EXAM (2026) s01e02 Episode Script

Fresh fish!
Come and get it!
-Eel fish!
-How much for this?
-Come and get it!
-Two rupees?
-7.5 rupees. Come, ma'am!
-I'd rather buy meat!
I'll give you a discount!
Come and get it!
Murrel fish!
Fresh fish!
Look, ma'am! Live fish!
I'll give you a discount!
Come and get it!
Fresh fish!
Fresh fish! Ma'am!
Look, ma'am!
Live fish!
Rabbitfish!
-Gayathri!
-Come, ma'am!
-Which college?
-Come!
Mont College.
Fresh fish, ma'am!
-Who is that boy?
-He's my schoolmate.
School and district topper!
Fresh catfish!
Come and get it!
-Come, ma'am!
-Come! What fish would you like to buy?
We've got the snakehead murrel
that you like.
I didn't come to buy fish, dear.
If your mother spoke four words,
three would be about you.
She always talked about making you study
hard, so you could get a government job.
But look where God has left you.
She had said, "Don't forget to invite me
to your son's wedding."
I was reminded of that.
-Both of you, please be there.
-Alright.
-Fresh fish! Snakehead murrel!
-"Manoj. Deputy Collector."
Live fish!
Come and get it! Come, ma'am!
Come!
Hot sales of fish, huh?
Started counting money?
That's for his coaching classes.
Hey, did your son find a bride?
Don't get me started.
Being well-off is of no use to us!
My son's a real dunce
when it comes to studies.
Girls these days want their husbands
to have government jobs, like IAS and IPS!
What's the big deal
about government jobs?
What kind of question is that?
My husband was in the Legislative Assembly
for five years.
After he lost the following election,
he got busted in a small case.
A cop came to the house to arrest him.
Guess what the cop said when my
husband asked, "Do you know who I am?"
"Your power lasts only five years,
when your party rules.
My power will last for the 58 years that
I am in service! Now, get in the van!"
Come, ma'am!
Ma'am!
Just a minute, ma'am!
Ma'am…
you said your son wasn't good at studies.
But this says he's a Deputy Collector.
Wasn't for nothing.
We had to pay millions to get it.
Wait up, watchman!
What are you doing here?
Nothing, son.
Last night, a young man came by
on a bike, claiming to be a reporter.
He wanted to interview the DSP.
It's been hours,
and he hasn't come back out.
As I was feeling uncertain,
I thought I'd check.
How about it, Mami?
Shall we arrange a soundproof room
for this gentleman,
much like we did for Ma'am?
That's all there is, right?
No problem, Jhansi.
Of course, you'd say that!
Come!
The interview took a while
to finish last night.
I saw that chap off at the gate.
Sleeping so soundly with the gate open?
I don't sleep on the job.
I find it hard to sleep at night.
You were asleep!
No, son.
How could I drift off?
Preliminary examinations for
Group 1 for the RPSE
will be conducted next Sunday, the 24th,
between 10:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.
In 38 districts across the state,
there are 107 centers
where the exams will be conducted.
This series of examinations
is for the following posts.
Deputy Collector.
Deputy Collector.
Deputy Superintendent of Police.
Deputy Superintendent of Police.
Assistant Director of Panchayat.
Assistant Director of Panchayat.
Assistant Commissioner
of Commercial Tax.
Assistant Commissioner
of Commercial Tax.
District Registrar.
District Registrar.
For these higher postings
in the public sector,
there are 103 vacancies in total.
The number of candidates
who will be applying for
these vacancies is 216,107.
-Next up--
-Just a minute, sir!
In the last Group 1 exams,
a candidate who had no idea
how many marks this exam was for
was the state topper. His name was
Tiruvaraj of Seemaganda district.
All this was telecast on the news.
What is the guarantee that the same scam
won't happen in the upcoming Group 1 exam?
There's a case ongoing in court
about the question you're asking.
Neither he nor I can discuss it
with the media at this time.
He and I have been appointed to ensure
such mistakes don't happen again.
Trust that all will be well, young man.
Give me Maramalli's room key,
Marimuthu--
-Hey! What is it?
-Stay outside.
Three years ago, you were
transferred to Ramakkal.
95% of the students who appeared
for the exam at that center passed.
The security detail under your command
was assigned to that exam center that day.
Now, during the time of the next cycle
of the same government exams,
you've been transferred to Thykara.
Tell me.
What happened that day?
And what is about to happen here now?
Even after all these years,
you have no idea how the world works.
Stop wasting time and get going!
Your daughter has to come home
after school, right?
Oh! Another game,
using my daughter as bait, huh?
Making threats is all you know!
You can't kill.
A text will drop in
from an unknown number.
Unlike you, it won't stop
with idle threats.
It will kill.
No choice but to bend to the will
of that message.
One day…
you'll get a message
from an unknown number, too.
You'll feel the fear.
You'll wonder if you
got caught needlessly.
Isn't the message
that came to my phone about…
You'll get busted by something
you just don't understand.
Mami?
Can we…
Can we trace out who's sending
messages from a private number?
No, Maramalli.
Jhansi!
Messages from random numbers
from an anonymous online gateway
can't be traced like normal numbers.
Maramalli's cell received a text
from a private number, sir.
It read, "A sum of ten lakhs
has been loaded into your car trunk."
When we ran over to the car to check,
we found the money, as stated in the text.
There's no way the unknown number
belongs to an ordinary guy.
Orders are being sent
as messages from that number,
and Maramalli seems to be
under compulsion to follow them.
We can't trace that number.
I think there's no point just relying
on Maramalli and these text messages.
Jhansi…
those texts on Maramalli's phone
may not be helpful at the moment.
But…
it will definitely be of help someday.
One more thing, Jhansi.
From what we've monitored so far,
the RPSO chairman, Ambalavanan,
is a strict officer.
Very straightforward.
I claim that no wrongdoing has occurred
under his watch, not just blindly,
but based on a thorough investigation
of the facts.
The wrongdoing is going to happen.
The when, where, and how of it
are the questions.
I get what you're saying, sir.
What's next?
Start checking the coaching centers.
"A democratic government.
It seeks to establish a government
of the people, by the people,
and for the people."
Finished reading such a large book?
How many questions from this book
will they ask?
Don't get started, Mom.
There may not even be a single question.
Why break your head over a book
from which no questions will come?
If everyone knew which questions would
come from which book, they would all pass.
True that.
Ma'am will be here any minute, kiddo!
Hurry!
-Coming, Dad!
-Come.
-Wait!
-What is it?
-Just fixing your hair.
-Fine.
-See you, Mom.
-See you.
Come.
Good morning, ma'am.
-Greetings, ma'am.
-Like I mentioned.
-My daughter.
-Srinidhi.
Hi.
She's taking another crack
at the Group 1 exam.
I just have one wish, ma'am.
My daughter should become a DSP like you.
And when she does, I will
salute her, standing as a constable.
That's all, ma'am.
Just like my daughter, you studied hard
to make it this far, right?
Please give my daughter
some pointers about her education.
A teacher gave a book to a girl
who was set to take a government exam,
and told her to read it thoroughly,
as questions from it
would appear in the exam.
She studied every page thoroughly.
But she couldn't answer the question
that came from that book.
Do you know why?
The question was about
the GSM percentage of the paper
the book was printed on.
Studying hard isn't enough here.
Start the car, Shakthivel.
Okay, ma'am.
Go home, dear.
-Wait.
-Ma'am?
The other car.
Hey!
…shares over 1,600 kilometers
of land border in India.
What are you doing here?
We study in this institute, ma'am.
Hometown?
Where's your house?
Dharmathoor, ma'am.
-You?
-Dharmathoor, ma'am.
No institutes over there?
Why come this far to study?
The coaching is pretty good
in this institute.
Class is in session.
Why are you chitchatting here?
We've already covered the syllabus, ma'am.
What's the capital of Myanmar?
The English name of the city that served
as the country's capital…
Sir's calling you in, ma'am.
Go straight and take a left.
His office is there.
-Come in, ma'am.
-Hello, sir.
Have a seat.
What brings you here?
I was in the neighborhood,
so I thought I'd make a formal visit.
Okay. What would you like to eat?
Nothing, sir. I'm good.
No, you must eat something!
We have a special soup in this office.
Once you've tried it…
What are you gazing at?
He…
Your Superintendent.
SP Vinod was my student.
-Really?
-Yes!
He really clicked with our district!
So, he got posted here.
-Tara?
-Yes, sir?
You think the DSP's visit to our institute
seems like a normal visit?
After you brought it up,
I feel suspicious about it too, sir.
I think we need to
keep our guard up with her.
Correct, sir.
Okay.
Ilangovan, alert the Thykara
check-post immediately.
Note the license plate of every car that
comes in or goes out of other districts.
And… those aged between 21 and 36…
I want the hotel and travel details
for everyone in that age group.
Promptly follow up on these details
and report back to me.
He will be discharged this evening.
-Take care.
-Thanks, doctor.
Who the hell is our enemy?
Why must they attack us?
Hey… get that phone.
Call Ms. Maramalli.
Put it on speaker.
-What is it?
-Hey!
I've been hounding her all night long
to get that guy on the phone!
Ask your wife if she heeded my words!
What happened?
Your brother hasn't come home
since last night.
Should've told me
when I was going to work!
How would I know? He always comes
and goes with this chap!
I thought he was out with him!
What happened?
A new DSP has been appointed.
He said he wanted to interview her.
When I called him at around 10:00 p.m.,
he said he was onto a big story
and was pursuing it.
He said he'd call back and hung up.
He didn't call back. When I tried
to reach him, his phone was off.
Last time I saw him, he was speaking
to the inspector at the tea shop.
He told you he was
going to interview the DSP.
"I'm onto something big."
"Pursuing it right now."
Who does he mean?
TEA ESTATE FREE EXAM PREP INSTITUTE
UDHAGAM MALAI
Everybody, listen!
There are fifty states in America.
I'll tell you a story that'll help you
remember all of it.
Let us travel…
with our friend…
Kaliamma.
Kaliamma wanted to go to Hollywood.
So she first went to California.
And from there, she went to Oregon
to see some orange farms.
Then she wanted to taste some apples,
so she went to Washington.
The people of Nevada invited Kaliamma,
but she had to go meet her friend in…
Montana.
After the cold Montana winter, she wanted
to experience some warm desert.
So she went to Ita, Utah,
and Arizona deserts.
Enough of the deserts!
She decided to see snowy Alaska…
to see some polar bears.
-You!
-Sir…
Now tell me, which state
has a desert landscape?
Stupid moron!
Get out of here!
Now listen, everybody!
-Ma'am?
-Yes?
I've come from Thykara. My brother
finishes his degree this year.
I want to enroll him in coaching classes
for the next government exams.
What are the formalities for enrollment?
Nothing like that, ma'am.
We offer coaching for no charge.
We just need a certificate
for degree completion.
-Okay.
-You said you're based in Thykara, right?
-Yes.
-You can go with the day scholar program.
When I came in, I noticed youngsters
who looked like students,
but they were plucking tea leaves.
Well, ma'am--
It's just that the kids who study here
have not had it easy in life.
We provide hostel accommodation
and food for them, for no charge.
In their free time,
they do such part-time jobs.
But we pay them for it.
Oh, I see.
Give me your name and contact number.
I'll let you know
when the next batch begins.
Who runs your institute?
You may have seen him on your way in.
He was teaching a class.
-Yes.
-He's our MD. Mr. Kumaresan.
Okay.
-Thank you.
-Thank you. We'll take care.
Mani? Udhagam Malai Tea Estate
Free Exam Prep Institute.
The MD's name is Kumaresan.
I want his entire call history
right away.
Didn't expect to see you here, sir.
I came to Thykara on other business.
As I was reminded of you,
I thought I'd pay a visit.
Ilangovan?
How's the new DSP?
What does she have to say?
Great character, sir.
She told me to handle every case.
Really? If you're handling everything,
what is she doing?
Don't tell anyone. She said
she's on some secret operation.
She called a little while ago.
To have Thykara check-posts
on high alert 24/7.
Cars and passengers that come
from other districts--
She asked me to gather data
on their accommodation.
What for?
No idea, sir.
She didn't tell me.
Hello, sir.
I'm Maramalli.
The DSP of Thykara.
-Please have a seat, ma'am.
-Thank you.
Nothing major. I just need
your help on a crime investigation.
-Go on.
-From today until Sunday, the 24th,
I want the details of train passengers
between the ages of 21 and 36
who arrived in Udhagam Malai.
It would be helpful if you could
share their details with me.
For the kind attention of the passengers.
The connecting train from
Sathyapalayam to Udhagam Malai
has arrived on platform number one.
For the kind attention of the passengers.
The connecting train from
Sathyapalayam to Udhagam Malai
has arrived on platform number one.
Alright, Mani.
Maramalli's phone keeps getting calls
from someone named Chandra. What to do--
I'll call you back, Mani.
It's nothing, brother.
Anytime Maramalli went out of town,
she'd call once an hour
to check if her daughter and I had eaten.
But now,
she called, and with no pleasantries,
she said she's busy for the next ten days.
That she's handling a major operation.
She said she'd call back, and hung up.
-Ma'am?
-Yes?
I want to ask you something.
Please don't take it the wrong way.
That one-rupee coin you have tied
onto your wrist?
What is it for?
It's a prayer charm.
I didn't have the patience
to wait for you to come.
So, the kid and I left…
and are on our way to see her
in person, brother.
I tried to explain, but they
don't seem to listen, sir!
Hey! Just wait, brother!
Think being a lawyer
makes you a bloody big shot?
I'm talking here!
What's with the disrespectful tone?
I'll break your teeth!
Get out of here!
What the hell are you doing
at the station? Leave!
Keep your macho attitude out there! Go!
-Leave!
-Come on!
What's the case, Ilangovan?
Nothing, ma'am.
Just a land case.
Malaippan, the land's seller,
has five kids.
His third daughter's kids
are Dharalaraja and Dharmaraja.
They claim their grandfather went
to Singapore by ship in 1946.
Having done that,
there was no reason for him to sell.
Even if he had the need, how did a man
who was in Singapore in 1946,
come here to sign the sale deed?
Dharalaraja damaged the plough
used by the manservant of Amudha,
the land's buyer.
Amudha asked Dharalaraja how dare
he damage the plough they had been using.
His brother Dharmaraja
broke Amudha's hand.
Amudha was admitted to the hospital.
The group standing outside are--
Ma'am. Your mother
and daughter are here.
What are you blabbering?
They didn't inform you?
They are sitting in the hall.