Hey! Hey, hey! No! No!
You're safe.
You're gonna be alright.
I thought you were only consulting with him regarding that case.
I didn't know you were sending him out in the field.
Sir, he took the initiative to check out a lead.
He kept me informed throughout.
Still, it was a huge risk!
- What if things had gone wrong? - Sir.
He saved a girl's life!
He caught the murderer and stopped him from killing more people.
We should appreciate him for that.
Sir, it's been three years since that tragic incident.
Rishi has worked very hard to move on from that.
We must reinstate him, sir.
But how, sir?
As per our protocols,
we can't reinstate someone who has monocular vision.
Will the false images shown by the heart Break in front of the eyes?
Will time solve this clueless puzzle?
As the depth of eerie silence Echoes all over
Will this wild run after the shadows In the dark, stop?
Will the unresolved legends Unearth the truth
And the apparitions Of the mystery die away?
And then?
Kathy!
Selvi!
What happened?
A creature?
What kind of creature?
Sir… I cannot explain it.
What did it look like?
Sir…
it disappeared before I could see properly.
You are hiding something, Kathy. Out with the truth.
What did you see?
It was the Vanaratchi, sir.
What?
Sir… I too didn't believe it when I heard the stories before.
But I saw her with my own eyes.
I guess you are still delirious.
You must have seen some black panther. They roam around here.
Does a black panther wear a red sari?
You think I'm delusional, don't you?
I swear on my family God Muneeswaran!
I saw the Vanaratchi.
She saw it too.
- But she is afraid to admit it. - Enough!
Did you two smoke ganja or something?
If you spread such rumors,
I will fire you both.
Alright. You two, go and get some rest.
A good nap might help.
Now leave.
Go.
Sir, please come with me.
We'll talk about this.
Why are you getting so upset?
Please don't yell at forest guards.
Poor souls.
They have an immense workload.
Each guard is doing the work of two.
It's been months since they went home.
We already have a shortage of manpower.
We cannot afford to lose them too.
We should be kinder to them.
I know, brother.
Tell those two girls to take a few days off.
- Okay. - We will manage without them.
Should we report this to the CBCID?
Report what?
That two forest guards saw a spirit in the forest?
They will take us for fools.
She is going to spread the story all over the village anyway.
What will we do then?
Hello.
I am just getting in, where are you?
I'm also just rushing in!
What to do?
I got a message from the inspector just half an hour ago.
I also got the message just a while ago.
He could've informed us yesterday itself!
We were with him, right?
He informs us at the last minute, makes us come late, and humiliates us.
He does it on purpose.
We have been doing everything right.
Then why is he doing this?
He already ruined the chances of my promotion.
Now, he wants to ruin our reputation also, I guess.
According to Robert's medical history,
there were no serious health issues to warrant a cardiac arrest.
Come in, take a seat.
He was very fit.
SI Chitra mentioned that
oleander flowers were found at the crime scene.
She asked if the cardiac arrest was caused by oleander poisoning.
But I didn't find any traces of oleandrin in his blood.
Since his body was stiff and rigid,
I suspected some other kind of poisoning
and asked the toxicologist to look into it.
Certain types of coral snakes, scorpions, and snails
use the poison in their body,
to completely fry the prey's nervous system.
The chemical makeup of their venom has calliotoxin.
That shock could also cause cardiac arrest.
However, no traces of calliotoxin or other similar chemical
were found in the victim's blood.
So…
we suspect that it's a murder.
But nobody knows what the murder weapon is.
Unfortunately, yes.
The cocoon?
No traces of chemicals, plastics, metal, or glue.
It is organic. The webspinner insects have weaved it.
I heard that Robert's body had been sent to Delhi.
His wife requested a second autopsy in Delhi, before his funeral.
Yesterday, we received that report as well.
They too have not found anything new.
I'm sure you realize that there are no errors from our side.
Thank you, doctor.
- I'll be in touch. - Sure.
Has any similar incident happened in that forest before?
Unexplained death?
Dead body in a cocoon?
Not that we know of.
Why?
Are you suspecting serial murders?
Why must someone put so much effort into a single murder?
Think harder.
One…
a similar incident might have taken place before.
Or this could be the first of more such killings.
Sir, in case a similar incident had happened before,
the forest officials would have informed us, right?
Let's ask them.
Morning, sir.
What is he doing here?
Is he going to question us like criminals, again?
No, he wants to meet the DFO.
Welcome, sir.
The DFO is waiting for you.
Thanks for arranging the meeting.
Without your department's support,
there won't be any progress in this case.
No problem, sir. Anything you need.
Please.
You can call me Rishi.
Okay, Rishi. Come.
Sathya, how long have you been working here?
It is going to be four years this December.
And before that?
I was working as a forest ranger in Ottapalam.
My native is Palakkad.
That's nice.
- Are you from this place? - No, Nagore.
I came here right after marriage.
My kids were born here.
I started as a forest guard and then became a forester.
It's been 30 years.
Thaenkaadu is my native now.
- The vehicle is ready, sir. - Yeah, let's go.
I shall take leave now. I have survey duty.
Okay. I'll also join you after the meeting.
- Later, sir. - See you, sir.
Come on.
- Are these the weekly reports? - Yes, madam.
Send them to the Division office.
We can send it to ACF once I've checked it.
- Okay, madam. - Okay?
- Okay, madam. - Ma'am.
Inspector Rishi and team.
- Hello. - Hello, ma'am.
Please come inside.
You wanted to know if a similar incident like Robert's…
had happened in Thaenkaadu before, right?
That's right.
Five years ago, a truck driver named Bala
lost control of the vehicle and rammed into a tree.
Due to the high impact, he crashed out through the windshield.
The sharp branches of the tree had pierced his abdomen.
He died shortly after that.
Later…
the guards found his body only on the following morning.
We honestly did not think that these two incidents were connected.
That's why, we never brought it up.
Webspinners spinning cocoons around the corpses of dead animals,
is not an unusual sight in this forest.
But, this is the first time we found them weave a cocoon around a human being.
Then again, weaving such a big cocoon in such a short time…
it was strange indeed.
We could not explain this behavior.
The causes of death are also different.
Exactly.
The autopsy report stated that
Bala died due to the injuries sustained during the accident.
Since we didn't see any other possibilities or evidence
we never suspected it to be a murder.
Remember you put your gold chain in a box?
Did you take that?
It's right next to the mirror.
Are you upset with me?
Of course!
Couldn't you have told the officer that you also saw it?
You made me look like a fool in front of them.
Do you think they would have believed us?
Fine.
When will you be back?
I doubt if I'll even come back.
I left my newborn with my mother-in-law and came here.
It's been eight months since I saw my child.
I heard that she has already started walking.
Seems she even called out "Mommy" when she saw my photo.
I'm so unlucky to have missed everything.
This profession sucks!
Is your husband coming to pick you up?
No, his work is also hectic.
Sudarkodi will accompany me to the bus stop.
I'll go from there.
Wait.
Kathy, listen to me.
You also leave this place.
It's scary to think about what might happen here.
Where would I go?
Then why don't you come with me?
Stay at my place till you find another job.
No, Selvi.
I don't want to trouble you.
It's okay. I'll manage.
Don't worry about me. Come back soon.
Oh, Holy Lord
The savior of my spirit
Everything is Your grace
The Son of Mother Mary
Friend from the land of Calvary
Everything is Your grace
Wearing a crown of thorns
You cleared all my sins
Oh Lord, You are my guidance
By bearing the cross
You freed me from my sins
Oh, savior You are my guidance
Who's that?
Kathy, is that you?
Yes, Mother.
Been so long since I saw you.
How are you?
I went to the orphanage, looking for you.
They told me you were here.
But I didn't expect to see you in this condition.
It hurts me to see you like this.
God…
don't cry, my dear.
This is what comes with old age.
Are you also going to abandon me and leave me as an orphan?
Don't talk like that.
Well, that's the truth.
You are all I have.
I don't have anywhere to go in this world.
As long as the lord is there,
you will never be an orphan.
Be strong.
He will always be there to protect you.
- Are you Bala's father? - No, his father-in-law.
After his death,
my daughter and grandson have moved in with me.
Do you know any details about his accident?
Where do I start?
How did the truck suddenly ram into a tree?
Even cops didn't have an answer.
His truck was new and it was in good condition.
My son-in-law was an experienced driver.
He was not the kind of person who used to drink and drive recklessly
But still, that mishap took place.
Sir…
we can go.
Do you remember what Bala was carrying in his truck on that night?
The usual stuff, sir. Vegetables and fruits.
Locally grown produce.
He would drive in shifts, to and from the local town or Coimbatore.
How was his state of mind before the accident?
Did he have any issues?
Like any issues with his co-workers or relatives?
He never poked his nose in others' matters.
He always minded his own business.
How did he behave towards people at home?
Did he ever get angry?
I have never seen him get angry, sir.
He never once raised his hand on me.
He was also very loving towards our son.
Do you believe that your husband's death was an accident?
That's what everyone said.
But what do you think?
I…
I have no idea.
You loved him a lot.
Didn't you ever notice anything strange in his behavior?
Please do not hesitate. Tell us whatever it is.
Well…
a week before the accident,
he had trouble sleeping.
He kept complaining that he was having disturbing nightmares.
I could see that something was troubling him, sir.
He'd suddenly wake up in the middle of the night,
and scream at the wall saying, "Let me go! Let go!"
I thought…
it was some female spirit that was haunting him.
The following weekend…
we were planning to go to the temple and perform a ritual in his name.
But when he went for his work shift…
he didn't return alive!
He didn't return alive.
Go ahead.
It's true. We have heard it quite often.
He used to wake up in the middle of the night and scream.
Poor guy.
We were sure that he encountered something that terrified him.
He fell sick one day with a high fever.
His wife came crying to my doorstep for help.
I took him to the hospital.
Bala seemed very tense before his trip that night.
He tied the sacred lemon and chili dangles in his truck.
Since my sister's wedding preparations were going on,
I couldn't travel with him.
A week before the accident, when he was traveling in a forest road,
Bala said he saw a ghostly woman in a red sari standing by the road.
We mocked him saying that it would have been some hooker.
But, he was quite serious about it.
He said that it was a forest spirit.
He was blabbing that she chased him everywhere.
Who would believe all this?
Nature Spirits.
That is… water, fire, air, earth, and forest.
There are many cultures that believe in such Nature Spirits.
There are thousands of stories about such spirits in many literatures.
Since ancient times, people have worshiped Nature Spirits.
People worshiped them not just out of devotion but also fear.
Because not every Nature Spirit possesses only pure traits.
Some have evil powers too.
They are fierce creatures who appear like ghosts and devils,
and terrorize the humans.
Vanaratchi is also like that.
Since she is the savior of the forest,
this Nature Spirit is named as
"Vana-Ratchi" which means Forest Protector.
We recovered a yellow-colored two-wheeler in the marshland near Velachery.
It was confirmed that it belonged to the murdered victim Saumya.
For a long time, we couldn't find any lead in this serial murder case.
Then we found an important clue in Saumya's bike.
It was a major twist in this investigation.
Where is Kandhan?
He didn't turn up, brother.
- What about Maari and Pandi? - They also didn't come.
Are they all deliberately bunking work?
I don't know.
I think they took up some other work in the neighboring village.
No, brother. I think they are scared to work here.
Hey, engineer!
Why is everyone standing idle?
I can hardly see ten workers!
Where are the other laborers?
I had arranged for 50 laborers but only a few have turned up.
Why? What's the issue?
We promised good pay, right?
Boss…
What is it? Tell me what the problem is!
Please come here.
What's with him?
There is a rumor that there is some kind of a spirit roaming in the forest.
One of our workers swears that he saw it a couple of days ago.
What? A spirit?
What rubbish is this?
Ever since that photographer's death became a news,
this rumor has been spreading fast.
People are scared to step into the forest, even to work.
These fools!
Look here, Harish!
I had to fall at many strangers' feet…
and shell out millions to get this contract.
The work must go on at any cost, got it?
I get it. Shall I get workers from the neighboring village?
No, thanks!
I will bring 40 North Indians who don't speak Tamil.
That's the only viable option. Get the work done using them.
- Got it? - Okay.
Name? Kaazhi Killivalavan.
Such an old-fashioned name in these modern times?
- It's so funny, Auntie. - Hey!
Kaazhi Killivalavan is a beautiful Tamil name.
That was my grandfather's name too.
Your son is not going to forgive you
if you give him this name, Auntie.
His friends in school are going to bully him for this.
Think of modern names like Dhruv, Ashwin, Harish…
Pick any of those.
You just spat out cinema actors' names. Get lost!
Fine, forget it.
What would you name her if you had a girl?
Who is that?
Is that Sangeetha?
Yes, Grandma. How are you?
My vision is blurring out day by day.
Where have you been?
That too at this dark hour, especially when you're pregnant?
I went for a check-up, Grandma.
Really? Alright, hurry up and reach home soon.
Do you have any iron objects handy?
No, why?
If the Ratchi smells the baby in your womb,
she will come for it.
Vanaratchi died before she could live out her human life.
She wasn't lucky enough to experience motherhood.
And that anger still lingers in her.
If she spots a pregnant woman, she'll come to take her baby away.
Don't you know that?
Are you out of your senses, you old hag?
Just ignore her, Auntie.
Come, let's go home.
Hear me out!
If you find any iron object on your way, then take it.
Iron objects repel that spirit.
Shut up, you old hag!
I'll go on my own from here. You leave.
No, I'll drop you home.
No need. It's already late.
Look, your mother is waiting for you at the doorstep.
Why so late? Didn't get a bus?
No, there was a huge crowd in the hospital.
My token number was 67.
Had to wait two and a half hours to see the doctor.
Alright. Is the baby healthy?
Yes, the baby is fine.
The doctor advised me to drink lots of water.
- Anyway, I'll take leave. - Okay. Go home safe.
See you, Dhanam.
God!
Dear, wake up!
Dear, come here!
Please come here!
Oh Goddess, I beg you. Please spare my child!
Dear, open the door! Open the door!
Please open the door!
Oh my God! What's happening?
Please open the door!