happen to you.
Husband!
He has very high fever.
You have a doctor friend, right? Please call him once.
What if he asks me to bring the kid?
I have given my car for servicing.
He is 15 kilometres away.
It’s very cold outside.
Brother Rambabu has a jeep.
Please ask him, huh?
You will be fine, dear.
Wait. Let me call up my friend.
Mom! Mom!
Is he not picking up?
Hey, Sridhar!
My younger son is down with high fever.
Shall I bring him?
Fine, then.
What did he say?
He asked to give him paracetamol syrup every two hours.
He said he will check him in the morning.
Yes, Sir.
We saw Rambabu go out in the jeep that morning around 4.
Why didn’t you mention that in the enquiry?
No one asked us, Sir.
Sir, I work for a Co-operative bank.
We live in the town.
This is my parents’ house.
We come here weekly once.
We came that day for the Reception at my friend’s.
Hmm.
Where does this road go to?
Sir! This is a short cut to the junction where Rambabu’s cable office is located.
They have tarred this road three years ago.
This road wasn’t so good then.
What’s on the road side?
There’s a church, Sir.
St, Joseph’s church.
After that there are agricultural fields.
Beyond that it is all forest, Sir.
What about the forest outside the village?
Not possible, Sir.
That area is under the forest department.
During that time, the forest guards are on continuous patrol for timber smugglers.
Hmm.
So, if someone had dug a pit, they would have noticed it.
See!
He might not have had so much time for planning.
So, chances are more that he would bury it in a familiar place.
I have a doubt, Sir.
What?
Sarita?
Yes, Sir?
You said Rambabu is confident that he won’t be caught by the police, right?
Yes, Sir.
So, he must have buried it in a place no one can think of, Sir.
Where could it be?
Church cemetery.
It’s close to Rambabu’s house.
A place no one will visit at night.
Sir, if that is true, we would have to put in a lot of effort, Sir.
To find out whether it is true or not, there is a way.
-Sister! -Hmm?
I always notice.
Whenever you go to Baba’s temple, you feel reassured, right?
You know it all, Sarita.
Baba is my only refuge.
You know all my problems.
That’s why I submit it all to Baba and ask him to grant me a peaceful life.
I feel he listens to my prayers.
I don’t know why but I trust and rely on Baba like I do on my father.
But brother Rambabu has no such belief, right?
Tsk. He is not much-
(Police sirens sounds)
Sister!
They are not here for you.
Why are you scared?
Walk confidently.
Sister Jyoti!
Hmm?
What is it, Sarita? What happened?
You know what?
Er.. Anju!
Mom?
Leave us alone.
Hmm.
What is it?
I think Brother Rambabu buried the body in the church cemetery.
The police we saw in the morning were there to dig the cemetery, I heard.
Father seemed to have asked them to come back with the court orders.
Sister Shanta has told me.
Oh, no!
Sister! Don’t get tensed!
Inform brother Rambabu immediately.
Don’t say it on the phone. It’s dangerous.
Call him home and tell him in detail.
[phone ringing]
Hello?
Husband! Please come home immediately.
I will come after the evening show.
No! It’s very urgent.
Start immediately.
Why? What’s wrong?
I can’t say it on the phone.
Don’t say a word. Start now!
Hello! Hello! Jyoti!
-Greetings, brother. -Greetings. I am Janardhan.
I am looking for work, brother.
Uncle asked me to meet you,
I have no work here.
I am ready to do any job, brother.
I told you there is no work!
Please help me, brother.
Ok, take this.
I am not here to beg, brother.
-Then get going. -Brother!
Sarita!
Jyoti called Rambabu a while ago.
-Do you think the plan will work out? -Definitely.
Sister Jyoti was very upset by what I told her.
How come Rambabu is not home, then?
If not now, he will come tonight, right?
They will definitely discuss it then.
Look! He is here. He is here!
Hey! Come on! Come on!
-What is it, Jyoti? -Come inside.
Why are you so tensed?
First, come inside. I will tell you.
What is it, dear? What happened?
I don’t know! What happened, mom?
Not something I can tell you. Move.
Come!
What is it, Jyoti? What’s wrong?
Police went to dig the church cemetery.
Who told you?
Sarita.
Shanti seemed to have told Sarita.
When I was returning from the temple, I saw the police go towards the church.
Did you shift it there?
Are you mad?
You are blabbering nonsense! Did you call me home for this?
Are you not scared?
No!
So-
Is it not there?
How many times did I tell you not to discuss this at home?
We must talk! I need to know.
I can’t bear this tension any more.
When I asked you to come immediately without giving a reason-
-how worried you must be during the half an hour of your drive?
For the past six years I have been worried a million times more.
Whenever I hear the police digging somewhere, my heart starts racing.
I swear on my kids, it’s not there!
I know you are doing this only to protect us.
But I can’t live in trauma by the minute.
Husband!
For my mental peace,
...can’t you tell me where it is?
If I come to know, do you think I am foolish enough to disclose it to someone?
I thought the police had left this case long ago.
But if they are still searching for it....
Jyoti!
Every time a new CI is appointed, there will be routine enquiries.
Till we die, this process will go on.
As long as we stand strong, no harm will come to us.
When you talk to me like this, do you know how calming it is?
Why won’t you tell me where it is?
Don’t you trust me?
If you don’t trust me, you don’t have to tell me.
Tsk!
Jyoti!
Till this moment-
I have never done anything against my instinct.
I won’t do it in the future either.
It can never be found by anyone.
Only in this issue, trust me.
Take your tea.
Greetings, brother Janardhan.
Hey, Raghu! All good?
Uncle, has the Vizianagaram bus left?
Not yet. Are you going somewhere?
I am going to Hyderabad for work, Uncle.
Wherever I went for a job here, their words, their attitude! Bah!
Have tea before the bus comes.
No, Uncle. I don’t have money.
I am also going out of station.
What’s with money?
Give me when you can.
Hey, Raghu!
Yes, Uncle!
Get a tea.
Ok.
Hey, Somaraju!
I came to your house yesterday. You weren’t home!
I was in the church.
How come? Did you convert?
Hey! No, no.
But don’t you know?
No!
The police were digging up the church cemetery.
What for?
Rambabu’s pending case.
Really? Did they find it?
That’s what they say.
In the church cemetery?
The story sounds terrific!
Did they dig it up though?
Brother, tea.
How could they? Why would Father allow it?
He must have asked them for a court order. Police must have backed down.
As if they would concede defeat!
They will get the orders in two days.
Whatever you say Uncle, Rambabu is done for this time.
How many times have we seen this stunt in the past six years?
They can’t lay a finger on Rambabu.
He is a good person.
Cut it, Uncle!
No one except you in the village believes Rambabu is innocent.
I heard the same.
I believe Veerabhadram actually framed Rambabu?
Wow! That makes them two in all.
We also believed it.
But the kid said-
- mother and daughter together, stuffed something into a sack and buried it.
When the police dug it up, they found a dead calf.
Tell me, Uncle!
Would two women bury a dead calf in the middle of the night?
That too when it was raining!
Hey!
Were you present there and saw it?
Don’t accuse!
That’s evil.
Huh. Ok.
The police are watching like hawks.
They are enquiring.
They are enquiring if someone saw Rambabu in the jeep on the midnight of 3rd August.
They have even announced a five lakh reward for those who witnessed.
Uncle! Is that the bus?
Yes, yes. That’s your bus.
Five lakhs!
Whoever it is, he must be lucky.
I know.
-See you, Uncle. -Take care.
“They are enquiring if someone saw Rambabu in the jeep on the midnight of 3rd August.”
“They have even announced a five lakh reward for those who witnessed.”
If he is so certain about it-
There is no chance of it being there, Sir.
-Still keep an eye on the cemetery. -Sir.
-Especially at nights. -Yes,sir.
Sir, what about the audio recordings with us?
They have no reference to Varun’s name or his dead body.
Courts consider audio recordings as secondary evidence.
How about we concentrate on the junction where Rambabu’s cable TV office is?
We will do it, Sir.
What sort of possibilities we have there?
Sir, a call from the station.
Must be an emergency.
They have called twice already.
Please! Take it, take it.
What about the prophesier?
It’s not working out, Sir.
Rambabu is not for it.
Oh! Is it so?
Don’t you know I am in a meeting with the IG?
What?!
Really?
What was his name did you say?
How far is the junction from Rambabu’s house?
From the main road it must be 12 kms, Sir.
By short cut it may be around 8 or 9.
Are there any diversions on the short cut?
No, Sir.
Come.
Sir!
There is a guy at the station claiming he knows where Rambabu buried the body.
So where is it?
He doesn’t say, Sir.
He wants to disclose it only to the higher officials.
-Can we trust him? -Yes, Sir.
How many have come to us in these six years?
But to send him away without listening to him-
Of course not!
Ask them to bring him here.
Yes, Sir.
(Dry chilies rustling)
Jyoti!
I will drop Anju at college and go to Vizaf.
Will you return by night?
I will if I can. I will let you know.
Is it for the movie, Dad?
When are you going to start the film?
-Dad! -Ah?
When are you going to start?
There is a time for everything, dear.
-Time will come. -Hmm.
Umm!
Your name?
Janardhan.
Where did you see Rambabu?
What do I get if I tell you?
What do you want?
Money.
How much?
Half million.
Didn’t I tell you he is a fraud?
On 4th August at 3:30 in the morning I saw Rambabu with a spade in hand.
Half an hour after that, the police arrested me.
At 12.30 at midnight, my brother-in-law and I got into an altercation.
I lost my temper and broke his head with a rod.
He died.
I was running home in fear and saw Rambabu on the way.
I am not a fraud, Sir.
Was Rambabu on a Scooty or a bike that night?
He was in a jeep, Sir.
I mistook it for a police jeep and hid myself.
That’s why I am so certain about it.
Where did you see him?
I can’t give you more than that, Sir.
Decide on the money, first.
Ok!
I will get you ten thousand. Tell me.
That’s not enough, Sir.
I need money to go back to the family I missed.
Minimum of half million.
Hey!
We know how to extract truth from you without paying a single rupee!
Sir!
Bash me all you want.
I got used to police treatment.
Anyway, I made a mistake.
I shouldn’t have come here.
If I approached Rambabu, I would have got the money I wanted.
Pratap!
You will get the money in two days.
Till then-
Stay put here without moving a finger.
The five lakhs you wanted.
Tell us now.
Where did you see Rambabu?
At the police station you sit every day,
It was under construction then, right?
I saw Rambabu come out of it.
-Hey, are you messing with us? -Pratap! No, no, no!
Now it makes sense.
That is his confidence.
‘Not that I don’t trust you.’
‘Though I want to help you, I am in a helpless situation.’
Unbelievable!
Absolutely unbelievable!
Do you believe this?
Sir, at first, I didn’t believe it either.
In this situation, are we to believe a criminal and dismantle a police station?
I can’t allow this.
Er...
Sir!
I shall make good the loss the Force incurs from this.
I will rebuild the police station.
Gita! Money is not the issue here.
We are already insulted several times in this case.
Yet again!
That too pulling down the police station!
Sir, there is no need to bring down the entire structure, Sir.
We just need to dig up that particular floor.
I have already spoken to the contractor, Sir.
They had started the floor work on 5th August.
Not just that.
Sir, some neighbours saw Rambabu use that route.
Based on that, our enquiry has reached the junction, Sir.
Going by it, there could be truth in what he says.
This time we will not fail, Sir.
You can trust me on that.
Ok, then.
The entire responsibility in this issue is yours.
Sir.
All our movements must be in secret.
Add more people to the job and finish it in a day.
Yes, Sir.
Let the excavation be done under the supervision of DSP and RD.
As soon as you find the skeleton, send it to the forensics.
Get the reports as quickly as possible and send them for DNA testing.
Only if the forensic report is in our favour, should we follow Rambabu.
Lots of mistakes were made earlier.
Everything should be done fast and in a legally sound manner.
Yes, Sir.
-Brother Raghu? -Ah?
What is the menu?
Idly, Vada, Dosa, Puri.
Hmm, get me two idlis.
So, Sir!
Lot of bustle at the station?
Flooring in the station is giving way, Uncle.
So we are removing it and laying new tiles.
Aha!
I think the surgeon has come.
-Excuse me, Sir. -Yeah.
(Car door slammed)
-Good morning, Sir. -Good morning.
-Have you started? -They have just taken out the furniture, Sir.
You must go in a minimum of five feet.
Considering everything, it’s most likely the skeleton is in the centre.
So ask them to start at the centre and move towards the sides.
Ok, Sir.
Hi, Sir.
Hi.
Any progress?
No, Sir. Digging has just begun.
Fine.
If you find something there, send the workers out and call us in.
Sir!
-Ok? -Ok.
Let’s go.
How many spaces on the dice? Five.
One, two, three, four, five. There it is.
Hey! No, no, no!
Hey, no snake!
Dad is cheating!
No, no, no!
-Correct... -It has crossed over the snake.
Dad! You are numero uno in cheating.
Dad is cheating to make mom win.
Yes. You have changed a lot, Dad.
Me? What do you mean I changed?
You are not even going to the theatre much.
Hey!
You are always behind mom.
You are right.
Dad!
-You have been married for 20 years, right? -Yes.
Are you not bored of mom?
(Laughter)
Hey, scallywag! Talk like a kid.
Dear!
I am not staying home for your mom.
I stay because you are home.
I will continue to stay at home.
That’s why I have installed CC TVs in the cable office and the theatre.
I will have fun with you and monitor everything from here.
What will you do when there is shooting?
He will install a CC TV on the location, Sister.
Hey!
No shooting, no fighting. Zip it!
No one is making films here.
(Steam hissing)
Hey, hey! It’s you next.
-I will be back. -Finish the game!
Why does she leave in the middle of the game!
It’s me.
She won’t come back. Go ahead. Go on.
(Spades scraping)
(Humming)
Oye! Where to?
-I will have a cold drink and come back, Sir. -You can’t go out.
I will get it for you. Get back in.
I want to pee, Sir.
I said you cannot go out!
Go to the back side and do it.
Move!
-What the heck! -Carry on!
You don’t let us drink or pee!
(Indistinct talk)
I am tensed.
Hey, why so late? Make it fast.
There were police. I shouldn’t be caught, right?
-Sit! -That’s why make it quick!
(Glasses rustling)
Pour me some.
Hey! Pour a little more.
Shh! Police station!
This is horrible!
They are not even letting us out for a tinkle!
Hey!
This is not for replacing the tiles.
Who would go five feet deep just to change tiles?
Then?
They are looking for something.
For what?
Hey!
For the corpse.
This is for some old case.
Do you know who is waiting outside?
Deputy SP, Tehsildar and police doctor-
I heard them talk about some dead body.
-Hey! -Huh?
To keep the job confidential, they hired us from another village.
Talk softly.
This is police business.
-Why should we bother? -Yes!
Let us go and do our job.
Let’s go.
Hey, this must be Rambabu’s case.
Yeah.
You are right.
Are you involved in this case right from the beginning?
Actually-
I was a CI in Vizianagaram, Sir.
When we searched for the body in his house, we found a dead calf.
You are aware of it.
Yeah, yeah. I heard about it.
I was in charge of the clues team that was looking for his hair.
Can we extract DNA from hair?
We can but not if the roots are destroyed.
Hair falls off in two or three days after death.
Since the body was shifted immediately, you may not have found it.
Ok. If we find the hair now, can we extract DNA?
When we have the bones, why bother about hair, Sir?
Even if we find the hair now, there won’t be much use.
Sir, it’s time for lunch.
Would you like to order food here or shall we go out?
Let’s order it here.
-Is it ok for you? - It’s ok.
Dad!
Two years and not a scratch on your car!
How are you so careful?
It’s not just a car, dear.
It’s the fifth member of our family.
Good omen! There goes the bell.
(Mobile ringing)
Hello?
Ah?
I haven’t started yet.
It will take an hour.
Ok. I will get it.
Anju! Enough, dear.
I need to go out immediately.
I guess CC TV is not working.
Sir, it’s going on, Sir.
Er...no result as yet, Sir.
-I will inform you once we get it, Sir. -Sir!
-One minute, Sir. I will call you back. -Sir...
Sir, we found it, Sir.
Let’s go.
Dad! Shall we go for the night show today?
Brother Rambabu! Brother!
Did you hide the boy’s body in the police station?
The police are removing the floor in the police station, brother.
You carry on.
Husband! Is that true?
Don’t be afraid.
No harm will come to you three.
I won’t allow it.
Go in and close the doors.
Until I come back no matter who comes or what happens, don’t open the door.
(Sobs)
Check the width.
Hold it in that corner.
Four feet, Sir.
Check the length now.
(Banging on the doors)
(Indistinct, angry chatter)
(Gasps and sniffles)
Oh, no!
-Brother! -Yes, brother?
I heard they found a skeleton in the police station. Is it true?
Yes.
The police took the body yesterday.
Breaking News!
The 6 year old disappearing case of Varun, who is IG Gita Prabhakar’s son-
Takes a major turn.
‘The police recovered a skeleton suspected to be Varun Prabhakar’s’
Dad!
‘Rambabu’s family, former suspects in this case’
Yes, dear?
Watch this!
‘is in the spot light again’
Madam! Madam!
Please, Madam!
Madam, one interview, Madam.
Madam!
Madam, please answer, Madam. Please, Madam!
Do you think you will win the case?
Madam, is it true they found the skeleton?
Please respond, please!
Do you know who did it, Madam?
-Madam, please say something. -Are you satisfied with the investigation?
(Door opening)
(Footsteps)
Good morning.
Come.
-Do you know them? -No, Sir.
They financed your plot and built the house.
Oh!
Hello, Sir.
Gita!
They are Sarita and Sanjay.
Hello, Madam!
Thanks to their two years’ hard work, this case has moved forward.
Thank you.
Welcome, Madam.
Sir, can I?
Yeah, sure. Come.
What is our next move?
We have filed the petition to interrogate Rambabu.
There is a hearing at 1 pm today.
We are speeding up things.
Good.
Er...have you got the forensic report?
Yeah.
Here it is.
Male, aged between 14-20.
Skeleton five or six years old.
We should send this for the DNA test.
We need both your blood samples for it.
I strongly object this petition, Your Honour.
It is devoid of any merit and may kindly be dismissed.
Respectable court had given the police the permission to interrogate this family twice.
But no incriminating evidence was found.
This is an unending ordeal and abuse of the process of the court.
Ok, ok.
Mr PP!
She has a point there.
The police questioned him twice.
But there was no development.
Your Honour!
As far as Varun’s missing case is concerned, all the doubts are cleared.
Suspects require to be questioned repeatedly in police interrogation.
The earlier questioning led to the present developments.
Your Honour!
This case has reached the stage of conclusion.
It is clear that Varun was murdered.
On 4th August, 2014 as Rambabu left the police station where the body is found-
-we have a witness who saw him.
To proceed with this case, Rmababu and his family have to be questioned, Your Honour,
May not be, Your Honour.
To harass my client intentionally-
Please wait, Ms Counsel.
Let him submit.
How many days do you need?
A minimum of two days, Your Honour.
No, no, no!
Two days is too long, Your Honour!
I give you one day.
From morning eight to evening six.
But we need at least two days, Your Honour!
You said you have the evidence.
Question him for a day and submit the developments to the court.
If necessary, I will extend the time.
Ask your client to report to the police at 8 am tomorrow.
Yes, Your Honour. Much obliged.
I will be waiting outside.
None of you know anything.
That’s it.
That’s our stand.
And we stick to it strongly.
Understand?
Don’t be afraid.
Be brave.
You are quite intelligent.
You hid it in the police station right beneath the CI’s feet.
For six years the police have been looking for the body-
...and you were having fun watching them.
But how did you get this idea of hiding the body in the police station?
My question was to you!
Which film did you copy this from?
Tell me.
Sir, I buried no one’s body, Sir.
Then on 4th August, 2014 at 3am-
...why did you go to the police station that was under construction?
I never went there, Sir.
You escaped this whole time, not because of your intelligence as you assume.
Out of sheer luck.
We have a witness who saw you come out of the station.
You were lucky he went to jail the same day he saw you.
Do you know this guy?
You never saw him?
I saw him, Sir.
But I don’t know who he is.
His name is Janardhan.
He is recently released from jail.
What day did you kill your brother-in-law?
Sir, On 4th August, 2014.
Time?
12.30 at night.
You were fleeing in fear and came by the police station under construction, right?
Yes, Sir.
You heard a sound and when you looked inside,
...what did you see?
I saw brother Rambabu come out of the station, Sir.
What was the time then?
Around 3.30.
August, 4th at 3 am. Right?
Yes, Sir.
Was there anything in his hand then?
He had a spade, Sir.
Tell me now.
Why did you go there that day at that time?
Sir!
I never went there that day, Sir!
He is lying!
So, you never went out that day?
On August 2nd, we went to Saibaba temple in Vizianagaram, Sir.
We came back on third evening.
Husband!
Gita!
Let her vent it out.
(Sobs)
Your game is over today.
All of you together killed my son and buried him, didn’t you?
-We don’t know anything, Madam. -Shut up!
(Gasps)
I know everything.
Your daughter killed my son.
You said it yourself.
“Lie! It’s all a lie!”
“Anju is pure as fire.”
“She is innocent.”
“That boy is lecherous."
"That’s why Anju had...”
What do you take me for?
It was I who bought your plot.
(Sobs)
Today you will know me better.
Now tell me all about your discourses.
I shall spare no one.
Six years of my grief and anguish-
...I will make sure you will experience it all.
Why the heck are you crying?
Why did you invite my son home?
Tell me!
I didn’t invite anyone.
Why did you call my son?
Hey!
Husband!
Tell me!
Madam!
-Why did you kill my son? -Madam.
-Spare my daughter, Madam. -Wait!
Madam!
Why did you kill my son?
Madam! Please! Please leave her, Madam.
She is unwell. Please!
I will not leave you until you tell me the truth.
Tell me! Why did you kill my son?
Madam! Please!
Sir, Sir! Please tell her, Sir.
She is not well, Sir. Ask her to leave her, please!
Sir! Please, Sir.
No leaving you unless you tell me the truth.
Madam! I will tell you, Madam.
-Madam! I will tell you. Please! -Tell me the truth!
No!
-I will make her say it. -Please, Madam.
Tell me.
-Tell me. -Husband! Tell her!
Please sir!
Why did you kill him?
Speak up!
Tell me why you killed him!
Oh my....Anju!
Sir! Sir!
Sir!
-Get up! Get up! -Oh my!
-Are you trying to be dramatic? -Sir! Please, Sir!
Sir! Please, Sir! She is having seizures.
Take her to the hospital, Sir. Sir, Please.
Hey, leave them!
Pratap! Call the doctor.
Anju!
Sir!
Hey, Sarita!
Take her to the hospital. -Sir! Constables! Move!
She is putting an act. This is a trap, Prabha.
Take her.
-Take her quickly. -Sir, let me go, Sir.
-Hey! I said stop! -Please sir!
Sir!
No matter how much you cry, I will have no sympathy for you.
You played the same game in the past using your younger daughter.
Now, it’s your elder daughter.
You tricks won’t work with me!
Understand?
Sir!
I will confess, Sir.
I will tell you everything.
I want to talk to you in private, Sir.
Please, Sir.
Sir!
Sir! I need to see my daughter, Sir.
She is fine.
The doctor is here. She is ok now.
Sir, let me go, Sir. Please.
Hey!
Don’t play tricks.
Tell me if you want to or we have our own methods.
Sir!
It was I who killed the boy.
I buried him in the police station.
Oh!
Interesting!
Hmm.
Why did you kill him?
Sir, on August 2nd Jyoti and the kids went to my in-laws.
When I went home from my cable TV office,
I saw someone lurking in the dark there.
I took him for a thief and went to him with a rod.
As soon as he saw me, he tried to run.
In a fit of anger, I went to him and hit him on the head with the rod.
It was a strong blow so he fell down.
When I went closer I realized he was a youngster.
Once I knew he was dead,
I packed his body in a sack and buried it in my courtyard.
The next morning, I came to know the floor was being replaced at the police station.
I thought that’s the safest place to hide the body.
On Sunday evening, Jyoti and the kids came back home.
I asked Jyoti to sleep in the kids’ room,
...and I shifted the body to the police station.
What about what your younger daughter saw?
Sir!
She saw our dead calf being buried.
Oh!
You are trying to save your family, right?
Sir!
I know you will one day find the body.
I have all proofs to show that whatever I said is true.
The iron rod with my finger prints, the boy’s clothes, shoes-
I kept everything safe in a secret place, Sir.
When did you change his clothes?
When I was shifting him to the station-
But why?
I told you, Sir.
If someday you discover the truth,
I wanted them for proof.
You wait here.
No!
I don’t want his family to get away.
Gita, we got what we wanted, right?
No!
Every member of his family should weep every single day for killing my son.
I have lived just for this moment.
How much did we plead that day?
Did he relent?
Why should we pity him now?
Why do you have sympathy for them?
Varun is your son.
Did you forget?
Fine, let us put him behind the bars.
Why should we be so cruel to imprison his entire family?
The girl is not doing well.
Somehow I feel we-
It’s all drama, Prabha!
Why can’t you understand?
For what she did to Varun-
-No way am I going to spare her. -Mr Prabhakar!
I don’t understand you.
Sir, I expressed what I felt was right.
Hmm.
Gita! I agree to what Rambabu says.
Gautam!
For the time being!
For the time being.
I have a reason.
If we charge Anju with murder, there are two problems.
One, we are not sure how much evidence we can gather against her.
Two, when the crime was committed, she was not a major.
It’s a juvenile case.
Not just that.
Without strong evidence, the girl can easily get away.
Rambabu has gathered evidence to prove that he had committed the murder.
So, the court will naturally believe that his wife and daughter are innocent.
Generally in such situations, you know as good as I do.
It’s our duty to collect the clothes off the victim’s body.
The forensic department says there were no clothes.
So we can believe him when he says he retained the clothes as evidence.
That’s why let us discharge his family and proceed based on his confession.
Let us use Rambabu, collect the evidence from him, and build up the case strong.
Before filing the charge sheet,
...let us add his wife and daughter as accomplices-
- in conspiracy and destruction of evidence.
We will let go of the younger daughter.
Since she is a minor, case wouldn’t stand.
Rambabu is the one who masterminded this.
Let us first send him to jail.
Gautam!
The case should not mention Varun making a video of the girl.
That’s as good as removed.
In fact, it’s not even in his story.
He said that only to protect his family.
But that helped us in return.
Prabha!
Shall I guess what you think?
You think we are betraying him, right?
Yes.
This is betrayal.
Six years ago he said whatever he did was fair in protecting his family.
What I am doing right now is also fair.
Hmm.
So-
Are you arresting him today?
No.
We will record his statement today-
-and arrest him after filing the application in the court tomorrow.
If everyone thinks like you do, the world would be a better place, Mr Prabhakar.
This is not just any case to me.
It is a personal mission I took up for my friend and colleague.
This is a war.
A war he had started.
Every man fights only to win.
So do I!
No, Rajesh.
You don’t have to come.
Everything is fine.
Inform mom also.
(Dogs barking)
Will call you later.
(Door creaking)
Husband!
I am responsible for all this, aren’t I?
Hey!
You are not at fault.
I knew some day this would happen.
I considered Sarita more than my blood sister.
But she-
(Sobs)
I never thought she would deceive me.
(Sobs)
Forget it.
They have done their duty.
(Sobbing)
Have the children gone to bed?
No.
(Switch clicks)
Dear!
Haven’t you slept yet?
Dad!
Instead of me, you-
Hey!
Don’t worry about all these things.
Be brave.
We sailed through a lot earlier.
This will go away too.
It has to.
Dad!
Will they arrest you tomorrow?
No idea, dear.
(Sobs)
(Bicycle rattling)
Brother! What happened?
The police have arrested Rambabu.
I am in the guest house next to the court.
Keep me posted.
Ok?
Sure, Sir.
Are we now asking for permission to interrogate Rambabu?
No.
It’s for judicial custody today.
Tomorrow, we apply for police custody,
- interrogate, gather evidence and file the charge sheet.
That’s it. Game over.
Sir!
Hmm?
Mr Vinay Chandra is here for you, Sir.
Who?
Film writer Mr Vinay Chnadra, Sir.
Why does he want to meet me?
He wants to speak to you about Rambabu, Sir.
Let him in.
(Footsteps)
-Greetings. -Greetings.
I am Vinay Chandra.
I know. I watched your films.
Please sit down.
- is Gita. He is Prabhakar. -Greetings, Madam.
Greetings, Sir.
You are not very active these days, are you?
-After my wife’s death, there was some gap. -Oh, I am sorry.
Also, there is a lot of change in film production these days.
Honestly speaking,
I have become outdated.
When I took a break from films, Rambabu came to see me.
When?
Er...two...it was three years ago, Sir.
Weren’t you aware of this case then?
I was.
And yet you didn’t recognize him?
You look familiar.
I came to your film shooting a couple of times, Sir.
We even discussed films.
I wasn’t sporting a beard then.
Is it so?
You looked familiar.
What is the matter?
You must have seen lots of movie buffs.
Please don’t club me in that group.
I have a short story.
If you can give me fifteen minutes,
I will narrate it, Sir.
Within fifteen minutes, he narrated the story to me.
Didn’t come across such stories of late.
I was highly impressed and agreed to write the script.
He said he would produce it himself, and even paid me one lakh as advance.
But he said only when both of us are satisfied with the script,
...shooting will begin.
We need a hero, heroine and director having salability.
For main characters we should give a chance to new talent.
He gave me all the key scenes of the story.
It took me quite long to complete the script.
I really enjoyed our disputes during story concept and discussions.
Rambabu has great cinema sense.
It took me one whole year to complete the script.
What is the story?
Er...
I will give you a synopsis of it.
The story happens in Vizianagaram.
Krishnamurthy is a businessman.
Amrutha is his wife.
They have an only son-Aditya.
He is a college student.
Hey!
I send you to college for studies; not to get involved in politics.
His opponent, Mahesh, is an MLA’s son.
-ABSU! -Long live!
Fights are common in politics.
-ABSU! -Long live!
In the squabble between them one day-
-ABSU! -Long live!
Don’t try to be heroic using your dad’s position and his minions.
If you are man enough, come alone!
-I will come alone! -Come!
-I will come alone! -Yes, come!
-Where should I come? -Anywhere!
-I will come right to your house. -Come on, then!
-I will! -Come!
Aditya’s parents were not at home that night.
To prove his courage, Mahesh went alone to Aditya’s house.
In the scuffle that ensued between the boys, Mahesh died.
Amrutha and Krishnamurthy arrive and find Aditya weeping beside Mahesh’s dead body.
Aditya tells Krishnamurthy that it happened by accident.
Dad! Dad! It was unintentional.
Dad, please, Dad! Help me, Dad!
Please, Dad! Help me!
The victim was an MLA’s son.
If it comes out, it is going to be dangerous.
So, Krishnamurthy secretly buries Mahesh’s dead body in the MLA’s new Party Office.
This is the first half.
Krishnamurthy knows the police would someday find the body.
So he prepares all proofs pointing to himself as the murderer.
How he lived in constant fear of the police is the second half.
When the police find Mahesh’s body-
Krishnamurthy confessing to the crime and going to jail is the climax.
So, is Rambabu going to make a film on his own life?
So it is true when he said he foresaw all these developments.
You both met in 2017.
You got the script ready in two years.
Why didn’t you start the shoot till now?
He was afraid the police will come after him if the movie releases first.
No, Sir.
We were not satisfied with the climax. That’s why.
But he published the story as a novel for copyright protection.
When?
Three months ago.
Is it available in the market?
Yes. But only a few copies.
It was just for the copyright.
Whose name is printed as writer?
Mine!
Who made the payments?
Rambabu made the payments but receipts are all in my name.
Your payments?
Rambabu is a little extra decent in my case.
He made the payment in three installments.
Cheque or bank transfers?
I asked for white money. But Rambabu paid me in cash.
Ok, ok., ok.
You said you were not satisfied with the climax, right?
Hmm.
Then, further developments?
We discussed a lot of other situations for the climax.
(Mobile ringing)
Pratap!
Sir, it’s an urgent matter.
Tell me.
What?!
That’s all, Your Honour.
Your Honour!
When the police have no proof, they use custodial confession as weapon.
Absolutely inadmissible-
They beat my client, threatened him,
...and coerced him to give a statement they dictated.
Is it true?
Yes.
Why does he change his stance now?
Even if he lies, he cannot escape.
I fear it’s the beginning of something.
Your Honour!
The custodial violence of our police is at the Oscar level.
If there were a category like that, our
As per the police theory, Rambabu was inspired by films and committed this crime.
In reality, it wasn’t Rambabu who was inspired.
It’s the police.
Rambabu’s confession that the police submitted-
-and the hero’s confession in the novel Drushyam published 3 months ago-
-are both the same.
So?
He has started his game.
Did you expect this?
No.
Like he said...
It’s just the beginning.
After the script was done, he came to my flat one day.
I discussed the story with a lot of people, Sir.
Everyone liked the story.
But none of them liked the hero’s surrender in the climax.
Hero is supposed to win.
They say if the hero goes to jail, his family’s future will be destroyed.
But the hero committed a crime.
Isn’t he supposed to face punishment?
Legally, it is right.
But in all fairness, living is a bigger punishment for him.
To live in repentance for the crime committed-
To constantly fear getting caught-
What sort of life is that?
That is also true.
I have a few ideas, Sir.
If you can give me some information, I will work on them.
This story takes place in Vizianagaram.
If the skeleton is really found,
-can you please find out and tell me what would be the police procedure?
I spoke to a senior police officer I know and found out all the details.
Based on that, Rambabu came up with a different climax.
But when I told him the risk elements involved, he discarded the idea.
What is the climax?
Actually, I came here afraid of the same.
(Mobile ringing)
Your Honour!
They found the skeleton of the missing boy, Varun, in the police station.
Janardhan, the key witness presented, is a convicted murderer.
A highly improbable and suspicious chance witness!
Your Honour!
The only possibility here is...
Varun could be in love with my client’s daughter.
His parents who are from a prestigious family might have opposed it.
Varun might have left home after an argument.
Frustrated and angry that her son left home,
-his mother and former IG Gita Prabhakar subjected
...my client and his family to vicious harassment.
But she could achieve nothing.
Eventually, the police found Varun’s skeleton somewhere.
If this came out-
For unreasonably torturing my client’s family-
-the police would become culprits in the eyes of the court and the public.
Now the police came across this novel.
Using ideas from the book, they decided to trap Rambabu.
They cooked a new story that Varun’s skeleton was found in the police station-
Since the station was under their control, they felt no one would know the truth.
They picked up a criminal from their jurisdiction and produced him as witness.
That is all that happened, Your Honour.
(Chuckles)
Nice narration, Your Honour.
My friend, Lawyer Renuka, from her imaginary world, removes a beautiful story-
Mr PP! I just don’t understand what is happening here.
As per the DNA report, this skeleton is not Varun’s!
No!
What was the damn climax?
The hero knew for sure that the police would someday unearth the truth.
He started preparing to face it.
He tried to find a boy of the same age who died from a blow to the head.
After 2 years, he was successful.
He met someone at the boy’s funeral.
He introduced himself.
He met the man regularly and made friends.
He found out how long it took for a corpse to turn into a skeleton.
He extended financial help to the poor man and made him feel indebted.
After two years-
When the body became a skeleton,
...he expressed his need.
That man gave away the skeleton to his friend who helped him survive.
When they get a skeleton in Vizianagarm, they send it directly to Vizaf Medical College.
Gender identification, age and cause of death are all examined by the forensic surgeon.
Law mandates the tests to be conducted only in the day time.
Then they send it to Hyderabad for DNA test.
The hero understood the police procedure.
He also found out about the security guard at the forensic lab.
He followed him.
Got acquainted with him.
He also discovered his weakness in the process.
It’s my dream to become an actor, Sir.
Give me a chance in your film, Sir.
Ok!
Please, come, Sir.
I hope there are no cameras around.
No such things here, Sir.
Nothing to worry.
It is safer here than drinking in the car.
Come.
Only mosquitoes and I are here at night.
Come on, brother.
Brother, shall I pour you a small peg?
-Just one? -No!
Ok. Let me take a small peg-
He took him under his control and waited for the police to come.
Years passed.
Finally the day had arrived.
Hello, brother!
Huh, Raja! It’s me!
Tell me, brother.
Shall we have a sitting?
Ok, brother. What about the bottle?
I will get it.
Ok, brother. Come.
(Tense Music)
There are too many risky elements in the climax.
Unless the hero is super lucky, it is not going to work out.
After all it’s just a film, Sir.
What’s wrong in a little luck and God’s blessings for the hero?
When a man is ready to surrender, what has he got to lose?
There is nothing wrong in trying, right?
What if luck is on his side?
Didn’t you read this report?
When I asked them they said it was yet to come, Sir.
Sir, we have just received it.
I need to see your IG.
He is in the guest house close by, Sir.
Ask him to come immediately and meet me in my chamber.
Yes, Sir.
Hm!
I allow your client bail on personal surety.
Much obliged, Your Honour.
A humble submission.
Your Honour may kindly direct the police-
- not to proceed against the petitioner and his family for the time being-
-as they are approaching the Honourable High Court of Andhra Pradesh-
-to quash the entire proceedings in connection with this crime.
Crap!
But how is it even possible?
Can a layman pull off all this?
It is possible, Sir.
Let me tell you something friend to friend, Sir.
For two years, the police have been on this mission.
Mind you this is not investigation but reinvestigation.
In this case, a systemic negligence took place at the lower levels, Sir.
80% of cases in this country fail because of this systemic negligence.
And that man!
That man is a classic criminal and he is scot free now!
Thanks to all of us, Sir.
What sort of a man is he?
To wait so many years to test his luck!
Unimaginable!
We know the truth.
But we can’t prove it.
Actually, the onus of delivering justice to both these families rests on us.
But we can’t.
Now, off the record, Gautam!
Unsolved cases are not new in our system.
However justifiable his act is-
-the hero can never look into the eyes of the boy’s parents.
He has to do penance for his mistake.
The story is not over yet.
There is a twist in the climax too.
What?!
(Incantation)
-Is it over? -Hmm.
‘I gave you what you wanted.’
‘My heartfelt apologies for hurting you again.’
‘Why don’t you leave us alone at least now?’
Gita!
He is a man who pledged to protect his family.
We can’t win.
Why don’t we stop at this?
It’s like a case that is closed,
...but will never close.
Actually, we never kept an eye on him.
In fact, he watches us with a thousand eyes.
I can say this with certainty.
He must have already started preparing, in case we come back at some point.
In a way...
What could be a bigger punishment for him?