Original subtitles

Chellamma, goldfish is said to be found there.

Call out to the goldfish thrice

and it will come out.

If it still doesn't turn up

just whirl around thrice.

One!

Two!

Three!

Close your eyes, pray to God and when you open your eyes

the goldfish will jump out.

"Ring-a-round the rosie.. A pocket full of posies."

Muthu.

Muthu! - What?

I'm going to the pond. Are you guys coming?

We're not coming. We're afraid.

I'm not afraid at all. I'm going to go.

Goldfish. Goldfish.

Chellamma!

Come out right now!

Can't you hear me?

Actually, father.

Why did you come here?

Why are you scared?

I'm telling you, come out.

Father, I came here to see the goldfish.

It's very deep, Chellamma. Listen to me and come out.

The goldfish are very small. How can they survive in deep water?

Shall I show it to you? - Yes.

Then, go and sit there. Go there. I'll show it to you.

Let me see you get down. - First, I want you to see down.

Sit down. Shall I get down?

See now. Do you want to see?

Did you see?

It's only till here.

Watch now.

Do you understand now? Isn't it deep? - Yes, father.

Father! Father! Father!

Didn't I tell you it was deep? - It's fine.

Why did you go? - I wanted to check its depth.

Go. You never listen to me. - I'm fine, dear.

Listen. I just went to check the depth.

Go! - Chellamma. Hey!

You're so hot-headed at such a young age.

First, wear your slippers.

See, it's so wet. - Leave it, father. It feels cool.

You'll catch a cold. - Nothing of that sort will happen.

Can't I ever see the goldfish?

You can't.

Why? - It lives in deep water.

How come you went?

I went because I know how to swim.

What if one doesn't know how to swim?

If one can't swim, they'll die.

What does 'to die' mean?

'To die' means..

We can never return to this world.

We can't see those we love.

We can't eat whatever we like, that's what it means.

Then, will that grandpa die? - Yeah.

How about this tree? - Yeah.

What about those pigeons? - They will too, my dear.

And you?

Hey, everyone will die someday. I will too.

Father, come here. - What?

Come here, I'll tell you. - Tell me.

Come here.

You must never die, father. Okay?

Okay, dear.

Promise?

Promise.

Father.. - Yeah? - What will they become if they die on this hill?

A cloud.

If they die in the forest? - They'll become a tree.

If they die in that pond?

A goldfish.

Really?

"A happy harp you play."

"Hues in my heart you spread."

"An umbrella called love you extend."

"On that, a thousand raindrops you add."

"For two hearts to talk to each other, there's no need for any language."

"In a dewdrop sleeping on a small grass"

"the mountain's beauty is beyond any words."

"The path that I walk on holding your hand"

"isn't long enough. I want more of that."

"Upon this earth, no one anywhere "

"has ever lived like this, my dear."

"A happy harp you play."

"Hues in my heart you spread."

"An umbrella called love you extend."

"On that, a thousand raindrops you add."

"The trees afar are looking."

"'Is she an angel?', they ask."

"Forgetting themselves, they bloom"

"filling the air with fragrance."

"What's the need for a temple or Gods?"

"Just your smile will do."

"Upon this earth, no one anywhere"

"has ever lived like this, my dear."

"A happy harp you play."

"Hues in my heart you spread."

Father!

Wow!

"If I glance at your face"

"I feel the moon above is small."

"It peeps from behind the clouds"

"and asks you for light."

"Hold it in your hand, speak consoling words"

"and bid a kind farewell."

"Upon this earth"

"no one anywhere has ever lived like this, my dear."

"A happy harp you play."

"Hues in my heart you spread."

"A happy harp you play."

"Hues in my heart you spread."

Your father's calling you. - What is it?

I don't know. Ask him.

Father, did you call me?

I've kept Chellamma's school fees inside. Take it.

Alright, father.

'I paid his fees, all right?'

'How is it fair if I have to pay his daughter's fees too?'

'He's the father, right? - Talk softly. He might hear.'

Come soon, Chellamma.

He's leaving without taking the money. Bend.

Why are you leaving without the money?

I'll get some soon. I'll pay the fees myself.

Why is he like this?

Get going.

Bye, grandma. Bye, grandpa. - Bye. - Bye, dear.

Can I take a flower, Nithyashree? - Sure.

Bye. - Bye.

Father, please put me in Nithyashree's school.

Why, dear? - It seems, they are not given homework in that school.

They get two eggs for lunch.

No school fees, it seems.

I'll take care of all that.

She's studying in a government school.

The school you're studying in is way better than that one.

It's a private school.

You continue here. Okay?

4/5.. - 4/5..

Doesn't even know how to write her name.

'Mater is a wost..'

'I hope the teacher doesn't call me.'

Chellamma, come to the board. - Miss?

I said, come to the board. - Yes, miss.

Come fast, Chellamma!

Take the chalk piece. - Yes, miss.

Write 'W' on the board.

I said, write 'W' on the board!

Write 'W', Chellamma.

Silence!

Is it 'W'?

Yes, miss.

Okay, write 'M' then.

You're still in the second grade when you should've ideally been in the third grade!

You still don't know how to write 'W'!

Haven't I taught you? - Yes, miss. - To heck with your 'Yes, miss'. Get back to your place!

Why do they bother coming to school?

Who'll take the book? Your father?

Until Chellamma learns to write 'W' correctly, you all will call her 'W'.

What will you call her? - 'W', miss.

Go to your place.

Should I ask you to sit down too?

Who will say, 'Thank you, miss'? - Thank you, miss.

Sit down.

Chellamma, your name is 'W' hereafter.

Hi, W.

I maybe 'W'.

But my father is 'Silverman', do you know that?

It seems her father is 'Silverman'.

Sir, I haven't got my pay for 4 months.

Don't get me wrong but I need to pay the fees.

Wait for two days. It will all be okay.

All right, sir. I'm leaving.

Why are you going without washing your face?

My daughter will ask otherwise. Bye.

Asha, did you see?

Jennifer.

Muthulakshmi, didn't I tell you?

Father, stop please. - What is it?

See? Didn't I tell you, my father is 'Silverman'? - Yeah!

Tell Sathyabama, okay? - We will.

Father, let's go now. - Bye.

Father, do you know who found 'W'? - Wait, I'm coming.

Why do you ask?

No. If I see them..

I want to take them to task.

What's that?

Monkey.

What's the first letter in 'Monkey'?

'Mm' is only 'M'.

That's right. 'M'.

Where's the monkey? - The monkey is up there.

Where are we? - We are below.

So

if you draw a line from down here to up there? - 'M'.

What about 'W'? - W is..

If you draw a line from top to bottom, it's 'W'.

Do you know, who found 'W'? - What is she saying?

Stella miss. - Not Stella miss.

My friend, the monkey.

Plus 3/5.. - Plus 3/5..

Equals to.. - Equals to..

Excuse me, miss.

Where are you coming from?

From the toilet.

Is this how you make excuses to get out after every class?

No, miss. It was urgent.

That won't do.

Only if you answer my question, you may come in.

Okay, miss.

Why did you laugh? Can't you be quiet?

When has Chellamma ever answered correctly?

See, if you don't give the right answer

you'll have to stand there until the class is over.

Okay, miss.

Which bird lives in other birds' nests without building its own nest?

Cuckoo, miss.

Very good, Chellamma!

All of you clap for Chellamma.

Sit down, Chellamma. - I have even written 'W' properly.

Very good! That's how you should be.

All right, how did you know, the answer was cuckoo?

I saw it just now.

You saw it just now? Where?

In the school clock.

All right, the cuckoos here will stay in the school clock.

What about the cuckoos near your house?

Well..

Here and there.. Wherever they are born

wherever there are school clocks nearby, they will stay there.

Sit down. - Miss..

Instead of teaching you, I can teach that cuckoo. Sit down.

Equals to..

Chellamma, as Sathyabama said, your name isn't 'W'.

Thanks.

It's 'W clock'!

Chellamma, why haven't you slept yet? Lie down.

Won't these cuckoos live in wooden clocks, mother?

Are you going to lie down or what?

No, mother. Today, in school..

I saw a cuckoo toy in the wooden clock.

That's why, I thought its nest will be like that.

Is it not so?

It's not like that.

Lie down first.

If I lie down, will you tell me?

Lie down first.

Tell me, mother.

Won't bigger birds like crows build nests?

It will go and stay there.

Why is it so?

Don't keep pestering me. Go to sleep, Chellamma.

Mother, I didn't understand. Which is why I asked.

Whose house is this? - Our house.

No. This is your grandpa's house.

So, isn't this our house?

Then, you're the mother cuckoo and I'm the baby cuckoo. Say 'cuckoo'.

Go to sleep, will you?

Mother, just once please.

Cuckoo.

Mother, is grandpa the crow, then?

Be quiet. Grandpa might hear you.

Lie down. If grandma hears, that'll be the end of it.

Will someone talk like this to a child?

Whatever we do.. - Please move aside.

Is the tuition over, Vadivu?

What are you saying?

No, when did Kalyani say he's coming?

When has he ever informed me?

Yes, what can you do?

Did you ask about his last month's salary?

If I ask, he tells me to mind my own business.

You are being very smart, Vadivu.

What is so smart about this?

What else was that? Indirectly, you're asking us

to mind our own business.

No, mother-in-law. I didn't mean it that way.

Then what did you mean?

When have you said anything directly?

Talking about the crow and the cuckoo!

Were you eavesdropping? - Why are you so angry?

What's wrong in telling us that the entire salary was spent last month

when you went to your hometown for the festival?

Our family is not in a hapless state to squander your son's money!

What am I talking and what are you.. - Parvathi.

Actually..

It's your ego that's troubling you and your daughter.

At least, let her be in peace.

Why are you sitting here?

Will you take me out?

Where to?

Nowhere in particular.

I just feel like going somewhere.

Where should I take you out at this hour?

As if you'd take me out during the day!

Leave it. I should have gone myself.

You're not the Kalyani, I fell in love with, right?

I just have a pot belly now, that's all.

If you weren't married to me, would you have been better off?

Is this a question to ask eight years after Chellamma's birth?

This is what I keep asking myself every day.

Leave it. Just leave it.

For Chellamma to be like this..

Like what?

Being dull, unlike other kids..

Being dull, unlike other kids..

Am I the reason? - Who said so?

Who else? It's your mother.

She's always talking about this indirectly.

Come with me, I'll ask her. - Wait.

Listen to me. - Sit down.

I can't take it. Come. - Just sit down.

You will ask and leave.

I'm the one who has to listen to their taunts.

What should I do?

Chellamma might wake up. Let's start.

Let's start.

The mistake is not yours. It's all because I'm not earning well.

I'm working at the old man's place. The pay is less.

But I can come and go as I please.

I can be with Chellamma, wait for her at school. Isn't it important?

Let her grow up. Everything will fall into place.

The problem is not that we don't have money.

But staying at a posh place without any money is the problem.

Shall we move to a different house?

Please bear with it, for my sake.

Careful.

Come after a while.

Why? What happened?

Well.. If your mother sees us together

she'll think I've been complaining.

All right, you go ahead.

Why are you hitting the dog? It might bite.

Who else do I hit? Just go.

Sir, Mr. Kalyani is coming. - Hey, don't tell him, I'm here.

Where's sir? - He hasn't come yet.

I knew it.

Got a light? - Yes.

Give it.

Matchbox?

What does he call you?

Sometimes 'Kumar', sometimes 'grandson'.

He called me 'son'.

For 6 months, he hasn't paid me.

He calls you 'grandson', right?

Don't expect a salary all your life. - Watch your words.

What else can I say?

As long as you're working, he'll address you lovingly

but the moment you ask for your salary

'nobody' is what he'll address you as. - Why do you talk this way?

Then what do you want me to do?

Addressing lovingly is enough, is it?

Doesn't he provide for his grandkids?

Let him come. - Mr. Kalyani, sir is inside.

Leave it. Let him speak.

Sit down. Talk.

You talk. Talk whatever you want. - Well, sir..

What else can I say?

You were listening to it all this while, right?

What more am I going to say? It's regarding the school fees.

It's been two weeks now. Did I ask you for my salary?

If I call you, you don't pick up. If I come here, you disappear.

Don't you understand?

When I went home, my wife was waiting outside

asking me about the salary.

Leave it. Let me start the job.

There's no job.

You're free to go and work for anyone who doesn't call you 'son'.

Don't speak in anger.

Why would I be angry?

Just as a person ages, so does the job.

What are you saying?

Vessel shops in the town have started polishing units too.

What do I do?

Where do I go?

I'll sell everything and give you your salary.

Sir, shall I polish those three vessels?

Where are you going to sell those?

Well, I can't go as Chellamma's 'Silverman' anymore, right? That's why.

Kalyani.

How many times have I asked you not to come to school with silver work on your face?

The Headmaster has told me several times that other parents are complaining.

No, father. It's because she likes..

Don't give excuses. Enough of saying, 'I'll go with her, be with her'

'I'll take care of her' and end up doing nothing. Enough!

I have retired. I'll take care.

Please don't come near the school.

No, Chellamma likes it when I come..

Don't you get it?

Why does she need two mothers?

She has one at home.

Why should you run behind her too?

A father should go out, learn things and earn money.

Only then does he deserve to be a father.

Was I with you? Ain't I a good father?

I should say that. - What did you say?

Are you going to leave or not?

No. Let Chellamma come.

Hey, will she like the comfortable car or your cycle?

Go, home. Go. - No, father.

Let her come. Let her decide who she wants to go with.

Father! - Come, dear.

Chellamma!

Come here.

Give me your bag. - Chellamma.

Come here.

Grandpa, the bag's heavy.

Okay. - You take it. I'll come with father.

Aren't you coming with me?

No, grandpa.

Hey, 'W'! - Hey, 'W'!

Let them shout. Why are you upset?

No, father. They're calling me with different names.

It's okay. Everyone has just one name. You have many.

But I don't like any of these names.

Which name do you like? - That is..

I like 'Elvita' very much. - What's 'Elvita'?

Actually, one day, during prayer time..

'Last night, the district collector passed away, hence, it's a holiday today.

Stop it, Chellamma. Idiot.'

Why did you clap?

Father, don't you understand?

If someone dies, it's a holiday. - That's right.

But the next day..

If someone dies, why would you clap?

Chellamma, whom do you like the most?

Miss, I like my father the most.

So, will you clap if he dies too?

What's this, Stella miss? Is this how you talk to a child?

Chellamma, go to your class. Go.

Miss? - Go.

Say thanks to Elvita miss.

Thank you, Elvita miss.

It's okay.

'Father, she's the only teacher I like in the school.'

'Now, even she has left the school.'

'Why, dear? - It seems, she got married.'

She left even without saying goodbye to me.

You know what? I had even bought a teacher's day card for her.

Okay, grandpa's car is here.

Do you want to go with him?

Why, father?

Poor grandpa.

He has come all the way to pick you up.

Okay, father. If you say so.

Good girl.

Didn't I say, the car's more comfortable?

Okay, father.

Bye, father. - Chellamma, don't stick your head out.

"The divine name of Jesus is as sweet as nectar."

"People come in search of him to the holy church."

"The divine name of Jesus is as sweet as nectar."

Tell me.

Okay, George. I'll call you later.

Who are you?

Is this Elvita miss's house?

She's not a 'miss' anymore.

Wasn't she working in Bright Matriculation school?

Yes.

My daughter Chellamma was her student.

She likes her a lot.

Is it so? - Yes.

She really wants to talk to her.

She'll be very happy if she speaks to her over the phone.

Will that make her so happy?

Yes.

Is this the time to drop in?

No. I'd got here earlier

but I found it difficult to find the house.

Sorry. If it's a problem, I'll come in the morning.

Wait a bit. I'll call her.

Elvita.

Elvita.

Greetings.

He is here to see you.

Hello, miss. I'm Chellamma's father. She studies in the second grade.

But..

I haven't taken class for 2nd grade students.

But she knows you. You helped her when she was punished after prayer.

She likes you a lot.

What can I do?

If you speak to her once over the phone, she'll be very happy.

Do you have a phone?

I do.

Is it a speaker phone? - Not actually.

Tell me your number.

04652..

52?

281510.

Hello?

'Hello?'

Stay on the line. - 'Who are you?'

Thanks.

'Hello?' - Come here.

'Hello?'

Talk.

'Hello?' - Hello.

'Tell me. Who is it?'

This is Elvita miss. May I talk to Chellamma?

Stay on the line. Chellamma, there's a call for you.

'Is it aunt? Tell her, I'll talk to her later.'

'No, dear. It's Elvita miss.'

Really?

"When the journey begins, new paths unfold."

Hello, Elvita miss. Stay on the line. - Okay.

Grandpa, reduce the TV volume.

Okay, dear.

My Elvita miss has called.

Hello, Elvita miss.

How are you? - I'm fine.

Why didn't you invite me to your wedding?

Actually.. Actually, Chellamma..

I looked for you, but couldn't find you.

I've bought a teacher's day card for you.

You should come home one day. I need to give you that card.

Will you come? Please, miss.

Definitely, I'll come. Okay?

Also, I want to change my name to Elvita.

Shall I?

Please, miss.

Didn't I say, she likes you a lot?

Tell me, miss. Should I change it?

Please, miss.

Please, miss.

Chellamma..

I'll talk to you later. Okay? - Okay, miss.

Study well, okay?

Thank you, miss.

Bye.

Hello? Hello?

Come in, sir. - It's okay.

It's all right. Come on, in. - It's late. I'll miss the last bus.

You came all this way just to fulfill your child's wish.

It's no big deal, sir.

Father!

Father!

Father, wake up.

What is it, dear?

Grandpa is right in scolding you. Where were you yesterday?

Why?

Do you know who had called up yesterday?

Who? - Elvita miss had called!

But I forgot to note down her number.

It's in that pant pocket.

Is it there?

Wait, father. I've just got the handkerchief.

Is it there?

Is this Elvita miss' number?

Did you go there?

Elvita.

Father, you call me 'Chellamma' itself. - Okay, dear.

Do you know Santa Claus's number? - Why?

I'd love to talk to him. Let me know if you get it.

Surely.

Why are you behaving like a kid?

Don't you have to pay the school fees?

I'll take care of that, Vadivu.

If you delay by a couple of more days, they won't let her inside the class.

But you're bothered about Elvita miss and other things! Why are you like this?

Is your father home?

No. Come in.

Call your mother.

Mother, someone is here.

Hello. - Come in.

Is Murugan around? - No, sir.

If he comes, tell him, I came by.

Okay, I'll tell him.

Bye.

Bye. - Bye.

Why are you sitting there?

Just like that.

Are you my father's close friend? - Yes, dear.

Next time, you must get vanilla cake for me.

Okay, dear.

Hey, when did you come? - Just now.

Why didn't you wait inside the house? - It's okay.

All right. I need to pay Chellamma's school fees.

I had asked my employer. He said, he'll give it in 2 days.

I need Rs. 2000. Can you lend it to me? I'll return it in two days.

Why are you asking at the last minute?

How can you be so careless with your kid's education?

Is it okay if I give it to you tomorrow?

There's time. I have two days' time.

All right, come in for a coffee.

It's okay. I'll be coming tomorrow, anyway. Thanks. Bye.

Rishi.

Why didn't he come inside?

People who borrow money don't come inside the house.

Father, he is there. - What is it?

No, when should I come tomorrow?

Come around 2 o'clock. - Okay.

Bye.

Father. - Yes?

Take a picture using grandpa's cell phone. - Okay.

Move back a bit.

Wait a moment, father.

Shall I? - Can you see the butterfly?

Yes, I can. Don't move. Smile.

This dress is super.

It was mother who took all the trouble for two days to stitch it. - Okay.

One more. Here.

Father, take a picture with grandpa.

Go slowly. Lift your dress and run.

Grandpa, move in front.

Father, take it.

Freeze.

Take a picture with grandma.

Grandma has gone to the shop.

All right, take a picture of me at the spot where grandma always sits.

Why are you sitting so glum?

When has grandma ever smiled?

Take a picture with Chokki too.

Have you held Chokki properly?

You look so good in this dress.

No one can scold you.

In that case, wouldn't it be nice if this was the school uniform?

Here, father.

Have you paid the fees? - Yes.

Why are you mumbling? If you haven't paid, I will.

No, I've paid.

Nithyashree.

Why are you crying?

My mother scolded me. - Why?

I don't study well, that's why.

My mother is also like that. - I'm going to die tomorrow.

Why tomorrow?

Because my mother is making 'fried bread' tonight.

If you are going to die, go and die in the forest pond, okay?

That way, you'll become a goldfish.

But I'll be hungry there.

Don't worry. I'll put costly puffed rice for you.

Promise?

Promise.

Father, I'm the only person who has the angel costume ready. Nobody else has it ready.

Miss is going to scold them badly.

All right, you dance well. Okay?

Miss, I've come wearing the angel costume.

Over smart! I told you to wear it on the day of the show and not for the rehearsals.

Will you never understand? Go, take your place.

I'll play the music now.

"You're my doll, rock 'n' roll, feel the glamour in pink."

"Kiss me here, touch me there, hanky panky.."

"You can touch, you can play."

"If you say, I'm always yours."

One, two.. "I'm a Barbie girl in the Barbie world."

What are you doing, Chellamma? - Miss?

"You can brush my hair, undress me everywhere."

Smile and dance, Chellamma.

"Imagination, life is your creation."

When will Murugan's family be back?

I don't know. - Okay.

"Come on, Barbie. Let's go party."

Chellamma, how many times do I have to teach you? Idiot!

Yes, miss.

"Let's go party.."

Chellamma, come out. Come here!

"Make me walk. Make me talk." - 1,2,3.. Clap.

Miss?

You can't dance.

Miss, I can dance. My father has said so. Please, miss.

Go, stand near the tape recorder.

1,2,3.. Pose!

Switch it off.

Students, back to your positions.

"London bridge is falling down.."

"London bridge is falling down.."

Play!

Should I teach you how to play? - No, miss.

"I'm always yours."

"I'm a Barbie girl in the Barbie world."

Shanti! Switch it off! What are you doing?

"London bridge is falling down.."

"Let's go party.''

"Come on, Barbie, let's go party." - Slowly.

"Come on, Barbie, let's go party." - Go.. 1, 2, 3, 4.

"Make me walk.."

What are you doing? Switch it off.

Chellamma. Where did she go?

Here. Stop, please.

Here.

Murugan. - Have you been waiting for too long?

No, I came just now. - Wow! Vanilla cake!

Why buy all this when you don't have money?

That's okay. It's for the child.

Please come in, sir. - I will.

Oh, no, mother. People who borrow money don't come inside.

Sorry. Don't take it wrong.

He's just a kid. Come in.

Her uncle is a security agent in Cochin.

The salary is Rs.4000. Only night shift.

I've told him about you. Why don't you try?

I met your employer. He said, he has closed the shop.

Okay. Hadn't I asked for the school fees?

I tried too. I am short of money too.

Hope you won't mind if I say something.

What is it? - Chellamma doesn't study well.

If you put her in a government school

you won't have the trouble of paying the fees.

It's only money, I asked you for, right?

If you don't have money, couldn't you've told me then?

You made me run around for four days.

What's so shameful about not having money?

I know what to do for Chellamma.

Don't think that those who don't have money are fools.

Won't she be good at anything?

I'm scared.

She doesn't have any problem.

Don't believe all that they say at school.

You keep talking like this and shut me up.

Who is calling so late..

Hello? - Hello.

This is Elvita miss here.

Hello, Elvita miss. It's Elvita miss.

Chellamma's father?

Speaking, miss. Tell me.

Actually, I shouldn't have said that I don't know Chellamma.

My situation was like that.

No, it was my mistake. I shouldn't have come so late.

It's okay. - About Chellamma.

In Chellamma's school

they're complaining that she is not good at studies.

People at home are scared regarding her education.

You don't have to be afraid based on what they say at school.

They have too many students, less teachers with meager salary.

You can't blame them either.

Actually, after talking to Chellamma

I felt I could have been a good teacher.

Thanks a lot.

Okay. Convey my regards to Chellamma.

Definitely. You must definitely come home.

We both will surely come.

Thank you, miss.

See, you didn't believe me.

Even Elvita miss is saying the same.

There's nothing wrong with Chellamma. Her school is to be blamed.

Do you believe me now?

Don't worry. Lie down.

Will you press your daughter's legs alone?

Excuse me, miss. Who is Stella miss? - Who are you?

I'm Chellamma's father. She studies in the second grade.

Please come in.

Thank you, miss.

Miss, she had come for the dance rehearsal yesterday. She came back home alone.

Sorry, sir. I was busy. I didn't notice her leaving.

I'm really sorry. It happened unknowingly.

Is it enough if you just apologize?

She has come walking four kilometers all alone in the hot sun.

You had also told her that she can't dance.

What else do I say if she can't dance?

Have you seen that she can't dance?

Tell me. How do you know, she can't dance?

I'm not getting paid to answer your questions.

Then what are you getting paid for? To name her 'W'?

To name her 'W' and to make the class bully her? Is that what you're getting paid for?

Don't point fingers, sir.

I was the one who has taught her 'M' and 'W' for two years until I went hoarse.

I thought she'll get it right, if I name her 'W'.

Else, what would I gain by doing that?

Don't say like that. She understood.

I told her just once and she understood.

Teaching her is not a problem.

It's how you teach her.

If you know it so well, why don't you teach her at home?

How can you say that? We send her to school trusting you.

She danced so well at home.

All parents are like this.

Even a crow finds its baby pretty.

I can't do anything about that.

Did the crow tell you that?

Did the crow tell you, 'My baby is pretty'?

Stella miss, why are you talking to him?

Take him to the headmaster.

Miss, please, miss.

Please listen to me. I'm not finding faults or blaming you.

Don't take this to the HM.

I just wanted to tell you about Chellamma.. Please, miss.

Please understand. Can't you see I'm begging?

Is this the way an educated person behaves?

You go and talk to the headmaster himself.

Wait here. Sir will call you.

Just a minute.

Just because I lost my temper, please don't take it out on Chellamma.

I'm a teacher. I know my job.

You don't have to teach me.

Hello?

Did Chellamma tell you anything?

Isn't she at home down with fever?

She's missing since morning.

She'll be at Nithyashree's house or somewhere around. Go and see.

I'm at school. I'll call later.

What are you doing at school?

What's your problem? Hang up.

Where are you going?

We are going to see goldfish, old man.

Come. - Go.

Are you going to see goldfish?

At least, you see.

I was scared that you had turned into a goldfish.

No. I didn't.

Why? Won't your mother beat you hereafter?

She will. - Then?

My mother told me, she'll make 'fried bread' for me every day.

You come in too.

No, Chellamma. I'm scared.

Only over there, it's deep.

My father showed it to me the other day.

The fish might come any moment.

Chellamma!

It's grandpa. - Come up.

I've been searching all over for you and you're here!

Come.

Why did you come here?

Father said that I can find goldfish here.

Can't you use your brain?

Go. Go home.

What are you doing? Go. - Chellamma.

Your grandpa looks just like a buffalo.

Quietly, come.

It's the school's rule that parents shouldn't meet the teachers.

Don't you know about it?

I know. They sent Chellamma alone. What if something would've happened to her?

I'm the Headmaster here.

Shouldn't you have come and met me?

That's true.

But they had named her 'W'. She's suffering a lot.

Right now, you can collect your daughter's TC and take her with you.

That's not what I'm saying.

You are a school drop-out. Your wife is also a school dropout.

But your father was a reputed headmaster.

Your sister is a software engineer in Australia.

Only because they both pleaded, we admitted your daughter here.

You've just proven what happens when we admit children of undergraduate parents.

Please leave. I'll talk to your father.

So, shouldn't children of undergraduate parents study at all?

I'm Chellamma's father. Whatever it is, talk to me.

I know that.

Chellamma's term fees hasn't been paid this time either.

And we have to ask his father.

Okay, sir. - You may leave.

Didn't I ask you to leave? Why are you still here? Get going.

Sir..

Stop there.

What is it? - Did you go to Chellamma's school?

Father's asking you something. Answer.

Yes, I did.

Who did you check with before going there?

Who should I check with?

Have you paid the fees? - No.

The other day you said you've paid it.

Today, I'm saying I haven't.

He told you, he would give the money. Why didn't you take it?

If you don't have money, why the pride?

The headmaster called me up and asked me to collect her TC.

All my life, I begged with people and did everything for you.

Should I beg for your daughter too?

You don't have to beg for anyone.

Shouldn't I take a stand for Chellamma?

Will everything be fine if you go and ask?

Then, who should? Will it be fine if you go and ask?

That headmaster keeps saying, 'I'll talk to your father'.

When I say, I'm her father, he looks down on me.

As you have told everyone in the town that I'm a useless fellow!

Won't you ever understand?

When we are at fault, why go and fight there?

How are we at fault?

Have you done anything properly?

I sent you to school. Did you study?

I got you a job. Did you go?

Have you done anything at the right time?

All you did was drag her here when you were in the 12th grade.

Father! - What is it? - Whatever it is, she's my wife.

Don't use words like 'drag'.

Dare you point fingers at your father! Put it down.

If Chellamma can't, they'll obviously say so.

Father..

If she can't study, they'll say she can't. - Father..

She doesn't study like other kids. - Father..

Do you understand? - Father!

I don't want anyone saying that Chellamma can't do anything right.

I know what she can do and what she can't.

What do you know?

Because of your stupid stories, she was stepping into the pond today.

If I'd been two minutes late, she'd have drowned and died. You, idiot!

Murderer. You were about to kill her.

Father, if she's going to die listening to my stories, let her.

Whatever it is, she's my daughter. - What did you say?

Don't!

I've tolerated everything for his sake.

But when it comes to Chellamma.. You stay out of this!

Are you human? Why are you torturing us?

Are you a father? Why do you need a child?

Do you call yourself a father?

Get lost.

Vadivu, bring Chellamma.

I can't stay in this house for another minute.

Let's leave.

Please don't go.

I asked you to get ready, Vadivu.

Please don't.

You too don't insult me. Let's go.

Please listen to me. Don't get angry.

If you're not coming, give me my child.

Open the door, Vadivu.

Open the door, Vadivu!

Open the door, Vadivu.

What's my fault?

What's my fault?

Mother. - Be quiet.

Open the door, Vadivu.

I can't bear it.

I can't bear it.

Open the door. - Mother!

Mother.

Open the door.

Chellamma, ask mother to open the door.

Mother, open the door.

Mother, open the door.

I'll die but won't come back here. I'm telling you!

Mother, he's saying, he will die but won't come back here.

Mother.

Mother.

Kalyani, don't. - Just leave me, mother.

Please tell him. If you tell him.. Kalyani.

Kalyani!

Why didn't you open the door?

Father!

Mister, have you seen her father anywhere?

No. - Sir..

Yesterday, my grandpa.. - Chellamma, quiet.

What happened? - Nothing.

It's been a week since I saw him.

He hasn't come to the shop either.

Where could he have gone?

Whom to ask?

It seems, the shop where he works has shut down too.

Why don't you check at the old man's house? - Okay.

The dog will eventually return to its kennel.

All men are like this!

Go, take your child and go home.

Chellamma!

Coming, mother.

Bye, sir. - Okay, dear.

Father might be there, mother. - Where?

The place where you and father would spend hours talking.

Mother, didn't I tell you? Father's cycle is here.

Father's here. Father!

Go carefully, Chellamma.

Father!

Hello.

Hello.

Hello.

Won't you speak?

Where are you?

Hello.

Hello.

Look here, Vadivu.

There's nothing left between you and me.

You are Chellamma's mother and I'm her father.

Nothing else exists between us.

Why are you talking like this?

What else do you want me to do?

You made me look worthless in front of my father.

You didn't come when I asked you to.

Have I ever not come when you called?

While studying in the 12th grade, when you called me

didn't I follow you in my school uniform?

You came then, but you didn't now.

I was just Vadivu then.

Today, I'm Chellamma's mother.

Pass the phone to Chellamma. I have nothing to say to you.

Chellamma! Your father wants to speak to you.

Hello, father.

Don't cry, dear.

Don't cry, Chellamma. Won't you obey your father?

Father, where are you?

I'm in Cochin, dear.

Where is Cochin?

Didn't we go beyond the hills the other day? It's beyond that.

If it's beyond the hills, wouldn't it be difficult?

Come back, father.

No. A train passes by our house, right? - Yes.

It goes to Cochin.

That's okay. You come back, father.

I can arrange for the school fees only if I'm here.

So, can the school fees be found beyond the hills?

No, dear. I've got a job here.

If I don't get the money, grandpa will scold me.

But if you're not there, everyone here will scold me.

Don't worry. I will tell everyone.

No one will scold you. Okay?

Mother, you speak to him. Ask him to come back. - Hello..

Hello?

Kalyani. - Yes.

Have you been waiting for too long?

No, I just came a while back.

You can join work tomorrow. - Okay.

Are you Kalyani? - Yes.

Welcome.

The security guy had told me about you.

Okay.

"In the river's surge you swam, my fish."

"Those golden memories of you form a shadow on my heart."

"On the twilight moon you ran, my deer."

"Those soft footprints of yours ask for you again."

"Girl, the twin blacks of my eyes search for your face"

"but the teardrops hide the sight."

"After a rain in the forest even before that fragrant moisture faded"

"thunder and lightning struck to set the forest on fire."

"In the river's surge you swam, my fish."

"Those golden memories of you form a shadow on my heart."

"On the twilight moon you ran, my deer."

"Those soft footprints of yours ask for you again."

Bro, this is Kalyani. He is from my village.

Have you eaten?

Yes, I have.

What about your clothes?

I haven't got them. Thanks.

Don't worry. We're all here for you.

"Like a wandering cloud, life is.." - Thanks, father.

"We seem to take the path of the wind."

"Even though it will be washed away"

"at the shore, we keep building castles."

"My life, I parted from you, instantly I perished."

"I'm just a body."

"You, living there, are my life."

"In the river's surge you swam, my fish."

"Those golden memories of you form a shadow on my heart."

"On the twilight moon.." - Grandpa, does that train go where father is?

Yes, to Cochin.

Grandpa!

You wave too, grandpa.

Everyone, look here. My uncle got it for me.

Don't touch it. I'm warning you.

No, Chellamma. Don't touch it.

Please. I'll hold it just once. - No, Chellamma.

Go. You don't have to give it to me.

I'm going to get a real dog.

Really? - Really.

Like that dog on TV, it will carry my bag

it will bring my socks and it will sleep next to me.

Then, it'll bite everyone who calls me 'W'.

Will it bite Stella miss as well? - Yes.

Will you bring it to school? - Yes. We can all play with it.

But let's leave her out.

She's lying. Her father isn't with her. He has left her and gone somewhere.

So what? - Then, how will he buy?

My father will send it through post.

You can only send a letter through post, not a puppy.

Not just a puppy, you can even send an elephant through post.

Don't lie, Chellamma. - Stella miss.

Hello.

Hello.

Hello, father.

Tell me, dear.

Father, can you buy me the dog shown in the advertisement for my birthday?

Which one? - Don't they show it on television?

That small puppy.

Okay, dear. - Surely?

Surely. I'll get that. - I've told everyone.

"When a flower falls, to catch it many run"

"but when leaves fall, they just wither."

"Although the life of the poor is like a leaf.."

Yes, Vadivu? - Have you eaten?

Yes. "Withered leaves will become manure someday."

Hey, won't you listen to me? You work in the day too.

When will you sleep?

Wait. If you continue like this, the doctor will take away your earnings.

"My life."

"In the river's surge you swam, my fish."

"Those golden memories of you form a shadow on my heart."

"On the twilight moon you ran, my deer."

"Those soft footprints of yours ask for you again."

Why are you removing the photo, grandma?

The astrologer was here.

Seeing this, he said that it'll cast evil eyes on you and you'll fall ill.

So he asked me to remove it.

But nowadays, I don't fall ill at all.

You go call your mother.

Mother, grandma is calling you.

Vadivu, don't misunderstand me.

His sister is coming from Australia.

She'll make a scene that her son's photo is not big enough.

That's why.. Chellamma's..

Mother-in-law, Chellamma is here.

What do you want?

Where's your phone, mother?

It's on the bench. Go look for it.

Hello. - Chellamma.

Hello, father.. - Yeah? - I'd asked you for a dog.

Have you found it?

I searched for it in lots of places. I couldn't find it.

Did you ask for it at the network office? You'll get it there.

They sell only SIM cards there, not pups, dear.

Father, you don't know.

Then, how are they showing it on television?

That's where the dogs will be hiding.

If you say, it's for a kid, they'll give it to you.

Father, why are you coughing? - It's nothing.

What happened, father?

Are you running a temperature?

Who will make soup for you?

I will take care of myself. Did you eat?

Kalyani. - I will call you later.

Okay, father.

'Are you talking to someone on the phone instead of working?'

'No, sir. My daughter had called.'

Kalyani.

Hey, Kalyani!

Your phone's ringing.

Hello?

Why weren't you answering the phone?

I was sleeping.

All you do is sleep.

What's wrong with that?

Did Chellamma tell you anything?

What happened?

She's missing since morning.

What else do you have to do other than taking care of her?

She hung up.

Vadivu, what happened?

I have searched everywhere.

She is not to be seen anywhere. Did father-in-law call?

No, only Kalyani has been calling up repeatedly.

Did you scold her?

Why would I scold her?

She kept staring at the photo you removed.

Stop right there. Where did you go leaving us all so worried?

She was standing near the bus stop.

She didn't reply when I asked her where she was going.

I grew suspicious and brought her here.

Come in for a cup of coffee.

The shop's open. I'll come some other day.

Okay. - Bye, ma'am. Bye, kid.

Vadivu, Chellamma is here.

Where had you been?

Vadivu, don't let her in until she tells us, where she was.

She does this every other day!

Where had you been?

Your mother is asking, right? Answer her.

Speak up!

Will you answer or not?

Chellamma, don't fool around. I'll slap you!

You'll speak up only when you're hit with a blistering hot spoon.

Chellamma's here. I'll ask her to call you later.

All right, mother.

I'll do it, for sure. - No, mother. - Tell me where you went.

Are you going to tell me or not? - Mother!

Where did you go with all this? - How stubborn! She's just like you.

Mother.. - Oh, Chellamma!

Did you really hit her, Vadivu? - Keep quiet, mother-in-law.

Why did you take all of this along?

No, mother. Father has fever.

There's no one to make soup for him.

That's why, I wanted to go and cook for him.

Come, get up.

Hello.

Vadivu, I shouldn't have spoken to you like that.

It's my mistake.

Please forgive me.

Well..

I hit her with a hot spoon.

What?

I didn't do it deliberately.

I don't even know what our child knows.

Because you were ill, she carried vessels and vegetables to cook for you

and was waiting at the bus stop.

Hello?

Hello?

Why did you do that, Chellamma?

I have never done anything for you.

I haven't got you anything you asked for.

You asked for a puppy. I haven't even enquired about it.

I haven't even paid the school fees.

Why did you do this?

Had you not been born as my daughter, you'd have been better off.

I'm a bad father, Chellamma.

I'm not a good father, Chellamma.

I hate myself, Chellamma.

I'm a bad father, Chellamma.

Please forgive me, Chellamma.

Which breed do you want?

That last one.

That one? - Yeah. - Ever since that advertisement aired

whether the SIM cards are sold or not, there's been a good demand for this breed.

If you can wait for an hour, I'll bring a small pup.

He says, he'll give it in an hour. - Just an hour, right?

Rs. 2000? - Give it.

What's this?

Actually, you say, it's a costly dog.

So, Rs. 2000..

Rs. 2000? Do you know its cost?

It's Rs. 25,000. - What! 25,000?

What did you think? Do you know where his younger brother is?

Where? - In Superstar Mohanlal's house.

Then, take his elder brother to Megastar Mammootty's house.

He might feel bad otherwise. - Are you making fun of me?

Be quiet.

What would be your last price after a discount?

Since the carpenter has sent you, I can give it for Rs. 22,000.

One minute, I'm getting a call.

He is asking for Rs. 22,000.

Is he cheating us?

The carpenter has spoken to him.

He won't cheat. See how many dogs he has.

Had you listened to your mother

you wouldn't have burnt yourself and wouldn't have suffered from fever.

You said, if you remove the photo, I won't get a fever.

But I've got it now.

Don't keep asking questions.

Just sleep.

"Beyond being valorous.."

"Beyond being beautiful.."

"To be.."

I fear that Chellamma has started disliking me.

She's just a kid.

I thought her to be a kid too.

But she understands everything.

This wouldn't have happened if Kalyani was here.

Please call him back.

Don't we have enough money?

What has he done wrong?

Why are you so angry with him?

He's a good person.

He's a very good person.

Let him return as a slightly bad person. Leave it.

He says, he won't go back without the pup.

He's not listening at all. Here he comes.

Give it. - Here.

Hey, Kalyani, why are you like this? - Nothing, sir.

Arpu, do you know that dolphin aunt? - Yes.

The aunt who sells statues and pillars to foreigners..

That dolphin aunt? - Okay.

She has some work to be done.

I have told her about you.

Please go see her today itself.

Hey, it's been so long! - 'Hey!'

Where have you been? - 'Out of town.'

All right. Have a good day.

See you soon. - 'Okay.'

You? - The carpenter sent me. I'm Kalyani.

Please. Thank you. We're leaving.

Thank you, for your visit. See you soon.

Good bye.

This is a rainmaker.

Do you understand English?

Little.. Just a little. - Okay.

This is called a rainmaker.

The tribals here use this musical instrument while praying to God for rains.

If you find this and bring it to me

I'll give you Rs. 25,000. - Okay.

Bye.

Let's go.

'Hello..'

The line got disconnected? - Yes, sir.

I heard someone talking.

When she can call from home, why is she here?

She can't talk to special people from home.

From home? - Yes.

Pick up the phone. - You don't know.

Hey, if you are angry with someone

curse them with bad words, beat them up too.

If you're very angry, kill them. It's not wrong at all.

But don't stop talking to them. Answer the call.

Answer the phone. Come on.

Go, talk.

Hello? - Hello.

I'm calling from an STD booth. Don't disconnect, please.

I know. What is it?

I've been trying for one week. You didn't even answer once.

So what?

I was asked to go to Chellamma's school.

Why?

Chellamma..

She stole something at the school.

That's a notorious school. Don't believe them.

No, I asked her.

Why did she do that?

I don't know.

You go home. I'll ask her.

It seems that your sister is coming from Australia next week.

Yes. Mother told me about it.

She asked me to meet her at the airport.

They have already removed Chellamma's photo.

I don't know how it will be when they are here

Go home, Vadivu. I'll call you.

You are still angry with me, aren't you?

I'm not angry, Vadivu. Go home. I'll call you.

I'm also like Chellamma, is it not so?

Where will I go?

Okay, Vadivu. I understand.

Don't call me from a booth. I'll call you.

Okay.

Grandpa, write down father's address here.

Where did you find this cover? - From your table.

Did you steal it? - No. I took it.

Thief.

Don't say things like that, father-in-law.

I said that just for fun. - Don't even say that for fun.

How can you raise your voice against father-in-law..

Parvathi.

I won't say things like that anymore.

Please go. Come here. Tell me the address.

Kalyani, strawberry-colored house..

Rainmaker. 25000 for that. I can't believe it.

Stop blabbering!

They sell these antiques

to foreigners and make a lot of money.

Half the business in Cochin is this.

You will surely get it. Believe me.

Whatever.. - Hey! Look at me.

Where did you get this from? - From the church.

Santa Claus. He will give you whatever you want.

Why don't you ask him for a rainmaker?

Forget it.

I don't know if Santa Claus will give me a rainmaker or not

but my daughter likes him a lot.

Give me your phone. - Why?

Give it to me. I'll tell you.

'Behind the hills..'

At 4 o' clock, dolphins come. - 'Dolphin at 4'.

Cochin.

Chellamma, there's a call for you. - Who is it?

Santa Claus.

Santa Claus? Grandpa, write the address down yourself.

Hello, Santa. - Hello.

How do you know my number? - Your father gave it to me.

Father, is it? - Did you ask your father to get you a dog?

That's right, Santa. Did he tell you too?

It's not just any dog. It's called a Pug.

It doesn't grow much.

It must be administered injections.

There are specific doctors to tend to it.

It should eat only pedigree.

What did my father say?

Your father said, he would buy it somehow.

By the way did you cry at school?

How did you get to know?

I saw it from the sky.

From the sky?

Yes. Why did you cry?

You just saw me crying. Don't you know why I cried?

Okay, did you steal?

Yes, Santa.

What did you steal?

Those are all expensive things, Santa.

Can you tell only me all the things you've stolen?

Wait. I'll take it out and show it to you.

You see from the sky.

Stay on the line, Santa!

Hello. - Wait, Santa.

Color pencils from Sathyabama. See?

Yes.

Then this eraser from that Balaji who always laughs in a weird way.

Then this 10 rupee note from Stella miss who keeps scolding me always.

This book from grandpa.

Can you see?

I can see.

Why did you take all this?

That's a secret, Santa.

Will you share it with me alone?

I'll tell you. But you mustn't tell anyone else.

I won't tell anyone. I promise.

That is.. My father doesn't have money.

Even the school fee hasn't been paid.

Also, grandpa scolded him and sent him away.

That's why. I stole to help father.

The girl in the TV serial also does the same thing.

Santa Claus..

Can you hear me?

Can you hear me?

Come here. - Father, I want to use the washroom.

Wait. - Come fast.

I'll be right back. - Come on, dad!

What's with this outfit?

No, I just came back from work.

Couldn't you have changed your dress? Did you leave the house in anger to do this job?

Don't talk without knowing anything.

It seems, you don't even talk to father.

Why all this ego?

He was so sad when he told me that.

He didn't tell me, right? - What?

Leave it. I need Rs. 20,000.

Why do you want so much money when you're living here all by yourself?

Chellamma has asked for a pug as her birthday gift.

She's a kid. If she asks, will you spend money so lavishly?

If you buy some jewels, that will at least be useful.

Won't you ever change?

I know what to do for her. I'll take care.

You're right. But she has asked for it. If I don't get it, she'll feel very bad.

Even my son asked for it. I didn't even get it for him.

Is my kid any inferior.. - Hey! I didn't mean it that way.

Then, what did you mean?

Will you buy her whatever she sees on the television?

Even cars worth Rs. 5 lakhs and Rs. 50 lakhs are shown on television.

If she asks, will you buy it for her? Are you a fool?

Do you think that living in Australia makes you a genius?

Doesn't she know that cars are costly?

Do you think, she doesn't know, her father can't afford it?

When they show the dog on television, do they put the price tag below that?

She thought it would be roaming freely and her father would catch one for her.

Even I came to know that this dog is so expensive, just 4 days back.

She is already sad that I don't have money..

No matter what you say, I can't give it to you.

Please understand.

When they show advertisements on television

do they warn that people without money shouldn't watch it?

She has asked me for it. If I don't buy it, she'll feel bad.

No, I can't give it to you.

Understand. I'll give it back in 4 months.

If I don't get it, she'll be very upset.

Don't scold my mom. - I'm not scolding her.

Don't scold my mom! - Okay, okay.

You like chocolates, right? Here.

Bye. - Send us off and leave.

I have some work. Bye.

Bye, my dear son-in-law. - Bye.

I just said it in jest. Don't lose your sleep over it.

Okay, tell your brother-in-law and leave. - I know.

Bye, dear. Bye.

Give it to me. - It's mine.

Give me some. - It's fully mine.

It's my brother who got that. - I'll give you a little.

Deal? - Deal.

Give it to me. I'll open it.

Chokki, I'm going to write my exams.

You should eat well.

You should study well, okay?

Won't you wish me luck?

Thank you, monkey!

You're going to fail. - Get lost.

2/6..

Miss.. - What?

Question paper, miss.

As if you are going to write all the answers.

Do you need 2 question papers?

Stupid! Here, take it.

"First, last, pass, fail, homework, exam, question paper.."

"Who found that?"

"Dud, dumbo, stupid, idiot.."

"Stand up on the bench, who found all that?"

"Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday.."

"School on all these days, who found that?"

Go to your class.

"I don't like to go to school."

"I don't like to write exams too."

"I haven't learnt any lesson."

Lazy mongrel! You'll fail this time too, is it? Idiot! "For sure, I'm going to be punished."

"I study all night, but in class, I forget it all."

"I'm blinking, thinking if it's right or not, for sure, I'm going to fail."

You are going to beat me.

I won't. Come.

"Where is the sky?"

Hey, 'W'.

Hey, 'W'.

"Science, Math, Social Science, to learn it all in English, who found that?"

"Oh, God! Who found that?"

"When seeing students speak in Tamil"

"to conk them and fine them, who found that?"

You should not speak in Tamil. Rs. 50 fine. Go to your place.

"No time to play games. No time to watch cartoons."

Is this the time to stare at spiders?

"It's exam time and there's no time." - Go, mother!

"What am I going to do?"

"I learn, paying the fees, but I'm standing here, all lost."

"As a waste paper, for sure, I'm going to throw the question paper."

"We want to fly."

"Where is the sky?"

Idiot. What are you doing? Take the book.

"We want to fly."

Take that one too. Stupid.

"Where is the sky?"

"Tying a butterfly to a post, then teaching it about freedom"

"who found that? Oh, God! Who found that?"

"Laying brick upon brick in a barbecue "

"and roasting the students in that, who found that?"

"Oh, God! Who found that?"

"Grandma's tales, I didn't hear."

"With a friend, I didn't chat."

"With a crab, I didn't stroll. I'm just getting beaten up."

"I don't like this school. Hey, I don't like any school."

"Leave me alone, I'm not going to study. For sure, I'm going to fail."

"We want to fly."

"Where is the sky?"

It's such a long and tiring day.

Yes, it is.

Why do you want to find the Rainmaker?

Because it's not just an ordinary instrument.

But where and how are we going to find it?

Here, check out this video.

They use the Rainmaker as offerings to the rain god.

But where is it...?

You see the long bamboo in the center...

That's the Rainmaker.

This.. This.

No, I want this.

Come, let's go.

Please.

Go! - Wait, please.

Come on!

Hurry!

No!

Nab him!

Nab him!

Catch him!

You scoundrel! Catch hold of him.

Leave him. What's the problem? - He stole the laptop.

Who? This guy?

What's the problem, Babu?

Bloody rascal!

Stop it. Babu, go back. Stop beating him.

Whose is this? Kalyani, what is this?

Whose laptop is this? Give them the laptop.

No, sir.. Dolphin aunt.. Rainmaker.

It'll become a police case. Give the laptop.

Give the laptop.

Good Lord, would anyone beat up someone like this? Get up.

Hey, look, it has come.

Bring another soda.

See, the rainmaker.

Is this Thotaani Thurai?

Yes, Thotaani Thurai.

Kalyani, it's beyond the hill, 3 to 4 hours from here.

It's an estate area.

I have a friend in that estate. Don't go tonight. You won't find a bus.

I will call him. You start tomorrow.

We'll go to the hospital now. Get all this cleaned up, take an injection

and then start in the morning, okay? - Okay.

I think, I'm going to fail this time too.

So what? I'm going to get the pug.

Do you know what I have named it?

Horsey.

Till the 5th grade, isn't it an 'all pass' policy?

Please pass her this one time. Next time, I'll take care.

I will give her a 'pass'. Admit her in another school.

Please don't say that. We admitted her here as this was the best school around.

That's why, we are the best school.

Please.

For my sake, help us this one time. I'll take care.

The best I can do is this.. On Monday, I'll give her a re-exam.

She has 3 days. Ask her to write 2 papers.

If she passes, we'll promote her.

Thank you, sir.

The total will amount to Rs. 3000. - It's okay.

Mother, it's very hot. Please open the windows at least.

Why? For you to see the crow and the cuckoo? Just sit and study.

Only then will I take you to the ceremony this evening.

Chellamma!

Nithyashree!

Did they lock you up because you failed?

No. There's a story-contest in my school.

That's why, I'm preparing for that.

Okay. Open this window fast.

Thanks.

It's okay. What story is it?

'Elvita' story.

What's 'Elvita'?

It's about a girl. She always keeps failing.

So, everyone in the school keep calling her stupid.

No one likes her.

But she's brilliant.

How can she be brilliant, if she fails?

One day, in school..

Students, which is of greater value?

1000.. - 500.

Silence.

Balaji, you tell me. - 1000.

Sit down.

Chellamma, you tell me.

Miss, Rs. 1000 is of greater value to my grandpa

and Rs. 100 to my father.

Two answers for a question? Idiot. Sit down.

See, if you give one answer, they'll enter 'pass' and 'good' and give you chocolates.

But if you give 2 answers, they'll say 'bad' and enter 'fail'.

But for a question, Elvita knows 2, 4, 6, 8 and even 10 answers.

Isn't she brilliant then? - Yes. A brilliant girl indeed!

But due to high fees

Elvita's father has gone to another town to arrange for school fees.

Which town? - Ernakulam.

What does 'Ernakulam' mean?

'Erna' in Tamil means, if you climb, and 'Kulam' means, pond.

Her father will fish there and bring her fees.

Is it so? - Elvita also has a grandpa.

He's a very good grandpa. But bad father.

How can he be a good grandpa but a bad father?

Because he scolds Elvita's father whenever he smokes.

'Senseless idiot, useless fellow.'

But when Elvita's uncle smokes, he'll close his nose and not say a word.

'Father-in-law, like to have a fag? - Thanks. I don't smoke.

Cool.

You carry on.

Elvita has an aunt too. She is very good.

Because she hung the photo back that grandma had removed.

What's this? If mother thinks of me that way, should you too?

Couldn't you have hung it back yourself?

A good aunt indeed.

Elvita's father befriended Santa.

Does Santa Claus exist?

Yes. Santa said he'll make pass Elvita.

How will he do that? - He'll tell the school.

If Santa says, Jesus will listen. Will the headmaster listen?

Yes, he'll listen.

Even if that's not the case, he has said, he would build a dream school for her.

In that school, if teachers scold the kids, they'll apologize.

Students, please forgive me.

Kneel down. Kneel down.

Sorry. I won't do that anymore. Please!

Stand up on the bench.

Up. Up.

I won't do it again. Really sorry. Please.

If that's not enough, just tell the police. They'll take them away.

There's no school fees at all.

The school will pay students for attending classes.

Thank you, student.

If Santa doesn't pass her and if he doesn't give her the dream school?

So what? Her father said, he's buying her a pug.

After that dog is here, no one will call her stupid.

Whoever teased her will become her friends.

Everyone at home will start liking her.

Everyone will come home to see her dog.

Then.. She..

She will be very happy.

If her father doesn't get it for her?

He will surely get it.

What if her father cheats her?

He's a good father. He won't cheat.

What if he doesn't come?

Then what? She will become glum.

She will be very upset.

No one will like her.

I was sitting so glum, the other day, like that?

Then, let her become a goldfish.

When will she become a goldfish?

You'll get to know that only after her birthday. - When is that?

That is.. Tomorrow.. My mother's here, close the window.

How long will it take from here?

On the road, it takes just an hour.

But because of the rains, the roads are very bad.

You'll have to go through the forest. That'll take 3 or 4 hours.

How to find the way through the forest?

That's not a problem. I will give you the directions.

Once you enter the forest, you'll find a lake.

Beyond that, you won't receive cellphone coverage.

If you have any doubts, call me from there. - Okay.

Another thing, be careful in the forest. Don't return if it gets dark.

Wow! - Is she your daughter? - Yes, aunt.

How old is she? - Eight.

You have to be very careful.

Girls these days come of age even at 10.

Look at her. She's only 9 and she's already come of age.

Chellamma, let's go home.

Mother, food?

Let's go home and eat.

We don't have 'Kesari' at home.

I'll make it for you. Get up.

What is it, Vadivu? Aren't you going to eat? - I'm not feeling well.

2 x 6 = 12.

3 x 6 = 18.

4 x 6 = 24. 5 x 6 = 30.

6 x 6 = 36.

Mother, tell me.

What is it to come of age?

You better study first.

7 x 6 = 48.. No, 42.

8 x 6 = 48.

Mother, when will I come of age?

Mother, tell me.

When will I come of age?

Why did you ask? - Don't beat me, mother.

Why did you ask? - Don't beat me, mother.

Why did you ask? - Don't beat me, mother.

Will you ask? - I won't, mother.

Will you ask?

Why were you born to me?

Why were you born as a girl?

Why were you born as a girl?

Oh, mother! - Mother..

Hello. - I have reached that lake.

Have you? Do you see a hill ahead?

It's in that hill? - Yes, go down the hill and cross a river. You'll reach the place.

Beyond that?

If you are returning today, come back before 7.

Before 7, right? - Yes.

Don't return if it gets dark. - I'll come before that.

Fine, then. Come back and call me.

Hello.

Where are you? - In the railway forest.

What are you doing there? - I'll tell you.

What happened?

Today, I beat up Chellamma. I went out of control.

I hit her so much that my hands are aching. - Why are you always doing this?

We went to attend a ceremony today.

A lady there said that these days, girls are coming of age too soon.

So what?

Our Chellamma has failed in the 2nd grade.

If she comes of age

how to send her to 2nd grade again?

I can't bear it.

I'm very scared.

Nothing of that sort will happen. Give the phone to Chellamma.

Wipe your tears.

I'm telling you, right? There's nothing to worry.

Give the phone to Chellamma.

Okay.

It's father.

Hello. - Hello, Chellamma.

Hello, father. - Tell me.

Father, is it wrong to come of age?

It's not at all wrong, dear.

In that ceremony

that girl was wearing a silk dress

she was wearing earrings

she had applied lipstick and her hair..

She had tied it up and had adorned it with flowers.

She was looking so beautiful.

I also wanted to be like that

and that's why I asked. Is it wrong?

Not at all, dear.

Father, by what time will you reach for my birthday, tomorrow?

I will come before evening.

You'll bring the pup, right?

Okay, dear. - I've told everyone.

You'll bring the pup, for sure?

Okay, I will call you later.

Chellamma, I don't have money.

Otherwise, I would have bought it long back.

Hello, father.

I won't leave you and go anywhere. I will always be with you.

Father.. - If I can't..

I'll kill you and die myself, Chellamma!

"No one has a friend, life is not a friend"

"to give generously all that's asked, whenever asked."

"I will cross it, my dearest."

"In the mist, your drenched form I see."

"Despair unceasingly chases me"

"hunts me down and cuts me into pieces too."

"A pet doll, a honey drop, my savior.."

"A caressing silken breeze, a cloud embracing the heart."

"The date and time, I said, I'll be there with you."

"If it can't be, I'll kill myself and cease to exist."

Don't you have to pass? Take your book and study.

Santa Claus will pass me, mother.

Mental!

Don't talk like a mental case.

Santa Claus

is no one but your father.

Don't lie to me, mother.

No, I'm telling the truth.

So, has father cheated me?

No, father hasn't cheated you.

He thought if he says that, you'll study well.

Get lost. You're always lying to me.

Chellamma. - Go.

I don't want you. I'll never talk to you hereafter.

Chellamma.

Father! - Chellamma.

Father!

The rainmaker is with the leader. But he won't give it to anyone.

Many have come and asked for it. You may try too.

I won't give it. - I have come all the way.

I won't give it.

I can give you money.

It has been with us for generations together.

This is God's boon.

I won't give it to anyone.

This number is currently not reachable.

Are you making calls instead of studying?

No, I heard something like pagu.. Pigu.. Pagu..

What is 'Paguthukku Purathana'?

That's Malayalam. I don't know.

Whether father comes or not

it's you who has to write the exam.

Please study, dear.

The number you're trying is currently not reachable. Please try again later.

Mother, has father come?

Sleep, dear. He'll come.

Why is your father not in this train?

Perhaps, father came by bus.

Wait for me.

When will you cut the cake?

As soon as my father comes.

Your father hasn't arrived in this bus either.

Maybe, he's in the train.

You're confusing me between bus and train. My legs are aching. You go!

Okay, I'll go myself.

Let's go home. Your father won't come. - If you don't want to come, don't.

Father!

Father!

Father!

Father!

Father!

Father!

Father!

"Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday, dear Chellamma."

You feed her.

Mother's feeding you. Smile.

Open your mouth. - Smile, Chellamma.

Smile.

Smile for at least one photo.

Hey, your father's here.

There.

Nithyashree. - Happy birthday, Chellamma.

Thanks.

Okay. What happened to Elvita's story?

She's going to become a goldfish.

Why?

Because her father

cheated her.

When will she become a goldfish? - Tomorrow morning.

Are they making 'fried bread' in her house tonight?

No, she's afraid of the dark.

Okay, my mother will look for me. I'll leave.

Bye. - Bye.

Chellamma. Chellamma.

Vadivu. Vadivu. Vadivu!

Who is it?

Dear..

Where is Chellamma?

It's very cold, Chokki.

After the water comes to normal temperature, I will become a goldfish. Okay?

Till then, let us sit here.

Okay?

Are you scared?

Don't be afraid. I'm here. Sleep.

Sleep.

Today, I have the re-exam.

If I become the goldfish, I won't have to go to school.

I won't have to write exams at all. Is it fine, Chokki?

Chokki, if I become a goldfish

I will never come of age.

Chokki, father loves me a lot.

I didn't study well, right?

I failed in the exam, right?

So, father did not come back with the pup.

I love father a lot, Chokki.

If I become a goldfish

no one will scold father.

Once dawn breaks, I will become a goldfish.

Will you search for me?

Okay, you too come with me.

Become a goldfish doll.

Chellamma.

Chellamma. Chellamma.

Chellamma!

Chellamma..

Chellamma.

Chellamma.

Chellamma.

Chellamma. Chellamma. Chellamma.

Chellamma. Chellamma. Chellamma.

Chellamma.

It's father here.

Chellamma, it's father.

It's father. - Father.

Father.

Father! Father! Father!

Look over there.

Sit here. I'll get it for you.

Give it to me. - I'll send him from there.

Horsey.

Horsey.

Horsey.

Where did you find my horsey?

Horsey?

He was in a dangerous jungle with a very old man.

That old man told me he won't give the horsey at all.

But when I told him it was for you, he gave it.

That's why I was late. Sorry. - It's okay, father.

Chellamma, it's time to go for the exam.

Mother, let me play for some more time. Please.

Chellamma, I'm ready. Are you..

Grandpa, let me play for a while. Please.

Father, there's no need for any exam.

If she doesn't take it today, they'll put her in 2nd grade again.

No, she'll find it difficult.

Hey, I've begged the headmaster and paid Rs. 2000 for this re-exam.

Don't fool around with her education.

I'm denying, right?

Why did you leave home that day?

She was about to drown in that same pond today.

If you don't know how to bring up a child, leave her. Don't kill her.

Chellamma, didn't Nithyashree say she wants to see your horsey?

Yes, father. - Go and show her your horsey.

Okay, father.

Bye, father. - Okay, dear.

Is my daughter mad?

Did she jump into the pond without knowing that she'll die?

She knew it.

Hey, she's just a child.

Which child would think, 'I can't learn', 'No one likes me'

'Father doesn't have money', 'He's suffering'

and that 'If I die, father will be happy'?

She thought, didn't she?

She was a child when I left.

Before I returned, you all killed that child in her.

I spoke to Elvita miss over the phone.

She has got a job in the government school.

She asked me to admit Chellamma there.

No, don't send her to a government school.

Don't worry about money.

I'll take care. - It's not about money.

Didn't you work in this same school and receive the 'Best Teacher' award?

Didn't you study here and go to Australia?

Whatever you're tapping on your lap, you got that after studying here, right?

The school that won't charge a lot of fees and separate my child from me

that school will do.

The school that won't kill my child, that school will do. Leave us alone.

In elocution, the 3rd prize goes to..

Srinivasan, 2nd Grade, 'A' division.

Why are you clapping for this guy?

He has got 'fried bread' in his lunch box. Just clap for him.

In essay competition, the 1st prize goes to..

Chellamma, 3rd grade, 'A' division.

Writer K.V. Sailaja will present the prize.

Thank you, ma'am.

Chellamma.

I request Chellamma to read out her essay.

I've written this essay

called 'Children and Education' from what I know.'

I thank Elvita miss who helped me write this essay.

Read.

More than studying, I like goldfish.

I was waiting to see goldfish for a very long time.

Finally, one day, unknowingly, when I dived into the pond

I saw it for some time.

They were orange in color and looked very beautiful.

If someone teaches me how to swim

and swims along with me and takes me to the bottom of the pond

I can swim and play with goldfish.

Teachers who help us and play with us

are the ones we like.

Thank you.

Even without proper facilities and even without sufficient salary

some continue to serve for passion. Dedicated to all those teachers.