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ZILLA PARISHAD GIRLS HIGH SCHOOL, SILERU, ALLURI SITHARAMA RAJU DISTRICT Ma'am! Ma'am! Please, ma'am. Ma'am! No, ma'am! NAMASTE THANK YOU I ditched a high-paying private-sector job, traveled all this way on a dusty government bus just to teach you guys, and this is how you score?! Hold out your hand. Don't hit me, ma'am. Look here. Look here! Budge before evening, and you're dead! You should've just studied like madam said. You never listen! Hey, get inside! Now! Will you kill them for bad grades? Teachers like you are a threat to education. I am going to suspend you for one year. Get out! Brother… Don't honk near the temple junction, brother. Trinadh's daughter is asleep with a fever. -Turn right and go around the village. -Right. Will do. Stop, brother! Pull over! -Don't honk near the temple junction. -Why? Trinadh's daughter is asleep with a fever. Turn right and bypass the village. -Who the hell are you to tell me? -Please listen to me! Brother, tell him not to honk. Don't honk, brother. -Hey, get lost! -Please, brother! Brother! Brother! Brother, please! Don't honk, brother! She'll wake up. Brother! Please don't honk! Please listen to me! Don't you understand? I'm talking to you! Hey, who are you? HEY! Hey! Didn't I send someone to tell you my daughter has a fever and ask you not to honk? No more honking until you cross Polluru. Go! Grandma, my daughter complained you didn't give her thick chutney. -I packed the thick chutney only, dear. -You did, right? Yes. -Hey, Suri! Deliver this home. -Brother? Also, did Donkarayi Seenu fix the phone yet? -He will return it today, brother. -Go get it. She'll ask when she wakes up. Whether she's eating or bugging me, she needs the phone! -Okay? Go. -Okay. -Hey, Suri. -Brother? I'm going to Sileru to buy Manamma's nose rings. -Don't tell Kaveri. -Okay, brother. How about this? That's my dad, Trinadh Rama Kasu. My dad is one of millions who adore their daughters. It might be too small. -My daughter has a small, delicate nose. -I see. -Please pack this. -Okay. This is my Dad's story. This is my village, Polluru. A YEAR AGO The Ayyappa Swamy Temple beside the dam on our village outskirts is very sacred. Devotees from all over travel here to worship Lord Ayyappa. -Swamiye Sharanam -Ayyappa Sharanam Meet our Guru Swamy, Goparaju. He's observed the Ayyappa vow 40 times. The devotees believe receiving the sacred Irumudi from him and making the Sabarimala pilgrimage will end all their troubles. Swamiye Ayyappo! That's my mom, Kaveri, and I'm Manikanta. But where's my Dad? Swamiye… -Sharanam Ayyappa! -Sharanam Ayyappa! Sharanam Ayyappa! -Tie your bundle -We're bound for Sabarimala -Stones and thorns -Feel soft beneath our feet -Swamiye Sharanam -Ayyappa Sharanam -Ayyappa Sharanam -Swamiye Sharanam The Mandala vow is fulfilled Its sacred purpose fills my soul The holy hills of Sabari call Come, let us seek Lord Manikanta Tie it, tie it… Hey, tie the Irumudi Tie the Irumudi with faith And climb the sacred Sabarimala Tie the Irumudi with faith And climb the sacred Sabarimala Swamiye Ayyappo Ayyappo Swamiye Swamiye Ayyappo Ayyappo Swamiye -A tender coconut we bring -Ayyappo -Filled with sacred ghee -Ayyappo -Camphor's flame and fragrant prayer -Ayyappo -With joyful hearts we tie the Irumudi -Ayyappo To carry You is blessing enough Your grace awakens sacred ecstasy Raise your voice in praise divine Come, Kanne Swamy, sing with joy Tie it, tie it… Tie the Irumudi Tie the Irumudi with faith And climb the sacred Sabarimala Tie the Irumudi with faith And climb the sacred Sabarimala -Ayyappa Ayyappa -Lord Ayyappa, our Protector -Ayyappo Ayyappo -Our Rescuer, we bow to Thee Take the fruits. Your throat must be sore from singing. Have some hot water, Swamy. Swamiye Ayyappo Ayyappo Swamiye -Swamiye Ayyappo -Swamy, bye. -Ayyappo Swamiye -Swamy, be careful. -Swamiye Ayyappo -Swamiye Sharanam… -Ayyappo Swamiye -Have a safe trip there and back. Swamiye Ayyappo Ayyappo Swamiye -Swamiye Ayyappo -Tie your bundle -Ayyappo Swamiye -We're bound for Sabarimala -Swamiye Ayyappo -Tie the Irumudi with faith -Ayyappo Swamiye -And climb the sacred Sabarimala -Swamiye… -Tie the Irumudi with faith -Swamiye… -And climb the sacred Sabarimala Sharanam Ayyappa! Today is the day our devotees return from Sabarimalai. My mom is quite anxious. Because, my dad is going to be different from today. SHIVALAYAM - POLLURU -Swamy, over here! -Swamy Sharanam. -Hey, brother. -Let's move. Come on. My tongue's craving a drink, Suri. It's been a while. Oh man! It's been ages! -Suri, why didn't you open it?! -Here, brother. It's been a while. Oh, man! I feel alive again, man! It's been 41 days. -Wow! Give it here! -Here, brother. -Did you pay the money? -Yes. -Bushan, look over there. -Yes? Trinadh has already started drinking. He'll stay wasted until he takes the vow again, that drunkard! He even has Guru Swamy's support. -Ah, thank god! That's so refreshing! -You're crazy about drinks. How do you stay sober 41 days every year? I do it all for my Manamma. -Hey, Suri! You carry on! -Okay, brother. Hey, meet us near the dam! -Okay. -Hey! Where are you going? -Serve us too. -Pour it, man! -Hold on! Have the meat first. -Pour, pour… pour me one too! -Guru Swamy, how was the pilgrimage? -Really well! What's new in the village? Our village had a massive clash with Donkarayi. -Don't you know? -What happened? Does Trinadh know about this? I'll thrash you if you tell your Dad about the village gossip! Manamma! -Dad! -Come on! Come, come! My precious girl! My sweetie! Trinadh, did you get drunk the moment you got off the bus? Be honest. Kaveri, I waited until we reached Polluru, because I'm a good guy. The rest of the gang started drinking in Kerala! Manamma! -Be it inside the school, -Or outside, -on this side of the village, -or the other side, -on this side of the riverbank… -or across the river… -whatever you saw, -must tell Dad! -Manamma! -What is it?! A massive fight broke out between our village and Donkarayi, Dad. -Really? -Trinadh, it's nothing major. Just a minor scuffle during the Kabaddi match. What is this, Guru Swamy? My daughter says it's a massive fight, -but you're calling it a minor scuffle. -I'll deal with you later. Tell me the events, dear. Polluru team is leading with 20 points. -Donkarayi is five points behind! -Kavya, grab her! Kabaddi, kabaddi, kabaddi… -Another point to Polluru! -Kabaddi, kabaddi, kabaddi… Have those Donkarayi girls lost their spirit? -Both got wiped out at once! -Will Polluru take the cup this time too? Where the hell is Nagulu? FREE DRINKING WATER STATION Hey, you've played enough. Get out of here. Why should we leave? Hey! Take off her innerwear. Let's see how she plays then. Keep pulling! Keep pulling! Why are you all so spineless? What? Haven't I told you to leave? -Come on, play kabaddi with me -Please let me go. Go on. Play now, Kabaddi. Pull it! -These sons of… -Trinadh… -Listen! -Just wait a couple of days… It's already too late, Guru Swamy. Trinadh. No. Swamy Sharanam. Mr. Erraji, now that the Polluru girls are out, the cup is yours! The cup? What nonsense! There's old political rivalry between Polluru and our Donkarayi. That's why we beat them up whenever we can. Besides, our Nagulu never accepts defeat. Hey! Hey! Hey, let go! -What's that? -Mr. Erraji! Trinadh is beating up Nagulu! -Hey! -Hey! -Hey, stop him! -Leave him. -Somebody stop him. -Take down the tent, guys! Don't spare him! Don't leave him! Finish him off! Hey! Trinadh is going to die by my son's hands today! -Exactly! -Hey, thrash him! You dare come to our village and hit our people, you moron? Look! Nagulu is right here! Nagulu! Don't spare him! Kill him! -Hey! -Thrash him! Wipe him out! You come to my village and hit me?! You're dead meat! Get up, guys! Wipe him out! Hey! Come on, you moron! Come on! Come. Hey! -Hey, Nagulu, get up! Hey! -Hey! You… Hey! Hey, Trinadh! You better let him go or it won't end well! I'm warning you! Hey Trinadh! I'm talking to you! Who do you think you are?! Hey, let go! Just let go! I'm begging you, please let him go! Trinadh, please… let him go! -Trinadh! Come on, please! -Take off your shirt! -Take it off! -Take off your shirt! -Take it off! -Take it off! -And pants! Take off your pants! -Hey, take them off, son! You pay men to strip women, you son of a gun? -Take them off! Strip! -Take them off, son! Erraji, I have a weakness. A rare weakness where I see my daughter in every girl. Don't mess with that. Hey, Nagulu! If you touch any Polluru girl again I'll burn you alive and feed you to the vultures! -Filthy idiot! -Trinadh, let him go. Swamy Sharanam. I'll kill him. -What is this? How long should I wait? -He'll be here in 10 minutes. Will you load the banana bunches or should I buy elsewhere? My husband is sentimental. He wants our daughter to harvest the first bunch of our first crop. Ten more minutes. Hey Suri! Where is this father and daughter duo? Darling! Can you smell anything? No, right? Come on. MANDAL PARISHAD PRIMARY SCHOOL Hold on! Stop! Why did you tell Manikanta not to come to school, Master? I told her, "You can't do math without multiplication tables!" She asks, "If I already know the math, why do I need the tables, Master?" I just told her it was wrong. Was I wrong? That's not how he said it, Dad. With wide, terrified eyes, he yelled that he'd skin me alive. Is that the way to talk to a child, sir? It's not right. If she isn't picking it up, you should explain it to her patiently, gently. You dare threaten to skin my daughter alive? I'm sparing you because you're a teacher who shapes young minds. Okay? Get off your vehicle. Sweetheart, bow to your teacher and say he's forgiven. You're forgiven! -Is this how you forgive someone? -That's the Polluru way! Come, darling. You can leave now. -Manamma! -That's my girl! -Wow! -Kaveri! -They started already? -Why the delay? We've been waiting! -Kaveri! Are we late? -Gayatri! No, Lakshmamma. He's been drinking too much again, Guru Swamy. -Who, me? -Then who else? Me? Did I touch even a single drop of alcohol during my 41 days of vow? You should appreciate it. Why are you saying all that? Those 41 days of your vow are the only time I get peace. -Lakshmamma, won't you warn him? -Stop drinking, son. Hey Suri, give that first harvest bunch to Guru Swamy. -Yes, on it. -Why do I need it now? What do you mean, Guru Swamy? -We keep the first harvest. -Suri! And you get the first bunch. -Teach me cycling… -Isn't it, Swamy? -Sure. I will. -Swamy Sharanam! Guru Swamy, today's our wedding anniversary. Come. May you live a long life. Hey Trinadh, she looks upset, man. Once you unload in Sileru, come home sober. -Understand? We take your leave. -We'll leave now, dear. Mani, it's time for school. I'll leave. Sister, Dad and I are going to Sileru for a movie this Sunday. Want to come along? My dad won't agree, dear. Another time. -Let's go, dear. -You always find an excuse, sister. -Stay safe, Gayatri. -Bye, dear. Okay, uncle! Bye, sister. -Bye. -Kaveri, is today our wedding anniversary? Why didn't you tell me?! -You never gave me the chance! -I'll come home sober today. -I don't believe you. -I promise I will! Instead of that dreadful nighty, dress up in my favorite green saree and mustard-yellow blouse. Go! Go get it! Yalaalo, Yalaalo! Moonlit nights and endless stories! -Trinadh! -Look around. Where could she have put it? -I don't know. -No… -Courtyards packed with quiet secrets -It's Saturday, Trinadh. Don't drink! -Secrets kept from Mother's eyes -Trinadh! Listen! -Where, Dad? -It's not here. Look over there. -Let the world witness -Unlock the door. -Dad! -Where pure love resides! Trinadh, I said no! Don't drink! -Bound to the mountains -I said, Open the door. -The forest is our home -Will you never change? -Poverty can't touch our souls -What happened to you? Wait… -Our world lives within us! -Kaveri, don't put him in the water. -He'll get a fever. -Yala, yaalo! Yaalo, what's in grand mansions? Yaalo, what's in piles of gold? -True love fills our hearts -Dad! Like wild streams in fields untold! Centuries will pass us by We have all the world can hold! -Hey! -What else do we need? The drunk who beats his wife every day? That's him, Dad. How dare you hit your wife? I'll kill you! A childhood rocked in a gentle cradle Bringing centuries of celebration! Life dances like a joyful game -I said no, right? -If you're ready -Who are you guys? -It grants a blessing -A blessing every hour! -What village are you from? Shielding you like a protective eyelid Would this soul ever part Even for a blink? Our time on this earth is brief Yet the bond of love endures forever! Yala, yaalo! Yaalo, what's in grand mansions? Yaalo, what's in piles of gold? True love fills our hearts Like wild streams in fields untold! Centuries will pass us by We have all the world can hold! What else do we need? SWAMIYE SHARANAM AYYAPPA MANIKANTA What are you looking at? Go move them. Are you drunk? -Get lost. -Come on. Sit down. Dad, one more. -Hey, how many glasses will you drink? -Why object to everything? Let her drink. -She'll get a cold and cough. -Yalaalo, Yalaalo! Moonlit nights and endless stories! Yalaalo, Yalaalo! Courtyards packed with quiet secrets! -Secrets kept from Mother's eyes -Hey, pick any one. Royalty in Father's stride Let the world witness Where pure love resides! Bound to the mountains The forest is our home Poverty can't touch our souls Our world lives within us! Yala, yaalo! -Manamma, look over here. -It's super! -Sister, you take one too. -Gayatri, Take it, dear! -True love fills our hearts -Give me that one. -Gayatri! -Like wild streams in fields untold! -Centuries will pass us by -Buy a chudidar, dear. We have all the world can hold! Dad! Late today too? I won't talk to you, go away! I'm coming, Manamma. I'm coming. One more bite, dear. That's it! Are you listening, Dad? Hey, did you remove the dead hens? -Yes, I did, sir. -Come here. -Where are the other boys? -They'll come tomorrow, sir! Taking leave just 10 days into the job? Here's the pay. Tell them to work from tomorrow! Will do, sir! This guy is getting out of hand, man. We must find him a girl urgently. Brother! The bus is here. -How was the exam, sister? -I did well. Sowji, you wanted my books after my tenth grade exams, right? Yes, sister. -Take them. -Thank you, sister. -Which college are you joining, sister? -I'm not joining college. -I'll get married and move away. -Marriage?! SILERU - DONKARAYI PALLE VELUGU All of you must attend the wedding, Gayatri! -Will do, sister. Who's the groom? -My brother-in-law! What about your studies? I'll study after the wedding. What's wrong with that? The cycle has a flat tire. Did you guys deflate the cycle tires? If you do this again, I'll tell our village elders! Do you like her? Hey, what are you talking about? Are you guys brainless? -Sister! Don't fight. -Let it go, sister. -We're going. -Okay, then. Take care. POLLURU I wonder when we'll get a bus to our village. Why are Gayatri and the others pushing their cycles? Dad! We can't get down at the Donkarayi bus stop, Dad. All those good-for-nothings are hanging around there. They deflate our cycle tires, then follow and harass us. Trinadh is coming. He beat up Erraji's son yesterday. There will be another huge fight if he finds out. -Look here, Gayatri! -Yes, Dad. Don't tell Trinadh about this. Where are you going, Trinadh? Manamma wanted to eat chili fritters, so we're going to Donkarayi. Why? Aren't ours fritters? Fritters are fried in cooking oil, not engine oil. Want to eat them, Manamma? That's how your food is. Why, Trinadh? You take your daughter so far just for fritters… why can't you send her to high school? For my daughter to attend senior high school, we need a bus to our village… or a school here. She shouldn't have to struggle cycling on that gravel road. The tires are flat. What happened, dear? Hey! It's nothing, man. It's summer, right? The heat made the tubes go flat. -How did it happen to all three cycles? -Yeah. Your daughter is very smart, man. Once my daughter thinks of a question, she won't stop until she finds the answer. -Okay, it's from the heat, right? -That's it, uncle. -That's it? Nothing else? -Yes. Okay. Let's go, dear. Okay. Bye. BHUSHAN TIFFIN CENTER You girls go on. The girls in our village are facing a lot of trouble, Guru Swamy. If you talk to MLA Bujji, we might find a solution. -Long live… -MLA Bujji sir! -Greetings! -The MLA is here. Guru Swamy! The MLA is here. Happy birthday, sir. -Happy birthday, sir. -Thank you. Thank you. MLA sir. Thank you. -Mr. Guru Swamy! -Greetings, sir. -How are you? -I'm good. -May you have a long life! -Thank you. Your blessings on my birthday. I will win the next election too! -Swamy Sharanam! -Mr. Bujji… I need to discuss something important. Take it. Mr. Bujji, as you already know… Polluru only has an elementary school. To attend high school, the kids have to come all the way to Sileru. And the bus only goes up to Donkarayi. Then, the girls struggle, pedaling four kilometers on a dirt road. I tried hard to sanction a high school to your village, Guru Swamy. I can't do it alone, right? But we can do one thing. I'll ensure the bus runs to your village. -What say, Madhu? We can do it, right? -Yes sir. We can. -Are you happy? -Yes. Are you happy? -We're happy, sir. -Yes, sir. You also mentioned repainting the Ayyappa Temple, right? We'll paint it once Karthika month starts. -Madhu? -Sir! -Have this. -It's alright, Mr. Bujji. Don't delay God's work. Please. -Swamiye Sharanam Ayyappa. -Sharanam Ayyappa. -Kaveri, check over there. -Suri's handling it. The food is excellent. What's the special occasion? -You from the next village? -Yeah. -Our daughter has graduated -Engineering? Medicine? -Fifth grade. Have it. -Huh? HEARTFELT CONGRATULATIONS TO MY DEAR MANIKANTA ON PASSING THE 5TH GRADE! Enough, enough. Girls must eat well. Eat up. -Shall I serve you some sambar, Master? -That's enough, dear. -Enough, enough. -Please eat, Master. -There he is. -What is it, man? Eat. Is there nothing for us? Oh boy! Got it. -Go on. Come back soon. -Let's go. -Kaveri! -Lakshmamma, please come. Hey, why are you late? -What's all this, dear? -Ask him. My little girl passed fifth grade. Look over there. -Wow! It's a very big deal, man. -Yeah! -Come! -If you throw a feast for every result, -you'll have to sell your last two acres. -It's my daughter, my wish. Please sit, Guru Swamy. I will serve you food. -Come, dear. -Greetings, Guru Swamy. -Come here for a second. -What is it, man? -No, man. It won't look good. -Only two pegs. Come on. Hey! Cheers! Trinadh? Why are you so crazy about your daughter? Do you remember, Guru Swamy? Kaveri married a rough guy like me, defying her family. When we didn't have kids four years after marriage, she faced so many insults… but she never once complained or showed her pain to me. Moreover, if anyone said anything against me regarding that, she'd get fiercely defensive. But Swamy… Whenever I saw the pain of childlessness in her eyes… it felt like a needle piercing my heart, Swamy. Then, you advised me. That taking the Swamy vow would fulfill my wishes. I went to Sabarimala and prayed to the Lord. My precious daughter was born. Swamy Sharanam! Believing that Lord Ayyappa himself was born as my daughter… I named her Manikanta. Whatever I do for her is like serving God, Swamy. A girl isn't to be kept at home like God in a temple. We must send her to school and college. And later, to another house. Send her where? If I have to, I'll make her repeat fifth grade here. Hey! Turn this way. Turn! We finally got a bus to Polluru! The MLA promised me yesterday. Our girls don't have to ride bicycles anymore. They can take the bus. The bus issue is finally sorted. Hey, what's wrong? Your daughter will take the bus to school. -Agree to it. -Just agree, man! Say yes, Trinadh. Just say yes. Sir! Sir! Sir! A body! A dead body! Oh, Anusha… my dear… A…