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Kaali Dunali
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Written By
Bhargav Chattopadhyay
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Overview
Kaali Dunali – 40 min drama for Eros Now
Kaali Dunali is a trippy, stylized drama
that offers multiple meanings and arguments. The story is set in a fictional
small town of ‘Dunali’ in the northern part of India, serving up lives of the
people living in the trappings of a small town that has ambitions of breaking
out and becoming an urban centre in a fast growing India.
Existing
in the middle of character centric vernacular of shows such as ‘orange is the
new black’ and story centred approach such as ‘Breaking Bad’, the story revolves
around a series of criminal undertaking that closely resembles the US housing
crisis played out at a finite level in the town of ‘Dunali’ and a drug racket
run by the most unsuspecting people in town. While ‘Breaking Bad’ with its rich
characters could be summarized from the point of view of Walter White, Kaali
Dunali could be considered in a way as the story of Sweetu, a 17 year old obese
and traumatised young adult who learns not only to survive and negotiate the
town and its people, but also manages to uncover the mystery surrounding the
disappearance of his parents.
Dunali
is also a word play on the Punjabi word which means 2 pipes or the double
barrel of a gun serves as an underlying theme of partnerships that plays out
through the entire series as characters team up to achieve common objectives.
Kaali
Dunali is much more than a crime drama show, to the extent that it will break
new grounds, it will do so because of its much larger & universal theme of
human nature and its key differentiation being in underplaying stereotypes and
showing life like characters with a central grand theme of survival by any
means.
Structurally
each season of Kaali Dunali, be it 10 or 12 episodes exists as a part of the central
story which unfolds over 2 seasons with a possible third season taking place a
few years after the current events. Much like ‘Orange is the new black’ each
episode while moving forward in the present plays events from the past through
the eyes of one of its central characters. Each story arc provides episodes
that stand alone as dramatic television, gravitating towards the central story lines
of the making of a scam and a drug trade and the unravelling of both.
The
world of the characters is hyper real while tonally it is a collision of
different genres, be it mystery, action or comedy all coming together in a town
through its characters. Blocking of shots plays an important role in supporting
character arcs, providing a subtext and also heightens a sense of mystery that
surrounds the motivations and events that unfold in this town.
In
the first story arc the episode begins with a strong man ‘Bahubali’ of the town
making his move from prison that lands an out of work duo an opportunity to get
into the big league. This juxtaposed with the daily struggles of a group of
woman at a shelter for abused woman forms the basis of our way forward.
At
the end of the first season, the reward for the viewer who has been lured by
the first 10 episodes is a well constructed show that provides satisfying
answers to many questions raised and leaves the viewer in anticipation of the
next season.
What
follows is a description of the setting, followed by a roll of the major first
season characters and the story outline for season 1, more advanced work has
been done for the opening episode, to elaborate on the beats of the show, followed
by story points for the rest of the episodes and a short note on Season 2.
SETTING
A
northern rustic town of India that wants to become a city, with majority of
population being locals though some elements of multi ethnicity present within
the town. The town is poor, under educated and struggles with a major drug
problem.
The
architecture is flat roof, old block white or yellow buildings or old colonial
buildings with signs of decay. In better quadrants of the city there are some
new apartment blocks and gated big bungalows. There is a sense that many have
left town and fled for other cities in search of a better life. Vacant houses
often seem to outnumber occupied houses in parts of the slum rehabilitation
projects.
Few
downtown locales are vibrant, better but even here there is a sense that the
city hasn’t seen much growth post independence. Factories and warehouses stand
empty and the only few information and technology companies stand in the town
centre. The rest is small shuttered shops selling clothes and eateries.
Winters
are cold and summers are hot and even though it’s rarely expressed the
residents have a peculiar affection for the town. This is a place where the
past is always present and unlike the developed parts of the country this is
still an older India where age old practices and ideas of revenge, honour
killings still remain in a slowly changing environment.
CHARACTERS
TOWN ELITE
1. Mukti Baba: 59 year old Conman godman, pulls
many of the strings in Dunali, has his hand in every game that is illegal.
There is not one good bone in this man, wears his mask of godliness very well
conning the masses. Gets killed in the second season by a character at the
fringes of Mukti baba’s world, but that’s what happens when you make enemies
everywhere.
2. Raghubir: 48 years old A business man who
wants to make it big, at times seems to genuinely care for the town but very
ruthless when he chooses to be. Raghubir presents the opportunity to Chang and
Shikhar to make it big. Ambitious and over reaching Raghubir dies with a bang
in the second season.
3. Sushant: 33 years Right hand to Mukti baba and
brains behind Mukti Baba’s clandestine operation, Sushant calls the shots and
makes the moves. Escapes with his life when he sees things falling apart in the
second season.
4. Amarnath: 60 – 65 years old Investor, holds
all the cards in town. The guy who is running the major projects, his only
concern being a good return on investment. Isn’t afraid to use illegal methods
to get his way, Amarnath though is a widely respected figure in town. Interacts
only when required, he has to step out in the open when his flagship realty
project hits roadblocks, because of which he meets his end in the 2nd
season.
5. Sheila: 37 year old lawyer and social worker
fighting for woman’s rights. She is ambitious and clever. Her ambitions cloud
her judgement of right and wrong, her reason to start selling drugs found in a
well primarily to fund the growth of her ngo. Married life with Ravi went
down-hill as she manipulates everyone to get her own way becoming much like the
people she wants to stop. Even though she is not active in present day she is
present till the very end of the series.
“ASHRAY”
SHELTER FOR ABUSED WOMAN
1. Rani: 25 year old, the gunslinger of the crew
from “ashray”, Rani comes into her elements in the second season playing a
pivotal role. Rani has come up the hard way, she is saved by Sheila from
getting imprisoned, returns the favour by running a most effective drug
distribution ring.
2. Sania: 25 years oldA village girl who escapes
the clutches of her oppressive surroundings an abusive husband, Sania is a
tough girl though she doesn’t look like it. She dies in the second season
trying to save her lover Mandeep.
3. Mandeep:
26 years old. a runaway and technically a thief, she is madly in love
with Sania. Mandeep is smart and runs the ship at “ashray” by helping Meena
with accounts. She betrays that same trust under duress putting all the well
laid plans of everyone around her in jeopardy.
4. Ramanna: 30 years, Been there since the
beginning with Sheila and one her able deputies. Ramanna helps the drug
operation supervising the ground operatives. A natural leader she provides an
alternative to the woman living at apartment block to make money.
5. Dolly:
35-40 years A newbie who forces Meena to find a solution though only
after she poisons her. Wants her space and peace of mind badly figuring out
solutions that hurt everyone around her. Becomes a worse person in season 2
once more people start moving out of “ashray” for “Gulmohar society”.
6. Meena: 28 year old, coming from the slums
Meena is a fast learner and sticks with Sheila helping her run the shelter even
after Sheila disappears, making some decisions that change the course of many
lives. Meena wants to do good for others and is one of the kindest people. Her
kindness leads to her demise in the second season.
TOWN MIDDLE CLASS
1. Sweetu: 17-18 year old obese kid, with an eating
disorder super ceded by a dissociative disorder. The dissociative disorder
markedly increases Sweetus ability for deductive reasoning helping his
obsessive quest to find answers behind his parent’s disappearance. In the end
the side effects of delusion and paranoia take over in a downward spiral that
takes everything down with it. Sweetu drives the story to its end.
2. Shikhar: 30-35 years old Shikhar needs a job
to stay afloat which he gets with the help of his friend CHANG. This forms the
basis of what unfolds in the present day housing scam. In the first season he
goes with the flow as circumstances around him force him to react, doesn’t have
much of a choice. Steps up his game in the second season helping Sweetu figure
out what’s really happening around him.
Present till the very end.
3. Chang: 30-35 years old, he can make a sale
happen, that includes selling out on friends. He is not pure evil, though his
brain or his moral compass doesn’t serve as a guiding stone when times are
tough. A part time scumbag who lives from day to day, Chang’s a spend thrift
and loses much of the money that he makes forgetting others, especially BABBAN,
gets himself killed eventually.
4. Ravi: 42 year old, a private eye and freelance
journo, very good at his job, arrogant with just enough charm to carry it; most
cases that Ravi deals with are of extramarital affairs. A failed career graph and
the meteoric rise of his wife takes Ravi to the bottle. He gets a pivotal case
that affects the realtors planning the housing development. A major character
present till the very end of the series in the flash backs.
5. Devi Rani: 60-65 years old, Quiet for the most
part in season 1, Devi Rani starts to regret her treatment of her daughter in
law and feels responsible for the dismantling of her family. She sets about
making things right in the second season.
6. Ajit Bhalla: 26 years old Doesn’t really care
what he’s doing as long as he gets paid. Makes the mistake of encouraging
prostitution where he’s working.
7. Bani: 28 years old Works 9 to 5 at a call
centre and immensely frustrated with her life despite of having a better life
than most. Vulnerable, has body issues and dreams of becoming an actor Bani
slips into a drug problem that only worsens by the second season.
8. Rakesh: 18 years old AKA Raka, really a nice
guy in a crap environment, Raka starts off as a bully but slowly reinvents his
self, an athlete as well he realizes his best way of getting out of town is to
get back into books. Rakas past and upbringing especially his asshole of a
father affects his rowdy behaviour to a great extent. A sensible guy and a
natural leader he knows where to step in and when to walk off.
9. Gulshan Grover: 45 year old, lawyer for Babban
and Mukti baba, a harried and scared soul because of the people he works for.
The man on the ground for the hire ups and does all the ground work. Becomes
more prominent in 2nd season as things start going bad to worse.
COPS
1. Sidhu: 45 year old Dirty cop with brains the
equivalent of a box of rocks, Sidhu works for Mukti Baba from inside the
station. Meets his end in the second season but does enough damage by then.
2. Lakhan: 62 year old ex cop, knows how it works
in this town, has his own code of conduct and widely respected for his police
work as well the man that he is. Works with Babban for the money. Babban knows
his value, a good shooter and laconic, Lakhan is present till the very
end.
3. Harish: 27 year old junior cop in Dunali,
idolises the senior cops, especially Sharad, badly wants to impress everyone
but doesn’t have much experience. His impression in the department is that of a
suck job and mind fuck, leeching onto whoever talks to him. Harish is a good
guy who will survive the town.
4. Sharad: 42 year old an average cop at best, he
is politically adept and one day will rise further up the ranks if he doesn’t
get into a mess because of his past. Control freak and uncaring when it comes
to his family, his son blames him for the death of his mother.
5. Vishal Shekhar: 55 years old chief cop, with
only 5 more years left at his job, Vishal would prefer staying out of trouble.
He manages to do that by going on training programs and other such and at other
times sides with the most powerful in town. In second season, Vishal would
eventually grow a pair and give the cops a free hand in reigning in the chaos.
STREET
1. Bittu: 18 years old does nothing, wants to
make money and live a good life, Bittu dreams of nothing more than getting rich
quick. Becomes part of Captains crew by season 2.
2. Captain: 20 – 25 year old, all that Captain wants
is to become a gangster and that is pretty much what he is. A rising star in his early days making a name
by getting into skirmishes with the top dog Babban and his crew. Captain is now
the main man supervisor running drugs and all things illegal with his trusted
lieutenants. A penchant for violence leads to the comeback of Babban, leading
to his demise in the second season.
6. Babban: 40 – 45 year old, he is the erstwhile
Bahubali of Dunali. An independent soul, BABBAN used to work with the most
powerful people in town. Stupid fearless, Babban is thrown in prison when he
turns on his paymasters in a bid to grab his own territory. After a couple of
years in prison, he is itching to get back into the game and makes the opening
move from behind bars. The first season
Babban spends behind the prison appearing in flashbacks, coming out in the open
in the second season. A survivor, Babban is alive till the last episode of the
series.
7. Omar: 25 year old right hand to Babban, gets
killed during Babbans standoff with Mukti Baba, appears in the end of season 1
and beginning of season 2.
8. Gopal: 21 year old right hand to Captain,
begins life on the street and grows into a prominent role by the second season,
eventually switching sides which leads to Captains death.
SEASON 1 – STORY OUTLINE
9 Episodes
Episode 1 – part 1 & part 2
1. Present day, streetside: SWEETU 17 year old
guy lies on the ground bleeding unconscious, in a rainy late afternoon, food
items from his oversized shopping bags spilling onto the street. Sweetu has a
dream, he sees himself dance enthusiastically to a popular dance number. His
dance steps are awful zero swagger and he is wearing an embarrassing red
superman pants and cape. Also present in his dream is RAKESH aka RAKA 18 year
old neighbourhood boy who frequently bullies Sweetu laughing his ass off and
secretly recording the dance. His dream ends Sweetu opens his eyes wider than
usual, his brain misfiring. Eyes shut back as Sweetu goes back to dreaming. A
different dream follows in a dimly lit room filled with movie athletes and Guru
Nanak posters, a bare guys back lean and sweaty, looks like Rakesh having
passionate sex with Sweetu’s mother, 38 year old SHEILA.
Sweetu wakes up to a voice in his head, waking
him up, “Uth jaa”. Sweetu checks a bump on his head, nothing new; the voice
remains in his head, “ab royega kya”. Sweetu mutters, “nahi”. Picks up bags
goes home, bruised and beaten.
2. A grim look on SHIKHAR 31 year old man, as he
stares into the mirror, out of work running low on money must make it to an
interview today. But first he needs to negotiate the wrath of his girlfriend
BANI 28 year old, his live in partner. Bani has raised hell, it’s the weekend
and Bani doesn’t give a shit about Shikhars interview, she has plans, she works
hard the whole week and wants to spend one day with Shikhar. Unable to stop
Shikhar she gets out of his way by locking herself in a room.
3. An unexpected phone call and visit to town
from an old friend CHANG 32 year old man, distracts Shikhar from reaching the
interview early. Chang over phone convinces Shikhar to meet him first, he has
better things to offer him than a dumb job.
4. Shikhar reluctantly agrees to drive Chang over
to a spot on a map where they will get passes to the mother of all parties, a
place where the who’s who of town come to network.
5. Unknown to the duo a dirty cop with a limp
SIDHU 45 year old and an ex cop LAKHAN 62 year old are tailing Chang and now
Shikhar. An undercurrent of mutual disrespect vibes between Sidhu and Lakhan
clearly not the best of friends.
6. Chang was in prison before, falsely implicated
and sentenced in a case of abetment, he was the only schmuck to have been sentenced
for selling weed at an event. A talky sales guy Chang quickly makes friends,
including RAMESHWAR a 28 year old man in prison to extract vengeance from a
mountain of a guy called BABBAN who also calls himself “Afghani”, a powerful
goon responsible for the death of Rameshwar’s sister. Rameshwar seeks Changs
help in killing Babban. One day Chang bears witness to an assassination by
Babban in the prison shower. Babban lets Chang go but only after he eye fucks
Chang to tears pleading mercy.
7. 18 year old Raka track and field athlete runs
a lap, his friends BITTU and SONU, all 18 year olds hangout nearby on the
field. Raka needs a parents’ consent to represent the state level in athletics,
urged by the coach BALJIT he decides to speak with his cop father SHARAD, a guy
Raka would rather not speak with.
8. A cut in a drug deal offered by Bittu holds no
interest for Raka.
9. Bani neighbor to Sweetu, spends time with Sweetu’s
grandmother DEVI RANI, 61 year old, watching a popular local godman / conman
MUKTI BABA 59 years, spreading myths on TV. Devi Rani, a broken woman, mourns
the disappearance of her son RAVI and his wife SHEILA.
10. An overloaded shopping cart leads the way for
Sweetu, filled with junk food. Coming out of the mart his attention is caught
by a martial art demonstration, signs up for a demo and learns a move.
11. Nearing the spot on the map where Chang is
supposed to collect the passes, Lakhan overtakes them and skids to a halt ahead
blocking their way. Gun raised, dirtbag Sidhu gives them grief before asking
them to open the trunk. Shikhar knows its empty except for Changs bags opens
trunk. The bags are packed with plastic pouches filled with a white powdery
substance supposedly heroin.
12. Their hands tied Chang and Shikhar sit next to
the car questioned over the drugs. Chang claims they are from “afghani”, but
refuses to elaborate. Shikhar knows he’s probably going to miss his interview.
13. Reaching home after school, Raka finds his
father Sharad at home working out in the balcony. These are drab interiors,
clearly missing a woman’s touch though pictures on the wall show Sharad with a
woman smiling. Unable to speak to Sharad directly, he places the letter of
consent under his cop cap and gets busy preparing lunch for the two. What seems
to be an everyday affair in this household, SHARAD 42 year old, launches into a
tirade over Rakas studies or lack of it, finishes eating, dresses up and leaves
without even glancing at the paper. Raka lashes out at the kitchen utensils.
14. Sharad gets a call, during search operations
they have found skeletons in a well. The skeleton lying on his table is clearly
much older and cannot be Ravi and Sheila.
15. Seeing Sweetu pass by his house, Raka confronts
him. Sweetu has confidence but zero ability, gets beaten black and blue in a
non fight. Raka leaves him unconscious and bleeding on the street.
16. In prison, Rameshwar gets an opportunity to
bump off Babban who’s sleeping in the laundry room, Chang informs him. The
information turns out to be false and Rameshwar enters a trap set by Babban
with Changs help. Babban grabbing Rameshwar from behind, slices his throat open
killing him.
17. In present day Dunali, countryside, Lakhan
digs into the bags and finds a piece of paper with an address. Time to move, Sidhu
shoves Chang in the rear of Shikhars car, Shikhar takes the opportunity to make
a run for it into the fields. Chang shouts, “Bhaag Shikhar”. Hearing Changs
voice, Shikhar running as fast as he can with his hands tied behind him, looks
back, trips and falls face first.
18. The prison is in lockdown, the body of
Rameshwar is taken away by cops. Babban returns the favour, offers Chang an opportunity
to make some money.
19. Shikhar with a bruise on his head from the
knock and Chang sit in the rear of their car, driven deeper into the
countryside by Sidhu. Lakhan in the lead car stops at a dilapidated shed in the
middle of nowhere. Suspecting they are going to be bumped off Chang offers a
deal to Sidhu, Sidhu can keep the entire motherload of dope and Chang will
leave the country. Sidhu laughs, the drugs in Changs bags are fake, Lakhan from
the shed gives them a briefcase with the real stuff known as “afghani”, the
ticket to the party.
20. Once the cops leave, Shikhar takes a moment to
catch his breath, life as he knew it was about to go down the toilet. All
because of Chang who regains his composure and world view, “Shukar hain, paas
mil gaya”, he taps the briefcase. Shikhar beats the shit out of him.
21. Chang takes it all, he isn’t going to let go
of Shikhar, he needs him. Chang drives him to the interview as fast as he can,
skidding, negotiating traffic and Shikhar and still very late for the
interview.
22. At the office complex Shikhar explains his raw
look and late arrival with a car accident drawing some sympathy. A failed patch
up in the washroom and Shikhar is in the interview, taken by AJIT BHALLA 26
year old guy from human resource in a trading and broking company where Shikhar
has applied as a financial analyst.
Ajit:
Hansraj investments, kabhi naam nahi suna.. Aapki khud ki company hain?
Shikhar:
Ji haan, meri khud ki company thi.
AJIT:
Yehi Dunali mein?
SHIKHAR:
Ji
AJIT:
Kabhi suna nahi.. Hansraj investments.. Aapki apni company hain toh naukri kyu
dhoond rahey ho.
SHIKHAR:
Ji Company band ho gayi.
Ajit
chuckles, “Band ho gayi, kaise”?
SHIKHAR:
Chali nahi.
Ajit
leans forward to give corporate advice, “Mushkil kaam toh hai company chalana.
Aapko toh pata hoga..”
The more Ajit speaks, the clearer it becomes
to Shikhar that he is not going to get the job. The rising temper erupts and
Ajit feels the heat. Shikhar slams the office door a few times and goes out.
23. Once out of the office, Shikhar takes off his tie
and stamps on it, starts to rain. Headlight of Shikhars car light up in the
distance, Chang comes over to pick him up, Shikhar glares at him, but gets in
the car. A quick change into a new set of clothes and Shikhar is back, the duo
give off a gangster vibe head to the party.
24. Bani at Shikhars place, practises lines for a
role in a play, her lines make for one expository dialogue and her acting is
much worse. A knock on the door, there is Sweetu with a black eye looking for a
way to hide it so as not to worry his grandmother. Bani paints make up and
gives him shades to hide the black eye in exchange for a recital of her audition,
Sweetu wears the shades, the voice in his head is back speaking to Sweetu, “jab
talent nahi hain toh log koshish kyu kartey hain? teri tarah hain yeh, zero
talent. Fark sirf itna hain ki yeh akeli hain par tere saath main hun”.
25. Shikhar and Chang enter the party, a small but
classy place with leather upholstery and wooden furnishing and a bar that is
well stocked. All heads turn as they enter, everyone is well dressed, seemingly
mild mannered like a bunch of stiff necked top of the food chain elite. A
waiter collects the briefcase, opens it, all eyes on the waiter as he opens a
packet of ‘afghani’ and tastes, nods his approval. Polite claps go around for
Shikhar and Chang. They are invited by RAGHUBIR 48 year old, an up and coming
builder in Dunali, to a table to play poker. They get poker coins worth lakhs
in exchange of the drugs they brought in. Shikhar realizes he’s at the heart of
an elite circuit, around the table there is a bank guy BIKRAM 41 year old,
Sangeeta 38 year old woman who has everyone’s attention including the 40 year
old investor Amarnath and Sushant 33 year old right hand to Mukti Baba. Polite
talk puts Shikhar at ease, the game starts with lines of heroin doing the
rounds, all of it still weirdly formal and uptight.
26. The voice in Sweetu’s head: “Uth, uth aur kaam
pey lag”. The next day, Sweetu wakes up in his bed, he heard the voice too and
he’s not happy about it, Sweetu: “Kya ho gaya mujhe, brain cancer?”... nahi!
Main theek hun, mujhey kuch nahi hua. Main theek hun.. To the beat of music,
Sweetu takes a shower, dresses up, wears his shades and goes to the shelter for
abused woman started by his mother known as “ashray”. He needs a haircut and
the woman who live there run a salon among other businesses, all of it started
by her mother to help woman in need, give them jobs.
27. SANIA 25 year old, a village girl talkative
and friendly, was convicted of manslaughter, out on bail because of Sheila gives
Sweetu a spiked haircut. The place is getting a fresh coat of paint, a local
politician is coming to give a speech next day. Sweetu keeps his shades on.
28. A few woman walk in, amongst them is MANDEEP
26 year old and RAMANNA 30, Ramanna clearly agitated turns on the TV. The local
politician visiting the next day, 44 year old Surendar Khanna is on TV
speaking. Surendar on TV: “Ji mujhey yeh lagta hain ki aurato ko poorey kaprey
pehnney chahiye, apney tan ka prayog na karey balki dimag ka upyog karey, isey
hamari desh ki artha wyawastha mein sudhar ayega, aur rape ki ghatnayein bhi
kum ho jayengi.” Ramanna an old timer at ‘ashray’ is peeved, plots a reply for
Surendar on his arrival the next day.
29. Sweetu takes off his shades, Sania and Mandeep
recognize Sweetus black eye as a bruise from a beating, coax the truth out of
Sweetu. They offer their help in revenge from whoever did this, Sweetu accepts
help with advisory from the voice in his head. With the new haircut Sweetu
looks a different guy.
30. Sweetu walks through the corridors of “Ashray”
like he owns the place, drawing stares from the woman passing by. Walks into
one of the rear offices of the manager in charge, Meena 31 year old, a dark
heavy set woman feeling the pressure of managing the place with the arrival of
the politician next day. Meena requests Sweetu to get Devi Rani to say a few
words on the day. Meena asks him to take off his shades, sees the bruise and
scolds Sweetu telling him to stay away from bad company. JASSI 27 year old
woman walks into the office, informs her of the politicians goof up and that
some sort of revenge is being planned. She also gives her the bad news that one
woman SWATI who has disappeared a couple
of days back is nowhere to be found, so a picture of her goes up on the wall of
missing women, Sheila is amongst them. Sweetu is drawn to the wall, the voice
in his head blanks out what Meena is saying.
Voice: “tasvir sey kya pata chalega kaun thi yeh ladki, iskey baarey
mein kahi toh kuch aur bhi hoga, koi report..?” Sweetu to Meena: “Aur kuch pata
hain Swati key baarey mein, yeh kaun thi, iskey dost kaun hain.”
Meena:
“Kyu”. Sweetu: “Main shayad dhoond sakta hoon.”
Meena
staring at Sweetu gives her a file, kept on missing woman.
31. Rakas coach offers to help him go to the
competition without Sharad knowing, if he can arrange for 20K. Cornered and
desperate to get out of Dunali, Raka checks in with his pal Bittu if the
meeting at night is still on.
32. Shikhar lies in his bed, no Bani around, an
empty house. Bani at an audition in an empty theatre, four people sit in the
front row. Bani on stage speaks her lines to a disinterested audience. A few
rows back sits Kundan 28 years old, a photographer, pimp and a casting agent
watching Bani perform. He walks back stage to meet a deflated Bani and asks her
if she has any interest in acting for TV ads, Bani cannot believe what she has
heard, Kundan is asking for her portfolio.
33. Shikhar wakes up late afternoon with a
hangover, his phone buzzing. It’s Chang who wants to know whether he’s coming
to work. Shikhar finds a gun under his pillow, last night’s events return to
Shikhar. The drug snorting, the game of poker which he wins and his new found
friends, the early exit of Amarnath leaving Shikhar with a parting gift the gun
and the party turning wild, all rigidness gone as the social elite revel in a
drug infested night, lap dance, guns fired in air. In all the craziness Shikhar
gets offered a job by Raghubir, the builder.
34. Shikhar drives Chang to a building site,
address on a card. The name of the society is Gulmohar society, in the middle
of large empty tracts of land and agriculture fields with 2 complete towers and
a couple of incomplete construction with no signs of ongoing work.
35. The job for Chang and Shikhar is to find
buyers for the completed building, once it’s occupied more money will flow in
and the the society will be the largest in the region, a centre of pride for
Dunali. In this job they can take the help from Bikram, partner of Raghubir
also heads loan department of a bank, to provide prospective buyers with easy
soft loans. Shikhar looks around at the barren nothing: “Yeh kaun si jagah
hain?” Raghubir: “Bhar gaon.” Shikhar: “Gaon kidhar hain?”.. No response.
Shikhar: “Shehar sey thoda door nahi ho gaya?”
36. At night Raka sneaks out of the house followed
by Mandeep and Sania in a van. Raka walks into the meeting between Bittu and
CAPTAIN 22 year old man with an eyepatch, the bahubali in town. A couple of cop
cars slowly approach, cops including Sharad and Sidhu have laid a trap and plan
on catching Captain in the act, Sidhu pretends accident turns on the sirens.
Most of the boys freeze but Raka and Captain, enough for them to make an escape
while the rest of the boys are caught. HARISH 27 a young cop gives chase but
Raka knows the terrain better, gives him the slip and helps Captain to escape.
Impressed by Raka, Captain helps him out with the 20k he needs and has more
work for him, Raka accepts the money, refuses the job.
37. The politician Surendar going to “ashray” in
his car flanked by Sharad, looks behind, a single cop car behind them.
Surendar
Khanna: “Sharad saab maana ki main koi mantri nahi hun lekin mere protection
key liye kuch toh intajaam kiya hota, sirf ek police ki gari?” Sharad: “Chinta
mat kijiye sir, apki suraksha ka poora bandobast hain.” Surendra Khanna: “Mujhey
kyu nahi dikh raha, poora bandobast? Hmm?, Aapkey department ko toh teen chaar
gariya hain.” Sharad: “Sir teen gariya hai, usmey sey ek kharab pari hai garage
mein.” Shikhar: “ Sir woh Sheila aur Ravi ka kuch pata nahi chala abhi tak, toh
kuch log combing operation pey gaye hain.” Surendar slaps his forehead with the
palm of his hand, disgusted. Sharad continues unfazed, “sir aap jaha jaa rahey
hain woh Sheila ji ki jagah hain.”
Surendar:
“Arey pata hain humey kaun hain yeh Sheila aur yeh bhi pata hain ki hum kaha
jaa rahey hain, aap yeh search ab bund kijiye, agar kuch milna hota toh ab tak
mil chukka hota, aur aapko aaj ka din hi mila tha, humari protection ki bajaye
gumshuda logo ko dhoondney bhej diya. Agar kuch ho gaya humey toh kaun zimmedaar
hoga?
Sharad:
“Sir kuch nahi hoga aapko, hum hain na. Sir mainey toh isliye bheja hai ki aap
yeh apney bhashan mein bol sakey, ki aap poori koshish kar rahey hain ki Sheila
ka pata jald sey jald lagey, yaha tak ki aapney security ki maang bhi nahi ki,
taaki police apna kaam kar sakey.”
Surendar
likes this one: “Oh. Arey writer saab, ji yeh aapney suna kya?” speaking to his
speech writer in the front seat. Surendar to Sharad, “jara unko phir sey bata
dijiye aap kya keh rahe they”.
38. Surendar arrives at “Ashray” to garlands and
camera flashes. He shakes the hand of Jassi thinking it is Meena, Sweetu
wearing shades is introduced, Surendar gives him a hug then heads straight for
the stage set up in the canteen room, the shelter women sitting in neat rows in
front. Meena whispers in Sweetu’s ear, “Dadi ji kidhar hain”. Sweetu whispers
back, “woh nahi ayegi”. Meena in shock, “Kya!”, Sweetu repeats, “Woh nahi
aayegi”. Meena: Woh nahi aayegi toh tuh bolega”. Before Sweetu can protest,
Meena pushes him onto the stage. Sweetu backs away but Surendar calls him on
the stage. All cameras point towards Surendar as he speaks,”Aaj yeh mera
saubhagya hain ki main aap sab key beech aa paaya. A woman in the audience
stands up, goes to the rear and pulls a string, a big banner rolls down, that
says, “ab hum aisey hi hain” a large poster of a woman in bikini. Rupa shouts,
“Netaji ab hum aisey hi hain” Tears off her uniform to reveal a gunji and
shorts. The cameras turn towards the woman, a couple of cops rush to take her
down, before they reach her, a section of the woman including Ramanna take off
the tear away one piece uniforms to reveal micro shorts and undershirt. Meena
covers her eyes, cameras go crazy, Surendar stutters, pandemonium.
39. The search party, cops looking for the missing
couple, find wreckage of a car sticking out from a drying lake.
40. The minister tries to save the day from
becoming a media disaster, quickly apologizes and tells the audience of the
ongoing efforts to find Sheila and Ravi.
In
the middle of Surendars speech, Sharads cell phone vibrates, one by one many
cell phones start ringing. The reporters whispering amongst themselves as news
breaks on Sweetus parents, Sweetu looks at Meena for answers, Sharad is
whispering in Meena’s ear, Meena has her hands covering her mouth, tears
flowing from her eyes.
A
siren wails.
41. The wreckage of the car is kept on the side of
the road, surrounded by cops. One side of the road is barricaded, the traffic
is a snarl.
Episode 2:
1. Phones buzzing all around, Raghubir at his
grocery mart “Kalyan super store” sees message. Mukti baba sees the same
message, so does Bani at work, Shikhars phone buzzing with too only he is not
around to see. Shikhar and Chang are out showing an apartment to a prospective
buyer, it’s open house day at Gulmohar society but the attendance is crap and
the one guy attending doesn’t like it either.
2. A lawyer GULSHAN 45 years old a harried scared
soul working for bad guys, steps into the police station to find the only
presence of DHARMENDAR 39 year old constable telling parents of Bittu they
cannot go in. Gulshan to Dharmendar: “andar kaun hain” Dharmendar: “Harish
saab”. Gulshan: “Kaun sey kamre mein” Dharmendar shrugs “pata nahi”.
Gulshan walks inside the station into a room,
Gopal is sitting inside expressionless. Assured that he hasn’t said anything,
he walks into another room, sees Bittu, checks with him, he hasn’t said
anything, makes a mental note of his loyalty. Steps into a third room, Sonu
sitting their crying, HARISH 27 year old cop there as well, a smile of victory
wide across his face.
3. Sweetu
at the morgue with Devi Rani surrounded by a large crowd of woman from “ashray”.
Meena gives Sweetu a bear hug, walks him into the morgue, Devi Rani faints
seeing the bodies. The bodies are charred beyong recognition, they identify the
bodies with the items on them. Ravis specs, watch, Sheilas bangles, burnt parts
of her clothing, necklace.
4. The first time Meena had met Sheila was at her
house in the slums. Sheila comes looking for a Hema 21 year old woman from the
slums, who had escaped from the clutches of flesh traders. Hema younger sister
to Meena is holed up in a room and refuses to come out. But when Sheila gives
her a bunch of pictures she positively ID’s Mukti Baba.
5. In present day Dunali courtroom, Gulshan gets
a bail for Bittu and others, Judge BALBIR 55 year old presiding over the case
slams down on cops for making arrests without material evidence. Balbir on his
way out held up by a reporter who asks if he knew Sheila, a judge in his court
whose body was recently found. Balbir acknowledges knowing her and that she was
a good judge.
6. Sheila and Meena go to Balbir to check with
him on whether a case could be made over Mukti baba on the basis of Hema’s
positive ID. Balbir wants more confidence building measures, positive ID’s from
Hema before a case or investigation against Mukti baba is made.
7. Hema at the cop station late night tells
Sharad she knows the location where she was being held. The station is almost
empty and Sharad is reluctant to go, a rant from Sheila and Sharad a junior in
the ranks back then heads over to the location with Sidhu and Lakhan who is yet
to retire. On reaching they find the location still active, rescue a couple of
girls Jassi and Ramanna. A heads up message of their arrival sent by Sidhu is
not received by the man guarding the location, the guard dies in crossfire
easy, 2 bullets from Lakhan. Sheila speaks to Sharad about what next in the
case but Sharad is busy getting smitten by Sheila.
8. In prison; Sharad meets with Babban, the prime
suspect for Sharad. Babban denies any knowledge; threats from Sharad don’t have
any effect.
9. Gulshan the lawyer is in damage control mode,
outside the courthouse he pulls in the coroner Zubair 42 years old and bribes
him to skip the post mortem on the bodies of Ravi and Sheila and go to the
death certification.
10. Hema arrives in court grappling onto Sheila,
scared of everything and everyone. Ravi is present in court sitting in the
rear, barely interested in the proceeding (it’s Ravi’s voice that Sweetu hears
in his head). Scheduled for post lunch, Sidhu spikes Balbirs lunch with bad
stuff relegating him to the loo for the rest of the day. Meena and Sheila flank
Hema and take her outside, followed by Ravi who wants to know what happened
inside from Sheila. Sheila doesn’t know shit and is frustrated and takes it out
on Ravi while Meena signals an auto rickshaw to stop. A moment alone, Hema
steps in front of a truck, killing herself.
11. Meena in present day sits in her office teary
eyed giving an interview to the local paper. Mandeep enters and announces the
new intake to the shelter has arrived. 20 women are dropped off a police van. The
place is now choc a block, the residents of “ashray” have glum unwelcoming
faces.
12. Meena offers her help in an impassionate plea
to Sheila in her quest for justice for Hema and other woman. They reach what is
‘ashray’ in present day where the woman rescued earlier are staying, run by an
ngo that’s shutting down due to lack of funds. Jassi is missing with no
accountability from the ngo busy disposing furniture. Jassi was headed to the
railway station; Ramanna tells them and with nowhere else to go accompanies the
two to find her.
13. In prison, Babban is unhappy at Gulshan, the
package has gone out with Chang and there is no word on when he’ll be released.
Once outside, Gulshan notifies his paymasters on progress and is given another
task. Gulshan is tired and hungry.
14. Sweetu plays a computer game in an effort to
get the voice out of his head. It keeps coming back asking Sweetu to move his
ass and get to work. Sweetu feels he may also have superpowers, tries to move
objects with his mind, the voice ridicules him.
15. Rakesh gives the money to coach Baljit, who
promises to make the state athletic meet a reality for Rakesh. Rakesh finds
Bittu and Sonu over at his usual hang out, Bittu has a message from Captain, he
wants to meet Rakesh. Rakesh isn’t interested.
16. Harish makes a whining embarrassment of an
apology to VISHAL SHEKHAR 51 year old, chief cop at the station. Sharad is
present as well, a still angry Vishal lets Harish off the hook because he
doesn’t want to see a grown man man cry. After Harish leaves, Vishal asks
Sharad why he’s still investigating the case of Sheila and Ravi when the post
mortem report says accident. This is new knowledge to Sharad, he never got the
report because Vishal got it first. Vishal orders the case closes.
17. In his car, a tired Gulshan meets Captain and
asks him to lay low, Captain dismisses him, gets a slap
from Gulshan who immediately regrets hitting a gangster apologizes for a long
and difficult day. Captain gets out after some bad ass staring.
18. Gopal packs a page around a stone and throws
it inside Rakesh’s house. Stone flies in hitting glass stuff. Rakesh picks it
up, message reads, “Call XXXXXXXXXXX (phone number. Rakesh calls, Captain at
the other end asks him to meet, he has a job in exchange for Sonu who has been
abducted by Captain. Rakesh checks with Bittu and Sonu is MIA.
19. Dolly 36 year old a newbie at “ashray” is
disgusted with the food, storms into Meenas office and complaints to her about
the food. Meena promises improvement.
20. Jassi is sleeping in the rear seat of the Fial
padmini, found by Sheila and group, Meena is driving them around, while they
think of a solution. Meena has to pee, they stop at the outskirts of the town.
From behind bushes Meena watches Sheila peeking inside an old well, then stand
up on the edge of the well and jump in. Meena rushes over trying to stop her
from committing suicide, which Sheila isn’t. The well isn’t deep, packed with
concrete dust, sticking out from under it an old skeleton and a piece of fabric
that turns out to be part of a bag. They pull the bag out to find more bags
buried under. The bag contains Heroin, lots of it.
21. Sweetu sits with her grandmother watching
Mukti Baba, spewing stupidity. The voice is in Sweetus head urging Sweetu to
start small but take first steps. Sweetu picks up the file given by Meena, as
per the voice the first case he should dive into is that of Swati, the most
recent girl gone missing from “ashray”. If he cannot find her then the voice
goes away.
Episode
3:
1. At “ashray” Dolly can barely sleep with the
ongoing snoring competition between 2 other woman in the room. Groggily gets up
to use the toilet and there’s a line to use the loo.
2. Rooftop, Gulmohar society, Chang, Shikhar and
Raghubir are being grilled by the investor Amarnath, flanked by people who look
like bouncers. Chang keeps looking at the bouncers while Amarnath voices his
disappointment at the progress made, Shikhar suggests advertisement in the form
of hoardings. Amarnath query eyes Raghubir who nods.
3. Chang watches a hoarding installation. Raghubir
has his face on the advert with a child sitting on his shoulder, inviting the
passer-by to come at live at Gulmohar.
4. At an abandoned factory, Raka meets Captain,
gets Sonu’s released and in return he needs to do a job for Captain.
5. The voice guides Sweetu in the investigation
of the missing person Swati. Swati had a history of drugs, she had not gone
home to her family and she had no money on her. The voice summarizes that she
couldn’t have left town.
6. Dolly is disgusted by the lunch, shouts out at
the cook. When told to quieten down by an orderly she throws the food on the
wall. Goes back to Meena and asks her to improve the quality, Meena reminds her
she isn’t staying at a hotel.
7. Account manager for “ashray” Mandeep suggests
a pro cook. Meena worries cost overrun, Mandeep is unfazed because they can
simply ask their secret firang donor for more funds but Meena knows there is no
such fairy out there.
8. Meena
meets an extremely nervous Sheila at her old house. A much smaller house than
the one presently occupied by Sweetu. Sheila has the bag of heroin with her,
she hasn’t yet spoken to Ravi about it. She is questioning the wisdom of
telling him and letting him start a wild goose chase when they are running
short on money. Meena seizes the moment to show wads of cash to Sheila, she had
taken a pouch and sold it to a dealer who had come back for more.
9. Present day “ashray” is attracting media
attention, meena shows a TV crew around the place.
10. A few girls in the beauty parlor including
Ramanna, Jassi and Mandeep are hanging out watching and discussing a TV soap
and cribbing about the newbie’s.
11. Meena is asked by the reporter whether he knew
Sheila or her husband. She says Sheila was her friend and mentor but she didn’t
know much about Ravi, he preferred being all by himself.
12. Meena suggests they sell more of the stuff to
her guy (a tour guide, Armaan khan 23 year old) and use the money for better
purposes like helping woman in distress. Sheila is lured in by the dream; they
can even buy the shelter and have their own setup. Meena asks if Ravi gets to
know, “nahi”, Sheila says. Sheila gets a call from Ravi.
13. Ravi is at the court digging stories, seated
at a hearing of man slaughter by a woman called Rani 25 year old. The evidence
is piled up against her, Rani has killed her husband but maybe Sheila can take
it up. Ravi has inkling that Rani is innocent.
14. Meena gets a call from Armaan, asking her if
she has more of the stuff. That the stuff is A grade heroin, the best in town
in fact the best anywhere. His clients all firangs are ready to pay more money,
than previously. Meena and Sheila jump in joy.
15. Raka and Bittu drive the vehicle towards the
check point. Raka doesn’t go through, stops vehicle before the checkpoint and
abandons car, deaf to Bittu’s protests.
16. At “ashray” Sweetu looks at Swatis bed and
empty wall; her bunk is still empty but soon to be occupied. Sweetu speaks to
her roommate, voice assures Sweetu she will speak to him because Sweetu looks
like an idiot. Her roommate tells Sweetu that Swati was a recovering addict who
was acting irritated recently. Sweetu speaks to Meena telling her he may know
where Swati is.
17. Meena drives Sweetu around, searching through
the under belly of poverty in Dunali to find Swati under a bridge, in bad
shape. They take Swati to the hospital. On exiting they find a large number of
woman from the shelter, applauding Sweetu and Meena. Sweetu nods politely, the
voice in his head loving it.
18. Dolly in the kitchen helps out Jassi preparing
a late dinner for Meena, Jassi leaves her alone for a moment. Dolly spikes food
with half a bottle of rat poison and stirs.
19. Sweetu
cremates the bodies, many known faces are present including Sharad and the
reporter. After the cremation Devi Rani keeps walking down the road in spite of
everyone calling out her name. She is brought back to the car and driven home.
20. Ravi cuts ribbon at the shelter, names it
“ashray”, Sharad is present along with Lakhan. The story of funds as per Sheila
is a box of cash left by an unknown donor. Ravi has difficulty buying the story
but never the less is more interested in pursuing Rani’s case, the defense
lawyer is a government prosecutor with no interest in the case at all. Sheila
wants more evidence but takes the case.
21. Ravi goes over to the village called Bhar
gaon, where Rani used to live. He finds her address and looks it up, some other
guy is living in that hut. Other guy asks him to fuck off asap. Ravi finds it
interesting, looking around there are people watching him, he gets witnesses
who say Rani would be dead if she didn’t kill her husband first.
22. At
“ashray”, Meena is hungry, she goes to the kitchen and grabs a quick bite. She
feels discomfort by the end of the meal that quickly blows up into a mind
numbing pain and blackout.
Episode 4:
1. Present day, Sweetu’s house, Devi Rani wakes
up, gets out of bed, takes her walking stick, walks out of the house.
2. Ravi sitting in his 1 room shabby private eye
office along with Devi Rani who’s in the middle of an expletive filled rant
against her daughter in law Sheila. For Devi Rani Sheila is an atheist bitch
who is probably whoring around for the money.
3. Chang and Raghubir are sitting quietly. A glum
look on all of their faces.
Raghubir: “Yaar
tum log toh marwa dogey mujhey. Ab tak kitney flat book huey?”
Chang
indicates 1 number. Chang further suggests / sells TV ads on cable to Raghubir.
Raghubir agrees but this is their last chance.
4. Shikhar having a quiet breakfast at home
checking mail. Bani wakes up, goes for drinking water there is none. She asks Shikhar
who is busy checking his phone, Shikhar is non committal. Bani is enraged, she
takes his phone and throws it away. World war 3.
Loud knocks
on their door stops the fight. Sweetu at the door asking for help, Devi Rani is
missing.
5. The trio get in Shikhars car and start
searching. Find Devi Rani walking all by herself, reluctantly sits in the car
after Sweetu stands in her way.
6. Dolly finds herself awake, in the middle of an
onslaught of snoring. She gets up and sleeps in the canteen. The door to the
canteen opens and Jassi and a couple of new girls walk in talking about who
gets to be the boss in Meenas absence, ask Dolly what she’s doing there. Dolly
gets up without saying a word wishing she was dead or everyone else was dead.
7. Balbir has run away with Rakas money along
with money from other similar prospects. Raka exchanges lap timings and finds
many in his range.
8. Sweetu takes care of Devi Rani and looks into
the next file, that of Komal Kher, a 55 year old Kashmiri migrant who
disappeared many months earlier. No drug history, no criminal records, she had
her house in Bhar gaon, got uprooted during the riots. Sweetu had to see the
place first. Sweetu checks on Devi Rani who is pretend sleeping, goes to the
garage and tries to start the fiat. The car rolls out onto the street, Sweetu
freezes seeing Raka in front of the car. Raka offers help. Sweetu finds the
voice in his head urging revenge. Shikhar finds the 2 working on the car, joins
in.
9. Chang finds Banis picture among pictures of
other models. He doesn’t know who she is on the flip side its mentioned
finalized model for the ad, he calls Shikhar who is not reachable, curses and
finalizes Bani. He calls Bani and fixes the date for the shoot.
10. Bani at her office, a call center cannot
believe her ears; she makes a high pitched shout of glee, which makes everyone
hush her. She calls Shikhar, his phone is not reachable and because of her she
remembers. She calls Kundan and thanks him.
11. Not far from Gulmoha society, Raka drives
Sweetu to where Bhar gaon used to be, a few shanties of construction workers
remain who shoo them away, in the distance are the residential towers of
Gulmohar society.
12. Ravi stands outside of Ranis house taking
pictures, men keep walking in and out.
13. At the court Sheila wins Rani her freedom,
Ravi wants to show Sheila pictures of Ranis house but swamped by reporters,
Sheila enjoys her victory. Sharad comes over and congratulates her, she hitches
a ride with Sharad.
14. Devi Rani, watching TV in a dimly lit room,
Ravi enters drunk. Devi Rani starts her rant against Sheila, goes quiet once
Sheila enters. Ravi carries on with the drinking. Devi Rani slides in a taunt
or two for Sheilas lack of faith in god.
15. Present day, Devi Rani walks keeps walking on
the road away from her house.
16. Ravi continues taking his pictures and
drinking sees a large guy, Babban enter the house.
17. At Gulmohar society the shoot is on, Chang
flirts with Meena unaware of who she is, Shikhar comes over, stunned into a
rock.
18. Dropping Sweetu home Raka apologizes for all
that he has done to Sweetu.
19. Sheila asks Ravi if he wants to move from this
house, Ravi doesn’t have the money but Sheila has.
20. Sania and Mandeep kidnap Raka, gagged and
tied, take him to an abandoned location, keep him there for the night.
21. Devi Rani reaches Mukti babas ashram door,
large doors that are closed. The guard outside tells her to go away, she stays.
Sweetu comes to an empty house, a message left on the table by Devi Rani.
22. The closed doors open for Devi Rani.
Episode 5:
1. At the station Sharad in dishevelled plain
clothes radio wireless in front of him listens in to radio chatter of cops out
looking for Raka. Raka wet pants, sits tied up in a chair, head covered with a
mask. He can hear police sirens but cannot do anything about it.
2. Cold vibes in Shikhar’s car as he and Bani
head home from the shoot. Shikhar confesses he never knew that Bani had an
interest in acting.
3. In the morning Sania and Mandeep take pictures
of Raka. Whats app Sweetu.
4. Sweetu home alone, voice tells him things are
going to get worse. He gets the message from Sania. Sweetu calls Sania, tells
them they have kidnapped a cops son and not to do anything till he gets there.
Sania freaks out shouts at Mandeep, Raka can hear woman speaking.
5. Dolly in a line early morning, her eyes are
red and swollen from lack of sleep. Watches a fight break out in front of her
for rest room rights. Too tired to do anything.
6. At the hospital Meena is dreaming, Armaan sits
across from Sheila and Ramanna staring down his soul. Meena is pacing outside.
Armaan explains that the demand for ‘afghani’ is huge, that’s what he calls it.
This time he wants half a kg, cash in his bag. Deal done, Armaan hugs Meena,
asks her out, she agrees.
7. Sweetu at the kidnapping, they put Raka in the
van, drive around, no talking and dump him by a park. Found by Sidhu who calls
it in. Sharad watches Sidhu sleeping, tries to wake him up but stopped by a
nurse, Sharad leaves.
8. Dolly goes to the atm, takes out cash, picks a
dozen bottles of rat poison.
9. Sharad catches hold of Sonu, puts him between
two constables in the back of a car. Drives around till Sonu croaks Captain.
10. Sweetu goes to see Meena at the hospital, asks
her about Komal, Meena knows as much as Sweetu does. Asks her to let go and
focus on the next missing person. Next person was Sheila, no more relevant and
the one after that is Rani. Meena gets a sudden bout of tired.
11. Armaan buys a big car, takes it to his single
room house in a poor locality. A friend of his comes over, pleads with Armaan
to let him into whatever he is into. Armaan asks him to fuck off.
12. Armaan comes in with the new car to pick Meena
out. Meena all dressed gets into the car, Armaan takes her to his
neighbourhood, A couple of guys approaching him pull out guns, seeing guns Armaan
reacts quickly accelerates car away from the two thugs, but not before he’s
shot, car swerves like a drunk with Armaan trying to stay conscious, crashes
the car into a wall. Meena gets out unscathed and runs away, Armaan getting
shot many more times by one of the goons. The other guy K gives chase, but
Meena manages to escape. Cries her heart out at the steps of “ashray”.
13. The advert with Bani showing off Gulmohar
society to a background jingle lifted off a popular song is being reviewed by
the entire gang including Bani and Raghubir. Raghubir gives a thumbs up on a
job well done and leaves.
14. Sharad sees Raka at the hospital, makes it an
interrogation. Sharad asks if he’s into drugs, Raka loses it, asks Sharad to
get fucked, that he should have shown this concern for his wife and Rakas
mother when she was dying instead.
15. Sheila offers “ashray” as a temporary abode to
newly released woman convicts till they get integrated back in society to the
town’s mayor and cops, Sharad among them. Everyone hears a no cost to
government resettlement plan and that’s aleays nice.
16. Sheila shows Sharad the new parlor they have
opened and how the woman can make their money and be self reliant. Rani is the
first of hair stylists. Sharad asks if she wants to grab a bite with him,
Sheila aware of Sharad’s feelings for her turns him down gently. Meena crying, tells
Sheila about the thugs and dead Armaan.
17. Sweetu goes to where they had found Ravi’s
car. Looks at the street far away, the voice questions the incident and how the
car landed in water. Sweetu sits on a tree log next to the lake, a local man
sits himself next to Sweetu, strikes a conversation. He tells Sweetu that
accidents keep occurring, that a few days earlier a truck had almost gone over
the edge.
18. At the salon Sania gives a facial to Ramanna,
Ramanna cribs about the pressure of handling meenas role in her absence. The
advert of Gulmohar society comes on cable.
19. Sweetu surfs the net for other accident
reports for the road. Sees the picture of the truck accident. Sweetu realizes
that it could have been just an accident like everyone is saying it was. Never
the less Sweetu opens up Rani in his file, the voice in his head finds it
strange that she disappeared a few days after Sheila and Ravi and no one looked
into it for a possible connection.
20. Sheila and Meena dump the heroin bag back into
the well.
Episode 6:
1. A guy comes over with 2 big briefcases filled
with cash all of it is a crore. Meena and Mandeep start the cash counter. The
man waits.
2. Raka at the hospital, hallucinates his dead
mother sitting next to him. TV shows the state athletic meet. Raka gets up and
dresses, walks out of the hospital.
3. Sweetu goes over to meet Devi Rani along with
Shikhar, they enter the large ashram courtyard, where devotees are relaxing or
meditating. They find her meditating under a tree, Sweetu asks her to come back
but she goes back to meditating.
4. To take Sweetu’s mind off Devi Rani, Shikhar
teaches him to drive. Sweetu asks if Shikhar knew his dad well, Shikhar really
didn’t, had only met him once, he seemed to be very busy person. Chang calls
wants Shikhar at office asap, there is a bunch of people who are waiting to
check out the place.
5. Chang gives the demo at Gulmohar apartment
where much repairs are needed, half complete swimming pool and an incomplete
society with no gates. Chang is being
watched by Raghubir and a few suave looking men from the office.
6. Chang enters the office as the suave men are
leaving. Raghubir explains, the men are an outside set of investors interested
in buying them out. The meeting had been set up by Amarnath and if no progress
happens then the place is a wrap.
7. Sweetu goes to his father office, finds more
stuff on Komal, Ravi had interviewed Komal. There were pictures of her face in
erstwhile bhar gaon. Sweetu looks for the excerpt of the interview, doesn’t
find it instead finds his camera.
8. At the hospital, Ramanna urges Meena to get
back to “ashray” where she is needed. Meena is no mood to do that, it’s a mini
holiday for her infront of the TV.
9. Sheila cost cuts, delegates job roles to
Ramanna, Meena and Rani. Tries to raise money unsuccessfully.
10. K recognizes Meena at the market, Meena
unaware heads over to “ashray”. Rani out with some other task spots meena being
followed.
11. Mandeep, Sania and KADAMBARI 32 year old have
lunch. Mandeep is tired from counting cash the whole day. Sania asks for the
source of funds, all they know is that its a mystery foreign donor who want
their identity hidden.
12. Dolly washing floors all day with a few older
woman who go about their job quietly in the background asks Ramanna for a
change of job, preferably stitching, Ramanna tired from the cash counting,
gives in to her requests.
13. K chases Meena into the salon at “ashray”
where Rani is waiting. Rani kills K with a knife stabbing multiple times
bleeding him to death, like a pro. Sheila comes finds the body in the parlour.
They lock doors and close shop. Rani demands answers.
14. Harish
and Dharmendar cruising the slums find a drug trade going down, they give
chase, one of the boys shoots back blind accidentally hitting Dharmendar.
15. Bittu and Sonu come to meet Raka. They want
him to come out and hang but Raka wants to study. Bittu feels betrayed, says
Raka has changed. Raka only smiles.
16. The police put a local curfew at the slum; a
local gives the address of the guy who fired the shot to Sharad. The boy who
had accidentally shot the cop is holed up in a house with her sister and her
husband. Sharad waits for the couple to leave, enters the house and kills the
boy in cold blood making it look like a cross fire.
17. Ramanna is as evasive about Rani as was Meena
to Sweetus questions when Sweetu is confident that the two were pretty close.
The voice in his head finds it strange. Sweetu asks about Komal and if he
remembers her, Ramanna is more forthcoming, but doesn’t remember much except
Ravi had interviewed her about the Bhar gaon riots.
18. Sushant gives an update on the recent death
and accompanying low morale of the street peddlers to Mukti baba and Amarnath.
Sushant is not sure about captain either, suggests they should consider letting
out Babban at some point in the near future.
19. Babban calls Lakhan from prison, asks him to
keep a close watch on Chang, he should also pick up his money if he wants to.
Lakhan says he is fine and will take the money from him.
20. Rani tastes the heroin and knows it’s the best.
She suggests they get back into the game, for the sake of the place and to
drive Mukti Babas drug business down.
21. Ramanna hears shouts and shrieks from outside
the office, finds many of the woman shout and shriek clutching their stomach.
She runs to the canteen to stop more people from getting food poisoning.
22. The woman are stretchered into the hospital
and Meena feels guilty further added to by Ramanna giving her grief. Meena
watches the TV ad of gulmohar society, despite Ramanna’s rant at her. Meena
smiles, she knows what to do.
23. Sheila, Ramanna, Rani and Meena go to the
well, taking the body of K along with them and burying it and this time they
take out all the bags from the well.
Episode 7:
1. Two men, Madan 44 and Mohan 49, arrive by
train at the town station straight from a village. They are looking for
Mandeep.
2. In her village Mandeep defends Sania from
getting bullied. Mandeep, daughter of a landlord, takes Sania to her home and
they become good friends. Sania is married to a drunkard and has no interest in
men.
3. At Gulmohar society Meena explains to Chang, Shikhar
and Raghubir that the woman from “ashray” will buy the empty flats while
Ramanna and Jassi check out Gulmohar society.
4. Raghubir meets his investors, Amarnath and
Mukti baba, asks them for some time to get buyers into the apartment. Sushant
points out to them that they would probably have to get Babban out of prison at
some point and he wouldn’t like to work with people he has previously dealt
with in a different way. Sangeeta comes and takes Mukti Baba away for his
prawachan.
5. At the prawachan Devi Rani is seated amongst
the audience, her status as a devotee established she wears the badge that says
balak Devi Rani. She listens intently to the speech.
6. Dolly wakes up to peace, both her room mates
are in hospital. Passing by, Dolly hears whispers coming out of the office. She
listens in. A heated discussion between Meena and Ramanna going on. They are
fighting over how much they have to spend on this plan of shifting out to
Gulmohar. Jassi catches Dolly eavesdropping pushes her inside the room. Dolly
suggests 2 people instead of one as co owners will make it easy for everyone.
7. Mandeep is being shown off for marriage to a
much older man. Mandeeps refusal to marry the older man is unacceptable to her
family.
8. Mandeep asks Sania to escape with her. Sania
agrees.
9. Amarnath comes over to congratulate Shikhar
and Chang. Suggests they hire a person to take care of the work. Shikhar has
someone in mind, he’s in one of Amarnaths companies, Ajit Bhalla the HR guy. They
get a big pay off from Amarnath.
10. Devi Rani has prashad, overhears conversation
amongst 2 yuvak woman (the next rung in the devotion to baba game) about the
politics being played by some stopping their progress. Devi Rani approaches
them asks them to keep faith, the 2 yuvak suggest that Devi Rani take a different
approach else she wouldn’t be alive to see herself get promoted.
11. Ramanna and others give interviews to Ajit
Bhalla. He returns everyone saying the bank will not give loans to salaries
below 25k and most of them are making 20k or less.
12. Word gets out, Ajit Bhalla gets calls which he
refuses to pick, because he doesn’t pick calls in a meeting. Shikhar rushes to
Chang, Shikhar and Chang rush to Raghubir, all three go to the banker, Banker
reads, makes corrections, photocopies come out, signed, stamped. Chang enters
in the middle of a meeting to give him new documents. Ajit apologizes, says he
was only doing his job, he need not worry says Chang.
13. Next Bikram takes interview, the woman appear
in front of him one after the other, their professions range from house maids,
sweepers to cooks and hair dressers.
Their bank loan is approved despite inconsistencies and unconventional
backgrounds.
14. At Gulmohar society, Sweetu has his first
drink with Chang and Shikhar who is in party mode. The voiceover advises
against, but nevertheless he goes ahead. The voice diminishes and Sweetu dances
to music.
15. Meena transfers the right to take out money to
Mandeep as she will be busy with the shifting. Mandeep asks Meena about the
source of funds, Meena says she doesn’t know and is not curious.
16. In the village, Mandeep helps her father with
accounts and puts the money in the safe. Sania comes home to find her husband
with another woman. Her husband attacks Sania, Sania in her defence kills her
husband. Mandeep watches Sania taken away by the cops.
17. Devi Rani drifts into a restricted area of the
compound, looking for the head priest. She sees a couple of woman who seem weak
and sleepy in a room, doing some sort of prayer with their hands. A guard sees
her loitering, asks her to get out, the area is restricted access.
18. Sweetu lies on the floor in his house, has a
throbbing headache and the voice telling him he had been warned.
19. Shikhar comes over to Sweetus house, gives him
keys to the first apartment block, Bani is also there, watching Bani, Sweetus
heart melts. The voice returns while they are having dinner admonishing Sweetu,
asking him to get his focus back on.
20. In the village Mandeep’s father dies of a
heart attack when he finds Mandeep missing along with all the money. His sons
Madan and Mohan watch the dead body stone cold.
Episode 8:
1. Lakhan works as a security guard at Gulmohar
society, to remind Chang of his deal with Babban and maintain over watch.
2. Lakhan in his last months as a cop sees a drop
in the sale of Mukti baba’s drugs. Captain is a small time gang leader selling
low grade drugs in the slums.
3. Bani at the call center, takes an abusive
call, then complimented on the ad by her colleague.
4. The alien investors are told the deal is off
in a meeting between Amarnath, Sushant and them.
5. The investors in their hotel room want
revenge, the guy with the limp demands it for his wooden leg. One of the
investors walks into the next room where they have a small protection detail of
armed men. Four men in total.
6. Meena takes a few of the woman to their new
homes, instructing them like a drill sergeant on the way on do’s and don’ts.
The woman discuss which rooms are theirs and on which floor laughing and chatting
amongst themselves.
7. On reaching Gulmohar society they find
Raghubir standing there along with photographers, the woman feel like
rockstars. Raghubir announces free delivery and huge discounts from his stores.
Claps and whistles. Ajit Bhalla helps Kadambari down the bus, getting giggles
from around.
8. Madan and Mohan are buying revolvers from
Gopal in the slums. Captain in a jeep along with 5 of his boys honks for Gopal,
who makes the transaction and joins Captain.
9. The investor asks for blood from his four goons,
raising a ruckus war cry. The lift opens and Captain and five others step out.
The investor steps out into the corridor, gunned down. The goons rush out
gunned down. Some of the guests run out of the hotel rooms. Gopal rolls a
grenade blowing a hole in both the rooms. One of the investor lies dead while
the wooden leg guy is crawling over to his leg. Captain shoots him in the head.
Raghubir gets a call, job done.
10. Lakhan sits for lunch with rest of the guards,
listens to them tell stories about their sons and daughters while the younger
ones talk of the girls who have moved in, Jassi being their favourite.
11. Back in the day Lakhan investigates death of a
street peddler near the slums along with Sidhu & Sharad. Sidhu is pressured
by Mukti Babas brother Satya baba to find the peddler or get replaced. Babban and Omar stop near the investigation,
their dog Sidhu goes upto them (no limp), Babban asks for update, Sidhu tells
them this guy calling himself kaptaan has warned the boys off the corner.
Babban asks him to take care of it or he will.
12. Some of the women including Kadambari go to
the mart to shop, Kadambari penny pinching doesn’t buy anything. She asks for a loan from one of the girls,
doesn’t get any.
13. Bani at the call center, takes an abusive call,
then complimented on the ad by a colleague. Bani is called in by the boss, told
her performance reports are bad and then complimented on the ad.
14. Chang has a company car and Lakhan as his
driver; Chang goes shopping for clothes, asks Lakhan to help him pick clothes.
Lakhan turns him down but Chang insists.
15. Lakhan goes into the slums in plain clothes
asking for some heroin, he looks old and doesn’t look like a cop. Someone
points towards a shanty, a couple of boys are sitting outside, he signals snort,
a boy goes inside, Lakhan begins to follow, he’s asked to wait outside. Sidhu,
Sharad and co are waiting nearby in plain clothes. Lakhan says he wants to meet
Kaptaan, the boys draw out guns, Lakhan continues unfazed that he is a
distributor with interest in buying more. Captain comes out.
16. The raid takes place in a flash, Sharad and
Sidhu fire quick bursts taking the boys down, Captain escapes. Lakhan gives
chase, wants him alive, Sidhu tries to kill him, bullet grazing Captains eye,
Lakhan shoots Sidhu in the leg, Captain escapes.
17. Chang continues his buying spree. Lakhan tries
to talk him out of it but he wants to be chic for the meeting with Mukti baba.
18. The news of the investors death reaches Mukti
baba, who seriously considers getting Babban out. Sushant reminds him that he
may be behind Satyas killing but Mukti baba can let bygones be bygones besides
he needs a guy who will listen only to him and not be a shared resource.
19. For firing at a colleague, Lakhan gets an
early retirement from the police force, takes up a job as a security
guard.
20. Ajit Bhalla helps fix kadambaris flats
plumbing in gulmohar society, her flat co owner hasn’t showed up, still at
“ashray”. Kadambari hesitating asks Ajit to visit again. Ajit walks out feeling
good.
21. Bani calls the photographer Kundan, goes to
his studio. Kundan encourages her, tells her to take a few dummy shots and
another day for a full shoot. The assistants snigger whispering amongst them,
“moti” is what bani could only hear. Teary eyed she tells Kundan she doesn’t
want to continue, Kundan sympathises with her. Gives her a couple of small
vials filled with a liquid, claims these are from Mukti baba and make a person
thinner.
22. Shikhar and Chang as part of the expansion
plans of Gulmohar society meets Raghubir at the grocery store, Mukti baba
hasn’t turned up. Raghubir shows him the master blue print of the proposed
society, which is almost a mini city really. They are going to be filthy rich,
there’s going to be a party, Chang going to party Shikhar going home.
23. Bani lies watching TV at her house. Shikhar
finds Bani disinterested and sleepy leaves her to go meet Chang who is
partying, where there are flashy cars, sex, booze and the smell of money.
24. Ajit waits outside Kadambaris house nervously
checks to see he is alone, the door opens and he walks in.
Episode 9:
1. Babban in prison lays down for a nap in the
laundry room. A constable stands watch outside.
2. Satya baba takes a meeting with the dead
investors asking them to partner with him. The false leg guy has a real leg. He
wants to move money into real estate. Follows it up with a meeting with OMAR 25
years old, who has no clue as to why sales are dropping but they are dropping.
3. Raghubir is clearly not happy, he rants in
front of babban, wants him to take care of the other investors. Gives him a big
bag of cash.
4. The drug Afghani travels to one of the
networking parties, a rich boy gets it there. A sample reaches Sidhu and
another goes to Babban.
5. Sidhu unable to do any real police work by
himself takes it to Sharad who in turn asks Vishal to set up a stakeout at the
rich boy’s place.
6. Babban goes over to Lakhan who is a security
guard at some obscure apartment. Babban says he appreciates Lakhans style of
work, Lakhan tells him to piss off. Babban offers money as a retainer fee for
his services, enough to put Babbans grand daughter through college and more.
7. Sharad tails the boy to the vegetable market,
the boy looks at the cellphone, Sharad immediately reaches over asks if he can
make a quick call under pretext of his wife having a baby. Checks his cell
phone for messages, nothing.
8. Babban blows away the investors from outside
first person shooter style takes out the investors leg with his shotgun.
9. Sharad meets Sheila speaks to her about the
case of Afghani that he’s trying to crack. Sheila is horrified. They go to a
hotel, sleep together, Sheila in the dead of night installs spyware into
Sharads cellphone.
10. Ravi stands near Bhar gaon village, in the
distance he sees a few people standing. He approaches them to find Raghubir
there with Babban and Sushant. Walks over and asks what the boys are doing out
there. Raghubir says he is surveying land for development. Ragubir asks what
Ravi is doing, he says he’s seeing a village getting uprooted at least that’s
what it feels like. Ragubir makes a Freudian slip by saying parts of the
village do have a problem with the development.
11. Ravi goes to the segment of the village which
he’s guessing is a roadblock in Raghubirs plans. Requests everyone to step out
and take a picture to come in the papers. A couple of houses refuse, that of
Komals and another 3 hindu guys, single, male in a predominantly muslim
village.
12. Ravi makes a map of the village, puts pins in
it.
13. In the village, Komals husband starts the
rioting at one end of the village, the part which falls in the construction
plan of Raghubir and co. Other incidents occur simulataneously when a youth
runs through the village chased by few men, an act. But then someone shoots a
bullet into someone and guns are drawn all guns fighting for the same side,
make it a slaughter, people start running. Komal makes an exit before the
slaughter begins. Ravi from a distance
takes pictures as Bhar gaon burns down.
14. Lakhan walks into a party while the cops wait
outside, shows a false batch of narcotics bureau and arm twists rich boy into
submission. He is being sold the stuff by another rich friend Vicky, he gets the
address. Lakhan threatens rich boy not to tell the incident to anyone.
15. Lakhan next goes over to Vicky, beats him to a
pulp and gets another name Chanchal. Goes to Babban and gives him the story so
far of a rich boys chain.
16. Babban wakes up, Mukti baba has come to see
him. Mukti baba will get the ongoing case closed but he needs assurance that
Babban will not go rogue. Babban assures him and asks if he can get some sort
of office job with him. Mukti baba retorts he is not coming out to be some guy
but because he has skills.
17. Sania at the court gets an extension on the
bail. Madan and Mohan are among the crowd. Sania goes to “ashray” which is empty,
everyone is hanging out at the society. Madan and Mohan walk in to “ashray”, go
to Sania’s room and beat her up, Sania comes out in the corridor trying to
escape. Dragged back towards the room, Ramanna reaches just in time, 2 pistols
in hand fires indiscriminately, both of them at Madan and Mohan missing wildly
blowing up the lights, both parties shoot everything but each other. Both brothers retreat.
18. Devi Rani in a satsang makes friends with a
sewak (next stage after yuwak) Komal (who Sweetu has been searching for), she
finds Devi Rani as good company because of their similar age. Most other woman
seem to be much younger. Komal says she climbed up the ranks by paying money
and promises to help Devi Rani too.
19. Sweetu is ransacking Ravi’s PI office, trying
to find any documents that will help him find out more. Raka enters, offers his
help, chances on to Sweetu’s cell phone sees the pictures, Sweetu finds an
envelope with pictures of Sheila and Sharad. Raka and Sweetu get into a fight,
Raka hits Sweetu on the head, rests next to Sweetu looking at the pictures. Sweetu
wakes up, stands, groggily, sees the pictures, chokes Raka to death.
20. Babban is released from prison.
END OF
SEASON 1.
SEASON 2:
Raka is
alive. With Babban released from prison a turf war explodes between Captain and
Babban with new characters entering the fray on both sides. While work on
Gulmohar society begins, the new residents of the society raise objections to
the woman from “ashray” as nuisance, calling their behaviour unruly. Ramanna
becomes the leader of the women at Gulmohar society which leads to differences
with Meena. Sania and Mandeep have to
deal with the very real threat from their past. Sweetu the voice gone because
of the knock on his head continues with his investigation without much success.
Shikhar starts helping Sweetu with his investigations gets suspicious of the
role played by the investors in the riots. Sheila successfully disrupts the
drug racket of Mukti baba with her ‘afghani’ brand until Babban gets his hands
on it leading to the events behind his arrest. Ravi digs deeper into the riots,
finds Raghubir and co linked with it also discovers the affair between Sheila
and Sharad. Devi Rani with the help of Komal infiltrates deep inside Mukti
Baba’s ashram. Bani continues her dive into the world of drugs and prostitution.
Chang and Shikhar grow more distant as Chang much like Bani gets consumed by
Alcohol and drugs blowing away all his money including Babbans share. In season
2 we get the answers to who killed Sheila and Ravi and how it affects the present
day lives of our characters.
