Kabadadaari (கபடதாரி)

1977, TADA

1977, TADA DEPARTMENT OF ARCHAEOLOGY

Hello, who is speaking?

-Is your dad at home, Dear? -Wait, I'll call him.

Daddy, phone for you.

Hello, Inspector Ranjan here.

Sir, someone has been murdered in the archaeological department.

The treasure found at Tada site is missing, sir.

What happened over there?

I have informed Ranjan sir.

Please come here at once, sir.

KABADADAARI

A MAN IN DISGUISE

What are your daily activities?

A policeman's life is like

the old Government of India's Doordarshan TV channel.

No changes whatsoever.

I will wake up at 6 o'clock sharp.

After doing some push-ups and pull-ups,

without fail

I'll be at the police station by 8:30.

Is the sub inspector of police given a gun?

Traffic police doesn't get any weapon

let alone a gun.

Gun? What for, sir?

To shoot the ones without license?

-No. -Then for what, sir?

You know, these boys under the guise of riding a bike, do eve-teasing

and create public nuisance.

I need a gun to shoot such riff-raffs.

And for how long you have been a traffic sub-inspector?

Two years.

-So? -Sir.

I've filed more cases than anyone in the last two years.

I joined the police force to work in the crime department.

Sir, give me just one chance. If you set your heart, it can be done.

What's wrong with you?

You scored badly in the written test. How can you expect to work in crime?

I was suffering from typhoid on that day.

Stop spinning yarns like a school-boy.

Will you accept bribes?

-No. -Hey!

If God gives you lemons, you should learn to make lemonade!

-Sir? -Otherwise,

you'll lose even your traffic post.

This place is like a temple donation box.

Why are you turning your back to the Goddess of Wealth?

Go, attend to your work.

-Go, I say! -Sir!

Your hobbies?

Hobbies...

Playing chess and watching crime series.

An ordinary soldier killed the king.

Yay! Super!

Don't feel bad.

You played very well, okay?

-I hope the children didn't trouble you. -Not at all.

Come on, catch me.

Please take this for this month's expenses.

-I don't need it, sir. -Accept it, please.

-Thanks a ton, sir. -Thank you.

Sex?

You know that I'm male, don't you?

I wasn't talking about your gender.

I asked if you have prior experience in sex or not?

Oh! You want to know that.

No.

Not even once?

Okay, bye. Time just flew talking to you.

-Okay, thank you. Bye. -All the best.

-Hello, Mom. -Do you like the girl?

I like all the girls. And they like me too.

I thought I could marry

-one girl from each area. -Hey!

Then what, Mom?

They talk from web series to cricket and then they shake hands

saying they don't want a cop for a husband.

Forget all that and listen to me.

Visit Lord Perumal temple every Saturday and pray.

You'll witness the miracle.

Mom, I agreed to meet them for your sake.

Velu, there's a deep pit on that side.

Play over here.

Earlier there was a big lake next to this area.

These could be corpses swept from there.

I can't share any information until we complete our investigation.

You can leave now.

-Sir. Sir, one minute. -What is it?

This skull was found in the area where I work.

So?

Can I also join in this investigation, sir?

Then shall I go home and watch the cricket match?

-Sir... -Focus only on your work.

Stick to clearing the traffic on the road and getting your palms greased.

This is our job.

These skulls look like they are from the same family.

-That's why. -Did the skulls talk to you or what?

Did they introduce themselves as mother, father, and daughter to you?

Mr. Shakthi, there are so many out there in the city riding without a helmet.

Go save their skulls first.

Nosey parker!

Earlier there was a big lake next to this area.

These could be corpses swept from there.

I can't share any information until we complete our investigation.

You can leave now.

Hello.

I am in the middle of work.

I'll be back soon.

Hey! Who is that?

Hello, mister! Who are you?

Who are you, man?

How dare you ask me that!

If I break your limbs in the station, you will know who I am!

Department, huh?

Press.

Press reporter.

Hey! First come up.

Give me a hand, brother.

Ouch!

Hey! Don't you have the basic sense not to trespass into a crime scene?

Which press do you belong to? Show me your ID card.

Lockup News.

Show me a proper ID card,

or else you in lock-up will be the news headlines.

Take it out.

Lockup News editor Kum...

What are you doing here?

I was told skulls were found when this place was dug up.

I came to see if I can get a cover story for my paper.

At this time of night?

Crime reporter has no fixed working hours, sir.

Twenty-four hours on duty.

Most impressive!

You're taking a dig at me!

Give my ID card, sir. I'll leave.

Come to the station tomorrow and collect it.

Sir, stop playing games with me.

Why should I come?

-Return my card... -Told you to come to the station.

-Got it? -Sir... Sir!

Attitude with which you spoke last night,

I thought you must be the new inspector in Crime branch.

-Now I am wiser... -Morning, sir.

...you are a traffic policeman.

So we aren't considered part of the police department?

You could say so.

Like the difference between an iPhone and Korean phone, that's all.

Return my ID Card and I'll go my way.

I won't. What will you do?

Showing off your power, huh? What else will a reporter do?

Buy a paper and read it tomorrow, sir.

Praise be to Lord Ganesha.

-Sir! -Come.

God, please grant good sense to everyone.

Sit.

I said sit down!

Read the newspaper on the table.

LOCKUP

IS THERE A SHORTAGE OF MANPOWER IN TAMIL NADU POLICE DEPARTMENT

TRAFFIC POLICE IN CRIME INVESTIGATION

You escaped because it is election time.

And people don't use this paper even to parcel food!

If this was the headlines of any other paper,

department would have buried us alive by now.

Sir, he has done this deliberately.

Why did you go there?

Sorry, sir.

I think it's a murder.

That's why I tried to investigate it.

Look, that's a closed case.

I've already enquired thoroughly with Inspector Dayalan.

Those skeletons were buried under the ground decades ago.

We have 1000s of problems in the city.

It's election time.

Just do your work, okay?

Sir, give me just one chance, please.

No way. This is the last warning.

If you cross the like again...

Sorry, sir.

Out!

Sir, don't lay a hand on me!

Sir, don't hit me! Very wrong on your part.

Sir, tell him not to hit me.

You're cooking it up, aren't you?

Do you think we are imbeciles?

Give me one week's time, sir, I'll return it for sure.

Sir, I'll definitely repay. Ask him not to hit me.

You said the exact same thing last month too.

Sir... No, sir...

I'll repay in a week.

I swear on God, sir!

Sir... Please, sir!

Sir, don't!

This time, I'm letting you off with a broken finger.

You've got one week.

Hey! Let's go.

Oh!

Who are they, sir?

Riff-raffs from our area, sir.

I borrowed some money from them.