Suzhal - The Vortex (2022) s02e07 Episode Script

1
Chellappa wasn't our demon.
He is our guardian deity.
He is our father…
Chellappa appa.
The night Chellappa sir died.
What happened that night?
They called for you.
What are you doing standing around?
Hey! Get going!
Time's up, sir.
Just two more minutes, ma'am.
Hey, drag all of them inside!
Madam wanted them all back, sir.
Get going!
Just a little longer, ma'am.
I'll ask the jailer madam--
Sir,
to proceed further, you need a letter
from the Commissioner's office.
Get going.
Hey, you have two minutes
to get into your cell!
Get going!
Did you look at those girls' eyes?
There's rage there.
No matter how much they try to hide it,
I can see it clearly.
Because…
I have felt that rage, too.
It's like making a five-foot coffin
for a six-footer…
and asking him to lie curled up!
That's how I've done my job!
Why, Sakkarai?
What else?
Just because this case involved a demon,
I doubted Chellappa sir.
As cops, we've gotten used
to seeing the worst in everything.
That's why.
You thought wrong about Chellappa sir
only to protect those girls.
Anyone who wants to help another
is a good person.
You're a good man, Sakkarai.
That is all.
Where are my Karuppati sweets?
Based on what the girls said,
there is a large
human trafficking network at play.
Chellappa sir had kept a close eye
on that case very secretively.
There is a connection between his death
and that group.
SUZHAL-THE VORTEX
Illusions and deceptions…
Wounds many, the vortex reveals
Endless and relentless…
Wails many, the vortex rains
Won't life triumph?
Won't grief cease?
O vortex!
Swirling within
Shadows… dark shadows
Riddles within
Will you unravel, O God?
O vortex!
Swirling within
Shadows… dark shadows
Riddles within
Will you unravel, O God?
This would've been shocking
only to my mother.
I've known about it for ten years.
How?
The way you looked at Dad.
You had his photo in your room.
Your desire to be like him
was evident in your eyes.
When I got suspicious,
I inquired about your mother.
When I was a kid,
I heard gossip about my father
and a lady named Usha…
over some kind of affair.
Upon adding it all up,
I figured you must be his son, too.
Before he died…
He never knew the fact
that he had another son.
What are you saying?
Even Dad didn't know
you were his son?
After my mother died,
I came here with my belongings
to confront him over this.
But the three of you…
showered this orphan with your love.
I didn't have the heart
to wreck this family.
I thought Dad knew about you.
I thought he treated you like a manservant
despite knowing all this.
I hated him, thinking
he was pretending to be a good person.
Since then,
I stopped talking to him.
He never knew until the end?
Chellappa sir was tracking
this trafficking ring for ten years
in order to put them behind bars.
Only the Chennai Headquarters
used to have the Anti-Trafficking wing.
Because of the pressure he put,
many such units have been set up
in vulnerable coastal areas.
When did Chellappa sir last come here?
About two months ago.
-Babu?
-Sir?
Could you copy the files regarding
your units in the coastal areas
onto a pen drive for me?
I'll store it on my laptop.
It'll be helpful
if I need to check anything.
It's ready, sir.
Already?
Thank you.
Sir, some ginger tea.
Chellappa sir!
You've been tracking this case for years
and have had no break so far.
Doesn't it frustrate you?
That doesn't mean I can let it go, right?
Like the biscuits
you were searching for here.
It'll be right before our eyes,
but we won't see it.
Something will block our view.
You must've been looking
for this for quite a while!
The biscuit's gone soft!
Sir!
Chellappa sir would keep everyone at ease
with his jovial nature.
But this is like looking for a needle
in a haystack.
It's a huge network!
Across states, borders, and language…
Tracing it is really hard.
Exploiting the impoverished
is the base of this ring.
Sister!
Sister!
They buy young children with money, sir?
Not just that, sir.
From the weakest in society.
From orphanages.
Or, they straight-up kidnap them.
They have several ways
to procure girls.
Hey, get down!
Get going!
Hey, stop crying!
I'll slap you hard!
Quiet!
Silence!
The girls procured from different states
by the brokers are brought to a middleman.
This entire operation
is controlled by a kingpin.
He's the one who decides
which girl goes where.
I want to go home.
Bring everyone out!
Hey, come here!
Depends on the girl's age, sir.
They'll be dispatched
for domestic help, estate labor,
or sex trade.
To whichever country has a demand,
the girls are sold online immediately
to that client.
How are the girls dispatched?
The girls have to be sent
to the client's location.
That is all.
The route.
The vehicle. The location.
Nobody knows any of this
until the end.
Hey, let's go!
Their modus operandi changes every time.
Whatever the case,
the only expense for the girls
is a chapati and a vegetable curry.
Roti.
Once they arrive at Kaalipattinam,
the local dealer
loads up the girls onto a small boat
and transfers them
to a container ship nearby.
Those ships travel
to the Far East, the Middle East,
and even to South American countries!
It depends on
which country the client is from.
Once the ship leaves our shores,
we will never see those girls again.
Have none of them been caught so far?
They keep changing
their mode of operation.
We almost caught them one time
along the shore of Bhubaneshwar.
Once they knew we were close,
a thirteen-year-old girl…
They tied a rock around her legs
and tossed her into the sea.
With no evidence,
it became a case of drowning.
If we were to bring in local suspects,
can we get anything out of them?
That's where another wrinkle appears.
Much like the kingpin up north,
there's a man down south.
In Chellappa sir's words,
there is a demon.
He is responsible for everything.
No point catching any of the middlemen.
Even they wouldn't have seen this person.
This is how the human trafficking network
operates worldwide.
There's no shortage of replacements
among intermediaries.
The only solution…
Capture that demon and cut off its head.
If we leave around 9 p.m.,
we can reach Kaalipattinam.
No issues after that,
we've arranged a guy locally.
We can get them loaded
on the ship by 3 a.m.
Let the Owner know
that I'll load them on the container ship
by 3 a.m. and call to confirm.
There shouldn't be a problem,
I'll see to it!
And you take care
of the commissioner issue!
It's not like before,
the rates have gone up!
I'll bring two guys.
Don't worry, we'll take care of it.
I'll call you in the morning
when it's done!
I was going to call you myself.
We couldn't find any data
on Chellappa sir's laptop.
It completely burned up.
Anything recovered
from the burnt documents?
90% of it was burned.
If Chellappa's team provides
bits and pieces, it might lead somewhere.
But that's hard, too.
We found this photo, too.
Did you run a photo match
with the crime records database?
We didn't.
Why?
No one told us to.
I'll check right now, sir.
His name is Sittu.
Age 39.
He was arrested
on a human trafficking case
but was released two years ago
due to lack of evidence.
The case was filed at the Kovoor station.
He lives in Kovoor, too.
Sir, upon questioning, we found that
Sittu was loitering around the carnival.
I'll be right over!
Can you get there with your team?
Okay, sir!
DEATH WELL
-Shall we go look inside?
-Yes, sir!
Hey, look over there!
They're coming up!
Stay there. I'll be back
Gotcha! That's him!
Let's nab him, sir.
-You two, bring his wife in.
-Okay, sir.
He's right in front of us, sir!
Instead of beating the shit out of him,
why must we bring his wife in?
Tell her everything before you bring her.
-Okay, sir.
-Go.
Sir, he may be a monster,
but he's here with his son.
If we were to arrest him with force,
his son would be mentally scarred--
Sir!
Idiots!
You go check that side!
Come here.
Listen to me, buddy.
See how fast those cars and bikes go?
If we run faster than that,
we get first prize!
Really?
I'm ready to run. Are you?
-I'm ready!
-Let's do it!
Faster!
Buddy boy!
You're ignoring me.
Right?
Your son?
My precious!
I've nabbed your father
after a long while.
That's why he's a little rattled.
Look.
Your mother's here.
Go and have ice cream.
Just one.
For Sittu.
Come.
Just come!
We knowingly do something wrong
and then keep regretting it.
But only rarely do we get the chance
to correct the wrong we did.
The time has arrived for you.
You can't go to jail for four years
and lie to your son
with the bullshit that you were working
in Dubai, drinking camel milk and whatnot!
Tell me.
Sir…
Do whatever you want to me.
But don't ruin my son's education.
Then talk.
Sakkarai!
So you managed to beat the truth
out of him?
Do cops always have to use their fists?
Never mind.
Sittu is just the transporter.
-He knows nothing else.
-Oh.
But we got a major tip.
What tip?
Two trafficked girls
are being brought to Kaalipattinam.
There's a container ship at our port.
The ship leaves tomorrow.
In just one day,
those girls will disappear for good.
Hey!
What are you saying?
You started out with sexual abuse.
Then, you said suicide.
And now, it's human trafficking?
You've decided to make a fool out of me?
Do you have any evidence?
Those two girls are our evidence.
So, there's no evidence.
As it is, I can't hold off the magistrate.
How do I get the judge to sign off
on the paperwork? Tell me!
There are obstacles,
but we need to save those girls.
Let's put up check posts
and inspect every vehicle that comes in.
Have the Port Authority
alert the Coast Guard.
He is mindlessly rambling, Moorthy!
And you just watch?
Tomorrow's the last day of the festival.
At least half a million devotees
will come to Kaalipattinam.
We barely have enough personnel
to control them.
How do we get those girls?
You've informed
the Anti-Trafficking wing, right?
-They'll handle it. It's their problem.
-No, sir, I mean--
-Sir…
-Not yours!
They only have two people on staff!
What can they do, sir?
-That's why I--
-He won't shut up.
-Sir, try to understand--
-Moorthy, tomorrow’s
the "SLAYING OF THE DEMON"
at the festival.
-Sir.
-Be on high alert.
-Okay, sir.
-Just handle that!
Okay, sir.
Sir…
Will you please be quiet?
Are higher officials the same
everywhere, sir?
It's humans everywhere, right?
Okay…
Did they screw you over at Sambaloor?
The Deputy Superintendent was reasonable.
But whatever leads I put forth,
they won’t analyze them properly
and will try to mess them up.
Why make me an Investigating Officer
if they can't trust me to do my job?
If anything goes wrong
in Chellappa's case,
it won't just affect you.
There will be fallout for me as well.
"At times, we need to make decisions
for the sake of our image."
With those words, the D.I.G. transferred
this case from me to you!
He and Chellappa were this close.
Family friends!
When investigating
his close friend's death
matters less to him than his image,
do you think he'd care about two girls?
Forget it.
To hell with him!
Let's get back to work.
I need to assign security for tomorrow.
Hey, Geetha, come here. Let's go!
They'll be using boats from our harbor
to move those girls to the container ship.
No chance, son!
We are just innocent fishermen.
We don't do anything
that will anger the Gods.
We won't indulge in kidnapping children.
Maybe the information you got is false!
Brother…
I won’t go after your people
for no reason.
But think about the plight
of those kids.
If a whale tries to devour you, you'd try
to tear your way out of its belly, right?
Just like that!
For men trying to escape a whale
they owe money to,
they'd be willing to take a sail
if you convince them well, right?
If they had no choice
but to cross some lines
to feed their starving children,
does that make it an unpardonable sin?
Answer me!
In my opinion, there's no big difference
between an innocent and a criminal.
His circumstances are what determine
whether he's the former or the latter.
Even so, a criminal can't rationalize
all his misdeeds, right?
Chellappa and I talked about this a lot.
He believed anyone who turned a blind eye
to criminals was also a criminal.
Circumstances be damned!
That didn't work for me.
But you're not like that.
I'll ask around and find out
what you need to know.
Promise me this.
If my people are involved in this,
nothing must happen to them.
You are responsible for it.
KAALIPATTINAM
ASHTAKAALI AMMAN FESTIVAL
Hello!
Owner!
Owner!
No problem, I'll reach on time!
Hey, move it!
Oh, Guardian!
Oh, Sudalaimaadan!
Hey Guardian! Oh, Sudalaimaadan!
Oh, Sudalaimaadan!
Oh, Sudalaimaadan
Who has come to protect this town!
-Oh, Lord Sudalaimaadan!
-Oh, Sudalaimaadan!
GUARDIAN OF KAALIS, SUDALAIMAADAN
We pray you come protect us
Oh, Lord Sudalaimaadan!
Oh, Guardian! Oh, Sudalaimaadan!
We pray you come protect us
Oh, Lord Sudalaimaadan!
Oh, Guardian! Oh, Sudalaimaadan!
We pray you come protect us
Oh, Lord Sudalaimaadan!
Oh, Guardian! Oh, Sudalaimaadan!
We pray you come protect us
Oh, Lord Sudalaimaadan!
Oh our God
He who was born to Lord Shiva!
Oh Lord
He who watched over the Eight Goddesses
You are the protector of all our towns!
Oh, Guardian! Oh, Sudalaimaadan!
Oh, Guardian! Oh, Sudalaimaadan!
We pray you come protect us
Oh, Lord Sudalaimaadan!
Oh, Guardian! Oh, Sudalaimaadan!
Oh, Lord Sudalaimaadan
Who has come to protect this town!
Chellappa wasn't our demon.
He is our guardian deity.
-Come, hold her hands!
-Veera!
Let her go!
-Pull!
-Don't…
-Cover her mouth!
-Veera! Stop!
Veera!
You pretended to mingle with us
and ratted us out to that cop,
-didn't you?
-Hey, what happened?
-Why are you doing this?
-Please don't think that.
-I did try to help you…
-Like hell you did!
How else do we see it?
You were spying on us.
Calm down, Gaandhari!
Let her speak!
You rat!
She must be beaten to death!
-Hey!
-Let her go!
She deserves to get hit!
Is this why you were so concerned
about us?
You fraud!
She should be beaten up, yes!
But her boyfriend, that cop!
He'll turn Chellappa's case
into a suicide!
If we spare her, everything we did
will have been for nothing!
Then why the hell are we in this dump?
Just listen to me for a second, Naachi!
We will need her help!
Let's talk it out!
Don't be hasty!
We'll get someone else's help, Muppi!
Move aside!
With her,
we can get that cop's support, right?
Why don't you get that?
What's wrong with telling her
what happened?
-Even if we do,
-Please understand!
how do we trust this scumbag?
Please trust me.
I'll be able to help you.
First, tell me what happened that night.
What happened at Chellappa sir's cottage?
Hey, why must I tell you that?
Why I ought to…
Veera, listen!
-Veera!
-Back off!
-Let me go!
-Stop it!
Stop it, Veera!
Don't you all get it?
The case Chellappa wrote about
in his letter?
It was Nandini's case!
She is like us!
She's been hurt a lot more than us!
Muthu…
Tell me.
What happened in the cottage that night?
Don't do it, Muthu.
Listen! Don't trust her!
Dad sent each of us a letter.
An inland letter.
I think he's the only man in the country
who still sends inland letters!
WhatsApp, emails, and texts can be traced.
Letters can't, right?
I trust you are well, dear.
The Ashtakaali festival at Kaalipattinam
begins next week.
After hoisting the flag,
I'll be at my cottage at night.
Can we meet at midnight?
Ten years ago, I told you
not to forget your demon's face.
I made a promise to capture the demon
and bring them to justice, didn't I?
That day has arrived, dear.
This isn't about revenge.
It's about justice.
You just need to turn up in court
and testify against the demon.
But I felt like telling you this, too.
The girl whose case
I'm currently handling
took an extreme step to erase
the horror she faced as a child.
Now, unable to forget the past
or process what's happening now,
she's stuck in a vortex.
The same fate must not befall you.
At the same time, if we spare the demon,
many like you will be affected.
Even today, many little children
are being affected like this.
Only the law can put an end to this.
The law can change it!
I alone cannot determine
what is right and wrong.
I need to ask you all
how you feel about this.
Yours truly, your beloved father.
Muthu!
-Hey!
-Let's go!
Isn't that Veera?
He'll stop the dance, it seems.
We'll see about that.
As if you'll listen to him!
Hey.
Got reminded of that night?
It's okay. Don't be scared.
Muppi!
That won't happen anymore.
Once he found out that this tunnel
was used to smuggle young children,
didn't Dad buy this house
to put an end to that?
Come.
Hey, smell something burning?
Hey, watch your step.
See, something is burning.
Hey.
Looks like some files. Pour sand on it!
-What's that?
-Why is there a laptop here?
Be careful!
The Demon!
Let me see.
Muthu!
Give it to me.
RP1080292.
How did this paper get here?
Dad!
After asking us to come,
why would he commit suicide?
Nobody touches anything!
This doesn't look like suicide!
Our Chellappa? Suicide…
No!
Someone set this up.
We need to leave now!
Everyone, back to the tunnel!
Hurry!
Let's go!
Come on!
Come on!
Let's go!
Come, Muthu!
Come!
Just now,
someone has burnt these!
RP1080292?
Like Dad said in the letter,
could the demon have gotten wind
of Dad's hunt?
That's why they killed Chellappa.
Yes!
That is what must have happened.
That day, they killed Nagamma.
Now, Chellappa.
Let's leave
before someone else comes here!
What are you saying?
How can we leave Dad like this?
Then, what else
do you want us to do, Muthu?
She's right.
What can we do?
They've killed Dad, too!
We're no match for the demon!
But like Gaandhari said,
what if the police close this case
as a suicide?
Damn, Muthu!
How do we prove to the police
that this was murder?
The moment they see this crime scene,
they will conclude it was suicide.
They must not close it as a suicide.
What if we turned ourselves in
and confessed to this murder?
What are you blabbering, Muthu?
The case will get more complicated, right?
We'll be able to find out
who killed Chellappa.
Hey, what are you getting at?
We'll surrender to the police.
"I went to the cottage."
Muthu!
"I rang the bell."
"He opened the door."
"He told me to sit inside."
"He went to his chair."
-What are you saying?
-"I saw the gun."
"I picked it up instantly…
and shot Chellappa!"
What if we all say that?
This is insane, Muthu!
How will this help get justice
for Chellappa?
We'll pursue this legally.
Please listen…
Let's get out of here, Muthu!
Please!
Don't blabber out of shock, Muthu.
Let's go.
Come.
Let's go, Muthu.
Come on, Muthu!
Come along!
Naachi, Veera… move on.
Everyone, back to your towns!
Don't stick around.
You told me not to become a dancer.
I didn't listen.
To…
To stop me,
you enforced a ban on dancing
at the festival!
Do you know how angry I was
at you back then?
It made me stop talking to you
for a long time, Dad!
But…
now I come over here
wanting to talk to you,
and you lie dead before me!
You died without even saying
a word to me, Dad!
Had you abandoned us that day…
No.
No, Dad!
How can we abandon you
like this today, Dad?
I will not let this murder
be written off as suicide.
When I was inside that cupboard,
I was of two minds.
"Should I stay or should I go?"
I had no idea what I was doing.
But deep down,
I think it was pretty clear.
As we were agonizing over
abandoning Dad like this,
we saw Muthu on the news.
We realized she did the right thing.
How can we spare the people
who killed our dad and our mom?
Muthu's been in this prison before.
We knew we'd end up here
if we were arrested.
That's why all of us surrendered
at the same time.
But I don't understand this.
Why did you come to this jail?
RP1080292.
She is our demon.
SAROJA
I'll slap you!
Open your mouth!
Ever been on a ship?
No.
We'll go soon!
Open your mouth.