(piercing title music)
(majestic brass music)
(mystic music swells)
(rhythmic music)
(police dog huffing)
(chaotic chatter)
(man 1) Don't stand here. Listen to me!
(man 2) Don't stand in the way. Leave!
- (man 1) I asked you to leave. - (man 2) Let go of my hand. What's this?
- (man 3) Let us work! - (man 2) Can't you understand?
(man 3) Move, kid. What are kids doing here?
(suspenseful music builds)
(low tempo suspense music)
(distant crowd chatter)
- (man) Hey! What's this? - Hey!
(man) The dog is ready to bite the boss.
- (man 2) Bro, what if he did it? - Get down.
(crowd chatter increases)
(whimsical music)
(indistinct chatter)
(huffing)
(Sidharthan) Hey, Selvam. Stop there.
Something is there.
(man 1) Move back.
- Go away, madam. - (man 2) Move!
(music swells)
(mobile camera clicks)
(birds chirping)
(crowd chatter)
(engine starting)
Hey, you!
I asked you to get a box to keep the head,
but you got this box from the bakery.
Sir, this is all I could find nearby.
- It's a snack box. - A snack box?
- Paulraj. - Sir?
Take Thangamudi's bike and go to the station. No one's there.
- Sure, sir. - Hmm.
Hey, did you count the cash?
There's ₹2 lakh, sir.
But the letter doesn't say how much.
He wrote everything clearly, but he left this out.
Maybe he didn't mention it because he trusts officers like you.
- Thangamudi. - Huh?
Keep the head in the box.
Sir, it's the 13th day of the moon. I can't touch things like that.
- Kaalaiya, come on! - Hey!
Karuppu, do it.
Brother, why are you asking me to do this?
What if spirits start haunting me?
(tsks) Hey!
(in a low voice) Pregnant goat.
Huh?
(low and steady) Pregnant goat!
Keep it inside.
Go on!
(quirky, bumbling suspense music)
(in a hushed tone) Easy, easy... Do it carefully!
Close it.
- Hmm. - Close it just like that.
(fan whirring)
What is this?
It's a head, sir.
I can see that. How can I conduct a post-mortem with just a head?
Where's the body?
Well, we're looking for it, sir.
It'll be found, sir.
Do one thing. Take the head and bring it along with the body.
Only then can I conduct the post-mortem.
Sir, what's the cause of death?
Use your brain for once!
Why are you asking me?
They cut off the head and left it here, right?
Yeah.
Go on. Get it out of here.
Go on! Get it inside.
(Sidharthan grunts)
(suspenseful music)
(crickets chirping)
- (sputtering and coughing) - (Kaalai Pandiyan) Go easy!
(clears throat)
- Kaalaiya! - Hmm?
He's your guardian deity!
He's the reason we're still stuck in this station.
Happy now?
- Hmm. - Get lost.
Go home and cling to your wife and that goat of yours!
Look at him, still smiling!
(clears throat)
(coughs)
Even a doctor has no respect for our station!
(Thangamudi) He just handed the head back to us!
Did he even study medicine? Huh?
(Thangamudi coughs)
For lives that end anonymously like his,
there's only the police for them.
He's our responsibility until he gets justice.
(sighs)
The dead man is always our friend.
His killer? He's always our enemy.
So... cheers for justice!
- (in unison) Cheers! - (majestic music ends)
(cowbell clinking)
(upbeat tempo music)
Your mother wasn't well, right? How's she now?
She's doing well.
- How's your wife doing? - She's doing great.
(loud, heavy knocking on iron door)
Who's the bull knocking on the door now?
It's not a bull, it's a cow! Get out here.
It's you?
(mug clatters into the bucket)
(scoffs)
What is it?
- Your mother bought a new cow. - Huh?
Go see for yourself!
(anklet chimes fade)
(man) Pandi, tie the cow there.
I said nobody respects you. Did you listen at all?
(man) Not the calf! Let it roam freely.
- Mother... - (man) Leave it.
Mother!
What did I tell you?
I told you not to buy a cow, didn't I?
As if I care!
You did this even after I told you not to.
Then what respect do I have here?
Your say does matter here, after all!
But this house carries some respect. You should keep that in mind.
Even folks with nothing to their name raise two cows,
milk them and get by.
Do you want me to go begging around the street for a pot for milk?
You will buy it. And who's left to clean its dung and tend to it?
I swear your wife doesn't have to do it.
Pechi said she would take care of it.
What will you do now?
Are you trying to make me go mad?
- Hey, don't play cop with me! - Hey!
- Give it here! - Drop it.
Poor guy! He's waiting. Give it to me!
Let go!
Here you go.
- You can go. - Okay.
(man) Pandi, let's go.
(quirky music)
(engine whirring)
- How many days of leave do you have? - I have a flight next Friday.
- Hey! - What's the matter, sir?
Do you know him?
- I don't know, sir. I don't know. - Huh?
- What about you? - I don't know him, brother.
- What about you, brother? - No.
No, sir. We don't know him.
Let's go.
(dog barking)
(woman) How long will you comb your hair?
Brother.
- Hello, sir. - Hello.
Have you seen this guy anywhere?
No, sir. I don't recall seeing him before.
Hey, have you seen him?
- No, sir. I haven't. - No, sir.
Sir.
They say they don't know.
They don't know?
(man 1) What have you been staring at for 30 minutes?
A picture of a woman?
Do you really need this at your age?
- (man 2) You're just jealous of me. - (man 1) Sure!
- I'm so jealous of you! - Hey!
Go away! Welcome, sir.
- Have some tea and vada. - Tea!
- Two teas. - All right.
- One normal and one special for sir. - Okay.
Make it normal tea.
- When did you make the vada? - What brings you this way?
Have you seen the man in the photo?
I don't recall seeing him.
Check with the people seated here.
(man 3) You're reading the newspaper with black glasses.
- Can you read the letters? - (man 4) Yeah.
Have you seen him anywhere before?
No, sir.
I haven't.
Chief!
Have you seen this man anywhere?
Why are you asking?
(sharp suspicious music)
I haven't seen him.
No, I haven't.
(Kaalai Pandiyan) Have you seen this man anywhere?
No, brother.
Boss?
I haven't, sir.
- Is it ready? - Here.
- Here you go. - For sir?
- Here. - It's a special one, right?
Yes, sir.
Sir.
I just drank one.
- Make another. - Can't you see?
For you.
Do you want to have a cup of tea?
I just had one.
It's fine. Have one more.
- Hey! - (man coughs)
One tea for sir.
I already made it.
Give it to him.
Sir.
Drink it.
I will.
Sir, I need a small favour.
- Kaalai. - Sir.
(crisp paper rustling)
We've been searching everywhere.
We couldn't gather any information.
I know you know this man.
Please tell us.
You can't find him even if you search for a year.
Why would we have to find him?
Why else are you searching for him?
Sir... he's dead.
You're lying.
Sir, he's really dead.
Why are you looking for a dead man?
(tsks) We found only his head.
We're looking for his body, but we haven't found it yet.
I have seen him.
Where did you see him?
At a festival.
His name is Muthu.
When did you see him, sir?
Three years ago in Ponnumaarapatti Festival...
(festive music)
(motor humming)
(pulsating music)
(crowd cheering)
(announcer through mic) For Ponnumaarapatti
Santhana Maariyamman Temple Festival,
Here comes Madurai's most famous
Madurai Meena of Kanmani Dance Group!
- She's here for a dance performance! - Hey, hey!
- Don't come closer. Move, move! - (announcer) On behalf of our village,
We welcome her. Hey! Move, make way for her!
(crowd cheering)
Move! Hey!
Go back!
(clamouring)
Hey! Move!
You saw it's a girl, right?
Move aside!
Go away! Move!
Move! Go away!
Go! Go!
(Muthu) Go away!
(announcer) We welcome you on behalf of the organising committee.
Dear God!
They pinched us so badly!
(woman) What is this?
It looks like being squeezed with a pair of pliers.
- God! - Sister!
They hassled me too.
Don't make a fuss.
Guess my hips impressed them more than yours.
See how they pinched me!
- Look here. - (comical music)
Everyone, look at this!
They're in a real rage today!
Hey, look at their legs!
Why are you silent?
Nobody hassled me!
So, who's actually sadder here?
The one who got hassled or the one who didn't?
I'm more sad.
Console her.
Forget it. They probably couldn't reach you because you're too tall.
Don't worry.
Are you seven feet tall or what?
(kisses)
(closes window with a loud thud)
If you show your face with that jungle of a beard...
It's because of you! Get lost.
(muttering) Scoundrel!
(birds chirping)
Have you spoken to him?
Sir.
Thank you.
Sir, don't misunderstand me for saying this.
My wife passed away 20 years ago.
Whenever her thoughts come to me,
I'd pay money to go to women.
Sometimes at temple festivals
I get a little naughty.
(man announcing festival details)
Hey, kid!
I can't see a thing.
What will you do with this at school?
You can see only at 90 degrees.
- Huh? - Are you going to give it or not?
Or should I call my mother?
(playful music)
Here.
(muttering) Take your stuff and leave!
Uncle.
Did you at least see her hair bun?
No, bro.
I'll kill you!
It's all right, come.
Let's go there and take a look.
(vibrant festival music playing)
Bro.
It's been a long time since I had a proper oil service.
Somehow, I need to do it today.
Uncle.
We'll make it happen!
Hey.
Girls are changing inside.
We know. That's why we're going to take a look.
Huh?
Last time, a guy brought five girls.
They were all gorgeous!
After the dance,
we found out one was a man.
When we felt him up in the crowd, thinking it was a woman,
that's when we knew! Damn!
Uncle grabbed the wrong thing.
We're not backing down this time.
We'll take a look!
We'll check them out once.
Everyone would be fully dressed by now.
Huh?
They'll change during the next song.
I'll let you know. Will you come then?
That's also right.
When the song ends, send one of the four girls to the back.
Oh, no!
Right now?
How will they dance until morning?
- You look like a real powerhouse! - (laughs)
We'll never be rough with the girls.
(laughs)
Don't be scared.
What's your name?
Muthu.
Muthu!
Muthu, our dearest one!
(giggles)
Okay.
Bro, seems Muthu will keep his word.
(makes high-pitched sound, laughs)
(upbeat folk song "Mannarkudi Kalakalakka" playing)
(shouting) Hey, which village are you from?
Thalavaipuram!
Did you let us dance at your temple festival last year?
The temple is public property. Anyone can dance!
Who are they?
Why are they yelling like that?
Uncle, they're outsiders.
They made a scene to dance in front of our stage!
That's why they're getting thrashed!
Okay, okay.
Go, go!
(heavy stone impact)
(music slows down)
- Hey, what happened? - (man groaning)
- Get up. - It's them.
(sickening, wet crunch)
(groans in pain)
They're over there!
- Come! - (men shouting)
(men charging in anger)
(heavy thumping)
(men shouting)
(intense thumping)
(crowd screaming in fear)
(Meesai Perusu) We went to the festival with so many plans.
But it became a big commotion, and everyone scattered in confusion.
That was the last time I saw Muthu.
(scoffs) I didn't see him after that.
Okay.
All right. We'll leave.
- Okay. - Kaalai, come.
- Sir, let's get to the point. - Huh?
Did your desires come true that night?
It was total commotion.
The dance group took off right away.
We blew up the balloons we bought and went home.
Nothing happened.
(laughing)
Sir, where did the dance group come from?
Kanmani... Dance Group.
Will they ask you everything separately?
Tell them where they came from.
Hey, they came from Teppakulam.
Madurai.
Teppakulam, Madurai. Hmm.
(Sidharthan) Sir!
Your friend was with you at the festival, right?
What is he doing now?
That man passed away.
What?
Not you. That man died.
He's dead.
I'm sorry.
(Lalitha) Since the station isn't closing for now,
if you stop being lazy and investigate properly,
you'll get promoted to SI, right?
(woman) Bring me some water.
- You want me to become SI? - Yes.
- Just come! - Listen to me.
(muttering) Carrying the photo in the purse is not enough.
- Is it for safekeeping? - (muttering) SI, it seems!
Here.
- Did you eat? Was it good? - It was amazing.
- Here. - Sir, do you know who he is?
Do I know him?
He's my master!
- Your boss? - Yes.
He's the reason I'm doing well today.
How did you know him?
I don't know him.
I was a worker at a food stall four years ago.
He came there back then.
(crickets chirping)
Brother!
Two parottas and two half-boiled eggs.
Hey! A customer is here. Place a banana leaf for him.
(Muthu humming)
Sprinkle some damn water!
Go ahead.
Hmm.
Hey, check if the idlis are ready.
(rustling thwack)
Do I have to call you again?
He can't hear a thing!
You gobble up all the leftovers!
You also pack the food for your home.
I'm also paying your salary!
Get lost! Check if idlis are ready.
Despite your age, why are you so troublesome? Go!
(metallic clatter of a vessel)
Brother, give me some curry.
(tender, emotive music builds)
Hey, old fool! I told you to pack two parottas. Did you do that?
Lazy!
How much is the bill?
₹40.
(clears throat)
You've picked a great spot for your shop, brother.
How's this? I set it up amazingly, didn't I?
How much did it cost you to set this up?
Well... it cost up to ₹1.5 lakh.
How much business do you do in a day?
- Around-- - Would it be around ₹3,500?
After electricity, firewood and paying this old coot's wages,
I'll make around ₹1,000-₹1,500.
Why do you ask all of this?
Are you planning to open a shop opposite mine?
Keep it down and talk to me.
Wait, I'll come.
(rhythmic music accelerates)
(clinking of keys)
(intense music peaks)
This is for your setup cost.
You took care of this place, so this is for that.
This money will cover what you'd earn in three years.
Take this, hand over this place to me and leave.
Dude!
Who are you, dude?
Are these real notes or fake ones?
These are real ones.
If you want, take it.
Can we talk tomorrow morning?
Take it now if you want. Otherwise, I'll leave.
Hey!
Keep it, dude.
It takes ten minutes to even make parotta.
Can't you give me ten minutes to think?
Do you want it or not?
Leave then. Get up.
Get up, get up.
Come.
Come!
Come on.
Give it. Keep it over there.
Come on.
Sit down.
Sit down. This is your place from now on.
If this guy comes again, you shouldn't let him inside.
Okay? Don't fold your hands.
Leave.
Wait.
You're not to open any shop opposite this place,
or anywhere nearby, with this money.
(in a hushed voice) I've committed seven murders.
(chorus music arises)
Go.
Shall I leave, brother?
(stirring, soulful score arises)
(emotional score swells)
(Kaalai Pandiyan) Hop on.
Hop on, dear.
(grunts) God!
Sir, I won't be able to see my Lord anymore.
At least give me that picture.
Give him, dear.
Here.
Thanks a lot.
Hmm.
Didn't that restaurant guy mention any number?
- He doesn't remember any number. - Hmm.
But he said it was a Kerala registered pickup vehicle.
So, there's a strong connection between this case and Kerala. Huh?
- Correct? - Could be, sir.
Okay, come. Let's focus on that Kanmani Dance Group first.
Okay, sir.
- Thangamudi. - Sir.
- I'm going to Madurai. - Okay, sir.
- Take care of the station. - Yeah.
Let's ask around at the tea shop first, sir.
- Hmm. - It's over here.
(ambient traffic noise)
- Are you from around here? - Yes, sir.
Do you know a dancer called Madurai Meena?
Meena?
- It's called Kanmani Dance Group. - Yes, sir!
- Here... - Where is it?
There is a blue building after three houses.
- A blue building? - Yes.
Yes, a blue one. You can ask downstairs. You can find it there.
- Try asking them. - Okay.
- He says it's nearby, sir. - Hmm.
- Okay, brother. - All right.
(woman) Malliga, come here.
Hello.
- Any Kanmani Dance Group nearby? - Yes, I'm the manager.
But it's been so long since we stopped Kanmani Dance Group.
Oh!
Is this the dance troupe?
My house is downstairs, sir.
The dance troupe is upstairs.
Can I take a look?
(hesitantly) Yes, you can, sir.
Why did you shut down your dance troupe?
As long as Meena was there,
it was going well, sir. - Hmm.
But after Meena quit, it became hard to run the troupe.
Do you know this man?
This is our Muthu.
(traditional folk music builds)
Hey, move on!
Move! Who's that?
- They hit me! - Who?
Huh?
- Hey! - What?
You're an outsider! How dare you hit someone from our village?
- Whom did I hit? - You hit my nephew, right?
- Hey, did I hit you? - Yes, you did.
- When did I hit you? - (crowd cheering in the background)
I'm like her uncle.
He called me a pimp!
He could've said anything. But we elders are here, right?
How can you hit a kid?
How can you call him a kid? He called me a pimp!
Hey, you brought girls just to put them on display.
I didn't bring them here to be peeped at while they're changing.
I brought them here to dance. Do you get it?
- Do you get it? - Hey.
He's talking too much. Let's get the girl first.
- Move! - (shouts) Hey! Wait! What is this?
- What? - I'll call the police, brother.
You'll call the police? Go ahead if you dare!
What's this?
Why are you talking so much like he's a big deal? Get rid of him.
I'll slash you open and hand you your intestines.
- You can give it to the police. - Hey!
Bro, stab him! Stab him!
Stab him and pull his intestines out.
Stab me! Go on, stab me!
- How dare you do this? - Who...
Who are you?
What's your problem if we take a look at the dancer girl?
If I come to your house, knock on the door,
and say I want to watch your women change,
will you be silent?
Is she from your family?
Yes, she's my family!
She's my family!
Stab me and take that girl!
Stab me!
Hey, stab me!
If you grab the knife, use it.
Or else it will eat you alive.
Get it?
(triumphant vocals)
That was when we saw Muthu for the first time.
We hired him for the girls' protection, sir.
Oh!
How long did Muthu stay here?
- He stayed here for a year, sir. - Hmm.
But he left three years ago.
I don't know what happened, but after he left,
Meena quit dancing. - Oh.
- It's here, sir. - Hmm.
Do you know where Muthu is from?
I think he said somewhere near Oddanchatram.
- I don't remember it clearly, sir. - Oh.
(puzzling music)
- May I look inside this box? - Sure, sir.
- Who's this? - (man) Sittu, sir.
- This? - (man) It's Meena and Sittu.
- Where is Meena? - I don't know, sir.
- What about Sittu? - (man) She runs a tailoring shop.
- Where? - (man) In her hometown.
- Do you have her number? - (man) I do. I'll give you.
(Sidharthan) It looks like Kerala.
2005.
- Can I take this picture? - (man) Sure, sir.
Hmm. Thank you.
Shall I order you a coffee, sir?
Two coffees.
Give it quickly.
The dal vada is really good here. Shall I get you two?
Uh-uh.
(distant chatter)
What do you see in this picture, sir?
You're staring at it so intensely.
- Do you know elephants? - Yes.
All elephants look similar when we look at them.
But each elephant has a unique feature.
There are some experts who can identify that.
- Here, sir. - Looking at this photo,
Muthu was in Kerala in 2005.
If we know where this elephant is now,
it'll be really helpful for us.
Hmm...
(mutters) Veterinary doctor Venugopal.
- Hello, sir. - Hello.
- (in Malayalam)Who? - I'm Sidharthan.
Sub-Inspector from Tamil Nadu Police.
(continues in Malayalam) Sidharthan? I don't understand.
Sir, I'm from the Special Task Force.
I spoke to you regarding a murder case ten years ago.
Oh, Sidharthan? How are you?
- Tell me. - I'm good, sir.
I'll send you a picture of an elephant.
If I could get any information about it,
- it would be really helpful, sir. - Okay.
You said your friend was an expert at identifying elephants, right?
Can you talk to him?
Why not? Send it to me. I'll talk to him and call you back.
Sure, sir. Thank you.
- (crickets chirping) - (peacock screaming)
Can't you both come sooner? Why did you take so long?
(tsks) We left long ago.
While we were on our way, our boss spotted the Rettai Roja Bar.
- Oh! - What do you want me to do?
I knew it. That man would do that.
Meesai speaks very highly of that dead man.
We've now found that he was a bouncer for the dance troupe.
But you said it was shut down.
He also paid ₹10 lakh for a shop worth nothing.
- You forgot that. - What all he has done!
Okay, how do we close this case with this head?
When will we shut down this police station
and move to town? - (grunts)
- I'm so confused. - Keep talking about
shutting down this place! Fucker! - You want to herd your goats, right?
(mobile phone rings)
Pick up! Pick up the call.
(mobile phone rings)
Tell them he didn't show up for four days.
Who's this?
(mobile phone rings)
- Hey, uncle! - What is it?
Huh?
(mobile phone rings)
Huh?
(Thangamudi) Sir? Sir!
- Have a seat. - (Thangamudi) Go inside.
Go inside.
(grunts)
Don't step on him.
How did he die smiling like this? Huh?
Sir... when he was laughing,
someone must've slit his throat.
Mm-hmm!
How do you know this?
- I just had a thought-- - Have you died before?
Uh-uh.
- What about you? - Sir!
- (whispering) What's this? - Hey!
The booze has gone straight to his brain and making it dance.
I've died once.
- Look at him now. - Huh?
His brain will melt and come out of his nose.
- Mm-hmm! - Hmm!
A man can die many times in his life.
(mobile phone rings)
- It's the phone. - Give it.
- Give it to him. - Sir.
(mobile phone rings)
Hello.
Oh!
Thank you.
- Thank you so much. - What's happening?
Thank you.
- Good news! - Huh?
What is it, sir?
We've located the elephant.
(Thangamudi) Where is it?
- Kaalai Pandiyan! - Sir.
On your toes! We both are going to Kerala.
Okay?
No, sir...
It is the vaccination...
Hey! Why do you need to get vaccinated to go to Kerala?
- Be quiet. - Is any new disease spreading?
Why are you talking like an idiot?
It's time to vaccinate the goats, sir.
How can I go out of the station now?
- I don't know how it'll work out. - You and your goats!
- Golden hair! - Sir!
We both are going to Kerala.
Hmm. Yes, we're going!
- We'll solve this case. - Hmm.
- (with enthusiasm) Okay? - (Thangamudi) Okay, sir!
(Sidharthan) Kaalaiya, hand over this head to the mortuary.
(intense music builds)
(Closed Captions by Planetcast Media)