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Hey, I couldn't get "The Times of India". "The Hindu" would be okay, right?
Hey, what room is Mohan Pothan in?
In 203.
Mohan Pothan sir?
- Appootty? - That's me.
Thomas sir asked me to be here by eight.
Oh, sharp!
- Had anything to eat? - Yes, I ate before I came.
- Fine. Shall we get going? - Sure.
- Go ahead and put these bags in the jeep. - Okay.
You've heard of the Brahmagiri forests in Karnataka, haven't you?
The place you mentioned, Kaattukunnu hills, is right opposite it.
So you can see Karnataka from there.
You bet!
You know what a cogwheel is, right?
That area is like a cogwheel of mountains.
They're all intertwined.
If one hill is in Kerala, the next one is in Karnataka.
Then again, you're back in Kerala.
How did you come to know about this place, sir?
From an old acquaintance.
We used to work together.
He always used to say he had a house and plenty of land there.
Whose land and house could that be, if not Kuriachan's?
I was talking about Kuriachan himself.
Breeder Kuriachan?
That's right.
Oh! So you two are friends? I see!
Oh no!
What's in there, sir? A lion?
Take the bags and go ahead, Appootty.
I'll bring this one.
No ghost's going to jump out, Appootty.
No need to be frightened.
It's just a dog in heat.
- A bitch. - Got it, got it.
LEENAMOL
I must say, sir, this is quite an unusual idea.
What?
This whole scheme to produce an illegitimate offspring.
Plenty of folks come by to watch or to lay traps,
saying the dogs up in Kaattukunnu hills are thoroughbreds.
As if any of their tricks would work on those beasts!
It was a breed once native only to Malaysia.
They look just like our strays,
but they're a whole different stock.
Kuriachan and I once went to Malaysia to study them.
Seriously, is there any place Kuriachan hasn't gone looking for dogs!
All the ones here are descendants of the dogs he brought back from Malaysia.
These days, you won't find the pure breed even in Malaysia.
- How come? - They've all been cross-bred.
Now, only your Kaattukunnu hills still have the true-born kind.
Kuriachan usually has a knack for ruining everything.
At least this breed of dogs survived, thanks to him!
Should we go any further?
This is as far as the public land goes.
The 150 acres uphill from here belong to Kuriachan.
No, let's not.
Let's not trespass on anyone's private property.
- Appootty, go ahead and unload the stuff. - Okay.
Besides, it's better we don't go any further.
No point startling that lady for no reason.
Which lady?
Mlaathi Chettathi.
Kuriachan's wife from Malaysia.
So you two are close and you haven't met his family?
How many of them am I supposed to meet?
I've met his wives in Thiruvalla and Thrissur.
I heard he hasn't kept in touch with them much
since the Malaysian one came along.
Yeah, that's the power of Mlaathi Chettathi.
You could say Kuriachan's fortunes really turned after he married her.
Rumor has it that she knows a bit of Malaysian black magic.
So, how's the search for Kuriachan coming along?
Oh! What search?
It's been what... five, six years now?
There was a newspaper report once that he'd gone to see his woman in Perumbavoor.
Here, all she ever gets are letters.
Wherever he may be,
Kuriachan can vanish long before the police even catch his scent.
She's a beauty, isn't she, Appootty?
Won't she be enough to drive every stud around here wild?
I know nothing at all about the mating science of dogs.
Are you planning to stay in the forest till she's "loaded", sir?
If I'm not here to see it, how will I know the job's done?
And what about food?
I've brought enough supplies for three weeks.
Besides, the forest always has fruits and berries.
I'm well accustomed to that kind of lifestyle.
Anyone who's spent time with Kuriachan
is bound to have some of that wind rub off on them!
EIGHT MONTHS LATER
Doctor, if we climb any higher, the engine will give up.
- You or the engine first, Chetta? - Zip it.
Just get it over with and send the doctor back.
We need to get down the hill before dark.
The house is about 100 meters from that tamarind tree.
What about the 200 meters just to get to the tree?
I'll be right back.
He really is a doctor, right?
Absolutely!
Anyway, stay with Chettathi while he examines her.
Okay.
Still getting used to this place, are you?
Yes.
I figured.
Most people posted here are from down south.
Feeling breathless?
From the sound of it... what do you think?
We're at a pretty high altitude, right?
You need more Vitamin E.
Eat butter fruit and papaya.
Just look at me.
I see.
Hey!
Move!
Are they yours?
No, they just hang around here.
Your ears don't feel blocked, do they?
I had some bread soaked in milk.
Alright.
You'll be fine.
Don't turn on your side. Just lie flat on your back, alright?
Everyone calls me Mlaathi Chettathi.
- You asked my name, right, doctor? - Yes, yes.
- So it really is an ear balance issue? - Yes.
She doesn't normally have hearing trouble, does she?
Hearing trouble?!
I'm too scared to even think anything bad about her.
She's got supersonic hearing.
Okay then.
I'll just walk the doctor to the jeep.
Okay.
I know the way. I'll be fine.
No, I'll come with you.
The dogs might be around.
They can be a bit aggressive with strangers.
They're calmer when Chettathi or I'm around.
At this altitude, even high blood pressure can cause ear balance issues.
Right.
She's had heart surgery, right?
- Two of them. - I see.
With all her ailments, living in a place like this...
- Doctor... - Yes?
- For the jeep? - No, I already paid him at the stand.
You need to pay the full fare upfront to get here.
They won't even start the trip otherwise.
Please lift this up.
Siby? Who's on the line?
Siby, can you hear me?
Yeah, Appootty Chetta. Shajan here. Go ahead.
Right, Shajan...
I've just started heading downhill from here.
Departed at 7:15.
At 7:15. Okay, come. Over, over.
Okay, over, over.
What's this all about?
It's a system the police have in place.
- Did you hear me say that we left at 7:15? - Yes.
If the jeep doesn't reach the base by 8:00,
the folks down there are supposed to notify the police.
Here you go.
Oh, I couldn't get the rock candy.
It slipped my mind.
I was rushing to get the doctor before he left for the day.
I'll bring it the day after tomorrow.
Why the day after tomorrow?
I'll be going to the post office the day after tomorrow.
She has been like this since morning.
Is something wrong?
She'll be giving birth soon.
That's why.
- Chettathi! Hey! Chettathi! - What?
Call me if you need to go to the toilet.
You don't have to seat me on your lap like a child to make me pee.
Don't treat me like a bedridden hag just because I felt a little dizzy!
Good morning!
Oh, you are up?
I'll get you some coffee right away.
ANGEL
Hey, Peeyoos!
Hasn't the new issue of "Lustful Flower" come in, Chetta?
I had ordered ten copies.
They sold out before I even got the kettle boiling.
That's how horny your townsfolk are!
Yeah, right! As if you came in here asking for herbal medicine!
By the way, Pappachan sir was looking for you.
- What's the matter? - You think he'd tell me?
He just poked his head out of the car and asked.
If he comes around, just tell him I'm at the post office.
Hey, is it payday?
Yes.
Who is this boy?
That's Peeyoos.
You know that Malaysian lady, Kuriachan's wife?
Their children hired Peeyoos to take care of her.
They feared those coming after Kuriachan might harm her.
If anything happened to her,
the land and property would get stuck in legal mess, right?
And that twig's supposed to protect her?
Here.
Here you go.
Is your imagination getting a bit heavy?
You'll need a bigger stamp for this.
Who on earth reads this stuff?
Don't be so scornful.
Go home and check under your father's mattress.
You'll find every single issue of this magazine.
Appootty Chettan gets the first copy whenever a new issue hits the stands.
Does my dad know you write this stuff?
I haven't told him.
If I tell him, he probably wouldn't let me talk to you anymore.
- At least you've got that much sense! - Of course!
I just do it for some pocket money and for the thrill of it.
I don't even use a pen name.
Here you go.
- It's Pappachan sir. - What? Is it?
Over here.
- Okay. Fill this out and send it. - Will do.
Fifty to home, and 75 to Unni.
- Pappachan sir. - Where've you been?
Chettathi wasn't well for two days.
- Is she alright now? - Yes, she's fine.
Word is, you're hanging out with some burly outsider?
Come with us.
Sir has some questions about Kuriachan.
He's from Mangalore.
- Isn't he a cop? - He's from the Navy.
- What's this about? - Hey, stop the interview and get in.
- But... Mlaathi Chettathi... - What about her?
I mean... rice... for her food...
- Is there no rice left? - There is.
Then she can make her own food.
Get in the car.
Don't you already know everything I know, sir?
So why don't you just tell him yourse--
- Get in, you son of a... - I'm getting in!
Peeyoos, where's your native place?
- You mean my hometown? - Yeah.
Pathanamthitta.
And how long have you been here?
By June, it'll be six months.
Not really. Chettathi didn't actually want anyone as help.
Her children are away, one in Bombay, and the other in the Middle East.
It was the younger son who told an acquaintance
that they needed a person for the job.
Does this Mlaathi Chettathi speak Malayalam?
Yes. It's been so many years since she came from Malaysia, right?
She speaks better than we do.
There was a time when sailing to Malaysia, Burma, and Singapore was routine,
to work at plantations, railways, timber mills, and so on.
Remember how some even went to join the Indian National Army?
Some would marry local women and settle down there.
Others would bring their wives back and settle down here, just like this.
Kuriachan, Mlaathi Chettathi...
How did they get together?
Well, she never told me that.
You didn't ask?
Chettathi gets uneasy even when her children are spoken of.
So if I start asking too much about her personal life...
My salary comes by money order every month, right on time.
And that's all that matters to me.
Oh no!
Does Chettathi get letters from Kuriachan?
Over the six years that Kuriachan's been absconding,
Chettathi has received fourteen letters from him.
They're always censored by the locals and the police before she gets them.
- The contents? - Just pleasantries.
"Is it raining?", "Is it sunny?", "Take your medicines", and so on.
We could only tell from the postal codes that they were sent from various places.
Has anyone else approached you before, asking about Kuriachan?
Well, the police and the Crime Branch have been here.
Pappachan sir knows about it.
Anyone besides the police?
Besides the police...
Yeah, about a week after I started working here, a group of men came by.
They didn't give me any names.
But they seemed like a shady bunch.
They gave me the address of a magazine in Kozhikode
and said I should write to them if I hear anything about Kuriachan.
They came to take him out, that's for sure.
It's a magazine run by this guy Eldhose,
an acquaintance of Varghese and Ambu Master.
A local publication.
It was shut down by the government in '71 for printing Naxal articles.
Naxals?
- Peeyoos... - Yes?
If you get any details about Kuriachan,
would you inform those men?
I'd inform the police.
Why is that?
Well, the government has announced a reward, right?
What will I get for turning him over to a bunch of Naxalites?
And they roughed me up so bad, I couldn't move my neck for three days.
No way I'm giving them anything!
And it's a risk anyway.
So, isn't it better to take the risk that pays, sir?
In that case, let me tell you about a more profitable risk.
If you bring that information to me,
I'll give you the government reward, plus, a little extra.
What do you say?
What is this Navy guy's game?
And from Karnataka, of all places!
They say Kuriachan used to supply puppies to the Navy in Mangalore.
Does the Navy even have a dog squad?
The Army does, apparently.
So the Navy must have one too, right?
Does the Navy have an official dog squad?
Maybe it's just something they call in for emergencies.
Damn, look how far his breeding business has reached!
If the police manage to find Kuriachan alive,
some of this navy guy's dirty secrets will come out.
That's what Pappachan sir said.
So his visit is probably not official.
Exactly.
He has been suspended for a while now.
Any idea what that case is about?
That case...
It's something that will land the navy man in deep trouble if Kuriachan talks.
That's all I know.
He'll lose his job, maybe even do time.
Kuriachan always had connections with big players.
That's how he stayed out of trouble for so long.
But once you get caught up in one case, this is what happens.
The very people who stood by you could try to finish you off.
Many more will come looking for him.
Didn't I tell you about Mohan Pothan who went into the forest a while back?
- Mohan Pothan? - Yeah.
Well, that was before you came here.
- Don't you remember, dear? - I do.
I'm sure he was also here for Kuriachan.
Your detective work for the navy guy is all well and good...
But make sure you take good care of Chettathi, alright?
Stop this childish behavior.
All sorts of people are lurking around.
Kaattukunnu hill is nothing but a windswept wilderness.
No one would even hear you scream.
What?
This morning, as I was getting into the car,
I heard a sound like a light bulb shattering.
Yeah, it looks broken.
That's it.
What is it?
He must have dropped it.
If he'd dropped it by accident,
wouldn't it have landed in the bushes right below?
How did it fall on that rock, eight feet away?
Hey, don't suddenly turn into a super detective
just because of something I said.
So now it's my fault?
Hey!
Chettathi!
Oh!
Look, Peeyoos... She gave birth.
Did anyone come by, Chettathi?
Here?
Yeah, I saw someone heading down the hill.
Where else would he be going around here?
Why didn't you ask him?
I called out, but he didn't stop.
No one came to the house.
Maybe the dogs scared him off?
What did he look like?
I saw him from a good hundred meters away.
And it was when he started running that I got suspicious.
How did Kuriachan end up on the Naxalites' radar?
You still haven't told me how he got on your radar, sir.
So this is a barter system?
We're in this together, aren't we?
Isn't that how it should be?
I have a nice smile, Pappachan.
And a gentle way of talking.
My mother taught me to be polite.
But don't take my politeness as an invitation to get too familiar.
I didn't come all the way from Mangalore
hoping to find an accomplice.
So, no questions.
Just answers.
And only if you feel like it.
Through all my years in service,
I'd always wished to see Kuriachan get caught.
Now, if you're the one who's going to make it happen,
Pappachan will be right by your side.
I don't need a commission for that.
Kuriachan has estates and assets spread across several districts.
At first, I thought that's why the Naxalites were after him.
Isn't it?
You've heard of the Kakkayam police camp, I suppose?
Around the time of the Thayissery police station attack,
Kuriachan had quite a few friends on duty at that camp.
Whenever he got bored with his life here,
Kuriachan would visit the camp with one of his dogs.
Back then, many were detained, labelled as Naxalites.
After being beaten into submission,
they'd be sent into a room, one at a time.
The door would be locked from the outside.
Inside, it was just the prisoner, Kuriachan, and his dog.
As you know, Kuriachan was an exceptional dog trainer.
His dogs would do anything he commanded.
What Kuriachan said, or what that dog did,
only those who were in that room know to this day.
I was working as a driver there during that time.
The brakes aren't holding, Pappachan!
Looks like the cable's been cut!
Sir!
It's all downhill from here!
I'm not leaving without you, Kuriachan!
- Shut your eyes! The glass will shatter! - What?!
I know you're here,
bastard!
Oh, my God!
Don't sneak up on me like that, Chettathi.
Do you know any black magic?
Black magic?
Yeah, Malaysian black magic.
That's the rumor.
Yeah, right! I've been here for so many years now.
Even if I knew anything, I'd have forgotten it by now, right?
But you'd remember at least a little, right?
Things like that keep memories of home alive, right?
Chettathi!
Feeling nostalgic?
Since coming here, haven't you ever felt like going back?
What's the point of wanting to now?
You could visit all your old spots.
You don't have to worry about children who never visit.
Full freedom!
Sell off a bit of your land,
and use the money to fly back to Malaysia.
When you get there, all your old friends will greet you,
calling out, "Oh, my dear Mlaathi!"
You think that's my actual name?
You fool,
the locals just gave me a name that was easy for them to pronounce!
"Malaysian lady" first became "Malaathi lady".
And then, just "Mlaathi".
So, what's your real name?
Chettathi!
Are you flying already?
- A little bit to the right. - She is ready.
Look here. Look at the lens.
Yeah, good, good.
Smile.
Ready!
Hey!
Who's that?
Is collecting your pay all you care about?
At least recognize the man who pays you!
Oh my!
So, that's Joppan Chettayi?
How are you doing now?
As you see me.
That's not what I meant, Mom.
Are you asking if it's time to dig my grave?
When the time comes, someone will send a telegram.
No need to trouble yourself by coming all this way to find out.
Peeyoos...
I'm the one Unni Chettan sent.
Okay.
Aby Chettayi had called last week.
Oh.
He called to discuss about Dad.
Hey, step outside for a minute.
He'll stay right here!
Or... I could get some coffee.
He can grab coffee on his way back.
Just say what you came here to say, Joppan.
Mom, the thing is...
If someone's been missing for so many years,
they can be legally presumed dead.
We just have to publish it in the government gazette, as a formality.
After a month, there won't be any issues with the paperwork.
I mean, for this house and the property.
Aby Chettayi says it's best we do it
before any of Dad's other families come claiming their share.
Kuriachan left this house and land to me in his will.
That's true.
But what if someone files a legal heir objection
and the property gets tied up in court?
Any delay in the transfer would be a problem, right?
Joppan,
I know how to handle things here.
My children can mind their own business
and keep living your lives, as you always have,
in Bombay or the Middle East, wherever suits you.
And when the telegram about my death arrives,
don't trouble yourselves to come if you're too busy.
Come on! What do you take me for?
You think I'm deliberately not taking her with me?
Mom's got the same stubborn streak and temper as Dad.
What would she do if there's a sudden emergency up on this hill?
That's a good point.
I got really worried when she felt dizzy the other day.
See? That's what I'm talking about.
But she's stable now.
But what if she doesn't become stable the next time?
But she won't listen to anything I--
Just give her a gentle nudge.
Come here.
If she doesn't want to live with us, fine.
We'll get her a house in town.
She can stay there.
No... no need.
Keep it, man.
Where's the mother dog?
No idea.
Did she leave them here and wander off somewhere?
Just because she's had pups doesn't mean she should neglect herself.
This is what I was saying.
What?
That we should feed them.
Feeding them is like claiming ownership.
How long will she have to nurse these pups?
A month and a half would be ideal.
Shajan Chettan keeps asking if she's had the pups yet.
Why is he so curious if she’s had her pups?
He asked if he could have one to raise.
If you're so keen, you go and live with him.
He can't take any of these.
But hold on, these aren't even your dogs.
She just happened to give birth here.
Don't argue, Peeyoos.
He wanted to raise it as a pet.
"Raise" it!
He'll either lock it in a cage or keep it chained up.
Isn't that what "raising" is?
Isn't that how you're supposed to raise a dog?
Well, that's not how I raise them.
How can you lock up a dog that should live freely, like a criminal,
in a cage or chained?
If you don't want to give them, fine. Forget it.
Did Joppan give you any money?
I asked if Joppan bribed you.
No!
Let me see your face.
He forced it on me.
How much?
Shameless miser!
When it comes to such things, he doesn't take after his father.
Joppan Chettayi and Kuriachan aren't exactly on good terms, right?
Well, that's how he was brought up.
For Kuriachan, nothing in this world mattered more than his dogs.
He saw me for the first time when he came looking for these dogs.
Do you know that?
What's that story?
This breed... it had a name in Malay language.
In those days, this breed was native to just a few parts of that country.
Never mind the name.
Some people kept them on their estates
to ward off thieves and wild boars.
So, how did these Malaysian dogs end up on our Kaattukunnu hills?
They ended up here the same way I did.
Back then, it was quite common.
Travelling back and forth to Malaysia.
Ships sailed to Malaysia from Madras and Nagapattinam every couple of weeks.
Yeah, I've heard.
Back then, many people from Pathanamthitta
went to Malaysia to work on rubber estates.
The place is a lot like Kerala, isn't it?
In many ways, yes.
Most people who went there
worked in timber mills or on the rubber and tea estates.
But Kuriachan came for a different line of work altogether.
The Japanese forces are facing heavy resistance as allied forces press forward
capturing key towns and supply routes.
Rice rationing is already in effect in Malaya to conserve supplies.
Meanwhile, in Europe,
Hitler has ordered intensified air strikes,
pressing his campaigns across the Balkans.
Here...
Soyi!
I met them in Taiping.
They're from India.
Kurian.
Mohan.
How did this happen?
This is Soyi.
Your daughter?
- My wife. - Oh, sorry.
I... I just...
No problem.
People can be judgmental.
Don't know who makes these age rules in marriage.
But it can be an advantage, too.
Even though she is my wife,
I take care of her
like my daughter.
Why don't you take care of your wife as if she's your wife?
Please, come in.
Come. Come inside.
They've picked up quite a bit of Malay.
How come the dogs didn't bark at them?
That's because I was with them.
Come, come. Sit.
They are dog experts.
They have come to study about Malaysian dogs.
- Study? - Yes.
Their job is to study about dogs and develop new breeds.
They even supply dogs to the military and police in India.
She is wondering what a strange job you do.
When the war broke out, farming went under.
No one to buy.
No money, no price.
Most people sold their farms and left.
Now, the nearest house is five, maybe ten kilometers away.
As for me,
I want to save up some money
and move to a house in the city.
That's what this whole dog business is for.
Only one week old.
It's been two weeks since we reached Malaysia.
We've wandered through every village,
and this is the first time we're seeing a pure-bred.
But the price you asked is still a bit too high.
Sir, sir...
Listen to Kurian sir.
My dogs are very very pure.
My father, my grandfather...
We've been breeding dogs for generations.
They don't even look at outside female dogs' faces.
Very disciplined. No crossing!
No need for fencing.
They know their territory.
They have built a fence in their minds.
You seem to have put on some weight since last time.
Well, it's been two months, hasn't it?
Sir!
Your camera...
Film... balance?
Why?
She has never been photographed.
Can you take a photo of her?
A good photo will be a good memory.
Well, I can. Yeah.
Go and put on a nice dress.
A nice dress?
No, no. You bought this for your sister.
You should only take new clothes home.
I'll buy another one.
It's okay.
Alright, sir. She's ready.
Straight, straight. Up.
Straight. A little bit this side.
A bit to the right. Yeah.
Yes. Perfect.
- Yosiah? - Outside.
He is giving food to dogs.
First, the dogs will eat. Then Yosiah will eat.
Yosiah's hand... What happened?
He must have asked you not to tell me, didn't he?
The war outside is dangerous.
I'm afraid Yosiah might get into some danger,
wandering around trying to make money.
Maybe he wishes to take care of you.
Your... this sale...
Say it in your own language.
If this sale goes through for a good price,
we'll get the money.
If he has enough money, Yosiah could stay home for a while,
without having to wander.
She's asking for more money!
He jumps into things too fast.
Here comes the parcel!
The bottle is over. I'll get some more.
Okay.
I've heard this part of the country is not at all safe at night?
Yes, yes. Dacoit issues, robbery.
Heard a lot.
Don't worry, sir.
My dogs are like military.
This country is not safe.
But my house is very very safe.
In the past, you'd just find logs, bicycles,
and furniture floating down the river.
But ever since the war began, this is the situation.
The Japanese won't leave until they've destroyed this land.
What a great time to have come to Malaya!
If you were only going to stay one night,
why did you even come back?
What am I supposed to do? Just sit here and hug you all day?
We need money to live, don't we?
Is making money the only thing that matters?
Don't we also need to live our lives?
Hey! You are also coming?
Yes, sir.
I need to meet some people in the city.
Don't worry.
Another month and a half.
By then, they'll be all grown and lively.
So, did Kuriachan come back after a month and a half?
Tension is mounting as the allied planes bomb ports
and supply facilities in Malaya,
while the Japanese forces answer with harsh measures...
Conditions remain severe,
with reports of intensified patrols and harsh punishments under Japanese command.
Go! Go! Go!
Move!
Shut up! Shut up!
- Be careful! - No! No! No!
Quiet! I said, quiet!
Damn it!
Come...
Kuriachan, careful!
Careful!
- No, no! - Careful, careful!
Hey!
Come!
These are a deadly breed, just like he said.
He must've roamed free, trusting these beasts to guard his place.
It's just their initial show of force.
Haven't we handled enough dogs before?
These mongrels aren't like any we've dealt with before.
Anyway, how can we leave without telling her?
Then just shout it from here.
Is this the kind of news you shout from a hundred feet away?
Soyi! Come!
Come here!
Come back...
Hey!
Without him, these mutts won't let us inside.
Look, they're arranged in wings, two in each.
They're not the sort to flinch if you throw a stone.
Hey! Hey!
Where are you going?
Damn!
Our only option is to tell her from here.
Isn't there a proper way to inform such news to her?
Is it right to inform a woman about her husband's death by yelling?
Man, people die here every day from bombs and bullets.
There's never a right way to inform such things.
Instead of doing what we came here for,
you're just wasting time!
Come with me if you want to.
I'm leaving.
Pothan, are you suggesting she should wait in this hut forever, hoping he'll return?
And what if these dogs won't let her leave?
What if she ends up trapped here like a prisoner?
Let her be.
It's the protection her husband set up for her, isn't it?
Let her deal with it.
I'm sure of it...
He must've suspected she'd run off with someone.
Remember what he said when he was drunk?
"A bitch and a woman are the same when they're in heat.
Both need to be locked up!"
If you can make it to Palang by five tomorrow, we can leave together.
If a bomb goes off near the port,
there won't be any ships going home for a long while.
Fine, you stay here, break the news of his death,
be there for the last rites, and then come.
I'm leaving.
Hey!
Pothan!
You...
The way the dogs behaved...
Nothing like that had ever happened before.
It was as if they had gone mad.
Perhaps that's how Yosiah trained them.
Those were tough times.
Back then, in many homes, women had to suffer many...
So, how long did Kuriachan wait there?
How long?
You should ask how many days!
When it comes to sheer stubbornness, no one can match Kuriachan.
Even the dogs took turns standing guard.
Soyi!
Are you okay?
Say something!
Can you hear me?
Soyi!
Are you fine?
Soyi!
Can you hear me?
Soyi!
And then?
Have you never noticed the pictures on this wall, Peeyoos?
Sorry.
Dogs can be taught anything.
It's the master
who must have the wisdom to choose what to teach.
Now see what these dogs had to go through.
In a family,
trust is everything.
Guarding dogs, protection setup... exceptional!
But sometimes, protection and restriction...
They both look the same.
I can understand posting dogs as guards
to protect someone from harm.
But why would he train them not to even let you step outside?
Heard Yosiah saying this to a local dog breeder.
"If she's in heat, she must be caged.
Be it a woman or a dog."
Anyway, no point in judging it now.
If you have any relatives somewhere,
I can take you to them.
I can't let you stay here alone.
I don't have anyone.
And then?
She didn't say anything else. She just went to bed.
We can confirm it's the same Mohan Pothan from her story who came here, right?
Yes, 150%!
Didn't Kuriachan have his own car?
He has two cars.
He keeps them in Thiruvalla and in Perumbavoor.
That's where his kennels and dog business are based.
Even if he brought them here, only a jeep can make it up to his house.
He usually gets me to drive him for local errands.
You know Kuriachan's friend Mohan Pothan, right, Appootty?
“Know him” might be too strong. I've only met him.
What's the difference?
You can meet a man.
That doesn't mean you truly know him, does it?
Different people want different things at different times.
And that's what brings trouble.
The idea was quite crazy!
Getting an illegitimate pup from a breed that's nearly impossible to catch.
They use different methods to get what they want, depending on where they are.
There was this Tibetan Rottweiler at the Madras Naval Base.
Tyson.
They somehow bred it and brought it in from who knows where.
It hurts to think that I was the one who dropped him off there.
It was only when he still didn't show up at the foothills even after four weeks
that we went looking for him.
By the second evening, his body was found at the foot of the cliff,
roughly 300 feet below.
The cause of death was a head injury from the fall.
The body was around three weeks old.
What about his dog?
The dog's body was estimated to be a week old.
No signs of external injury.
The cause of death was starvation.
Once Pothan was gone, there was no one left to feed it.
Oh.
And since it was tied to a tree, it couldn't have gone looking for food.
Poor thing.
Were you aware of this?
That was before I got here.
I've heard about it from Appootty Chettan.
Chettathi never mentioned it?
You think Kuriachan had anything to do with it?
From the way he talked, they didn't sound like enemies.
What about the Malaysian woman?
Mlaathi Chettathi's house is quite far from where Pothan sir had set up camp.
And she rarely leaves the house.
Don't people around here say she knows some Malaysian black magic?
So she wouldn't even need to go there herself, right?
"Black magic" is just an easy excuse people come up with,
when they've got no other way to explain something, isn't it?
Anyway, who even believes in black magic these days?
What exactly can't people explain?
It's about those dogs on Kaattukunnu hills.
Suppose a stranger starts climbing that hill...
Every hundred feet or so,
a dog will suddenly appear from the woods and block his path.
It sizes him up for a while.
It might bark or growl to scare him.
If he's the cowardly type, he'll turn back right then and there.
But those who've got the courage to keep going can try their luck.
But another hundred feet up, another dog will be waiting.
You have to pass through several of these check-posts to reach Kuriachan's house.
Is it really the way he says it is?
- I'll get the kerosene. - Okay.
A bar of soap and a matchbox!
Hey, what's up?
You never go to your hometown?
ANGEL
Hey, Peeyoos!
All you ever do is run errands like a servant, fetching rice, and kerosene.
Don't you ever think of your hometown or your family?
Damn it! What was the name of that place?
What was it?
- Konni... - Konnithazham.
Yeah, that's the one.
Last time, we went to Pathanamthitta to pick up a load.
To a timber yard near Konnithazham.
That's when I remembered that your hometown is Konnithazham.
I asked around, hoping to meet your family
and let them know how you're doing.
By "asked around",
we mean we rented a room and spent two days asking around town.
We showed your name in both English and Malayalam,
but no one there had heard of a Peeyoos.
What's your intention?
What intention?
Your intention behind lurking around this place.
I never asked why you're lurking here, did I?
We told you that already, even without you asking.
You did. Now let me go.
- Getting angry? - Hey, Soman! Soman!
Soman, let go, let go. Let go, Soman.
Listen, kid...
We know you're not here just to massage that old Malaysian hag's feet.
I don't need to know your real name or where you're from.
And I'm not asking either.
If a hundred people want Kuriachan dead, each would have their own reason.
Here, we're all aiming at the same goal post.
So that makes us teammates.
And that's why we decided not to tell anyone what we found out.
Last time I asked for your help, you refused.
- But the next time I ask... - He won't say no.
Right, he won't.
That scoundrel Kurian never went to Perumbavoor or Kothamangalam.
He must be right here on this bloody hill.
We must catch him before the police get to him.
Otherwise, he'll just bribe his way out.
And even if he doesn't, he'll probably get luxury treatment in jail.
We should be working together, Peeyoos.
Just remember that when the time comes.
Get going.
Hey!
Was it you who finished off that Mohan Pothan?
The heater's not working.
If you're staying longer,
there's a room downstairs getting vacated tomorrow.
- I won't be. - Room 208.
Mohan Pothan sir?
- Appootty? - That's me.
KAILASH LODGE
If heights make your head spin,
don't come any closer.
That's a 300-foot drop down there.
You'll be splattered to bits if you slip.
They'll have to dig through the dirt to gather what's left of you.
I expected you to make your move at the lodge.
Sit down.
Sit, man.
You came by the stream yesterday, didn't you?
I noticed the grass was trampled when I got back from my bath.
If you waited patiently despite all those chances to confront me,
you're not here just for me.
There's someone else you're after, right?
If it's a case that would make someone come after both Kuriachan and me...
The Kollam and Kovalam ones are long dead and buried.
That just leaves the Coimbatore guys.
But Kuriachan took care of that himself, paid them off and settled it.
Then there's that veterinarian from Chengannur.
That scoundrel!
But once he lost his leg in the accident,
he said he had no complaints.
So, which case are you here for, son?
If this is payback for something Kuriachan and I did when we were together,
shouldn't you have shown up much earlier?
Taking out just one of you won't be enough, right?
I know one will lead me to the other.
Those days are long gone, my boy!
That was back when we were like Mickey and Donald!
That bastard set me up in a case meant to throw me in jail for four to five years,
before he vanished.
He doesn't need much time to turn someone into an enemy.
He makes us do exactly what he wants, without us even realizing it.
We think the choices we made were our own.
It hits us only after we're already trapped.
Where is Kuriachan now?
I've searched the whole damn place.
No luck.
My search began right here.
A long time ago...
About ten, twenty years back,
there arose a situation when Kuriachan had to disappear, just like this.
It was a case involving an attack on a forest officer.
He vanished without a trace.
He resurfaced only after the settlement was made and the case was dropped.
No matter how much I asked, he never said where his hiding place was.
But once, I managed to corner him and make him talk.
And I got it out of him.
A narrow burrow, hidden somewhere in these hills or the jungle.
That means, a crack between the rocks,
something like a cave.
It has its own 24-hour freshwater spring inside.
He had trained dogs to guard the entrance
and fetch him fruits from the forest.
Turns out, he had set up that place to live off the grid,
in case he ever needed to.
Back then, I assumed it was just a fantasy story he cooked up
to get me off his back.
But after all this time searching for him,
I'm beginning to wonder if there was some truth to it.
Didn't you notice the dog I brought with me?
She's so much in heat right now, practically on fire.
She's been tied up here for days.
Not a single stray has shown up, not even to sniff around.
There's only so long a dog can resist mating, right?
If the ones here can resist past that point,
it means they're still under a master's command,
keeping them in line.
That right there is proof that Kuriachan is here.
A 1500-acre estate.
An army of dogs serving as his slaves.
And him at the center, their commander-in-chief.
That was the dream Kuriachan used to rave about when he was stoned.
From the looks of it, he seems to have pulled it off.
Aren't there people living beyond these mountains?
Halfway up the mountain, the Brahmagiri Reserve Forest begins.
Beyond that stretch is Karnataka.
It's completely uninhabited.
Besides, which corner of which mountain would you even start looking?
It's a maze of mountains and ravines.
I believe he visits that Malaysian woman on the hill every now and then.
But we can't simply go up there and catch him.
The dogs will alert him long before we even get there.
And he'll disappear again.
Don't imagine you can bring Kuriachan down on your own.
But if we join forces, we might succeed.
Wouldn't it be wiser to settle our score after that?
What is it?
HOTEL PEARL VIEW MURDER CASE
It's just a lousy movie.
They're fooling people, claiming it's based on a real incident or news story.
How come you asked me to come here?
Have you watched this film, Pappachan?
It's based on the Pearl View case, isn't it?
It's a classic.
The guest house staff said you had gone to Kochi.
Yeah, I have some friends in the police force there.
What's your opinion on this Peeyoos?
What about him?
As soon as his salary arrives by money order,
he splits it and sends it to two other people.
One share goes to Unni,
who was hired by Mlaathi Chechi's son to bring in a house help.
The other goes to the home address of the Peeyoos arranged by Unni.
But that Peeyoos isn't our Peeyoos!
It's by paying the real Peeyoos and Unni a commission every month,
that our Peeyoos got in here as a replacement.
So all those stories he told about Pathanamthitta?
All lies!
The fourth accused in the Pearl View case disappeared midway through the trial.
Manikandan.
He approached the producers who turned that story into a film,
demanding life rights and a share of the profits.
From what I heard, he has the exact same build as our Peeyoos.
No photos or sketches exist to confirm it, though.
To verify that lead, we need to begin with Appootty.
He's the one Peeyoos is closest to, around here.
I'm starving. Could you get me something to eat?
Sure, I can.
What will you give me in return?
Hey, fix your moustache, man! It's coming off!
Shut up and get out of here, man!
Will he cause us any trouble?
That's why I asked you to stop fooling around.
Let's wrap up what we came here for and get out of here.
Yeah, wrap it up. Who's stopping you?
Hey,
I need you to get that old woman out of there for a few days.
How am I supposed to do that?
Slip something in her food to give her an upset stomach.
That'll give you a reason to admit her to the hospital.
- Yeah, right! - What?
That old woman tests everything,
even plain water, on ants and roaches before she drinks it.
Even if I manage to get her away, what do you plan to do?
We want to search the house and its premises.
There's nothing there, Chetta.
He is definitely not in the house.
I've already spent several days scouring below that cliff.
There's not a spot I haven't checked in these past few months.
They don't maintain a guest register.
Mohan Pothan stayed here for one day.
Soon after, a young guy came and checked in.
Pothan was in Room 203, the other guy in 208.
From the description, he sounds a lot like Peeyoos.
When did he check out?
The same day Pothan left with Appootty.
- Let's go. - Okay.
- Chettayi! - What?
Remember that guy Cheenu in 6371?
in 6371?
That truck from Udupi?
That's the one.
Remember the cleaner on that truck?
Cheenu, with the reddish hair.
Oh, yeah.
His uncle used to be a forest watcher in the Brahmagiri forests.
I've heard him say that during raids,
the weed farmers hide their stock in a mountain crevice.
On this side of the forest border.
That means, in Kerala.
This was 10-30 years ago.
That area is deserted now.
Could that be the mountain Mohan mentioned,
the one with the caves?
But there are many mountains there, right?
How would we know which one?
Kuriachan can't possibly control the dogs from here
if he's on a mountain that far away.
So we can rule out anything past Kokkamala Mountain.
But that still leaves five or six mountains, right?
There's supposedly a giant rock on this mountain's summit,
shaped like a bilimbi fruit.
That's what I remember Cheenu saying.
Well then, why don't we go check it out?
Here's what you do.
Leave your truck back in your hometown and take a bus here.
Why?
It's better not to leave any trace that you've been here.
But we're not even--
No, Soman.
He has a point.
Another hazard to note are the dogs.
Instead of going too high, we should descend along Madakkupaara's slope.
The higher we climb, the deeper we'll be in the dogs' territory.
If they smell something wrong, they won't let us through.
We have someone with experience right here. Just ask him.
Right, Chetta?
You must've realized that when you climbed the hill that day, right?
How did you know it was me?
You just admitted it. Now I'm certain.
ANNAPURNA
What's up, Appootty?
Applying for a government job?
A government job?
At this age?
What are you up to?
Nothing!
I just stopped by to post a letter back home.
Did you really have to cross the border into Karnataka just to post a letter?
Now it'll have to go through the entire interstate mail system
before it reaches Kerala, right?
- No, I didn't come here only for this. - Right.
- I was hired for a trip nearby. - I see.
When it suddenly crossed my mind,
I figured I'd post it while I'm here.
Let me guess, you quickly wrote this letter on the jeep ride here, right?
At 12:30 p.m.
What? What's this about?
What do you mean by 12:30 p.m.?
TO SOYI KURIAN
Sajan Paul.
Soyi Kurian.
Josutty.
Ravi Shenoy.
Before going into hiding, Kuriachan wrote these letters himself and gave them to me,
to mail out every few months if he didn't return soon enough.
Did he write all these letters and hand them over the last time he vanished?
No, not at all.
Some of these letters go way back.
Kuriachan's had this system in place for ages.
It's not just for Chettathi.
There are letters for many others as well.
You wretched man!
Because of people like you, we can't even be certain if he's alive or dead!
Tell me at least now, Appootty.
Where is he?
I don't know.
- Dad! - Oh no!
You better stop your double game!
He's already tricked me enough with his smiles and friendly acts.
I don't need the same from you!
I don't know!
Dad!
Talk!
SIX YEARS AGO
I got totally soaked, Appootty.
The plan was only to scare him.
I never imagined the boy would actually stab him.
He must have snapped for a moment.
But isn't it good to have someone like him around,
like a personal bodyguard?
Still, I need to cool his head a little.
So what happens with this case now?
It's all on me.
Can't the DySP make it go away?
No one’s doing me any favors this time.
They have no stake in it.
And that's not all.
There are plenty of people waiting for a chance to screw me over,
including close friends.
Speaking of which...
You don't have any such ideas, do you?
What? Me?
Good for you if you don't.
So what next?
Are you heading to Thiruvalla?
No. No way!
Those scoundrels will sniff me out there.
You mean the police, or the other guys?
They're all scoundrels, aren't they?
So you're off to that old forest hideout you used
during the forest officer case.
Do you know where it is?
No, you never told me.
Good. You don't need to know that.
Not that I don't trust you.
Whoever comes to make you talk
might not be gentle.
If you know it,
you'll end up giving it away.
Take this.
He packed a few essentials from home and left that very night.
I dropped him off myself at Thovalpatti.
He never said where he was going after that.
- You haven't seen him since? - No.
Who's this "boy" Kuriachan mentioned?
- I don't know. - Is his name Manikandan?
I've only ever heard Kuriachan call him "the boy".
All I know is, he was his right-hand man.
They're not letting us through, Chettathi!
Come.
Take this.
- Hey! - Sorry, I slipped.
It nearly hit my head!
- Sorry, Chettayi. - Screw you!
"Kerala's Breeder duo sets new canine standards."
He's with the police.
He's the new officer handling the Kuriachan missing case.
What about Peeyoos? Where is he?
- He went home. - Went home?
He didn't tell me.
Do you know this Mohan Pothan?
Yes.
Does he come here?
He visited once.
When was that?
Five or six years ago.
You haven't seen him after that?
No.
He died after falling into a ravine near this Kaattukunnu,
eight months ago.
Yeah, I know.
The police questioned me quite a bit about this back then.
I haven't seen him.
Would anyone really take all this trouble to come and stay here, just to breed dogs?
Well, people like them have their own ways, don't they?
That's true!
Kuriachan has pulled off quite a few stunts himself.
And from what I've gathered, Pothan was involved in all of them.
What exactly was this
deep connection they shared?
He never spoke of it.
And even if he had,
I don't think I could have made sense of it.
Gradually, things went sour between them.
Yes.
Any idea what happened?
All I know is, it had something to do with a police case.
From what I've heard, Kuriachan framed Pothan in that case.
Maybe.
So you think Kuriachan betrayed Pothan.
It was Mohan Pothan who ended up in jail.
But that doesn't tell you who betrayed whom.
That's just how they were.
How did Kuriachan treat you?
He was normal.
No quarrels?
No.
Sorry, I didn't mean to get personal--
I haven't killed Kuriachan.
That's what you're getting at, isn't it?
The officers before you asked me the same thing many times.
I haven't killed him.
Pass me the water.
Don't finish it. That's the only bottle we've got.
You damn moron!
You think you saved millions by not bringing one more bottle?
I forgot.
"Forgot!"
Here, man.
I have another one.
Here you go.
It was a good idea to climb down the cliff first.
Saved us the trouble of dealing with those dogs.
Don't let your guard down yet. We might still run into them.
Even if they come, you are with us, right?
Speaking of which... Peeyoos,
why do the dogs have a soft spot for you?
What soft spot?
They just got used to me once I started staying with Chettathi.
When I first came here, they wouldn't even let me step on the ground.
What happened?
I just told you. They wouldn't let me step on the ground.
Unfortunately, Chettathi wasn't home when I got there.
She'd been in the hospital for two days with troubled breathing.
Scram!
Like anyone could've heard me!
There wasn't a single soul around.
So what did you do for two days?
Stayed up that damn tree! What else could I do?
Those sons of bitches just wouldn't leave!
They took turns, keeping watch right below me.
But when those dogs kept me stuck up there for two days,
one thing became clear to me.
If they were behaving like they were trained for it,
then Mohan Pothan was right. Kuriachan had to be nearby.
So I swore I'd see this through, right there on that tree branch.
So how did you finally get down?
Chettathi came back after two days.
You said Mohan Pothan came here five or six years ago.
Was Kuriachan here then?
No.
Where had he gone?
Do you men tell your wives everywhere you go?
And even if you do, is it ever the truth?
Fine. So Pothan came that day... and then?
He inquired whether Kuriachan was here and left.
So Pothan must've been arrested in Kothamangalam soon after he left here.
Word was, Kuriachan was the one who set him up.
I was his partner in every dirty deed,
and in the end, he set me up, didn't he?
He's not here.
No way I'm going down alone.
I told you, he's not here.
I already did a sweep of Perumbavoor and Thrissur before coming here.
Those women would have told me if they knew.
That's about how loyal they are to their dear husband.
I can't keep dodging the cops like this forever.
If you know something, you need to tell me.
I don't know.
He always cared for you a little more than the others.
You're the one he went through all that trouble to bring from Malaysia!
No matter who else betrays him,
he probably still believes you never would.
If you know that, why are you still here?
Funny how some things hit right on point, you know?
No man can judge another as precisely as a dog can.
Your ex-husband said that.
Do you ever think of Yosiah?
Yosiah was right about everything.
His dogs could judge a man just by looking in his eyes.
That's why they never let Kuriachan near the pier.
Kuriachan is the kind who'd kill a man without blinking,
but he'd never harm a dog.
For him to go that far, to shoot and kill them...
it wasn't just lust for you.
That whole act your Malaysian husband put on with his dogs. Calling it "protection".
He couldn't stand that sight.
Once Kuriachan targets someone,
he knows exactly how to trap them and put them behind bars.
Look at the state I'm in.
That's how he got Yosiah locked up back then.
I came up with the idea
when he kept ranting about how he had to have you.
All that talk about bombs exploding was just a story.
And the World War provided a convenient cover.
We even agreed to share you if we managed to get you.
But when he finally got you, he showed his true colors.
As usual!
Anyway, whatever.
I was the one who gave him the ideas for all his crazy schemes and supported him.
When he comes back, just ask him casually.
Anyway, it's all pointless now!
Before Yosiah got out of jail after his remand period,
we had already set sail here with you.
He might still be looking for you back there.
Or maybe he's long dead and gone.
Either way,
this is your destiny.
Life imprisonment, right here in Kuriachan's custody!
Life imprisonment!
I'm dead tired, Chettayi!
Give me some water.
Damn it!
Oh no!
I think there's a stream nearby.
Don't you hear running water?
Really?
Hey, Soman!
Go fetch some water.
Give me five minutes.
Let me just catch my breath.
I'll go check.
Take this.
Give it.
How many days after Pothan left did Kuriachan arrive?
A week later.
Appootty told us everything up to when he dropped Kuriachan here that night.
Did Kuriachan say anything in particular to you?
Like he had to meet someone, or was going somewhere?
He didn't say anything.
Just packed his clothes and stuff
and left that very night.
Even Appootty has no idea where he went.
But you remember that case...
the one from 10-20 years ago, when Kuriachan stabbed that forest officer?
Appootty knew he went into hiding back then,
somewhere like a cave.
A gap just wide enough for one man to crawl in or out.
Trained dogs to stand guard and assist him.
More dogs stationed farther out for surveillance.
- Have you heard about this? - Yes.
He told me the exact same thing back then.
Knowing the kind of stories around Kuriachan,
we can't dismiss it outright, right?
So you've started drinking alone too?
If you want the European stuff, it's on the bottom shelf.
You don't have to answer to anyone for a few days.
You're the queen of this castle.
I need to lie low for a few days.
If the cops or anyone else shows up,
you know nothing.
That's true. I don't know anything.
Right.
So just tell them that.
Mohan Pothan was here.
Yeah, I heard.
He won't be bothering us for the next five or six years.
A few days back,
the police arrested him from Kothamangalam.
I'm the one who got him locked up.
Just like you had Yosiah thrown in jail back then, right?
It's been so many years.
I don't think there's any point in discussing this topic anymore.
That's right.
Haven't I served my life imprisonment here already?
I kept hoping none of Pothan's words were true.
That was the only time...
It's the only little lie I've ever told you.
You call that little?
I did it...
out of love.
Once this problem is over,
I'll come back.
We'll talk then.
Send the jeep in for repairs and lie low for a week.
Okay.
Chettathi...
Chettathi.
Chettathi!
We heard your younger son visited.
You should discuss with him and do the needful.
He's ready to take you with him, or get you a house in town.
In any case, you shouldn't stay here all alone.
But I'm not alone here.
That's the main reason I'm bringing this up.
Peeyoos, who's staying with you...
Everything he told you about his home and village is fake.
Of all those who wanted Kuriachan dead,
only a few are still alive today.
Many have died at different times and places.
Some fell to their deaths, like Mohan Pothan.
There are those who drowned in the river.
Some slit their wrists, others died in accidents.
Every car involved in those "accidents",
had its brake cables cut.
I had a brake failure myself when I got here.
Maybe Kuriachan did it,
or maybe someone else did it for him.
Even in that case from six years ago, that forced Kuriachan into hiding,
he wasn't the one who did the stabbing.
It was a young man who was with him then.
Manikandan...
If your game is over, shall we go?
My guess is,
the love and respect Peeyoos has for Kuriachan,
is far greater than what your sons have for their father.
Maybe because he was raised that way.
For a trainer like Kuriachan,
raising a loyal and obedient dog like him, isn't hard.
I've had my doubts for a while that you were Kuriachan's bodyguard.
When I dangled the bait about a non-existent cave,
you bit.
And now this...
just seals it.
I only wanted to see if you really knew where he was hiding.
Only when I got closer
did I realize the disciple too was sincerely searching for his master.
But that's a good thing.
While everyone's out to bring Kuriachan down,
at least you're trying to save your master.
You're in deep trouble, son.
This time you'll learn how to spell
"Kerala Police" in both English and Malayalam!
Untie him.
Shouldn't we get going?
The DySP and his team are waiting.
Go after him, sir! Don't worry about me.
Here, take this.
Hey!
In case Peeyoos shows up here before we catch him,
pretend everything’s normal.
He shouldn't know that his cover is blown.
If he senses you suspect him, he'll become alert.
We will handle this from here.
Sir!
Sukumaran sir!
Sir!
Five... Give me five minutes.
What is it?
Just checking if there's still a last ray of hope.
It's an Elayadikattan.
The viper's granddaddy, you could say.
Since your body is quite warm,
the venom will spread instantly.
In 20 seconds,
you'll feel it kick in, like smoke pouring from your ears.
Already feeling it, aren't you?
I'll let you go.
Help me, man.
Who's letting who go?
Please, do something!
I was six when I first visited Trivandrum.
My father and mother took me there to pray at the temple.
We rented a room at a lodge near Chala market.
After scraping together ten paise for a fruit juice, they handed it to me
and went into the room, locking the door behind them.
The story goes they were lying there, hugging each other.
When I came back after having the juice, all I saw was dust and smoke everywhere.
The roof tiles had been blown off.
During their final embrace, they had a stick of dynamite pressed to their chests.
My last memory of them
is mattress cotton and bits of flesh splattered across the walls of the room.
I turned to stone that day, inside and out!
Since then, I haven't felt a single ounce of sentiment...
for anyone...
or anything!
Don't... Don't go!
Please!
Hey! Don't go, man!
Hey!
Help me before you go!
Were we a bit late in going to see Mlaathi Chettathi, Paappachan?
Why do you say that?
Did you notice those mountains across the way?
Wouldn't they have such caves and crevices?
What are you getting at, sir?
This whole mystery around Kuriachan's disappearance...
That kind of a bizarre hiding place...
Like a cave...
I remember reading somewhere that Jim Corbett once hid in a quarry...
to ambush a tiger.
Take a look.
Be it from Kerala or Karnataka,
no one can access this area.
So?
You think Kuriachan's been hiding out in some rock crevice,
with a pack of dogs guarding him?
And that too, all these years?
Chettathi!
Yes?
Since you'd gone home anyway,
you could've stayed back for a week or two, right?
And leave you here all alone?
What's with the binoculars?
Just enjoying the view.
Right.
Kuriachan has seen every breed of dog there is.
Yet he always complains he's never found the perfect one.
Is there any breed Kuriachan couldn't find?
He used to say, if he couldn't find the perfect one,
he'd train one that showed promise and make it perfect.
And did he ever make one?
I thought he never did...
until I found out who you are!
Not even his children were this devoted to him.
There are loyal dogs, too.
How long do you plan on staying here?
Until I finish what I came here to do.
We went to Chettathi's house looking for Peeyoos.
What for?
Hoping for a lead to Kuriachan.
Actually, the answers we were looking for, were right there, weren't they?
Do you intend to do anything to me?
There's no need for it until a reason comes up.
And if a reason comes up?
Some dogs have only one master, Chettathi.
You remember Peeyoos's story about being chased up a tree by the dogs
when he first came here?
He climbed the tree on his own.
Right?
But to get back down,
he had to sit on that branch until Chettathi arrived.
We saw today just how obedient those dogs are to Chettathi.
Your hunches and guesses are all fine, sir.
But you have no idea what Kuriachan is really like.
Kuriachan isn't the type to stay cooped up in a cave,
suffering as if he were tied up.
If it's only for a few days, that's believable.
He might have gone into hiding willingly.
Just like you said. For a few days.
But what if the dogs Kuriachan counted on to guard him...
aren't actually under his control?
What if the one deciding whether he gets out of that cave or not...
isn't Kuriachan?
But sometimes, protection and restriction...
They both look the same.