Original subtitles

Crabby...pinky pinky crabby.

Pinky pinky crabby.

[Kid]: Wow! Boat!

[Grandma]: Oh no! It's raining.

-Hands inside! -Let go Grandma!

-It's raining dear! -Grandma, don't roll it down

-It's raining heavily! -Grandma!

Let go Grandma!

-I don't want you to get wet -Grandma

Why are you worried? I'm the one getting wet

Why are you being naughty Paru?

Just like that.

Go to sleep now.

Tell me a story now.

Once upon a time there lived a king--

That's an old one, tell me something new.

Okay.

What other story?

Once upon a time there lived a fox in a forest

Damn! Always 'That fruit is sour' story!

What is your name?

She's asking you. Tell her your name.

[kid groans]

Pccht! Tell her

Parvathy

Oh!

No, it's Paru.

-She likes to be called Paru. -Oh!

Her horoscope states that she is a shy girl.

So I wanted her to say it.

Are you going to Visakhapatnam?

No, Narsipatnam.

Medical camp

-Is she a nurse? -Yes

Shall I ask her to give you an injection?

[groans naughtily]

Naughty minx!

She wants an injection.

Okay, no need. Sweet girl

Would you like me to tell you a story?

But only if you ask me for it. Only then I will.

Okay, tell me a story.

Once upon a time there lived a soldier.

Usually a story starts with a king?

Shh!

But weren't you complaining the king and fox stories were old?

[Paru giggles]

This particular soldier was very special.

He could never be killed

'The bravest of brave'

Or the most powerful weapon could not kill him.

That's because...

There was one secret no one knew about that soldier.

What secret?

You know what?

His soul was not with him.

He had locked it up inside a fish.

Every time he went to the battlefield and got back home safe and sound

A loud sound from a conch will be heard

This fish will be waiting for that sound holding on tight to his soul

[train honking]

You heard it?

But poor thing

This time the fish couldn't hear the conch being blown.

Before the sound of the conch

there was a terrible storm in which along with cattle, birds and huts

...this fish was flown away too

And later?

Paru...

Don't disturb aunty.

Not a problem

Close your eyes and listen.

Rest.

The soldier whose soul was in the fish...

...decided to find the fish by all means.

He left with the conch in his hand.

As he was crossing huge rives,

one of the rivers asked him where he was going.

He narrated the story of the fish,

The river understood his need and gushed ever more fast.

A narrow mountain stream asked him what was his urgency.

The montain opening broke into tears loudly after it heard his story,

it took him to the sea with a sense of urgency.

Unable to search for it in the 7 seas and floundering,

the soldier failed to find the fish.

He stopped a solitary cloud passing above his head and asked

'Did you see my fish?'

'No, But if I do, I will personally tell you' said the friendly cloud.

And the cloud sped past him.

He continued his lone hunt blowing the conch aloud

and kept searching for the fish.

On the other hand, time kept passing.

The soldier was shrouded in sorrow without any means to even die.

One night, the cloud which went on a mission to look for the fish returned

Conveyed a message to the soldier in the form of a heavy downpour.

The soldier blew his conch as soon as he heard the message.

[conch blowing]

Suddenly, as if the moon was following him in that darkness,

...a glow spread all around

That glow slowly turned towards our soldier.

The fish which was the soldier's quest from the bottom of his heart...

...was finally within his grasp a few feet away.

Our soldier's joy knew no bounds in finding his lost soul.

And the sea danced along with him in happiness.

With its mission fulfilled, the conch returned to its birthplace, the sea bed.

All of a sudden, churning the sea,

a giant wave rose.

MAARA

What happened, mother?

One minute

-Anyone has a key bunch with them? -Keybunch?

Formal wedding announcement.

On the 4th of the Phalguna month of Sarvari year morning 9:09AM

'Bala, son of Ramanathan and Mala'

-Priya, daughter of Mani and Saraswathi. -Paru...

Have you heard grandma talk?

-Yes, I did. -When?

When I was your age.

Is that so, grandma?

Did you tell Paru about Kishore?

Er...I didn't

-Why? -Oh...

How is the groom?

[Lady whispers] His family likes her, don't know if Paru would accept.

He's standing there, Kishore He's your prospective groom

Are you leaving as we have brought this match for you?

Why didn't you tell me earlier?

And why didn't you?

You pop a face out of the blue and ask me to marry him!

Don't keep fiddling with that stuff, come here

Aunt, maybe Paru has a boyfriend already.

The problem is solved if such a man exists.

She doesn't end up liking anyone.

Look... some prince has to jump out of these books into real life!

Are you even being practical or sensible?

I don't even understans what you want.

You keep wandering around historical monuments and broken temples.

-Mom, it's called 'restoration' -Whatever!

Are you the slightest bit worried you're getting older by the day?

I will blame it all on her grandma.

You keep rejecting all prospective grooms.

Mom, why didn't you invite Mary aunty?

Don't change the subject.

Aunt, why are you getting stressed out? She knows what to do, let her be

She doesn't know what she wants.

That's the problem actually.

Yes, Mom, I don't know.

But I know what I do not want!

What do you want now?

I must talk to that boy, right?

I'll talk to him, okay?

But I have to leave now.

Why this tearing hurry?

Which temple would you restore in these four days?

Aunt, you don't start again!

She agreed to talk to him, right?

Paru, looks like Kishore is ready to marry you tomorrow!

I give you one week.

-One week, huh? -Let's go, Aunt.

For what?

-What? -If I kick you, it will all be fine

-What did I do? -Get lost!

Paru, is this also you?

That's your grandma.

Just because he is good-looking and has a well-paid job

...can I get married to him?

What are you upto? Come here.

I'm leaving.

Take care of everyone till I come back.

Paru, where are you going?

Asking me, huh?

Tread through dense forests...

climbing huge mountains and cross all the seas...

I am going to a faraway place.

"Who is this calling me?"

"Whose voice is this?"

"Why does it ring in my ears clearly?"

"My lips refuse to shoo away this voice in my ears"

"It's traveling holding this voice's finger"

"It's the lullaby sang by the swinging eyelids"

"My breath has transformed into a rhythmic rhapsody"

"My body drenches in this downpour"

"Mind will search for a place special to wander and chill, cool and casual"

Hey!

You said it will take one week and escaped here?

Did you runaway here scared you'll get hooked?

You said 'no' to him, right?

You'll never change!

Why do you have to hunt for a place?

Stay with me.

We can ask for an extra mattress.

How can I stay in a hotel in such an exotic place like this?

Must stay in the center of this town.

[boat bell rings]

"Till it is reached, the anticipation of not knowing one's destination"

"How to stop the sound of waves till then?"

"A story stopped midway incomplete in its own way"

"Who will fill up the blanks in the story if not searched to solve the mystery?"

"The twist that reveals the dream in the swinging heart"

"Those who toil will be rewarded fine"

"The treasure they find will be a gold mine"

"Isn't the only untamed wanderer the wind?"

"Who is this calling me?"

"Whose voice is this?"

"Why does it ring in my ears clearly?"

"It's traveling holding this voice's finger"

"It's traveling holding this voice's finger"

You are Paru, right?

Hi, I'm Afzal.

-Hi. -Hey!

Isaac 'cheta' told m-

Don't try too hard to speak Malayalam, it's okay.

-Don't you speak Telugu? -Yeah.

Then let's converse in Telugu.

This part is Muslim area The food ain't great here.

That side is Jew town.

Slightly expensive but good place.

Behind that is Gujarati street.

In the center is Telugu area That's where I live.

Though different kinds of people live here, we believe in one almighty.

So, Paru, what kind of house do you have in mind?

I don't have any specific preference.

Just a decent place.

Okay, let me make it simple for you

Choose a key among them.

Okay

This one

Great choice! It's right here.

You showed me a bunch of keys.

How can you remember exactly which home does which key belong to?

I don't want to brag about myself

I'm blessed with this gift from childhood

Memory power!

It's the right key! I think they've changed the lock.

Let me go in and check, wait

[humming]

-Hold it firmly, my dear. -You look straight and ride.

Won't get caught anywhere!

Be careful

'Kite is gone!'

Come...come

Hurry up!

'Paru'

-Afzal, this painting- -Oh! Here!

All I knew was now and then he used to sit here and dabble with his paints

This man...

He has painted for his eyes only!

-Who is he? -Maara

You are in his house now

Actually why can't you stay here?

-Stay here? -Heritage building

Safe house, art all over the place...

You'll love the view too.

You said someone else lives here.

You mean Maara? Even when he was here he had guests staying from Germany, Nepal

Now he isn't visiting himself.

You'll have fun here. I'll leave your bag in there

No problem, suppose you don't like this place, you can shift later

Okay

Maa-ra... what if Maara returns?

Don't stress about whether he will come or not.

-Don't you like this place? -I wanted just one room.

This is such a big house

Oh! Come on, give whatever you'll pay for 1 room, that's enough, okay?

No problem Rest up.

And anything you need you know who to call

Okay.

Hello. Won't you even call to say you reached safe?

-How is the office quarters over there? -It's good.

As soon as your work is over come back home soon.

Okay

Then please call up that boy Kishore

Don't be adamant.

Did you hear me or not?

I am coming/i>

One minute, Paru

Grandma is ringing her bell

Hello?

Hey Paru.

Are you still there?

Hello?

Mom, I'll call you later

Alright.

[telephone ringing]

Make yourself strong & empowered within before every fate for you is written

The lord himself is forced to ask you

...what your desire or want is.

Hello, who's speaking?

A Telugu girl?

I thought it was Muzafir.

So Afzal brought you?

Yes

I left the house in a mess, sorry.

If it is too much of a hassle you can trash it

Otherwise no other problem.

The plant will drink water of its own accord

-Then...-Who is speaking?

Asking me who I am?

The great warrior Narasimha Reddy here!

Who else could give you such detail about that house?

-Maara? -That's me!

Hello, can you hear me?

You painted-

I need a favor from you.

Can you check in the kitchen if Kasturi has enough feed?

Please!

Will you go to the kitchen? I'll tell you what to do.

Please, sorry to disturb you.

Okay

Can you see a switchboard over there?

There must be a can of pepper next to it

Salt right next to it.

Next is the pickle.

Behind that.

Did you find it?

Yes.

Just a min-

Hello... Are you okay?

-Hello?-Oh crap.

Hello?

Hello, can you hear me?

Got disconnected?

Thank you, brother

Hello, can you hear me?

[hang up beep]

Who are you?

Where is Maaran?

I'm asking you where Maaran is!

Drop your 'dhoti'

Is this the way to treat a lady?

Forgive us, madam

Maaran sir... oh no! Do you know where he is?

I don't know.

Telugu!

No problem, madam!

My daughter is missing for past 2 days.

We came to ask Maaran sir for help to trace her.

[giggles]

No problem

Madam...

This is my business card My phone number is behind it.

Take it, madam.

Thanks.

Please ask Maaran sir to call me, okay?

Come from a side.

Okay, madam

Hey! Come this side

No problem, madam

The knife-

Yeah..

Madam, when we touched the door the lock broke somehow.

No problem, madam!

Come

Stolen Moments

If you go straight you'll reach the kitchen.

You'll find booze and appetizer there.

Bring them here.

Hey!

[untensils clanking] [man screams]

Cheers!

[Maara laughing]

After a long time I feel so happy as if I'm in my hometown, brother.

What?

I said, 'after a long time I feel so happy as if I'm in my hometown'

Do you go deaf when you drink?

Are you checking out what you can loot from here?

From here?

Me?

With the sole intention to steal, I broke in, brother

But this place looks like a go-down loaded with stolen goods

What kind of job do you do, brother?

What is all this?

This baldie here Who is he, brother?

Forget this man

You are sitting with me and drinking on New year's day

Don't you have a girlfriend some glam doll you're dating?

Why not, huh?

You have all kinds of skills in the palm of your hand

Good-looking fellow too

Even so-so faces have 2 or 3 girls hanging on their arms, eh?

How many do you have?

Hey!

-You mean I look so-so? -No...no

2 pegs down your throat taking a dig at me?

-Punch you -Tell me

Why rake up all that now, brother?

It's okay, tell me. Don't have anyone?

I have, just 1

-Wife -Wow!

Fell in love and got married?

Oh! They nailed you formally at home, huh?

Forget it. It's another story

Tell me your story

You're such a pain!

For about 2 years

I followed her day and night

Then it's a love story, right?

Allow me to tell you

These films spoil your mind! You asked me, right?

Okay, go on

2 years

I went behind her like a spirit or a love-sick pup drooling over her

Suddenly one day

Her friend came to me and said

Meghana wants to talk to you

-Meghana? -Even I didn't know then

Her name is Meghana it seems

I said okay and went to meet her

In the blink of an eye she hugged me, man

She hugged me tight and started crying loudly

I knew you were following me for these past 2 years

I love you the same way too

But my parents are looking for a groom for me

'Marry me somehow' she said and cried inconsolably

Seeing her cry

[incoherent words]

What...what?

Seeing her cry, my heart broke and I had tears in my eyes too

Asking me to repeat everything

So you hugged her back and said 'I love you too'?

Did I say that?

Did I say I love her?

-Okay, no -Did I tell you now I love her?

Did I express my love to her? Did I tell anyone?

I didn't even see her face properly in those 2 years you know

Then why did you stalk her for 2 years?

Should love be the only reason to follow a female?

Then what?

Shouldn't the heavy gold chain around her neck be the reason?

Hey!

Hey, come on-

Okay, it is 2:00 a.m

Let me start the new year with a theft

Nice meets, man

-I'll accompany you -To steal?

Go and sleep. Don't be funny

Hey!

I'll come with you

You want to come with me, that's all?

Okay, fine

Why are you looking up?

Looks like it may rain.

Rain, huh?

You can't be afraid of it. It just calls for some alcohol.

I think the booze made my mouth stuffy.

Let's attend to the job, come

It's raining cats and dogs Even a dog won't step out

Will anyone work in this rain, huh?

Look there

Kulfi... kulfi... kulfi!

Kulfi... chilled kulfi

-Hey -Sir, kulfi?

-Kulfi, come here -You want kulfi, sir?

-You come here -Me?

Come here

Why trouble yourself trying to sell icecream in this pouring rain?

How can this be a trouble?

I have to succeed in life

This is just a drizzle

When we had floods earlier

...people didn't have drinking water, electricity, milk or basic necessities

But everyone had a kulfi in their mouth!

You know who sold that kulfi?

That was me...only me I have to come up in life

Hey...okay, fine

Why are you so hyper?

-Go...eat your kulfi -You don't want to buy

-Chill, man -This isn't for me, I want to sell

-Kulfiseller! -Yes, sir.

Come here.

How many kulfis will you sell before dawn?

-Five of them sir. -So give me five.

Hey! What's up with you?

You carry on. Go and win, sir.

You must succeed in life, sir

Wait, buddy.

Give me five kulfis.

Here, sir

Hello

-I'm notworking today. -Doesn't matter

Kulfi

Help yourself.

Okay, Happy New Year

So that's what you were looking for?

I thought you'll whisk her and you're back.

-Money -Here's your cash

The rain stopped, let's go.

-I got lucky -Come...come

Inky pinky ponky King queen-

Hey! What are you doing?

Gold, silver, copper, brass No space in the cupboard, boss.

Here

This is the chosen house

You call yourself a professional!

Scared stiff of dogs Don't know to tiptoe on tiles

Okay, follow me

Don't be so loud We may get caught

What are you up to now?

The inmate is awake Let's go elsewhere

-So what? -Listen to me, else we'd be caught.

Don't remove the tile!

What is she doing?

[lady shivering in fear]

Hey! [shot fired]

-So yeah -This is David.

-Okay -This is our Muzafir.

Ammani.

The others I have seen somewhere

But I can't place them Why do you want to know?

I want to meet Maara

Why?

I want to know about him

-Why? -Why?!

Because

The story only I know

...some fellow has painted all over the walls of this town

Yeah, I...of course I want to know...who it is

On top of it, he looks so smart

-Am I right? -True that

Can you help me?

Definitely

This is Usman bhai. We can meet him.

Okay

It will fetch a handsome price

Antique for sure

After another 200 years

My foot, antique!

You're the one who looks a 400 year old antique piece

Go and sit outside

Get out

Trash of a tramp!

Give it to me, it's mine

Thieves steal idols from temple this one is trying to con me with new stuff.

How come, Bhai?

It looked just like an antique

You knew within the click of a finger

You'll fill my shoes if I tell you my secret

That's a good point

Hello, how may I help you?

Bhai, didn't I tell you a Teluguian girl is staying in our Maara's place?

That's her Meet Paru

In his house?

Why are you looking at him?

Those who stay in his house are like the idiot who came now

Without a hair cut for 300 years

That category

What brings her here?

You know the old Govt building in the neighboring village

She is planning to apply putty to the walls and then paint afresh

Apply putty and paint, huh?

No

Usman bhai

To maintain the antiquity of old buildings

Oh! Restoration architect

May Allah bless you What a wonderful art!

And you call that putty-

I get it

Even if I was a pet dog of the British

I won't speak English

Bhai, we came to ask you about Maara-

We will discuss that

Go and order some tea for us

Tea

-I'll order, bhai -Go now

Talk to him

You are interested in all these artefacts too?

-Bring tea -Yes, Usman bhai

We can talk about it

Your parents are in their hometown, eh?

He has done his homework noted everything and drawn it

He used to bring antiques now and then from Arunachal Pradesh and Bangladesh

Why bring that up now?

What do you want to know about Maaran?

I want to know the meaning of one of his paintings

Meaning?

There's a slum 2 streets away almost 200 years old

Govt issued an order wanting to demolish it

We were running from court to police station to get a stay order

You know what Maaran was busy doing then?

I asked my husband if he will take me on a sight seeing tour of the city

He was not at all keen

I asked my son

He was least bothered

But now when the Govt is ready now to take me around free of charge

I'm not interested

How cheeky!

Hey Maara Is this the scent bottle?

Try your hand at it

Hey...hey, you minx!

Welcome, bhai

Bhai, good to see you What did the judge say?

He conveyed his best regards to you!

You don't stop Paint the whole town red!

Hey Arjun, our bhai is in angry mode Spray some scent on him

Hey! Don't Off you go

Tell your parents to find alternate accommodation

Smart Alec!

Relax, bhai

This is like king Nero playing his veena when Rome was up in flames

Not veena, bhai, fiddle

Yes, that's most important now!

What is happening here?

In 4 days we'll be forced to evacuate You are busy painting with the kids

Even if the verdict goes against us at least let them be happy these few days

They have lived here all their life They want to leave their signature behind

When the bulldozer brings it down

...your signature and fate lines will be immaterial

Big shots like you will prevent it You'll handle it very well

Come with me, bhai Let us spray some paint

Waste of paint and time!

-Where now? -Spray here.

Express it from within you

Govt wanted to demolish this place as it was a hindrance to tourists

When tourists made a line to see this as part of their sightseeing tour.

...officers left it as it was.

Sometimes to save us from some dangers.

We don't need a brave person.

It is enough if we have an artist.

Art will do.

Actually I have met Maara with David.

David, he and his beach shack, jeep

Awesome chap!

[mobile ringing]

-One minute -No...no, chill

Hey James, what's happening?

-Hello? -Hi Mom.

Done with your work?

-It's going on, Mom. -Okay

Did you talk to Kishore?

I spoke

You actually did?

What did he say?

I can't tell you all that.

You've given me 1 week's time, right?

Forget about that time.

Won't you know if you like him or not as soon as you spoke to him?

His parents had called me even yesterday

Mom!

I think even your grandma approves of him

Shall I give the phone to her? Will you talk now?

I'll talk to her tomorrow, okay? Bye

Hey, Paru

This is...the man from Pirates Club

Do you know him?

Not specifically

But definitely he belongs to the Pirates Club

[overlap of voices]

Afzal... come here...

Hey Paru!

Afzal, what happened?

You a cop? You stalking me?

Sorry... sorry

Let go of him, sir. Please!

You with him?

He will say come and go But he won't step out of his house.

Hey! You-

He will say come and go But he won't step out of his house

Who is he?

Sorry, please let go of him

Tongue is the answer!

Tongue, man Got it?

Will you tell me why you followed me or shall I pull your tongue out?

I'm to blame, sorry

We'll leave right away, plase

Afzal

Go

Okay

Do you...know who he is?

Who is this?

-Prostitute -What!

-Telling you let's go -Whore!

Where's the booze, da?

Hey! You said you'll bring it and now you're asking me?

I want booze now

-Even I want to drink -I want booze now

[door opens]

[woman graons and gasps]

Is it you who got her?

Hey Chokku

What are you doing here?

What are you doing in my boat?

Off you go. Get off my boat!

You bring me to mid sea when I am sleeping

Are you asking me what I'm doing here?

Aiyo! When this innocent babe was simply twiddling her thumb

...I kidnapped her

Hey!

Aren't you 'Kulfi' guy?

Here... hold this.

Why did you end up here to drink?

My father used to take me in his boat when I was very young.

Only 1 day in a year, on my birthday.

I was reminded of that.

Ah! Wonder!

Does that mean today is your birthday?

"Like a snake with a tattoo branded"

"Winner in this game singlehanded"

"Right time, roll the dice in your favor"

"Chase, purse, grab by the collar"

"This is the climax of her story Time for the actor to rewrite history"

"Stop...drop, time is right now on top"

Hey! The bottle!

Hey! Shucks!

Happy birthday to you

Happy birthday to you Selvi.

-'Did you see this? -What?'

That lighthouse

'Where is Selvi?'

'Where has Selvi gone?' It is searching, can you see?

But only that will look for me

No one else will search

Your husband won't?

That Loki, huh?

I have stopped that age old profession, right?

Why will he search for me?

Beyond the light from that lighthouse

Run away with him somewhere far away

I dreamt we would both see the world together

Do you know what he told me the first time he set eyes on me?

I don't want your body

give me only your heart, he said

But I didn't realize then

...that would by itself become my profession!

Whatever he may have done

...he gave me Rani.

He like Rani dearly.

Rani also loves him more than she loves me

Hey Chokku

Let me ask you a riddle

Go ahead

Selling salt to the sea! Go on, ask me.

'If it is there, you will feel like sharing'

'When shared it won't be there'

What is it?

-If it is there, you'll feel like sharing -'Selvi!'

-When shared it won't be there -'Come here'

What is it?

Booze

Wrong. Think again.

I got it Chastity.

Am I right?

Wrong again. Keep thinking.

Wrong, huh?

Come here

You can't see the shore from here

The beacon of light from the lighthouse won't search for you

Steer wherever your heart tells you

Damn you, drunken female!

[Maara]: Happy birthday, Selvi!

What is the answer?

Hey! She asked you, right?

So you tell me

I accept defeat Now tell me?

-Ssssh! -Huh?

Secret

What's secret about this? Simply share it with me

Hey

Answer is 'secret'

Check with her if it's right

'If it is there you'll feel like sharing When shared it won't be there'

Hey Selvi I know the answer

Where is she?

Selvi...?

Selvi

Selvi

Where did you disappear?

Where did you-

Maara!

Check if she is over there?

Secret.

She was suffering from some terrible disease it seems

She would have anyway died it seems

She died happily that night

Daughter?

What happened to her daughter?

She was at her uncle's and her Mother was dead.

What will be her plight?

Huh?

She went to school

He was the one

He admitted her in a school

[whistles]

Untie me!

Hey!

Untie me now

Afzal!

Untie me.

-Hey -Come...come

Untie me!

Hey!

Chokku... Chokku...

Chokku, wait please

What?

What is it?

Please

Do you know where Maara is now?

Oh!

Please!

Maara... Maara?

Maara

Maara...Maara?

There he is...Maara!

Maara was nowhere

Now here... somewhere here

Maara... Maara...

Maara?

Maara!

OBITUARY MAARA

Brainless bum!

What is this game?

-Venkaiah, when did you come? -Shut up!

What is this game you're playing?

Will you play with death?

Let me explain. Don't get mad at me.

You think I'm a lunatic not to lose my cool even for this?

Look at this gang.

Total bad influence on you.

They know no etiquette

Yov! You branded us as mad, right?

Then what's this new mudslinging?

You'll get a tight smack on your mouth!

'Venkaiah, just ignore him'

-You are the bad influence on him -Hold it, 1 minute

What is your problem now?

The fact we announced he was dead?

Or the truth he isn't dead?!

What did you say? Good-for-nothing oafs!

Don't hit him

-I'll chop you to pieces -Stop hitting him

-Listen to me -What is he saying?

Calm down.

Just shut up, man

What big crime did he commit? Tell me what he is guilty of.

Look at this oldie boiling with rage.

Stop now.

Okay, relax

Ah! Why this outrage of rage, huh?

Many people die orphans at sea or near garbage.

What is wrong if he wanted to die in the company of a few good men like you?

Don't rub it in now

Zip your bloody lips or I'll slap you dead.

Ignore him. Come with me.

Just come with me

Sorry, guys

Come and sit down

Watch your step

I am fit as a fiddle, right?

Just let it pass

Venkaiah

Whether they quarrel or shout or be angry...

All of them are good hearted people.

And among such good people, we held a procession for Selvi

What's wrong with this?

What would you've done if something had happened to me seeing this?

As if you'll die!

Given a chance he would've killed me

Do what you want!

Shut up!

-Venkaiah, listen to me -Where are you off to?

You just shut up.

Venkaiah

So you turn angry too?

Listen to me.

What harm can come to me when you are by me?

We know the list of guests who will wish us on our birthday

But do we know who will be attending our funeral?

But he saw that!

Cheeky bugger

Do you know where Maara is now?

That was the last time I saw him

I got up in the morning

He was missing

Where will he disappear like that?

Sometimes he will come back really tanned with a few foreigners

Or he'll come back with frostbites on his nose

He'll sport a beard and long hair and come like a godman or seer!

I've never asked him where he's going

Neither has he told me

Is Maara aware such a beautiful girl is looking for him?

"How do I search for you?"

"How do I trace you out?"

"How do I spend time in your thoughts?"

"How can I stand your memories taunting me?"

"I wrote letters without your address"

"Don't know which way would lead to my destiny"

"How do I search for you?"

"How do I trace you out?"

"How do I spend time in your thoughts?"

"I'm here and you are far away"

"Yet I invite you with my arms wide open"

"An unknown secret world"

"awaits us like a bridge"

"You are the destiny of my life now"

"Even when you stay on a faraway land"

"How do I search for you?"

"How do I trace you out?"

"How do I spend time in your thoughts?"

"How do I search for you?"

"How do I trace you out?"

"How do I search for you?"

"How do I trace you out?"

Yes?

You know Maaran?

-Do you know where he is? -I don't know

I'm sorry

Is there any way I can help?

This child has been missing from school since yesterday

Maara had entrusted her to us

We are teachers from the nearby school

If you can find something about her

Or know something about her

Can you please help us?

Okay, sure, ma'am

-Thank you so much -Sure

Hey!

Where is Rani?

Rani, huh?

Rani isn't here

-Where is Rani? -I know

Room number 207.

Hey! Take her outside

Let's go

Do you have children?

Tell me

One daughter

What is she doing now?

Tell me.

She's off to her dance class.

Dance class

You'll send your daughter to learn dance

And the daughters of others?

[man screaming in pain]

[girl crying]

Let go! Let go of me!

[groans]

Attacked him.

-Where is he? -He's coming

Are you here with sir, my dear?

I was looking all around for you.

Come... let's go

Come, dear

She is my daughter, sir. It's alright.

Why do you poke your nose into such matters, sir?

Why don't you take it easy?

Loki

I'm taking Rani with me

From now on Rani will live the life her mother Selvi intended for her

If you come looking for Rani-

[groaning loudly]

"All around town"

"turned into a floral garden by you"

"My heart is dumbstruck in awe"

"Being a mystical river..."

"I crossed the 7 seas to search for you"

"My feet still wet I stand here now"

"you alone..."

"are the answer to my question!"

"Can't I meet you..."

"Just once..."

"searching all the mountains and sea I will meet you soon"

[train honking]

Hey...hey

Why this sudden dashing madness? You knocked everything down.

Sorry... sorry.

you knocked them down?

Not his fault, sir. My box just fell down

Don't be so forgiving Just look up, sir

He has scribbled all these silly doodles

Travelling without a ticket and thinks he's a celebrity artist!'

Couldn't he get any other place to draw?

He seems very talented, sir

Sir, are you supporting him?

You didn't buy a ticket, right? Pay up the fine.

Sir, how do you expect him to have money to pa-?

He has, huh?

Enough?

Name Maara...

Lovely name.

Has no home of his own Doesn't know his home town

You are roaming around like a wanderer?

Are you a retired postman?

Are those letters you never delivered?

Letters that were returned

Oh! That's why they all had a seal with 'Return' on it?

You noticed that too?

Why are you writing over it?

-It's fading, right? -Whose letter is it?

-My letter ofcourse -Oh! This is also 'returned', huh?

To draw

The vowel marker is missing in the letter 'ka'

Neither was it written earlier

You can at least rectify it now

To even read someone else's letter is height of unrefinement

You're finding faults in it too!

Even at this age you have 20/20 vision

Even if the letters are faded you over-write so clearly

Even if this fades completely

...I won't forget till I die every single letter and line here

Oh! Love letter, huh?

Where are you going now?

8000 feet from here

In between the sky and the clouds

A beautiful hill-town

I own a farm over there

A property I inherited.

Will I get a job there?

You can't get a job as an artist there!

Any job is fine with me

Oh! You don't mind any job?

Not like that

Either the job should be new

Or the town, that's enough

Will you employ me, huh?

Okay, come

Hello?

Hello!

Hey! Hello...hello!

Here... here...

You-

Aren't you a thief?

[thief screams] [utensils clatter]

This is Maara

This is me!

Awesome!

Looks great!

Did you draw this?

That's okay. Sir must have drawn it.

-What happened after this? -I know

Why didn't he draw what followed?

Only after this, surprising events followed

Let's look for it Must be here somewhere

I need to know what happened after this

-It isn't anywhere here -Is that so?

I was the one who climbed up first

You know I usually climb however high in a jiffy

I went up

Maara was coming behind me

I removed the tile kept it aside and peeped in

Hey!

Oh no! Please Let go of the gun

Anyone home? Hello... madam.

Wait! Please stop!

Hello! Don't run!

Excuse me! Please stop!

She should have died that night.

Just missed.

From that day on, I gave up my profession as a thief

I meant I gave up robbing tiled houses!

Okay, show me that house please

Oh no!

Go there again, huh?

There's a gun in that house

And a lunatic carrying it all the time

What are you saying?

Is that you?

Okay, fine, if you want I'll take you there tonight

Now

How can we go now?

I won't know the route during the day

Inky pinky ponky

King, Queen, Jackie

Er...nothing

'Gold, silver, copper, brass No space in the cupboard, boss'

This house...this one

I am sure it's this house. You can go!

Okay

Hello! Your coolers

-It's yours now -Oh!

How do you know Maara sir?

I don't know him as yet

Oh!

Oh!

Oh!

"One room is yours, one room is mine the door between belongs to both"

"One wave is yours, one wave is mine the sea that joins them belongs to both"

"One end is yours, one end is mine how can both our lands meet?"

"One dream is yours, one dream is mine both are same like a meet up?"

One story is yours, one story is mine Will this riddle be solved soon sometime?

"I see before my eyes nowadays 100 hues and 100 gateways"

"I turn into and fly as a nightingale crossing many a hill and vale"

"A house came into my view through grey clouds and skies blue"

"I saw a swing gently sway which any wayfarer can swing and play"

"Floral breeze blows through like a counterpane to cover you"

-Rani? -Yeah?

How do you know my name?

How do you know my name?

I just know.

What do you want?

Oh! Where is Dr Honey?

You'll find her near that nursery

Okay... okay.

[kid]: I found Nithya Out... out!

-Ramesh -Sir?

Just sprinkle water on the new saplings over there

-Over there? -Next to it also

Sir, someone has come

Whom do you want?

Can I meet Dr Honey?

Dr Honey, huh? She was here

-Honey? -Yeah.

Someone has come in search of you

-Your name? -Paru.

Oh... Paru!

Here she comes.

Honey?

Hi, I'm Paru

Hi

I went to your house in search of you

Sorry

1 minute

Have you come this far in search of this story?

Honey! Let go Venkaiah!

-Come with me. -One minute

Don't drag me like an accused!

You are an accused.

You gave tablets to Sampath because he is unwell, right?

You know what he did? He gave him a bottle of brandy

He doesn't even drink, poor thing.

But Brandy works too!

Is brandy a medicine?

Booze is booze, drunkard!

-Tell him your verdict -Don't do this hereafter, Selva.

Not how we drink, dear.

Just one small shot

He's over reacting for that!

Not how we drink, huh?

Honey dear! You too?

I should be knocked down for asking you to mediate!

Venkaiah, daily add a stiff drink as night cap to your diet.

Only then you won't need this scarf and this sweater

You guzzle a few extra pegs and strip all this

No problem

'Here...all yours'

Okay?

Be steady!

I'm steady.

You just can't be reformed, I swear

Is she your friend?

Look...how it flies Coming...coming

Move... move!

This is...Paru

He is Venkaiah.

Hey!

-Who is- -Oh no!

-Hey Mithra -What, Venky?

One of these days I will shoot it down like a sparrow

Chill, Venkaiah

Go...great escape!

If I ask him to sprinkle fertilizer on my land, he does it from a flight!

Venkaiah is all-in-all here

How can a single man do all this?

I have a lot of support

Why did you keep your bag over there?

Take it inside

-I have to go -Go-

You came just now and you want to leave right away

How did you come?

-By bus -In the afternoon bus, right?

The same bus comes here tomorrow at noon

Forget that, you can take the same bus day after tomorrow

Okay?

Don't you agree with me?

Lingam?

Lingam, come here

Sir?

Listen, look at me

Don't we have a room facing east?

Get that room cleaned up for our guest

Take her bag in

-Why are you hesitating? -Maara-

No, sir, if Maara bro comes-

He comes once in a blue moon like a fig tree blooming!

Can we keep that room empty always?

Just do as I say He is Lingam

-Namasthe, madam -Her name is Paru

Our doctor madam's friend

Take her bag inside

-I can take it -That's okay

Listen, Paru

You can ask any help you need anytime from anyone here, no worries at all

"Going to war!"

Tada!

"It's going to be tough now!"

Let me go check on him

"Going to war!"

Tada!

Let's go inside, madam

Take rest, I'll meet you at dinner

-Oh! I would've served myself -Please sit

What brings you here?

What will you do knowing that?

Came on a sight-seeing tour?

No, Kamalamma She got lost in a story

She's here to look for it

What is that story?

Shut up!

Here... have some fruits. Ah! Good boy!

Listen, Paru

Don't even by mistake tell these old men you're here for a story

Listening to stories is like eating a dessert for them

Especially this man Venkaiah.

If he starts talking about Meenakshi

Hi Venkaiahyya

I thought I heard you mention my name

When I came you suddenly zipped your lips

And greeted me What does that mean?

I've become old, right? Thought it's better to speak less

-That's good...good decision -'Thank you'

Is Paru married?

Not yet

I'm not married either I'm a bachelor too!

-Where are you from? -Vizag.

Oh!

Guntur is my home town.

Where in Guntur?

Arundalpet.

Near Meenakshi Amman temple.

Look how he somehow managed to bring in Meenakshi's name!

I know a Meenakshi too.

Oh!

Why is money changing hands?

Nothing, Venkaiah

Within 2 minutes of sitting at the table

...you'll bring up Meenakshi's story with Paru, was their bet

Lingam has won!

Has my Meenakshi's story become a gambling game for you?

Not like that

Venkaiah, why are you getting angry about this?

Paru, I told you to be cautious

Thanks to you I've lost Rs 20 now

Who is Meenakshi?

Meenakshi was our Venkaiah's girlfriend in his past

Hey, what do you mean by girlfriend in my past?

-Listen, dear, she is- -'Eat, Venkaiah'

We will tell her What do you say, Mithra?

'Of course we can tell'

'Alangulam is a town'

A river flows in the middle of that town

This side of the river bank was Venkaiah's house

On the other side

Meenakshi's house

With Venkaiah looking out of his window

And Meenakshi looking out of her window

Love floated in mid air to and fro

Height of love!!

Venkaiah sir will keep Meenakshi's photo under his pillow and you should see

the way he romanced

Oooh...aah...aww!

Venkaiah.

Why don't you show that photo to Paru?

Just show it, she won't become less beautiful!

Hey...!

Can my Meenakshi's beauty be confined to a mere photo?

Then where else can it be fitted into?

Hey, stop it!

Irritating that poor man

Listen to the rest of his love story, my dear

Even though it was a classic, epic love

...our Venkaiah hasn't uttered a single word to that girl

When this love was in process

One day

...he decided to express his love

Our Venkaiah erected a stage in the middle of the town just for her

And staged a play That's our dear Venkaiah for you

[singing a dance-drama song]

Oh Lord Shiva!

Grandpa, I beg you to stop singing

Get up, devotee

Blessings?

And then?

Just as I expected

Meenakshi came to watch my play

Whatever I wanted to tell her I spoke as dialogs in my drama

Her family came to know of it and it became a major issue

Along with that problem...

a torrential downpour followed.

When it rains, visibility across the river is bare minimum

So window love vanished into thin air

I was in such a tizzy not able to meet her for a week

I somehow managed to bring the courage and wrote her a letter

I took that letter with me

I stood outside her house after the rain stopped

The whole town was submerged in the flood

People took their belongings and evacuated the place

-Then? -Then what?

Meenakshi got her golden chance for a 'great escape'!

Till date, he is hell bent on giving her that letter

I am determined, man.

I will stand waiting for the next 7 births!

Why is it troubling you?

Stand all you want

Hey, they are teasing you and you are taking it to heart?

Take it easy

All of you finished eating?

Okay, let's leave now.

Okay, get up now.

There's a pleasure mixed with the pain in waiting

No one understands until they experience it

Sister...?

Done

-It is over -Thank you, doctor

-That's it -Thank you

Bye!

Paru, where are you?

Your mobile is unreachable.

Your friend is covering up for you.

You lied to me saying you spoke to Kishore.

What is your problem?

Whatever! Your wish.

Hello, how are you?

[kid]: We'd be punished for sure

Your friend is here! Didn't you notice?

No sis.

-Hey -Hi

Sorry, I'm late, more patients than normal

-No problem -Would you like to have some biscuits?

Sure

Thank you

When I first met you, I thought you are another reporter

Reporter?

Yeah

Until now my photo has been published twice in the newspaper

Once when I came first in the State in school level

Another time was when I killed a baby!

When I came 1st in the state

...the photo was me with a frown

But the photo published 2nd time

I was smiling ear to ear flashing my teeth!

Headline next to that photo

'Lady doctor who killed a 10 year old girl'

I insisted, fought with my Chief doctor And this was my 1st operation

It was a very simple case

But I killed a young girl

All her dreams in life

I snuffed with a minor mistake of mine

That guilt

I was angry with myself

All these emotions multiplied

I went to the brink of committing suicide.

Hey! [shot fired]

[groaning]

Madam, what is your problem?

Hey... hey.

-Listen to me. -Who are you?

Put that gun down. Let's talk.

Relax!

Listen to me. Lower your gun

Oh no! Listen to me.

Let go of the gun please.

Let go Okay...just leave it

Okay fine...fine.

No point in holding that gun as the bullet is with me.

Whatever it is, we can discuss, right?

Tell me what your problem is

Hello...hello...?

Hello, is no one at home?

Hello, please stop!

Please stop!

Hello, why are you running away?

Let's sit and talk it over

Hello...?

Please stop, hello

You ran all the way just to come to this place?

Doesn't look that special a place to me!

What do you want now?

I'll hand you over to the police [cracker bursts]

You broke in to steal, right?

Do you want a hefty sum for saving my life?

I have nothing with me! [cracker bursts]

Hey, do you think you are a hero or what?

Then you shouldn't have saved me at all

If you know what I did you'll do the honors yoursel-

Stop it... stop it... stop it!

Once you decide to die

Do you know how difficult it is to go that extra mile?

I don't know who you are and what your problem is

You don't have to tell me either

Because you'll regret it after that.

Entire town knows what I did

How does it matter whether you know it or not?

Whatever it is

Let's assume you die today

Whatever the mistake you decided to take your life

Won't that become your identity?

I don't even know your name

I don't even have the right to say you can't die either

But knowingly or unknowingly I've delayed your death a little bit

After this it's your call

But just in case you change your mind

I will be the most happiest person in this world!

Because after this the same world will look very different to you!

I'm actually jealous.

Why don't I walk you home, just like that?

I'm not going home

Then shall we have tea together?

Best tea in this world.

Amid the mountains, huh?

My name is Maara

Honey.

Nice to meet you, Honey.

"Oh damsel, come with me with your shy smile"

"Your anklets chime and make the flowers bloom"

"Makes me smile"

"Oh dear girl, your voice is so sweet"

"You have hid the smile in your beautiful eyes"

"You've brought in grace"

"O' wild wind carefree"

"O' wild wind carefree"

"O' wild wind carefree"

"O' wild wind carefree"

"Distant waves caress feet this is a river of magical feat"

"Porch is sprinkled with clouds yielding this is rain pure and pristine"

"Time says stop the slow pace"

"Heart asks you to put a stop to pain"

"When a house reaches out immediately with a warm welcome compassionately"

"What other boon can you wish for?"

"O' wild wind carefree"

"O' wild wind carefree"

"O' wild wind carefree"

"O' wild wind carefree"

"Preventing happiness available from bursting like a bubble"

"One who brings people together provides shelter from rough weather"

"Time has made you strong and presented to the world"

"Even in dreams a rarity this magic happened in reality"

"You are different from him"

"Yet the silent travel"

"This time in which you hear the song of seas"

"Oh damsel, come with me with your shy smile"

"Your anklets chime and make the flowers bloom"

"Oh dear girl, your voice is so sweet"

"You have hid the smile in your beautiful eyes"

[door knock]

Good morning!

Let's go

Honey...

You can stay here as long as you want

No one will question you

From here you can go any direction you want

Can leave whenever you want to

But when you leave don't inform them

They won't let you to go

Then... a small favor

There's a village nearby

Name is Malaivaasal

In case of any emergency

Villagers have to travel 20 km

So... whenever you are free

When you have the mindset

If you can, please visit that village

I'll really appreciate it

Okay

I have to leave now

Bye, see you later

Hey, where are you going?

To your town

I promised a beautiful 80 year old girl I'll draw her sitting near a window.

She will be waiting for me, bye

Maara entering each person's life is predestined says everyone.

Venkaiah says is predestined!

That day whoever saw me would have saved me too

But a second chance like this

With such endearing people

I doubt if I would've got it!

Maara's visits here have been few and far between this year

Every now and then he'll call

Last time he came was to leave Rani here and he left immediately

Is she asleep?

Yes, she's fast asleep

If this is home to Maara

...where else will he go without living here?

No idea

He will wander around for 2 or 3 days happily

Then all of sudden

As if he remembered something

He will just leave

But everyone will miss him like crazy

Hey!

Venkaiah's birthday in another 2 days

Everyone is getting geared up

Oh!

Why this tearing hurry? You can stay a few more days

I came all this way only to know the epilog of your story

I have to leave now

You came this far just in search of my story?

I think Maara will come for Venkaiah's birthday

I think you should stay

Okay, shall we have dinner?

Yeah

-I'll refresh myself and come -Okay

Will Venkaiah go or not?

Why is he still sitting here tonight?

Sir, shall we go?

I am not going anywhere I'm sitting tight right here

Carry on if you have any important work

Shall we go?

Oh! Let's escape then

-Leave then -Shall we go?

Leo, come

-Sir, let's go inside -Come...come

Sir, come inside

Come here.

Watch it now!

Don't gaze too much. Do so in moderate measures!

They are all rushing off to get sloshed

Out of a semblance of a tiny bit of respect they didn't want to announce

-I am going to booze -Go

Want to join?

How did you manage without speaking a single word?

What?

With your Meenakshi

In our days it wasn't that easy for lovers to meet alone or chat

As a drama artiste I wanted to meet and talk to Meenakshi a lot

True, I've enacted many dramas

In a way we met often and we spoke a lot

But not just the two of us, that's all

Where is Meenakshi now?

I don't know

You never met her after that?

No

Didn't you search for her?

What a question!

I got the job as a postman only to look for Meenakshi!

Return Letters Office

I should deliver letters without any address

In various villages and small towns

27 years

Every door I knocked, I'll think 'won't my Meenakshi open the door?'

And my heart will race a marathon

I went from many a village to innumerable towns

I landed up here in the end

It's almost 50 years since I saw her last

'Whichever corner of the world you are in I will come in search of you'

I've uttered these dialogs in a play for her

Hey!

Why are you playing with electricity so late at night?

Nothing!

Don't be such a strict daddy, Venkaiah We will take care of ourselves.

Strict daddy, huh?

I had a strict disciplined upbringing

My father would yell at me if I went to a theater

If he had known my plays were only for Meenakshi

I wonder what he would have done?

May be he knew

That's why he called me once

And slapped me twice for no reason

May have happened

I don't remember clearly

I'm forgetting my past

More than the fact I haven't found Meenakshi

I am too scared I'll forget her

And that really crucifies me

Can I see Meenakshi's photo?

That? That's Maara

You haven't met him, right?

He'll be here all the time

Now and then he will vanish into thin air

These are old photos of Maara and me

This is-

You asked to see

Meenakshi. Look at it.

'Photo is old and may be faded here and there'

'But she is a true beauty'

Should we throw in another log?

I'll do it

It is said love has the power to take a man to places he has never visited.

I went too

Whether I got back my beloved or not

This place

These lovely people around me

Meenakshi is the reason for my present comfortable life

Hey!

Why are you meddling with electricity there?

Oh my!

I told you to fix the plug before you switch it on

-You are a big pain. -Old man has come here also

He will make me freeze to death

I told you right then to stop working

What do I do?

Ruining my sleep

Who asked you to meddle with it-

Yeah, it's back!

We were just testing it

You go sleep, Venky.

You don't worry about my sleep If your job is done?

-Why take this trouble? -Let me test, safety sake

Aiyaiyo! Maara is coming

He'll get flustered if he sees me with this

Keep it here We'll check later

Catch...catch him

Don't say anything in front of him

-Hi... hi! -Hi!

-Why are you running so fast? -Emergency Venkaiah.

-Did someone stay in my room? -Yes, bro

Doctor's friend, a girl came here

She just left and you walk in

My God!

-How are you? -Top of the world!

-How are you? -Good. I'm fine, thank you.

Some friend of yours came it seems

She came

But not my friend

She said she came looking for me

She lied

-She came looking for you -Me?

You've spoken to each other over the phone it seems, huh?

Why did she com-

Why did she come?

I don't know

I really don't know

I went back to my studio a few days ago

Everyone said the same thing you are telling me now

A girl is looking for me

But she came this far in search of me?

Does she have some problem?

Only if she has a problem should she come in search of you?

Nothing of that sort

He thinks everyone is waiting for him to come and save them

Hey! That's not fair I didn't mean that

Hey!

How did you get this?

-My hand -Sorry

Though a weirdo he is a good artist

Don't dirty it

Wow!

This brought her here

But she came in search of you

To come this far for a story

I haven't seen a loony female as bad as you until now

Maara!

Come and check on Venkaiah.

What happened?

-He didn't have lunch either.-What?

'He has spread out all those letters and staring blankly at them'

How many more times will you repeat this?

What happened to you?

Venkaiah!

Maara

Find out what's upset him

Venkaiah.

Bro, can you get me some hot water and a towel?

I'll bring it

Venkaiah.

What has upset you?

It has all faded in this letter

What has faded? Show it to me

Oh no!

You know this letter by rote

The ink has faded But what if I forget?

How will you forget?

We can always rewrite Where...give it

Nothing to worry

Sit here, I'll come Where is your pen?

Tell me

I, Venkaiah.

...am writing

...am writing this letter to my beloved Meenakshi

That is all! Simple.

Why get worked up about it?

Am writing this letter to my beloved Meenakshi

Next line?

Yesterday when people had gathered like waves in the sea

In the auditorium

-Next? -In the midst of that huge crowd

-I saw your lovely fish-like eyes -Oh! Wow!

I saw your love-

I saw your lovely fish-like eyes from the stage

We spoke with our eyes

Right

Venkaiah is fine

Blood pressure is normal

Can't you believe the diagnosis of a doctor?

Just a nightmare Bad passing phase

Nightmare, doctor?

Can a stethoscope find all that, huh?

Okay, if you are so concerned

...why don't you spend more time with him?

Not knowing where you go or when you'll be back

...you want that man to keep waiting for you?

Even I have no clue where I go or when I take off, Honey

Seriously I don't know

He just adopted a wandering tramp he knew nothing about, raised me

He gave me a roof over my head and a family to belong to

Who will do all this, Honey?

This man did for me

I told myself, 'I will find your Meenakshi for you, old man'

I went down this same road with a lot of bravado 20 years ago

But till date I haven't found Meenakshi

Okay, Maara

But even if you find Meenakshi-

I don't know

But my responsibility will be over, right?

I don't have to see him daily like this, yearning to see her

Honey, if there was a woman called Meenakshi

...something must have happened to her, right?

Was she swept away in the flood?

Or did she escape?

Or is she happily married to someone and named her grandson Venkaiah?

Or just like him

Is she mooning over her past sitting and crying in a corner?

Or is she dead?

Any news like this? Any grain of truth?

I'm in deep anguish daily hoping I can convey some news to him about her, Honey

Because of your quest

Can this become your life, Maara?

Right

You are 100% right

But when I sit there on that hilltop with my friends

Or when I am in bed with a beautiful girl

Whenever I find pleasure in such precious moments

I am unable to enjoy it in every sense of the word

Something keeps nagging me in some corner of my mind and heart

I can't focus on anything

'I'm in fact scared, Honey'

In this world which flings aside as trash something that's treasured as precious

With just one hope...

Plus preserving an old and faded photograph

If a man can't betray her even by a fleeting thought

And is waiting for her for 50 years

Think about it, Honey

Can't I help this man retrieve his peace of mind?

All I did was hunt high and low Visit every town that gave me a lead

Ended up as a lunatic scribbling on the walls of our hill-town!

Many, many happy returns, Venkaiah.

[All]: Happy birthday, Venkaiah.

Is this an age to celebrate my birthday?

Then why are you tip-top ready like this?

-You call this 'tip-top'? -Of course

-Happy birthday, Venkaiah. -Thank you, dear

-Did you see Maara anywhere? -No, I didn't

Did you see him?

He said he was going to the church this morning

Church, huh?

What work does that devil have in the church?

'Your dear devil...has gone to buy wine'

Shut up

Let that child at least step into a place of worship

Spreading atheism all the time!

He took a bundle and said he was giving a gift to someone

He is distributing gifts on my birthday, huh?

Why not give it yesterday or tomorrow?

What's special about today? Thinks he's Santa Claus

Will he give the whole year around?

What are you searching?

I wanted a twine to tie this firm-

On that 2nd shelf there is a cup on the 3rd spot

Look in there

You are right

-Look! A white car -Let's see who has come

-Visu, wait for me -What, Lingam?

A big car for our big shot is here?

Let's see who it is

I thought as much.

When you said Maara and church

Today is your birthday, right? They have come to bless you

I thought about it too.

Maara will go out of his way to do something I don't like

-I'll give him a piece of my mind later -Venkaiah, wait

Not knowing who they are why get annoyed?

-They may get offended -Let them be

As if I called them!

Were are you all off to?

Where the hell are you going?

At least tell me and then go

Wait, old man We'll come and tell you

Happy birthday, Venkaiah.

Paru! What a surprise

When did you come, dear?

Just now

Those-

They have come with me

Oh!

What, my dear?

What happened?

I heard a story when I was very young

That story brought me here to all of you

In the story you relentlessly narrate to everyone here

You often talk of the play you enacted

But no one knows the story of your drama, right?

Except one person

Having lost the fish

A quest, crossing forests, climbing mountains, cruising the high seas

Sepoy's story

Mary aunty shared the same story with me

She went from village to village serving the needy through medical camps

She had no address to call her own and decades sped past like this

She was born in a small village

Araku.

Her parents had named her

Meenakshi.

Meenakshi?

"I was waiting... awaiting eagerly"

"To hear your footsteps lead towards me"

"I was searching here, there"

"Till the farthest distance my eyes could glance"

"I'm tired looking for you"

"Day and night are alike to me and life is tough"

"Unable to express my agony, my heart has gone silent"

"I was searching here, there"

"Till the farthest distance my eyes could glance"

"Like the first letter without an address"

"Written by a dream on a paper of air"

"I knocked many doors longingly unknown faces looked out at me"

"My eyes looked for you"

"100 stories untold within me when I could share spontaneously"

"Soulful words sitting tongue-tied on the brink my lips just died"

"I became silent inside"

"Time will freeze to a standstill Winds will cry, tears spill"

"If this second I died, I consent gladly"

"In the rain of tears soulfully seas will ripple dolefully"

Meenakshi.

Our Venkaiah's Meenakshi

Maara!

In a small village called Amaravarthi

Hey...hey!

There lived a man named Venkaiah

He was acting in plays for many decades

One day...

To meet him and to enjoy his play

A beautiful girl came there it seems

What did Venkaiah do?

As he was acting...

...his eyes were only on that beautiful girl.

That sepoy

How did he get his fish in the end?

In your drama

How did the soldier in the end get his fish?

That...that I don't remember

But in the play, it was found in the next 5 minutes

Today is my birthday.

What?

Happy birthday, Venky.

Maara?

My Meenakshi

That's my Meenakshi.

Hey Mithra Come...hurry up

How?

Paru brought her.

If only they had met much earlier

...by now they would be having grandchildren our age, right?

If not your age...

At least in mine

But this place, these lovely people and I

We would have been elsewhere leading different lives

Neither would I have wandered off on my own

And stand here holding hands with a man who didn't even tell me his name!

Hey!

Manimaran.

You can call me Maara.