Cuttputlli is a psychological crime thriller film which premiered on Disney+ Hotstar on September 2, 2022. It’s a Hindi-language remake of the 2018 Tamil film Ratsasan, originally written and directed by Ram Kumar.
Cuttputlli stars Akshay Kumar in the lead role alongside Rakul Preet Singh, Joshua LeClair, Chandrachur Singh, and Sargun Mehta. The remake is a gritty crime thriller that keeps the audience guessing who the killer is and is physiologically enriching.
What did the two gentlemen find?
Cuttputlli opens with two gentlemen during their morning stroll, discussing the declining crime rate in Parwanoo, Himachal Pradesh. However, their discussion is abruptly interrupted when their dog detects a foul odor from a nearby location. This leads them to the grim discovery of a young girl’s lifeless body. The news swiftly spreads throughout the town as speculation arises about a potential serial killer targeting schoolgirls.
Arjan Sethi has a longstanding fascination for understanding the minds of serial killers. Raised in a law enforcement household, he grew accustomed to hearing about various cases from his father. Following his graduation, Arjan wrote a screenplay inspired by these dark narratives, only to face rejection from numerous producers.
During the Rakhi celebration, Arjan’s sister and brother-in-law asked him to consider a career in the police force. Disheartened by the constant rejection in the film industry, he reluctantly agrees. After completing written exams and rigorous training, Arjan takes the role of Junior Superintendent in the Kasauli branch, where his brother-in-law serves. However, instead of being taken seriously, he is given small tasks that are much to his frustration.
What link did Arjan find between the murders?
On his first day, Arjan comes across a case that interests him. He observes a recurring motif of a gift box left at the scene of the crime and forms a connection between the recent murder of a teenage girl and the earlier one shown in the opening scene. Despite his efforts to convey this to the stern and formidable SHO, Gudia Parmar, she dismisses his theory as the gift box was not found in the first murder.
However, Arjan remains resolute in his conviction that a serial killer is at large and resolves to find the truth. His quest leads him to a breakthrough at the girls’ school, where he discovers that, indeed, a gift box had been left behind by the perpetrator. However, as it was deposited at the school gate, it had been consigned to the lost and found section.
Despite the SHO’s inability to grasp the significance of the clues, Arjan captures the attention of the DSP with his thorough analysis of both cases. The post-mortem findings reveal notable resemblances between the two deceased individuals. Recognizing the potential breakthrough, the DSP entrusts Arjan with the investigation and mandates that he apprehends the perpetrator before they claim another victim.
Who was Purushottam Tomar?
The audience is soon introduced to another character, Mr Purushottam Tomar. Tomar is a maths teacher at Arjan’s niece, Payal’s school who exploits young and vulnerable girls. Tomar’s next victim is Payal as he traumatizes her by believing she deserves punishment. Within time, Arjan, along with other police officials, reaches the school grounds and saves Payal from Tomar.
Arjan, in a fit of rage, brutally hurts Tomar, and he is hospitalized. In the hospital, Arjan and his brother-in-law try to make Tomar admit to the murders, but he denies it. However, he accepts the fact that he violated young girls. During Payal’s sixteenth birthday bash, Arjan receives a distress call from the hospital. He rushed there to find Purushottam attempting to escape. In the heat of the moment, Arjan takes down Tomar to save the SHO.
Meanwhile, Payal mysteriously disappears from her home and is not found anywhere. Payal’s disappearance indicates that the killer is still active and is not Tomar. Two days later, as Arjan prepares to depart for the police station, he notices a bloodied plastic protruding from his car’s trunk. Tragically, as he opens the trunk, he discovers her niece’s lifeless body within.
Cuttputlli: What lead did Arjan get from Divya?
Payal’s tragic murder deeply disturbs Arjan. He resolves to apprehend the killer despite his suspension. Arjan uncovers a crucial lead while spending time with Divya, Payal’s English teacher and a potential romantic interest. Divya’s niece’s hearing aid is capable of recording. This discovery leads him to a hospital, where he finds a similar hearing aid worn by one of the victims.
Arjan detects a distinctive piano piece after listening to the tragic screams captured on the recording. He takes it to a local radio station in hopes of identifying it. After several failed attempts, a student recognizes the piece from a magic show at her school. Arjan heads straight to the police station to persuade the SHO to join forces in the hunt for the killer.
As suspicion falls on the magician who has performed at all the schools where abductions occurred, the police focus on the venue of his last show. Arjan’s team deduces that the suspect targets volunteers during magic shows, the latest being Aisha Khan. To prepare for a potential abduction, Arjan conducts a safety drill at Aisha’s school.
During a safety drill, Arjan mistakenly tracks Aisha’s twin sister instead of her. After regrouping with SHO Parmar, they resume tracking Aisha’s GPS signal. Meanwhile, the magician abducts Aisha, but she manages to free herself using the escape techniques Arjan has taught her. Pretending to need the restroom, she contacts Arjan and reveals her location.
Did Arjan save Aisha?
Arjan guides Aisha to escape, but she finds herself in a maze of identical rooms. As Arjan navigates the magician’s house using her GPS signal, they struggle to locate each other amidst the confusing layout. Arjan eventually saves Aisha, but despite intervening, the magician manages to escape. Later, the killer breaks into Divya’s house.
The police discover two passports in the house, belonging to individuals named Agnes Fernando and Christopher. Arjan recalls Agnes Fernando’s past conviction for murdering young girls, leading him to suspect that she is the serial killer they seek. While the investigation continues, Arjan decides to visit Divya’s house to ensure her safety. Upon arrival, he hears Divya screaming.
As Arjan attempts to apprehend Agnes, she employs magic tricks to escape, taking Divya’s niece, Iti, with her. Despite sustaining injuries while rescuing Iti, Arjan manages to confront Agnes. In the struggle, Agnes’s wig comes off, revealing the truth.
Cuttputlli ending: Who was the serial killer?
The true nature of Cuttputlli emerges when Arjan realizes he’s been unwittingly manipulated by the serial killer. Revealing himself as Christopher, Agnes’s son, the killer recounts his tragic backstory. Christopher suffered from a rare facial deformity, enduring relentless bullying until a girl extended kindness to him. However, when he confessed his feelings, she rejected him due to his appearance.
Consumed by rage and rejection, Christopher’s mother lured the girl to their home, where he killed her and spoiled her face. His mother took the blame and served time in prison for him. Twelve years later, his mother died in a tragic accident, propelling Christopher to assume her identity and embark on a spree of murdering young girls, mutilating their innocent faces out of twisted pleasure.
After recounting his tale, Christopher attempts to harm Iti, but Arjan manages to divert his attention, ultimately confronting and defeating the killer.
