Shajarur Kanta

The film opens with a dramatic performance by the Swapnochari troupe. Deepa, who plays the lead, receives applause but remains inwardly unfulfilled and somber. The audience's approval clashes with her quiet personal turmoil, setting up the central conflict between art and desire.

A week after the show, Deepa is to be married off to Debashish Bhatto, a wealthy young industrialist. She has no real objection to Debashis as a person, but she loves someone else. Her family and the theatre group promise influence and sponsorship through Debashis's business interests, complicating her situation.

Nripati Laha and Vijay look forward to the alliance because it could secure a solid sponsorship from Debashis's Bhatta Group of Industries. Prabal Gupta, the theatre director, resents the bargain, feeling Deepa's departure would cost him his star actress. The group's future hangs on how Deepa's marriage plays out.

Deepa's wedding takes place on schedule with the theatre troupe in attendance, putting on a joyous front. Debashis is enchanted by his bride, but he notices the sullen, unenthusiastic expression behind her smile. The outward celebration masks a deep personal conflict.

Alone in a flower-bedecked bedroom, Deepa tells Debashis she is in love with someone else. Debashis attempts to comfort her, pulling her into his arms, but she draws back. He is stunned by the confession of a love that cannot be fulfilled within their marriage.

Debashis, after a moment, offers a divorce so she can pursue the man she truly loves. Deepa refuses to break with her family entirely and proposes staying as his wife for a while, until her lover is ready to take the next step. The scene marks a pragmatic, painful negotiation rather than a reconciled romance.

That very night, a beggar is found murdered on the streets of Kolkata with a porcupine quill driven through heart from the back. Foreboding signals, like a flock of crows on overhead wires, hint at something evil afoot. The city largely ignores the crime, treating it as another anonymous murder in a crowded metropolis.

Byomkesh Bakshi makes it a habit to read many papers every morning, searching for small, unnoticed stories. He notices the peculiar porcupine-quill murder and shares his intrigue with Ajit, framing it as a strangely creative crime emerging in Kolkata. His attention pivots the plot toward a solving mindset.

Vijay arrives at Byomkesh's doorstep begging for help to uncover Deepa's secret lover and to remove him from Deepa's life. Byomkesh, however, cautions that his job is to solve the murder, not to pry into private relationships. The request underscores the growing tension and the blurred line between personal desire and criminal investigation.

The morning after the wedding, Debashis confronts Vijay and claims that Nripati and Vijay engineered the marriage, fully aware of Deepa's secret love. The accusation reveals the manipulation behind the match and foreshadows deeper motivations for everyone involved. Deepa's autonomy remains constrained by outside interests.

Deepa receives a gift package with no return address, containing striking designer earrings made of a horn-like material. She wears them, drawn by their beauty and mystery, and they become a recurring symbol of her isolating world. The gift's anonymity hints at someone watching her every move.

Debashis sends a gesture of care by giving Deepa a mobile phone to stay in touch. She uses the device to text a mysterious number rather than call. The step deepens her separation from her family and marks the beginning of a new, secret line of communication.

Within the same night, the Porcupine murders strike again, terrifying Kolkata and turning the case into a citywide fear. TV reports intensify as the killings accumulate, and the public begins to demand answers. The pattern of violence grows more shocking with each new incident.

News channels pivot to cover the grisly crimes, with Kapil's editor delighted at the sensational coverage. Kapil himself is on the scene, reporting live from the crime locations and keeping the city hooked. The media spectacle amplifies the mystery and pressure on investigators.