MURDER BY TREE!

We don't give much of a second thought when we swing that axe on a tree and mercilessly butcher it down just to fill our pockets with some greens. If the trees don't speak to us or if they don't retaliate for what we do them, does it also mean that they don't feel any pain or agony and have no right to live?

Enter the world of a mystical forest in lesser known Charre Marre region in Chhattisgarh where the trees will kill if you harm them. At the centre of this mysterious jungle stands a crooked banyan tree on a small hillock that has a massive network of roots that inextricably links together all trees of Charre Marre forest. The local tribals refer to the bargad tree as 'Bakasur' meaning one that devours through its roots. Till now they were living harmoniously with this forest but things get upended when a corrupt forest officer Ashok arrives on the scene and starts cutting down trees for illicit money. The forest in order to protect itself gradually starts turning upon the tree cutters and kills them. Ashok should have met the same fate but something extraordinary happens when a chance encounter with Bakasur entrusts upon him with unique powers- Ashok can feel the pain and suffering of trees when they are razed down, he acquires the ability to communicate with them. He gets linked to the crooked banyan tree and the forest. A predator of trees is now forced to become their protector as his survival now depends on them- if trees in Charre Marre forest are cut, Bakasur would become weak and Ashok may perish as a result....

Why Ashok was bestowed with such powers? Will he turn over a new leaf and become a protector of forest which he is duty bound because of his service or will he stay true to his real character at the centre of which is 'greed'? Will harmony be restored once again or will mayhem and carnage follow because of what Ashok decides to do with his powers?....

"Murder by tree!" gives a fresh take on the question as to who has a greater right to survive- a man who cuts down harmless tree recklessly for his own gratification or a tree that can fight back and kill to live or is it that the man's greed is the bane of it all?