"Samachar Newspaper Chief Editor Sagar Varma Avuduri…"
Shit!
"A lorry driver named Koti was found dead at…
his farmhouse."
Holy shit!
Hello, Mom.
Did you take your medicine?
Not yet, Kranthi.
Come on, Mom! It's late.
-Take it quickly. -Okay.
-Excuse me, ma'am. -I'll call you back.
Come.
-Yes, Ranga? -Ma'am, his name is Aarif.
His name kept popping up in the inquiry into country-made gun dealers in Vizag.
He's been in the business for over 15 years now.
Oh, no, ma'am.
I was in the business for only two to three years.
I served a two-year sentence.
So, I completely quit gun dealing,
moved to Marripadu, and opened a hardware store there.
How would you get hold of these guns?
From Orissa, ma'am.
Sometimes they'd be sourced from UP and Bihar.
How?
Would you go pick them up personally?
No, ma'am. That's extremely difficult.
Then?
We hire lorry drivers to deliver them.
Lorry drivers?
They keep traveling from city to city with a heavy load.
On top of that,
they are poor people in need of money.
I'd pay them a token amount and source the guns.
I need a list of the lorry drivers' details and phone numbers.
Brother, here.
-Are you Delhi Babu? -Yes, sir.
Is Koti here?
-Are you Hari Prasad? -Yes, sir.
-Is Suribabu here? -That's me, sir.
DCP ma'am is waiting in the car.
Let's go.
Move it!
Let's go!
Ma'am, Koti was taken to the Mankapuram PS.
This is his wife.
Tell ma'am why your husband was arrested.
He crashed into a car on his way home from a delivery.
He was held at the police station all night.
In fact, he called me after leaving the station.
He said that the lawyer bailed him out and that he was headed home.
But he hasn't come home till now.
Did you inquire at the police station?
No, ma'am.
Why not?
Sometimes, he goes away with his friends for a couple of nights.
I thought it was the same case.
Where does he store the guns he collects from UP and Bihar?
I don't get what you're saying.
We need to search your house.
At what time did he call you the day before yesterday?
Around eleven or twelve o'clock, I guess.
I checked everything, ma'am.
Didn't find anything.
Let's go.
-Sir! When will my husband come home? -Soon.
If he shows up, inform the DCP's office.
-Ranga… -Ma'am.
I had my suspicions when I saw the jewelry on her.
Did you notice the things in there?
iPhone, iPad, AC.
English medium books for their kids.
With a lorry driver's income,
-all of this is not possible, right? -Yes, ma'am.
This confirms that he is still into gun dealing.
She mentioned an accident, didn't she?
Yes, ma'am.
Inquire into it.
Sure, ma'am.
Sagar!
Yeah, Priya.
I can't find the tracks and tee you wore last night.
I'm asking you!
Where are the clothes?
I can't find the tracks and T-shirt you wore last night.
-Sagar! -Yeah, Priya! Coming!
Yeah, Priya.
How did this shirt end up here?
I left this at the farmhouse for you.
Did you visit the farmhouse last night?
I'm talking to you! Say something!
This shirt…
Priya!
-Priya, what happened? -Come here.
-Come. -What happened?
What's wrong, Priya?
Feel it.
Did you?
The baby is kicking so hard.
It's definitely a baby boy this time.
Do you mean to say a baby girl can't kick so hard?
Hello! Those days are long gone.
Baby girls kick harder than baby boys nowadays.
Alright. Like you said…
if it's a baby girl, I'll name her.
If it's a baby boy, you do the honors. Okay?
Deal.
Hello?
Sir, the Minister is on the way.
Okay, I'm coming.
Okay, sir.
-Priya, the Minister is on the way. -Yeah.
I have to leave.
See you. I so wish you could be there.
Me too.
Next time.
-Take care. Bye. -Have a great day.
Ten days earlier, we received a letter from a viewer named Yogesh.
This time, it's not a place that's possessed by a ghost.
It's a vehicle.
An ambulance, to be precise.
This ambulance was serving VR Hospitals until three months ago.
Its history is…
-Kamakshi… -Yes, ma'am?
Haven't I told you not to watch this show?
Anjali got addicted to it because of you.
-Turn that off right now. -Please, ma'am.
Just five more minutes.
What's so great about it anyway?
Pure nonsense in the name of ghosts and spirits!
This is not at all nonsense, ma'am.
If there's a presence of a ghost, she visits the place alone,
confirms paranormal activity, and only then does an episode on it.
That is why it's highly popular.
Even the Kakinada Caves back home are haunted.
-She went there all alone-- -Stop it!
Go and wash the clothes.
Anju, go do your homework.
-Mom, please! -Go!
Hi, Ashwin. How are you?
Priya, there was a fire accident at the hospital.
What?!
Shit! It's my fault, Priya.
I planned a fire to get the insurance money.
What is wrong with you?!
-But, Priya… -Any casualties so far?
Four kids died in the children's ward.
I didn't even expect them to be there.
I don't know what to do now.
Ashwin, what is this?
Why the hell would you do such a thing for insurance money?
What were you thinking?
The loan amount is due.
I had no other option, Priya.
Shit, I made a mistake!
My life will be ruined if the truth comes out.
Priya, please do something.
Okay, listen.
Let me see if I can do anything.
Okay, don't panic.
I got this.
The media hasn't covered the news yet.
And I know these news channel MDs.
We can try and talk to them, keep it under wraps.
-Don't worry. We'll see. -Okay, Priya. Thank you.
No, listen.
Just be ready to spend a lot of money.
You just need to spend a bomb on it.
You know how it works, right?
You can't get anything done without money.
I'll sort that out.
I'll talk to my manager right away.
By the way, thanks, Priya.
-Yeah, I'll look into it and call you. -Okay.
I inquired about the crash Koti was involved in.
Coincidence or not, he crashed into Sagar's car.
-What?! -Yes, ma'am.
It happened by the Dum Dum Dhaba on the beach road.
Nobody was injured.
But a dog had died apparently.
Which station did Koti's wife mention?
Mankapuram PS, ma'am.
Who is the SI there?
SI Ajay Ghosh, ma'am.
Do you know him?
Not really, ma'am. He's a pain in the ass.
I've seen him at the club a couple of times.
He'd get really drunk and gloat about his grandfather being a commissioner.
I need to meet him.
Okay, ma'am.
And, Ranga…
-I want you to do another inquiry. -Sure, ma'am.
Suri!
Hey, Suri!
Sir…
Hey!
Call the driver.
Okay, sir.
Good morning, ma'am.
Where's Mr. Ajay Ghosh?
In his cabin.
Ajay Ghosh.
Ma'am!
Good morning, ma'am.
I have a really bad cold.
It's the change in weather.
What brings you here?
This man shot himself with a country-made gun.
The gun dealer gave us a few leads of lorry drivers.
We inquired about all of them.
Except for one.
Koti, the driver.
In regards to the journalist Sagar's car accident,
we happened to know that you arrested him.
Where is he?
We let him go, ma'am.
You let him go?
Yes, ma'am.
I mean, his lawyer got him bailed out.
He was clean.
He was not under the influence while driving.
He crashed because a newspaper blocked his windshield view.
Here's the FIR.
Complaint copy.
Bail order.
But his wife says…
that he hasn't gone home yet.
What became of him?
How would I know, ma'am…
if he went to his wife or mistress?
Sir, you asked for me?
Yeah,
get the diesel refilled. Go.
But I got a full tank yesterday.
Is it spent already?
Do I owe you an explanation?
Ma'am is here.
-Go. -Okay, sir.
Sorry, ma'am.
Did you meet Sagar yesterday?
No, ma'am. I met him the other night.
I was at the station the whole day yesterday.
And then I went home early as the cold got worse.
I had a bad headache as well.
Why did Sagar send you one lakh rupees?
Ma'am?
Why did he send you money?
What one lakh rupees, ma'am? What are you saying?
Do you know who you're talking to?
Tell me the truth.
Why are you focusing on me, ma'am?
You know that the salaries in the police force are low.
I have a lot of problems at home.
My wife's been nagging me for a week.
Her mother needs some money.
That's when I met Mr. Sagar.
I went right ahead and asked him.
I'll repay him soon.
Borrowing money isn't a crime, is it?
Where's the truck from the accident?
This is the one, ma'am.
Because a newspaper fell on the windshield,
his view got compromised, and he crashed.
What the hell is it with these newspapers, Ranga?
-Go inside and check. -Okay, ma'am.
I personally inspect every vehicle that comes to the impound.
I got my constable to do a double-check yesterday.
There are no guns of any sort.
Found anything?
I looked everywhere, ma'am. No luck.
I told you there's nothing here, ma'am.
Ma'am?
Why aren't these letters centered?
I don't follow, ma'am.
Diesel.
The letters are usually positioned in the center.
For these painters and artists…
it's kind of a habit.
Yeah, they're like that.
Look at this.
The alignment is off.
Look, the gap here is less.
But on this side…
it's wider.
The original tank ends here.
But someone has welded this part on.
Like a false extension for a secret compartment.
Check it.
Open up.
Oh, no! Police!
Open it.
All country-made guns.
These guns are now case evidence.
Okay, ma'am.
-We're seizing them. -Sure, ma'am.
-I'll call you if there's anything else. -Okay.
-And, Ranga… -Ma'am.
-We have to find Koti. -Okay, ma'am.
Just as we suspected,
Koti is into gun smuggling, Ranga.
He crashed into Sagar's car with the truck.
And suddenly…
Koti goes missing.
We can't take Ghosh's word for it either.
Hold on. Pull over.
Roll the window down.
Which zone does this traffic signal fall under?
Mankapuram West Zone, ma'am.
One of the CC cameras is pointed towards the station.
I need to check that camera footage, Ranga.
Okay, ma'am.
Okay, let's go.
Shyam…
Where's Amrutha?
She's not here yet. She's not picking up her phone either.
-Is it? -Yes, sir.
-Who are these kids? -Our employees' children, sir.
Take them to the office upstairs. The Minister will be here soon.
-Go. -Okay, sir.
Ravi, gather all the kids in the office upstairs.
The number you have dialed is currently busy.
Please stay online or try again…
-Sir, the Minister is here. -The number you have dialed
-Okay. -is currently busy.
Please try again…
Shit!
Come on, hurry up.
You guys need to stay here, okay?
-Don't make any noise. -Okay.
Your parents will come to get you after the event.
-Okay? -Okay.
I'll send some ice cream and chocolates for you.
Okay.
INAUGURATION OF SAMACHAR PRINTING PRESS
All the best, Sagar!
Thank you, sir. Welcome.
This is nice.
So, this is where our fates are designed.
-Let's attend the puja. -Listen…
you're turning out to be worse than politicians.
What do you mean, sir?
We take at least five years to jump parties.
But you're jumping newspapers every two years.
Come on, sir.
No matter where I go, you know I'll always support you.
I know.
That is why…
I want you to write lovely articles on me and help me win like last time.
That'll keep us both happy.
I heard that Rajiv is contesting the Satyapatnam by-elections.
Damn!
How did you catch a sniff of that?
I don't think even Rajiv knows. It was decided this morning.
You journalists are not ordinary folks.
Sagar, what I'm trying to say is…
You know how important that constituency is to me.
Because…
ever since my grandfather started the party,
we haven't lost there even once.
This time, however, something feels off.
Prof. Vijay Kumar is contesting from the opposition, is it?
I know!
These professors…
lawyers and doctors…
Why do they bother entering politics?
Listen…
keep a weather eye on that professor.
I don't care if you fabricate stories…
or say that he has extramarital affairs.
Do something.
This time…
we must win!
I'm on it, sir. Don't worry.
Thank God!
That's good to hear.
Without the press, politicians don't stand a chance.
Press and politics are like husband and wife.
Whether we fight or make up, we must stick together.
What's wrong, sir?
What is it, sir?
-Darshan, go grab a bag quickly. -Sir?
-Go. -Okay, sir.
-Sagar? -Yes, sir.
-Is everything alright? -Yeah, sir. Absolutely.
-Take these to my room upstairs. Okay? -Okay, sir.
SAMACHAR DAILY
What do we do?
-Shyam… -Sir?
A few columns in the sample layout are empty.
This one on the first page.
This main column on the third page.
And these columns on pages six and seven.
Why?
Sagar sir instructed us to leave them empty.
I don't know why.
May I come in, sir?
Yes, Mr. Chandra Murthy. Please come.
In this layout,
there is content missing in seven places.
They said it was your instruction.
May I know why?
Yeah.
The Praja Vakku party has bought those slots.
Bought them?
Listen…
you've been in the field for 30 years.
Don't you understand even this much?
Sorry, sir. I really don't.
Like how they divide the land into plots and sell them,
we're selling articles now?
Yes, sir.
We're selling them.
A newspaper is like real estate, okay?
Every inch is valued at some price.
Every article is like a plot.
The front page is valued at a different price than the last page. Clear?
This isn't real estate, sir.
This is called paid media.
In crass terms, it's called prostitution.
They sell their bodies for money.
And we're selling our values and principles.
Both are the same.
Listen, mind your tongue, okay?
This is a damn business enterprise, not an NGO!
We should think about profits from day one.
If we worry about values and principles,
none of the 400 employees, nor you or I, will get salaries.
Got it?
I believed that the youth would transform this country.
I joined you with that belief.
But now…
the way you're running this newspaper…
I'm the Chief Editor here, okay?
I'll run the show however I like.
Just follow my instructions.
I can't do that, sir.
Then get out. I don't need you here.
You're fired. Thank you.
This isn't new to me, sir.
I've changed nine newspapers till now.
Please get the hell out of my office.
Monish, what did you make?
Camera.
And you, Sanvi?
Fish.
Four cups.
-What did you make? -Plane.
"Horoscope.
Gemini.
You shall endure a whole lot of pain today.
Your baby…
while still in the mother's womb…
will die."
Priya!
-Sir, it's me Kamakshi. -Priya!
Kamakshi, what happened? Where's Priya?
Rainwater leaked into the house, sir.
While climbing down the stairs,
ma'am slipped and fell on the glass table on the side!
-What?! Shit! -There's blood everywhere.
She's in terrible pain, sir!
-I'm terrified, sir! -Kamakshi, don't panic.
Listen to me.
-Excuse me, nurse. Room no. 315? -Straight and left, sir.
Left?
-Amrutha? -Sagar…
Yeah, doctor.
How's Priya?
All that blood worried me at first. But nothing to worry.
She slipped and fell on a glass table.
She got a small cut on her leg.
The baby is safe. We did all the tests.
We'll discharge her soon. Don't worry.
Thanks.
-Can I see her once? -She's under observation.
-Please wait for some time. -Okay.
Amrutha…
Amrutha?
Sagar?
-Sagar… -Careful!
Amrutha, lie down.
Don't get up.
Amrutha, what's with the injuries?
What happened?
-Sagar… -Amrutha!
What happened?
Sagar…
Sorry, Sagar.
I couldn't save her.
What?!
What are you talking about?
What are you saying?
Our baby.
What baby, Amrutha?
Our baby.
Our baby, Sagar.
I was pregnant.
What?!
Our baby…