Kerala Crime Files (2023-…): Season 1, Episode 1 - Day 1 - Crime Scene - full transcript

A sex worker, Swapna, is found dead in a run-down lodge in Kochi. Circle Inspector Kurian and Sub-Inspector Manoj from the North Police Station begin their investigation.

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[RJ on radio]
Hello, I am Mathukutty.

It's a cloudy day in Kochi.

But our beloved Kochi
is going to march

from darkness towards
the light of development.

Today is February 6th...

-One tea, please.
-Okay.

The cricket world cup that
India hosts will start this month.

-Hari, a cup of tea, please.
-Okay.

[RJ continues]
Valentine's Day will be here soon.

But February 2011 will be known
in history for something new...

You're late today.



Yeah, I took a nap after lunch.

Vinod, this is Sharath from Grand.

Vinod sir has gone to the market.

-Oh.
-Who is this?

Tell him Sharath from the lodge
at the cemetery junction had called.

-Okay?
-Sure, brother.

Cut a chicken for me.

Less than 2 kilos.

Sir, is it for biryani or curry?

That's none of your business.

I asked so that
I can cut it accordingly.

Okay, got it.

Cut it for a curry.

Hey, tell Vinod to deliver it
to my house.



-Got it?
-Yes, sir. I'll tell him.

Okay, then. Thanks.

Bro, get me an empty cover.

Cover...

No, I don't have any.

-None at all?
-No.

To hell with this rain.

-Wait. Go after the rain.
-No, I'll leave.

Sir, is there any tap running here?

Water tap? No.

Strange. The taps have gone dry.

It must be a tap on the top floor.

Let me check.

-Adil!
-Yeah?

Is the tap in your room leaking?

No. What happened?

-The tank is emptying in no time.
-Oh.

-Let me check.
-Okay.

Sir, is your bathroom tap open
by any chance?

What?

In the bathroom...
is there any leak in the tap?

There's no leak here.

Hey, close the door.

Shit, it's locked.

Damn. They've locked and left,
leaving the tap running.

North Police Station.

Stop!

It's been four days since
the princess lost her golden anklet.

The thief is still hiding
in the dark!

Many people here see me
as a loser king

who can't protect
his own daughter's valuables.

My heart that's tender and...

-Hey, Vinod.
-What, sir?

-What's it, sir?
-When should I speak?

Easy. Say the dialogue when
Sahadevan sir says, "Anparasa."

Look at this properly.

Sir, check your phone... phone!

-Anparasa!
-It's CI sir. It's urgent.

Anparasa!

-Hey, Anparasa!
-That's your cue!

Present, sir!

Sorry... Your Majesty!

Is your head dear to you?

Yes, Your Majesty!
I'm newly married.

Only six days left
to the full moon...

In these six days,

whoever stole the princess' golden anklet
must crawl on his knees here.

If not, Anparasa...

No ifs here.

His death is written on my spear.

Is it suicide?

Knowing our bad luck,
it must be a murder.

Will it ruin my honeymoon?

Sir...

-Sir, I've started.
-[laughing]

Manoj, at least get into the vehicle
and honk to give me some hope.

Sorry, sir.
I'll be there in ten minutes.

Kurien sir had called.

-I'll be back soon.
-Okay.

-Did you watch the performance?
-Yeah, I laughed a lot.

Oh. My serious performance
looked funny to you?

I didn't mean it. I saw policemen
doing this for the first time.

These days, people laugh at
whatever we cops do. Right?

Are you okay to sleep alone tonight?

You're leaving me alone, aren't you?

Sorry...

I'll be late.

No worries.
I'll study physics tonight.

That will help me sleep soon.

Sir, let's leave.

I've got to go.

Yes, sir.

The Circle Inspector
is still checking the place.

No, it is not over.

Bro, I'll take leave then.

It's your duty time.

Duty?

What do you mean?

You saw the body first, right?

You can't leave just like that.

The police won't let you go.

I'm scared, man.

You don't have that problem.

Even I am scared.

Aren't you from Kannur?

My father is a fish trader
in Kannur.

Not a thug.

Sir... Sir!

Yes?

Sir, can I go home now?

My sister and her husband have come.

My mother had told me
to buy chicken.

Are you playing dumb?

SI sir and CI sir are upstairs.
Stay quiet right here.

Sir, let me tell...

See, I told you.
They won't leave you.

-Hey, you...
-Sir?

What's your name?

-Afsal.
-Afsal...

-Keep an eye on him.
-Sure, sir.

No, sir... I...

Sit. Didn't I tell you?

God...

What's it, man?

Sir, is this the mark you mentioned?

She must have been tied
with her own saree.

Otherwise, I don't see any marks
of beating or kicking.

Hey, come here.

Take photos of the body.
A close-up shot of the face too.

Yes, sir.

-Mark that, please.
-Okay, sir.

-Sir...
-The bed has signs of struggle.

She must have been murdered
right here.

She must have been put under
the shower to check if she was alive.

There is some food waste.

But there's no restaurant name
or bill in the bag.

The culprit must not have gone far.

Investigate within this area.

-Pradeep, don't miss anything.
-Sure, sir.

What is it, Manoj?
Found her horoscope or something?

Sir, this has some tobacco,
a pack of condoms and some cash.

Manoj, come with me.

-Pradeep, you too.
-Sir.

She looks like a sex worker, sir.

In that case, there'll be
less pressure from the top.

What about that guy
at the reception?

-What's your name, man?
-Sharath.

-Come again?
-Sharath.

Oh.

-Sharath, sit down.
-Sir?

-It's okay, sir.
-Sit, man.

Don't be scared.

You saw the body first.

That's why we are questioning you.

Tell sir in detail whatever you saw.

All this is new to me, sir.

We cops also rarely see such things.

You continue.

Did you hear some noise and go up?

I went up
because there was no water.

What?

Sir...

Sir, I have morning duty.
He does the night shift.

I switch on the motor as soon as
I come in the morning.

The water usually lasts
the whole day, or longer.

But today the water got over
before evening.

I switched on the motor once again.

By the time I drank tea
and came back,

it was raining heavily
and my feet were muddy.

I went in and opened the tap
to wash my feet, but it was dry.

I thought
there must be a leak somewhere,

so I checked all the rooms, sir.

I noticed water flowing out of 210.

At first,
I knocked on the door, but...

there was no sign of anyone inside.

That's when I looked
through the window.

You said there was a man
with this lady.

Yes, sir.

Has he come here before?

No, sir. This was the first time.

What time did they check in?

Sir, around 1:00 or 1:30.

Remember what time they left?

Maybe at 5:00, but...

before leaving, he went out
a couple of times

and came back after buying
something in a bag.

Then he left in a hurry by 5:00,
carrying the same bag.

What did he look like?

What's his approximate age?

He looked 30-35 years old, right?

Yeah... No, sir!
I never saw him.

He looked somewhat like him, sir...

[laughs] Nice.

Sir, the register has a name and address.
Nothing else is there as proof.

What man? You rent out rooms
without any identity proof?

That, sir...

Will anyone come to this rundown lodge
if we demand proof?

This is "grand" only in the name.

Sir, here is the address.

Shiju, Parayil House, Neendakara.

Neendakara...

Come.

Manoj, call the Neendakara inspector
and give these details.

Also check if we can get his photo.

He may not have gone there
out of fear.

He must be staying with a friend
or a relative around here.

-Check if he has friends in Ernakulam.
-Sure, sir.

The forensic team will come
only in the morning, right?

Since it's too late, let them
come in the morning.

Anyway, secure the crime scene
and put two guys on watch.

-Listen, Manoj...
-Sir.

-We need to identify the body.
-I'll ask around in this area, sir.

We'll get someone who knows her
because she was a sex worker.

If you get his photo from Neendakara,
send it to all the police stations.

Then complete the inquest by morning
and send the body for post-mortem.

Okay, sir.

What about the owner of this lodge?
Will he come?

He is in Dubai, sir. He has left
everything to Sharath to manage.

Then let him wait here.

If we get that guy... Shiju...
We need someone to confirm it's him.

No point questioning him again.

I'll probe him again tomorrow, sir.

Pradeep says nobody other than him
has seen that woman here.

-Okay. Good night.
-Okay, sir.

-Good night.
-Let's go.

-Pradeep sir.
-Sir.

-Got a copy of the photo?
-I've already asked them, sir.

-Clear out the people.
-Move away, everyone. Move...

-Shaji sir.
-Yeah.

Oh, it's you? You never showed up
after you got the job.

What can I do, sir?
That's how a policeman's life is.

The election is in two months.

Our party will retain power.

Things have changed for you.
You're employed now.

You must donate more to the party.

No problem.

I've come for something else.

A Shiju from Parayil House,
Neendakara. You know him?

Shiju, Parayil House, Neendakara?

There's nobody like that.

-Sure?
-Yeah.

There was a Shiju, but he is dead...
and his address was not Parayil House.

-Are you sure?
-Damn sure.

You can check with the postwoman
if you are going that way.

See if there is a new name
that's not on the voters' list.

Okay, sir.

Let's make a move.

Tell me if you get him.
I have to add him to the voters' list.

No such trouble for you.
He will be going to jail.

Lost? Pass it on to me. Let me play.

What happened, Vinu?
You seem to be worried.

-Sunil sir...
-Yeah?

Will they add me
to this investigation team?

I've been waiting for so long.

Will they keep me out again
because I'm a newbie?

Come on, Vinu. I'll recommend you
if they want a replacement for me.

Happy?

A policeman's job is not like
what you see in films. It's tough.

You can't even go home.

Sir, what's the fun in going home
when it's so exciting here?

You think so
because you're unmarried.

Sir, you are lazy.

Sir, we cops must always be agile.

Sure...

What's our motto?
"Mridhu Bhave, Dhrida Kruthye."

If we had that Neendakara address,
we could've personally gone there.

We could have caught him.

Here... I lost.

-Then...
-Yeah?

They haven't cleared the payment

for the Chalakudy trip I took
for that LP case.

Want me to go to Neendakara too?

Lost. Take it.

No point telling you, sir.

Our CI sir is good.

He rocks.

His mind is focused on investigating
the case and catching the culprit.

What do you know?

Kurien sir shows off too much.

You know what he asks first?

Not where the body is, but whether
the media persons have come.

Really?

He picks up a case only to see
his own photo in newspapers.

Why are you laughing, dude?

Not only women, even when two cops
come together, they gossip.

Then stop talking to me.
Lie down facing the other side.

What? Are you going to sleep?

I am going to think about the case.

What are those clowns doing here?

Does this woman look familiar?

No, sir. I don't know.

I don't know her.

Isn't this Swapna?

Who?

Sorry, the woman
looks like Swapna, sir.

She does "that" work.

What work?

Come with me for a moment.

Sir, she works only in Kaloor.

I don't know too much.

She comes to the auto stand in
the morning at 8:30, stays till 10:00.

Then she comes at 7:00 p.m.

She will hang around there
till midnight.

I have only limited knowledge.

This is enough.
Your limited knowledge.

Let's go there.

Come, sit in the vehicle.

Sir, not in your vehicle.

I'll come in mine. "Friend."

Want us to escort you or what?

Get in!

Sir, if people come to know the police
have taken me, no girl will marry me.

People are just bluffing.

So many times
I have travelled in this vehicle.

Didn't I get a girl to marry?

No need to worry.
Come, get in.

-Is that so?
-Come.

-Are you comfortable?
-No problem, sir.

But my auto is more convenient.

"Shiju, Parayil House, Neendakara."

Shiju...

No, sir.
There's no such address here.

-No such address?
-No.

-All right.
-Okay.

Let's go. That address is fake.

-Sir...
-Yeah?

Pull over there, please.

Sir, you'll get some information
if you ask these people.

Then you bring them here.

Sir, isn't it bad?

Someone I know might see.

Take it easy, man. They'll think
that you got a customer.

-Go and bring them.
-Sir, please...

Get out, man!

Good night...

Sister!

-Hello.
-You didn't study physics tonight?

How did you find out?

You're awake. That's why.

Yeah, right.

-Will you be late?
-A bit.

Go to bed.
I'll call you when I return.

-Okay then.
-Bye.

-Was that your wife?
-Yeah.

Sir, why don't you take a month off?

-I've applied for leave.
-Okay.

But the prime minister
is visiting next week

to inaugurate
the Vallarpadam Terminal.

-Kurien sir told me to go after that.
-Oh.

Hope this case doesn't drag on.

It won't. He said
she is a sex worker, right?

It doesn't matter
whether we get him or not.

Sir, they are hesitating to come.

-They're scared of policemen.
-Then I'll go get them, sir.

-What did they say?
-Sir, I asked about everything.

They know Swapna,
and they had seen her two days ago.

But she was not part of their group.

They don't know any more.

Which team is Swapna part of?

She was in Lathika's group.

She lives with her too.

You should ask Lathika
if you want to know anything.

Then get Lathika's address
from them.

I know that sister's house, sir.

"Sister," eh?

She hires me for her trips.

I've dropped her home a few times.
That's how I know her.

Come here, my friend.
Let me ask you some questions.

Sir, I hope you still have
the same regard for me.

As if I had any.

-I drive an auto with dignity--
-Sure, get in.

Yes, Manoj. What's up?

Sir, the Neendakara Sub-Inspector
called me.

He said Shiju's address is fake.

Fuck.

-Did you identify the victim?
-Yes, sir.

The dead woman's name is Swapna.

A prostitute in the Kaloor area.

No more information at the moment.

She stays with another woman
named Lathika.

Nothing much other than this.
Lathika may be able to reveal more.

I've got someone who knows her.

We are on the way to meet her.

Do one thing.

Tell her to come tomorrow
and claim the body.

-Got it?
-Okay, sir.

Sir, this one. The first house.

Dear, isn't this Lathika's house?

Yeah, Mom is not here.

Where is she?

She has gone to work.

Does Swapna stay here?

No, upstairs.

Can you open her room for us?

Okay.

-Let me get the key.
-Okay, dear.

-Pradeep sir, go and check.
-Okay, sir.

-Which class are you in?
-Tenth.

-Are you the studious type?
-No way.

She must be getting A-pluses
in all subjects.

Does Swapna stay alone?

No, Bindu aunty stays with her.

-How long have they been here?
-Since quite some time.

Did you see them today, dear?

No. Usually, I see them
when I return from school.

I didn't see them today.

Sir, I see only some clothes
and stuff. No ID or anything.

Sir, can I talk to my mom?

Why not? She will come with you.
Go with her.

Hey!

Let me get my phone.

It's from home.

My hands are hurting.

Untie me.

Hey, Shiju!

Free my hands.

-Sir, good morning.
-Good morning.

The victim is not an actress
or the daughter of a politician.

Sir, he had left here
in September 2009.

That Neendakara address is fake.

If it was Shiju who had made
that call to the lodge,

our Central Station CCTV camera
would have caught him.

He is weird.

Nobody has seen Shiju
except for the receptionist Sharath.

It was not an easy case to solve.

I've no idea
where we messed up.

Even if we take days, months
or years, we must nab that bastard.