'KAANATHAYA PENKUTTY'
"Let's sing in rhythm. - It's time to enjoy."
"Let's embrace happiness."
"Let's go to the beautiful river"
"in the chariot of wind."
"Let's sing in rhythm. - It's time to enjoy."
"Let's embrace happiness."
"Let's go to the beautiful river"
"in the chariot of wind."
"Let's listen to the melody of the breeze."
"Let's see the flowers swaying in the air."
"Let's listen to the melody of the breeze."
"Let's see the flowers swaying in the air."
"When the sunshine hits the forest.."
"I could see the start of a celebration."
"Let's go to the beautiful river"
"in the chariot of wind."
"Let's sing in rhythm. - It's time to enjoy."
"Let's embrace happiness."
"Let's go to the beautiful river"
"in the chariot of wind."
"Let's adore the colours of the rainbow."
"Let's observe the beauty of a dew drop."
"Let's adore the colours of the rainbow."
"Let's observe the beauty of a dew drop."
"When they see the clear sky and when the boat drifts away.."
"I heard the song of celebration."
"Let's go to the beautiful river"
"in the chariot of wind."
"Let's sing in rhythm. - It's time to enjoy."
"Let's embrace happiness."
"Let's go to the beautiful river"
"in the chariot of wind."
Oh, God..
'Girl killed in bus crash.'
Bhavani!
The bus that Mini had travelled in met with an accident. A girl died.
What?
Did something happen to our daughter? - No.
No, she is safe. - Let me see.
The accident occurred yesterday morning.
The management hasn't informed us yet.
Get ready soon. Let's go there.
Aren't you Mini Menon's.. - Yes.
You are lucky, Mr. Menon. Mini is safe.
But God was not kind to others.
We came to know about it from today's newspaper.
Didn't Mini tell you about it?
Mini hasn't come home.
What? Hasn't she?
No. - By what time did Mini leave for home yesterday?
She left around 4 p.m. with Sarala Nair.
She would be at Sarala's home then.
Where is her house? - In Deepak Nagar.
She is Dr. K.P. Nair's daughter. He works at the medical centre.
Thank you, Sister.
I am Devadas Menon. - Please come in.
Please sit.
I came to know that our daughters had left together yesterday. - Yes
She hasn't reached home yet. - What!
Dear. Sarala! - Yes, Dad.
Hi, ma'am! Didn't Mini come? - No.
Didn't you and Mini leave from school together? - Yes.
But she hasn't reached home yet. - What!
She was at the bus stop when I came here.
I asked her to accompany me to the house of the girl who died.
But she didn't come. She said you'd be worried if she gets late.
Where did she go then?
What if she went to any of your relatives' house?
But none of our relatives lives here.
What about family friends? - They'd have phoned us then.
I think it's better that you inform the police since
she has been missing since yesterday evening.
Don't worry. She will come back.
After all, she survived that accident because of God's grace.
Please ask Mini to call me when she comes back. - Okay.
Is the sub-inspector here? - No.
Will he be here soon? - He won't be here in the near future!
He is under suspension.
He throttled an MLA.
It happened by mistake. But that's why he is suspended now.
Who is in charge now? - What do you want?
I have a complaint. - Come in.
Take your seat.
We've been instructed to offer seats to the petitioners.
What is the complaint?
My daughter hasn't yet come back from school. - What?
But it's that time of the day when students to go to school.
She is missing since yesterday. - I see.
How come you took so lodge a complaint?
If she were skipping town, she'd have reached somewhere far by now.
She wouldn't skip town.
How old is she? - She is 15 years old.
She might have gone with her boyfriend then.
No, she doesn't have any affairs.
We can't be sure of it as the present generation is presumptuous.
She went on an excursion
but they returned as the bus met with an accident.
She hasn't reached home yet.
Was she travelling in the convent school bus? - Yes.
Did you enquire at hospitals?
The nuns who'd travelled with her said she is not injured.
She left school at 4 p.m. yesterday.
She came with her friend to the bus stop.
Do one thing, sir. Please give me a written complaint.
Mention her name, age
and identification marks.
The CI is here. I'll be right back.
Did you send constables to Kunnamkai?
I had sent them at 7.a.m., sir.
You fool!
Didn't you come to know that the program was cancelled?
Don't you read the newspapers? - Sir, I..
Where is the writer? - He was here. He went out to drink some tea.
Why are you still here? - Someone is here to file a complaint.
I was talking to them. I reckon it's a complicated case.
Someone has abducted a girl from a rich family.
I think the media would trouble us.
Shall I send them to you? - Okay.
Let's go.
To hell with reading newspapers!
I am busy whole today.
I don't even get the time to smoke!
And he wants me to read the newspaper!
You better go and read it!
Aren't you done? - Yes.
I'll be back after submitting it. - Okay.
I've given the petition to the CI. You should meet him. - Okay.
I've talked to him about it. Let me tell you something.
Don't even think of bribing him.
You'd be in trouble if you try to. He isn't corrupt like us.
Yes, come in.
Take your seat.
What grade is she in? - Tenth grade.
Have you brought any photos of her? - No, I'll give it soon.
CI here. Where?
I see. Did you identify the body?
Is she in uniform?
Okay, you may do one thing. Prepare the inquest.
I will be there soon.
Don't let people gather there.
Where do you stay, Mr. Menon? - Near Estate Junction.
Let's leave then. I am going to Kannanchuvad.
I could collect her photograph on the way. - Okay, sir.
I think his daughter will come back after two days.
She might be hanging out with her boyfriend. - Shut up!
Kannanchuvad SI said that a girl's body
was found near the railway track.
Is that so? I guess I was spot on then.
Her boyfriend would have betrayed her.
And so, she committed suicide.
That isn't the case. They found the body outside the railway track.
I reckon it's murder then.
Isn't it unnecessary to collect her photographs?
Why not take him to the spot?
His wife shouldn't come to know about it.
Let's collect the photograph anyway.
It's better that we give him a hint
or else, he'd not be able to bear it.
Please come.
Please take your seat.
'Smoking causes cancer.'
No, thanks.
How long have you been living here? - Six years.
I see. How many children do you have?
We just have one daughter.
What do you do for a living?
I used to work as a contractor.
Now I am running an export business.
Let's get going then. Come with me, Mr. Menon.
Do you think she would have chosen to go somewhere? - That's unlikely.
What if someone had kidnapped her.. - Can that happen?
We can't rule out that possibility.
Then again
if we get to know that she was in danger
you should be ready to face that situation.
You should even be ready to bear the news that she is no more.
What?
Listen, Mr. Menon.
Didn't you notice that I got a call when you were in my room?
It was from the SI of Kannanchuvad station.
They have found the dead body of a girl.
What?
Don't worry, Mr. Menon. It may not be your daughter.
Dear!
Mathai, take him home. - Yes, sir.
Listen..
Enquire if she'd travelled in any of the buses via
the Paruthikkara Estate after 3:30 p.m. - Sir.
Keep the photograph with you.
If the staff in any of the buses had seen her
bring them to the station. - Okay, sir.
Any clue? - Sir, the sniffer dog went till the river bank.
We have found some footprints there.
Someone had swum across the river.
Did you inspect the body? - Yes.
There are no wounds.
Her ornaments are not stolen.
There is Rs. 200 in her bag, sir.
So the murder wasn't for money.
What if someone had pushed her from the train?
That's unlikely as there are no injuries.
Sir, we saw the tyre marks of a car.
We found an empty cigarette packet and some butts there.
Where?
It's here.
Ask them to bring the sniffer dog. - Bring the dog.
Let it sniff the packet.
Inform the Finger Print Bureau. - Sir.
Guard the place till they get here. - Sir.
File the FIR. Register it as a suspicious death.
Make the arrangements for the post-mortem. - Yes, sir.
Who spotted the body first? - It was a newspaper boy, sir.
We were informed by a tea shop owner. He is still at the station.
Did you get any information?
Why are you silent?
Consider that Mini was killed in the bus crash. - What?
Oh, God! Our daughter!
What happened to her? Tell me.
Our daughter is dead. - What?
Someone murdered her, Bhavani.
Bhavani. Bring some water, Meenakshi.
Bhavani.
Ma'am.
Bhavani. - Ma'am.
Bhavani.
Ma'am.
Who spotted the body first? - It was him.
He told me and subsequently, I informed you.
When did you see it? - When I was going to deliver newspapers.
What was the time? - I was around 5:30 a.m.
Have you seen her before?
No, sir. - What about you?
No, sir. I went there to ascertain whether he was saying the truth.
Sir, a guy says that he spotted someone like her last night.
Who is it? - The guy runs a pan shop. We've brought him here.
Ask him to come in. - Okay, sir.
You may leave. Come here when we ask you to. - Okay.
What's your name? - Narayanan.
Did you see a girl last night? - I did, sir.
But I don't know if that's the girl who was killed.
Didn't you go to the railway track when you heard the news?
I would become insomniac if I see the victims of unnatural deaths.
When did you see the girl? - Around 7:30 p.m.
Where did you see her? - At my shop.
Why did she come there? - To buy a cigarette.
How come a girl came to buy a cigarette? - No, sir.
There was a boy with her. - How old would he be?
He must be about 20 years old.
Do you know why they were there at that hour?
I didn't ask them that.
Is this the girl that you saw?
I am not sure, sir.
I didn't see her clearly. - What the hell did you see then!
I said that I saw a girl of this age.
They came on a scooter.
He came to the shop after parking it on the other side of the road.
The girl was standing near the scooter.
Can you recognise him if you see him again? - Yes, sir.
Is he tall? - Yes.
His complexion is fair.
He had a thin moustache.
What brand of cigarette did he buy? - I don't remember that.
Was it Charms? - I don't know, sir.
How many did he buy? Was it a packet?
I think it was.
Okay, you may leave. Inform us if you see him. - Okay.
I've brought one of the bus staff.
He said she travelled in his bus yesterday.
Okay. Let him in.
Come in!
When did she board the bus yesterday?
She travelled in the 3:45 p.m. trip. - Look at him! - Okay.
From where did she board the bus? - In front of the school.
She got down at Estate Junction. - When?
At 4:22 p.m. - 4:22 p.m. - He remembers the exact time!
Do you record the time that every passenger gets down or what! - No!
We've to reach Estate Junction at 4:22 p.m.
in order to reach Kavumbhagom at 4:24 p.m.
Menon will reach there at 4:25 p.m.
Menon? - It's the name of a bus, sir.
If we don't get there before 4:25 p.m.
all the passengers would board that bus.
Yesterday, Menon had reached Kavumbhagom only after
all the passengers had boarded our bus. That's why I said 4:22 p.m.
Did she get down the bus alone? - Yes, sir.
Was there anyone at the bus stop?
No, sir. Usually, there won't be anyone at that stop.
Did you see a boy on a motorcycle following the bus?
I stand at the front door. - Why are you adamant about it!
Women board the bus through that door. You!
Why do you remember her getting down the bus? - I know Mini. - How?
They know the names of all the pretty girls, sir.
The SP is here, sir. - You may leave. - Okay, sir.
Sit down.
What is the status of Mr. Devdas's daughter's case?
The DIG had called me. - We've started the investigation, sir.
I'd gone to Kannanchuvad station. - Sir.
Did you get the post-mortem report? - No, sir.
Any information?
A bus staff said that she got down at
Estate Junction before 4:30 p.m.
She didn't reach home? - We don't know that, sir.
She wouldn't have.
The bag that she carried for the excursion was found near the body.
If she had reached home, she would have left it there.
What if the boy who came on the scooter picked her up?
It's possible.
But I don't understand why the body wasn't dumped on the track.
They might have dumped it there because they saw someone.
In that case, there should be a witness.
How do we find him?
If we offer a reward, they might approach us.
They won't do it otherwise, sir.
No one wants to be caught up with legal formalities.
The police department shouldn't offer one now. - Okay, sir.
Maybe Mr. Menon can. - Sir.
Let's search Mini's room and find the boy who came on the scooter.
This is the Estate Junction, sir. This is where Mini got down.
Enquire at that shop if they saw her here yesterday.
Let's go.
Jeez! There was a boy here. Did he leave?
He is running away, sir.
Hey!
This is suspicious.
He didn't close the shop and so, he will be back.
Let's wait here.
Hey! Don't do that to him! Drink the soda.
It's nothing serious. It's due to the shock.
She'll be all right soon. - Okay. - See you. - Okay.
This is Mr. Muhammad Basheer, the Rural SP.
Hello. - Mr. Menon. - Come.
My condolences. We know that we shouldn't be disturbing you now.
But our hands would be tied unless we get to know some things.
We need to inspect Mini's room. - Sure. Come in.
This is Mini's room.
When did you get back from the office yesterday, Mr. Menon?
I was at Kollam yesterday. - Why?
There was an exporters' conference.
It was at Hotel Karthika. - When did you reach here?
In fact, I reached Aluva at 7 p.m.
I had met with an old friend there and we went to Ritz Bar.
I reached here around 10:30 p.m.
Did your wife or maid
said that they went out yesterday? - No.
Did Mini have a boyfriend? - No.
Has she ever mentioned to you about any boy?
No. I don't know if my wife..
Can you call her? - Sorry. She is under sedation.
Sir.
Who is this boy?
I don't know.
Please call your maid.
We have to check if this is the boy who came on the scooter.
Sir! Shouldn't we question the doctor's daughter?
See if we could get the post-mortem report before that.
Did Mrs. Menon and you went out yesterday?
I wasn't here yesterday. - Where were you?
I had gone home. - Did you leave after Mr. Menon's departure?
Yes. He left with Mini in the morning.
I left after 10 a.m. - Why did you go home all of a sudden?
I went to see my son.
Sometimes, I complete all my work in the morning and I go to see him.
If I leave by the 10:30 a.m. bus, I could return by 8 p.m.
Did you come back on the same bus yesterday? - I did.
Where is your home? - Konnattu.
What is your husband's job? - He abandoned me.
My son lives with my brother. I go to see him.
Does any boy come here to visit Mini? - No.
Did Mrs. Menon tell you that someone had come here yesterday?
No. - Did Mini use to visit any of the neighbours?
No. There are no houses nearby.
I see.
Okay. You may leave.
That boy is coming, sir.
Okay. Let him come.
Try Wills, sir. - What? I didn't see it!
Come here! - Oh, no! Oh, God! - Stop!
Why did you run from us? - I went home.
Really? Why? - To call my father.
Where is he then? - He is not at home.
Why did you run to call him when you saw us?
Policemen would take something and they won't pay.
I wanted to tell him to get the money from you.
Really? Is your father bold enough to charge policemen?
He must have gone there to warn his father.
He'd have gone into hiding. - I know how to make him resurface.
Let's take him with us. - You bloody.. Thief!
To hell with the step cutting! I will make you bald!
Close the shop!
Close the shop..
Are you the one who looks after the shop? - My father does.
What about yesterday? - It wasn't me.
Then, how come you are here today? - Today is Sunday.
Why can't you go to school on Sunday?
Hey.. Come here.
Do you know where he lives?
I do. - Where is it? - It's near.
Really? - Yes, sir. - Tell his father that we've taken him.
Tell him that he should report at the station
or we'd haul this brat over the coals!
Okay? - Yes. - Do you get me? - Yes, sir. - Okay.
What's your name? - Vasu. - Vasu. You may leave.
Hey.. Not that way. This way!
Hey, Sivadas.
The SP is here. Close the shop and get him in the jeep. - Yes, sir.
Sir, the owner of the shop is in hiding. His son is here.
If we take him, his father will come to the station.
Okay. Let's go.
Where is Narayanan? - He is not here.
That's obvious. Tell us where he went.
He went to Kudiyannur. - When will he return? - In the evening.
Was it him who came here with a girl yesterday?
I wasn't here yesterday.
Who was here then? - I don't know, sir.
Listen.
Ask him to come to the Paruthikkara station
no matter how late it gets. Don't force us to come back here.
Sir, I know the guy in the picture.
Wasn't that what I asked you earlier!
Who is he? He is Sajan Thomas. He is a college student.
We know that. - How do you know him?
I've seen him play basketball.
What is his nature? Is he wicked? - I don't know.
I haven't acquainted with him. I've only seen him play.
I'm not here to select players for the police team!
We're investigating a murder.
Give us information that would be useful. Do you get me?
Yes, I do.
The old man isn't there, sir.
I don't why, but the people whom we are searching for are in hiding!
Why are you so late then? - I was making enquiries.
I got to know that he plays basketball.
But how is that useful here?
Here is the boy's photograph.
Sir, the SP is here.
Sit down.
We got the post-mortem report, sir.
She wasn't sexually assaulted.
What could be the motive if it wasn't rape?
Quite baffling. - It might have been the motive.
He might've forced himself upon her when she resisted.
As per the report
the death occurred between 4:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.
It also says that she was strangled to death.
Isn't the doctor here? - No.
What about Mrs. Nair? - Mom and dad went to the hospital.
Are you Sarala? - Yes.
We have some questions for you.
Please come in.
I'm sorry. The power is out.
Did Mini tell you about meeting anyone on your way home yesterday?
No. She said that she was going home.
Mini said that her mother and she would
go the house of the girl who was killed.
When I got there with my mom, Mini wasn't there.
We waited for her till 7 p.m.
When we called her after reaching home
the first call got connected to a wrong number. We tried a lot.
Once I heard a single ring before getting disconnecting.
Did Mini have a boyfriend who studies in college?
There isn't anyone. - Give me that picture, Nambiar.
Do you know him?
That's Sajan Thomas.
Were Sajan and Mini.. - They knew each other.
But they have met only a couple of times.
How did she get acquainted with him? - A month ago, we went to YMC
to watch a basketball game.
Sajan was the top scorer that day.
Mini had sent him a congratulation card after that.
She received a thank you card from Sajan after two days.
After a week, when we were at the bus stop
Sajan came on his scooter and asked us who Mini was.
Mini was thrilled.
I see. He'd cracked a joke that day.
They had met a couple of times after that.
Did Sajan use to follow her on his scooter? - I've never seen that.
Yesterday, did Sajan come to meet her when you were at the bus stop?
No. - Thank you, Sarala.
We thought you knew what had happened to Mini, Sarala.
Something terrible has happened.
She is no more.
Throw.. - That's it!
Here.
Who is Sajan Thomas?
Do you know Mini Menon who studies at All Saints'?
I do, sir. - Did you see her yesterday? - No.
I know that she returned yesterday because of the accident.
Didn't you see her after that?
No. One of my neighbours had travelled with her.
I called her when I read about the accident in the newspaper.
She said Mini is all right.
One of Mini's friends said that you had followed the bus
in which Mini was travelling home after the accident.
Where did she get down? - I wasn't here yesterday.
I had a game at Maharaja's.
We left at noon and came back at 9 p.m.
The Indian Express has published a report along with my photograph.
So, we got the wrong information. Sorry, Mr. Sajan.
You didn't come to know about her tragedy, right?
No, sir. - What happened?
She is no more.
Someone killed her.
The two of you were close to each other, right?
Yes, sir.
Who is Mini Menon?
I received your card. I'd sent you one as well.
Did the sisters find out? - No.
We won as we played our hearts out.
And all you sent me was a card. It won't do!
You have to give me a gift.
This is something that you give kids!
What else do you want?
Will you give me that flower?
Why do you it?
If you're not interested, just say so rather than questioning me.
Thank you.
Garland her in return for the flower!
Shut up!
How about a gold necklace instead? A nuptial chain!
I won't talk to you if you say such things.
Who is he? - He is this kid's father.
Come inside.
What is your name? - Changing.
I came to know that you took my son.
Why did he run when he saw the policemen?
Is that even a question?
What do you expect him to do when a police jeep stopped near the shop?
He understood that the cops were there for me.
He wanted to tell me about it so that I could avoid being beaten up.
Why would the police thrash you?
What do I say to that?
They'd have thrashed me before saying what the matter is.
Have the cops beat you up before? - Not really.
I distill arrack so that I could earn some money.
If I get caught, I will be beaten up to a pulp.
I see that you sell illicit liquor.
The arrack that I distill can't be labelled as illicit, sir.
It is more than palatable!
The liquor that the government sells has killed people
but the arrack which I distill hasn't killed anyone till date.
Just answer to what I ask you!
Okay.
Who was at the shop yesterday, your son or you?
It was me.
Do you know Mr. Menon's daughter?
Is that even a question, sir?
People say that she was murdered.
I came to know about it on my way here.
Do you know who killed her?
If I knew who did it, I'd have slain him!
Did you go to her house after her demise?
Jeez!
How am I supposed to go to her house when my son is here?
Did you see her getting down the bus yesterday?
How could I?
Yesterday, the excise officers had taken me at 10:30 a.m.
I had promised to pay them about Rs. 500.
A new officer has taken charge.
Neither does he accept bribes nor does he drink.
I was helpless.
They thrashed me up into a pulp.
I was allowed to leave only after 8 p.m.
You weren't there yesterday, were you?
You may call the excise office if you don't believe me.
I felt weary in the morning as I was thrashed badly.
That is why I had sent my son to the shop.
It was when my wife was applying liniment on my body
that I was informed of the cops.
I ran for my life, sir.
So, people drink and hang around at your shop in the evening.
Nobody hangs around there after drinking.
I won't let anyone do it as well.
The cops would come if they create any ruckus
and that would end my business.
Have you seen anyone troubling Mini?
No one has the guts to do that while I am around.
I guess I am the only troublemaker in the village!
So, you do cause trouble, don't you?
Oh, God. I am harmless.
You don't know about me, sir.
She was once late to return from school.
It was getting really dark.
I didn't let her go alone.
I closed my shop and walked her home.
You may ask Mr. Menon if you don't trust me.
You didn't see her being abducted, didn't you?
It's all because of the excise department.
I would have been at the shop if they'd not taken me.
No one would have dared to touch Mini.
Okay.. You may leave with your son. - Okay.
Sir, the shop keeper is here.
Ask him to come in.
I saw that boy and girl again.
When? - Just a while ago.
When I got down the bus from Kodiyannur
I saw them at the station.
I told them that the cops are looking for them.
What did they say?
They hurled abuse first.
They've asked the cops to visit their home.
Then I came to know that
they are the magistrate's children.
Is he that boy?
No.
Okay. You may go now.
Okay. By the way, he smokes Panama cigarettes.
Okay.
What is this, Vasu? Where were you?
Did you know what had happened here?
I am here to find out about it.
Give me a cup of tea.
Kuttettan, I heard that someone
was hung to death.
She wasn't hung to death.
The corpse was dumped near the railway track. - I see.
Where did you go yesterday? - It is a long story.
I will tell that later. Let me read the newspaper first.
Let me see who the victim is. - Jeez! - What?
Why don't you ask me about that?
Did you witness the murder, mister?
No, I didn't.
I saw the corpse.
It was me who informed the police about it.
Leave it be.
Kochupappi. Give me the newspaper.
I'll give it once I've finished reading.
Fools like you shouldn't be reading it! Give it.
'Paruthikkara. The dead body of the missing girl, Mini'
'was found near the railway tracks at Kannanchodu.'
'There is evidence that Mini got down a bus at the Estate Junction'
'at 4:30 p.m. that day.'
'The sniffer dog..'
Did they bring a sniffer dog? - Is that even a question?
It led the dogs cops to a place.
Where? - To the river.
The murderer swam across the river.
So, the sniffer dog couldn't do much.
Well, did they take the dog to the other side?
Who knows?
Had I gone there last night..
The dogs would have identified you!
So what?
I would have got Rs. 5000.
Rs. 5000?
Where would you get that from?
What on earth did you read then, Vasu?
Didn't you see the advertisement?
No. Where is it?
'Whoever provides information that would help the investigation'
'of Mini Menon's murder at the Paruthikkara police station'
'shall be rewarded Rs. 5000.'
That is nice! Rs. 5000!
I will get my hands on my money!
I am going to provide the evidence.
But you weren't here yesterday.
How will you give them the evidence then?
Why wasn't I here yesterday?
I had run away.
And why did I ran away?
The police dog would have caught me by now if I hadn't.
Tell me everything clearly.
Did you witness it?
You will realise it when I'm back with the reward.
Was Abdu here?
No.
I didn't see him yesterday either.
How would you see him when he was with me!
So, did Abdu witness it as well?
Yes. I will have to give him Rs. 2,500.
50 percent of the amount.
That is how it should be done.
Abdu will be here in no time.
Tell me everything before you leave, Vasu.
No way.
You just want to take the reward home, don't you?
It is not for that, Vasu.
I just want to know what happened.
You may read it in the newspapers tomorrow.
The news says that sniffer dogs were here yesterday.
But people said that it was just a female lapdog!
Who cares about its gender? All it has to do is pick up the scent.
That's not it. A female lapdog can't be termed as a sniffer dog.
Why can't they call it a sniffer bitch?
Who would say that?
They call it a female sniffer dog!
Let me visit Abdu.
He must have gone to the station and collected the reward by now.
He is clever!
I'm sure he wouldn't have read the newspaper!
I am going to his house anyway.
Vasu! You didn't pay for the tea!
Vasu! Oh, God! I can't believe him!
I have had enough of him!
Abdu.
Is Abdu home?
He is still asleep. I shall wake him up.
Wake up, Abdu.
He has come to meet you. - Is it the police?
No, it is Vasu. - Okay.
Are we in trouble? - Not at all!
This is our lucky day.
If we provide information about that girl's murder to the police
we will be rewarded Rs. 5000.
Are the cops going to reward us? - Yes.
They will arrest us if they don't find the criminal!
Would they arrest us?
No matter what, we will get Rs. 5000. Come with me.
Don't move..
Vasu. - Yes.
When we get to the station, you should do the talking.
I would get nervous when I see police.
I will take care of it.
Isn't it risky to have a pillion passenger
while going to the police station! - Yeah, right..
Two people are here having seen the advertisement, sir.
Send them in.
Come in. - I shall go first.
No..
Stand over there. - Okay..
Did you witness the murder?
No.
What did you see then?
Don't thrash us after we've told you that.
We made a terrible blunder.
Did you kill her? - Oh, no.. No, we didn't do anything..
Then?
Tell him.. - You tell him.
We went to the toddy shop at Panathara last night.
We didn't go there to drink. - We had gone to eat.
We left at 8:30 p.m.
We were walking alongside the railway track to head back home.
That was when..
"The bartender cheated us."
"She diluted my drinks." - I see.
"I fooled her."
"I gave her fake currency."
"There is nothing better than toddy in this world."
"Oh, woman! Nothing bothers us once we drink a bit."
Vasu.. - Yes. - Look over there.
What is it? - Look over there.
Did you see? - Yes.
I think that is a girl.
Yes. I think she wants to commit suicide.
Oh, yes. There is a train at 8:45 p.m.
If the train runs over her and her head zooms towards us..
Oh, God! I can't see that!
I won't happen.
Come. Let us save her.
What is the point of my life
if I cannot save a girl's life!
Go and save her then. - Okay.
I am going. - Abdu.
Come with me.
Come.
Oh, no! The train is coming. - Oh, God!
Hold her..
This side..
The train is gone.
Get up and go home.
Why is she not moving?
Is she dead?
Oh, no! - What? - Run!
If someone see us, they'd think that we killed her.
There is no point in running. - What?
The sniffer dog will find us out. - Oh, no!
Oh, no! - What? - I think I dropped my matchbox there.
Then the dog will definitely find us. - Oh, no!
I've an idea. - Do we have to run?
No, let's swim across the river.
And let's not come here tomorrow.
That is a nice idea!
The sniffer dog won't find us then. - No.
Oh, no! - Oh, no! Run.
Run.. - Move. - Come.
Oh, God! - Run.
Is this matchbox yours?
I think it is.
Okay, you may go now.
What about the reward?
How dare you ask for money after everything you've done!
If it weren't for us, her body would've been ripped into pieces.
Nobody would have known that this was a murder.
Could you give us Rs. 1000 at least?
Just leave. - Rs. 500 at least.. - I said, leave!
Hey.. Get out.
Don't we have to pay for the cycle? - Yes..
Sir, we have rented the cycle.
Give us the money to pay the rent.
I will thrash you now!
No, I have some money with me.
What about you?
No, I have some. - Come.
Oh, no!
Rent, my foot!
It's the C.I. speaking.
I've identified two people
who moved Mini Menon's body from the railway tracks.
Yes. They claimed that were trying to save her.
I see.
So, that explains it.
You have to question Mrs. Menon.
I shall come there.
Isn't Menon here?
No.
What about Mrs. Menon?
Yes, I will call her.
Sir, we have to question her.
Why? - She is devious.
She is from Konnattu. I know her.
Her husband had abandoned her.
I see.
I was told that she had gone home.
We have to enquire about that.
Come.
Please sit.
Menon told us that only you were at home the day before yesterday.
Yes.
Did you go out that day?
No, I was here.
Do you remember what you were doing after 4 p.m.?
I was tailoring cross-stitches. - Where?
In that room.
So, you would have known if Mini had come home.
Mini didn't come home.
Did you feel like Mini had any problems lately?
No.
Did Mini complain about somebody irritating her?
No.
Who are your family friends that she knew and comes here regularly?
We don't have a lot of family friends.
Advocate K. G. Pillai is Devadas's best friend.
What about Mr. Pillai's kids? - He has a son.
He is in the U.S.A.
Then?
Dr. Stephen.
Were any of his kids friends with Mini?
The doctor has two daughters.
They are married.
Then?
I have a friend called Vasanthi.
She is a college lecturer.
What about her husband?
He is in the Middle East.
What about their kids? - They don't have any.
Who else used to visit?
Ram Mohan and his wife used to visit
when Devadas was a contractor.
They don't visit now as they don't work together.
What does Ram Mohan do?
He is an engineer.
An architect.
Were any of Ram Mohan's kids friends with Mini?
Ram Mohan's child is too young.
Is there anyone else?
The father at the church.
He used to visit when he used to go out on a walk.
Did he come every day? - No, just occasionally.
He would talk to Mini a lot at times.
He would then walk through the estate behind the house.
Mini liked him a lot.
What is his name?
Father Kayipuzha.
How old is he?
He would be around 70 years old.
He had taught Devadas at school.
Did any of them come here the day before yesterday?
No.
I see.
Sir, there is a building on that side.
It seems like someone was inside it.
What is that building?
It's the machine room.
We store rubber sheets and some tools there.
Do you have the key?
Yes, I will give it to you.
The incident might have taken place inside that building.
That maid would have lied that she was going home
and she might have stayed there with someone.
That place is apt for that.
So what?
She is a crook.
There might have been more than one man with her!
When they saw the girl coming alone..
Here. - ...they might have kidnapped her.
Sir, take a look at this.
Butts of the same brand of cigarette and it doesn't seem old.
It might be just two days old.
We need to take these butts. - Yes, sir.
Sir, we have got a piece of information.
A person had phoned to tell
that Ram Mohan, an engineer, is the girl's murderer.
It seems he stays at Vishal Nagar.
Who was the caller? - He didn't disclose his identity.
He disconnected the call when I asked that.
Isn't Ram Mohan here?
Dad isn't at home. - Where did he go?
Thiruvananthapuram.
Is your mother here? - Yes.
Please call her.
Mom will come in a while. You may come inside.
Dear, is this your dad's car?
Yes. - Does he have another car? - No.
Oh! I forgot to take the cigarettes.
Does your dad smoke? - Yes.
Do you have any here? - No, he took it with him.
What brand of cigarette does he smoke? - Charms.
He is S. P. Muhammed Basheer.
Did Mini Menon come here the day before yesterday? - No.
Our last meeting was almost two months ago.
We came to know that someone had
offered her a lift from the school bus stop.
Did Ram Mohan mention about offering a lift to Mini? - No.
When did Ram Mohan reach home the day before yesterday?
Around 5.30 p.m.
Does he usually reach home at that time?
He usually comes a bit late than that.
He came early that day as we had planned to go to a movie.
Did you go to the movie? - Yes.
Did Ram Mohan come along? - Yes.
When did you come back? - Around 1 a.m.
Oh! You went to the second show, right? - Yes.
We had planned to go to the first show.
But he had some work at the office and so he reached
home late.
After coming from office
did he stay here until 9 p.m.? - No.
He took his bath soon after he came home.
I went shopping during that time.
Mohan was not here when I came back.
He told our son that he is going out
as he received an urgent call.
When did he come back?
He came back before 9 p.m.
He had told our son to be ready to go to the movie.
We went to the movie as soon as he came back.
Dear, did dad tell you where he was going?
He didn't.
Who had phoned him?
I don't know.
Someone had phoned before dad came home.
I told him that dad was still at the office.
He called again when dad was taking his bath.
He asked me to tell dad to wait for his call.
When he called next, dad picked up the call.
Did he tell you who was on the line? - No.
Did he go to Thiruvananthapuram
for the sake of his business? - Yes.
Was it pre-planned? - Yes.
It was decided a week ago.
Where in Thiruvananthapuram is he staying at?
Hotel President.
He had called yesterday.
Sorry for the trouble.
We are trying to find out who was the last person to see her alive.
I don't think that a dead body could be taken in that car.
Even I thought so, sir.
But what about the cigarettes?
Many people smoke Charms.
We need to find out if Ram Mohan was at his office till 5 p.m.
Hello. Is this Mohan?
Devi here.
Did you hear about Mini? - What happened?
She is dead.
She was murdered. - What?
When? - She had left school on Saturday evening.
She was abducted and murdered. - Oh, my God!
Did they catch the culprit? - The DSP and the CI came here.
They asked if you had met Mini on Saturday.
Didn't you tell that I had not?
They interrogated our son and me for some time.
I told that we had gone to a movie.
Good.
I was about to call you.
I need to go to Chennai for some urgent work.
I will be back only after five-six days.
I will call you once I reach Chennai. Okay?
Please sit.
What is your name? - Sreeraj.
What are you? - Assistant manager.
When did Ram Mohan leave office on Saturday?
Around 5:15 p.m.
What time does the office close? - 5 p.m.
Why were you here till 5:30 p.m. that day?
Since he had to get some files to be taken to Thiruvananthapuram
he'd asked me to wait till he arrives.
I see. So, Ram Mohan was not at the office that day.
He was here in the morning. He left by 1 p.m.
Did he tell you where he was going? - No.
Did somebody phone him
that day? - I don't know.
I heard the phone ringing when I was leaving the office.
But I couldn't answer the call.
Do you know where did Ram Mohan
go after leaving the office?
I think he was at the club.
I'd gone that way around 7.30 p.m.
I saw his car parked there. - I see.
Which was the club? - Metro.
Ram Mohan was not at office till 5 p.m.
Then it is possible.
But we were just told that he was at the club.
How could he dump the body at the railway track then?
Please sit, sir.
Did Mr. Ram Mohan come here on Saturday evening?
Yes, sir. - When did he come?
Around 9 p.m.
When did he leave? - He left soon.
Why did he leave soon?
He had actually come to return Mr. Rajagopal's car.
He left soon after he came to know that Mr. Rajagopal had gone.
So, Ram Mohan's car was parked here, right? - Yes, sir.
Mr. Rajagopal came in that car the day before yesterday.
Who is Rajagopal?
He is an engineer in PWD.
Mohan came and asked for my car at around 6.30 p.m.
He said that he had to drop his friends
who had come from Bombay.
He can't accommodate five-six people in his small car.
When Ram Mohan asked for the car, did he seem to be tensed?
I didn't feel so.
And when he returned? - He was in a hurry then.
He left saying that he had to go to a movie with his family.
Which is your car? - Ambassador.
It is parked outside.
We are taking it into custody.
My car? But why, sir?
Did Mohan hit someone with my car?
Not exactly.
But he used the car to carry something in secret.
Did he smuggle something, sir?
Is he into all that? - No.
Not that I am aware of.
How well do you know Ram Mohan?
We were classmates during our college days.
How is he in general? - He is not troublesome.
His only weakness is women.
But he mended his ways after marriage.
But if an opportunity presents itself, he'd not let it go, right?
That's right.
We used to say that it's wise not to let him
get acquainted with the women of our families.
Did Ram Mohan mention about
any girl recently? - No.
Are you sure? - Yes.
But two months back he had
gone to Malampuzha with a girl from the women's college.
Did you ask him about that?
I didn't ask him.
I didn't want to interfere.
Do you know Devadas Menon? - Yes.
Has he told anything about Menon's daughter?
He hasn't said anything offensive.
Once, while we were at the club, he'd said that she sings well.
But Menon was also with us.
Have you seen her? - Yes.
All right.
Give us your car keys.
Is Ram Mohan involved in the case?
It's too early to tell.
We should take the car to the Finger Print Bureau.
Compare its tire marks with the one found
near the railway track. - Yes, sir.
Anyway, let us take Ram Mohan into custody.
I will inform the Commissioner of Trivandrum. - Okay, sir.
Hello. - Yes.
Commissioner speaking.
It's S. P. Basheer from Aluva.
We want you to take someone into custody.
What is the case? - Murder.
His name is Ram Mohan.
He is staying at Hotel President.
He is an engineer. - Yes. I will see to that.
Hello? Commissioner here.
A Mr. Ram Mohan is staying at Hotel President.
I want you to take him into custody. Okay? - Yes, sir.
Thank you.
Yes, sir.
It can be arranged.
No problem.
We shall let you know as soon as he arrives.
Yes. He is expected on the next flight.
Thank you.
What can I do for you, sir?
Which room is Ram Mohan staying in? - He vacated.
When? - Just now.
Mr. Ram Mohan left just when you came in.
I am still suspicious about Ram Mohan. - Yes, sir.
Who would have phoned to tell that Ram Mohan is the murderer?
Despite offering a reward of Rs. 5,000
he has not disclosed his identity.
Somebody could have dragged Ram Mohan
into this to distract us.
The investigation should not just be concentrated on Ram Mohan.
But considering the cigarette butts and the car
I reckon Ram Mohan is involved in the case.
He might have put the cigarette butts there in order
to frame Ram Mohan for the murder.
But borrowing the car seems doubtful.
But we can't be sure of it until we get the report.
Did you get the report from the finger print bureau?
Not yet, sir.
They said there are no finger prints.
But there is another problem.
What?
It is unlikely that the same person smoked all those cigarettes.
Charms was found near the railway track
and Wills was found in the machine room.
My assumption was spot on.
Another person is involved in this.
The person who smoked Wills would have
made that call.
Who could it be?
Sir, Menon smokes Wills. - I see.
But would Menon conspire to kill his daughter?
Then again, Menon was at Kollam that day, right?
We need to verify that.
Hello. Am I speaking to S. P. Kurup?
This is S. P. Basheer speaking from Aluva.
We need you to make a small enquiry. - What is it?
We need to know whether there was an exporters'
conference in Hotel Karthika on Saturday.
If so, please enquire whether one Mr. Devadas Menon from Aluva
had taken part in the conference and also about his departure.
Devadas Menon.
Please call back in this number.
Parathikkara, 616. Okay?
I will let you know soon.
Hello? Sughadhan here.
S. P. Kurup here.
Did Hotel Karthika host a conference on Saturday?
An exporters' conference? - Yes.
Did Mr. Devadas Menon from Aluva attend the conference?
No. He had assured that he'd come.
But, he didn't come.
Was he there at Kollam?
No. He meets me every time he comes to Kollam.
I read about his daughter's tragedy in the newspaper.
I couldn't visit him.
Yes, Basheer here.
Kurup here. Devadas Menon was not in Kollam on that day.
Is it? Okay.
Okay, thanks.
Menon was not at Kollam that day.
In that case, Mr. Menon was in the building.
I reckon it was Menon who made that call.
But why would Menon go there? - Sir..
Please forgive me if I am wrong.
The maid might have lied that she went to her home
just like Menon did.
I know a bit about her.
Menon wouldn't have been alone in the machine room.
She would have been with him.
That is not possible.
If he'd such intentions
he wouldn't try to do anything
when his wife was at home.
It might be right.
But Menon can't go to some hotel with such a woman.
They might have gone to the machine room as he was sure
that his wife wouldn't come there.
Even if that's possible
why would Menon kill his daughter? - I didn't mean that.
Menon might have seen something.
He can't divulge it as he was with the maid.
That would be the reason behind his hoax call.
Anyway, enquire about that maid.
I know a constable who stays near her house.
I can call him and enquire about her.
Hello? Head Constable Mathai here.
Appukuttan, do you know the sister of Ayyappan, the tea shop owner?
Meenakshi?
Exactly.
She is working as a maid here.
I want to know whether she was at home the day before yesterday.
Yes. I want to know what time she arrived and departed at.
No, this is another case. Okay.
It's a bit urgent.
Okay then.
Shouldn't we find out whether Menon was at the Ritz Bar that evening?
If he reached there after 8 p.m.
Menon would know certain things.
Mr. Nambiar, I want you to enquire at the bar. - Yes, sir.
Yes, Basheer speaking.
A very close shave?
Okay. I will call you if I need any help. Thanks.
They couldn't catch Ram Mohan.
He'd already vacated the room.
Keep that aside for now.
Let us find out about Menon.
Had this person come here on Saturday evening?
Yes, sir. - At what time?
Around 8.30 p.m. - How come you are sure about that?
I had joined duty after 8 p.m.
When did he leave? - Around 10 p.m.
Was someone else with him?
No, sir. He was alone.
Is he your regular customer? - No, sir.
He comes once in a while.
Menon reached the bar after 8 p.m.
That means, he had enough time to dispose the body
and reach the bar.
We need to take Menon into custody.
Yes, sir.
Hello. Mathai!
It's for you. - Hello.
Yes. I see.
Is it? Did you make a thorough enquiry?
I will tell that later. Okay.
Jeez!
Sir, the maid was at her home that day.
I see. - You may leave.
We should ask Menon for his fingerprint.
He would get nervous then.
You should intimidate him before bringing him here.
You will have to check him thoroughly. - Yes, sir.
S. P. here. Yes.
So, the tyre marks match.
Blow the horn.
Isn't Menon here? - Yes, I will call him. Come in.
Please sit.
Hello.
I was about to come there.
What is the status?
We need to search the machine room.
Why? No one enters that room.
What about you? - No.
That room is locked.
I don't know where is the key. - We got the key.
We got some fingerprints from the room.
We need your fingerprints as well.
Why do you need my fingerprints?
Why did you lie that you were in Kollam day before yesterday?
You were hiding in the machine room that day.
Am I not right?
You murdered Mini.
You phoned us and said that Ram Mohan
is the murderer as you wanted to distract us.
You are under arrest.
I lied that I went to Kollam.
I said so to conceal some things
that I didn't want anyone to know.
Our family life was very happy.
But during the past two months I had this feeling
that Bhavani doesn't love me anymore.
I doubted that she had an affair.
Mini had to go on an excursion on the same day
I was supposed to go to Kollam.
I heard Bhavani asking the maid to go home that day.
She had not informed me about it.
I assumed that she asked the maid to leave
so that she could bring someone into the house.
I decided that I want
to see the man who was having an affair with my wife.
That morning, I dropped off Mini at the school
so that she could go on the excursion.
I left the car at the workshop after that.
I reached the estate by 9 a.m.
I was certain that if I hide in the machine room, I could see
anyone who'd come to my house.
I saw the maid leave at 10:30 a.m.
I waited vigilantly
from that moment.
Time flew by.
Nothing happened even after much time had passed.
I even thought that my doubts could be wrong.
I saw someone walking through the estate around 3 p.m.
I couldn't believe my eyes.
It was Ram Mohan.
I never expected that he would cheat me.
Though I had heard many bad things about him before my marriage
I never expected that he would seduce my wife.
Bhavani was waiting for him behind the house.
When I saw them going inside
I felt what any husband would feel..
That I should kill him.
I didn't have the courage to fight Ram Mohan without any weapon.
My gun was inside the house.
But I was unable to take it.
I found a tapping knife.
I felt I should go inside and stab him.
But if I kill him in front of Bhavani she will be the first
witness to testify against me.
I decided not to do it.
Also, I feared that, I might fail if I attack
him with a simple tapping knife.
I just wanted to get my hands on a gun.
I decided to shoot Ram Mohan without anyone knowing
in the estate.
When I approached the road behind the estate
I saw Ram Mohan's car parked over there.
I knew that my friend
Major Varma owned a pistol.
I thought about how I could get my hands on that pistol.
I set out for his house.
I figured that Ram Mohan wouldn't go back before dusk.
Though Varma's house was a bit far
I was confident that I could return with the pistol by 5 p.m.
I took the car from the workshop and set out for Varma's house.
But when I reached his house
I found that no one was there.
Even when I realised that I won't get the gun, I'd only one thought.
Kill Ram Mohan somehow!
When I reached the estate road Ram Mohan's car was not there.
He had escaped.
I couldn't decide what to do.
I just drove without thinking of a destination.
I didn't know what to do or where to go.
My mind was filled with revenge.
I reached the bar somehow.
I drank so that I could forget everything.
But I couldn't get it out of my mind.
I sat there thinking how I could kill Ram Mohan.
I reached home around 10:30 p.m. that night.
I came to know that the bus in which Mini
was travelling met with an accident.
Later, I came to know that she was missing.
I was shattered when I found out she was dead.
But today, I found out from the newspaper that there is evidence
which proves Mini got down the bus at Estate Junction at 4:30 p.m.
I understood what happened.
She reached home when Ram Mohan was there.
She must have seen everything.
Ram Mohan killed her to keep their secret.
Though I knew everything, I didn't know what to do.
How could I tell the police that I spied
on my wife to find out if she was cheating on me?
If I don't say it, Ram Mohan will escape.
I was ready to forgive her for everything she did.
But he shouldn't be spared.
Finally, I called the police without disclosing my identity.
Everything will come to light when the police catch Ram Mohan.
This is the truth.
Ram Mohan killed my daughter.
It's Ram Mohan! Ram Mohan!
I find it hard to believe everything you just said.
Isn't it possible that he
escaped through the back door when Mini rang the doorbell?
Sir, it's possible that she entered the house without their knowledge.
Because Mini reached home between 4.30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.
The doorbell wouldn't have worked as power was out.
That explanation is correct.
But Ram Mohan may not be the killer.
He can't take the dead body through the estate before 5:30 p.m.
He would've done it afterwards as he can't carry the body in his car.
It's possible, but would he just leave the body there?
He could have hidden it somewhere. - Yes.
We have to consider what he did after that.
He reached office at 5:15 p.m.
So he must have left Menon's house at least by 4:45 p.m.
Mini reached home at 4:30 p.m.
If Ram Mohan is the killer, the murder
would've occurred between 4:30 p.m. and 4:45 p.m.
But his movements after that instant
doesn't point in that direction.
His behaviour was not that of a killer.
How could he think of going to the second show
before disposing the corpse?
The body was disposed
on the railway track between 7:30 p.m. and 8 p.m.
Why did he borrow Rajagopal's car then?
Before that we've to find the answer to another question.
Who kept calling him?
Things would have happened like this.
Mini got down the bus at the Estate Junction and went home.
Oh! Leave me.
Oh! That's enough. Leave me.
Why did you ask me to come then!
It's past 4:30 p.m. I should leave.
You can stay some more.
No one will be here till 8 p.m.
I don't want to go but I have to get some files from the office.
I need them when I go to Trivandrum tomorrow.
You could have brought them here.
Really?
What if I forget the files here and your husband sees them?
When will you come next? - Anytime you want.
Just get rid of your daughter and husband.
I shall send Mini to my home during vacation.
It will be convenient for us. - Very good.
I will get rid of your husband.
Let me get going then. - Will you call me from Trivandrum?
Yes. Let me take your leave.
See you. - Okay.
When did you come? - It's been a while.
You could have rung the doorbell.
Mr. Ram Mohan would've left through the back door then, right?
Mini, I made a mistake.
Don't tell this to anyone.
You want to send me to your home during the holidays!
Dear, it happened.
You wouldn't understand.
I'm mature enough to understand this.
Dear, this will not happen again.
Do you know how much dad loves you, Mom?
Even then.. No! Father must know about this.
Dear, don't tell him about this.
He will kill me! - Let him.
Or else the two of you will kill him.
Mini..
Don't tell this to your father! - I will!
Don't tell him. - I will. Don't you dare tell him! - I will!
Will you.. - Yes..
Will you tell him..
Will you?
M-Mini..
Dear..
Mini!
Dear..
Mini! Dear!
Dear! Oh, God!
Oh, God! Dear..
Dear..
Oh, God! My dear! Mini!
Mini!
Oh, God!
Mr. Ram Mohan. - Dad's not back from the office.
Who is it?
Hello. Ram Mohan?
He is in the shower. - Ask him to wait near the phone.
May I know who this is?
Who is it?
Hello, Ram Mohan.
Yes. - It's me.
Ram Mohan, Mini had come here before you left.
She saw everything.
Then? - Then, I..
No, Mini is dead.
You should come here immediately.
What happened?
She.. She said that she'd tell it to Devadas.
And I..
No!
It has happened.
We must act smart now.
Where is the body?
Oh, my God!
Answer it.
Hello? - Is Mini there?
Wrong number.
No!
My daughter!
Oh, God!
This must have happened.
No. She can't do it.
Let us hope so.
But we can ascertain it only by questioning Mrs. Menon.
Let us go there.
'Thanks.'