Nila, you're a riddle.
One second, you'd be really close to me.
But the next, you'd push me away.
A mango is raw before it ripens.
So too, a banana.
But you're like a tender coconut.
Can't tell if you're ripe or unripe.
Did I read what you wrote word-for-word?
How about those last two lines I added?
Do you know who a protective demon is?
This God right here, is it not?
Isn't He the one who'd rise up when a woman's in trouble?
You're my protective demon. Understand that.
Doctor, here's what I don't understand.
You said Nila was abused,
and for a long time too.
Why didn't she tell our father about it?
What about our mother?
She could've at least told me.
Nandini, do you know how that sounds?
Does a goat not know when it is led to slaughter?
-Doctor, it's a mute creature. -Exactly!
The same can be said about sexually abused children.
The shame and betrayal they feel upon being violated...
The disgust, the cowering...
Above all that...
The guilt that it's somehow all their fault, eats away at them.
Anyway, Nandini,
this session is not about Nila. It's about you.
What about me?
Take a look.
My mom said I used to dance possessed at the Goddess' festival in childhood.
But I don't remember much of it.
Check out the festival in town. Many dance as if possessed for Goddess.
I'm sure they do.
That's pretty common.
But, normally children don't dance that way.
Why would I be disturbed?
Didn't you sleepwalk when you were a child?
I don't remember it. I only heard it said.
Ever wondered why you don't remember?
See! Plenty of gaps in your memory.
Come on now, doctor. Is forgetting even a problem?
Do you know when a lizard cuts off its own tail?
When it sees a threat.
In psychology, we call this defense mechanism.
When something disturbing happens to us,
we employ many techniques to distance ourselves from the trauma.
One of them is dissociative amnesia.
Some bury what happened deep inside their subconscious.
As those repressed memories
are not properly addressed,
during stressful times,
these manifest as fainting,
sleepwalking etc.
What do I do about it, doctor?
only you can help yourself. Right?
The only thing on Nandini's mind is the sexual abuse of her sister.
Isn't it natural for her to feel that way after her sister's loss?
It's not that.
But now she's using repression as a defense mechanism.
I've seen it for two years haven't I?
Instead of dealing with her repressed trauma,
she's hiding behind her sister's issue.
It's clear what happened to her as a child.
Illusions and deceptions
Wounds many, the vortex reveals
Endless and relentless
Many wail, the vortex rains
Won't life triumph?
Won't grief cease?
Oh, vortex, swirling within
Shadows, dark shadows
Riddles within
Will you unravel, Oh, God?
Oh, vortex, swirling within
Shadows, dark shadows
Riddles within
Will you unravel, Oh, God?
Need any help, sir? -No, thanks.
I've been the union lawyer at Vadde Cements for 20 years.
Until three years ago, there were no big conflicts
between the workers and management.
"Until three years ago?" You mean until Trilok took over?
That was a mere coincidence.
Once Trilok took over,
the construction and cement industry saw a downturn.
Bonuses were slashed. The workforce had no work.
No money to pay their wages.
In the end, we had to shut down the company.
Is that why the laborers went on strike?
I don't know why they went on strike that day. But...
having foreseen such a situation a year ago,
Shanmugam and I got together
to renegotiate the workers' contract.
Here it is.
But, you find fault with whatever I do.
I wanted to settle down in the city.
What are you saying?
Do you wish to abandon such a huge factory
and work under someone in the city with folded hands?
This is our town! Our land!
"Our town! Our land!"
You can stay here.
Do business, provide jobs and pay salaries.
Once you leave these walls?
You're just a money minded capitalist.
One who sucks the blood out of impoverished workers.
I'm not the only villain here.
You are too!
Sir. Let him rest.
-Ma'am? -Sir?
-In which room Trilok Vadde is? -One second, sir.
-He's in ICU-- -He's in the ICU...
Battling for his life.
At least now, please leave him in peace.
He is innocent. He has nothing to do with the factory fire.
I know, sir.
Please come down here. Let's talk.
According to the new contract of the workers,
no matter what condition the factory is in when you shut it down,
they're entitled to at least a year's compensation.
-So what? -During fire accidents
there tend to be casualties.
But when your factory caught fire,
workers were on strike that day.
Luckily for you, no one died that day.
Are you trying to suggest someone should have died?
I didn't mean that way. Just pointing the coincidence.
Normally, you lock the generator room from the inside.
That day, it was locked outside.
What are you getting at?
I tried to prove this fire was caused by faulty maintenance.
But Trilok got suspicious and told the police to arrest Shanmugam.
That was right.
What did Trilok ask you to write in the report?
Never mind what Trilok said. Do you know who started the fire?
It was Shanmugam.
He had used paint thinner to start the fire.
Can you prove it?
Sir, I can't prove it was Shanmugam who bought the thinner.
But I do know who bought it and from where.
Who?
Inspector Regina.
Inspector Regina bought paint thinner from the store,
put it in her Jeep and went to the factory.
Here's another interesting thing.
The one who signed that workers' contract was not Trilok.
It was Mr. Mukesh Vadde.
So...
The three of you orchestrated
a bogus strike,
cleared out the workers
and torched down the factory.
Shanmugam agreed to take the blame and turn himself in to the police.
If he had done so,
the insurance company would've compensated you.
But, there's a twist of fate!
He couldn't do that as his daughter got into trouble.
I underestimated you, Mr. Kothandaraman.
Why don't you take the next step now?
As all the three villains are in front of you.
I figured it all out!
You all did wrong.
But none of you are villains.
Your factory was running at a loss.
Knowing the families in town would suffer if the factory shut down,
the factory's owner,
the union leader, and the police inspector set the factory on fire.
You planned to pay out compensation with the insurance money.
There is a word in Hindi called ardhsatya
Like you said,
Shanmugam did it for the workers, Regina for the town,
and I for the factory. That's how we justified it to ourselves.
Parents always justify whatever they do for their children.
My share of the money would go to my son. He'd be secure after I was gone.
Same with Regina and Shanmugam.
A cut of the money that came in would go towards their children's future.
But look how it all turned out.
What a waste!
That's why I'm not very angry at Shanmugam or Regina
for what they did to my son.
they're also experiencing the same.
It's okay if you never want to speak to me again.
But you were willing to murder another man's son.
Does it not seem wrong to you?
The time we were apart or even now,
my trust in you is as steady as a rock.
Your actions may be good or bad.
But you are not a bad man.
That's what I believed too.
I can't claim that anymore.
Sir, it's not just you.
Any cop would've come to the same conclusion that Trilok was guilty.
Exactly. Any cop would feel that way.
That's how we are trained, right?
Easwaran is a savage. Looks the part too.
Rumor is he's capable of making even human sacrifices.
On the other hand, there's Trilok.
A rich man. An arrogant man.
A fair-skinned outsider.
Doesn't that mean he's the villain?
Instead of seeing a man as just a man, we say,
"This is a snake. It's poisonous.
"This is a spotted deer. It's harmless and innocent."
We've started profiling people like so.
Sir, what else do we do?
How else do we treat or question a suspect?
When I met or interacted with someone,
I was haughty to think I was a good judge of people's character.
I never doubted my assessment, Sundaram.
Maybe one learns these things the hard way.
Hello? What is it, Muthu?
Really?
Regina and Shanmugam are heading to the district headquarters.
"I, Shanmugam, son of Arumugam, and union leader of Vadde Cements
"along with Regina Thomas Vadivelu, the police inspector of Sambaloor
"inflicted upon Trilok Vadde, the son of Mukesh Vadde,
"a violent and near-fatal beating.
"For this grave crime, we surrender to the District Superintendent of Police.
"We present this statement being sound mind and under no duress."
It should not have gone this far.
I understand you are a grieving mother. But for that...
Anyways, it's all too late now.
Do what needs to be done.
Sakkarai, no one should know your involvement in this. Got it?
It was me, who hastily...
That's your problem. Deal with it.
Listen, Sakkarai.
Everyone leads their life with some guilt.
It's a mark of one's experience.
Find out who killed the children.
-Sir? -Sir?
Calm down and have some tea.
Kothandaraman is here.
What does he want?
The factory's insurance report is done. You need to sign off on it.
Read it out.
"The investigation into the fire accident at Vadde Industries in Sambaloor,
"revealed a few suspects. However, as there is lack of formal evidence
"I conclude it was knowingly set ablaze by unknown persons
"and complete this investigation.
"I hence recommend the compensation be paid to the affected party."
-Sundaram? -Sir.
Give me that.
-Sundaram? -Sir!
However we look at it, there's a connection with the fire.
Not just Trilok who came late that night. We're missing someone else too.
-If we could just find that person... -
-Hello? -Who could it be?
It's Vadivelu, sir.
Good God...
-He's on the line. -Tell him I'm busy.
Hello? He's busy at the moment. Please call him later.
-Sir, Chakravarthy! -He's in there.
Lakshmi, you...
Look in to this, Sundaram. Come. What's wrong?
-Nandini's missing from the hospital. -What?
I don't know if I should be concerned. Her phone's switched off.
Did you check the CCTV cameras at the hospital?
We don't have CCTV cameras.
Doctor!
Spare me the empty talk about doctor-patient confidentiality.
-What happened with Nandini? -It's sensitive, it'd breach her privacy.
She's missing from your hospital. You're the one responsible.
We investigate based on what you say.
Or should I deal like a professional too?
Nandini's life might be in danger.
Please, try to understand.
Nandini was also sexually abused as a child, like her sister.
Do you know who abused her?
She has it buried deep in her subconscious.
Only she can find that demon hidden in her subconscious.
Sakkarai!
What if both of them were abused by the same man?
Could be, right?
Their abuser figured her therapy reignited these memories
and abducted her probably out of fear.
-
Yes, sister?
Please manage for tonight.
Sister?
What is it?
No one to take care of your mom tonight too?
I got this. You go look for Nandini.
-You can go sister. -All right, my boy.
See you, ma'am.
A girl came by, son.
Not her. I know Lakshmi here.
I think it was Shanmugam's daughter.
Who? Nandini?
Never mind! Tell me in detail.
I was cooking in the kitchen.
And I heard the door open.
I glanced out.
She seemed to be caring over your mother.
Thinking she was no stranger, I went back.
-Fine. You may leave. -All right. See you.
Nandini wasn't abducted. She left the hospital by herself...
What's wrong?
-She took my gun! -Your service revolver?
Like Nila, she's out for revenge.
What if he kills her, like he killed Nila?
Today is the final day of Mayana Kollai.
Where the Goddess finds and eliminates the demon.
Then calms down and relaxes on the swing.
Day nine!
I've checked the train station and the bus stop.
The traffic police haven't spotted her either! Over!
Any news from Muthu?
Muthu and the others are searching the festival site.
Nandini's house is locked too.
I think everyone has gone to the festival.
Tonight's the cradle ceremony too!
It'll be hard to look for them. Shall I check the house again?
I'm at the house. But, no one...
Sakkarai, you?
What are you doing here?
I asked you a question!
I asked what you are doing here?
Sakkarai, no point keeping this from you.
Pushparaj keeps calling, saying he'd come by.
But, I can't even look at his face now.
I feel uneasy to go meet him.
Where is Devi?
-She went to Mayana Kollai. -Who? Devi?
It's like...
She thinks this misfortune is because she left our Goddess and the town
and feels guilty about it.
When something bad happens, we think we are at fault, right?
Look! Nandini's missing from the hospital. She took off without a word.
I came here looking for her.
She didn't come here. Maybe she left to Coimbatore?
My brother-in-law is in jail too.
-Pick up, sister.
Sundaram, get on the line.
-
Even if she doesn't inform her parents,
-she would've informed her uncle. -Call him.
Hurry.
I can't get through!
Had he stayed home that day instead of the flag hoisting...
Nila would have definitely told him and left.
-Guna had gone to the flag hoisting? -Yes.
He carries the skull every year.
I'm aware of that. But, that night...
It was the priest who carried the skull!
Don't skip this like you skipped the flag hoisting!
The night Nila went missing?
He came back tired from the temple only the next morning.
We're missing someone...
Guna wasn't there at the factory fire.
So...
What are you getting at?
When they were kids, their father's temper would make them come running here.
As they are all grown up now,
they stopped coming.
At what age did Nila and Nandini stop coming?
When they were 12 or 13.
Selvi!
Selvi! Do you know where Guna is?
Nandini's life is in danger. Please tell me.
I wasn't even aware of what went on right in front of me! Oh, God!
Trace Guna's phone right away, Sundaram.
Nandini.
Listen calmly to what I say.
Nila's death was an accident.
As you called me here to meet tonight,
Nila called me that night wishing to meet.
And I went, with no questions asked.
Nila?
What are you doing here at this hour, dear?
You came here because the factory is burning?
Are you scared?
I'm here, aren't I?
Hey!
The tank!
Nila!
Get up, Nila.
What's wrong, Nila? Are you hurt?
-Get up, Nila! -Adhisayam...
It's okay. Get up!
Nila!
Hey!
-
Nila!
Nila...
-Come. Get up! -Nila...
-Nila! -Let's go home!
Nila!
-
Nila!
Adhisayam!
Nila...
Nila!
Nila...
Nila!
Oh, God!
Nila...
Oh, my God!
Nandini...
Forgive me, Nandini.
Don't cry.
I called the cops right away, wanting to confess.
I wanted to turn myself in.
But, I couldn't do it.
I just hung up.
HC Sundaram reporting to SI sir!
-Go ahead! -Guna's phone is switched off.
I know. Just tell me the location.
His last call was tagged at a tower near the old cemetery.
All right.
Nandini... Don't cry, Nandu!
Don't touch me!
I came here to kill you.
Nandini, I didn't kill Nila.
I'm not justifying what I did.
But...
the love I have for you is pure.
You call that love?
Oh! Do I disgust you?
As a child, how fond I was of you.
How much I trusted you!
Now I can't be normal around anyone!
I cannot bring myself to trust any man!
All because of you.
Why didn't you tell your father right then?
Never mind that.
Why did you leave your sister alone?
I don't know.
I don't know!
I've betrayed her.
Stop, everyone!
What's wrong, Goddess?
Has Your rage not been quenched?
The feast has been laid! The blood has been let!
But, Your rage remains unquenched?
The Goddess' rage remains unquenched.
Nandini, you abandoned me and left town.
I lost everything.
Even when I was among all these people, I felt alone.
That was when Nila...
But, I feel the pain of Nila's death
more than any of you ever could.
No one will ever understand that!
Nila is dead...
Nandini!
Nila is dead because of me.
Nandini.
I can't live this lie anymore.
I'm tired of it.
Nandini...
You and I need to be together.
Let's run away from this place!
I'll take good care of you, dear.
Nandini.
I know deep down in your heart, you wish to be with me too.
Come along.
I'll take good care of you.
It's okay, dear.
Don't cry.
Let's go.
-Let go... -Let's go.
Nandini!
Leave, Nandini! Get away from here.
I'm talking to you!
Get away from here, Nandini!
Nandini! What's the matter with you?
Leave!
Get up and go!
Oh, demon!
What sins have you committed, you demon?
You who live in the confines of cemeteries
as a disgraced being as a vermin,
I will vanquish you and make you one with the ashes, the worms, and the dust!
Nandini!
The Goddess rests!
-
Oh, Goddess!
You've been through enough.
Let it be that I killed him.
What happened to you and Nila...
No one should know!
What happened here must come out.
The secrets that lie buried must come to light.
Angalamman awoke the sleeping demon at the cemetery and slaughtered him.
Now, she rests.
More than 90% of sexually abused children
have been abused by someone they know and trust.
Child abuse casts a shadow the length of lifetime.