In the first part of this two part series, we look at how a man who came to Madras from a small village in Tamil Nadu with dreams of becoming a Kollywood Movie Star went from having nothing to commandeering a brothel and building a thriving illegal liquor business in 80s' Madras. Sources : 1. https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/crime/story/19880815-local-tough-accused-of-multiple-murders-in-madras-797603-1988-08-15 2. https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/indiascope/story/19900915-legendary-tamil-criminal-auto-shankar-pulls-off-daring-escape-from-madras-central-jail-813002-1990-09-15 3. https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/auto-shankar-s-reign-terror-incomplete-story-man-who-shook-madras-100298 4. https://homegrown.co.in/article/804537/auto-shankar-the-gut-wrenching-saga-of-indias-ted-bundy-of-the-80s 5. https://indiankanoon.org/doc/63794871/