MUMBAI: He has five days to solve a murder. His own!

Hallmark starts the new year with an unusual crime film. Five Days To Midnight airs in two parts on 2 and 3 January at 9:45 pm.

A murder has apparently been committed. There is the detailed police file, the bullet that killed him-and most important, the grisly photographs of the crime scene. There's just one catch. The victim is still alive.

For mild-mannered professor JT Newmeyer, today is a time for celebration-it's the birthday of his beautiful daughter and only child Jesse. Today is also a reason for mourning as it's the anniversary of his beloved wife's death. And for JT, today is a cause for alarm as well.

A mysterious package has arrived at his door containing evidence of his own murder. Although the police file-dating his death at five days from now-looks authentic, JT is relieved to find some of the items in the crime scene photographs unfamiliar, like the blue parka he's wearing and the green Jeep-neither of which he owns. He concludes that the package is the sick prank of a brilliant but obsessed student. The film stars Timothy Hutton and
Randy Quaid

The channel will also air the Canadian film Torso on 4 January at 9:45 pm. The film which is based on a true story sees sex kitten Evelyn Dick being accused of the brutal murder of her husband in one of the most sensational cases in Canadian history.

In 1946 two boys discover the hacked-up torso of streetcar conductor John Dick. naturally his wife becomes the prime suspect. The grisly nature of the murder--and the sexual reputation of Evelyn, who admits to having slept with over 150 of Hamilton's most powerful men makes the trial the talk of Steeltown.

Evelyn is sentenced to hang, However a lawyer J.J. Robinette gets the verdict overturned on appeal, until his client is charged with the murder of her infant son. Robinette suspects that the truth about Evelyn's disturbing family background will set her free, but she refuses to testify against her parents. Evelyn's past remains a dark secret--and ensures that one of Canada's most lurid and sensational murder cases remains unsolved.

The film stars Brenda Fricker.