Hey Aruku.
You're not looking too good.
- Like hell, actually. Are you alright? - Fine, Sir.
Yeah right, you seem more than 'fine'. You're wasted - come on, get in.
It's real mongoose hair.
They can’t be... look at these bristles.
They're either too hard, or too soft.
And my detailing is not as fine as with the other mongoose-hair brushes I have.
- Why did you sell me these fakes? - You’re calling him a liar?
I have to deliver my canvases next week.
And they’re sub-par because of your fake bristles.
Should I catch a mongoose and pluck it myself?
Poyya, don't!
You're insane.
Leave him!
Fucking lunatics!
Listen to me - shouldn't you go home?
Just one drink, Sir.
Let's go.
- Would you really have killed him? - Did you sell him fake brushes?
- Aruku, right? Can we join you? - I usually sit alone.
Where did you just come from? You look like hell.
I set a controlled fire.
You need to be careful when starting a fire.
And once the area is cleared, it has to be put out.
- You do this every day? - During the dry season, yes.
That's great. Being around fires all day, you must be thirsty.
Get my friend a bottle.
Drink up... gulp it down.
I lost control, Lord! I lost control, Lord!
Hey, another round!
We should have sat with you ages ago. We never realized you were this much fun.
You could have - I've been coming here for years.
Okay, bye. Goodnight.
Aruku... how well do you know the forest?
I've been working in it for decades.
I can navigate it in my sleep. But Raaz could too.
Since he also lives on the edge of the forest.
But the forest has changed so much, none of us know it anymore.
Your talents are going to waste.
And you get paid peanuts, putting out fires and saving the forest.
With those peanuts, I'm barely able to feed my family, after paying rent.
Do you know where the elephants are?
I know all of the migratory routes
and where they like to hang out, but those place are not easy to reach.
Sometimes I spend days inside and watch them - they're magnificent.
Brother, how do you reach those areas?
Follow the river and travel upstream. It's a long walk, over a day.
Those areas crawl with elephants.
The forest is thick there, the bush is like a wall.
I used to know those routes when I was younger
but it’s all grown over now, and the paths have disappeared.
Damn forest keeps moving.
- The forest is alive. - Really?
- Yeah. - Brother...
You wanna make some extra money?
Relax... have another.
Have it.
- Who’s that? - Don't know.
What are you doing here?
I thought we were going next week.
It's moved up
to today.
Where's Poyya?
He didn't show.
Just go get your stuff.
Let's move.
- Hey... - What?
I have to go into the forest - I'll be back in a week.
A week? Where are you going? Why didn't you tell me?
I forgot.
Poyya - wake up!
Poyya!
Look at him, he's passed out.
Wake up.
What happened?
- Come on. - Splash water on him.
Sit sit sit... here.
- What happened? - This is normal for him.
He's covered in blood.
It's not mine, it’s that bloody artist's.
He won’t bother you again.
Fuck... Poyya. Get up, let's go.
- Ma’s coming with us. - Fine.
Wait... did you get the guns?
- What the fuck?! - We need the guns.
Now?
This joker was supposed to get them yesterday - where are they, huh?
- I thought it was next week. - Plan's changed.
Give them now, or not at all.
Here.
To load the gunpowder, I've installed a ramrod.
Your coir pith...
potash, and gunpowder.
It's all here, take it.
It’s still heavy, close to 10 kg.
Feels like a .303 rifle. When I test-fired this, you said...
...You haven't given me enough time to rebore the barrel.
If you're in a rush, take it now, or give me more time.
Fuck, it's like pulling teeth.
All of you are working against me.
'Pulling teeth'... that's funny.
For an elephant, you'll need to use the breadth of 10 fingers of gunpowder.
Anything less would likely result in injury, not death.
I know that!
I remember.
How much were you paid?
For the first time - 30,000 rupees. After that - 87,000 each time.
Didn't you hesitate at all?
- I needed the money. - Hmm, and the booze.
But you’d gotten by until now without extra cash.
I'm getting old, Sir. I can't do my job for much longer.
Younger guys will take over.
Shouldn't I save something for my family?
I was just a contractor, no pension.
I also figured there must be around 600 elephants in this forest.
- So killing one was no big deal. - There used to be 600. Not anymore.
Just over there.
Keep an eye out, as you walk.
For... ?
This is a forest, there are leopards, snakes, elephants - all sorts of creatures.
Why do you like this forsaken place?
I don't get it.
Years ago there was so much poaching happening in this region
that most elephant bulls were wiped out.
In this 4000 square kilometer area, imagine
a sex ratio of one male to one hundred females.
I can’t believe how well you know this terrain.
Poachers and hunters know the terrain better than conservationists.
- Hey, watch for leeches, huh. - Sir, they're good for cholesterol.
'Cholesterol'!
She may have already eaten.
- Should we run? - Only if you have a death wish.
Still a better way to die than getting your head smashed in kabaddi.
Camp here.
Hey, don't touch this.
Hold that rope. Come on, come on.
I'll find dinner... Poyya.
Bear... bear.
- See that python pushing against the tree? - Yeah.
- It's digesting something. - Oh.
Cook this.
- How long did you camp here for? - Until we were done with the hunt.
It would range from 8 to 10 days.
This was our base to find the elephant herds.
How far are the guns from here?
Where did you get the guns?
- The gunsmith made them. - We arrested him a few days back.
He smuggled parts into the area, piece-by-piece, and then assembled them.
It was my job to mix the gunpowder.
Why don’t you tell them how you got that scar on your face?
Go ahead - it's your own doing.
Shut up, asshole! We're in this mess because you ratted us out!
Stop it!
- I’ll tell them then. - Piss off!
He was mixing the gunpowder, and then heating it.
It becomes damp after walking through the forest.
It has to be dried carefully...
How much is in there?
Mummy! Oh God!
Why the hell would you use a match?
Not so fast, you have to suck it up.
Why did you ask him how much gunpowder was in there?
Who cares? We have enough for several shots.
We'll head back at dawn, and get him to a hospital.
- We're not going anywhere. - What?
Accidents come with the job - we all knew the risks.
We’re not leaving here without our trophy.
Nothing else matters.
- Where are you from? - Thumponkarra.
- I don't know it. - I do.
Every home there has at least one poacher.
They hunted for a living. Now they wait for lapses in patrolling
or for the laws to change, so they can hunt again.
Poyya and Raaz are from similar places.
How do you know all of this?
My father was a poacher.
And if I was a boy, I might have become one, too.
Instead, I'm hunting down people like you.
And if I had my way, I'd have you all wiped out from this earth.
- Why can't you get an honest job? - Sir, what job could I possibly get?
What do you think these officers used to do?
Hunters make the best conservationists.
But that wouldn't satisfy your blood lust.
- Your chauvinist desire to rule the world. - Mala!
Hey.
- Where are you going? - Nowhere.
- Huh? - Nowhere.
That's good.
Because if you left us, it would be tough for us to get out of here.
But we would eventually manage, and then visit your home.
I'd like to meet your wife and children.
Hunting time.
Sir...
Go go go! Make noises - scream!
Go, run run!
They're all females.
There...
One shot.
- Hey... pull the trunk off first. - Why the trunk?
- How else will you get to the tusks? - Okay.
Why did you leave the carcass like this? You could have covered it at least.
Why bother?
Which forest officer is going to come this deep into the forest?
You lot are too lazy.
Hey, we nabbed you - don't forget that.
Yeah, right... I surrendered.
Su...
This is what he did for a living.
It made him content.
Seeing that rotten flesh decay
I've finally figured him out.
He was habitual - this is the only thing he knew.
I wonder...
if he knew how hard it was to clean up his mess, would he have done it?
Like these fuckers who just kill and leave.
I wish I could do the same thing to them.
Shoot them in the head, rip their teeth out, and leave them to rot.
Let the jungle feed on their remains.
Mala, I'm sorry.
You were right about me.
I was lazy, arrogant.
I never imagined this could happen, and under my watch, too.
You couldn’t possibly patrol this entire region.
It’s a manpower issue, not your fault.
Not true.
I screwed this up.
Aruku even confessed to me, and I didn't take him seriously.
I have to live with that.
But of everyone I’ve ever known who’s come through this forest
you might be the only one who shouldn’t be carrying any guilt.
- Please don't. - Out of my way.
You think I won't shoot you?
- Why would you kill him? - Because I feel like it - move.
Don't!
Oh God.
I tried to stop him, but couldn't.
It's time to go.
You have the rest of your life to cry over your sins.
But we need to catch the rest of those assholes now.
I've sent our coordinates, the team will come document all of this.
You said there were 17 more elephants?
They're in different ranges, Sir. We'd need to start from home base.
You never picked us up, understand?
- Don't stop, don't stop. - I have to, he's a range officer.
- Looks like a full house... hey Aruku. - Hi, Sir.
Glad you're heading my way. Nobody's passed by for hours.
What were you all doing out here, so early in the morning?
- Huh? - We were out drinking last night.
We played a game with fire, and his face got burned.
I was taking him to apply a forest remedy.
Playing with fire? That's some game.
- You and I need to have a talk. - Sure Sir... later.
Go.
You should have stopped him from getting in.
If I had, it would have been even worse.
You almost got us caught.
Doesn't matter, it's over - we can go our separate ways.
We're going back in a few days, and you're our guide.
- Our deal was one trip. - No, we need more.
Ivan's injury set us back.
Just lay low, so nobody gets suspicious.
Hey...
Don't even think of walking away - you're a part of this now.
Poyya, take care of those.
...So how many times did you all go out together?
5 trips - we poached 18 elephants.
When I hesitated, they coerced me with booze and money.
If I told them no, they would threaten me.
I have a son in the hospital.
He’s been disabled since birth, and needs expert care.
It's expensive, and I was broke.
- But I just couldn't do it anymore. - So what changed your mind?
Yogi will be discharged soon, he feels up to working again.
That would be great.
What’s wrong?
- An elephant calf is stalking me. - What?
Keep on drinking like this and talking nonsense
and you'll end up in the hospital with our son.
Aruku... Aruku!
- There... a spirit’s calling my name. - Aruku!
It’s a man, not a ghost. Go see who it is.
Oh, it's you, Poyya.
- I thought it was a ghost calling me. - We're going out again next week.
You might become a ghost if you don’t come.
Your family...
They look nice.
Leave them alone.
Aruku, I have nothing to lose... nothing.
I'm just a shadow, with no life.
Raaz has a message for you.
In the food chain, we hunters are at the top.
We're the ultimate predators.
We decide which animals survive, and which die.
Hey, Aruku!
- Hop in, I’ll give you a lift. - Sir, I can walk.
Come on, I'll drop you at the bus stand.
We need to talk, remember?
- You're not looking too well. - I'm fine, Sir.
Aruku, I know about you and Raaz's gang.
Sir, please don’t tell anyone.
I never thought it would turn out like this.
I didn’t mean to - I'm sorry. I won't do it again, Sir.
What the hell? All this guilt for running moonshine?
Huh?
Everyone knows Raaz smuggles illegal alcohol into his street bar.
If you hang with them, you’ll eventually get into trouble.
As a forest officer, it’s none of my business.
But I'm worried about you - stop hanging out with those guys.
Fine, Sir.
Get your act together, it's sad to see you like this.
Close the door.
You slaughtered elephants? How could you?!
Up until now, didn't we live off of what the forest provided?
Ma, we did need the money.
Papa, you need to turn yourself in, and give evidence against the others.
What if they arrest me?
I'll take up more contracts, and take care of everyone as best I can.
But you need to do it.
How many lifetimes will you carry this burden for?
He's right, Aruku - you know who you've killed?
The incarnation of God, Lord Ganesh.
You will surely pay for this in your next life.
You're already suffering today for the sins of your last life.
But if you take punishment for the sin you've committed now
you'll be spared in your next life.
I should never have gone with those demons.
Why did I go drinking that night?
If my son wasn't unwell, I'd kill myself.
That may be
but if you take your own life, it will be even worse for your karma.
Sooner or later, you'll have to pay for these sins.
Turning yourself in is your only way out of this.
Sir...
Yeah Aruku, what is it?
- I need to tell you something. - I'm busy.
It’s important - elephants are being poached in our forest.
What elephant poaching?
It's a gang.
They got deep into the forest and poached 18 elephants.
I was with them.
But I can’t do it anymore - I'm here to confess, and give you their names.
That's very funny.
I never knew you had a sense of humour.
Who put you up to this? Was it Anthony? Anthony!
- Did you make him do this? - Do what, Sir?
He says he’s involved in the poaching of 18 elephants.
Our little Aruku.
Sir, I’m telling the truth.
Right. So you led these hunters deep into the jungle
camped with them for days, right under our noses
and killed 18 elephants?
So, since 'Veerappan'
this is the biggest poaching incident in the last 20 years.
You hear that? We have our very own 'Veerappan' here! What a guy.
You're nuts... deranged to even think of this!
Go on. And on your way back, go get your head checked.
I have a lot of work to do, and I've had my laugh for the day.
It's the best I could do with such short notice.
This is comprehensive.
We now need to get Poonam Verma and Ravi Don.
I still think the big question mark is here - the end buyers.
Yes Sir, give me a moment...
Sure, Sure I can tell you - Neel...
The Minister wants an update on Prabhas Peradi.
- He fully confessed. - One minute, listen... tell him.
Just tell him, please.
Sir, he fully confessed.
He even admitted to shooting an elephant himself.
We recovered a double-barrel gun and cartridges from his home.
Good for you, but we may still have to let him go.
Why, Sir? Even with this confession?
Kishore, we’re getting pressure from above.
Sir, you can’t do this, it would send a fatal message to poachers everywhere.
I realize that, but...
Sir, respectfully if that's the case, then... I'll have to resign.
I can’t turn a blind eye towards this and keep working, sorry.
I'll see what I can do.
How is it that we are not all on the same page on this?
Forget about all of this nonsense.
Focus on the manhunting. Any updates?
Sir... we have all of the on-the-ground poachers, and their weapons, in custody.
We’ve found the poaching sites, and elephant remains.
There are a dozen more sites, Aruku will lead our teams there.
- Sir, this is Poonam Verma's... ? - Arrest warrant.
It is the time to grab the head of the snake.
I’ve informed the Bureau in Delhi, they’re sending Shekhar to help.
Sir, but this is a Kerala warrant, issued by a magistrate here.
How will we get Verma back here for arrest?
That's for you to figure out, hunter.