Sethurama Iyer CBI 2004

The film opens with Sethurama Iyer visiting Isow Alex, a convicted serial killer who awaits execution. Alex had been arrested for the cold-blooded murder of seven people in two unrelated families on the same night. The case, entrusted to the CBI, was swiftly closed by a capable officer, Balagopal. Now, under the influence of a priest who urges Iyer to meet him, Alex presents himself as a transformed man.

What Alex tells Iyer is startling: he didn’t kill one of the seven victims, the businessman Manikkunju. He admits to murdering Mosi, the businessman’s daughter-in-law. The possibility of other killers seems remote, yet Iyer—known for his careful, methodical approach—decides to reopen the case. Doing so would challenge the bureau’s earlier conclusions and potentially shake its reputation; refusing to revisit the evidence would waste time and money while leaving unresolved questions hanging in the air.

As Iyer reopens the files, he faces heavy odds: if he accepts Alex’s version, he could vindicate a long, troubling chapter of the investigation; if he fails to corroborate it, the effort could squander resources and still leave dangerous ambiguities. The pursuit forces Iyer to weigh testimony, motive, and opportunity, while the clock ticks toward the scheduled execution, and the story probes themes of truth, guilt, and the costs of pursuing justice.