TAMILROCKERS: CHAPTER 1

                          

NOTE: This story is based on Author’s fiction. It doesn’t apply to any historical references or real-life references. This is the first chapter of Tamil Rockers.

2017

PALAKKAD, KERALA

02:30 AM

Around 02:30 AM midnight in Anna Nagar residence, grand celebration is conducted for the release of upcoming film “Animal.” It stars “Little Star Manenthra Lal” in the lead role. He is one of the biggest Mollywood star, who have a widespread fan following all over India and the world.

“As usual, the fans of Little Star Manenthra Lal are waiting eagerly to watch his upcoming film Quantum. The fans are waiting here. Let’s ask the opinion of our fans.” A media woman said and asked the men, who said: “Mollywood have one and only star. That is Manenthra Lal.” However, just days after the film hit the theatres, a website named DVD rockers release it’s HD print. The person named Karthi was arrested along with Prabhu and Suresh from Villipuram. The accused have been booked under relevant sections of the Copyright act and IT act, and have been remanded to judicial custody.

TWO YEARS LATER

JANUARY 2019

ANNA NAGAR, CHENNAI

5:30 AM

Two years later in Anna Nagar, there’s a grand celebration for the release of the film named “Vakeel” starring “Complete Star Ashwin Kumar.” People crowded in front of the theater to watch the movie. Since, he’s on-screen after two-long years since he acted in the action-thriller film “Gangs of Mumbai.” Ashwin Kumar’s fans feels overjoyed with the release of their actor’s movie after a long gap.

However, another actor “Commanding star Jose Vinod” fans are waiting eagerly to mock the fans of Ashwin Kumar. Since, they already trolled the trailer of Vakeel brutally. One of the friends of Jose Vinod fans says, “I am going to watch this movie freely, friends.”

“How da?” Ashwin Kumar fans association head questioned him to which he replied: “Tamil rockers have leaked the movie right?” He sent the link to his friends through Whatsapp. As a result of the film’s leak through online piracy, the distributors felt disappointed. They ask for 30% shares to be returned to the film producer, who feels humiliated and commits suicide by night.

The next day, a meeting is organized in the Tamil Film Producers council, where Producer Janaarth gets questioned by the media regarding online piracy and the suicide of producer, who produced the film Vakeel. However, he didn’t answer and went inside the room tensed.

There, a heated argument ensued between money lenders, distributors and the Producer’s council. Seeing all this, Janaarth asked them to stop. He said: “If all of you argue like this, will everything gets solved? Let our head speak at first. No. Financier. You start to speak, man.”

“How to remain silent man? It’s we who gave the money. See. Deepan Siddharth gave 7 crores. Not only for this. We gave money to the distributors and several crew members.” Hearing all this, one of the producer’s council president questioned him, “Who asked you to give the money sir? Did you inform us about this? Will you blame union for all this. We used to have losses and profits. That’s cinema.”

“Stop it man. Stop it. Did you put money for this? You are speaking like this. You came yesterday. We remain quiet seeing Adhish sir and Janaarth sir. Or else.” The Producer Council’s president Adhish asked him, “Whether he really gave the producer 7 crores.” To which he promised to give the amount for the producer. But, Adhish says, “He very well know what’s happening in the industry. Since, he himself have produced and distributed so many films for three decades.”

They scolded him for criticizing the producer. Adhish says, “We have only 1,150 theaters. Many of us are believing this production business. Although we have got some new OTT platforms like Amazon Prime Video, Netflix and other websites to release the film, these digital criminals are even more smarter. So, for us the biggest headache is this Tamil rockers.” However, people mocked him by telling that, “They are holding meetings for the past three years. But, of no use.”

Janaarth becomes angry and said: “I also served as the head of Producer’s council. Produced several films. What’s the use of struggling? Before 10 to 15 years ago, I brought an end to the Illegal release of movies through VCD. What happened then? They are going even more smarter with new technologies. Intelligent frauds.” Pausing a while, Janaarth asked: “It’s not 5 or 6 crores brother. I have spent 250 crores for my upcoming film, releasing in 10 days. There’s no use to beg Tamilrockers and union. We have to complain to the police and government. Or else, there’s no solution for this.”

“250 crores or 25 crores. It’s just a movie. You yourselves take a decision. Then for what, our union is?”

Janaarth laughed and mocked them to be “lethargic and said, how great they are for these four years.” He said them, “How much pain is caused to him as a producer. Already three producers died. Shall he also hang in the ceiling fan!” He lashed out at them and decides to handle the problem in his own hands, fearing for the leak of his film.

11:30 PM

KODAMPAKKAM

Meanwhile around 11:30 PM night in Kodampakkam, two guys are chased by a man, who is bearded and angry. They are beaten up severely by the man and taken to a secluded forest area at ECR highway roads.

“ACP. Don’t do anything. You don’t know anything about my background!” said the first guy, to which the ACP said smoking his cigar, “For Bharath, there’s no rules and regulations.” Looking at his co-officer Ibrahim, he asked: “What can we do to them?”

“Let’s make them to run in this forest sir.” Ibrahim said to which, the guy said about the way, they raped and killed several women. As the two runs, Bharath encountered them. Bharath asked his co-officers to frame this as an encounter case stating: “For the gang rape of Swetha Raj, Accused Rajesh and Dhaswin tried to shoot Constable Muthu, which misfired. Left with no way, Ibrahim shot the accused A. Accused B doesn’t know what to do and injured the right shoulder of Akhil. Using this gap, Accused A tried to escape and hence, I blocked him. As a self-defense, I shot him dead.” Giving the files, he said: “That’s it.”

Meanwhile, the film “Animal” is given a special premier to Actor Jose Krish’s father Rajendran by producer Janaarth. Rajendran was one of the top Kollywood Film directors for three decades. He directed more than 40 films and won Silver Jubilee award alongside National film award.

The veteran director Rajendran requests the producer and film director to edit some of the scenes in the film, which the director of Animal reluctantly agreed. Meantime, DSP Adhithya lashed out at Bharath for encountering the influential people, and closing the rape case of Swetha in anger.

“So, you show your heroism by watching movies?” asked Adhithya to which Bharath replied: “Sir. I never like Cinemas nowadays.” Adhithya feels frustrated. Now, Rajendran appreciates Janaarth for his careful approach. He further asked: “Will Tamil Rockers intervene in the releasing of this movie too” to which, he convinced Rajendran: “Graphics, the performance of star Jose are the main highlight. So, the film won’t face any legal troubles.”

Rajendran says, “He doesn’t know what would Janaarth do. But, this film should become double blockbuster.” The producer thanked Rajendran and showed his gratitude to him. Before leaving he said: “No one including Tamil Rockers can touch their movie.”

Meanwhile, Bharath’s wife Trisha have been making Chicken Gravy for him inside the kitchen. He gives a surprise entry inside the kitchen and appreciates her cooking. He mocks her for some time and tried to share some romance with her. Now, Bharath asked: “Why she isn’t watching any movies. Instead, she came to cooking.”

She says, “I am going to watch Christopher Nolan’s Memento and James Cameron’s Titanic.” As she said this, Bharath asked: “These movies released now?”

“Wonderful. It was released in 2000 and 1999. Both the movies won Oscars. It’s my favorite movie.” They discuss about some movies and asked, “When they could go for a honeymoon trip?”

Bharath waked up from his bed suddenly. It’s all the events, that happened before one year, when he was in Hyderabad. He have taken beer from his fridge to drink alcohol to full extent. While, a media women questioned popular Youtuber Sruti about Tamil rockers, which had been trending for past few years. Hearing the news, he turned off the TV. Meanwhile in a theater, one of the audience reviewer lashed out about Tamil industry praising the actors like M.G.Ramachandran, Sivaji Ganeshan and few more popular stars.

The same time, a group of people entered inside the theater. They records Animal movie in their camera. The guys pose as a cleaner in the theater. Both of them are workers in Tamil Rockers. When one of them asked the reasons for recording the audio instead of video, the recorder says: “The police could find out the location through the serial number of camera. The video is released pan-India all over. The video would be taken by them and this audio would be linked.”

Meanwhile, Janaarth is asked by the distributor and financier about the movie through the phone to which, he said: “There are lots of likes and trending for the film Animal.” The financier and distributor asked him to settle the money with interest. Seeing this, Janaaerth becomes angry and lashed out at the theater owner about the guy, who gave the movie scene to them.

This news goes viral through news channels. They debates, “Whether the Indian film industry manage to tackle Tamil Rockers.” The action sequence’s leak angered the fans club of Jose. People are asked widespread questions about online piracy. Some say that: “They spent 200 Rs. And 150 Rs to see a movie in Theater. But, Tamil rockers release the movie online and make problems.”

Some says that: “It’s a big offense. People worked hard for distributing, producing and spending money for the film.” Some claims that: “Tamil Rockers is doing good for poor people.” There are huge protests in front of Janaarth’s house. People lashed out at him for leaking the movie.

Trisha argues with Bharath that, “They are unable to watch a movie together.” She regrets that, “Bharath is not spending enough time with her due to his busy times to solve the murder case and rape case.” When Bharath is on his way to take the car, Trisha gets kidnapped by some strangers in a car. Bharath tried his best to save her. But, he gets hit in his head. These all runs in his mind as a flashback at present inside his house.

He hears some bell sounds in the house, but sleeps without noticing the sounds. After three to four sounds, he wakes up and opened the door to find Adhithya at his house. Rubbing his eyes, Bharath saw Adhithya.

“Hi Bharath. Good morning.”

“Adhithya. Please come inside da.” Bharath said. However, he realized that he is his senior officer and said: “Oh sorry. Come inside sir.”

“Thank you.” Adhithya said and he gone inside the house.

“We are friends since college days. So, call me as Adhithya, like in our college days when we are here in the house.” Adhithya said. While, Bharath asked him: “Adhi. If you have called me, I could have come to the office right?”

“Where you allow me da? You are not at all attending the calls. Hanging my calls in anger. That’s why I came. Why? Shouldn’t I come to the house?” Adhithya said.

Seeing the alcohols and cigars, Adhithya asked Bharath, “Started morning itself ah da?”

“No da. Yesterday night, I had a little.”Adhithya was asked for a breakfast, tea or coffee, to which, he says no. As he already had the breakfast. Adhithya agreed to have a green tea, which he missed a lot from Bharath for so many years. When Bharath was going to the kitchen, Adhithya looked at the CD of Memento.

He said: “Trisha love to watch movies right?” Bharath turned back. Now he said: “It’s all about Trisha da. Not the actress Trisha. But, your wife Trisha.” Bharath sits down in the seat.

Smoking a cigar, Adhithya said: “It’s been two years since I watched movies. We used to go for Fun mall and KG cinemas in order to watch movies of several stars like Vijay and Ajith Kumar.” Hearing the same, Bharath said: “Yeah. You used to talk more about cinema right. Mad cinema lover. You slowly understood the reality and came out of it. Since, you started to focus more on real issues.”

He further added, “How they used to whistle in the theaters and watch movies.” After some discussions about the OTT platforms, Adhithya said: “Bharath. I watched you and Trisha close since college days. Sometimes fighting, sometimes romancing, etc. You spent qualitative time with her.” Showcasing photos of few criminals, Adhithya now comes to the exact point.

“These are criminals doing crimes such as Drugs trafficking, Arms Trafficking and other illegal activities through Dark web. From Human trafficking to terrorism, everything is happening in the Dark Web. As the then writer, I took these things in my own risk before few years back. But, now we have to stop them definitely.”

“What’s the link between Trisha and this case da?” With tears, he said: “Instead of our wedding anniversary I mourned for her death anniversary. When she was beheaded by those criminals brutally, I was already half-dead. Everything is over then itself.” However, Adhithya said: “The kidnapper who kidnapped Trisha is Joseph Christ. He and his gang died in a car accident before few years in Mumbai. We still don’t know who the gang is even when the Kerala police arrested Karthi in Kerala for leaking a movie. But, Karthi gave a lead that, the leader calls himself as the King. All are unofficial investigation.”

Adhithya asked Bharath to investigate this case as a compensation for encountering without his permission and refusal to obey. Bharath refused and asked him to suspend him for disobeying him. However, he tried to explain Bharath about, “How much film industry and government is pressurizing the police department to catch Tamil Rockers.”

As he still refused Adhithya said: “Bharath. I too know the pain of loved one’s death. Because I too lost my wife in the hands of an armed criminal. Life is like a cycle. We have to come out of our dark phase. I think you know this well.” Bharath recalled some memorable moments that he spent with Trisha through his diary. He decides to take the case of Tamil Rockers. The same time, Rajendran is upset with the atrocities of Tamil Rockers.

But, Janaarth assured him that: “The film would be released in theaters.” Further he promised him that: “The post-production will be careful and the special team will take care of it.” Meantime, Bharath gets transferred to Cyber Crime branch.

In the cyber branch, Bharath realized that they are not adept to the technologies of Tamil Rockers. At the same time, protests were held by the fans of Jose Vinod. They gets arrested by Bharath alongside the owners of Thiruttuvcd groups. Meanwhile, the Tamil rockers member discuss their big plan to leak the movie Animal in the rockers website before the eve of Diwali. They hire a big hacking team from foreign countries.

At the same time, Bharath investigated the team of Thiruttuvcd groups and asked them about the head, who is giving them the HD prints through online piracy. As the people deny, Bharath took a stick to threaten them. Finally one of them Arnold agreed to tell who’s the mastermind. Bharath showed the photo and asked: “Do you know who’s he?”

“Sir. He is Joseph Christ sir. And that’s me. I am young right!” Arnold further said that: “It was Harnish who took their photos. Hence, he didn’t stood in the photo.

Arnold said that: “Joseph Christ and his friends were running CD shop near North Chennai. They had adopted brothers and were happier. I was their companion. Further when Harnish was about to be married, his foster brother clashed with the son of producer Janaarth for insulting common people. This irked him and the police inspector Janakan tortured him in the prison to death. Since then, I don’t know where the people went.”

“When did you see them finally?” asked Ibrahim to which the guy replied: “During the cremation of Harnish’s foster brother.” An older Harnish is currently living in Nellore, with some new hackers from Singapore and Indonesia. They work as a team with educated software professionals to release movies through torrents and Tamil Rockers.

Through some investigations with the inspector, Bharath finds out that “Janaarth used his influences and escaped the law.” Confronting Janaarth, Bharath blamed his cruel acts just for the sake of his prestige. Janaarth begged him to save from this issues, to which he agreed to and asked him to be careful until the movie gets released.

Due to the heat of this case, Sruti is asked to assist Bharath by the government. Initially, nothing goes well between both. Sruti was an NCC student in college, who learned to be patriotic through several activities. Her father is insane due to his insolvency as a producer. His life is now in a miserable state. This caused Sruti to take up this case seriously to stop other film distributors and producers to become insolvent. She is an investigative journalist, owning a channel called “Sruti Answers” where she questioned the opposition party of Tamil Nadu, exposing their atrocities and corruption in the name of Left-wing ideologies and Tamil sentiments. She was arrested by the ruling party for her criticisms against Black groups, who mocked Lord Murugan. Later, she was released due to the protests from the public.

Also, She was critical about mafia-sponsoring in Tamil industry and further have once requested to slap the kids, who promote and do puja for films. Now, Sruti and Bharath works day and night to investigate the case of Tamil Rockers. Sruti learned about the painful life of Bharath after the death of Trisha. She slowly falls for him, though she never express this to Bharath. One time, he tells Sruti: “Cinema, Drugs, Alcohols and Cigarettes have completely spoiled the world. They are the route cause for all evils that’s happening in the society.”

Sruti however said: “How directors and producers are risking their own lives in order to give good contents. They sacrifice their whole life for making films. Not only the producers, even film actors are struggling for the same.” However, Bharath advised her not to talk much about cinema. Because, “There are Indian Army officers, who sacrificed their life for the sake of nation. But, cinema people are just reel heroes.” Since Sruti’s mind became upset, he consoled her and convinced stating: “Sruti. Producers and Directors are working hard. No doubt. But, cinema is a part of business. There are profits and losses.”

When discussing about the same, Bharath comes to the notice of recent Bollywood actor Susanth Singh Rajput’s death and the investigation by CBI officers. 

Also there are so many drug smuggling cases filed against Bollywood actors and suspicion of Mafia involvement. Linking this, Bharath decides to use the technology of Tamil Rockers so that, they could easily track them. When investigating the case, Ibrahim finds out that, there are some people in film industry, who are working for Tamil Rockers as an agent. Animal’s film director gets hold of one boy, who tried to leak the movie online. At the same time, Janaarth gets pressurized by Rajendran to keep him updated about the movie Animal. But, he asked for some time. Since, police and security are there at his house. The financiers and distributors too angrily asked him to screen the scenes of Animal.

With his help in meanwhile, Bharath decides to catch the hacker disguised as a female. But, Harnish finds this out and gets hold of him. Before Bharath could arrive there with his team, Harnish already left the place. They decides to leak Animal as planned. While a dejected Bharath sat near to the Penna River bank. Harnish called him and said: “You are nearing me. I know well. But, you can’t stop the leak of Animal, Bharath.”

“The game is now very interesting, Harnish. Let’s see who wins.” Bharath said and he beats up one of the guy of Ashwin Fans club, from whom he learned that: “He worked as a hacker with Tamil Rockers in order to earn some money.” Using his help, they hack the location of Nellore and eventually, comes to know that Harnish and the team is in Guntur.

However, Andhra Police stops Bharath. However, Ibrahim bribed them to allow. Finally, Bharath reached Guntur along with Sruti and Ibrahim. There, the movie leaking is stopped by Bharath. However, Harnish holds Sruti in gun point and said: “Bharath. I will kill her. Hey. Leak the movie da.”

“Don’t care about me Bharath. You stop the movie leak of Animal.” However, Harnish said that: “He loves her truly. So, it’s impossible for him to take a decision, when Sruti is in danger.”

“Hey. Leak da.” The hacker uploads the movie in Tamil Rockers. However, Bharath asked him not to make any hasty decisions. Harnish reminds him asking: “What did your law did da? They left the rich and influential people from suffering any punishments. The people also madly watch movies and forget about the reality. We earn more than 1 crore through piracy for the past few years. Nothing wrong.”

“If Shah Rukh Khan’s son Aryan Khan is a criminal, you are too a criminal. If Salman Khan is an animal, you too is an animal. You too is violating the law.” However, Harnish doesn’t listen and left with no way to save Sruti, Bharath shoots Harnish multiples of times. Before dying Harnish said: “King…King…King…” He dies after a while.

Sruti feels pity for Harnish. She said: “Nepotism and money is the route cause for every social issues in our country. Harnish is an example for that.”

Bharath looked at her. He replied: “Yes. You are right. I took this case for the sake of Trisha. Now, I realize how cinema influenced the world and our youths. But, everything is wrong in our present society. Technology has been used for wrong doings.”

The team of Bharath successfully arrested the piracy members of Tamil Rockers alongside the Thiruttuvcd owners all over India. When the media asked about this case to Adhithya he said: “In olden days, people used to rob money by coming in bikes. But, in modern days, people use cyber technology for doing intelligent crimes.”

Bharath said to Adhithya in his office: “This case have not yet over sir. It’s just the beginning. We have to investigate a lot.” While going Bharath recalled about the men of Harnish, whom they nabbed when chasing after him. When asked to him about drugs trafficking and arms trafficking, he denied to do so except leaking the movies of film producers and their only agenda to destroy the life of Janaarth.

Bharath accepts the love of Sruti and they starts to date. She requests him to spend some qualitative time with her alongside his duty as a cop. Reminding the same words of Trisha, he accepts her request.

FEW DAYS LATER

Few days later, Sruti asked Bharath about watching Animal movie together in theater, to which he agreed. A special screening of Animal is shown to Rajendran and his son Jose Vinod along with other celebrities. When watching the film half way, it’s leaked by the Tamil Rockers website. They have killed all the police officers in the van and retrieved the computer, which had the Animal’s HD print copy.

Meanwhile in the bathroom, Bharath finds out King symbol in the glass. Noticing it, he rushed to know from Sruti that Animal is leaked. Janaarth feels guilty and upset over the leakage of his movie. With depression and shock, he called his son and said: “When I am successful, people were with me and gave hands for support. But, when I am lost, no one came forward to help me. All people wanted are money and fame.” He died in heart attack when talking to his son. His death shocked the entire Producer’s council. The producer council’s president recalled the words of Janaarth: “What if I also commits suicide?” He regrets deeply for failing in his duty.

Two days later, Bharath gets an anonymous call in his phone when he was in the Cyber cell department with Sruti and Ibrahim. Attending the call, Bharath remained silent.

“Hi Bharath. Good evening. I think you would have recognized who’s this voice!” The caller said to which Bharath replied looking at a photo: “Joseph Christ a.k.a. The King.”

“Great identification man.”

“Don’t be too glad that you have won this game.” Hearing this, Joseph laughed. He replied him: “In one way or the other, we both haven’t won this game man. Just like Leonard Shelby, you have to find out lots of unsolved questions. Game begins just now.” Bharath reminds Trisha’s saying about Leonard Shelby character from Memento once upon a time.

When he realized this, it was too late. Since, the lights were blinking off repeatedly. Some footages of feared Trisha is shown in the computer to Bharath, where she screams out his name madly. She begs Bharath to save him from the clutches of Joseph. But, there isn’t any other footages of Trisha.

 

Joseph clarified Bharath that: “Trisha is indeed alive within India.” 

“See you soon. Bye.” The video cuts to black.

Tears filled in the eyes of Bharath. Sruti, who actually fainted due to sudden fear waked up with the help of Ibrahim. She asked Bharath, “What happened?”

Looking at her, he said: “Nothing. We have to investigate a lot more about Tamil Rockers and it's origin. Because there are lots of mystery surrounding this website.”

“You’re always the first and the last thing on this heart of mine, Trisha. No matter where I go, or what I do, I am still thinking of you.” Bharath said looking at her photo back to his house. While, King(Joseph) opened his book Tamil Rockers: Part 2, where he have targeted few more influential film family’s upcoming movies to leak in their website.

MISSION CONTINUES……