Rekhachithram (2025) Movie Script

Brother... Brother!
Brother!
My dad acted in a movie yesterday.
Long odds! Scram, you!
Really! I saw it!
What did you see?
[thunder rumbling]
[rain pouring]
[slow, tense music plays]
[anklets jingling]
[door opens]
Hey.
Get up.
Stop lazing around!
You got suspended, after all!
Come on, let's go do some tapping.
Come on!
CI SUSPENDED FOR PLAYING ONLINE RUMMY
DURING DUTY HOURS
Wow!
Your news has made it to the front page!
You won 15 lakhs, huh?
-Thomachan.
-Yes?
What did he say about his prize money?
It was way less!
Maybe it's because you didn't give us
a token of gratitude when you won.
Look at the bad habits you got me into
as a child!
The journey of life treads on
Paths unknown, led by fate
Alright, I'll call you later.
As life's pages turn,
Its unseen wonders continue to unfold
-Shall I join?
-No!
-Huh? Why?
-You just watch the game.
The mind, a boundless enigma,
Weaves stories from its endless rhythms
Wow! Did you make a new batch?
It's the 'suspension' batch.
Do clouds, holding burning desires,
Prepare to release their rain?
The past feels like
a gambler's den today
The news got out from your desk, isn't it?
Yes.
It was me who gave the news.
It's not a fake news, after all!
Are memories now ascending
The chariots of triumph and fortune?
You've become a celebrity!
Did someone bury themselves
deep within?
A policeman played online rummy
and won 15 lakh rupees
Don't you get bored with this news?
How so? Isn't it the news about you?
Let it be, son. You didn't lose any money,
you only won some.
Does someone walk with us unseen?
Listen, Rajendran.
Is there any room in this house
without an empty liquor bottle?
You already had a transplantation surgery.
Aren't you trying to say that
I don't have much time left,
and there's not much to do now?
I know that well, doctor.
I don't have much time left.
The journey of life treads on
Paths unknown, led by fate
[police officer]
Sir, how about Vivek's posting?
The chief minister himself interfered
in his case.
Should not make it easy for him.
Shall we send him to Malakkappara, sir?
That station's SHO got a transfer and left.
-That station doesn't have
much sensitive issues, right? -Yes.
Let him deal with the leech bites for a while!
That'll sethimstraight!
Okay, sir.
Dad, I'm leaving.
All the best.
As summer retreats
Soft raindrops revive
The parched earth below
Where to, Rajettan?
To Chalakudy.
But even the heaviest rains must end
Only the seasons' cycle remains
unchanged
Here you go.
Only the seasons' cycle remains
unchanged
The mind, a boundless enigma,
weaves stories from its endless rhythms
I'll reach by around 4:00 pm.
Rajettan...
We've reached Chalakudy.
Eh?
We've reached Chalakudy.
Drive to...
Malakkappara.
Malakkappara?
The wind carries a wail,
Is someone mourning in the dark?
Did someone bury themselves
Deep within?
Or are the sights we've seen
Mere illusions?
Silent, yet bound by
An invisible thread
Does someone walk with us unseen?
The journey of life treads on
Paths unknown, led by fate
As life's pages turn
Its unseen wonders continue to unfold
Where are you off to in these woods?
Let me come with you.
No. You wait here.
[Rajendran coughs]
[low, foreboding music rises]
[Rajendran coughs]
[music continues]
[Rajendran spits]
You'll be wondering
what I'm gonna say
after coming and sitting here.
Nothing much.
It's about me.
About my life,
where I chased money
and lost my health, family, peace of mind,
and everything else.
I made a lot of money.
But it was all in vain.
And there's a reason for that.
It all began with blood-stained money.
The price of a life...
I could've refused it.
But I accepted it.
I accepted it.
-[thunder rumbling]
-[rain pouring]
[ominous score plays]
[anklets tinkle]
[Rajendran] It was in 1985.
I, along with
Vincent, the owner of Alice Jewellers,
and Francis Thadathil
came here.
We were carrying
a girl wrapped in a bed mat.
A girl barely 18 years old,
whose whereabouts we had no clue about.
Somebody who came from somewhere.
-[spade digging into soil]
-[rain pouring]
The soil that we put onto her face
before she breathed her last,
ended her life,
but our lives began with it.
-[thunder rumbling]
-[lightning flashes]
And now,
time has brought me here,
where it all started.
Under this tree,
under the soil right beneath me,
beneath this soil I'm sitting on,
she lies.
[thunder crashes]
[ominous score plays]
I had hoped that people would
get to know about this someday.
But no.
Not till today.
But it will, now.
[gunshot]
Rajettan!
Rajettan!
Rajettan!
[landline rings]
Hello. Malakkappara station.
[low, suspenseful music plays]
-[man] Madam, it was lying here.
-[woman] Okay.
Turn this. Let me have a look.
Okay.
-Put it inside the cover.
-Okay, ma'am.
Did you collect all the remaining samples?
Yeah, I've all the blood samples.
It was exactly here.
[News Reporting] It was at Malakkappara
that Rajendran, an Atholi native,
shot himself and
died during his Facebook live.
He made a crucial revelation
before taking his own life.
He revealed that
he, along with two of his friends,
buried a girl here back in 1984.
One of them is a renowned businessman.
[suspenseful music grows]
Sir.
Sir.
What's the status?
Almost done, sir.
Where are we conducting the inquest?
We've arranged it at a hospital nearby.
When did you join the duty?
Just today.
-I got this call right after.
-Sir.
You're their focus.
Now you're famous in Kerala only.
If we find a skeleton from here,
it will catch nationwide attention.
He said Alice Vincent's name.
What's the police's take on this?
Move.
No comments.
Hey. Please move back, guys.
-What's the status?
-The body will be taken from here soon, sir.
We've got the permission for exhumation.
You may start it tomorrow itself.
If we get a skeleton,
we have a case.
Sir.
[tense, dramatic music swells]
[faint medical monitor beeping]
-Papa!
-Yes?
See this.
[Rajendran] I, along with Vincent,
the owner of Alice Jewellers...
It's on every news channel!
Who is this, Papa?
I, along with Vincent,
the owner of Alice Jewellers...
and Francis Thadathil came here.
We were carrying
a girl wrapped in a...
It's okay.
Papa...
You may go down.
I'll come in a while.
[JCB engine rumbles]
[News Reporting]
Vineesh, the police have already started
the exhumation procedures.
The media has been evacuated from the site
before the procedure.
[woman] If any evidence matching
Rajendran's revelation is found,
it will be pivotal to the case.
He seems kinda excited.
[vehicle revs]
It's not his excitement, sir.
It's a matter of his existence.
His reputation is tarnished now, you know?
Go deeper.
[tense music plays]
The police are continuing
the exhumation procedures.
As per the info,
despite searching for hours,
nothing that matches
Rajendran's confession has been found yet.
[soft scraping]
For a place like this,
they wouldn't have gone
more than four or five feet deeper.
Give me a hand.
Now, people have to get inside and dig.
[spades dig into soil]
[soil sifting]
[ominous score plays]
Good morning, sir.
[fast-paced music playing]
-Good morning, Vincent.
-Good morning.
The police have started digging the spot.
Some yellow media have started
telecasting the news
with your name and photos.
You know, for their ratings.
But the mainline media has
still not picked up on it.
Let the police do their job.
Don't you worry about that.
[rain pouring]
[water trickling]
[muffled audio playing on phone]
[rainwater gushing]
Bring it here.
[soft music plays]
[rain pouring]
[tense music builds]
[music swells]
[motor whirs]
[scraping]
Somebody, please help.
We've called the entire force back.
[digging]
[scraping]
[ominous score rises]
Sir...
What are your findings, sir?
It's a female.
It'll take a bit longer
to figure out the age and other details.
Here...
the anklet.
I am in charge of the investigation.
Thank you.
Seeing your performance today,
the SP wants me
to add you to the team.
You come to the office tomorrow.
-Okay.
-Sir.
He's always on the move.
When I was the CI of Koratty,
he finished his training.
He's talented.
Right now, we are in a crucial
yet delicate situation.
All we have is a skeleton,
and we have no idea whose it is.
It will take a few days
to get more details of the skeleton.
By then, Vivek should go to Atholi,
check Rajendran's background,
and also visit his house.
Sir.
The cyber cell should analyse
Rajendran and Vincent's CDR in detail.
Sir.
Francis Thadathil
is an important missing link for us.
We've taken a list of several people by
that name who fit the supposed age group
across several districts.
You should visit each and every one.
Sir.
As we found the skeleton from
Malakkappara jurisdiction,
our team's base will be there.
[dynamic score plays]
[doctor] For the past several years,
Rajendran had serious health issues.
Though he had undergone
liver transplantation once,
he was way too careless, sir.
How was Rajendran's personal life?
Especially with his family?
He was separated from his wife.
He has a son.
I've never seen him with him,
even in critical situations.
[woman] Seeing his wealth,
my dad approached him
and conducted our wedding.
Has Rajendran ever mentioned
where he was in 1985?
The thing is...
he always avoided
talking about the past with me.
Hi, where is Francis?
I've been to Athirappilly and Malakkappara
to fetch wood for the lumber yard.
Other than that, I am in no way linked
with the case you mentioned.
It's me who buried her, sir.
Not just there, sir. I've buried
several at other places as well.
Is it my mistake that
my name is Thadathil Francis, sir?
Listen... If you can get me out of here,
I shall show you everything.
[vibrant music playing]
The police visited me a few times.
They called me too.
Now, even the neighbours think that
I am the culprit.
We're focusing on
the man-missing cases now, sir.
We're collecting the crime memo register
from the nearby station, too.
Sure.
Okay, sir.
These are the news cuttings from the '80s,
which you asked for.
I've collected the maximum I could get.
[... continues]
This anklet isn't our daughter's, sir.
It's not hers, son.
If you found this anklet from the body,
then it's not Lilykutty, sir.
We are Pentecost.
Our people don't even wear glass bangles.
[doorbell rings]
-Isn't this Francis Thadathil's house?
-Yes.
-Is he home?
-Dad is not here.
Where's he gone to?
He's undergoing treatment
at Little Flower Hospital, Angamaly.
[dynamic music plays]
Sir...
Do fraud cases where the girl fled
count as cases of missing persons?
No.
[indistinct sounds]
Hadn't you filed a complaint
stating that your daughter is missing?
Give it to me.
Is this Mini's anklet?
[anklet jingles]
My daughter...
[sobs, whimpers]
My daughter...
My dear daughter...
[soft, melancholic score plays]
One girl's father
has recognised the anklet.
His sample has been collected
and sent for DNA matching.
And about Rajendran,
his growth was rapid.
During the time he said he buried the girl,
he used to travel to different places
and take on various jobs.
And sir, I went and met
most of the Francis guys.
The local police received information that
a few of them had stayed
in the Angamaly area during that time.
In the coming days, enquire about Vincent.
Sir.
A family member of his has been located.
Go talk to her.
[soft music plays]
He went to Bombay in 1984 or 1985.
But before that,
he had left this town almost a decade ago.
His dad, who is my uncle as well,
left him and his mother
and followed a possessed man,
thinking he was a god-man.
Since then, he and his mother survived
by serving food to
the bridge construction workers.
Even back then, he was a skilled seller.
During his time as an altar boy,
he stole the umbrella of the Bishop
who visited the church.
He was caught red-handed.
When the Bishop asked him
why he stole the umbrella, he told him
he didn't have an umbrella
to go to school.
He used to study well.
After enquiring about his background,
the Bishop sent him to a good institute.
After finishing his studies there,
he roamed around a bit and reached Bombay.
He met Alice there,
married her, and started his business.
We, the Malayalees have known
Vincent since then.
Do you know if Vincent ever lived in
Athirappilly - Malakkappara area?
He stayed in different institutions at
Chalakudy and Angamaly during his studies.
And, during the years you mentioned,
he got some kind of lifeline.
He clung to it and thrived.
I don't know what it is, though.
[rain pouring]
[ominous music playing]
[music rises]
Please.
We have received information that
you were staying with the Bishop
in the Malakkappara area
during the period Rajendran mentioned.
The place where we
found the skeleton is
around six kilometres
from the house you stayed back then.
What do you have to say about that?
It was the Bishop
who took the initiative
to provide me with an education.
As he got older,
I accompanied him as his helper.
Until he returned from Malakkappara
after his retreat,
I was with him.
In fact, not till he returned.
Till his death.
Two days before Rajendran's death,
he had called your company's front office
and spoke for around 15 seconds.
Why would he have called?
Look.
Every front office call sir receives
gets filtered by them
before it reaches me.
Only if the caller
clearly mentions the purpose,
the phone call will reach even my level.
And anyway, there will be records.
Why don't you check it?
Is there any rule which states that
one's family or advocate should be with him
when we take his statement?
CRPC 41 D.
Aren't you an advocate?
You must know it.
You shouldn't be
within earshot of the questions,
far enough to just see us.
That's where the advocate should be.
See...
I am cooperating here.
Nobody knows whose skeleton it is,
the one your investigation is about.
Yet, I came here when you called me over.
Not just them,
even Rajendran, who buried her,
doesn't know who he buried.
A wasted man
blabbered something,
and that's the sole reason sir is here now.
Anyway, isn't it obvious that
half of his words were true,
when the skeleton was found?
Let's see if the other half, too, is true.
No, there's no chance for an arrest.
What are your comments about
this accusation, sir?
As a responsible citizen,
I came here as the police called me over.
I have answered all their questions, too.
That's all.
Do you fear an arrest?
See, we are cooperating
with the investigation
in every way possible. Okay?
Some police officers are
thoroughly prejudiced.
And it's rummy players
who are investigating the case now.
Now, please excuse us.
Sir, the current situation is--
Sir, sir...
[man] Please, sir. One more question.
[suspenseful music intensifies]
Minu.
Careful.
Why this way, sir?
This is my way of doing it.
She walked on her two feet for a while,
after all.
It was destined
to be unravelled one day, sir.
I guess we get a conclusive result?
We will get the results for sure.
The DNA samples are collected from
the breast bone and teeth.
One second. Can you hold it?
[phone rings]
Hold it properly.
Hello?
Yeah. Okay.
Okay.
The result is ready.
The samples didn't match.
Shinto.
Call and inform them.
Okay, sir.
Hello.
I'm calling from Malakkappara station.
Is that so?
[rain pouring]
[emotional score plays]
[prayers for the deceased's soul]
My sister went missing when I was 16.
After that, for the last 40 years,
we haven't seen our dad smile.
Dad was sure that it was my sister.
He was relieved that
we got her remains, at least.
Do you know, sir?
Death is an affirmation.
It is the waiting that hurts more.
[man] Do you know, sir?
Death is an affirmation.
It is the waiting that hurts more.
[soft music playing]
[policeman] Sir...
Do fraud cases where the girl fled
count as cases of missing persons?
[tense music slowly rises]
-Give it to the writer.
-Yes, sir.
Come take a seat, Vivek.
-Sit, John.
-Sir.
Sit.
-Okay, sir.
Vivek, I didn't quite understand
what you said about the memo yesterday.
Yesterday, when we checked
the crime memo register
for the 1983-1985 period,
we saw the memo
sent from Thrissur city station
about a missing case.
It was sent from here. In 1985.
There's a minor change
in the section charged in the FIR.
The accused, in this case, is
the very girl who went missing.
She was charged with cheating and fraud.
Let's look for it then.
[suspenseful music plays]
-Sir...
-Yes?
See this?
This is a case file by one Mr Chandrappan
against a girl.
But
I am unable to read the details in the FIR.
Chandrappan...
Palathara...
Poochakkal.
Poochakkal?
Even when a girl flees,
it's still a missing case, John sir.
Yes, sir.
We shall investigate this further.
Okay, sir. We shall.
We don't get letters to this address
these days, sir.
The last one to this address
was a registered mail.
It was returned to the sender
as there was nobody to receive it.
It was from some film union.
FEFKA or something like that.
[man] Chandrappan, right?
He was the production controller
for a couple of films back then.
Some disputes happened
and a registered mail was sent to him.
It was about expelling him from the union.
But that mail returned.
We looked up his new address
and then sent the mail again.
We have that address.
And if you want any favours from him,
just buy a bottle of booze
and go there, sir.
Mentioning that you're the police
won't help.
Let me send you the address.
-Alright.
-Okay.
[indistinct chatter]
-Isn't this the place?
-I think so.
-Yes?
-Aren't you Chandrappan?
Yes.
Come inside.
In those days, Malayalam cinema
couldn't function without Chandrappan.
I used to provide junior artists
so that directors like Padmarajan, Bharathan,
and IV Sasi could shoot their scenes.
Hadn't you lodged a complaint
at Chalakudy station in 1985
about a girl who defrauded you
and went missing?
Do you remember that?
I have no memory issues, sir.
I never forget the ones
who caused me trouble.
I remember everything clearly
as if it were yesterday.
Can you tell us that story then?
We needed some info about it.
Here, take it.
-No, we don't drink during the day.
-Really? I don't get time at night.
I call it my bad luck, sir.
One day, a girl came running towards me
and asked if I could make her
Mammootty's heroine.
I explained to her that
I could not do
anything about it.
During that time, the shoot of
Bharathan sir's 'Kaathodu Kaathoram'
was happening in the
Athirappilly - Malakkappara area.
[indistinct chatter at the movie set]
-Hey, Kamal. Good morning.
-Hi, sir. Morning.
-Isn't it done yet?
-In a moment, sir.
Bharathan sir told me that
they needed a few pleasant-looking girls
to stand behind Mammootty
in a song sequence.
I went there with a group of girls.
[soft melody plays]
She was also there in that group, sir.
[anklets jingling]
She fled after a day's shoot.
That, too, after shooting for
half of the song.
Things were different back then.
If we needed junior artists,
we had to go to Chennai or Kochi.
The shoot came to a halt the next day
due to her absence.
Bharathan sir scolded me pretty bad.
You just bring random people and disappear!
Back then,
if the shoot gets halted for even a day,
the finance manager would call me
from Chennai.
The production controller suggested that
I file a complaint about the missing girl
to show as proof in case the auditor asks.
I went to Chalakudy station
and filed a complaint.
That day, the policeman who heard this
charged her under some fraud section,
I think.
I looked for her
in a lot of movies after that, sir.
So I could give her an earful
if I ran into her.
But I never saw her again.
But I will never forget her name, sir.
Rekha.
Uncle...
Do you remember her whereabouts
or anything?
No.
All I remember is her name.
Do you remember any other junior artists
who came with Rekha?
So that we can follow the lead
and investigate.
Can you recollect Rekha's face?
What's the big deal?
I saw her face even last week.
Huh?
-Last week?
-Yes.
You can still spot her
in a shot from that song.
Which song?
[on laptop]The angels sang,
The messengers of love sang
Here. See...
That girl. That one.
The one behind Lissy.
-This one?
-Yes.
The one behind.
[suspenseful music rises]
Come.
The ones playing nuns get ready first.
Chandrappan...
Does my character have any dialogue?
No dialogue,
but your close shot will be there
in the song. You can sing and act,
that too, with Mammootty.
Isn't that enough?
With Mammootty?
But...
It would've been better
if I had any dialogues.
Girl... Everyone here took this job
so they could say dialogues.
Cinema has something in store
for everybody.
Once you show your face in a film,
it will be history.
What cinema has in store for you,
no matter how much time goes by,
it will be there, waiting for you.
[pleasant melody playing]
-Sir, good morning.
-Good morning.
Kamal, come.
These are the girls playing nuns.
Is it time for their costumes?
Yes. Check if the costumes fit them.
Come.
[Chandrappan] Come, girls!
Here you go. Change and come fast.
Here. Move
[indistinct chatter]
[emotional music plays]
[... continues]
"REKHACHITHRAM"
What's the peculiarity of this case
from the others we've looked into?
Among the cases we looked into,
this girl who went missing
from the spot closest to
where we found the skeleton.
Shall we remove the veil from that image,
rework it, and release it?
We'll see.
Anyway, get the rework done.
But don't release it immediately.
Let's decide only after exploring
all possibilities within our capacity.
You know what will happen
if we release it, right?
That girl went missing
the day she acted with Mammootty.
It's very sensitive.
Sir, there's one more thing.
A number Rajendran had been receiving
calls from days before his death,
is still switched off.
We got that number's details
from the cyber cell today.
For the last one year, that SIM was used
only to call Rajendran.
That SIM card was used
in an old Nokia N73 phone.
When we checked the IMEI number,
we got the details of the SIM cards
used in that phone till then.
Most of them belong to
addresses in Alappuzha district.
If you check with second-hand phone stores,
you'll find the guy.
Sir.
[suspenseful music playing]
MRIDULA
JUNIOR ARTIST, 'KAATHODU KAATHORAM'
This is me here, sir.
I don't know much about Rekha.
But she wasn't in the vehicle
that took us to the room after the shoot.
I am sure about that.
[suspenseful music continues]
Yes. Okay.
Here.
This is the girl being investigated now.
I got this from the cyber cell.
[tense score plays]
[phone rings]
Hello?
-We've identified the guy who bought the phone.
-Good.
His name is Sajeevan.
Two weeks before Rajendran's death,
he bought this phone
from a shop in Ilanjithara.
Got any proof?
I've sent you the CCTV footage.
Okay, I'll check it.
[vibrant music plays]
SEVEN ARTS OFFICE, KOCHI
'Kaathodu Kaathoram' was
the first production venture of Seven Arts.
SEVEN ARTS MOHAN,
PRODUCTION CONTROLLER, 'KAATHODU KAATHORAM'
I was really busy at that time,
handling the location permission
and crowd arrangements
for the song you mentioned.
I remember the shoot coming to a halt.
Because it had become
a big issue back then.
Can I meet somebody who might remember
the artists of that film?
Kamal was Bharathan sir's
associate director at that time.
You might get some details if you ask him.
Another person who could've given some info
was John Paul sir.
But he is no more.
His memory power was remarkable.
It was Panicker sir
who did the still photography.
If I could get the photos or negatives,
I shall give them to you.
[John Paul]
When I and Bharathan were on a journey,
I heard a song from the tape recorder,
which I believe is written by
Bichu Thirumala.
'Mizhiyoram' (Close to the eye).
In that case, 'Kaathoram' too could be there.
(Close to the ears)
The love chants murmured close to the ears,
'Kaathodu Kaathoram'.
From one ear to the other...
He speaks with so much clarity.
But none of it is of any use to us.
Even after finding her name and face,
the investigation isn't progressing, sir.
In the case of Rekha,
Mohandas sir seems...
somewhat unsure.
[phone rings]
[John Paul]
Renowned cinematographer...
Excuse me, sir.
Balu Mahendra...
-Hey, Shinto.
-[man] Did Mohan sir say anything?
Any new updates?
We're watching
the 'Kaathodu Kaathoram' episode again.
And I got some photo negatives
from the Seven Arts team.
-I checked them too.
-Any hope, sir?
Nothing much.
[John Paul] ...though the audience
eagerly waited for it,
some of the fans didn't quite like it.
I just remembered something
that ties into this.
Any info
about the guy who called Rajendran?
We're conducting an investigation
focusing on the bars near Alappuzha.
Those are the places he might have visited.
Yeah, do it thoroughly.
[John Paul]
...that's when a nun wearing anklets
came walking towards me.
She asked me if I was John Paul,
and she didn't wait for my response,
-I'll call you back.
-Okay sir.
...she asked me
why I made Mammootty shave his head.
Before I could answer...
During the shoot of 'Kaathodu Kaathoram',
I was focused on the final touch-up
of the scene that was about to be shot,
...that's when a nun wearing anklets
came walking towards me.
She asked me if I was John Paul,
and she didn't wait for my response
and asked me
why I had made Mammootty shave his head.
[anklets jingling]
[soft music plays]
[anklets tinkle]
Sir, are you John Paul?
Yes.
Are you the one
who made our Mammootty shave his head?
Yes. It's me.
So miserable, sir.
[John Paul] While walking away,
when the tunic that covered her feet
moved a bit,
those anklets gleamed in front of my eyes
once again.
The anklets flashed once again...
[suspenseful score resumes]
[indistinct chatter]
-Brother...
-Yes.
-Where's the shoot happening?
-In that house right there.
-That one?
-Yeah.
Okay.
[indistinct chatter]
-Oh-no! Is it a single shot?
-Yes.
-[woman] Won't you say the counter dialogues?
-[man] Yes.
[Kamal] Cut it.
Jayasree, the shot is okay.
Sir, a policeman is here to meet you.
Set the trolley shot next, Vineesh. Okay?
Okay, sir.
I have several memories associated with
'Kaathodu Kaathoram'.
Bharathan sir made a wig for Mammookka
after seeing my hairstyle.
Sir...
Remember the girl
I mentioned the other day?
Yes.
This is Rekha's photo which was
developed by the cyber cell.
And this one is from a shot in the film.
I vaguely remember her
after seeing this photo.
However, I could recall the name 'Rekha'
only after you mentioned it.
Back then, her absence from the shoot
caused a continuity issue
and led to big trouble.
Whichever angle we placed the camera on,
we couldn't cover her absence.
As I was the associate director,
it was me who Bharathan sir
scolded the most.
Sir...
I have a feeling ever since I saw
John Paul sir's program the other day
that it is Rekha.
Even on the skeleton we found,
there was an anklet.
John Paul uncle had told me too
about a nun wearing anklets.
We were planning to do
'Unnikale Oru Kadha Parayam' back then.
The lead actress uncle had in mind
was a girl like her.
Do you remember anything else about her?
I know that chances are slim.
Still, I just asked.
No.
-Shall I take your leave then, sir?
-Okay, sure.
-Thank you.
-Okay.
Sir...
I'm asking you this out of curiosity.
'Unnikale Oru Kadha Parayam'
is one of my favourite films.
Had you met Rekha again,
would you have cast her as the heroine?
I don't know for sure.
But let me tell you something.
She had striking features.
Quite an expressive face.
Do you know the late Shobha,
the one from 'Shalini Ente Koottukari'?
She was like her.
[Kamal] Rekha could have had
a bright future in films.
[dramatic music plays]
[ominous score plays]
Unfulfilled contracts.
That too
from companies
linked to bigwigs of the ruling party,
including the chief minister.
These are the records of
those unethical deals.
But...
what should I do with this?
If the police come after us,
somebody else will come after you too.
The investigation must not proceed.
Eyes closed.
[Chandrappan] I didn't quite get you guys.
-Who are you guys?
-I'll tell you. Come.
-Which is your brand?
-Anything is fine.
-Brand doesn't matter.
-Sit here.
Here.
Water or soda?
I'll go neat. No need for water.
Come on, chug it down!
[foreboding music plays]
[muffled splashing and struggling]
[dark music continues]
[indistinct chatter]
[tense score plays]
The SP had called me.
Said the case will be
handed over to the Crime Branch.
You won't be on station duty anymore.
Most probably, you'll be moved to traffic.
Let's see how it goes.
-Sir.
-I'll call you.
[menacing tune rises]
Ask them to stop!
Move ahead.
It's a hospital case. Clear off!
[traffic noise]
Move. Move ahead.
Hurry up. Go.
Move ahead.
[menacing music builds]
Ah, Vivek.
The dirty water from that drain
filled Chandrappan's lungs,
suffocating him to death.
He was heavily drunk.
There were no other
suspicious injuries on his body.
Things went out of hand, sir.
What is Mohan saying?
What can he say now?
I've been reassigned to traffic duty,
and the case has been
handed over to the Crime Branch.
[door opens]
[tense music plays]
Sajan sir,
long time no see!
Oh no, was the CBI here?!
Sorry, I didn't notice.
We are here to transport the skeleton
for the case 1123/24.
Now, I'm in charge of the case.
The skeleton needs to be tested
at the Central Lab in Hyderabad.
Hope it won't be a problem, sir?
Don't you recognise him?
He's a terrific player!
I mean, rummy! Rummy!
-Skeleton is there. Let's go there.
-Sure.
Wait here.
[tense music grows]
Aha!
The propped-up skeleton!
[mocking laughter]
Nice.
If you had a stand,
you could have decorated it
with flowers and candles.
Right, sir?
Does it even have all its bones?
Salim,
just because
there are some cops willing to sell out,
don't assume everyone is the same.
I...
I need to see the
control sample preservation register once.
I'm not obligated to show you any record.
Take only what's listed
in the order you brought
and leave! You got it?
And use your gloves
when you are handling bones.
Okay.
Have you stopped your rummy and stuff?
What's your business here?
If you're in traffic duty,
better stick to it.
Better don't poke your nose
into my work.
Why are you staring at me?
Are you pissed?
Dare you talk to me like that with your
filthy tongue that licks your masters!
I'll play rummy with your life!
-Understood?
-Yes.
[humming]
Packed everything? Let's go.
Okay.
You're soaking wet. What happened, sir?
Oh, I just washed my face thoroughly!
Any problem?
[tense score plays]
Chandrappan,
who gave us info on Rekha, is dead.
They've pulled us off the investigation.
And the only evidence we had...
they took that away!
What do we do now, sir?
Do whatever you can.
Only you can pull it off.
[thrilling music rises]
They can only take away
what we've already found,
but can't stop us from
uncovering more.
Start digging!
[phone rings]
-Kamal sir?
-Vivek...
I called just to tell you something.
Nothing much.
Back in the day, there was this reporter
named Pallassery.
He's running a YouTube channel now.
The other day,
when he came to interview me,
I showed him the visuals
of the song 'Devadoothar Paadi'
and pointed out that girl.
That's when he said
he had once gone to cover
the location shoot of 'Kaathodu Kaathoram.'
The guy's quite a character.
You should meet him once,
he might actually be useful to you.
Okay, sir. I will.
Thank you.
[energising score builds]
The behind-the-scenes drama
of 'Chithram' doesn't end here.
Next week, we'll dive into
the incident of
Mohanlal lashing out at Priyadarshan.
Till then, signing off!
Ah! Come in, sir.
Mohanlal against Priyadarshan?
What's the issue there?
What issue!
There's no issue at all.
We just say whatever comes to mind,
that's it!
People who watch this episode
will definitely
click the link again next week.
More subscribers for us;
that's the plan.
Be seated, sir.
Back in the day,
my pen was enough to make or break someone.
These days, the pen doesn't do much,
but the tongue sure does!
And let me tell you,
my tongue's pretty sharp,
back then, and now also!
There was a time when
even Mammootty would feel
nervous around me!
He was a big star even then.
I went with my cameraman Ravi
to interview him
on the sets of 'Kaathodu Kaathoram'.
Will he come anytime soon?
He should be here any moment.
[crowd erupts in cheers]
I waited for long. Whoever he is,
what's it got to do with me?
I couldn't stand his attitude
and arrogance.
Back then, in the heat of my youth,
I asked him a bold question.
He didn't like it.
Mister Mammootty,
the interview isn't over yet!
Take a photo, man.
That was a time
when no one in Malayalam cinema
even dared to raise their voice against me.
I got really worked up.
I published that photo
in the next edition of 'Nana' Magazine,
and I made sure to teach him a lesson
he wouldn't forget!
Isn't this the girl you're looking for?
This could have been the content
of three or four of my episodes!
Oh, never mind.
"THE ARROGANCE OF A FILM STAR"
[low, suspenseful music plays]
[phone rings]
Hello.
I sent you a photo on WhatsApp.
Do you remember ever seeing the nun
standing with Rekha during the shoot?
No, that nun was not in that movie.
-Are you sure?
-Yeah.
Alright.
[Kamal] I don't recall seeing
anyone like that on the set.
Plus, if they were junior artists,
wouldn't we have seen them
in any of the shooting locations?
[suspenseful music continues]
Thomachan and I watched the entire movie.
That nun you mentioned is not in the movie.
She wasn't there to act in the movie.
Then?
Her attire is different.
She's a nun.
[ominous score rises]
Mother...
"THE ARROGANCE OF A FILM STAR"
Rekha...
the girl who came to Malakkappara
to act in the movie!
She was a talented actress...
both on and off the screen.
We've come across a skeleton,
and we suspect it might be Rekha's.
Can you share any details you remember?
[dramatic music builds]
Such a crowd there!
It's a Mammootty movie.
Sister...
shall we go too?
I won't come!
If Mother finds out, we are over!
[woman] Enough.
Has Mother woken up?
-Praise be to Jesus!
-Always and forever, praise be to Him!
We're heading out.
Alright.
Make sure everything's in order.
Okay, Mother.
Why do they give churches
to movie crews anyway?
Bro, walk faster.
We're running out of time.
-What's the hurry?
-The first shot is right after the break.
[soft melody plays]
-Is it your first time?
-Yes.
A newcomer.
[man] Hey! Mammootty is here!
-Mammootty has arrived!
-Come, let's go and see him.
[upbeat score plays]
[indistinct chatter]
Mammootty! Mammootty! Mammootty!
Mammootty! Mammootty! Mammootty!
Are you blind?
Watch your step!
[crowd cheering]
[upbeat score plays]
Brother, my costume tore.
So?
Can you please stitch it for me?
I don't care!
Just manage with the torn costume!
I have a hundred works to do here.
If you run around recklessly,
these things are bound to happen.
Please, can you stitch it?
Can't you see the long queue here?
Go now.
[sewing machine whirs]
[distant sound of clothes scrubbing]
[quirky tune plays]
Sister...
Who are you?
Sister, I am Rekha.
Can you please help me?
What help?
I'll give you the clothes,
but will you do me a favour in return?
I want to meet Mammootty.
Can you introduce me to him?
Um... y... yeah.
Is that all?
If you want,
you can even get his autograph.
I'll come there by noon.
You'll be there, right?
Yes, I'll be there.
[actors rehearsing 'Devadoothar Paadi']
Looking for your melody and company
Someone came, drawn to you
Caressing your harp and your fingertips
To come along to graze the sheep
And sing with the calves,
whispered in the ears
The angels sang,
The messengers of love sang
As the olive flowers
Swayed in the radiant moonlight
The angels sang
I didn't expect you'd come this early.
What's wrong? Are you busy?
No, why would I be?
But Mammootty must be
in the middle of a shoot now.
After that, he'll go for lunch.
So...
That's fine. I'm not in a hurry, either.
I'll just wait here.
Hey, what kind of outfit is this?
Didn't you say
you couldn't stitch it for me?
So I managed to arrange another one.
Aha, so you do whatever you feel like.
Then what are we even here for?
This outfit is white in colour,
but the stitching is completely different.
Come here!
The angels sang,
The messengers of love sang
As the olive flowers
[kids humming 'Devadoothar paadi']
Don't panic. I'll stitch it for you.
Can I leave this here for now?
-Is the dress fine now?
-Yeah.
Okay, girl.
You actually look good in a nun's costume!
Of course! Every outfit suits me.
That's one of the traits of a heroine.
Do you think you'll become a heroine?
Yes, Sister.
That's why I'm putting in all this effort.
I want to be Mammootty Chettan's heroine
Huh? Mammootty Chettan?
So confident, huh?
You think Mammootty
is your Chettan (elder brother)?
For me, he's just like a brother.
I even write letters to him.
Do you know his address?
Yes, I write to him at Woodland Hotels.
That's where he usually stays.
And have you ever gotten a reply?
Hey, you, girl!
Aren't you the one in the singing group?
Ever since you came,
you've been wandering around.
Remove that neck chain and put on this one.
She thinks she's some heroine!
[emotional score plays]
Is he scolding you just because
you wore another chain by mistake?
He's the one who gave me
that chain in the morning.
Sister, I'm just a junior artist,
and that's how people treat us here.
I lied to you Sister,
that I know Mammootty
and could get his autograph
just to get the costume from you.
We can't even go anywhere close to him.
[crowd cheering]
Do you want to meet your Mammootty Chettan?
Come with me.
Huh? But where?
I said, come with me!
[dramatic score builds]
Shall we start then?
Mr Mammootty,
your recent movies
have been complete failures.
Is it because of flaws in the scripts,
or is it because
you're trying too hard to be a star?
Mister Mammootty,
the interview isn't over yet!
Click a photo!
[dramatic and emotional score plays]
Did Rekha ever mention where her house is
or anything about her family to you?
She didn't seem interested
in talking about her family.
But I think
she said she's somewhere from south.
And we didn't go to meet Mammootty again.
After lunch, I went back to the convent.
But as the day grew by,
I got to know her more,
and we were getting closer and closer.
[indistinct chatter]
The angels sang,
The messengers of love sang
As the olive flowers
Swayed in the radiant moonlight
The angels sang,
The messengers of love sang
As the olive flowers
John Paul Sir and Bharathan Sir are
planning a scene in the church tomorrow.
And then?
I might even have a dialogue in that scene.
With Mammootty?
Most likely.
[man] Get ready!
-I'll be right back.
-Alright.
[pleasant score rises]
[man] All lights!
[emotional music plays]
[anklets jingling]
Shall we start, Padi?
Call Mammootty.
[thrilling music swells]
[man] Sound.
[clapperboard snaps]
Action!
['Devadoothar Paadi' song]
Thousand rainbows came along
Thousand rainbows came along
[man] Cut!
We are going for the take.
Clap in.
Sound...
-[man 1] Camera?
-[man 2] Rolling, sir.
Byte 52, take 1.
Action!
The angels sang,
The messengers of love sang
As the olive flowers
Swayed in the radiant moonlight
The angels sang,
The messengers of love sang
As the olive flowers
Swayed in the radiant moonlight
The angels sang,
The messengers of love sang
-[thunder rumbles]
-[lightning crashes]
As the olive flowers
Swayed in the radiant moonlight
-[thunder rumbles, lightning crackles]
-[indistinct chatter]
[man] Lights off!
Oh, the rain ruined it all, Padi!
[indistinct chatter of the crowd]
[rain pattering]
Rekha...
What's the next movie?
I get a lot of offers in the cinema.
But
I didn't come here to be a junior artist.
I want to be a heroine.
All your hard work will pay off.
You'll become a popular heroine.
Sir, we've completely lost the ambience!
What do we do now?
What else? Let's shift indoors.
So now the shoot is happening
in the church, right?
Shall we go to the convent?
You don't have
any more scenes left, do you?
How can I come to the convent?
Isn't my convent nearby?
Why should you struggle to sleep
in a crowded room?
Let's go to the convent.
I'm the senior at the convent today.
Who's this junior artist
I've never seen before?
Hey girl, who brought you here?
No one brought me here. I came by myself.
[quirky tune playing]
[rain pouring]
[song video playing on the phone]
When it started raining,
they moved inside the church
to shoot another song.
I took Rekha and went back to the convent.
-[thunder rumbling]
-[prayer hymns playing]
The Lord is with you
Blessed are you among women
Blessed is the fruit of your womb
Keep your bag there.
Jesus
Holy Mary,
In the name of the Son
and the Holy Spirit, Amen.
Mother of God
-Praise be to Jesus Christ.
-Praise be to Jesus Christ.
Pray for us sinners,
-Praise be to Jesus Christ.
-Praise be to Jesus Christ.
Rekha, meet Sister Marietta,
Sister Elizabeth and our junior sisters.
And this is Thankamma.
Where's Pushpam, Thankamma?
She is preparing a room upstairs.
Oh, I see.
Rekha, let's head upstairs.
-You can freshen up there. Come.
-Okay.
[song from the film's location]
The beauty of my imagination,
that's You
The soul of my music,
that's You
Chutney?
To sing Your Glory
Your Glory
Such a nice song, isn't it?
Soon, Mammootty Chettan
will sing it in a different tune,
and it'll sound even better.
I don't want the meat curry.
Sometimes, late at night,
we hear Mammootty Chettan
humming it in that tune.
It's not Mammootty, girl.
It's Yesudas who's singing.
Your Mammootty Chettan is just lip-syncing.
Oh, really?
Well, I know that.
Did you learn tomorrow's dialogues?
We'll only get them
at the location tomorrow.
-[thunder rumbling, lightning crackles]
-[rain pouring]
Today feels like a good day.
I've been wandering around,
trying to break into films for so long.
No one has ever
treated me as kindly as you, Sister.
And now, for the first time,
I'm getting a dialogue in a movie.
Everything will work out fine,
right, Sister?
It will.
You've got the shoot
tomorrow morning, don't you?
There's a bed ready for you
in the upstairs room.
Come on, let's go there.
Sleep well.
Good night.
[door closes]
The next morning, while cleaning,
Thankamma went to Mother's office...
Oh, no! Mother...
Sister!
Rekha fled that day with the donation
meant for building the church hospital
and the golden relics.
Since the amount stolen was significant,
the Provincial General
came to the convent for an enquiry.
Since I let an unfamiliar girl
stay at the convent,
the entire blame for the theft fell on me.
I haven't heard about her ever since.
Why wasn't a police complaint filed
despite such a major theft?
We belong to an Italian congregation
known for charitable activities.
If news got out that we were
this irresponsible with donation money,
that would have really impacted
our future donations.
That's why the SI assured Mother
this wouldn't go public.
Do you know the whereabouts
of those present at the convent that night?
Is there any way to contact them?
Yes.
I can help you with that.
I don't know the truth.
Even you being in that photograph
feels like destiny to me.
A skeleton, left somewhere to decay,
led me here.
But
I never imagined
it would end up like this.
[ambulance siren wailing]
[tense music plays]
-Here?
-Yes sir, there.
Jacob...
Hi. One minute.
Any updates?
Sir...
look here.
These are all the photos we've taken so far
of people named Francis Thadathil.
Okay.
We'll get the others' photos
within the next ten days.
Okay?
And this nun, Vivek met her recently.
Who's she?
She was at
the Malakkappara convent in 1985.
Rajendran sir used to call me regularly,
and we would head out somewhere
early in the morning.
We wouldn't know
the people we met along the way,
but he'd still talk to them.
Usually, when things get worse,
I interfere and take him out of it.
It became a regular pattern...
Rajendran wrote off the car
in this guy's name.
I saw the will.
I already told you about this, right?
This is media planning.
People will always believe news like this.
Right now, only a few of us know
about a girl named Rekha.
She could be like an actress
or even a thief.
Whatever she was,
I need to know who Rekha really was.
And for that, I need your help.
Um... sure.
[intense music plays]
Most of the nuns who were there that night
have passed away.
The rest have moved on to different places.
The ones who stayed behind were Pushpam,
Thankamma, and her family.
Pushpam couldn't tolerate
Mother's strict leadership
and left the convent after
four months.
Thankamma and her husband, Baby,
also passed away.
Their son is now in Alappuzha.
Here's his address.
The only way to confirm whether it's Rekha
is by tracing out her relatives
and doing a DNA match.
As the person who was with her
on the day she disappeared,
only you can help me now, Mother.
Since you left that day,
I've been really thinking a lot about her.
I want to know...
who is she.
[dramatic score rises]
Hello, sir.
Where is this Sajeevan
who called Rajendran?
That... Ilanjithara.
[suspenseful music plays]
BABY, MUCHUKUNNU, ARAYAM ROAD,
MOODADI, ILANJITHARA, ALAPPUZHA, 673307
Rekha was just a girl from some village,
chasing big dreams,
hoping to make it in her first film.
[policeman] Sir, we've tracked
Sajeevan's location.
He's holed up in a shrimp shed
at Ilanjithara.
And sir, he was expelled from Thrissur
under the KAAPA Act.
He's a bit of a troublemaker.
[brooding music plays]
[knocks]
Who's there?
Are you tongue-tied, loser?!
Go and check, man.
Go.
[tense music builds]
Hey!
Last month, your and Rajendran's
phones were
in the same area near Cheruthana Tower.
What was going on?
You cleared your gold loan,
with which you paid off
your NHG loan, right?
Where did you get the money for that?
Got it from Rajendran, sir.
For what?
We threatened to expose a secret.
What secret?
Sir,
as a kid, he saw his father
and Rajendran taking a girl away.
The next day...
Brother... Brother!
Brother!
My dad acted in a movie yesterday!
Long odds! Scram, you!
I saw it!
What did you see?
[thunder rumbling]
[rain pouring]
[slow, tense music plays]
[anklets jingling]
When I asked him about the girl,
he told me it was just a film shoot,
and he was acting in it.
Which film?
'Kaathodu Kaathoram.'
I waited eagerly to spot his dad
when I watched that film
for the first time.
But he wasn't there.
Every time I rewatched it,
I'd think of what he said.
Eventually,
I realised there was no such scene.
Recently...
The messengers of love sang
As the olive flowers
Swayed in the radiant moonlight
My dad was sick those days.
He wouldn't answer me if he was sober,
so we gave him some alcohol.
Dad...
During the movie shoot
near Malakkappara Church,
who was the one you and the others
were carrying near our house?
Baby uncle...
Who took that girl away that day?
That...
Pra... Pranchi was there.
And?
R... Rajan... R...
Rajan, and?
Vakkachan too... Vakka... Vakkachan...
What exactly happened that day?
There... ah...
I got some money.
And Dad... Dad...
is there any of that money left?
Give him more to drink.
Listen, any money left from that?
N... No, son. Nothing
-Huh? Nothing?
N... Nothing.
Nothing, son!
A good-for-nothing father!
Damn!
Give me more.
Sir,
we understood that
a woman was killed that night,
and they got paid for it.
Catching Rajan wasn't hard.
He used to do odd jobs at our house.
Now he's doing much better in life.
But Pranchi? We couldn't figure him out.
We bought an old phone, used a fake SIM,
and called him.
He met us at Cheruthana and
gave us some money.
Then, we saw a video of him
taking his own life.
He didn't mention my father in it.
Maybe because
my father had already passed away.
I'll come again very soon.
You'll need to come with me to Thrissur
to meet the SP and explain all this,
alright?
That's your only chance to get out of this.
Alright, I'll come, sir.
We will tell him everything for sure.
[phone rings]
-Vivek?
-Sir...
The day Rekha disappeared,
Binu saw Baby and three others
carrying a girl away.
That girl also had an anklet on her foot.
We don't have
investigative authority right now,
so we can't even take them into custody.
Sir, please speak to the SP.
No matter what, I'll present them there.
Will they double-cross us?
No, sir.
I'm sure the girl from that day was Rekha,
and we now have a witness.
Vakkachan back then is Vincent now.
I will come back only with them.
Okay, Vivek. Carry on.
Sir.
The movie shot near Malakkappara
had two schedules.
[suspenseful music plays]
"HEART-TO-HEART"
-Is this Binu's house?
-Yes.
Where's he?
He's gone to tie the bull in the field.
What's the matter?
Nothing.
He isn't picking up his phone.
Through this way... towards that side.
But the bull is here.
Where did he go?
Binu...
Binu...
[phone ringing]
[screams]
[dark music plays]
[rain pouring]
Yesterday, the investigation
moved a step forward,
but today, it's two steps back.
So, colleagues,
this represents the performance
of our product since the past three months.
[tense music plays]
[waves crashing]
[soft, melancholic tune plays]
[phone alarm rings]
[suspenseful music rises]
Where's he gone to?
He's undergoing treatment
at Little Flower Hospital, Angamaly.
[doorbell rings]
This is him.
-Francis Thadathil.
-Yeah.
[door opens]
Have you seen this photo, Francis?
It's from the location of
the 1985 film 'Kaathodu Kaathoram'.
You're in this photo by chance,
without even realising it.
I've never been to that place,
not even for a movie shoot.
Francis,
let me tell you a story.
A story that happened one night
beyond the church walls
during a nearby movie shoot.
It's a story set in a convent,
about a girl named Rekha
who arrived at the shooting location
and then the convent,
chasing her dreams.
It's also the story of the missing money
and golden relics from that very convent.
The Rekha you buried that day
still haunts you to this day.
Everywhere she's been,
she's left behind dead bodies,
including Binu,
the son of your old friend Baby.
Perhaps the next to fall will be me,
you,
or your son.
Francis,
it's Rekha who brought me here.
Your son inheriting
that half-closed eye of yours,
I noticing it back then,
and this photo
catching my eye last night...
it all connects.
[slow, suspenseful score plays]
And yet you are
slamming this door on my face,
only for your killer to arrive.
Good luck.
We buried her, yes,
but...
[tense music plays]
[Francis] Vakkachan and Pushpam,
they started it all, sir.
Vakkachan came to Malakkappara
to assist the Bishop in his retirement.
Pushpam was an inmate of the convent.
The nuns would take her along
to clean the house where the bishop lived,
and that's how they met.
Father, it was only because
he studied under your supervision
that he became what he is today.
This was the first thing he wanted to do
after receiving
his first salary from the US.
This is for the children's education fund.
Keep it safe.
[ominous tune playing]
Are you the one who washes the dishes here?
Are you a Brother?
-Since you came with the Bishop...
-I'm not a Brother.
I tagged along with the Bishop
since childhood, to study.
My studies are over.
Now I need some money to survive.
I have to leave for somewhere after that.
I shall help you to make money.
But you will have to
take me along in return.
[Francis] Pushpam lost her parents when she was
a child, and she grew up in the convent.
She needed a companion
to get out of there and start a new life.
In Vakkachan, she found someone
who could be by her side at all times.
Huh? You?
One night, a third person came into
their plan.
Here, hold this.
Baby, an inhabitant of the convent.
-Vakkachan...
-Yes?
The convent is not just about
black pepper, rubber sheets, and cardamom.
There are more commodities there.
[suspenseful music plays]
Will you be by my side?
[menacing score plays]
[... continues]
I got to know that
Baby and Vakkachan had given a soap bar
to a blacksmith in Chalakudy,
to make a duplicate key.
He also told me that
it was not a normal trunk's key.
After some days,
I saw the Mother and sisters
going somewhere in the convent vehicle.
I heard from somebody at the market that
they were going for a religious retreat.
I was wondering
if Rekha could stay here tonight.
Oh, no...
It'll be a big issue
if the Mother gets to know.
She's an innocent girl.
She struggles a lot in life.
What's the big deal
if we let her stay here for one night?
[Francis] Pushpam was sure that
if they steal the things and escape,
police will follow them.
When she heard that
a girl was coming to the convent
to stay there for just one night,
she devised a plan.
She sent Baby to inform Vakkachan that
he should go to the convent that night.
As the film shoot was going on,
I used to be around the church area
all the time.
In the afternoon,
I saw Baby rushing somewhere on his cycle
and Baby and Vakkachan roaming around
in a jeep multiple times.
I understood that
they were planning something.
[brooding music plays]
I don't want meat curry.
[Francis] Pushpam's plan
to put the girl to sleep
by spiking her food didn't work.
But...
[thunder rumbling]
[menacing score plays]
[chokes, struggles for breath]
Why though, sister?
Stop screaming!
Nobody will come here now!
[intense score continues]
[gasping for breath]
[choking]
-[thunder rumbles]
-[lightning crackles]
The beauty of my imagination,
that's You
The soul of my music,
that's You
[tense score builds]
Hey. This is their jeep.
What are they doing here?
-Isn't this the route to the convent?
-Let's go check.
[tense score continues]
[Francis] When we went there,
we saw two people carrying something heavy.
We thought they were stealing something
in the absence of the Mother
and went there.
What are you doing here now?
Looks like you hit a jackpot!
-Something seems fishy!
-Hey, move!
Move. What's going on?
I said it's nothing!
When we went inside,
we saw a girl lying lifeless.
Who is she?
As we were leaving,
Baby stopped us.
He threatened us that if the news leaked,
he would tell everyone that
we, too, were involved.
What's it for us then?
I demanded and got my share, sir.
And I accompanied them
to bury her.
[ominous score playing]
[thunder echoes]
Rajendran was not willing to join us,
and I joined others to threaten him.
We told him that
if he didn't accompany us,
we'd put all the blame on him.
When Vakkachan told him that
there was somebody inside the convent
willing to testify that
it was Rajendran who killed the girl,
with no other option, Rajendran joined us.
[suspenseful music grows]
-[anklets jingle]
-[lightning strikes, thunder rumbles]
Hey... Her feet are moving.
She's alive.
Don't just stand there, bury her!
Saying that Baby's son is alone at home,
he didn't join us in burying her.
After that,
we shared whatever was there
and left.
In the excitement of that age,
we did it as we could get some money, sir.
After several months,
when Baby told me,
I got to know the incidents
that happened at the convent that night.
Ever since then,
we have never met each other.
It was after Rajendran's death that
I got to know Vincent is
nobody else but Vakkachan.
I never knew
who was the girl we buried that night.
Back then, and even now.
But I will never forget her face.
The girl in the photo you showed me
is the same girl who we buried that night.
[suspenseful score rises]
[gasping]
Alice?
Alice? Alice?
Sister!
Sister!
Alice...
[intense music plays]
Vakkachan...
I did the killing part.
Now you have to do the burial.
[music intensifies]
If we leave her here,
it won't be possible for us
to have a life together.
And if you bury her,
all the money and gold here will be ours.
And she'll be the one who stole it.
[tense music playing]
Pushpam.
Somebody whom none of the inmates
of the convent had seen ever since.
And Alice,
someone nobody knew
before she became Vincent's wife.
One person disappeared in 1985.
And the other person appeared
at the same time.
Pushpam herself is Alice, sir.
Sister Stephy and I were searching for
the addresses of the old inmates
of the convent
when we noticed an old embroidery work
done by Pushpam.
A flower was stitched onto it.
Like a signature of hers.
It is the same flower that they used in
Alice jewellery's logo as well.
The robbery at the convent was
reported to the police.
But to stop the robbery news
from getting out,
the police didn't register the case.
Because
they had another case
to investigate about Rekha.
The case Chandrappan filed against Rekha.
From Chalakudy station,
crime memos about Rekha
were sent to several stations.
It was from such a crime memo, sir, that
we reached Chandrappan.
And eventually,
till this point.
What we have now is
a skeleton, which we believe is Rekha's.
But
with a skeleton whose whereabouts are
not yet confirmed,
neither the police nor the prosecution
can do anything in court.
There's something that needs to appear
in the jigsaw puzzle that we're playing.
The last piece of the puzzle.
The one piece
that completes the incomplete image.
Who is Rekha?
[dramatic music plays]
Vakkachan...
He got to know everything,
isn't it?
In that case,
he shouldn't be here anymore!
[music intensifies]
It's of no use
if only a few of us believe it's Rekha.
It needs to be proven.
-Else, the case can't proceed.
-No need to stress.
Anyway, I'm coming there--
[loud crash]
[ominous score plays]
I saw the scanning report.
There's no internal bleeding.
Stay calm.
-Hello.
-Hi.
Good morning, Vincent.
What's the news with that policeman?
His condition is critical.
Francis Thadathil is in police custody.
Heard that he's willing to be an approver.
Until now,
the police haven't been able to confirm
whose skeleton it is.
And that is very positive for us.
[phone rings]
-Hello.
-[woman] Hello?
I'm calling because I saw
the newspaper supplement.
My house is near Malakkappara.
I used to be in the church choir.
Do you know anything about Rekha?
I don't know her.
I used to know the nun who was with her.
Can I get her number?
I called you for that.
Okay.
ARTICLE ABOUT REKHA
AND 'KAATHODU KAATHORAM'
The article was published in all editions.
Any updates?
I got several calls.
But no genuine information yet.
Have it.
-Vivek.
-Hi, sir.
Hi.
How are you now?
Aren't you okay?
I am okay, sir.
Give him tea.
There's an update.
The SP has briefed your findings
to the DGP.
Now, the political leadership
will have to listen to the police.
But still...
we have to find who is Rekha.
[suspenseful score plays]
[phone rings]
Hello.
-[man] This is Jagadish here.
-Who?
Film actor Jagadish.
Oh, yes. Tell me, sir.
Can we meet?
Yeah. Definitely.
[man] To, Dear Mammootty Chettan.
I am a fan of yours.
I see!
I know that you won't have time
to read this letter.
Why is she writing to him then?
Only... one request.
Please send me a photo of yours soon.
Please don't forget. Please don't forget.
With love,
your younger sister Amminikutty.
Have you watched this film?
'Mutharamkunnu PO,' right?
Sibi Malayil's debut film.
I happened to notice this supplement
by coincidence.
When I read certain things in it,
especially the fact that Rekha used to
write letters to Mammootty,
addressing him as 'Mammootty chettan',
some doubts arose in my mind.
There's a similar girl
in 'Mutharamkunnu PO' as well.
An ardent fan-girl of Mammootty.
Amminikutty, who used to write letters
to Mammootty,
addressing him 'Mammootty chettan'.
There's a story
behind that character's creation.
My first film was released in 1984.
'My Dear Kuttichathan'.
After that, when I did a few more films,
Nana magazine published an article
about me.
With the heading
'From teaching to acting'.
Perhaps after reading that,
a couple of weeks later,
I received a letter
from a girl named Rekha.
[Rekha] Dear Jagadish chettan,
I read your interview
in the latest issue of Nana.
You had a great start
in 'My Dear Kuttichathan'.
Seeing your performance in the film
'Odaruthammava Aalariyam',
my younger sister and I
couldn't stop laughing.
Please do more such characters.
I wish you all the very best.
With love,
your younger sister Rekha Pathrose.
As it was the first letter I received
as an actor,
I wrote back, conveying my gratitude.
She was overjoyed about it.
She continued writing letters to me
frequently.
She wrote to me about
sending letters to the New Woodlands Hotel,
addressing Mammootty as
'Mammootty chettan'.
Once, she even asked me in a letter if I
could get her a signed photo of Mammootty.
When she mentioned that
she would enter the film industry
even if it took her to leave her parents,
I wrote her a letter.
[Jagadish] Dear Rekha,
there's nothing bad about
the desire to act.
But education is the most important thing
in the times ahead.
It was only after finishing my M.Com
and working as a teacher
I ventured into acting.
There's a time for everything.
Make your decisions wisely.
With love, Jagadish.
I never received letters from her
since then.
I thought she didn't like my advice.
But, after reading this supplement,
I have a feeling that
the Rekha who wrote to me
is the same person you're searching for.
I'm not sure
if she even read my last letter.
I used my radio play 'Sahridaya Samaksham'
as the foundation for the story of
'Mutharamkunnu PO'.
It was Sreenivasan who wrote its
screenplay and dialogues.
This is the story behind the formation of
the lead character, Amminikutty.
The house name of Amminikutty in the film
and that of Rekha, who wrote to me,
are the same.
KJ House.
Perhaps because it was
the first appreciation I got as an actor,
I still haven't forgotten the place name
in her address.
Kanyakumari.
Just give it a shot, Vivek.
Thank you, sir.
[dramatic music plays]
[in Tamil] Go straight and then left.
It's there.
[in Tamil] Who are you?
Isn't this Rekha's house?
Mom...
It was in 1982 that
we moved to Kanyakumari.
It was a new world for me and my sister.
It was after coming here,
she started to dream of being in films.
O slender smile
Will you bloom gently upon my lips?
The days of celebration are
Drawing near
You poured wishes half-by-half
Into my ears, like scenes from a film
With fingertips, you etched every dawn
Into the calendar of your soul
And you stood tall,
A tree in full bloom
Dad...
Shall we rent a TV and VCR?
Please, Dad! Please!
Hey, let them get one.
Okay.
My dreams soar aloft on wings
To the skies
And my desires
Brother...
Can I get a Malayalam film instead?
It was after arguing with dad for a while
and mom supporting us
dad finally rented
a TV and a VCR for us.
'Thrishna' was one of the movie cassettes
we got back then.
My sister used to watch it repeatedly.
With that, she became a hardcore fan
of Mammootty.
My sister used to enact each dialogue
from the films.
She wanted to become a great actress.
In the meantime,
she began reading film magazines
and sneaking off to watch movies
without our parents knowing.
She started off
by writing letters to Mammootty.
Then, she wrote letters to people
whose addresses she found in magazines.
The sky of dreams fills my heart
My wishes descend
My wishes descend like rain upon me
In my nights,
you lit the heavens like a full moon
As dreams stirred awake in my eyes
My dreams soar aloft on wings
to the skies
And my desires, how did they
Swell into an endless sea?
With fingertips, you etched every dawn
Into the calendar of your soul
Did the film people reply
because you sent them letters?
Desires spread like radiant hues
And you stood tall,
A tree in full bloom
[anklets jingling]
[door slams shut]
We never saw her again after that night.
My dad went all over looking for her.
As the years went by, our hope faded.
Even after dad and mom passed,
I didn't leave this place.
In the hope that
my sister would come back someday,
I stayed here.
And so, this place became my home.
[anklet tinkle]
[emotional score plays]
Just take a look.
Mom...
I need to know.
Are you Alice,
or Pushpam?
Who are you, Mom?
Who are you people?
'Breakthrough in Malakkappara
Skeleton Case: Vincent Involved'
Vakkachan...
Ours was a nice journey till now.
Now, everybody knows everything.
The police will come and take me.
The rest of my life...
[medical monitor beeping]
Alice...
Nobody will take you away.
I won't let anybody take you away.
[foreboding music plays]
[whimpers]
[tense music plays]
'MONTHLY BRIBE
FOR THE CHIEF MINISTER'S SON'
Alright.
'RESULT: DNA MATCHES SIMILAR'
[News Reporting] Higher officials, including the SP,
are arriving here now.
[suspenseful music plays]
Papa...
They are here.
Mr Vincent.
Please come with us.
[music swells]
[phone rings]
-[man] Hello?
-Sir.
Are you free, Vivek?
Yes.
Somebody wishes to meet you.
Who is it, sir?
Let that be a suspense.
Because we kept this aside
as the controlled preservation sample,
this is her only remains left now.
[soft music plays]
Asha...
Somebody who is very dear to Rekha
sent this.
[pleasant, emotional score plays]
To my dear Rekha,
With love,
Mammootty Chettan.
[music grows]
'Newcomer heroine wanted
for KG George-Mammootty Film'
[pleasant music plays]