Original subtitles

This film is based on the novel ‘ORU KAATTUKKU VELLIYE’ by Su. Samuthiram.

ULAGAMMAI (EARTH MOTHER)

"Till the forests the fields extend The fieds extend till the forests"

"The fields are filled with beauty The fields are so beautiful"

"All beauty is brimming in the village"

"Will this beauty fit in painting can it be described in a song?"

"Oh my princess, I feel light-hearted!"

"My sweet princess, now feel light-hearted!"

"Someone once said that only this will grow in this soil"

"We have lived all our lives looking at cotton and corn"

"We cut the weeds and planted paddy seeds we watered ait and waited patiently"

"Now the all the land is paddy fields"

"The hard-working people no longer need to worry about their livelihood"

"Who can say, what is where on this earth?"

"Once man knows everything there is no need for a God"

"This unseen beauty… No eyes have seen this beauty"

"Open your eyes and behold it… Open your eyes and see it"

"In these lush green fields can you see caste or religion?"

"Or do you see the life-giving paddy stand proudly?"

"Oh my princess, I feel light-hearted!"

"My sweet princess, now feel light-hearted!"

'1970... Nellai District'

Lord Nelaiappa…

what I have planned must happen without any issues.

Muthu… pick out a nice silk saree for Saroja.

- Also pick out another saree as well. - Why do you need another saree?

Just do as I say.

There is a reason for everything, I will go the fields and be back.

Keep it ready.

Hey Ullagamma, you were working in the shade out of the sun…

then why did you come here?

Why aren’t you saying anything?

You were getting enough money, and worked in shade…

why did you leave that and come here?

There was a good for nothing guy there.

What my dears…

are you all rolling beedis? Roll it… roll it!

Hey, how are you?

We can’t work in peace anymore! Hi…!

You have to roll it very good.

You have experience rolling the mat, right?

Ullagammai, give me one beedi.

Give it to him, he is asking for it.

I asked you to give it, what are you thinking?

When you roll the string on this beedi…

till the very end…

it must stay tight!

You have done that really well.

It is our fate that we have to bear this guy.

Sit down…

- Have you done it all? - I have.

- Be blessed! - Wages…?

- Get your wages later! - Okay.

Oh my god!

Just the way you look at me, does something to me.

Oh my god!

Give it here.

- What, why it is so small? - Isn’t this enough for you?

- Kiss…? - Money?

Money…?

Get it next week… wow!

- Sir here you go. - Give it.

- Sit down… - What is it sir?

I don’t have the heart to send you, go!

Now that I have checked everyone else, just one girl is left.

Ullagammai…

Ullagammai…?

Ullagammai…

are you rolling it…?

Roll it, roll it.

You do roll it really well,

But, you don’t roll around with me!

More than the girls that fear my influence and power,

I really like girls how are adamant like you!

You won’t leave here without getting a beating with a broom!

Hey, just say yes!

All your troubles will be gone!

What do you say…?

Don’t mess with me at the workplace, else you will get caught and be devastated!

Wherever women go they have to face problems!

There it was a Ramaswamy, here it is a Vellaswamy… that’s it!

It seem that there is no place where women can go without such issues!

I won’t stay a day where my heart isn’t mama!

- Don’t we know about you! - Hey you…

- all you do is talk! - We have to be ever vigilant!

Hey you, why do you keep talking? Just get the work done quickly!

We aren’t idle, we are working!

Don’t just keep arguing, just answer me straight forward.

Just pluck the weeds.

Hey what is it, are your plucking weeds.

- Greetings sir. - Greetings, greetings.

Quickly finish this part of the fields, next you have to go the western fields.

Okay? Ullagammai…

there is some important work at home, come let's go there for awhile.

Ullagu, uncle is calling you. Why are you hesitating, go!

Hey don’t hurry her, you come dear.

- What Mariappa? - Greetings brother.

Did you find an alliance for your daughter?

I am still looking

They are going to clean the temple pond.

Yes the pond has dried up, the Tahsildar is said to be coming.

- You must be there that day, - Yes brother, I will!

We will all talk to the Tahsildar. I have to go now, I have some work.

- Greetings brother. - Greeting sir.

Hey what are you thinking, come inside.

Don’t hesitate, come in.

Is Aunty in the kitchen… where is Saroja sister?

She must be upstairs, dear.

Come.

Hey…

I told you to select 2 silk sarees, right?

Give it to the girls. Let them wear it and go to the temple.

You want me to give her the saree?

Don’t I know the difference between rice and stone?

You yourself give it if you must.

Oh my god! I wore a silk saree in this life!

But, why should I where a silk saree just to accompany you?

If I don’t listen to sir, he will be angry.

What would have happened if mirrors didn’t exist?

What would have happened?

We would have to ask others how our faces look!

Sister, hope you aren’t affected by my jealous eyes!

We must tell mother to cleanse you with salt and chillies.

You too look beautiful dear, you too must be cleansed.

I too have jealous eyes for you!

Who is there to do that for me sister?

Please don’t tease me.

Here it, bag.

Chandra sister, give it to mother.

Sister, give it to me.

Don’t just keep talking, it’s getting late.

Come quickly.

Why are your hips showing, is this how you drape a saree?

Brother, the girl is as lean as a cucumber!

And she is as cool as one!

If you let go of her, you won’t find another!

Once you have grey hairs, not even a dog will look at you!

Look here, born with 6 siblings and being raised by his grandparents…

he is the first degree holder in our caste!

Beedi brother, the boy is in entranced whatever we say, he isn't going to hear it!

Look at his eyes, you can see a dream streak.

Uncle, if the girl is good… I will be married soon, right?

Surely, you will!

Oh, they have arrived.

There are thorns on the path, walk carefully dear.

Hey, he is searching for her.

- Sister, did you see him? - No I didn’t.

Sir, the one wearing the red saree… isn’t she the one!

The one wearing the saree with a red border is the one.

Sister, now he is nearby… have a look.

Younger sir, I am asking you the colour of the saree.

Is it the green saree or the red saree.

What sister, you are going to marry him? Have a look…

Okay…

- Did you see? - No…

I can only see Beedi Ramaswamy.

Don’t look at unnecessary things sister. The groom is standing right there.

A nose like a parrot, a verty fair body…

and she is tall and slender. That is the girl.

Her height is not a problem for me younger sir.

Shall I go nearer and have a look at her face.

This is the problem with the educated.

You’re saying something so uncivilised!

Brother, that cannot happen now. It might happen in the future.

Is he the one with a towel on his shoulder?

Oh, is the tree blocking your vision.

It might be his uncle, sister. The groom is right next to him.

He is dark and handsome, just as tall as you.

The groom is very good looking sister!

Beedi Ramaswamy is in the way!

What is this sister? Try and have a look!

Younger sir, please don’t be mad… tell them to come closer!

At this age you will get excited by everything.

Neither can you go there, nor can they come here!

You must enjoy from a distance!

Uncle, the girl is leaving…

- the girl, Uncle… - Hey, hold on!

the girl is leaving, Uncle…

The girl is leaving, Uncle…!

Groom, now that you have seen…

What’s next?

Sister, by now the groom would have gone back to his village!

He would have told his family.

Once they tell father,

All we will hear is wedding music!

The house will be filled with wedding drums all the time!

Make sure to eat well and be healthy, sister!

Then only you will get a glow on your face.

Look, they have dragged all sacks through mud!

- Mud is everywhere in the rainy season. - What does rainy season have to do with it?

How many times do I have tell them, can’t those fools be more responsible?

Hey Ulagu, wait right there!

Where are you running to like a puppy?

Quickly remove this saree and go to your home!

Why are you shouting at her?

Mom, why don’t you keep quiet? You are always scolding her!

Ulagu…

Uncle…

Saroja, take her in and give her some food.

- Okay dad… - Go on in.

come let’s go

Must you always keep shouting at that girl?

Are you coddling her because she is a fair little girl?

Hey!

Mindless fool! She might hear you.

- Ulagu… - Uncle…?

Come here.

You don’t need to change your saree.

Your father might be looking for you, quickly head back home.

Uncle, are you asking me to leave with this silk saree?

Yes my dear, go.

Aunty, only good things will happen to Saroja sister from now.

Oh, now that you have said it!

Hey, get going!

You go my dear.

- Okay uncle. - Be careful!

- Mayandi… is your daughter back? - Come sir…

Palavesam, she has gone to work. She will be back soon…

- have a seat. - Isn’t she back yet?

Palavesam sir, sit please.

Where can I sit, she has come and sat in my house’s court yard.

That arrogant little girl! What does she think of herself?

Why Palavesam, why are you so angry?

What do you mean…? She has betrayed my family!

Ulagu, what is he saying?

What is the issue?

Why is young sir so rattled?

What do you mean what is the issue?

You are acting as if you don’t know anything!

I am not acting or pretending! What do you want?

Hey, why did you go with Saroja?

What injustice is this?

They asked me to accompany Saroja sister.

I couldn’t refuse, so I went with her.

I wanted to get my son Thangapazham married to Saroja!

Why did you go with her?

Just to wear a silk saree for an hour…

and for a meal, you pretended to be the bride!

Instead of this you could do anything else to earn a living!

Hey! Don’t speak disrespectfully and lose your respect!

Yes, that is what I did! Now what do you want me to do?

Hey you…!

Keep in mind who you are talking to!

Hey Mayandi, did you hear what she is saying?

Are you trying to trick me?

They are trying to marry Saroja to the groom by pretending you are the bride!

The groom has said he likes you! What do you say now?

Are you trying to insult my family!

Oh no, don’t accuse her like that!

Being an elder of the village, is this how you speak to a young girl?

Hey!

Being a girl and staying in my house!

You dare to talk disrespectfully to me!

- Hey! - See what I am going to do to you…!

Do you think I am a tiny ant? I am a cheetah!

Go on, leave!

You are lifting a sickle against me…?

- Mayandi… - Sir…

I will take care of your daughter later!

Sir… sir!

Palavesam… dear, come in.

Come inside dear.

What happened… come.

Come inside.

- It’s nothing father. - Come in, sit!

Do we need to show that daughter of a tree climber to get our daughter married?

What do we lack…?

Hey, shut your mouth and keep quiet!

Annachi…

I don’t like anything that you are doing!

I said keep quiet! Go downstairs.

She keeps saying some nonsense!

Annachi, are you here?

Where will I be other than in my own home?

- Tell me what you came to say. - He likes Ulagammai!

Hey!

What are you saying? Speak clearly…

Did they say they like the girl, or did they say they like Ulagammai?

The groom likes Ulagammai!

Beedi… keep quiet!

Uncle,

they said they like the girl!

What, he is saying something but you are saying something else?

- What did they actually say? - They said they like the ‘girl’!

- Is that what they said… what? - Yes…

That is what I thought.

Hey, take Ramaswamy and make some booze him!

Okay uncle.

- Annachi… - Go ahead, go on!

I will give you company for the bottle,

but you must give me one from your company!

Hey get me a cup of coffee!

Hey Thangapazham, where is your mother?

She is in there, father.

What is she doing in there, when you are getting drunk and spoiling your health?

Santha…

- Santha… - What is it hubby?

- Santha! - What is it?

When are you going get the remaining dowry from your brother?

All you give is excuses whenever I ask!

Are you trying to trick me?

Do you and your brother see me as a useless bugger?

I will send a lawyer notice to your brother!

Why are you talking so argumentatively?

- What am I talking or arguing? - If you continue this will lead to a fight!

Lead to a fight! What fight will it lead to?

Is there any fight I haven’t seen, Is there any issue I haven’t faced?

When your brother deceives me, am I a fool to see that and keep quiet!

- Are you mad? - You have gone mad!

Doesn’t you brother see my son as a groom? He is looking for one elsewhere!

- You should have not tried to cheat him! - Go now!

- Go and get the property. - Why are you shouting at me like a dog!

Hey you are entitled to a portion of your maternal uncle’s wealth, do you understand?

Hey go and get it!

- Go now and get it! - Hey you sinner!

- Why should I go and ask for his wealth? - Shut up and go!

Go now and get it!

Hey Thangapazham, you are owed a portion of your maternal uncle’s wealth

Hey go and get it now!

- Oh, he is going to die the worse death! - Why are you going inside?

Did sir really think to show me to fix sister's alliance?

Could the groom have really thought I was the bride?

What if Saroja sister’s marriage does not happen because of me?

The groom thinks I am the bride!

Poor people being attractive is also dangerous!

Poor Saroja sister, she asked about the groom with so much desire.

Will she be able to accept it if her marriage is ruined?

I must tell the groom what really happened.

Hey there…!

Where are you going, who are you looking for?

Huh, there is a dark Gemini Ganeshan in your village!

I am going to meet him.

Hey…

you are Saroja, right?

Oh! In my tiredness from walking… I failed to see you!

So, it is you?

Hey, did you come to our village Sattaam Patti just to see me?

I can’t believe this.

Oh, you witch!

After I saw you, I not able to sleep…

neither am I eating, to tell the truth!

The mat is just less than wet.

Feet for me, hands for him? Let me tell Annachi.

Hey there has been a mistake…

Having come to see our sister Saroja, you seem to have mistaken me, as the bride.

Our sir Palavesam told me this.

I am just a labourer who works in the fields of Marimuthu annachi.

You came to see his daughter, Saroja.

You are the one who came to the temple wearing a red saree with green border.

That was me, but the bride is sister Saroja.

It was my mistake when I accompanied her as per Annachi’s wishes.

Our sister is well natured, and will be a good match for you.

Even she likes you…

You must change your mind and marry our sister.

- That is what I came to tell you. - I liked you as soon as I saw you!

No matter what you say you are my Saroja!

That will not change in this life time!

There are only Palm nuts in a Palm tree, never coconuts.

Please change you mind. That is all!

Hey…!

Hey there…!

Hey you!

Hey Ulagammai, how dare you go to see Saroja’s groom?

Who told you I went to see him? Don’t talk like a fool!

- Vellachami, who saw this… - Hey you!

Hey Ulagammai! Hey! I'm talking to you!

How arrogant are you to talk back to a man older than you?

Just because we let you in, now you think you own the place?

- Aunty… - We must keep you in your rightful place!

It is my fault, that I ever let you into the fields! Get out!

Aunty, why are you shouting in the fields?

What have I done wrong?

What wrong have you done?

You have gone to talk to the groom who was supposed to marry my daughter!

Having spoiled my daughter’s life, you are innocently working in the fields?

Get out I say, go!

Annachi…

Come Muncip, what is the news?

Your Sambanthi from Tattaam Patti has come to see you.

Welcome Sambanthi!

- Greetings mechuttan… - Greetings Annachi!

- How are you, are you well? - Yes, I am doing quite well!

You keep doing all the work yourself, Why don’t you hire someone to work?

I don’t mind doing all the work myself.

I have only a daughter… after her marriage my son-in-law will take care of everything!

After me all my wealth be his…

Am I right?

What In-law…

You seem more eager to hand over your property before your daughter’s wedding!

You are very excited!

But my son prefers to be a lone wolf!

He is afraid to get married.

Why in-law is there anything that the groom needs to see Dr. Kalimuthu for?

Oh no!

I have 6 children!

My son will have extra 2 more!

There is nothing wrong like that!

He likes that girl…

but not your daughter!

He say’s he likes that girl!

What Shankara Lingam…?

"I am living in poverty with my children… my son won’t ever go against my word!"

"Even if I say the sun sets in the east… he too will say, yes it does!"

You made all these claims, now you are back tracking!

I am not back tracking! You have tried to con us.

You have sent a girl to accompany the bride and tried to trick everybody!

Why are you raising your voice?

You took a rake and broke my dream castle to make an alliance with a good family!

Hey, what are you saying? Hey Muncip, what is he saying?

Annachi, don’t get rattled! Let us ask him to explain.

Please wait.

Sir, what are you trying to say?

How could he send a labourer wearing a silk saree?

But after you sent her, why not tie her up, why did you let her lose?

What about that, Ulagammai doesn’t know anything about it!

What, she doesn’t know? She is the one who set all of this in motion.

That Ulagammai, came across the town and told the truth to my son.

He too is saying he will only marry that fair girl,

saying he either get Ulagammai or lady death my son has gone mad!

You and your son may be mad, Don’t try to drive me crazy!

You have lowered thunder into my lap with your words.

Ulagammai…

I will never be able to forget the favour you have done to me!

You are truly a tigress!

You don’t need to worry about Marimuthu anymore.

I am here for you, be brave!

You don’t need to vacate this house for now, what Mayandi?

Very good , Palavesam

What if you can’t work in his fields anymore? I have fields of my own.

Oh yeah…

When did you go to Sattam Patti?

Did you meet and speak to the groom himself?

Hey…

I didn’t go because you told me to.

I felt odd about what happened…

that is why I went and spoke to him, that’s it!

Whatever it is you have helped my family a lot!

- What Mayandi? - Sir…

Your daughter is truly intelligent!

You are blessed to have her.

Okay dear, I will leave now.

Yes, come again… please.

- Leela sister… - Who is it?

I have been by your house, they said you were here in the goat enclosure.

Are you farming goats now?

Oh, don’t tease me.

We need to work 4 jobs to earn 3 square meals.

I can earn a little for sweeping the faeces, that is why I came.

Yeah… but you have come looking for me.

Is Mayandi doing well.

He is fine, I want some work sister.

But you’re the darling of Annachi’s fields.

No sister… there are too many labourers there, that is why…

There is some work in Tattam Patti Mirasu’s fields…

they will pay Rs.2 as wages, but you have to walk past 5 milestones. Will you come?

I will come even for just 1 rupee.

You have flowers atop your head instead of behind it, are you new to this village?

This Ulagammai is not just new to this village, but new to the entire world!

Yes…

there are many educated people in this village, right?

Yes, yes! That is why the village is so spoiled!

Yes, a boy from your village came to see a girl from our village

How is he like?

He refused to marry that girl.

Why did he refuse?

Everybody has a different story.

They say a ghost like pale girl spoke to him in the farm.

Listening to that little girl he went and told his father he wouldn’t marry that girl.

- Mayandi… - Sir…

No matter how much you suffer here,

You cannot leave this circle without repaying all your debt.

Look for a way to repay all your debt right away!

Hey Ulagammai, go quickly…

they are tormenting your father Mayandi.

Go quickly and see what that is!

Father…

Father, what happened?

Who dragged you into this circle?

They are insulting me for the money I borrowed from them!

Uncle, why are you insulting my father by having him stay in this circle?

Come let’s go father.

- Ulagammai… - Hey girl!

With all the elders of the village here, how can you just take your father away?

- What are you thinking? - Don’t do this atrocity!

What has my father done wrong?

Why have you kept him in the circle?

All the money borrowed from your uncle…

must be repaid with interest today!

Uncle, I had all my faith in you.

When my father fell from the tree and got hurt…

Oh god no!

My leg… it hurts!

Oh god!

All we earn goes towards paying interest for the money we borrowed for his medical expenses.

- Please don’t insult us like this! - Ulagammai…

For me to take it lightly it is not just 25 paise.

It is all of Rs. 50!

I need to get it before he dies.

Ulagammai, don't antagonise the village.

Ask for time to repay the debt.

Brother-in-law, what a performance!

They are unworthy buggers,

They believe what lies on the floor has no value!

All their hearts are filled with stones.

Ulagammai… you have your youth and strength, right?

Do what you must to bring the money, repay the debt and take your father.

Just cause you are sitting on the bench, you think you have all the power?

Hey… who are you challenging?

I won’t get anything by just asking you, I know how to rescue my father!

- I will go to the government. - Hey… go! Go wherever you want to go!

Hey don’t, don’t my dear.

- What brother-in-law? - Father wait just a little while,

- I will be back soon. - My dear!

Ulagu… Ulagu, Ulagammai

Oh no! Where are you…

Don’t bother with them.

Stay here till the inspector gets here, don’t go anywhere!

- Is sir here? - Yes, he is.

Sir, they have made my father stand in the circle!

Please come and enquire why.

How can a girl like you come to the police station?

Go! Go and ask your father to come.

They are tormenting my father for not having repaid a debt.

But you are asking him to come! How you talk about men and women?

Come right now!

Why my dear, is your father the district collector?

First, give a written complaint.

He is stranded there without food or water.

If you don’t come right now, he will die!

Hey, tomorrow the minister is visiting. We have so much work!

I will meet the minister and tell him everything!

Then you won’t have to come!

What is all this trouble?

I don’t know what to do…

- Hey Essaki… - Sir…

Get the cycle. Hey come let us go.

- They will try to trick and confuse you. - That’s okay…

I will take care, you don’t worry!

Oh my, the police…

- They are tormenting my father sir. - Is it so?

Hey the police are coming!

Father…!

This is them sir.

See, how they are doing this without the village present!

All you Annachi’s come now, Ulagammai has filed a complaint against you.

What are you looking at? You need not worry at all.

Come and explain your side to the inspector.

Everybody come, let us go.

You have come on bicycle by her report,

wait just a minute we will come.

Come let us go, the police will call us as witnesses.

Hey…

Call the police and give them a drink and hand this to them.

Okay uncle.

My dear, what is this?

Why do all of this?

- Greetings sir. - Greetings…

Have a cool drink!

- Is it from sir? - Yes.

Turn the tables, sir has given the amount.

Don’t listen to that girl, and finish everything smoothly.

Okay? Toss it there.

Here is the money,

- Keep it in your pocket. - Now that I have this, I will take care!

Okay.

- Father don’t worry, the police are here. - Hey you step aside.

- Mayandi… blow a little. - Sir…

Blow a bit harder!

Oh god! You are fully drunk.

Let’s go to the station.

Get up, quickly now!

Sir, what are you doing?

You have left the real culprits and are taking my father!

Hey, whatever it is… we can talk about it in the station.

- Is there no justice for the poor. - Go and ask that to the authorities!

- Get on there. - Father… father!

Carefully climb and sit here!

Are you real men, do you deserve to wear dhotis and shirts?

You cheap cowardly buggers!

Hey!

Hey, I will end you right now!

Brother-in-law, look at her arrogance!

- Hey, careful now! - Slowly…

Slowly walk this way!

Carefully take him inside!

- Okay. - Don’t worry father, I am here!

Father, I will take you home. I will be right back.

Lord, my father is in peril.

Please help us get out of this situation.

Saroja…

No, my name is Ulagammai.

You are Ulagammai to everyone else, but for me you are always Saroja.

- Where are you going to? - To Madras,

I have to go to Thenkasi in this bus.

You abandoned the faith our Saroja sister had in you?

Why did you do so?

I thought of you as my wife!

Not even in my dreams can I ever be with another girl!

You are just saying that.

The words of the educated is only when present, you won’t recollect it later!

You are right.

You can only recollect what you forget.

You can only forget what you once knew.

- What are you doing here Logu? - Hey Anbu…

did you get a posting in this town?

Yes, why do you ask my plight?

Minister is in TB, so I am really busy.

The minister has TB, oh god!

So, won’t he come to our village tomorrow?

Is sir the Circle Inspector?

Say Sub-inspector, so that the circle inspector doesn’t hear you!

If somebody bothers you, say my name and meet him.

He will help you out, what Anbu?

Definitely!

Okay Logu, happy journey. I must get going!

Sure, we will meet again.

You could have married Saroja sister, but you betrayed her!

Not just that, you dragged my name too!

There is a lot of trouble in the village.

Is that why you where enquiring about the inspector?

Are they troubling you?

Don’t hesitate, tell me.

I will get them arrested immediately!

Its nothing like that. Because of what you did…

They are talking rumours about you and me.

How could you refuse Saroja sister?

Hey, I did not refuse her. I know it is inhuman to do so.

That is why I said I don’t want to get married for now.

Okay… if not now, then when?

What do you know about me?

I am but a sacrificial lamb for my home.

I could be sacrificed any day now!

As far as I am concerned,

I got married and it ended the very second it begun.

I don’t care if it ever happens or not!

Do you understand me Saroja?

- Do you know how to read? - I have studied till 6th class.

This is my address in Madras.

Whenever you feel like it, write me a letter.

Take it.

Shall I leave Saroja?

Call me Ulagammai at least once.

This is the last bus, if I go by this only I will be able to get to my train on time.

I shall leave now.

- I want to speak with sir. - You can’t go in now.

- Essaki… - Sir…

Who is that, send them in.

You can go in.

Greetings sir.

You are Logu’s acquaintance, right?

What is the issue?

He has unjustly brought my father here sir.

Sir,

He got drunk and made a ruckus in Kottam Patti.

He even spoke disrespectfully to me.

He was continuously spewing foul language!

He looks like an old man,

so, I respectfully brought and seated him here.

Everything he said is complete lie!

Is it?

Yeah, you could have told me this when you saw me with Logu?

I didn’t realise then.

Also, as he was leaving for Madras

I didn’t wish to cry and tell him my story.

On the grounds of the loan my father took from Marimuthu Uncle…

they humiliated my father by confning him in a small circle.

In that circle my father stood tormented and humiliated

They even verbally abused me.

That is when I came and told this sir.

She is ratting me out…

He did come…

he drank some tender coconut from the people acting unjustly,

he pretended my father was drunk and arrested him and brought here.

You look like an honest man.

Please bring Marimuthu uncle here and enquire him.

- Immediately bring Marimuthu here. - Okay sir.

Head Constable…

don’t go by cycle, take the jeep.

- Okay sir. - Don’t return and say he isn’t there.

Surely sir.

Wherever he is, do whatever necessary, but bring him here!

This is very serious!

- Okay sir. - Don’t return empty handed, bring him.

- Do you understand? - Okay sir.

Thank you so much sir.

Essaki, get the jeep.

Keerthivasan, you come inside.

Yes sir!

Madam, is Annachi here?

What is it, why have you come inside the house?

Madam, call Annachi.

Husband, the police have come for you.

- Is Essaki stationed outside Keerthi? - Yes sir.

Why are you standing in the middle of my house, that too with your hat on!

- What is it? - Annachi…

Mayandi’s daughter Ulagammai has filed a complaint against you.

Ulagammai filed a complaint?

- What is she claiming? - Oh, don’t bother with that Annachi.

The wretched Sub-Inspector insisted I bring you to the station.

- Come let us go and be back. - Hey you, hey!

You could have called me if there was any issue?

I would have come to the station.

Instead of that if you come to my house, what will everybody think?

Okay Annachi, come let’s go there together.

What, you want me to come to the station, right?

You go ahead, I will come in my car.

Annachi,

the law doesn’t allow for it.

Come let us go in our Jeep.

Hey…

What, I will go and be back.

- Father, father…? - Cook lunch, I will be back to eat.

Let me go, let go! How dare you stop me from going into Annachi’s house?

- We are taking him to the station. - How Dare you arrest him?

- Hey he is Beedi Ramaswamy. - I don’t care who he is.

How dare you arrest my uncle?

Hey step aside, give way everybody.

- Uncle, uncle… - Anncachi…

How can the police take you?

- Father…! - Husband…

Annachi, how can you go the police station?

Hey, they are just taking me there!

- But I can’t bear to see you… - They aren’t going to hurt me.

- Wait, I will be back! - Uncle let me come along with you.

- Hey, am I going to the fair? - Let’s go sir.

- Go and wait for me. - Uncle…

The police are taking him away!

Father…!

Salute sir!

Annachi, don’t you feel pity looking at this man?

Don’t you have a consciousness?

How can you treat an old man like this?

Mayandi is one of ours, poor fellow he fell from a palm tree.

Please don’t say that, I have enquired everything. You are in the wrong!

What you did was wrong, you should never trouble him again!

If you do, he will go to jail for 6 weeks and you for 6 months!

Look, I don’t wish to humiliate you like you humiliated him!

If you agree to drop it here, I will let you both go free.

- What do say? - Okay sir.

I will do as you say.

- You can leave. - Okay.

Constable, get the Accused records.

You will face no more issues.

You can take your father and leave.

Get up father.

Come.

Vellaswamy, it seems Annachi got a royal beating?

Sub-Inspector gave him a thrashing with his belt?

Because of the beating his back swelled-up and he became like ‘Adimai Pen’ MGR?

Hey, shut your mouth.

Nobody can touch my uncle.

This Ulagammai seduced the Sub-Inspector.

When they took her father,

Ulagammai winked at the Sub-Inspector!

We have to get her under-control.

The village must be cultured and mannered.

- We have to silence her. - Yes.

Only after we end Ulagammai will this village prosper.

Hey…

Marimuthu Annachi’s behavoir is unjust and tyrannical!

Is this why he is one of the respectable men of this village?

Hey Shanmugam, what tyranny have you seen?

How dare you speak against Marimuthu Annachi?

Huh…?

Hey Brother-in-law wait!

Greetings Brother-in-law.

Don’t you have any job to do?

You are having early morning squabbles here?

Whatever happens to a village elder, you have to spread rumour about him.

Hey you! Why did I send you here?

I sent you here to get some sacks.

But, you are here fighting with them?

How can I just stand and listen To whatever they say about you?

Shut your mouth!

Get the sacks and head back home.

- Okay uncle. - What Brother-in-law, how are you?

- Yes, I am fine. How are you? - Yes, I too am fine.

- I am headed to Paavoor Chathiram. - Yes, let’s go.

- Come let’s talk and walk - Let’s go Brother-in-law.

- Sir, just a minute. - What is it Muncip?

Why don’t you just marry your daughter Saroja,

to his son Thanagpazham…?

You will be closer than ever, and you both can walk around together.

Okay, we will talk about it.

Come, let’s go.

See how I brought them together.

Brother-in-law, I am only concerned that Ulagammai is a girl!

Otherwise, I would have handled her very differently!

That Sub-Inspector is not good, you have to get him transferred.

Go meet Kakan or Kamaraj, just get him away from here!

He doesn’t have caste affinity!

Brother-in-law... that Sub-Inspector is supporting that girl,

he doesn’t know what he is going to face!

I won’t leave him.

Just see what I will do to him.

I am running everything in my head.

As it concerns a girl, we shouldn’t be directly involved!

So, we have to think before we proceed!

Hey Ulagu…

Using our uncle’s power, we transferred that Sub-Inspector…

and supressed your confidence!

Cowardly fool!

Sa. Loganathan…

No. 24…

Manikarar Chatra Street,

Old Vannara Pettai…

Madras-1.

Saroja, I will give you something…

Will you wear it in front of me?

Tell me what it is.

Will you wear it or not?

Okay, give it.

Here you go.

Hey there…

What did you tell me and what is it that you are doing now?

You said you will wear it in front of me, right?

Hey… Ulagammai!

"I can’t see my heart anywhere"

"It is searching for something I don’t understand what"

"Even though I don’t do it myself I am always thinking about you"

"Am I strong and stable right now or will I end up falling for you"

"I can’t see my heart anywhere"

"I all alone, at this moment"

"I roam all over, thinking about something"

"My heart wanders, it does not stop"

"but you didn’t melt in my heart"

"There is no fate, no fate where we can be one in this riddle"

"I yearn for such a life here"

"I am somewhere far, so far away from you"

"the very second you think of me, I am right next to you"

"Every moment of time runs ahead my dear"

"even it seems to be searching for something my dear"

"Together with you my happiness is a million time more my dear"

"I can’t see my heart anywhere"

"It is searching for something I don’t understand what"

"You fill all of my thoughts"

"But why do you hide in my heart all the time"

"Beat and ben a foot long sweet cane"

"I can’t bear with your mischief within me"

"The hours and day fly, fly past so fast my dear"

"somewhere I am left floating by"

"everything that happens outside I forget, I forget my dear"

"I just live in my dreams now"

"I hid you deep inside my heart, I locked up you sent in my memories"

"and I sang whatever words came out of my mouth"

"I can’t see my heart anywhere"

"It is searching for something I don’t understand what"

"Even though I don’t do it myself"

"I am always thinking about you"

"Am I strong and stable right now"

"or will I end up falling for you"

"I can’t see my heart anywhere"

"It is searching for something I don’t understand what"

Oh mother!

What happened father?

What happened to you?

Look at this dear… what is it?

Someone has hit you with a stone. A stone?

Don’t be afraid father. Wait, I will be back.

Wait.

I'm going to Madras to see Anna Square, are you coming?

In the middle of the night, they threw stones

at my house and broke my father’s skull.

Call the village for a meeting.

Who the hell did this, we must give him a lashing!

This concerns Marimuthu and Pazhavesam, speak carefully!

Oh, just because you said so should we summon the Panchayat?

Just apply some leaf paste on the wounds and get on with your work.

Are you from a family that is big enough to file a complaint?

Sir…

Sir…!

Who is it?

Greetings sir.

Why have come to my house?

What is this about, who are you?

I am Ulagammai from Tattam Patti…

I am motherless child.

Late last night, they threw stones at our house’s roof

and broke my father’s skull.

You have to come and reprimand them.

What is this, you expect the commissioner to come and solve you personal problems?

Go and tell Panchayat President and village leader about it.

They are the ones who threw the stones.

What are you saying?

As I stood against the village elders,

They are looking to torment my family and force us out!

Oh…!

This is a serious issue.

Okay, you go. I will talk to the president and take a decision.

- That is enough, thank you very much sir. - Okay… okay.

Brother-in-law have some toddy.

Brother-in-law…

will it look good if a congress member drinks toddy while wearing whites?

Keep it.

Brother-in-law you don’t worry, I will take care of her.

Oh god!

Oh my…!

Oh god…

What Mayandi?

What there is a wound on your head?

- Did you daughter beat you up? - Hey…!

What are you saying?

My father is twice as important as my life to me!

Look at what he is saying?

I have been seeing your daughter…

she raises her voice in the Panchayat, she raises her hand at home.

She looks like a long pestle…

She might take a sickle and chop you, be careful!

So, with respect vacate the house.

If you suddenly ask us to vacate,

where will I and my daughter go?

Where? Go wherever the hell! Just vacate this house!

Young sir, what is this new story…?

Do you think this is a weed to just toss us to the side!

It is a palm tree, you can’t quickly cut it down!

For thirty years my mother and father have lived here.

We cannot vacate it immediately.

Vacate right now or else…!

Shift this hut someplace else!

- Vacate it. - Pazhavesam…?

Young sir…

Eat as much as you want.

So,

would it be some 20 years since sir came into service.

It’s been 21 years.

I have worked in 4 different districts.

Very good.

No matter how many districts you have worked in.

This district is just a bit different.

If you tell them to sit, they will stand. If you tell them to stand, they will sit.

All of them are rebellious buggers.

Government officers don’t just look at files in the office…

We fully understand the mindset of the people native to the place we work in.

That’s right!

If you correctly understand the hearts of the people in this village…

You can easily work in any village in the Dravidian lands.

With your status you shouldn’t fight with such a small girl!

She seems very fiery!

She might cross the limits, be careful.

She is the daughter of our Mayandi.

She grew up in this house.

She will never go past our shadow.

You just wash your hands…

That is enough.

Please eat

They broke my father’s skull, give me justice for that!

Are you advising the gathering?

Law applies to everyone the same!

Someone threw some stones at her house…

all she talks about is that, what can we do…?

If only it had happened to you, you would know!

Why would you care, your house is like a palace?

Consider my hut before you speak.

You can’t control one woman, what kind of a village is this?

I don’t want anything to do with this!

- Sit down sir, stay! - Annachi, please come back.

We can talk about it, Annachi!

You will call the men cowardly women?

You see us as cowardly women, do you?

If you have problems you can say that to Marimuthu or Pazhavesam!

That concerns only you and them.

How dare you call all men cowardly women?

The treasurer too said some horrid things.

Neither Ulagammai have said such things.

Still, let us not blow-up things that were said in anger.

You are talking ill about the public figures…

it is not right to leave you like this!

You must pay a fine of Rs.50.

Is that it, or will you put more?

Now what are you saying, will you not pay the fine?

If you can pay the fine then pay it.

Else we know how to collect it!

Hey, wait…

if she talks uninformed nonsense why do you stoop to her level?

- Be paitent. - Look here…

do you realise you mistake in calling all men cowardly women?

It is my mistake that I called them cowardly men,

because I have seen many women be brave and just!

Hey, how arrogantly do you speak?

Get her!

Pull her to the centre by her neck.

Remove her saree and humiliate her!

What are you looking at? Get the that smug little girl!

- Hey Ulagu, you are dead now! - Hey what is this?

This many men are biting at the heels of one woman?

Hey, what is this?

You have wandered here aimlessly and are talking without knowing your place?

Who?

Just because you wear a black shirt, do you think you are Periyar?

Not everyone wearing a black shirt is Periyar…

but not everyone wearing a Khadi shirt must think of themselves as Kamaraj.

Hey, I will rip your mouth off!

You come and stand in our street to talk law?

Just because you studied law, you think you are like Babasaheb?

The only place where they wrote on the board ‘Don’t talk politics here’…

in the entire World is Tamilnadu!

What is this Panchayat?

These many men are questioning one woman!

This is a human rights violation!

It is the greatest of stupidity!

You must all be dragged to the supreme court.

You have unnecessarily come here and are talking like scoundrels?

Hey, where have you come and what are you saying?

If I ever see you in the village again, I will end you! Get lost!

Arunachalam, why are you talking to them?

You come, let us go and meet the Nellai commissioner.

- Hey, go wherever! Get lost! - They are clearly acting in anger!

Ulagammai refuses to stay in the village’s control!

Not just that, she says she is right in calling all of you cowardly women!

That is why, from today…

She is banished from our village!

Nobody should talk to her, nor should they acquaint with her.

They musn’t invite or attend good or bad events!

The shop should not sell or give her any provisions!

Nobody must take her along for any labour work!

She must not take water from the village well…

Neither can anyone else give her water!

If anybody disobeys this, they too shall be banished!

They have banished…

they have banished us!

They haven’t banished us father we have banished them all!

'Intermission'

They seemed to have banished that girl.

Did they announce it?

They are tormenting that girl.

- Is there problems within the same caste? - Instead of fining her, they banished her!

They themselves called a Panchayat and told her she shouldn’t do this and that!

She can only start some business on her own.

- Shall we go and talk to the leaders? - Will they listen to us?

Every caste has some issues and conflicts.

Our caste too has its share of problems.

Sister-in-law, shall I too take a pail of water?

We can’t go against the village regulation, my dear.

If you want to, take it after we leave.

Sister-in-law, my father and I haven’t done anything wrong!

I too wish to be as brave as you…

but we are dependent on these men for our livelihood.

Hey, nobody should do anything that goes against the village regulations.

Hey tubby, why are you concerned about her?

Ulagu…

how arrogant are you, that you came to fetch water from the village well?

I will make sure to see you die of thirst!

Hey lunatic, pansy fool!

You will surely die of a snake bite!

You should never again take water from this well!

Oh no!

The ember is burnt out and become ash!

How can I light the stove now?

I have to give father his porridge…

Come Ulagammai, why have you come here this late?

Mayandi sir… is in good health, right?

He is fine.

- I came to get some ember. - Here is the balm father.

Aruna told us that you have been banished from the village?

Aruna proudly said you stood against the Panchayat men,

And faced them all on your own! I am really proud of you.

- Brother, the press was ready yesterday… - See, Aruna has come.

collect the posters when you come this way tomorrow.

Okay brother, tomorrow I will get it.

What is this sister a rare guest has come,

but instead of inviting her in you have her standing outside?

What madam, you alone were battering your people!

The problems between white and black isn’t yet resolved.

Now your men have started dividing by work as big black and small black…

and are stirring up new issues.

Why are they so many issues within the same caste?

I came here to get some ember.

Did you come this far just for that?

The stove would have lit up if you just stared at it angrily!

Go quickly, Mayandi sir will be lonely.

I will leave now, see you later.

Madam…

be brave!

We are here with you.

Father, what are you doing with my saree?

It is ripped my dear, so I am going to stich it.

Why are you doing these unnecessary things?

What is the needle prick’s your hand and you bleed?

If you go to work wearing a ripped saree, the hooligans will tease you, my dear.

It is when the crop is fully grown that we must vigilantly guard it.

Oh father, nobody can even touch the shadow of this Ulagammai!

Hold this here.

- We will protest… - We will protest!

- We will protest… - We will protest!

We will protest!

Arunachalam…

We will protest!

We will protest!

Why is Arunachalam in front of the collector’s office?

- We will protest… - We will protest!

If the electricity tariffs are raised

from 8paise to 10paise, how will farmers manage?

After independence, dissolve the congress party and engage

in social service Mahatma said before he died.

Mahatma Gandhi said that village were the backbone of India!

If indigenous agriculture is halted then the world economy will be in disarray.

We will protest until the leaders understand this.

- We will protest… - We will protest!

- We will protest… - We will protest!

We will protest!

Until this tariff hike is cancelled, we will protest!

Fight till you win, or fight till you die!

Aruna is protesting sir.

Is it, you need not worry. I will speak to the collector and take action, okay?

- Very good sir. - Okay.

Shanta Shanta?

- Where are you my dear? - Brother…

- Oh you are here! - Welcome brother, what a pleasant surprise!

- How are you? - I doing good brother!

I don’t know what to do now, shall I get you some water?

Not right now, where is your husband?

He is inside, I will call him.

- Oh, he is coming here. - Husband…

- Greetings brother-in-law… - Greetings brother-in-law.

- Greetings. - Welcome, welcome!

- Please sit, how are you? - I am fine brother-in-law.

Are you coming from the temple?

Yes I went to the Mupattamman Temple.

- Get him some water. - I will get it right now!

Wait dear, I will have it later.

Where will I drink water if not at my sister’s house.

So brother-in-law, are you here for any village issue?

I came to share some good news.

I too am waiting to bring together our families that have been separated!

Surely we can do that brother-in-law. That is why I am here as well.

- What dear? - Okay brother.

Where is Thangapazham, has he gone to the fields?

Brother, he has actually gone to the shop with his friend.

Shall I go and fetch him?

- Hey you do need to… - Go and fetch him!

- Oh it is not necessary, don’t go. - Okay brother.

- It's nothing brother-in-law… - Say it brother-in-law!

I have decided to give Saroja in marriage to Thangapazham instead of a stranger.

- Surely! - Okay brother, very good!

- Are you happy dear? - I am so happy brother!

- This is why your brother came here. - Okay brother, good to hear.

Okay then, I shall leave.

Just a minute brother, let me get a chicken and cook curry…

then you can eat and leave!

First let us eat the marriage feast, then we can eat the chicken curry.

Okay, shall I leave?

- Okay see you later. - Come again brother.

- Careful, shall I accompany you home? - Why, I will manage?

Okay brother-in-law, take care.

Tell sister-in-law and Saroja I asked about them.

Okay dear, I will!

There is no water here?

I have been telling you since the day we got married,

Keep a glass of water before you serve food.

But that habit never came about, give me some water.

Give me the water!

You are since concerned about my marital habits….

But you want to hand your daughter to the good for nothing guy?

If the pot is hot, will you put your hands in the fire!

That short-girl is the reason for all of this!

Hey, how is my sister’s son lacking?

Everything is lacking except his name!

Because of your yapping, every alliance that came was spoiled…

and our daughter is now almost an old hag, you foolish woman!

The nonsense she speaks…!

First shut your mouth that is when something good will happen!

Ulagammai…

I looked for you all over, but you are here?

Why father are you walking this far with the pain in your legs?

I came to tell you a good news dear.

- What is it? - Our Saroja is getting married.

- Is it so? - Do you know who is the groom?

- Who…? - Palvesam’s son, Thangapazham.

Though he is a bit rough around the edges, still her marriage is good news, right?

Finally the gods have answered our prayers.

I am really happy father!

I will go and meet Saroja sister tomorrow.

God bless my daughter’s future.

Aunty…

Here is the saree you gave that day to go to the temple.

You Cicada! As you are a great woman…

you will return to me the saree you wore!

I must get it washed by the washer woman and wear it.

Am I that desperate?

You characterless hag!

How dare you come in front of me after you ruined my daughter’s life?

Just as you father’s leg broke, I will break your legs!

I don’t even want to look at your face, give that here…!

Hey, get lost! You bad omen!

- What is it my dear? - I went to congratulate Saroja sister…

and return the saree they gave,

Were they happy?

I too thought they would be but, she scolded me and said…

I was a characterless dog, and that I have no worth at all!

They threw the saree in my face and humiliated me, father!

Oh my poor girl…!

Though we think of everyone as equals, they still belittle and see us as lesser!

You don’t worry my dear, don’t worry…

Bear it all…

I have to walk 9 miles to deliver this one letter.

Mayandiamma… Mayandiamma…?

- Is Mayandiamma here? - There is nobody called Mayandiamma…

I am Mayandi, my daughter’s name is Ulagammai.

Mayandi… Ulagammai. Yes, both of you have got a letter.

- Ulagammai… - Father…?

Come here dear, the mail-man is here!

Yes, I am coming father…

Look, there is some mail.

Is your name Ulagammai?

Yes sir, give it to me.

This is a registered post, you have to sign for it.

You people are uneducated, right?

Don’t generalise us like that!

My father is uneducated, but I can sign my name.

Is it so,

Okay, you sign for both… I will inform the post master.

Here are the letters.

Sign here.

M…

Oo… la…

Gam…

another M…

mai...

Ulagammai!

Rani, don’t throw away the ripe leaves.

Set it aside, tomorrow we can give it to the flower shop.

Papa, I have already kept it aside.

Father, I told them to keep the green leaves and ripe leaves separated.

In the morning all you need to do is hand it over and get the money.

The chopper is so dull, how can you cut fish with this?

If we try, the fish will slip and fall back into the river.

- Come, how is Mayandi sir? - He is good…

- Hey, get her some water to drink. - Okay sir.

Sir,

Is Arunachalam here?

- First drink some water dear. - Yes, here you go.

Thank you sister.

When is Arunachalam at home?

He is always running around with his boys doing some or the other social service!

Even since today morning, he was right here…

Look, he is there near the trees with the boys.

Okay sir, I shall go and meet him.

Ulagammi, shall I come to accompany you?

No need sister, I can manage.

Brother Aruna

Shall we protest in front of EB office or collector office?

Arunachalam…

I need to speak to you.

You carry on, we will leave now!

Brother, she is one of us.

Please come madam.

I received a letter which is in English.

I don’t know what it means, can you please read it for me.

My client Palaveshan, owns some land near Kuttaipaarai.

In Gopalasamudhiram East.

The land owner has temporarily given permission

to Mayandi and his daughter Ulagammai.

To use this piece of land for living.

The latter agreed to vacate at any time at the owners request.

If after receiving this letter, they do not vacate immediately

My client will take legal action.

What does it say?

Who has written this?

They have sent you a legal-notice to vacate your home.

Here you go.

Legal-notice… who has sent it?

It is that guy with curly hair and always wears a jibbah!

His name is… Palasaraku…

no Palavesam… it is him.

For 30 years we have lived in that house!

Because of the anger Palavesham sir has towards me…

He is asking us to vacate in an act of vengeance!

Hey, why are you afraid?

Their livelihoods completely depend on these lands.

If Vinoba Bhave’s land reform movement is successful,

all these issues will be resolved!

That is the only political solution!

Saroja.. are you sleeping while standing?

Oh god!

Saroja…

are you asleep?

Have you kept some food for me.

- I am hungry dear. - Hey…!

What are you doing?

Are you drunk?

Do you have any sense?

My father has so much belief in you!

- Hey… lay back down! - Let me go…!

Hey… you…!

Come here…!

Lay back down you…!

Now, why are you crying my dear.

Father, you have ruined my life by marrying me to this drunk fool!

You have plunged my life into darkness!

What do you want me to do?

Every day he drinks and abuses me, what am I supposed to do?

Bear with it for just a little while.

Don’t I love you?

You will get better one day!

This world…

Hey, why didn’t you come to the fields yesterday?

Yesterday I went to the movies!

You went to the movies?

- Which movie? - Ulagam Suttrum Valiban.

Was it good?

Just for 45 paise, MGR showed us the entire world!

MGR’s acting was brilliant!

It was amazing uncle!

What is your most favourite scene of the movie?

There is a young fair girl called Manjula in the movie…

The villain Ashokan…

He was grabbing her hands and feet!

He was touching her here and there… he had his way with her!

I feel shy telling you this uncle.

- Was it really good? - It was amazing uncle!

Enough, stop it!

- You are a man, right? - Uncle…?

Go and do this to that Ulagammai!

I really want to, but I am afraid!

Why are you afraid? I am here for you.

- Go and do it! - Really…?

Yes, strip her naked and have your way with her!

- Okay uncle. - Go I say!

The walls of our lake have collapsed.

Rain water does not stay!

Having written so many letters to the government regarding this…

my pen has worn out completely!

We have personally met the collector 4 times, but nothing has happened!

We have to repeatedly give notice, only then will something happen!

Let us bring the collector here!

Mother Goddess Kali…

Please reform my son-in-law and bless my daughter with a happy marriage!

Hey…!

Hey, who is this?

Hey…

Hey you drunk fool!

Who are you, how dare you come and sleep in the temple while drunk?

From which village have you come here?

Get up… get, get… hey!

Vellaswamy, is that you?

Why are you sleeping here?

I haven’t seen you for 5 days now, where have you been?

- Uncle… - What is it?

I’ve had fever and shivering for 3 days…

and tremendous pain all over the body!

- The fever… - Hey…!

- Did you do her or not? - I couldn’t uncle…

Don’t cry! Tell me what happened clearly…

Uncle…

The moon has appeared as a girl today…

With all the beauty in the world!

Ulagammai…!

Hey lunatic fool!

Have you gone mad, why are you blocking my way?

That day you called me a pansy woman, right?

Today I will prove I am a man!

What, did you think this Ulagammai is helpless woman?

If you put your hands on me, you will no longer be a man!

- So you didn’t do it? - I couldn’t do anything…

Useless bugger!

Look at him, I should have gone instead of sending you!

Having squandered a great opportunity, he is sitting and crying over here!

- Hey Chelladuria… - Sir…

Climb up the coconut trees and clean it up!

- Okay sir. - There are so many dried leaves.

Hey… hey!

What happened, why are you running like this?

Annachi… Ulagammai ate the banana.

You’re saying that as though she came to age!

- Get lost! - Oh, did I say it wrong…?

- Annachi… Arunachalam ate the banana. - What is it?

What are you blabbering?

When Arunachalam was protesting with the villagers.

Ulagammai made him stand equal to the collector…

and gave him a banana…!

And, he ate it.

I saw this with my four eyes!

Is that so!

Yes…

So the deer wishes to live with the tigers!

Is that daughter of Mayandi, trying to change the customs?

- Will you do one thing? - Tell me Annachi.

Summon head-constable James for me.

Yes, I will tell him that!

Tell him to meet me near the sacred fig tree immediately.

Okay, Annachi!

Boil some collustrum,

I will go see our daughter.

- I too shall come with you. - Where will you come?

I have many works on the way, only I will go this time.

Go.

I have to be dependent on him to go and see my daughter!

- Greetings Annachi. - Come James, sit

What Annachi… you have sent for me?

- Are you not feeling well? - I am doing fine physically James…

but mentally I am completely distraught!

Annachi, the times have changed.

We can’t keep seeing high and low anymore!

That girl, she brought so much shame on you!

Thank God I was there that day.

Or else you would have been humiliated much more!

You have to somehow arrest and lock up that Ulagammai.

Give me a good scheme for that James.

What Annachi, you are asking me?

Hey,

The policemen who are frequently in the company of drunkards and goons...

are bound to know more than a politician would, right?

You are right in that regard.

Annachi, the government cannot make someone look good.

but it is very easy to make them look bad!

Once you have told me, I will take care of it!

- It has to be something big James. - It will be!

Hey, who are you?

You bloody thief!

You bald bugger, its you!

Are you planting tube-toddy in my hut to wrongfully imprison me?

Wait, I will inform your higher-ups and get you fired!

Hey, this was Marimuthu Annachi’s plan. I just did what he told me.

- Hey, just let me go… - Is this what police are supposed to do?

Just because he told you, must you do it?

- Let me go, I have a wife and kids. - Thief bugger!

I will chop you in two!

Hey, wait! Where did you go?

With the support of the police, the 3 of you are doing criminal acts?

When I get my hands on you, I will make sure you regret it all!

You don’t let a girl sleep in peace, throwing stones, planting evidence!

Criminal buggers.

I will burn down your caste pride!

Brother-in-law, what is in the can?

Son-in-law, here you go. Our cow gave birth!

Collustrum, Saroja really likes it!

- You too have some. - Okay uncle…

- What calf is it? - It is a girl calf.

- Saroja… - So, what brother-in-law?

Has he improved or is he still the same?

As you can see, he is the same!

Okay leave it…

let us give him some time, he will get better!

- Annachi, greetings Annachi! - Come, come.

- How are you? - I am fine Annachi.

Vellaswamy said you wanted to see me.

- The path to the north of your fields… - Yes…

Build a fence and block it fully!

If a build a fence there, Ulagammai…

and Mayandi will be stuck inside. How will they go out of their house?

I am telling you to do so, so that they can’t go in or come out!

Look here, if you don’t do it…

from tomorrow the water from my fields will not come to yours!

What Annachi, don’t say that!

How can I farm my crops then?

See, then do as your told!

Don’t talk unnecessarily!

If she was concerned about that, would she go give bananas?

- Forget about her, just do your work. - Okay Annachi.

Hey, sir… why…?

Sir, please don’t do this!

Please stop, remove this! Aivaraja… what is this all of a sudden?

- You are building a fence here? - To clean up my land, I am fencing it.

But my boy,

For about 50 years now we have been going by this path here!

How will my daughter go to work?

I am not doing this on my own.

The village leaders told me to, that is why I am doing it!

Please go and talk to them,

If they say so, I will stop it right now!

Just wait a few minutes, I will go talk to them.

Sir Palavesam…

Palavesam sir… sir!

Aivaraja is building a fence around my house, if you tell him he will stop.

Please come and tell him, don’t think of me as another!

Don’t do this to avenge what my daughter has said before!

Please come and tell him to stop.

- Madam, please tell him… - Oh no!

Mayandi, your daughter will oppose customs and go and give bananas to that Arunachalam.

But you want me to stop someone fencing your house!

Brother-in-law stopped and fencing your house.

I would have burnt your house down!

Go, go and see my brother-in-law! Get lost!

Hey this is a bad omen, get back inside!

Sir… Marimuthu sir…

Aivaraja is building a fence around my house,

He will stop if you tell him to.

Please, please come and tell Aivaraja to stop!

My daughter is not responsible for your daughters misfortunes!

If you tell him, he will certainly stop. Please tell him once!

Hey, what are you doing in front of the temple?

Get up now!

What is the senseless act?

We have no ill will towards you…

You are an innocent fool.

The root of all of these problems is your daughter Ulagammai!

She said all the men in the village are cowardly women!

Like a blood thirsty tiger, she graduated from little to big things.

She encouraged those who were afraid to even face me.

She give them bananas and made them rowdy against me!

Now every man in this village is ashamed.

There is no use of you falling at my feet!

Your daughter Ulagammai must fall at the feet of every man in the village!

Only then will we be satisfied!

Only then will we forgive you.

The village will then decide about removing the fence.

There is no use of you begging us!

Go, go and send your daughter.

Hey…

Mari, we both grew up together!

You are not worth the dust on my daughters feet!

My daughter is a righteous lady who lives in a hut!

Do you want her to fall at the feet of the villagers!

She will not do anything like that!

Get lost! You and your caste pride!

I will never forgive your daughter for ruining my daughter’s life!

Did you meet Annachi? I did not hear anything yet!

You will not hear anything either!

Only the news of me, will leave this house!

None of the villagers or relatives will ever come for me!

All of them are great big sinners

My daughter will return soon, Then you can build your fence.

Build it all you want!

Hey Ulagammai, you father Mayandi…

was made to fall at the feet of all the villagers!

Father…

you must never fall at anybody’s feet! I don’t like it!

If they want to block us with the fence, let them!

Will we die because of it?

It is better to die than be humiliated by falling at the feet of the villagers!

What actually happened father?

Why don’t you say anything?

Will you only eat, if I eat?

Okay I will eat…

Father…

Father…!

Father…?

Just so that I might scold you, You chose to die instead?

Did you decide it is better to die once than to die every single day!

My loving father!

How did you feel okay to abandon me all alone?

Father…!

Oh no…!

Please look at me… Father!

Please take me with you father!

You always said you would leave before me, now you have left father!

Please look at me father, father…!

"I was born as your daughter and you bore all my burdens"

"You were also my mother, my father Oh my father…!"

"Now I am not able to bear the burden of your loss"

"I am not able…"

"I was born as your daughter and you bore all my burdens"

"You were also my mother, my father Oh my father…!"

Ulagammai…

Were you with your father when he died?

At what time did you return from work?

Give me the notebook.

Tell me the time.

I only told him to apologise to protect his daughter honour.

Such an honourable man, this is what happened!

Everybody chip in and finish the last rites.

Instead of suffering he went away at once! Come on lift him up quickly.

Ulagammai…

are any relatives yet to come, or shall we do last rites ourselves!

- What Muncip? - Annachi…

- Are the records in order? - What it is, is that…

Hey, why are you all standing around like relatives?

This tree climber was from our village,

He should have died the day he fell from the tree, it would have been for the best!

Poor Ulagammai, if we had given her a goat farm…

she could have lived by selling goat milk.

Working all the time, but never having any money…

He used to help the poor by cutting palm leaves for fences

and remained a guardian of our village!

With you arrogance, you unjustly killed a man who would have lived now!

Hey, go and lift him!

Hey! If you touch him, I will chop you up!

Nobody should touch my father!

Respectfully leave!

This is not the village, it is my house!

If you cross your limits, I will go to the collector!

I won’t stop at that!

I will take care of you myself!

Hey, she is threatening to go to the government,

Why must we stay here any longer?

Come let us go. Keep him here and cry!

- Do whatever the hell you want! - Go on, leave!

What can one girl do on her own?

We will see that as well!

"Those born into this world must one day leave it behind"

"But how can you leave when you are leaving me behind?"

"All the people that surround us will one day run away"

"Who is going to stand by me, I don’t see any way out"

"The trees that you planted wait to see you lay to rest"

"They wait!"

"How will I bear all this? How will I get past it?"

"I don’t think my heart will be able to… it won’t be able to!"

"I was born as your daughter and you bore all my burdens"

"You were also my mother, my father Oh my father…!"

Hey, put it down!

Ulagammai, you are but a lonely girl!

All the village leaders are standing here.

You cannot take your father past us and bury him in our village’s graveyard!

Brother-in-law…

Mayandi is dead, why bother about giving his respect!

Just throw him in a ditch, why argue with her!

Hey lift him up and throw him in a ditch!

To toss him in a ditch my father isn’t a dead rat!

He is of Tiger blood!

You don’t need to pay any respects, I will take care!

If you try to impede me again, I will let the police chase you off.

You didn’t let him live in peace…

after death, are you pecking at his corpse?

Brother, pay your respects.

Final greetings.

What are the Annachis saying?

Is it still fights, arguments, conflicts and Panchayats?

He is relative of yours, now what is the issue?

Hey look here, you are from a different place and different way!

Don’t unnecessarily come into our issues. Or else there will be a riot, mind it!

Hey, an old man is lying dead here…

But you are discussing things like you are organising a function?

I keep seeing that your talk keeps increasing all the time!

Hey, this is our village’s issue.

We are like one family!

We will fight and make-up.

Don’t unnecessarily get involved in all of this, just walk away!

First of all, keep in mind who you are before you speak!

Lift up my father!

Hey lift him up.

Hey, do you dare to lift him?

- Hey lift him. - Let us see you lift him!

Hey have you come to here to incite a riot?

- Hey! - Wait…

Hey, don’t let them leave!

- Hey, put it don’t… - What do you think of yourselves?

Can’t you hear us?

"When they see people living, they don’t wish them well!"

"The noise of the lesser minded people never reduces"

"The village that punished us for questioning the wrongs"

"This corrupt village has made the wrongs as the new norms"

"The village stood as one to make the wrongs as the new norms"

"Where is there another village for justice and honour?"

"You must live well and live long…"

"You must live long"

"I was born as your daughter and you bore all my burdens"

"You were also my mother, my father Oh my father…!"

"Now I am not able to bear the burden of your loss… I am not able…!"

"I was born as your daughter and you bore all my burdens"

"You were also my mother, my father Oh my father…!"

Everybody see the face one last time, I am going to cover it!

Women must not come to the graveyard, this is our belief!

But there is nothing greater than love.

If Mayandi’s soul is to rest in peace, then his son must light the pyre!

Arunachalam, you light the pyre.

You are like a son to Mayandi.

"We were born alongside you"

"We lived alongside you"

"We will share all your struggles"

"and stay be your side in sorrow"

"The kings who ruled over the states, countries and men…"

"We saw them become one with the soil they once ruled!"

"We are here to accompany you, You are here to accompany us"

"All the duties entrusted to us We will carry out, we will carry out"

"As our people live on… We will watch it, we will watch it!"

Ulagammai, wait dear.

Where are you going, wait there.

Instead of looking at this with humanity you spoiled it all!

Hey, shut your mouth.

Ulagammai is what you are doing, right?

Having been born in our caste how can you go and live there?

How can you even say these things?

Every time you teased me as the daughter of the tree climber…

and humiliated me.

What is higher or lower here?

Ulagammai, you anger is justified.

We will make sure you are never bothered again!

Ulagammai, I the Muncip am telling you.

From now onwards there will be no issues in this village.

Don’t doubt it and go back home.

In spite of his age, when my father came and begged you all…

You said nothing and just watched! Is this like that?

Nothing like that will happen, we are here.

You don’t need to pay any fines.

Just as a gesture, buy some oil and light a lamp in the temple.

We can all be one!

Thanks to you, I lit my father’s pyre and paid all fines.

Please don’t stop me, let me leave.

Ulagammai, you don’t need to abandon your relationship with Arunachalam!

Did you even think about our people.

But you don’t need stay with him forever!

Go somewhere we can’t see you and do whatever you want, go!

Palavesam, your mouth will rot off!

Arunachalam is like a brother to me.

You cause all these problems. Hey, mind your words when you speak!

Hey Shanmugam, our caste has a heritage!

Keep that in mind when you speak!

Ulagammai, don’t be so adamant!

If you don’t like living here, Go and live in any household.

Or else go and live in any hut!

Just don’t go to Arunachalam’s house!

That is not just humiliation to you, it is humiliation to the village!

Understand!

You don’t need to worry!

If me leaving humiliates the how horribly rotten must it be?

First, try to rectify that!

None of you need to worry about me!

Only worry about yourselves.

I died in here and am born elsewhere!

"A lone parrot is flying away"

"As it is being chased by so many locusts"

"Will this lone parrot live together with all these locusts?"

"Will the parrot be able to break apart all the shackles that bind it"

"Where will it go, what will happen to it?"

"Nothing is known…"

"Nothing is known…!"