Original subtitles

Mankulam, Northeast Srilanka. A few years ago.

Shyama, do you know his name?

Dileepan

Have you seen him?

You just hear his name and your sari comes undone!

Oh, stop it!

Anyway it will come undone tonight!

Shut up!

Devanatha, happy your girl's getting married?

Yes!

Why don't you get married too?

ln 10 years your grand-daughter will be old enough to marry me!

Younger sister, do you like the groom...

...your brother has chosen for you?

Are you going to stand there all night?

Are you wearing a sari...

...for the first time? You look very grown-up in it.

Won't you talk to your husband? Talk to him

Do you know my name?

Shyama

You know what your name means? Black!

l can touch your skin, darken your eyes with the kohl on it!

So you think only you are fair-skinned?

Next to you, l look fair. See for yourself!

Look properly, not that much. -ls that so

As they say, a dark skin hides a pure heart!

Yes!

Let me see it

My heart is pure! And yours?

Just one thought in it.

Wait, l need to talk to you

When eyes meet, words are not needed

That's why my father always said

Valluvar said that!

My father was the one who told me

Did he teach you this as well? -You witch!

Make a wish

What for?

To have a child soon

l'm going to get one?

Who knows?

Dileepa, l want 8 children!

Will that be all right with you?

l don't want children

Why?

Because l don't

l want to know why!

Until there's peace....

...l don't want children

Not until there's peace in this country

One day, the dawn will come

There will be peace

Give me a child then

Until then, no.

l don't like that!

What do you like?

When l'm at home or when l'm out?

All the time!

l like bits and pieces of all sorts of people

Mottai Murali, who sent me a love letter in the 10th. grade

Then,my brother's friend who comes to see me...

...every vacation. l like him!

He writes poems describing my beauty

l like Kamalhasan, the actor

But more than all these people, l like you!

And more than me?

God!

Then!

Go home. Tell your father. He'll take care of you.

And you? Don't leave me!

Please don't leave me!

l could never leave you.

But we must stop these boots marching and guns firing.

l must go

Don't leave me, don't go away

Go, Shyama! Go!

Madras Talkies presents

A Peck on the Cheek

Eat. Nothing will happen

Madhavan

Simran

Prakashraj

Nandita Das

Chakravarthy

P.S. Keerthana

Father, l won't go without my husband

l'll have my baby here.Dileep and you are here

No. The hospital is in ruins.

We don't even have clothes. Get on this boat

l won't go without him -l'll send him later

Don't lie to me

Come on, Shyama

Choreography Brinda

Audiography A.S. Lakshminarayan

Shyama!What are you doing?

Dileepan is lying wounded in this Vavuniya forest

What did you say?Did you see him? Who saw him?

He's in the forest -With bullet wounds

What happened?

l've to go to Dileepan! Turn the boat back!

Fight Co-ordination `Vikram' Dharma

Dialogues Sujatha

Lyrics Vairamuthu

Art Direction Sabu Cyril

Editing Srikar Prasad

Cinematography Ravi K. Chandran

Refugee Camp - Rameswaram

Name? - Shyama

Age? - 22

Father's name? - Devanathan

Home town?

Mankulam

Why are you here?

Your husband's name?

Music A.R. Rahman

Produced by Mani Ratnam & G. Srinivasan

Story, Screenplay and Direction Mani Ratnam

A few years later Chennai, lndia

My name is T. Amudha l am in Class 5 D

When l grow up, l'll be a dancer. No, no a Scientist

l'll work for NASA. l'll be world famous!

My father's Thiruchelvan

Yesterday's production?-375

Why the drop? -A machine broke down

Send me the report

He's a writer, an engineer and short-tempered!

The writer, lndra? Sit down, sir

lt's okay

l can't sit, sir

You have a ticket. So sit down

l'm a fan of yours. l'd be honoured if you sit here

Can't l stand on my own feet? Am l disabled?

Shut up and sit down!

He writes stories, essays...

...under my mother's name, lndra

l must ask him why

lndra-that's my mother

The only one l know who's not scared of my father

Who'll clear up this mess? Your mother-in-law?

Like a garbage dump!

Amma's news reader on TV

Everyday, all of Tamil Nadu wakes up to Amma's `Good Morning'

All except us! She shouts at us!

Know what l'll do if your hair is tangled?

Cut it off-and you'll be bald!

Look at him!Never buttons his shorts!

Know what she'll do?

She'll cut it off and l'll be bald!

l've 2 brothers, The first is Vinayan

l fight with him all the time!

l often hit him on his head. Just for fun!

Sorry, Vinay. Don't tell Father. l'm really sorry

Then, Akhilan...

Father, Amudha hit Vinay. He's bleeding!

My mother's father. T. Ganesan.

He's a retired Tahsildar. Looking for something?

My glasses

He has answers to every question...

...But never knows where his glasses are!

Where were they?

My father's sister, Kamalee. She brought my father up

Uncle G.K. and Anandhi

And bald Pradeep, Whom l can't stand!

Where' my brother?

lt's some problem!

What's all this? Write about the whole world for all l care...

...But not about the sister who brought you up!

ls it true or not?

lt's the truth!

Keep quiet! Write good things about me.

Then, he will have to tell lies!

The bane of my life -My Tamil Teacher!

My Hitler, the obstacle to my happiness!

ls this the way to do dictation!

My little Amudha Happy, Happy birthday

Someone's wet the bed!-Who?

Must be Akhil! -lt wasn't me! Appa!

Was it your Appa then? -Yes, it was him!

Amma, l have to go at once! Then go!

You fool, l told you l wanted to go!

The telephone! Here, catch!

Quick, wipe yourself before you come out

No, he won't go out of town to attend functions. Why?

Because his wife is ill. She's mentally ill

He won't go

First thing in the morning.

l'm your daughter, after all.

Did l ask you to come?

lf you don't believe in yourselves, how will others believe in you?

Next time you say you're depending on me, l'll beat you up!

50 rupees for your birthday.

Don't tell your parents. Buy whatever you want

Anything l want?-Yes

lt's her ninth birthday.

We'd decided we'd tell her the truth today?

This evening

You'll have to - l don't have the courage

Did you bribe God?

A hefty bribe! To move my Tamil Teacher to another section

You take her. l'm not coming

Come on

l'll tell you a true story

Don't ask me for endings for your stories

This is no story. lt's to do with you, Amudha

l know. l'm 9 now. lf l behave irresponsibly...

...Talk back to my teachers, Call ma names in my heart....

...Hide my math marks.

You're not our daughter

lf l behave badly, you'll send me to the hostel

Amudha, listen you're not our daughter

lf l behave badly, l'm not

You weren't born to lndra and me

You weren't born to us

We adopted you when you were a baby

Come here

We love you more than our own lives

Akhil, Vinay?

They were born to us

What's wrong with Amudha? ls she ill?

She doesn't look well at all

Akhil, Vinay?

They're playing downstairs. What's wrong with Amudha?

We told her

What a foolish thing to do!

What was the hurry? Why did you tell her now?

We had to, someday

When should we have told her? At 80!

l meant, she's not mature enough to understand

lt's better to tell her than letting her find out...

...from someone else. Don't worry

You look very beautiful when you're worried

Ma, aren't Akhil and Vinay like me?

No, they were born to me

Why did you tell me l look like you?

You do look like me

No, look at my arm. lt's darker than yours

Whether you understand me, or not, listen to me

Nothing has changed

Your father, Akhil, Vinay, l all of us still love you...

...the same way

Have you told them, Ma?-No

Don't tell them. They'll hit me -No one will hit you

Did you find me in a dustbin? Who are my parents?

We are -Will you send me away?

Silly girl! We thought you should know

That's why, we told you.

Why did you tell me, Ma? You could have told me later

ls T. Amudha in this class?-Yes. And you are?

Her grandfather. Where is she?

That's what l want to know too

Didn't she come to class?

Chitra, where is Amudha? What happened?

She threw up. l sent her to the toilet. She didn't come back

Any problem at home? Did anyone scold her?

You should have been careful

l'm going to tell the Police Commissioner. He's from my village.

His daughter studies here.

Don't try to intimidate me, Mr.Ganesan

Why don't you call home?

She might have gone back with someone she knows

Don't worry

Did Amudha say anything in class today?

No, she was very quiet.

She threw up and the teacher sent her out

Amudha! Amudha!

Did my sister Amudha come here?

ls Amudha here?

Did you see Amudha?

Did you tell Amudha?

l told them repeatedly not to

Who listens? They read psychology magazines and...

May be you shouldn't have.

Where's Thiru?

He's looking for her

Amudha? And you are? Give it to her, please

She's at the Perambur Railway Station

Little one, why did you run away? Are you okay?

l'll come. Don't be scared.

Put the policeman on the phone

Sir, we'll come at once. Please stay with her till we come

When you see Amudha, don't ply her with questions.

Hug her, kiss her the rest can wait.

G.K., have l ever told you how to bring up your children?

Look, he's your sister's husband, the head of a company!

He's set aside his work to be with you.

l'm indebted to him for that.

But l don't want free advice.

Why are you crying?

We know where she is.

Because l feel like it!

How does it bother you? Drive carefully.

Didn't l take good care of her?

l did!

Can l sleep with you tonight?

Ma's not talking to me.

Why aren't you talking to us?

l won't talk to you what's wrong with you?

What do you lack here? what haven't we done for you?

Sorry.

Throw your`sorry' in the dustbin!

Didn't l tell you she's angry?

Don't cry. You've made us cry enough!

Do you care about anyone except yourself?

Tell me, did l bring you up to be so selfish?

We almost died of worry!

What have l done to deserve this?

Sorry, Ma.sorry. Please don't cry.

Okay,forget it . You're still angry?

No.l have to put these things away.

Really? You're not angry any more? Promise?

Smiling? Write about any of this in your next story...

and the two of us will kill you!

How did you read my mind? -we'll kill you!

Pray well.

l'll never do this again never, never again.

Vinay says you bought me in exchange for old newspapers.

Grandpa said so, l didn't!

Not l! - Yes, it was you!

Eat, you big mouth.

Pa, did you buy me?

You are priceless, dear.

We adopted you, brought you up.

From whom?

From her real mother.

Where is she?

l don't know.

She gave you to us and went away.

ln Rameswaram.

Amudha is crying, Pa.

Don't cry, Amudha.

Why did she go away?

Her name?

What did she look like?

Why did you adopt me?

We didn't adopt you.

You adopted us.

`Umbrella'by lndra.

Who are they?

Leaving a land where a matchbox costs 15 rupees...

...Where no kerosene, electricity, or medicines are available; where...

...War cries echo through schools.

They flee the motherland, abandoning all they own...

...Cross the seas to a land that offers them no welcome and.

And truly stranded at mid-sea.

All they ask for is the shelter of an umbrella...

And a moment of kindness.

The so-called refugee camp we give them.

ls but an open-air prison.

Among the young boys and girls the old men and women

is a pregnant woman whose baby...

...is in a tearing hurry to come into this world.

This is the story of that baby.

You are the one who first inspired me to write.

You are the one who brought lndra to me.

You are everything to me.

She saw the baby through the window.

What compelled her to go away, releasing herself from the grasp..

...of the tender finger that recognised her touch?

What awaited her in her own country?

Duty? Her husband? The war?

Who knows?

Her cheeks wet with tears, her breasts heavy with milk...

...she had to leave her baby as soon as it was born.

This cruel act can never be justified.

She turned once, to look. Was it for the last time?

Who knows?

The child's first cry flowed as sweet as nectar.

When l read it, l feel in love with Amudha

and with the man who'd written the story!

Where was l? -l wasn't married!

Just a moment.

Saw your story in the magazine.

ls it your first? lt's not bad.

Lies! l heard your wept for a long time...

...lying with your head buried in your hands.

D'you have spies?

Why did you write under my name? What's the idea?

Are you the only lndra?

You should have used`Alamelu'or `Kamalee', your sister's name.

You used my name since it's lucky!

Tell me the truth -you had me in mind...

when you chose the name.

Haven't you heard the names.

lndra Priyadarshini, lndra Parthsarathi?

How much do they pay?

l want a share of the royalty 50 percent. Half!

How was your exam today?

And tomorrow?

Why have you'll come? When did it happen?

Where did you go? Have you filed a police complaint?

Bitter gourd's good for the complexion. You didn't eat it!

ls Thiru back from work?

Help me to fold this.

l have a Sociology exam tomorrow - my weakest subject.

Not that you're any better at the others!

See what your dear son's done!

He thinks he's a water carrier!

How many times a day must you...?

Was what you wrote true or all lies?

One blow and all your 32 teeth will fall out!

31 . The creator made a mistake! - 31 then!

ls the baby in the story real? -yes, she's at the red cross centre.

l want to see the baby, will you take me there?

l definitely won't!

Have you started on your next story?

l want my 50 percent royalty!

Do me a favour first -Nothing embarrassing, please!

Forget it, then.

l'll manage, tell me.

No, you won't like it -don't keep me guessing.

No, you won't agree - Please, l will.

l'll agree, l will.

You mustn't say a word till we get there.

Can you do that?

Thiruselvan, l read the story.

lt was published under another name?

He borrowed mine.

How is father? - He's fine.

lt was such a moving story - Can we see the baby?

lt was beautiful, wasn't it? l cried too.

What's your name?

Your name?

Such a great writer and you can't think of a name?

Shall l name her then?

Her first cry flowed out like nectar, like Amudham.

Are you going to adopt this baby...

...Or not?

Or do your ideals stop at the level of story-writing?

Look, she's pointing in the direction of Srilanka.

Does your mother live there?

She left you and went away?

You don't have anyone?

My mother left me too.

ls this engineer writing stories about you, to make money?

Ask him if it's enough to just write a story.

Fool! Will anyone adopt a baby before getting married?

What's wrong?

lf you want to bathe a baby, powder its body,

and change its nappies, then adopt the baby l'm carrying.

Not some dark-skinned orphan, could be diseased.

They'll check all that.

Shut up. All this can happen only in stories.

Say it again and l'll go back to my husband's home in Madras!

Right. l just need your signature at the red cross centre.

Have you gone crazy? Don't you understand?

Over my dead body!

Akka!

The groom is?- Manager in a granite factory.

Come in, you're just in time.

Get him a chair.

He's our neighbour.

He's the engineer for the huge factory in the next town.

He also writes stories with titles like`Umbrella',`Mountain',`Urn'.

He's come to get his keys.

Carry on, l'll come.

Just a moment, sir.Couldn't smoke inside. A match box?

Don't have one.

l don't have time to read books.

But l scan the horoscopes and read the gossip columns.

You have excellent taste in literature.

Just a minute. what's lndra like?

You live next door. You'll know if there's any gossip about her.

What did you say your name was? Dhanraj.

Dhanraj, speak with respect and leave quietly.

l not only write l hit people as well!

Finished -one moment.

Here comes the bride! So the groom is rich.

He'll build her a house with the granite he mines.

l was really worried that you would charm my brother!

He's not easy to charm.

l'm going to commit suicide.

Are you? l'm sure l can write a story about it.

How will you do it? You can drown or swallow barbiturates.

The cheapest and best way is hanging.

A Sari, a metal ring; that's all you need.

But don't try hanging from the fans in your house.

They're too old!

ls that all you have to say?

l think the girl's in love with you.

D'you love her?

Why don't you do something?

What should l do?

Elope!

lf she has courage, strength of mind,

she'll refuse to marry the quarry owner.

Maybe she thought you'd stop her!

A letter from your husband.

A letter from your father.

This is my sister, Mrs. Kamala Kumar.

You know Tahsildar Ganesan.

Both will sign along with me. l would like to adopt Amudha.

Did you bring me here for this?

You talk, you write, now you want to act on your words.

Bravo! But is this really practical?

Did l ask for advice?

l will, a 100 times. but they...

Thiruchelvan, are you married?

My sister is. She has a child, expects another soon.

Her husband works in Madras.

Mr.Ganesan will vouch for us.

Who is adopting the baby? You or your sister?

Not me. He will. l've said what l wanted.

Thiruchelvan, your intentions are honourable.

But we don't allow unmarried people, especially men...

to adopt babies.

The social welfare board will not permit it.

l don't know what more to say.

ls lndra in?

What have you brought?

A stone or a rope for me to commit suicide with?

How old are you? -How old do l look?

Are you over 18? -What if l am?

Will you marry me? And be a mother to Amudha?

Think well before you answer.

Will you please go in? -What?

We are not wanted here.

Are you crying?

Why are you crying?

l waited a whole year.

You noticed me only because of the baby. Am l a free gift with the baby?

Are you crying because l said l like you?

Don't touch me!

Are you adopting Amudha for my sake...

or marrying me for her sake?

l like this eye,the other one as well.

l want this cheek, the other one as well.

Stop! Stop!

lf l marry you, l have certain conditions.

You'll have to...

What is this nonsense?

Go, go away...

What's wrong with her? And what's wrong with you?

Can't leave you alone for 2 minutes!

What's this you've done?

This isn't a chapter in a story, is it? lt's real, isn't it?

The Tahsildar's here! Go away now!

What d'you think you're doing? Didn't you hear me?

l'll hit you now! Go in!

You rascal!

Such a short tempered sister! -Silly fellow!

Why are you standing at the door?

Coffee?

Bring him coffee.

Ganesan, l would like to marry your daughter...

And l would like to adopt Amudha.

For the first, l need your permission.

For the second, l need your signature.

Why did she leave me and go away?

For me. For all of us.

Vinay, don't take that. lt's mine - careful!

Give it back to me! -Don't read it.

Photographs of Amudha the great! Right from the time she was a baby!

`For my mother '- which one? The real one?

Don't read it. lt's my diary.

`Why did you leave me and go?'

Because she had to go to the toilet!

Ma, Amudha and Vinay are having a fight.

Vinay is pulling her hair Amudha is biting his hand.

What is it now?

He started it! - No, she did!

Who started it? Can't both of you ever be quiet!

Grandfather!

What's my mother's name? My real mother's name?

Shyama. M.D.Shyama.

She was from the village of Mankulam.

Her father's name was Devanathan or Devanesan.

Something like that was written in the register

Have you seen her? What did she look like?

l've seen her, but l don't remember her.

She delivered you in a Red Cross camp in Rameswaram.

Why did she leave me and go away?

Where is Rameswaram?

lndra, did Pradeep come there? - ls Pradeep here?

Don't know - Don't know.

No, why? - He's not home as yet?

lf he comes here, l'll tell him to call you at once.

Amudha! Vinay, where's Amudha?

Don't know.

Vinay, look at me. Don't you know where Amudha is?

Don't know - Tell me!

Where's she?

Amudha and Pradeep have gone in a bus.

Where?

Rameswaram.

ls that the truth?

They said the school had an excursion

and took money from Grandfather for the tickets.

Ganesan, did you give her money?

Shall we get off at the next stop and go back?

And if we don't get a bus to go back?

l need to go to the toilet.

Think of something scary!

Will the police catch us?

Why're we going to Rameswaram? To see whom?

My mother.

Your mother's in Madras. l saw her on TV yesterday.

That's not my mother. My real mother's in Rameswaram.

Her name is Shyama. M.D.Shyama.

That is correct. Shyama, Mankulam village.

Srilanka refugee. April 3rd. 1991 .

A baby girl. Normal delivery.

Where is she? We came just to see her.

Who knows? Who are you?

What is your name? Your parents' names?

Why did you do this?

Don't hit him! He's only a little boy.

Why don't you listen? Stop hitting him!

Aren't you Thiruchelvan? And lndra? How are you?

Our daughter Amudha came here. Where is she?

Oh yes, the girl you adopted l thought as much.

My mother's not here, Pa.

This is your mother. l am your father.

Where's my mother, Pa?

She abandoned you 9 years ago.

She could be anywhere in the world now. Anywhere.

She could have gone back to Jaffna.

We don't even know if she's alive.

ls she dead?

You want to see your mother, don't you?

l'll take you to see her. l promise.

This is the first time, l'm flying. l'm frightened.

Ah! l'm still alive.

ls this my country?

ls my mother here?

What does `Aibhavan' mean? -lt means, `Greetings' `Welcome'!

Sankaralingam, Devanathan, Shanmugadas Welcome!

l'm very happy to meet you l've read your stories

You've come for? -Personal work.

Stay for our meeting.

Vikram. GK sir sent an e-mail to say you're coming.

l didn't know lndra sir had such a beautiful wife.

Do all of you talk this way when you meet a woman?

Only l do and only to you!

And who is this..... even more beautiful?

Dr.Harold Vikramasinghe GK's friend.

You'll be in my care as long as you're here.

So, what d'you want to see? -My mother.

Here she is.

l want to see M.D.Shyama.

The problem is...

...you can never be sure when a problem will arise!

You speak fluent Tamil?

l know Tamil, Malayalam, German, French...

...and silence!

Are you a real doctor or a Ph.D in Geography, Astrology?

A surgeon, Orthopedics.

The knife is real. The blood is real.

The cries of pain are real.

Mankulam - one is on the way to Kilinochi.

The other l think is beyond Vavuniya.

How can you be so untidy in someone else's house?

Clear it up.

Don't throw things! -l didn't throw them.

No talking back, no temper. Do as your mother tells you.

You're not my mother.

Oh no! Shame, shame!

Amma doesn't like me. She doesn't like me at all.

Greetings to all who are present here.

Of the many trivial crimes in this world...

...the worst is to ask a writer to make a speech.

My wife lndra says that people read my stories...

....only because l write under her name!

Are you a Tamilian?

Yes.

Are you from here? -Yes.

You know only one word in Tamil?

Aren't you going to the meeting?

No. -Why?

l don't like speeches. -Neither do l.

That gathering is for my father.

ls that so?

He's a writer.

He's written many stories under the name,`lndra'.

Haven't you read them? -No, l don't read stories.

Some people say that writing is a gift.

You must be born with that spark.

That's an absolute lie.

Where's Amudha? -ln the toilet.

The writer's doing great!

l'm an Engineer. No one else in the family writes.

She's not there. -She was there.

`They had forgotten that they had faces'.

What does that mean? -This is not for you.

My father reads books like this.

My mother reads magazines.

l have two sets of parents.

This mother's name is lndra.

My real mother's name is M.D.Shyama.

We've come looking for her.

What's your name?

Amudha - And yours?

Where is your mother?

Why is your Tamil strange?

This is Tamil too.

To write well, you need a good education.

You need to observe events attentively.

You need to find out if someone else...

...is going to write your story better than you.

Where are your parents?

Gone to their village.

Speak clearly.

l told you she'd be here.

How could you go off by yourself in a new place?

l was talking to him. He's Tamil.

ls the meeting over?

She's a chatterbox.

She says her mother is here.

So she's told you!

We're going to Mankulam tomorrow to see her.

lf you visit Madras, come home.

will show you lndra's house.

All stories start from life and end with it.

Nothing to worry about.

No foreign bodies inside. No danger, just shock.

She'll have fever for 2 days.

Amudha, we'll go to Mankulam tomorrow to find your mother.

l didn't give it back, Appa.

Forget about it. Close your eyes and get some sleep.

l'm scared to close my eyes.

l keep hearing the blasts over and over again.

Will this bus definitely go to Mankulam?

He says it's okay. He'll take you there.

Will you forget me? -No.

You'll marry me when you grow up? -No.

The army will stop the bus at a check-post.

lf they want your passports show them.

They know you're coming.

Don't worry about us. -l'll try to join you.

Thinking of home?

Wonder how they are - Akhil, Vinay, my father.

Don't worry.

We've left two kids behind for the sake of one.

ls she asleep? lf she hears she'll tear me apart!

Sometimes it's hard to tell who's mother and who's child!

The army is moving towards Kilinochi. ln half an hour...

...they will shell the area.

Please leave Mankulam and head eastwards.

Women and children must proceed to safety.

All are requested to co-operate with the Army.

Sundarlingam? -ln the temple.

Where's it? -Down east.

Someone's come in search of you.

We've come looking for Mankulam Shyama.

Yes, the doctor called me.

Let's get out quickly!

Your name?-Thiru.

We want to see Mankulam Shyama.

lf you'd come later, you'd not have seen even Mankulam!

Down this road, third house on the left.

Let's go! - l'm not coming.

Father asked me to fetch you.

Nothing will happen to me. Ammanchi'll take care of me.

Take them to Shyama.

lf they shell the place, there'll be nothing left. Come with us.

lf l go, who'll light the lamp?

Just take them and go!

Go now, all of you!

Farewell my countryl

Where the sea washes my front door...

These palm groves these birds' nests...

Will l ever see them again?

The smiles have died on our lips....

With our souls shrouded.

Only the shells of our bodies go in weary procession.

That's her, standing there.

Grandpa won't leave the temple.

Shyama, these people have come from lndia, looking for you.

Shyama?

Yes.

We've come from Chennai in search of you.

We've brought you something priceless.

Your daughter.

Amudha, your mother...

My daughter would have been her age.

This is your daughter too.

No she isn't.

This is your child.

We adopted her.

Mother tell them she's not my daughter.

Aren't you Mankulam Shyama?

l'm...but l'm not her mother.

All my children are buried...

...under the 'poo arasu' tree outside the village.

Didn't you go to lndia and have a baby in Rameswaram?

l've never left this village all my life.

But today we're leaving Mankulam forever.

What's your name?

l heard the Army was moving in so l came at once.

ls there another Mankulam? -Yes, in the North. Let's go.

Aunty, this is lndra, and this, the original lndra.

This is my aunt.

Your daughter's been on strike for a week.

She's not talking to me.

Doesn't want me near her. Bathes and dresses by herself.

l feel like slapping her!

Why get so worked up?

Don't. Am l not justified?

Mother and daughter.. so alike.

One stops and the other starts!

At least, do you love me?

Very much.

l've come. l'm right in the middle!

Tamil? -Yes.

Where's Devanathan's house? -He's not here.

Where's his house? -Ruined! All ruined!

Darling, this is Amma speaking. How are you?

When are you coming home?

ln a couple of days.

No, come back now.

All right, give the phone to Grandfather.

Whose Amma are you, mine or hers? -Yours and hers.

Talk to Amudha now.

Don't want to talk to her. Don't like her.

l'm sick, l have fever.

He's lying. When d'you plan to be back?

Soon, Appa.

Akhil wants to talk to you.

Akhil, baby, how are you?

Talk to me... l miss you both so much.

Akhil, don't cry... l miss you too...

Please don't cry.

l can't bear it. l love you darling.

l love you, Amma.

Amudha, what happened?

Give her some water...

She must have seen something that frightened her.

No one wins in guerilla warfare. But then no one loses either.

lt's like prolonged cancer.

Why can't we live peacefully?

The truth is, those who make...

...Kalashnikov rifles, mortars, grenades, land mines...

...and bombs have a commercial interest in war.

Developed countries have stopped fighting, but developing countries...

...use wars as testing grounds for weapons.

ls there no end to this? -There is.

We must dump our weapons in the sea.

Or may be Amudha's generation will arrive at a solution.

He's from lndia. He's a famous Tamil writer.

lndra sir, say something.

Our eyebrows are...

...lowered, our eyes closed lips parched, teeth clenched...

He's a Tamilian.

We walk with our backs bent. We whom you rule over...

Lock us up...

...in cagesl flay us with staves Let the skin on our backs festerl

One day our eyebrows will arch our closed eyes open again.

Our puckered lips will throb and our clenched teeth grind.

Rule over us until then. Flaunt your power over usl

Yes, l've seen his photograph. He's the writer, lndra.

Wait, what's your name? -Vikram.

Full name? - Harold Vikramasinghe.

He's Srilankan.

Move away!

He's the one who brought me here.

Are you mad?

You've entered this area without permission and with a Srilankan.

He came to help me. He's taking us to meet a girl named Shyama.

Why are you looking for her?

We've brought her daughter. We adopted her.

She wants to see her mother.

Do you know Shyama?

Yes, l do.

Can we see her?

We've found your mother.

We've found Amudha's mother.

Was Shyama there? Did you see her?

l saw her brother. He asked us to go to the Subramaniam Park.

Where's Shyama? - Over there.

People have come from lndia looking for you.

Why?

They were seen in Mankulam.

He's a writer and he's come with his wife and daughter.

The girl is your daughter.

What should l tell them?

l asked them to come to Subramaniam Park.

l won't see them.

Shyama, she's your daughter.

My children are here.

Not one or two - 300.

She's changed thrice since morning and looked at the watch...

...atleast ten times!

Look!

Maybe she's not coming.

She'll come! She'll definitely come!

`Thambili' -that's tender coconut water in your country.

Why hasn't she come? Did you complain about me?

That l argue or fight a lot?

l said only good things. He said he'd bring her.

The Army's coming, let's go!

No, let's wait for some more time.

We can't stay here, Amudha.

Listen to me...let's go.

Why did you lie to me, Appa?

The Army's here!

Tell them to go away. Ask her to come.

l won't come with you.

l'm a child.... How could you cheat me?

That was a narrow escape.

Let's go home, Appa.

Let's not stay here. Let's go.

Can we go through Subramaniam Park?

We heard that the Army went back only last night.

lt doesn't seem wise to go back there.

No, Amma...You were hurt there.

lt was because of me.

We won't get down. We'll just take a look.

You escaped by a whisker.

Okay, but l won't stop if l see the Army...l'll go on.

Let's go.

Wait a minute.

My chest hurts. lt's nothing.

lndra sir, the real lndra and Amudha.

Won't you sit down?

Amudha has brought you something.

My album...

lt has photographs of me as a child.

lt has my poem too. l won a prize for it.

Photographs with Kamal Hasan, A.R.Rahman, Grandfather...

...Akhil and Vinay...Won't you have a look?

Do you have a photo of yours?

She's written down some questions. She wants to ask you.

Ask her.

Why did you leave me and go away?

The situation was such.

l went on a boat as a refugee.

l was forced to come back.

l had no choice.

Who is my father?

Can l see him?

Did you hold me when l was born?

Did l cry or did l laugh?

They took you away a minute after you were born.

l touched you once with my finger.

That was all.

You can hold her now.

l didn't want to cry.

Amma, ask her to come with us. Let's take her to Madras.

You tell her, Appa...she'll listen to you.

There's no war, no Army in Madras.

We can watch TV and go to the movies.

We can go to the beach.

l have work here.

You can do it later.... Please say yes.

You have brought her up well. Thank you.

Don't go. Come with us... or take me with you.

This is your father and this, your mother.

Don't go, don't...

Someday, there will be peace in this country

Come back to me then.

When will that be?

When, Amma? When, Appa?

Don't! lf you call out to me like that, l cannot go.

Amma, come to me once, one last time.

Then you can go.

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