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Illusions and deceptions
Wounds many, the vortex reveals
Endless and relentless
Many wail, the vortex rains
Won't life triumph?
Won't grief cease?
O vortex!
Swirling within, shadows Dark shadows
Riddles within, will you unravel, O God?
O vortex!
Swirling within shadows Dark shadows
Riddles within, will you unravel, O God!
-Spread out! Don't fixate on one place. -Okay.
-Look carefully. -The standee of the Goddess fell, right?
Luckily no one got crushed.
Just some shops were damaged.
Someone has cursed the town with black magic.
Sir, even you?
The townsfolk cause enough panic about the rage of the Goddess.
But this is an omen too. It all depends on what you believe.
No one dies? Standee is bad. Someone dies? Stars are bad.
-Go on. -Sakkarai, I need to speak to you.
What is it?
Not over the phone. Can we meet?
-Meet? I'm busy at the moment. -I know.
But I need to speak to you.
Not just for now, Lakshmi.
If you marry a cop, this is the life you're in for.
Like an itch in the middle of your back.
I'm well aware of a cop's life.
My father happens to be a retired cop.
That's not the problem.
Lakshmi, are you crying?
What's wrong?
You agreed to marry, because you like me, right?
You fool! Why do you doubt that?
I saw how you looked at Nandini at the cemetery.
I felt sorry for her.
I'm so involved in this case not for her sake.
It is for Ms. Regina. Adhisayam is like a brother to me.
I don't mind if you don't visit or chat with me.
But, the one who marries me must love only me.
Of course. Lakshmi, you don't know yourself.
I was enamored the moment I saw you.
-And Nandini? -Don't start again! Tsk.
If I wanted to woo her, I'd have done so in school.
Try to understand, doe-eyed dear.
All right. I'm busy. Can I call you later?
The company owners, builders, and the maintenance staff...
Their negligence and carelessness causes 70% of fire accidents.
Sir, I don't know about these numbers.
-I've been in charge of maintenance. -
I'll check and tell you how it is!
Sir, you carry on with it. I just came to let you know.
I'm on a case...
Sakkarai, this is your case too!
I intend to start with you, and you're already leaving?
Guna, Trilok said it was you who suggested to replace the exhaust pipes.
Oh, I get it.
He tried to frame my brother for the fire.
He's doing the same to me to send me to jail.
Two unrelated cases, Guna!
Oh.
Did these higher ups buy you out, like they bought out the cops?
Hey, don't talk rubbish.
If I report faulty maintenance, your owner will not be paid any insurance.
Only if I say otherwise, will he see even a penny.
This freaking guy!
Kothandaraman can be handled. Why do you have to drink during the day?
Kothandaraman isn't a minor issue.
-I'll handle him. -Nothing good will come out of anger.
-The situation must be handled. -It can be done only if you give me space.
But you have to save the day, rescue your son...
This is what fathers do.
-How will you ever understand? -Dad!
Why are you single?
Why aren't you like others?
What do you mean like others?
You expect me to be happily married with kids, huh?
The way you are happy with me?
-Good morning, Vadivelu. -Good morning, sir.
Why are you here? You must be...
The bank's been calling repeatedly. I wanted to tell you in person.
What do the creditors want?
The loan payment is due on the fifth.
Today's the 19th.
I'm aware of the date. But you're aware of the money in our account, right?
-The insurance... -If that comes in, problems are solved.
But there's an obstacle for that too.
Shall I speak to the bank manager? To get an extension for two months?
This needs to stay between the two of us.
Kothandaraman does not need to know.
It might impact his report
on the fire he's investigating now, huh?
-I understand, sir. -Hmm.
How is Regina?
How is she handling this?
See how uniquely she has captured these insects.
Many times, I've scolded her for fidgeting with this rather than studying.
Only now, I realize, Nanda.
Kids these days go on selfie sprees with their phones, Dad.
But, look at our Nila.
-How creative she was. -Hmm.
Dad?
Maybe if we all had been together, this might not have happened to Nila.
-Mohan Raj. Our local fire station chief. -Hello, sir.
I just got back yesterday. Too many calls on the fallen Goddess standee.
Otherwise, I would have gave these to you.
If I had them yesterday, I'd have started investigating.
-Your office didn't wanna give me this. -'Cause you're a private investigator.
Local police would've obliged.
How did you confirm this was arson?
A whole concrete building.
Steel machinery. It isn't a spinning mill to catch fire.
A cement factory. The way it lit up tells us someone started the fire.
-This is thinner, right? -Yes, sir.
Didn't I tell you? It's arson!
They used paint thinner to spread the fire.
Why is there a ladder?
Our factory's 25th anniversary is coming up.
We planned to paint before that.
Oh.
So, they could've used the thinner to scrape off the old paint, right?
Yes, sir.
Hmm.
There's a reason why the thinner is here. So, it doesn't prove arson.
The fire must've started in this generator room.
This had the most damage.
-Is this the backup generator? -Yes, sir.
-Was it on at the time of the accident? -Not a chance, sir.
No shift duty that night. No one was here.
Security, you seem to have something to say. Go ahead.
Before the fire broke out, the power went down.
The lights were out in all the rooms and it was totally dark.
It came back in seconds.
Oh.
-Is this an automatic generator? -Yes, sir.
So it turned on without any supervision.
-Are those diesel cans? -Yes, sir.
Is this where you stock them? Near the generator?
Don't you know it's hazardous?
Officer, did you state this in your report?
I'm an ex-fireman myself.
-How many years have you served? -Sir...
Ours is a small station. We're not all that experienced.
To be honest, Mr. Trilok suggested it was arson, and we put in the report.
Who has the key to this door?
It's always locked from the inside. But today, it's locked from the outside.
-Asthma. -Want some water?
Sakkarai!
I know about my wife's affair with Pushparaj.
She's not to be blamed entirely.
We've never had much intimacy.
We even met with doctors.
There are no problems.
But it just didn't work between us.
I don't know if Pushparaj is good, but he isn't bad.
He'll take good care of her.
I need a favor.
Keep this to yourself.
What is it?
Regina ma'am?
At the scene? Okay, hang up.
Does too much agitation cause an asthma attack?
Hmm.
Why are you agitated now?
Why are you here, ma'am?
Where's Sakkarai?
It was my son who was killed. Must I find the murderers myself?
No ma'am... Here...
What is it, Sakkarai? What have you found?
The forensic team is here. That's Amar.
-Hello, ma'am. -Their team.
Ma'am...
Ma'am?
Mom?
Ma'am?
You get going. I'll handle this.
No. I need to do this myself.
Sir, where are we going?
The dog sensed something.
-It's leading us there. -Oh, yes.
Where does this path lead?
These woods connect the quarry and the factory.
The factory lies beyond.
Who lives here? Out of town and in the woods?
The Eswaran-Kothai gang camp out here.
-Search the entire area! -All right, sir.
Is the Eswaran-Kothai gang the ones you pointed out at the festivities?
Yes.
Ever since our guy arrived from Chennai and witnessed Mayana Kollai...
Mayana Kollai?
-He is shaken up. -Already?
These days, they just chomp on fowl and cattle.
Before, they dug corpses and devoured them.
Buried corpses?
If there was no death in town, they hacked humans like fowl and cattle...
Sir! Please come here, sir.
-Come where? - Climb up right here.
-What is it? -Look at this, sir!
-This girl... -I think that is Ammani...
who went missing 25 years ago.
The councilor mentioned it too. A girl went missing on the factory inauguration.
The factory burns down, and Nila goes missing.
Could the missing girl have anything to do with the factory?
Because both incidents appear connected, how can it be the cause?
You guys search that side.
-Ma'am, I'll check here. -Hmm.
-Sundaram! -Sir.
Sundaram, take a look at it.
Ma'am Regina!
Everyone stay put.
Amar, step up.
Collect the blood and hair samples for testing. I need the report by today.
-Sundaram, hand me the torch. -Ma'am.
Ma'am!
Let's wait until they check it. Please.
Please step to the side, ma'am.
-Here you go, ma'am. -Hmm.
-Sir? We were just talking it over. -What?
When the factory started it was Mayana Kollai time.
A girl went missing then. Now it happens when it burned.
-Also Mayana Kollai time! -So?
They stopped that ages ago.
You think? But the cave is full of blood stains. It shows...
Shows what?
The kids may be victims of human sacrifice.
She is blood thirsty for a young one!
She cannot be quenched.
The matriarch cannot be quenched.
She will not be quenched with fowls and goats.
Whatever She asks,
we need to agree.
She has already begun.
She will never stop.
Bring Her more! Bring Her more!
Bring Her human sacrifice! Bring Her human sacrifice!
Bring Her more! Bring Her more!
Bring Her human sacrifice! Bring Her human sacrifice!
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Day 7 of Mayana Kollai.
The day where devotees pray for the Goddess' blessings
and perform dance penance before Her statue.
Hmm!
-Take him away. -Hey!
Please do not create a ruckus. Disperse!
He'll be released only after questioning.
Hey, police. He's no mere human to question.
You arrested a man who performs dance penance for our Goddess.
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Let him go!
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I initially assumed he was just faking.
"Assumed he was faking"?
He was tearing apart everyone he could lay his hands on.
And he says "assuming."
As it got wet, the phone's not turning on.
Down with police violence. -Broken?
Come quickly.
Ma'am, don't worry. We'll handle it.
-Regina! -Sir!
What the hell have you done? Didn't you grow up here?
Were you not aware of the consequences? A Circle Inspector!
Damn it!
Sir, he's our prime suspect.
He saw Nila and Adhisayam before their death.
The evidence? The two lakh in cash in his possession.
Did you find any murder weapons?
We found no weapons, sir.
The murder site was near the quarry's lake.
We found a cave with blood and hair. But we don't know who is all involved.
Hmm.
Sir, uh, we suspect it might be human sacrifice.
All right then. I'll inform the higher-ups.
I'll arrange for extra security and a riot control squad. Is that fine?
Thank you, sir.
I didn't do anything!
Excuse me, sir. The reports.
I didn't do anything!
What does it say?
Does the blood group match?
What the hell is this? It says goat's blood.
Did you check thoroughly?
I sent samples to different places and checked thoroughly.
-Not a drop of human blood in there. -Are these goat hairs?
It is human hair. But, it has been treated.
So, I'm sure it's hair from a wig.
Regina, have you totally lost it?
What if I took this to the authorities?
There'd be communal clashes and people killing each other.
I'm sorry, sir.
You're not involved in this case anymore.
-But sir, please. -You're over-reacting. That's why!
Sakkarai. Don't give Regina any further information about this case.
Take a few days off.
I didn't do anything!
-Yo! Quit yelling. Yo. -I didn't do anything.
-Stop screaming, man.
Regina, let it go. Everything will be fine.
How will that happen?
Damn coward! Your constant reassurances will drain my life away.
-I don't even know what to say to you. -Then don't say anything!
What's this? The food's untouched.
-Nandini didn't eat either. -No.
Please eat today.
Selvi! I don't have a change of clothes.
-Can I borrow a couple of your saris? -I don't have religious attire.
I won't need them anymore. That's why I asked you.
So, you'll stay for a while?
Nandini must've been 10-years-old.
My children gave me this on my birthday.
No.
I remember it well. They badgered me to take them to the store.
Nandini was 14 then. Nila was five.
Really?
There were a lot of problems between us.
Sit down.
I told the girls not to buy an ashtray.
-But they... -I loved to smoke.
They bought this to drop the ash in it.
Maybe because they are girls...
They loved you more than they loved me.
If that was so...
why did they both want to get so far away from me?
When I saw the money in that geometry box...
-Sir? -Yes?
Eswaran is definitely linked to the murders.
Find the link. Make him talk.
Not much time. Public unrest is rising.
-Yes sir. -Careful. It's sensitive.
-Keep me posted. -Yes, sir.
No.
-Sir? -Yes.
If we question the priest, we might learn about Eswaran.
You think he'll tell you, sir.
They are partners in crime.
Let's give it a shot. Is he not in that ruckus-causing crowd?
Not anymore. He stirred up the crowd and snuck away.
But I know where he is right now.
They're coming our way.
Wow! The priest is drinking in the presence of the Goddess?
My Goddess never forbade me from drinking.
-All right then... -Is that the issue now?
Aren't you a believer, Constable? Even you don't get it?
Against tradition, you burned the corpse meant for the Ceremonial Raid.
Then, you suspect Eswaran, who merely performs dance penance!
-We don't suspect. We questioned... -Will you tell Her that?
She's already showing Her rage.
You saw what went down at the market. The standee fell and smashed the shops.
-You continue to infuriate Her. -When did we last have a good harvest?
The one factory burned down.
Remember? Ten years before
the town was prosperous. Do you know why?
Ashes were offered at Mayana Kollai.
Do you know whose ashes?
My mother! My own mother!
That's your devotion.
-Your faith. -Never mind devotion.
It was goodwill. I did it to ensure the town's prosperity.
And it did! Never mind that.
Eswaran was dancing upon being enlightened
and going about his business. Why did you detain him?
All right. What do you know about Eswaran?
Twenty or 25 years ago,
Eswaran wasn't like this. He was bright.
He did electric work at the factory during the day
and dance penance at night. He wasn't married.
He just had a sister.
He worked and earned just for her.
Her name was Ammani.
The day the factory was inaugurated, Ammani went missing.
-He looked all over for her. -
He asked around everywhere.
But Ammani was never found. Poor thing.
He lost it then. He was deranged.
He'd come to Mayana Kollai every year
to pray no other child falls victim to the Goddess' rage.
He's also been raising money to build a temple in his sister's memory.
Nila. She'd be your sister's age.
Look at her smiling innocently.
Someone brutally murdered her and Adhisayam.
Eswaran.
Tell me now. Why did Nila and Adhisayam come there that day?
How did you get that money?
-I can't. I can't kill. -Why not?
You slaughter innocent fowl and cattle.
But you can't kill a monster?
Is killing cattle and humans the same?
Who's it? Who do you want to kill?
Give me your word that you'll do it.
Then, I'll tell you who it is.
Two lakh rupees in here. Take it all. But you must kill him by tonight.
Hey.
Give me that. Give it to me.
I won't.
Hey!
Adhisayam!
-Let him go. -I won't give it.
Hey!
Adhisayam!
Let's go.
-The money? -We must do the killing ourselves.
We don't need the money then.
Let's go!
Nila, the plan isn't going right.
We'll handle it. Come. - How?
I don't know.
-We'll handle it. Come. - But how, Nila?
Shut up and come, Adhisayam!
Sundaram, Eswaran slaughtered fowl and cattle,
and look how Nila assumed he'd kill for money.
Sir, didn't we suspect him too?
I don't get what's happening in this world.
I thought it was just young lovers eloping off,
but they blackmailed a man for cash and used it to plan a murder.
And after killing... What was that town?
Guwahati.
Yes. They tried taking off to Guwahati as if nothing happened.
Here's what I don't get, Sundaram.
How can they hold a grudge huge enough to commit murder?
It's 6:00. You go sleep.
No, sir. I need to collect the DNA report at 7:00.
The doctor called you.
He couldn't reach you, so he called the station.
Hmm. I'll handle it myself.
-Mom... -Hmm.
Listen, I can't work day and night.
You used to return home early. Now, look.
Quite a lot of work, sister.
Adjust for today. I'll find a replacement.
I can't. I'll come in the afternoon.
This is no big deal, Mom. We'll handle it.
Hello? -My mom needs to be cared for until noon.
I didn't know who else to call.
Hold on. I'll come over.
-All right. I'll wait. - Okay.
How are you, Mom?
Thanks, Lakshmi. If it wasn't for you...
Why sound so distant?
See you, Mom.
See you.
Nandini, go home. This is official police work.
Please, don't tell me to leave, Sakkarai.
Back then, you'd often do dance penance.
I don't remember what happened those days.
How could you not remember?
Like you never forget anything?
You forgot your gun the other day.
I didn't forget my gun.
What's the need for a gun in this sad town?
Did the inquiry tell you anything?
Why did they need two lakhs cash?
Did someone kill them for that money?
The DNA test revealed
the child in Nila's womb isn't Adhisayam's.
I noticed private parts trauma in the autopsy.
There were scars of assault.
I kept quiet, as I wanted to reconfirm with the reports.
Once I knew it wasn't Adhisayam's child, my doubts were confirmed.
What was confirmed?
For a while... In fact, at least for a few months...
Sexual abuse.
Nila was raped.
O vortex
Swirling within, shadows
Dark shadows
O vortex
Dark shadows