[Man 1] 'Thanks to everybody who has been waiting.'
'We have Mr. Ganesh who has come to entertain us.'
[tense music]
[shutter clicks]
Our beloved leader has arrived.
Our guru, our hope, our light!
Mr. Rajiv Gandhi has come!
[crowd cheering]
[tense music]
[shutter clicks]
[inaudible]
[explosion]
[Title Montage]
I was the pilot of Rajiv ji's chartered flight that day.
After wrapping up the campaign in Vishakhapatnam...
...we were scheduled to depart for Madras around 4:30 p.m.
That's when I noticed a communication error...
...in the aircraft.
Rajiv ji was an experienced pilot himself.
So he understood that the problem was serious.
He knew that he might have to cancel the trip to Madras.
Had he cancelled it...
...he wouldn't have been in Sriperumbudur that night.
I don't know if it was his bad luck or fate...
...but the ground staff found a new spare part...
...and we solved that problem.
Rajiv ji was so happy that he decided...
...to pilot the aircraft himself.
And he got us to Madras exactly at 8:00 p.m.
He made a perfect landing.
I guess he had to keep his date with destiny.
[band playing]
[Newscaster] 'At 1:20 p.m., the body emerged.'
'Rajiv Gandhi's 17-year-old son, Rahul, a pallbearer.'
'The body reconstructed by surgeons'...
...'lay embalmed beneath the flag of India.'
'Sonia Gandhi, yesterday, rejected the job'...
...'of Congress Party President.'
'But pressure remains on her to change her mind.'
'Even as Delhi fell under a day of ceremony and mourning,'
'a fact symbolised by the elaborately-decorated'...
...'gun carriage that carried Rajiv's body'...
...'and yet, behind it, gleaming in their white kurtas'...
...'the leadership of Congress[I].'
'The whole country is mourning today.'
'But Rajiv Gandhi's killers have not been caught yet.'
'If you have any information about the woman in this picture'...
...'wearing the green and orange dress'...
...'then please go to your nearest police station'...
...'and help the police.'
Hey, Hari!
- Hello, Hari. How are you? - I'm fine, Bhagwan.
Is he going to come or not? It's been three hours.
I just heard...
...he has a press meeting at the airport, then Porur.
And then he will come here.
He should be here at any moment.
Oh...
- Is he a friend of yours? - Yeah, he's also a journalist.
I haven't seen him before.
- Is he from out of town? - No, he is from our town only.
Actually, he's Ravishanker's friend.
- Ah, Ravi? - Yes.
Yeah, we're all here to cover this historic event.
My camera had a problem.
So I had to borrow Ravishanker's camera.
- Oh, is it? - [chuckles] Chinon Camera.
Hello Ravi, this is Bhagwan Singh here.
Hello, sir. My name is Bhagwan Singh.
I'm a photojournalist.
Sir, I had seen this girl at the rally that night.
'Sir, she was talking to Haribabu'...
...but there was one more person with them.
'He was wearing kurta-pyjama like me.'
There was a writing pad in his hand.
Sir, he looked just like us. Like a journalist.
[Amit] 'Are you talking about this man?'
Yes, sir.
'He's the one. I'm 100% sure.'
I don't know how to explain it, but...
...he was staring at me in a strange manner.
I asked Haribabu who that person was.
He said that he was a journalist and also a friend of Ravishanker.
So, even I...
Who is Ravishanker?
Sir, he's also a photojournalist like us.
Hari, Ravishanker, and I are in the same fraternity.
Sir, in fact...
...Hari told me that he used Ravishanker's camera...
...for shooting that night.
Today, when I called Ravishanker...
...to ask about the kurta-pyjama guy...
...he said he didn't know that guy.
'I found it quite strange.'
If Ravishanker doesn't know this guy...
...why did Haribabu lie to me?
I'll take your leave.
So, what do you think, sir?
Seems genuine. Definitely a good lead.
- So, let's bring Ravishanker... - No, not now.
There is no point.
If you go and ask him now, what will he say?
The same thing that he said to Bhagwan Singh.
'That he doesn't know the kurta-pyjama guy.'
It will unnecessarily alert him.
Instead, just keep him under constant surveillance.
Sir!
[religious chanting]
[tense music]
Sir, this is Haribabu's house.
His parents live here.
- Hello, sir. - Hello.
Is this Haribabu's house?
- Yes. - We are government officials.
We have come to pay compensation to the victims from the blast.
Can we please come in?
Please come.
[Haribabu father] 'My wife and I were very proud'...
...to have had Haribabu as our son.
We don't know why God took him away very soon.
What will we do now?
Don't worry, sir.
That's why we're here to give you compensation from the government.
Did Haribabu work for the Congress party?
No, sir.
[Haribabu father] 'He was a freelance photographer.'
He used to sell his photos to newspapers...
...and bring money back home.
That's how we survived.
So, he went to the Sriperumbudur rally...
...only to click photos, right?
- Yes, sir. - [Haribabu mother] 'So, sir, '
what value is the government...
...planning to put on my son's life?
That depends on what information you share with us.
- Durai. - Sir?
Get some snacks and coffee for them.
- Okay, sir. - Sir, please wait!
You have come to our house.
We know how to take care of guests. One second...
Ma'am, it's okay!
[Haribabu mother] 'You, please wait.'
Devi, get biscuits from the store.
Okay.
- Durai. - Sir.
- Did you see the cash she had? - Yes. I saw, sir.
Put them under 24-hour surveillance.
Yes, sir.
[police sirens]
SIVAGAMI TEA SHOP
Amma's punctuality is next level. Her convoys leave at 9:30 a.m. sharp.
Is it? Every day?
[Tea seller] 'She will not see rain or storm, exactly'...
...'at 9:30 a.m. her vehicle will keep going.'
[Vijay Karan] 'Sir, we're sure this girl was the bomber.'
We'll find out their names soon.
One more thing...
Two months ago, we intercepted a message...
...on LTTE's wireless hub station.
An operative called Jack had sent it...
...to Pottu Amman, their Intelligence Chief.
'We feel that this is that same Jack.'
That message was, "Get ready for Delhi."
"Send Black Tigress Gauri with Uncle."
What does that mean?
They want to attack Delhi?
Sir, we think that Gauri was their backup bomber.
Their Plan B.
In case their Plan A failed.
'In case Rajiv ji had not gone to Madras for the campaign'...
...they would have attacked Delhi.
I heard that someone called the High Commission in Colombo...
...and asked, "Is Rajiv ji alive?"
I can't believe that despite having so much information...
...we couldn't save Rajiv ji.
Sir, we thought it was a prank call.
Put in more effort...
...and before the country faces any more loss...
...stop this Black Tigress.
[indistinct chatter]
Here... Ice cream.
'Eat, my dear.'
My whole life... I prepared for this mission.
What do I live for now?
Athirai, a Black Tigress' duty is to follow orders.
Don't worry, be patient.
Your time will come.
There are enough enemies out there.
[suspenseful music]
[Amod] 'Keep them here.'
Sir, the immigration department has sent these files.
Sir, among all the Sri Lankan refugees who got asylum in India,
we have to find out who...
...are LTTE operatives.
Durai was right, sir. There are many of them.
In my village, it's called...
..."finding a needle in a haystack."
Sir, I had a very interesting conversation with Q Branch.
They have provided us with the names of two individuals...
...that they believe we should be aware of.
Okay.
They said that these two individuals...
...are involved in every LTTE operation...
...that takes place in Madras.
One of them is Subha Sundaram.
He is a senior Tamil journalist.
Ravishanker is his associate.
The guy Bhagwan Singh told us about.
[Raju] 'Known LTTE sympathiser.'
He is politically connected, that's why he's involved in everything.
Sir, it seems he had gone to Jaffna last year to meet Prabhakaran.
He's become more active after returning from there.
He has a direct connection with...
...Baby Subramaniam.
'He is a Sri Lankan Tamil.'
'Again, a known LTTE propagandist.'
Books like Satanic Forces and newsletters...
...are printed at his printing press.
He played a significant role in brainwashing...
...youngsters and local Tamils.
After the assassination, he either went underground...
...or went back to Jaffna.
Okay.
So, we'll start round-the-clock surveillance on Subha Sundaram.
But let's be very careful.
If we take him into custody without evidence...
...then we may face bad publicity.
Right, sir.
- What is this? - This?
The immigration department has sent this.
No, what is it called in your village...
It's called, "finding a needle in a haystack."
- [all chuckle] - So, let's find the needle.
- Come on. - Yes, come.
[dramatic music]
[Baby Subramaniam] 'I risked my life by coming here.'
'Since the matter was so important.'
Pottu Amman told you very clearly, right?
They want you and Shubha to take the next boat out.
I still have work pending here.
I've already conveyed my intent to Jaffna.
'It's our time now.'
'We need to go after the next target.'
Who is the next target?
Jayalalitha.
We should wait for a year, at least.
This is not the right time.
I just delivered our freedom struggle's biggest success.
Why can't you trust me?
Pakya, this isn't about trust.
They have a special team on the case now.
All eyes are on the LTTE.
This is not the right time to go after Jayalalitha.
Brother, they also have Haribabu's camera.
We don't know what other photographs he might have taken.
'They might even know your identity.'
Pakya, your staying back puts focus on our people here.
It compromises our broader mission.
If Thalaivar was here, he would also say the same thing.
You don't have to tell me what he wants!
'We've fought and bled together.'
He has always trusted me with our cause.
[door knocking]
Why are you people coming here again and again?
Can you please move?
Why are you treating us like criminals?
[screams] Move aside!
Step back.
Go! Search everything properly!
Purse, diary, calendar, note, paper...
- Ragothaman. - 'Sir.'
Where are their other houses?
[murmurs]
Satanic Force.
Their bestseller.
According to this, Rajiv Gandhi is responsible...
...for whatever bad is happening in the world.
He was their enemy number one.
Considering the hatred they felt for Rajiv Gandhi...
...I don't think they would've given up...
...even if their plan in Sriperumbudur had failed.
They would've kept on trying.
Yes, sir.
Sir, I found this bill.
Poompuhar. Tamil Nadu State Emporium, Anna Salai.
Sandalwood garland.
Even the bomber had a sandalwood garland, right?
Yes, sir.
Sir, you won't believe the date of purchase.
May 21st.
Too much coincidence.
'This is the bill of the sandalwood garland...
...that your son bought on May 21.
'And that same night,'
a bomber also used a sandalwood garland...
...to assassinate Rajiv Gandhi.
Are you still going to deny any connection to this?
Dig it up.
[Amit] 'We have found the treasure, sir.'
Prabhakaran. He was Haribabu's God.
Here is the list of medicines.
I'm sure it's for injured LTTE cadre.
What is this?
Sir, these are the sketches of Vellore Fort.
'Many LTTE operators are jailed there.'
And sir, these are...
...the letters that Haribabu and his girlfriend Sundari...
...wrote to each other.
In one of them, he wrote that he was going on a dangerous mission.
'His girlfriend tried to stop him.'
'She even asked him what that dangerous mission was.'
But Haribabu doesn't answer her.
He doesn't mention the names of anyone connected to this mission.
However, the aim of the mission is clear from the timing.
The assassination of Rajiv Gandhi.
So, it's clear that Haribabu...
...was definitely involved with the LTTE.
- Yes. - He was the photographer, whose job...
...was to click pictures before and after the assassination.
Correct.
Also sir, Haribabu was in touch with two photojournalists.
Those guys are also connected to the LTTE.
We know them.
Ravishanker and Subha Sundaram?
Right, sir.
Haribabu's mother confessed that a day after the assassination...
...I mean, on 22nd May...
...Ravishanker and Subha Sundaram visited her house...
...to ask about Haribabu and his camera.
I'm sure they didn't know at the time...
...that Haribabu was killed in the bomb blast.
They must've thought he was injured which is why he didn't go to them.
Imagine how ridiculous this is!
An over-enthusiastic photographer goes so close to Rajiv ji...
...with the greed of clicking good pictures...
...that he gets killed in the blast, but the photos he clicked...
...become the most important lead...
...to the country's biggest assassination.
Otherwise...
...this would've been a perfect crime.
[traffic noise]
[audience chatter]
Hey!
Can't wait to see my Thalaivar Rajini!
Sorry, Shankar. You can't watch the movie.
- What? - You need to go to Vedaranyam.
And pick up a package from Shanmugam.
- No chance! - Not my idea.
- It's an order from Jaffna. - The Thalaivar...
Don't worry. I'll tell you what your Thalaivar does.
You can leave.
A*****e.
[tense music]
[radio buzz]
Has my request been accepted?
Zulu89. Quebec2. Foxtrot. Foxtrot32.
'Zulu. Mike38'
No.
'Echo. Victor9. Dot. Dot. Zulu. Bravo36.'
'Charlie, Charlie. Tango Dot34. Zulu. Mike38'
Return immediately.
'Lima22. Tango. Dot34.'
Tomorrow itself.
Yes.
[bike running]
Go. Come, come.
[Cop] 'Show me your license.'
- From which area? - Nearby...
'Okay, fine. Go. Next.'
Take out your license.
Don't you have a license?
- No, sir. - Any other ID?
Sir, I'm in a hurry. I have some important work.
Please let me go, sir.
Are you a refugee?
Yes, sir. I'm a refugee.
Where do you live?
In Madras, sir.
What are you doing here?
Nothing much, sir. Just like that.
I came to see the beach.
You rode 8 hours to see the beach?
There's no beach in Madras?
- Get off your bike. - Sir...
Hey! Get down! Now!
[Sundar] 'Hello?'
- [Sundar] 'Hello?' - [Durai] 'Please tell.'
Hello. This is Sundar, calling from Vedaranayam police Station.
[Sundar] 'We've got a suspect here.'
'We've questioned him. He doesn't have an ID.
He looks like an LTTE member.
[Sundar] 'This is why I called to inform you.'
Good job.
Sir, he had a small diary on him.
'There are only two telephone numbers in it, of Das and Nalini.'
'I've already given this information to the Madras Q Branch.'
'They are following up on it.'
Can you fax me that information as well?
Sure, sir.
Sir...
I think you should talk to him.
'He for sure has LTTE connections.'
Okay, send him to Madras immediately.
Okay, sir.
[typewriter noise]
This is the biggest case in India right now.
Everyone is talking about it.
I'm hundred percent sure they will be caught very soon.
[Woman 1] 'This lady bomber seems so normal, like you and me.'
What do you think makes someone blow themselves up?
Injustice!
You're right...
...we have no idea what they must have suffered.
Don't talk rubbish.
They massacred 16 innocent people.
If you kill people to prove your point...
...you don't have my sympathy.
You are also right.
The police are here. They want to talk to you.
Yes.
I'm coming.
- Madam. - Tell me, sir.
I'm from the Q branch of Madras Police.
Yes, sir.
Do you know who Shankar Koneshwaran is?
He is a Sri Lankan Tamil.
No. I don't know anyone by that name, sir.
And anyone named Das?
Don't know him either.
Oh, is it?
Your name and your office number were found in Koneshwaran's diary.
Sir, I'm just a regular girl from Madras...
...trying to lead a normal life.
Inspector, has this Koneshwaran done something wrong?
We don't know as yet, madam.
We're just following up on whatever is in his diary.
Okay, sir.
Madam, I might need to speak to you again.
- What is your address? - Yeah...
House no. 32, 1st cross street.
Periyar Nagar East.
You know the Periyar Nagar bus stand, sir?
- Yes, I know. - It's right next to it.
Okay.
Do you have a telephone at home?
No, sir.
Okay, madam.
I'll get in touch again if the need arises.
Thank you for your co-operation.
For sure, sir.
I have a bad headache. I'm going to go.
[door knocking]
[Nalini] 'Das! Das!'
What happened, Nalini? What's wrong?
- Nalini... - The police came to the office.
Calm down.
Please calm down, Nalini.
We expected this to happen.
And we also know what we have to do, don't we?
Pack our bags.
I'll take care of the rest.
Grab our clothes.
[vehicles arriving]
[door opens]
Come on.
[tense music]
Q branch thinks you're an LTTE operative.
Sir, I'm just an innocent refugee.
When did you come to Tamil Nadu?
In January.
Where do you live in Tamil Nadu?
In Madras.
Write down your address.
What work do you do?
I work in a garage.
- [Ragothaman] - 'Which area?' - In Saidapet.
[Ragothaman] 'What is the name of the garage?'
Name of garage?
'You forgot where you work?'
'Right?'
Okay, tell us since when do you know Das and Nalini?
Sir, that is not my diary.
'It is my friend's.'
What is your friend's name?
Bala. He lives in Anna Nagar.
Okay.
Give us Bala's address.
This Bala doesn't exist. He is speaking nonsense.
[Ragothaman] 'I'm pretty sure'
'there is no Bala living in that address.'
Think carefully.
And tell us the truth.
When I came here...
...Das helped me get settled and find a job.
Nalini is his sister.
I lied because I don't want them to get into trouble.
We are going to arrest Das and Nalini.
If your stories don't add up...
...next time, the conversation won't be so friendly.
Sir, this is Nalini madam's desk.
Ma'am, where is Nalini?
She left because she wasn't feeling well.
Let's go! Periyar Nagar!
[jeep starts]
What the hell!
[door opens]
Sir, my mouth is so dry. Can I have some water?
Those who lie to us don't get food. Or water.
Tell us the truth.
We'll give you everything.
Sir, I am really telling the truth.
Believe me, sir.
Sir, I feel he's telling the truth.
He's such an idiot that he got caught by the traffic police.
How can he lie?
Maybe he is a low level operative.
And that is why he has been left to roam on the roads...like a dog.
Only important members of the LTTE are given... what is it?
Cyanide capsules, right?
And you don't have one.
You're not even worth one cyanide capsule.
He is a total waste.
'And he's wasting our time too.'
[Raju] 'Come in.'
[door opens]
Sir, Inspector Mathi met Nalini this morning.
Nalini has run away.
Well, your friend's innocent sister...
...that Nalini...
...the police paid her a visit.
The very next minute, she ran away.
She has disappeared.
'She also gave a fake address. Like yours.'
Looking at her actions...
...it doesn't look like she's helping refugees.
This confirms that you are LTTE.
We are arresting you under TADA.
'Your story is over now.'
There's no point in talking to you nicely.
- Durai. - Sir?
Do whatever you want to.
- Let's go, sir. - Come on.
Can we talk now?
'Whose bike was it?'
'Where have you come from?'
'Spill it! TELL!'
Come on, answer!
Speak up! Answer me!
- 'Tell me the truth!' - Sir, please...
[screams in pain]
MADRAS TO MADURAI
We've been sitting here for two hours, Ragothaman.
I don't think he'll tell us anything.
- 'Let's come back tomorrow.' - Okay, sir.
Sir, shall we go?
- Durai. - Sir?
Take care of him.
- Hey, come in... - Kodiakkarai!
Kodiakkarai.
What about Kodiakkarai?
I'm one of the 9 member assassination squad...
...who came to Kodiakkarai on May 1st.
The names in your diary- Das and Nalini.
Were they also part of your squad?
No.
Das is an LTTE operative whose real name is Murugan.
He came before to set up our mission.
- 'Nalini is his girlfriend.' - So is Nalini also LTTE?
I don't know.
I've never seen her before.
Where are the rest of your team members?
I don't know.
[Amit] Where are they?
As per the plan, everyone goes their own way after the mission.
'One hand should not know what the other does.'
[Ragothaman] 'Who is this?'
'What is her name?'
She is Dhanu.
She was the Black Tigress chosen for this mission.
[Amit] 'Who is this man?'
Open your mouth!
That's Sivarasan.
This whole operation was his brainchild.
Ask him where Sivarasan is.
Where is Sivarasan now?
Where is he?
Has he escaped to Jaffna?
No.
[Ragothaman] 'Then what?'
- He's still in Madras. - How are you so sure?
I would have heard if he had left.
What if he left last night, after you were caught?
Maybe.
But...
...I've heard that he's planning something else.
What kind of plan?
He is planning to go after another high profile figure.
Who is that figure?
Sir, I genuinely don't know.
Tell me who is it?
Sir, I don't know!
Durai.
Sir, I really don't know who it is. Please, believe me.
I just spoke to Colombo over the phone.
When I had been there and showed them this photo...
...they weren't able to identify Sivarasan.
I just received a packet from them.
They weren't able to identify him because...
...'his front and side profile shots don't match.'
This is strange, sir.
They had this photo in their files all this while.
Sir, they look like two different people.
[Kaarthikeyan] 'Exactly.'
'It seems he lost an eye while battling the Sri Lankan army'...
...'and since then, his people'...
...call him One-eyed Jack, or just Jack, like the Marlon Brando film.
'And you won't believe this.'
His aliases.
Sivarajan, Rajan, Raja...
...Arumai, Aravind, Raghuvaram, Raghu, Raghuvappa.
No wonder he's a ghost.
Now that we know of him...
...make his photos public, both of them.
They should be everywhere, on television and newspapers.
The entire country should know who we are searching for. Okay?
Let's see where this ghost escapes to.
All the best.
[car door closes]
[car door opens]
[waves crashing]
[engine running]
Wait here.
[Coast guard] 'This is the Indian Coast Guard.'
'Stay where you are!'
'If you move, we will shoot.'
[tense music]