Tortoise: The Tale Of Murders

"Tortoise: The Mystery of Murders," an original Kannada-language indie crime thriller, starring Suraj Setty, Vidya Prabhu and Chillar Manju, is next up in the line of filmmakers from India. The film focuses on Vicky (Suraj Setty), a dogged investigative reporter plunged into a disturbing chapter of his city’s history featuring a series of grisly murders that has citizens in a panic. Each murder is accompanied by a haunting symbolism and lethal accuracy, pulling all-seeing Vicky deeper into a shadowy netherworld of secrets and falsehoods as he seeks to discover why these targets are being executed.


As his investigation continues, Vicky finds the threads connecting much further, linking the murders to a past incident buried long ago and a web of people with secret motives. Like most works of significant historical fiction, the narrative expands beyond action and events into psychological depth as we shadow Vicky’s internal struggle to not only confront the horrors that await him but his unresolved demons as well. The story unfolds slowly, like its titular metaphor, as the tension-infused story leads down an unexpected, suspense-deepening trajectory to the devastating reality.


The film was just as masterful in its blend of crime, psychology, and social critique. It’s also a meditation on trauma and identity, the subjection of justice, the possibility of healing, and the reclamation of self. As Vicky inches toward the truth of what’s wrong, he realizes the answers he seeks won’t lead to his redemption but just a more deafening tempest. The film’s gradual storytelling approach is perfectly paired with striking cinematography and a chilling score, heightening the discomfort that fills every moment with Forsaken.


As of this writing on June 12, 2025, "Tortoise: The Tale of Murders" is still not out. It will be released to theatres in late 2025. Going up off of its electrifying promotional content and the formidable presence of Suraj Setty in the lead, the anticipated crime-thriller is making its way to audiences thrillingly. If the eventual release materializes as expected with its premise of dark mystery and emotional depth, it might just be the best release from Kannada cinema this year.