Bitoo...
- Yes, Ma'am? - Why isn't the AC on? It's hot in here.
- I'll turn it on. - And what's this mess - clean it up.
- Hello. - Hi, is this Poonam Verma?
- Who’s this? - I'm calling from Cityphone.
Congratulations, you’ve won a bumper lucky draw...
Not interested.
- So? - We are on.
- Let me know if I can help. - Hmm.
- Yeah, go ahead. - Time for a field trip.
The address is on the shipment receipt I sent you.
It's an art gallery that Verma runs. Meet me there.
Finally, I can get out of this dungeon.
Same here, I’m always stuck at my marketing desk.
Did your guy clear it with my boss?
Yeah, it’s all done - you’ll get the official order shortly.
Okay great, coming.
- What time is it? - 2 pm.
- I don’t remember coming home. - What do you remember?
The last thing was getting into the car at the guest house.
- How did I get here? - Vijay Babu brought you home.
You were barely conscious, like you were drunk.
Vijay said you were just exhausted.
And you kept saying ‘sorry’, and that you 'could be dead'
and then you finally passed out. It wasn’t easy to change you.
You were like a dead body. What happened?
I did something stupid.
You do that all the time with your late night jungle strolls.
Ma, there’s nothing more dangerous in the jungle than humans.
- What happened? - It’s better you don’t know.
This case is a hard one.
How is it different from ones you've dealt with before?
It's the first time I'm working on something of this scale.
It’s like I'm dealing with an entire gang of Papa's.
He wasn’t a bad man.
Ma...
What was he like, when he was poaching? I remember so little.
He was a real character. Confident, arrogant.
He knew the forest like it was his home.
He could track any animal, and he killed everything.
Even his ancestors were hunters.
And when they banned hunting, he didn’t stop.
He just worked in the shadows. But over time, his confidence faded.
The thought of being arrested and separated from us frightened him.
He knew you were ashamed of him.
But he thought you would grow to forgive him
because he didn’t know any different.
And when the authorities went after him
he decided to leave this world.
Sometimes I wonder
if he was still alive, would he have reformed?
- Reformed? Like Jim Corbett? - He had so much knowledge.
- He could have used it all for good. - He was too set in his ways.
And fundamentally, he didn’t respect nature.
He thought it was something to overcome, to defeat. He...
killed 21 elephants, 19 tigers, 14 leopards.
Plus exotic birds, mongooses, bison, and all of their future generations.
I was going to say, he loved you very much.
But when you were 3, you screamed at him for killing an elephant
he knew then that he’d never live up to your standards.
And he was baffled as to how you could be his daughter.
But now I see so much of him in you.
Those same hunter-instincts, that led to his demise.
You may think...
You may think you have to make up for your parents' sins...
I don't know. Maybe you're right, but...
Ma, I'm fighting against extinction.
I just don’t want to find your head in a box someday.
Call Vijay. He's a kind man.
Hello - are you okay? I’ve been calling all morning.
Yeah, fine. Tell me...
Neel Sir’s here.
We heard what happened with Poyya - everything okay?
Sir, I was just exhausted.
But Poyya is in custody, that's all that matters.
So we still have one more on-the-ground poacher
left in the gang, that Aruku named.
Ivan Das.
And we're starting surveillance in Delhi on Poonam Verma.
We may have to move on her soon.
Sir, Alan found one more link here that we should pursue first
if Poonam is staying put for now.
Are you sure you want to delay?
Yes, Sir - I think so. This guy's name is Sasi Illampally.
I think he’s dealing ivory.
And I have a feeling he may be able to lead us to more powerful contacts.
Sir, I'm on my way.
Come fast.
- She'll be okay? - Yeah, she's just a bit rattled.
She'll be fine, she’s tougher than all of us.
Yeah, that’s why I wanted her on this.
- You? - Umm... I’m okay Sir, personally.
- My wife is... - Yeah, I get it.
I’ve spent years at a time away from my family.
Actually, when I’m away it’s fine.
It’s when I’m back in Kerala, and not going home, then...
Achala has a problem.
It’s a lifelong battle: wildlife protection versus family.
It’s all family, Sir.
I am inching back into her good books, though.
Her cousin’s getting married tomorrow
I'll have to attend.
Yes, you must.
Do whatever it takes, quickly, to fix things with your family
or you’ll become like me.
These days my wife has stopped asking after me.
That’s the worst.
Let's go.
- Hello Ma'am. - Hello.
Uh, can we speak to the owner?
We have questions about purchasing in bulk.
The owner?
Yes.
Ma'am, someone wants to meet you.
- Hello, uh Ms... - Yes, I'm the owner.
Hi... we're decorating a farm house with a dozen rooms. Can you help?
Surely, Bitoo here will help you.
- Bitoo... - Yes Ma'am?
- Take good care of them. - Yes, Ma'am.
Come.
Come, Ma'am.
What would you like to see? Shall we start with the paintings?
I’ve seen Sasi Illampally's CDRs. Everything is clearly logged in it.
He would speak to Morris, meet him the next day, and then return home.
Do you want to talk about last night?
There's nothing to talk about.
Everyone has their own demons. So if you ever do want to talk...
Thank you.
- Hey, do you know Sasi Illampally? - Yeah.
Where does he live? We’re old school friends.
He lives straight ahead.
It looks like he went to Sri Lanka, right after Aruku's news came out.
Good alibi.
Are you okay to do this?
Hello.
- We're looking for Sasi Illampally. - Is he your father?
Papa!
- You're Mala, from the Forest Department. - Yes.
I have nothing to do with elephant poaching any more.
Doesn’t matter.
Your number was found in a prime suspect's CDR, we need to question you.
Papa, you promised you stopped everything illegal.
I swear I haven’t done anything wrong.
You can’t do this to me. I stopped poaching after my prison term.
I'm clean now. If you have questions, ask me here.
This is not an arrest, we just want to talk.
- Nothing will be filed officially. - He's not going anywhere.
- It'll be okay. - No, you said they hurt you.
We don’t have time for this.
- Ma'am! - Papa!
Please don't create a scene. Why are you pulling him?
Listen to me...
Mala calm down, we'll take him in.
What will happen to my father?
If he hasn’t done anything wrong, he’ll be fine.
We just need to clarify a few things.
So... if he's telling the truth, everything will be okay.
Alan...
- You handle this one. - Come on.
We're going in with him.
It has to be a private questioning. Wait out here, or go home.
So, Sasi, how have you been these past few years?
Staying clean, Sir.
Making sure my daughter studies well, that’s all.
Last I heard, you were dealing ivory just to pay for her education.
That’s right.
And after Mala Ma'am caught me, and put me in jail, I did my time.
After getting released
I got into farming, to take care of her.
She has the highest marks in her class.
I don’t want to screw up her future.
- I'm a good citizen now. - You go to church every Sunday?
That’s between me and God.
Why did you go to Sri Lanka at the end of May?
Family vacation.
Really? A day after the news broke about this poaching case?
I don’t know anything about that case, other than what I saw on the news.
Don't you have any leads yet?
Is that why you've come to me?
Please let my father go. He works in the fields every day.
All I do is study, so that I can get a good job and take care of my family.
Everything is going well. You already put him in jail once.
What more do you want?
You have nothing to worry about if your father isn’t lying.
- He isn't. - Are you 100% sure?
Would you bet your life on it?
Dear Lord... please save my father.
He's reformed.
Watch them.
Why were you talking to Morris?
- He called me. - I can see that. But why?
He would call regularly, and ask if I had tusks to sell.
He was soliciting - that's how he motivates the market.
He'd call and say he wants to buy raw ivory.
That's what would have made me poach in the past.
But this time I told him that I had nothing.
- And yet, you travelled to meet him? - Just a casual visit, Ma'am.
When I learned he was in the area, I just wanted to get him off my back.
Then why did you go all the way to Trivandrum to meet him?
Was that necessary?
I never did, Ma'am.
Look carefully.
This is Morris’s CDR, and this is yours.
Do you see these two entries?
They put both of you in Trivandrum under the same mobile tower.
Sir, I met him once there. Just once.
What for?
Sir, I haven’t done anything wrong.
Prove it!
Am I being recorded?
No, it's just us.
Please keep my family out of this.
We can only help you if you tell us everything.
I sold three tusks to Morris. But I didn't poach them.
And I don’t know anything about who poached them.
How did you get the tusks?
Someone called and told me he had tusks, and asked me to sell them.
- I couldn’t say no. - Why?
You have to promise me you're not recording this. Swear to God.
I do go to church every Sunday.
I swear to God, it’s just the three of us here, no devices.
It was Prabhas Peradi.
- The politician? - Yes.
Prabhas called me, said he possessed tusks, and asked me to sell them.
He knew of my past... that I had contacts.
I couldn’t say no.
That kind of guy can do anything to me... to my family.
I didn't have a choice.
Alan?
It fits. They've talked a lot.
Come outside.
Back off.
- He’s scared to death. Now what? - Go after this politician?
His house would be fortified.
We'd have to get to grab him before he makes a single phone call.
And if he got away after that, we’d be totally exposed.
So many things could go wrong, it's a huge risk.
- Fuck it. - Fuck it.
Sasi, there’s a way for you to not be charged as an accused.
But you have to help us.
I'll do anything, but you have to protect me
and ensure that my Bhavana will be safe.
I promise you she'll be safe.
Show us where Peradi lives.
It is fortified.
If we get any closer, we'll be spotted on camera.
Guard dogs.
If they bark, he'll make a phone call, and easily wiggle out of this.
What I said earlier, that you wouldn’t be arraigned...
it's contingent on us catching this fucker. Can you think of any other way?
I don’t know his movements, or how he operates.
Did he ever mention any other interests, outside of ivory?
He loves cars.
He once asked if I knew any buyers for a vintage car?
- What car? - I think it was an old DeLorean.
- When was this? - Last month.
Okay. So call him and tell him you have a potential buyer who wants to see it.
- My Phone... - Not now! First thing tomorrow.
Arrange for a place where both parties can meet.
That’s our chance.
- So I can go home now? - No.
Why not - I'm cooperating... I'm not in official custody.
We can’t take a risk of this leaking to Peradi.
Do you think I would sabotage my chance to avoid prosecution?
I want you to catch him.
If we keep him, his wife will spread the news that he’s in our custody.
- And that could reach Peradi's ears. - He's right.
My wife can’t keep her mouth shut. Let me go home.
I'll make sure nobody talks, I promise.
- This night never happened. - What if they flee overnight?
Madam, I can’t even imagine what that would do to Bhavana's future.
If you do run off, I'll hunt you down.
And like the elephants you slaughtered, I'll rip your teeth out from your skull.
- And Bhavana... - That's enough, I understand.
Nothing here... Ma?
No... I know I saw it somewhere.
- Found it. - Got it?
This will do.
- How are you? - Evidently, not as good as you.
That’s an understatement.
You were a wreck the other night.
I wasn't sure whether to take you home, or to the hospital.
Wise choice.
You broke that night, into a million pieces.
And it was all I could do to hold you together... you need to take a break.
- Have you been talking to my mother? - I didn’t have to.
I saw the look on her face, when I left.
She was inconsolable.
I appreciate everything you’ve done for me.
- But I have to finish what I started. - I know what you’re doing.
This is the biggest poaching case of our lives.
And if you nail these guys
it will be a huge credit against your father’s lifetime of debits.
But it's not about tit-for-tat. There are other ways to give back.
I survived that night, and now I know my limits.
Your limits are simple - you want to live.
Thank you for stating the obvious.
Mala, I’m also vested in catching these guys.
But I’m not doing it for the elephants - I'm doing it for you.
That’s why we never made it.
You're forgetting - you're crawling up a poisonous tree.
Ma'am...
Come in, Shyam.
Alright then.
- You found a writing sample? - Yeah, it's a ledger my uncle kept.
Great...
A copy of Raaz’s suicide note. See if they match.
- John, finish your breakfast. - Yeah, I will.
So you can catch a cobra, but you still can't iron a dhoti.
- This is where you need my help. - Finished!
- Yeah, I'm coming. - I'll take it from here.
- Ma'am... - Ahh, you're back.
I spoke with Prabhas
he’s going on a fishing trip today, for two weeks.
But about the DeLorean - he’s agreed to meet if we can do it this morning.
Tell him that Alan will meet him in an hour. We'll set a meeting point.
Asma, have him seated elsewhere.
Hey, what's up?
Peradi’s going on a fishing trip later today.
So you have to meet him in an hour.
No way, I can't - I'll be free in the afternoon.
He’ll be gone then - we have to move now.
I'd go myself, but you're the car expert.
Don’t leave me hanging, we’re so close.
We're here - let's go.
Come.
- Hi, Papa. - Hi, Son.
Catch any interesting snakes recently?
Actually Papa, Alan is doing more than just catching snakes.
He does the Wildlife Trust's photography, administration
- and even designed their website. - Sounds like the work of an assistant.
How are you, dear?
You're my only ray of hope.
- Why did you stop me? - What's the point?
I can't do this. I need to get out of here.
Just try.
I can't take this negativity.
I'll be at the back.
Fernando! Start the car.
Listen, I’ll give you 500 rupees to keep quiet about this entire trip.
- Yes, Sir. - Not a word to Achala.
- Is it another woman? - No, but it's just as bad if she finds out.
Yeah, I’m out. What’s the plan?
Call Peradi, set a meeting point, and we'll grab him there.
- I've sent you the number. - Okay.
- Hello - Hello, umm... Prabhas Peradi?
- Yeah, Alan? - Yeah, I’m calling about the DeLorean.
Fine, meet at the Kothamangalam bypass bus stand, opposite Bishop’s House.
- Sure, in...30 minutes? - Great, we’ll go see the car then.
Okay, okay. Oh, and one thing - what colour is the vehicle?
- Silver. - Okay, perfect. See you there.
Yeah.
Sending you the meeting place now.
Once I get there, Peradi will likely take me elsewhere to see the car.
We'll grab him there.
When a member of our community... our family
moves on to the next phase of their life
it’s a proud moment for us.
We are all gathered here today to witness that evolution
in the presence of God almighty.
They accept this sudden change, with all of their hearts
and declare that they have found their soulmate.
- I'm here. - Okay.
- Hello, are you here? - Yeah, just reached.
- Getting out of my car, in a pink shirt. - Yeah, I see you.
We'll follow you.
Actually, it's easier if I come with you, and my driver leads.
The place is tricky to find.
- Sure. - Okay.
Okay.
- Are you a vintage car collector? - Not yet, but I want to be.
Follow him.
I studied in the UK.
Now I'm making lots of money, and need a place to spend it.
Well, if you have money to spend, I may have some opportunities for you.
Great.
I'd like to know more.
I have to pee.
Where is your father?
- I'll take him, I have to go too. - Thank you.
I can barely hold it these days.
...But politics, it’s the best job.
People complain about it, but I love it.
They say we’re corrupt
but look at politicians in other countries.
How they live... in palaces. But we walk with the people here.
Those countries have wealth, but no spirit.
No connection with themselves, or with nature.
That’s what I love about this place.
I'm about to go on a fishing trip. I know an amazing place, remote.
If you ever want to go, just say the word.
One second. Stop the car.
Something wrong?
What is it? Hey, what is this?!
- Let go! - Hey!
I'm being kidnapped! Help - I'm being kidnapped!
You’ve made a big mistake.
What do you want?
Say something! You want money?
We’re from the Forest Department.
Not a word to anyone, understand?
Okay.
- Where's Papa? - He's pulled a disappearing act again.
There he is... Alan, where were you?
I stood in the back, where Papa couldn’t see me. It was really nice.
But when she dropped the ring, my heart stopped.
She was nervous, it’s to be expected.
Achala’s not as superstitious as I am.
Stay with Papa, I’m going to the restroom. Be right back.
- Thank you. - You owe me big time.
- Do you have any pain killers? - I think Cheeni does.
- Can you get it? - Okay.
Papa, why do you owe him?
You're quite the nosy parker.
Johnny boy, come - let's have lunch.
- Are you coming? - I will, soon.
Come then.
- Here... let's eat. - Coming.
What are you doing, John?
Taking photos, Papa.
Let me see.
Give it.
Papa, why are you sad?
I won't tell anyone.
Do you notice something about these photos you took?
Among these animals, what I find amazing
is the honesty you captured.
Your photos, just like these animals -
never lie.
Because they don’t know how.
This should be the only kind of shooting allowed in this world.
Mala.
That wasn’t very pretty.
Yes Sir, but we did get him.
And they’re reporting it as a kidnapping all over the news.
Good that you wore a mask. Get what you can from him quickly.
We don't have much time before it all goes to hell.
- Ma'am, can I go home? - No, not yet. Go in.
Go in.
So let’s talk about elephant poaching. Where did you get the tusks from?
What tusks?
The tusks you tried to sell last month.
I have no idea what you’re talking about.
I’m not answering anything until my lawyer comes.
And if you lay a finger on me, I swear you’ll regret it.
We have Sasi Illampally in custody.
So what?
I don’t know him.
He just tried to help me sell my car, that’s it.
Ready?
- Tell me! - I don't know anything!
Please don't hit me!
Okay Ma'am, I’ll tell you everything!
Peradi called and told me about the tusks that he possessed.
So I sold them to Morris Finn from Trivandrum.
It’s all in my call logs.
I never poached - I'm sorry Ma'am! I was just the middle man!
His call logs won't lie.
Would you like to speak now?
- Alan... - Hmm.
- What do you think? - Looks good.
Isn’t it nice to take a break from work?
Not having to worry about snakes, or bad guys?
It is, but I have some work pending.
After the wedding, if that's okay?
I only asked for the wedding, then you're off the hook.
Hi... can you make me a plate?
Hey... why don’t you give up this wildlife stuff?
Focus on something that can get you a bigger house?
I handed you the best computer science training in the country.
And what do you do with it? You squander it on some NGO.
- You forced me into it. - Grandpa, Papa loves small houses.
Because we don't have an inch of unused space.
He doesn't like big houses like yours, which waste a lot of space.
Small houses are better for the Earth.
Simple living, high thinking. You've brainwashed the boy, too?
Nothing to do with simple living, Papa, it's just common sense.
Well, common sense has changed in my lifetime then.
When I was your age, a big house and a big car
were symbols of a man's prosperity
if he earned them with his brains, and hard work.
Look at what you're doing now? You had opportunities in life
and now you're insulting those who didn’t have the same.
Let's go.
I only did it once.
And it was just the two tusks, they landed on my lap.
Meaning?
I didn’t go to the jungle and poach the elephants.
Then who did? Raaz and his gang?
No, this has nothing to do with that case.
Then?
I can’t help you with the damage your political career will take.
But I can help with your jail time.
And you have my word - help us, and we'll help you.
This can’t go public.
And it never came from me. Or my entire family will be at risk.
I'll ensure it stays private.
The gang was from Munnar, they’ve been poaching there for two years.
What?
- What? - Another active gang, under our noses.
The forest department’s grown lazy.
You're not patrolling where you should be.
Anyone can go into these areas and poach.
Who’s in this gang?
Where do they operate from?
Give us the details.
It’s the only way to protect yourself.
Give me a pen and paper.
- You’re 100% sure? - I’m not an expert...
but I swear on my mother, I'm damn sure about this.
- I need to talk to someone in charge. - Where are you from?
It doesn’t matter, it’s about the case with Raaz.
Sign in.
- I need to speak to someone first. - 'Someone' who? Who the hell are you?
This is the first we’re hearing about this new gang.
Peradi's written everything he knows about them.
But that means another full investigation.
But we don't have the bandwidth for that.
Sir, I also believe the suicide note was not written by Raaz.
Why?
I did a handwriting comparison - it's not even close.
Someone had reason to get rid of him.
How much poaching is happening under our noses?
For now, focus on this gang first, then the others.
Though it'll be hard to follow your hunch, since Raaz’s case is now shut.
This is why I wanted to keep this investigation tight. I kept saying...
once things go inter-state, the links break.
If only Raaz had stayed in Kerala.
So... then how do we deal with Poonam Verma in Delhi?
Sir, someone to see you.
- Who? - I think it's someone important.
Come in.
Sir, my name is Ivan Das. I was in Raaz's gang.
I want to turn myself in.