Manvat Murders (2024) s01e04 Episode Script

[sweeping sound]
[sound of car engine]
Good morning, saheb.
Good morning.
It's been a while since you've arrived
and we haven't met.
So I thought I'll get in
touch with you myself.
Right, tell me.
I assume you don't read newspapers.
And you don't know
what's being published.
So I thought I should enlighten you.
Mumbai cop helpless in Manvat
Did you like the headline?
Well
I'm asking because
it's me who's written it.
I'm Sheshrao Barhate.
I'm a journalist.
Through and through.
I'm DCP Ramakant Kulkarni.
I'm a police officer.
Through and through.
Saheb
an officer of your stature might not
like what I'm about to say.
Don't waste your time
raiding dairies
and chasing frivolous
spellcasters around trees.
There are bigger fish in the pond.
Go after them instead.
You should do what
you had come here to do, saheb.
Who are you talking about exactly?
I'm just a neutral journalist, saheb.
It was nice meeting you.
Here's the money.
Now you, dimwit!
Place your thumb right
next to your name.
Right.
And pay me back on time. Don't
make me break your bones for it.
I will.
Have you read what
your cousin is writing?
[Old woman]Listen! Get me some tea!
Kinship is a double-edged
sword, Dusane.
No wonder Sheshrao's
being a pain in the ass.
And he's getting too cocky off late.
What should we do?
I think we need to put him in his place.
You think it's easy to
do that, Sopanya?
What we need is
a simple solution instead.
[tense music playing]
Here's some delectable
milk cake, Samindray.
I've ordered it specially for you
from Gangakhed.
[clears throat]
Don't come here until I ask you to.
The cake is really good.
- Give it to Kamli.
- Yeah.
[Old woman]Are you people
fucking deaf?
Get me my tea!
Get the old woman her tea.
Go!
All the dairy's goods
have been dumped here!
What do we do about
the liquor business?
Let's wait for a few days.
Kulkarni's a wily old fox.
Once he's gone, we can set up
the liquor shop wherever we want.
Hey!
We don't have that
kind of time, Dusane.
We need the money immediately.
We can't pretend to have
money for too long.
And we've suffered a lot
after this dairy incident.
The village will fear us
only if we have money.
[soft chuckle]
We can worry about the money later.
Really?
How about you work
for us for free then?
Does that work, Dusane?
If you're done with the tea
you may leave.
[spitting sound]
You've got such
pretty handwriting, Kamli!
Write the next one too.
[startled sigh]
Tukya!
What is it?
Didn't you go to the dairy today?
No.
I've work to do.
Ah.
You're here for Kamli?
Not at all.
I need to talk to you.
Not right now.
Come back later after school.
Didn't you hear me, Tukya?
Off you go now!
Kick me out!
But Tukya will be back!
[impersonates Amitabh Bachchan]
Idiot!
You'd asked me to mark the locations
of the Pandhrya temples, Sir.
Hmm.
Here they are.
Hmm.
Three of those locations
are quite close to our police station.
Hmm.
And, give me that Ponkshe.
These are the two murder sites
that we're going to visit today.
Hmm.
What is with these Pandhrya locations?
We need more information.
Yes, Sir.
Let me check the book.
[phone ringing]
[phone continues ringing]
Hello. Manvat Police Station. [background]
[background conversation]
Don't just stand there, Shukla.
Say what you want to say.
Sir!
You had asked me to keep an eye
on that guy in the crowd.
Hmm.
His name is Shankar.
He's keeping an eye on us
wherever we go.
I've only looked for his name
and nothing more.
I won't investigate further
until you give me orders.
You're waiting for my orders?
I thought you decide for yourself!
And give yourself orders!
[sniggering]
Is the information reliable?
Yes, Sir. Absolutely!
Is it possible that Uttamrao
asked him to do this?
This Shankar must be his man.
Right.
We'll have to investigate this further.
Yes, Sir. In detail.
I've seen a constable
who's always with you.
He keeps a low profile.
But he seems to be smart.
What's his name?
- Nawathe.
- Aah.
You're spot on, Sir.
He is smart.
- Nawathe!
- Sir!
You've been here for
just a month, right?
Yes, Si-
[coughing]
Here.
- Please, Sir
- Go on.
Do you the locals know who you are?
Not really, Sir.
Excellent.
I have an important job for you.
Are you up for it?
Absolutely, Sir.
I'll do whatever you say.
There's this guy named
Shankar.
I need you to keep an eye
on this guy named Shankar.
Track all his movements
and report it to me.
Yes, Sir.
Everything he does, everyone he meets!
We also need to know if he's got
anything do with Uttamrao Barhate.
- Yes, Sir.
- And keep this confidential.
You will report only to me, understood?
Sir!
Shukla!
if you've got more
information on Shankar
give it to Nawathe.
Sir.
Hm.
Let's go, Vakatkar.
Come in once you're done.
Yeah.
Listen.
Has Ramakant Sir given you a task?
Yes.
I'm sure you'll need my help.
Not really, Sir.
What's the task?
He's asked me to keep it confidential.
That's for external officers.
You can tell me.
Hm?
I really can't tell you, Sir.
Why not?
Are you trying to be clever?
Huh?
Getting cheeky with me?
No, Sir.
I'm only following orders.
Carry on.
- Let's go.
- Yeah!
Sir!
Can I have a word?
What is it, Ambadas?
[tense music playing]
Go on!
It's nothing.
OK.
Let's go.
The location of the third murder.
Mirashi daabhra.
What's a daabhra?
A daabhra is like a waterhole
for the village animals.
Ambadas!
Sir?
Shukla, you and I have been barred
from investigating further.
What!
Just keep that in mind.
Got it?
Yes, Sir.
If you try to act too smart
you'll be expelled.
Yeah.
[sounds of village bustle]
[sound of car engine]
- Hello!
- Hello!
- Who was that?
- Tukya and Janhavi.
That must be heavy.
Give it to me!
The arm of the law may be long
but Tukya’s arm is no less strong!
Come on, now!
[Tukya laughing]
Madam?
Do you think I'm a good actor?
Of course, you are.
So what about that?
Can you get me a role in a movie?
Please find me a job.
- But why?
- My current job
Yeah?
is not something I like doing.
Where do you work?
I work at the Janaki Dairy.
- Oh.
- That's all I can tell you.
Why can't you tell me more?
It's like going against my own people.
So you're saying you don't
like your current job.
Right.
Then look for another job, Tukya.
Who's going to employ
an ex-convict, Madam?
Look, Tukya
if you're up to no good,
then stay away from me.
Understand?
If you want to put yourself
to good use, I'll help you.
[tense music]
Got it?
[nervous chuckle]
Now let's go.
[sound of water and chirping birds]
[music turns ominous]
[whirring followed by a loud thud]
[dramatic music]
This is the third murder,
followed by the first two.
The biggest difference here
is that the first two girls were young
while Sugandhabai here was about 35.
And according to her husband,
this is where she was attacked.
A sharp object was used on
her private parts too after killing her.
But she wasn't raped,
unlike the first two girls.
Correct.
I think there's a bigger difference here.
Which is that
unlike the previous two murders where
the bodies had been displaced
her body
I mean Sugandhabai's body,
was not displaced.
Sir, the fourth victim
I mean Nazeema.
Even her body wasn't displaced.
That's right.
Let's go where her body was found.
Let's go.
[suspenseful music]
[sounds of village bustle]
Listen.
Where does Shankar live?
Shankar lives right there.
[dramatic music]
[creaking of bullock cart wheels]
Wait, slow down!
Hey there!
Are you headed home?
Yes.
Come, I'll drop you home.
[ominous music playing]
Happy?
Let's go.
Not much has changed here in a year.
Hmm.
Sir
As we discussed earlier, the location of
Nazeema's body wasn't changed.
Hmm.
Even her private parts were
damaged using a sharp object.
But something worse
happened with her.
When her body was found
her head was cut off.
And we only found her head.
Her left little finger and parts of
her chest were cut off too.
The area has been
encircled using charcoal.
And I can see lemons and gulaal.
It's obvious that
there was a ritual.
But we didn't see any of this
with the other murders.
This is very confusing, Sir.
Hmm.
Let's go.
These rituals have been
described in that book.
But they're not for the treasure.
They're done so that someone dies.
This ritual
originates from Bengal.
It hasn't been recorded
here in Maharashtra.
I think Kaachu Paaku is responsible
for all of this, Sir.
But don't worry.
Our constables are on the lookout
for him in Parbhani.
Get me the map, Ponkshe.
Here.
[dramatic music]
Vakatkar
can you spot a pattern here?
What pattern, Sir?
The locations of the first two murders
are within half a kilometre of
the Pandhrya temples.
Right.
Have a look at this.
The third one!
I mean the location of
Sugandhabai's murder
and
and the location of the fourth murder
are also close to the Pandhrya temple.
Sir!
This is the case with
the fifth murder too!
The body has been dumped
near the Pandhrya temple.
The bodies weren't displaced
in the sixth and seventh murders.
But even their locations were
near the Pandhrya temple.
Exactly!
Basically
every body was found
near a Pandhrya temple.
Hmm.
I mean all the bizarre rituals
that have taken place
must've been done in those temples.
Sir, you said that no
bizarre rituals took place
at Uttamrao's and Rukminibai's mansion.
It's possible they have nothing
to do with these murders.
This has been planned very smartly.
This means that
there are many people involved in this.
[dogs barking in the distance]
[eerie music playing]
[music turns dramatic]
[dramatic music continues]
[chuckling]
Damn this Kulkarni!
[chuckling]
I wonder why he's out to nail us.
[speaking in baby talk]
The fucker closed down
my flourishing liquor business.
And he's also got Paranje transferred.
Who knows what
Paranje's replacement is like.
We'll worry about him later.
We need to deal with this guy first.
[baby talk continues]
No, please! [baby talk]
Please, no! [baby talk]
Enough, you moron!
Can't you shut your trap for some time?
We're struggling to deal with Kulkarni
and you couldn't care less!
Kill him.
Shut up, old woman.
What did you say?
There are two Mumbai cops
who're hot on our heels.
If Kulkarni is harmed, the entire
police force will be in Manvat.
Blow 'em.
Kill 'em.
Bury 'em.
[menacing music]
Of Elevens, a goat and the earth!
Kill 'em, bury 'em.
Of Elevens, a goat and the earth!
Kill 'em, bury 'em.
Of Elevens, a goat and the earth!
Kill 'em, bury 'em.
Of Elevens, a goat and the earth!
Kill 'em, bury 'em.
Of Elevens, a goat and the earth!
Got a light?
[sounds of village bustle]
Where can I find a telephone?
Is the information reliable?
OK, I'll inform Sir.
Yes.
Sir!
Jadhav has spotted
Kaachu Paaku's man in Selu.
That's great news!
Tell you what
leave for Selu immediately.
I'll call the officer there.
Yes, Sir.
Sonavane, get the vehicle ready!
Saheb!
Paranje!
What are you doing?
I'm sorry, saheb.
It won't happen again.
Forgive me this one time.
What the hell are you saying? Get up!
What's the matter?
I received my transfer
letter this morning.
Please withdraw your complaint, saheb.
What!
I'll stop taking bribes immediately.
But I haven't complained
about you to anyone!
I
may be a corrupt officer.
I mean, I am.
And I did take bribes
for the liquor shop.
But I've never protected
a murderer, saheb.
If I knew for sure that Uttamrao and
Rukminibai are responsible for this
I swear on my mother
I wouldn't have spared anyone.
Before having me transferred
all of a sudden
you should've given me a chance, saheb.
Look, Paranje
I don't have time for this.
This could be a routine transfer.
I
I don't care about that, saheb.
I have got
[phone ringing]
nothing to do with these murders.
Goodbye.
[phone ringing]
[clicking sound]
Hello.
A call for you, Sir.
[suspenseful music]
How are you, saheb?
Uttamrao Barhate here.
I'm listening.
[eerie music playing]
You came alone.
I thought you'll get all your men along.
No.
First of all, we're understaffed.
And
since I'm just here to meet you
I don't need all my men.
That is true.
But I am very grateful that you
honoured us with your presence.
And I cannot thank you enough.
Come!
Wow.
Look who's here!
Look!
It's a special guest!
It's my niece.
Now go!
Go play!
Welcome!
Namaskar!
We're delighted that you could come.
Please have a seat.
It's a tradition in this mansion
to honour a new guest.
But when you arrived here
we were stuck out there.
In Parbhani.
Under house arrest.
We were released
and everything got back to normal,
so we came back for the pooja.
And decided to call you over.
Have some prasad
and a meal with us.
I'm not here
to have a meal or get myself honoured.
[nervous chuckle]
This is a very special honour.
But since you're refusing, so be it.
[chuckles]
You said on the phone call that
you want to share something important.
[laughter]
Mumbai cops do come
straight to the point!
Here's what it is, saheb.
For almost a year
there have been
nasty rumours about us.
Whenever there's
an incident in the village
we seem to be responsible for it.
And that has troubled us.
Hmm.
As you can see
we don't know what to make of this.
Did you call me
all the way here for this?
What I mean is
whoever this murderer is
we need you to nab him soon.
So people will stop suspecting us.
You're right.
That's why we're here.
Correct.
And as locals, we're willing to offer you
any help that you may need.
Nope.
I won't need your help.
Namaskar!
You have refused our honour.
Please accept the prasad at least.
Wait.
Here.
[tense music]
Namaskar!
[fast-paced music]
[fast-paced music continues]
[music turns ominous]
[music builds to a crescendo]
[loud gunshot]
Hello, darling! [in a sarcastic tone]
Let's wake up and head
to the police station, dear!
Come on!
Sir!
I need to talk to you.
What is it, Ambadas?
Sir
Everyone here thinks
I'm Paranje's minion.
I know you do too.
But it's not true.
OK.
Does it really matter now?
Paranje's out of here now.
But I'm still here, Sir.
And I want to do honest work.
But no one believes me.
Hmm.
After the first two murders,
we received an anonymous letter.
What letter?
It's not in the records.
Because Paranje saheb thought
someone was messing with the police.
And so he asked me to destroy the letter.
And?
But I still have it.
You have witnessed
two horrific incidents.
This is just the start.
This will not stop here.
Because
Of Elevens, a goat and the earth!!
Of Elevens, a goat and the earth!!
What does that mean?
Ah.
Maybe Paranje's right.
Maybe the letter isn't more than a prank.
Or maybe
someone's trying to tell us something.
I'm not sure.
We received it after
two murders so it means
[phone ringing]
Hello!
Yes, Vakatkar.
Thank you.
That's great news, Vakatkar!
This has to be our biggest
breakthrough so far.
Good work!
Wait!
Don't talk to him on the way.
And don't respond to his questions.
You're getting what I mean?
OK!
[car engine running]
[dramatic music]
[dramatic music continues]
[car engine running]
Where is he?
In the interrogation room, Sir.
[silence]
Let him wait for some time.
And no one goes in until I say so!
Get me a cup of tea, please.
Yes, Sir.
[dramatic music]
- What do you want?
- Gimme a bottle.
[dramatic music continues]
That's not enough!
No! Sorry! You can't!
- Please!
- No, I can't!
[door knock]
[deathly silence]
Listen, saheb!
Saheb!
Saheb!
Open the door, please!
[buzzing of night insects]
[groans]
[crying, whimpering]
[crying loudly]
Oi!
What is the matter?
Why are you crying?
What's wrong?
Hm?
Is something bothering you?
[sound of bottle opening]
Here.
Drink your troubles away.
Take it.
A little sip?
I don't want it.
Hmm.
That's some good stuff.
I know you want some.
Just a sip.
[mosquito buzzing]
[gulping sound]
Take it easy, pal.
Here.
Don't give me more!
- Have some more!
- No!
Bloody hell.
I blame this booze for all the murders.
I don't want anything!
What murders?
Seven murders.
Here in Manvat.
Because of this booze?
That's bullshit.
This booze and fifteen rupees
is all it has taken!
Damn this booze!
Do you
[stumbles, gasps]
Shankarbhau!
Do you know
who's the murderer?
[tsk]
Open this door!
Saheb!
Open the door!
Please!
Who's the boss here!
Oi!
Saheb!
At least tell me why
you've got me here!
Officer!
Open the door!
[dramatic music]