Original subtitles

You'll get offended if I tell the truth

Rich people live in palaces

With a shining chandelier hanging From their roof

We live in a hut

It's just a small hut

Just a storm is enough to blow it away

Rich people enjoy delicious food

They even buy mineral water

We make do on chutney and bread

We drink unfiltered water

Rich people's kids go to big schools And colleges

They also take extra classes

While our kids toil hard

They say studies won't help them

You'll get offended if I tell the truth

You'll get offended if I tell the truth

When Lord Rama was journeying back to Ayodhya

the villages on the way were lit with lamps to welcome Him.

Except one village. It was dark.

My mother told me that Lord Rama did notice it.

He stopped and asked the villagers:

"Why is it so dark?"

The villagers replied: "We lit lamps to welcome you.

There was a sudden storm and all the lamps went out.

We noticed how Your palace shone in the dark.

So we embraced the darkness."

The Indian countryside is beautiful, Aditi.

Perhaps it's sucked all the oxygen in Delhi.

Pull over, Chandrabhan.

Get me a bottle of water.

This is a Pasi village, sir.

-So? -They're lower caste, sir.

They breed pigs.

We don't drink water they touch.

We can't touch them. Even their shadows can't fall on us.

Nihal Singh, get me one.

My driver says even their shadows are forbidden to fall upon us.

A scheduled caste village.

What's funny?

Our moms had separate dishes for the maids not so long ago.

They're looking at me like the British are back.

Yes, page 7. But it's just a slice of India.

Here we go again!

The right turn takes you to Ayodhya.

Lucknow is straight ahead.

Turn left at the freeway and it's straight on to Kolkata.

A lot of development here. Are they building a mall?

No, it's for Mahantji's ashram. A multiplex ashram!

Circle Officer Brahmadatt. In fact, Brahmadatt Singh, sir.

This way, sir.

Hail India, sir.

SI Kisan Jatav, sir.

Ajay Singh, sir.

Rajesh Mishra.

Pramod Yadav.

She's Nihal Singh's younger sister.

A great cook.

If you don't mind, sir, she'll serve you.

He is... Yadav. And he is--

Greetings, sir.

Welcome to Laalgaon.

Anshu Naharia, sir. He's a respected contractor.

Your toilet needed repair.

I suggested we should get a new one.

He does a lot of work for us, government roads, railways, etc.

Anshu has built many nice public toilets for us.

The SP has a party planned for you this evening.

Why not freshen up, sir?

You'll get to meet everyone before he leaves Laalgaon.

I do declare

the Neem tree is no less than the sandalwood tree.

Our Laalgaon police station is as good as the city of London!

-Nihal Singh, is this party for me? -Yes, sir.

Welcome, Mr. Ayan Ranjan.

I'm Mayank.

He got the idea of buying single malt from your Facebook page.

-Instagram. -Same thing.

This way. Come, come.

Sisters and brothers,

we have with us our new

upper, upper police officer.

Mr. Ayan Ranjan. Ranjan. Ranjan. Ranjan.

Applause!

I declare...

The moon shines after years.

The fun starts now that you're here.

Cover it properly.

I'm a fan of his book.

Is your father a writer, sir?

A very senior IFS officer.

He wrote a book after he retired.

Ayan, you must've studied abroad?

No, sir. I graduated in Delhi. St Stephens.

I was in Europe and then Dad ordered me to return. So I came back.

Your first posting? Laalgaon!

-Sir, it's a punishment. -Punishment?

-Did you fall out with someone? -No, sir. It was out of affection.

I said: "Cool, sir" to Shastriji.

Madanlal Shastri.

The Home Secretary in Delhi.

You said: "Cool, sir" to him?

He said something at the graduation party

and I replied: "Cool, sir."

What did he say?

He paused for two seconds then said:

"Cool!"

Here's 20 rupees from Bachchu Rai for our singer Amitji.

I thank you all.

There's a canteen behind the station. They serve amazing food.

SP Subodhji never needed food to be sent from home.

Your office is over there.

Is that Satyendra Rai?

Yes, sir. Do you know him?

Of course. He's a good friend. We studied together in Delhi.

Was he in the IAS too? He's an officer of the Pollution Control Board.

-Shall I call him? -Let's go.

Satyendra.

Don't you recognize him?

You should thank him for the drinks.

I recognized him, sir.

Congratulations, Additional Commissioner.

How are you?

He is talking to you.

I'll be back, sir.

-He's had one too many. -He was a good friend.

Oh no, they're back again. Excuse me, sir.

-What? -You will find them if you try.

-You mean right now? -At least lodge our complaint.

What's going on?

I must work on Shastri. It's like Bollywood in 1980s.

Wait for a couple of days.

If you could talk to the CBI...

Buzz off! You don't belong here!

Okay, Ayan.

I'm off. My flight's at 5 tomorrow. Laalgaon is in your hands now.

I'll do my best, sir.

Thank you. Thank you.

All the best.

Look after Mr. Ayan. Oh, Brahmadattji!

-Who are they? -They're from a nearby village, sir.

They skin animals and sell the hides to the tannery.

What's the problem?

Nothing. It's the usual, sir.

They say three of their girls have been missing for two days.

-Have you filed a report? -We're making enquiries, sir.

Happens all the time.

Their girls run away and then come back.

-What's their nearest police station? -Ours, sir.

Not from my dish, sir. I'll get you another dish.

Bring some "mangauri" for sir.

Hurry up!

This fool, Satyendra.

I'm fine.

Let me drop you.

I haven't driven a bike in years.

Jatav, look here!

-Don't you go! -Tell Chandrabhan to follow them.

Make it quick!

He's leaving on the motorcycle. Follow them!

Hurry!

I worked very hard too.

But you did better.

I knew you'd clear the tests.

Stop!

Where are you running away?

Hey!

-He's drunk. -Stop!

Stop!

Rascal, come here.

Are you Bulan's son?

What's this?

Go on! Squat!

It's nothing, sir. He's the confectioner's son.

He had a kitchen knife on him.

-Let's go, sir. -Okay.

I didn't think you'd recognize me.

Why wouldn't I?

We're home.

How is Aditi?

Does she still call you a foreigner?

She doesn't say it, but thinks it.

She does good work. Gender equality, human rights.

Her articles get published. We talk often.

Talk often? What do you mean?

These days, we argue more than we talk.

She still thinks of me as her college boyfriend.

Listen. Don't let Aditi go.

You'll never find another girl like her in your lifetime.

Here we go!

Greetings, sister-in-law.

-I'm Ayan. -Greetings.

She knows you.

Archana, you heard us?

-Please come inside. -Some other time.

See you later.

Listen, sonny!

We haven't even hugged!

Oh, shucks!

Sorry to wake you up so early, sir.

You must've slept late last night.

We've photographed them.

The missing girls?

They've been missing for two days, since the 12th.

They were cousins.

The third girl was a friend from Laalgaon.

The villagers said the cousins were intimate.

Lesbians.

-Their fathers hung them. -Where are the fathers?

We're investigating.

-Has anyone given a statement? -No, sir. But they will.

-The third girl? -No sign of her, sir.

We've called an ambulance.

We'll send the bodies for the postmortem and file a report.

-Nihal. -Sir.

Careful, sir!

Jatav, can't you untie the knot?

Pull the body up and undo the knot around her neck.

If you pull her up, you can't untie the knot.

Shall I cut it?

Then she'll drop to the ground. Don't you know physics?

What shall we do?

Shit. They were children. Only 15.

One girl is still missing.

It's just like the wild, wild west.

Hello, are you there?

Yes. Last week a girl's body was found in Rajasthan. In Sikar.

Looks like rape, but they claim it was a case of honor killing.

-Are these girls Dalits? -Yes.

Why isn't this news reported with the GDP headlines?

It does get reported. Remember the Nirbhaya outrage?

But why can't the Laalgaon or Sikar cases hit the headlines?

Why should you decide about Laalgaon?

We'll only know after the investigation.

You can't just publish that it's rape based on rumors.

That's not what I was saying.

You're defending the system.

Don't honor killings happen?

I thought I could share it with you.

But you don't believe in moderation.

You want me to be an activist, but law-abiding.

You want a hero, Aditi.

No, Ayan. I want someone who doesn't wait for a hero.

Glory to India. Sir, will your lunch come from home?

We've ordered something from the canteen for you.

Pramod and Mishra want to see you for a briefing, sir.

Mayank!

Chandrabhan, hurry up.

-Mayank! -Sir.

Why is the fan so noisy?

I'll get it fixed, sir.

Why didn't you register their complaint?

-It didn't seem serious, sir. -When is it serious?

These people keep reporting false cases.

In January a boy ran away

and we had to report it as a kidnapping.

-Then these people... -"These" people?

File the missing girl's report. Now.

Yes, sir.

-Ask Pramod and what's his name? -Mishra.

Send them in.

Move back!

She was from Laalgaon.

Step back!

Move!

Move it! This isn't a circus.

-Get Dr. Awdhesh on the line. -He's down with malaria, sir.

Who'll do the postmortem? You?

His assistant Dr. Malti Ram will do it.

Oh God! Long live the reformer Dr. Ambedkar!

-Mr. Navin of Prabhat News is waiting. -OK. Go.

By hanging the girls he's just attracted the media.

Come!

Good boy.

There you go.

My sonny!

Write.

It's a case of honor killing.

The girls were cousins.

They were too close.

Bad influences everywhere these days.

Their fathers found out. They could not take it, so they hung them.

Listen.

I'm not saying this. Other people have made statements.

Get it?

Got it.

Very well.

The village is calm, sir.

Tomorrow's papers will say it was a case of honor killing.

-You talked to a journalist? -No, sir.

-What about the postmortem report? -Soon, sir.

But it won't tell us anything new.

I want to avoid delays, sir.

Or their leader, Shanti Prasad, will start a strike.

In power, they build statues of themselves.

Out of power, they turn into lower caste Dalits.

-Tell me when you get the report. -Okay, sir.

-We must find that girl. -What girl, sir?

How many villages besides Harimanpur are there near the tree?

Two, sir. Bichhiya and Chhatni.

Find out if anyone saw anything.

You two meet me at home.

Stop the car.

Nihal Singh, listen.

I can't get through to Satyendra Rai.

Go to his house. Phone me when you know what's going on.

Okay, sir.

Come on, move back!

Sir, the older girl, Shanu, was my daughter.

And the younger girl, Mamta, was Mahendar's daughter.

Our daughters were killed, sir. And they're framing us.

-I'm sorry. -You should be, sir.

What's your name?

Gaura.

Pooja is her sister, sir.

Please find Pooja.

We beg you.

Don't we have a glass?

They won't drink from a glass in your presence, sir.

Had they kept our girls all night and...

freed them later, it would've been okay.

But they hung them from a tree.

If someone had listened to us, our girls would still be alive.

Let me see the postmortem report first.

Anshu Naharia slapped Pooja.

That's why Brahmadatt didn't file a report.

Shanu and Pooja were working on a road construction project.

They asked for a three-rupee raise.

-How much? -Three rupees.

The daily wage was 25. They wanted 28.

The other children then refused to work for under 28 rupees.

When Anshu slapped Pooja, the others stopped working.

They worked at the tannery instead for 28 rupees a day.

Did any kids work for 25 rupees?

After he slapped her, a few kids left.

Amali.

The curtain's the wrong way round. The print should face the room.

Everything will look white in the office.

Yes?

Gaura used to study at our school.

I studied in Harimanpur till class 9.

My father worked at the school. That's how I know her.

-And yet you didn't report it? -I was busy with the Kanpur case.

-And Brahmadatt told us... -Is it filed now?

Yes, sir.

Jatav, we must find the missing girl.

Get the details from Gaura. Check Pooja's phone records.

Take statements from her neighbors and family.

Talk to the tannery supervisor.

What time did she leave work on the 12th? Who with?

Where was Anshu on the 12th and 13th?

These girls and boys return home sometimes.

To be honest, sir, whatever we do for these people...

Who are "these" people? Are they from Jupiter?

"They" this, "they" that.

Who are "these" people who come and go? Or hang themselves from trees?

Sir, I was...

Come. Let's go.

What did he say?

-Was he swearing at us? -No. He asked us to go.

Let's go to the tannery. It's late.

Please come.

Put it on the table.

Yes, brother.

Shall I make okra tonight? Or marrow? Cottage cheese?

-Make whatever you cook well. -I cook everything well.

-Are you Nihal Singh's sister? -Yes.

-Did you go to school? -Till class 8.

Now I'm learning Inglish.

Not Inglish, it's English.

Call it what you want, brother. Understanding is what counts.

Anshu Naharia has sent a mutton curry for you.

I'm making marrow with parathas.

Yes, Nihal Singh?

Satyendra is out, sir.

His wife is here. Shall I put her on?

Okay.

Hello! Where's Satyendra?

He left home early.

His phone is switched off.

-Did he say anything before he left? -No.

He got up at 4 a.m. and just drove off.

-But I dropped him home at midnight. -He slept for awhile.

He got a call and then he was gone.

Long live India!

Nihal Singh

What are you doing here?

The boss sent me to Satyendra's house.

And?

He hasn't returned home.

I see.

How much longer for the postmortem report?

The Addl. Commissioner keeps asking: "Where's the report?"

-Not long now, sir. -It doesn't look like it.

-It'll get done, sir. -Come on!

Doctor, the CO.

Mr. Brahmadatt Singh.

I'm making a provisional report. The final one will take time.

What's in the report?

Rape, gang rape.

They were raped repeatedly for days. Two or three days.

Then hung alive.

Have you spoken to Dr Awdhesh?

-Yes. -And?

I can't do what he's asking.

You're reacting emotionally, Maltiji.

I advise you to write a few poems on your Facebook page.

You'll feel better. But don't write anything here.

I'm just doing my job.

-Your work is amazing. -Dr Awdhesh on the line.

Doctor, what's this?

The women's movement has taken over here.

Now will you write up the postmortem report?

How will we control this district?

If the Additional Commissioner sees the report,

your malaria will be replaced by jaundice.

You'll die a mysterious death.

Understand?

Get up! Enough of your malaria. Get well soon.

This is the quota system for you!

The girls were from scheduled caste. And so is the doctor.

Our taxes paid for her education.

-Yes. -Get it?

I told you to disappear for a while.

Come back in four months when all is calm and the case is closed.

But you people never listen.

Okay.

Come.

You kept me away from you, my love

What mistake did I commit?

You know the trouble with the lower caste?

I'm an insider. I've watched them for 40 years.

As soon as one of us becomes a cop,

they take us for their action hero, Ajay Devgan.

"The rascal cop will help us now."

Gaura's got it in for you.

If you live in the slums where you shit and eat in the same place,

where animal hides rot

-can girls be safe there? -No way.

Look at history. Have girls ever been safe?

These people never change.

Must I risk everything and become a reformer like Raja Ram Mohan Rai?

Mayank, you know how I've struggled to get anywhere in our society.

Yes, I know.

You saw me sweeping the school floors.

Jump, Jatav!

You scum!

Who is it? Come out.

Nokhai! You dare attack the police?

Now you're the big cop! Not one of us now?

-There's been a murder. -So you want to kill me?

We don't believe in killing. And you won't kill me.

Put your gun down. Take the shortcut through Bichhiya.

The bridge has been reopened.

Sir, Pramod said you wanted to see the old police files.

Who's Anshu Naharia's friend here?

He's rich and the councilor's friend.

So he's everybody's friend.

His father was a politician.

He's powerful, sir.

He was close to Subodh Lal, the officer before you.

And Brahmadatt?

-Him, too. -And Jatav?

Jatav!

He's a zero. He doesn't count for anything.

He may not do the right thing, but he won't do anything wrong.

I'm sorry. I think I was overreacting.

You wear fancy clothes, speak good English, traveled the world

maybe that's not the real you.

You became a civil servant because of your Dad.

You may become an activist because of me.

You don't want to discover your true self.

If you don't know yourself, how can you know me?

You were right. I will do my best.

I look at everyone's face

Hoping someone will call out to me

Don't leave me My little girl please come back

To your father

Your fight is over Oh, lord

Your father is crying his heart out

Nanku!

Mahendar! Let's go.

Your mother is stunned

Like she lost something precious

Let's go.

-Let's go. -Where are you taking them?

What have they done?

What have they done? Where are you going?

We were returning from the tannery after enquiring about the missing girl.

When suddenly a fireball made of jute...

No, no, write:

We were bombarded by fireballs and the jeep caught fire.

So we jumped out.

I told Mayank to run. We ran in all directions.

Who was the rascal? Sorry.

We looked everywhere. It was dark.

No one was there. We saw no one.

We kept running through the fields. We had no torch.

I reached for my cell phone.

If the fireball was thrown at the jeep, they must've been very close, Jatav.

But you saw no one?

Sir, their faces were covered.

So?

You had a gun.

They had a gun, too.

Did anyone fire?

No one fired, sir.

Why not?

You've made a false statement.

Sign it.

Sign it.

Go on!

One minute.

-Anything else? -That's all.

-Sir, Nishad... -Shut up!

They were Nishad's men, sir. BSS.

-Who's Nishad? -A member of the Bhim Sangharsh Sena.

They said the police asked the villagers

to make false statements against the girls' fathers.

Did you have a hand in this, too?

Which side are you on, Jatav?

Whichever side you choose for me.

Bhim Sangharsh Sena, sir. They were Nishad's boys.

He's their leader, sir.

He thinks he's the Dalit Robin Hood.

He was jailed last year.

There's a national security case against him. He's on bail.

He's gone underground.

Let's close the case, sir.

The girls' fathers have been granted custody for seven days.

Four villagers have made statements.

The fathers beat the girls. That's why the case closed, sir.

-Where's the postmortem report? -Coming, sir.

-The bodies have been buried. -Buried?

Yes, sir. They usually bury girls if they are minors.

I'll bring you the report this evening. Case closed, sir.

Who is Anshu Naharia?

You've met him, sir. He built the bathroom.

Call him to the office. I want to talk to him.

You want to talk to Anshu? About what, sir?

Let it go, sir. Why get mixed up in all this?

If Anshu is implicated, it'll lead to Ramlal Naharia.

The government's in his pocket, sir.

I beg you, sir, don't disturb the balance.

Till I see the postmortem report, I won't sign this.

I'm your well-wisher. I beg you, sir.

I'm your well-wisher, sir. It's like quicksand.

Don't probe too much, sir. If you probe too much...

If we stir things up, we won't be spared. I beg you, sir.

They won't spare us.

Are you crazy?

You really enjoy playing the detective, don't you?

You didn't think you should clear it with me first?

Why didn't you ask me?

He'll leave.

He'll be here for a few months then he'll leave.

But you and I? We have to live here. Survive!

Do you get it?

Haven't you heard of Ramlal Naharia?

Do you know what'll happen if he's implicated?

Want to play the honest cop?

-Go, stop him! -How can I?

If he questions me, I'll have to answer him.

Did I speak to his predecessors?

I've stood by you all my life.

How can I say no to him?

You talk to him.

Take me to Harimanpur.

My mother used to say...

our society is built upon certain laws.

There's a king and his subjects.

Attendants and servants.

Society has a balanced order that was created by Lord Brahma. In Sanskrit.

We have no right to upset this balance.

And, sir if everyone is equal, who'll be the king?

If everyone is equal, who'll be the king?

Why have a king at all?

Who knows Nishad?

Maatadeen, Shishupaal, Lachcha and Deenu Daama.

They have all given statements.

Where are they?

We haven't seen them since yesterday.

Stop!

I know Nishad.

Mayank and Jatav could've been killed.

They didn't mean to kill them.

Do you work with Nishad?

I was going to marry him.

If they didn't mean to kill the cops, why attack them?

"It takes a loud voice to make the deaf hear."

Bhagat Singh said that in 1929.

I studied civics till ninth grade.

Nishad understood it better than he should have.

We're looking for your sister Pooja.

The police don't even have her photo.

Morning, sir.

Sorry, sir. They'll fix it tomorrow.

Satyendra's wife is here, sir.

-Has he left home like this before? -No.

I'm very worried.

Any friends or family nearby?

He hardly meets anyone.

And Anshu Naharia?

They meet sometimes

for some work or other.

Mayank, take her number.

Find out who called at 4 a.m.

Tap the caller's number. Find his location.

You'd better go home.

I'll call you.

-Bye. -Bye.

Easy.

Tap her phone as well.

It happens every day, sir.

Brahmadatt's at the hospital now. He can take care of it.

Good excuse to go to the hospital.

Meet the doctor too.

Did you perform the girls' postmortem?

Yes.

Dr Awdhesh will write the report. I'm going on leave.

Were they raped?

It was a gang-rape.

Over two or three days.

What difference does it make?

It makes a difference, but if you go on leave.

Have you the courage to stay? I'll stand by you.

Give me a provisional report.

Keep the girls' DNA samples. We'll have them tested.

You'll come to no harm.

It hurts!

Shut up!

Why are you shouting?

-So you dare sit and eat in the temple? -We did not eat there, sir.

It's the truth, sir. We did not eat in the temple.

Sir!

Any names?

No, sir. But they described the boys who hit them.

-Round up the suspects. -Sir.

Take their statements. I'm coming.

Too sweet! Chandrabhan has diabetes.

-It burnt my tongue. -Sir.

Sorry, sir.

What about the temple?

-Aren't Dalits allowed to enter? -Right, sir.

Who beat them up?

-Boys from Mahantji's ashram. -Who is Mahantji?

Mahantji is Mahantji.

-He's upper caste? -A Brahmin, sir.

-And those young men? -Scheduled caste, sir.

-What caste is Brahmadatt? -Thakur, sir.

So are Thakurs considered to be Brahmins, Kshatriyas or Vaishyas?