Pengalila (2019) - full transcript

If we could be reborn as leaves
It should be on the same tree

It is not a lover that I need
But a sister -leaf

But a sister -leaf
Whose eyes surge

With happiness and grief
A. AYYAPPAN

1995, An eastern town in Kerala

Come fast, girl!

Finish your rain bath...

What a stylish rain!

Look, you are all wet
Go in and change your dress

Come on..

What a rain!



Put it inside..

Dry your hair well..

Come on, fast..

Take your things with you..

It’s our house owner

I am Abraham Mathew,
people call me Ittichan

Our house owner..

Hello..

Nothing like that..

This house is four generations old

And I am just a custodian..

Given on lease to their company..

Furniture are old style..

And Swami doesn’t use cots or tables



He sleeps on the floor..

You know Swamy, isn’t it?

Yes, he is in the Head Office now

I had met him..

Lot of complaints about your place

He is a strange type..

Hmm..

There’s a picture of Christ in your room

I had removed it when Swamy came..
I had put it back there

You don’t mind, isn’t it?

Why it is a good sign!

Exactly!

So, let me...

Rain... Rain

Swamy hasn’t polluted it by even touching it!

Bring the TV here..

Keep it there..

There..

Swamy took even its socket with him!

How do you spend your evenings?

Evenings..

We’ve a small club here..

We usually gather there..

With some booze and all..

You want one now?

Oh, no sir..

I will take you to the club..

I take leave now..

Ok

I’ll come tomorrow morning

Ok

Keep it there..
I will arrange it later

Vinod here..

We’re almost done with arranging things..

Rekha is in full swing..

Hey,

Go and take bath

I’ve to cook food for them..

Mom..

Two months more for school reopening..

Why not send them to some play school?

What do you think about this place?

No Bombay style schools here yet..

Good that it is not a flat..

There is enough space for them to play..

Bushes all around..
there could be snakes too..

We should clean it up..

Let me see if I can find someone..

He’s dropping my chapathi..

Stay quiet and eat..

It’s my pillow!

I need two, you take another one..

Mom, my pillow!

Give it here

Don’t fight..

Go to sleep..

Mom, you lie down for some time..

If I lie down, I will sleep..

I am dead tired!

Let me go and sleep

You two, pray and go to bed

There’s a romantic feel!

I’m really tired!

Our first night here,
in this bed room!

I want to sleep, please..

Come on..

The dark spotted koel
That came to bathe in Kurumali river

Didn’t the wind turn you around and around
And take you to Aluva river?

Didn’t the wind take you to the river?

The one who roamed around Aluva riverbed
Holding the tail of the wind

Didn’t the torrential rain,
Carry you in its currents, And take you to Kochi backwaters?

Oh,the dark spotted koel
That came to bathe in Kurumali river

The one who cried holding the feet
of the rising waves of the backwaters

Didn’t anyone come with a boat
To row and row you away?

Mom,

What is bogain villa in Malayalam?

Paper flower..

Paper flower..

Paper flower..

I think Thomas has come..

IIt is new place...
You’ve to introduce him to all

I know, madam,,

I’m leaving..

I’m Azhakan

Why are you laughing?

I was not joking.. Its my name

Your name?

Come on, tell your name..

RadhaLakshmi!

Oh, Radha and Lakshmi!

Radha is enough!

Welcome to our land...

BEEPHeard your welcome song yesterday night..

That’s only once in a while..

Sir has left?

Yes.

Where do you work?

Today I’ve work at a site

Each day, different jobs, different places..

Isn’t that your house?

It is not a house, it a hut..

When Kurup master dug a well

I put together a hut nearby

Earlier, I used to keep watch over his crops

So he agreed..

Your family?

Me and my wife, that’s all

We had a son, but he ran away..

Your wife too works?

Master’s wife is always ill

So she spends the whole day there

When you get time, clean our compound

It is all overgrown with bushes

Will do it tomorrow itself..

Ok daughter, see you..

Brother...

Is it too deep?

Not much.. come on..

Hey, come on..

BEEPHow is the new place?

There’s no play school here!

scared!

I’m Rajesh

We have a play ground here...

You are here!

Dont stay here..
You will get dirty..

There may be snakes too..

You go and stand there

There? May I stand there?

Yes! And say something to me

I’m not afraid of snakes

Oh, is it?

I like snakes

Great!

When does your school open?

Many more days left..

I won’t be getting new friends till then..

That’s true..

But you can play with your brother

He got other friends, to play cricket

He won’t let me join

So, you don’t know how to play cricket?

No...

That’s sad..

But, I know throw ball

I came first in throwball

Shall I give you a fish fry ?

Shall we start?

Let me chew some pan first..

Make it fast..

Ok

Finished your exams in the last school?

All first class?

Yes, I have first class in all papers

But for Spoken English, I got less marks

What happened?

I gave all wrong answers that day...

Here...

So, what are your plans now?

There’s a colony of our people nearby

Will go there and meet our people..

Will get boozed!

No group drinking.
Wont go to the shop either...

Somebody is brewing some arrack there

When I’ve money, I will buy a bottle

And have it here..

Why don’t you stay in the colony?

It won’t work..

People like me are loners..

This land is not ours

No land is ours..

We just stay here today and
in another place tomorrow

But I’m always there for colony people..

Otherwise, I do odd jobs, earn a bit
and get on like this..

If you bury her, won’t she die?

Yes, she will..

If we bury her she will die

But when we dig her out later,

She will get a new life..

Can we see her new life?

Yes, one can see it in the eyes

Rain...!

Come...!

My Susie died..

Let the rains subside

Then we’ll dig her out,

and she’ll have a new life..

I am coming..

Brother, wait.. the rains are gone..

Yes, I am going to play..

We have to dig my doll out, isn’t it?

You go and dig her out..

Hey dear, what are you searching for?

My Susie..

Who is Susie?

It is my doll..

My brother asked me, and I agreed to bury it..

Now I don’t know where I buried her

Why did you bury her?

Do one thing. You go home..

I will find it and bring it to you

I liked your doll’s name, Susie

I named her when I came here..

She didn’t have a name earlier

Susie is my friend’s name..

Is it?

I will find your Susie and bring her home

You go now...

What shall I call you?

Shall I call you Uncle?

Uncle!

Dont beat me..

Stop it

This is your mistake !

You know how much that doll costs?

So, that’s not a problem for you, eh?

You’ll know it only when you earn by yourself!

Did you ever let me go to work?

And for the slavery here I earn no wages!

What did you say?

Nothing..

Brother..

Wait, I’ll show you who I am!

Azhakan !

Came to show my face to Madam..
Where is she?

You are in full form, eh?

Yes..

How are you?

I’m fine, very fine..

Oh dear, come here

See what I’ve brought you..

Your Susie..

You were under the soil, eh?

What did you do when it rained?

When it rained, it drank water..
You get lost!

That scoundrel came fully drunk!

How come you go near and speak to him?

He reeks of arrack!

I don’t think whisky smells great..

Hey dear, are you coming ?

Today I work on that side of the canal

Coming to see the canal?

Mom, shall I go with him to see the canal?

Bring her back before noon

Oh Sure!

It is nearby..

Come, let us go

Taken the drawing book and paint with you !

You can sit and draw there..

This is our colony...

Vasu, how are you?

Can’t you hear while you play?

Come on, run..

You’ve such paddy fields in Bombay?

I have not seen.

I’ve never seen a field like this..

What else is there in Bombay?

There is nothing in Bombay...!

That’s it..

Uncle, who is that granddad?

Who?

There?

That is a granddad !

What are you doing?

Digging..

What’s your name?

Podichekkan (Small boy)

How can an old man' name be a small boy?

When I was named, I was small..

Who thought I will grow up?

Why are you digging?

Who knows?

I was asked to dig, and I dig

Evening, someone will come and pay me

Tomorrow it will be another place

Go and tell in your school

That there is someone
who has dug earth all over Kerala, It’s me..

Mom,

can someone dig all over Kerala?

What’s the new story?

Must be Podichekkan’s story

Who is he?

An old man.

He has lived in many places

Everywhere his job is digging earth

Must be that..

Azhakan too has lived in many places, isn’t it?

One could say
I’ve been beaten by police from all over Kerala

One cast one religion one God

Throw out the Caste demon

Protest against Chemical Plant

Come here.. you!

Why are you beating her?

She’s riding on the shoulders of all kinds of old men!

He’s like a granddad to her..

But still isn’t he a low-caste?

What is it Vinod ? So cheap

How dare you say that of an old man?

He’s as old as your father

Anyway, no more such journeys!

If you want to go out, go with your mom..

That’s an order..

Mom…

I was asked to dig, and I dig

Digging..

Evening, someone will come and pay me

Tomorrow it will be another place

Go and tell in your school

That there is someone
who has dug earth all over Kerala, It’s me..

Get down..

Come..

Sir, this is my wife..

Is madam inside?

Coming..

Madam, this is Anitha

One minute..

Radha,

This is Anitha aunty

Thomas uncle’s wife

Rajesh is her brother

He has gone out to play

Tell me when it is convenient for you..

We’ll go on Thursday

I too was planning to go

It is the last day for gold exchange..

I’ve to go the library first

If it’s library,
I too am coming!

You’ve already started, eh?

Okay...

Come sir..

This is Abubacker and Prasad

Our Inner Circle

Abu is a bank employee
here..

He is also a singer

Mr Prasad, which company do you work for?

I’m accountant at Smith Chemicals

That’s just his job

But he’s the intellectual among us

Interested in literature, cinema..

He reads a lot..

I too am interested in cinema

Especially, art films

We were thinking of a film club

Is it?

Then let us start one

Good idea!

Yes

Ok then..

Fruitful jurney!

It is getting late,
Gold exchange closes at 12

Sorry, long time since I’ve seen
a Malayalam library like this

I was thrilled!

After marriage, I missed out on many things

I thought I was losing my language too,

Then luckily, I happened to come

and see Malayalam books again!

Public library

Why are you here?

I came with mom to the library

Azhakan, you look stylish!

been to a marriage

Where is Chirutha?

She returned after the feast

Shall I take her for a stroll ?

Mom, I’m not coming to the jewellery

Come back fast..

Agreed!

Uncle, come

Lets go..

This is our town

We buy household things from here

If we want to make big purchases

We take a bus and go to the city

What about a cup of tea?

We’ll go to Joseph’s tea stall

You also get good snacks there..

Come on..

Have you eaten vada?

Let us eat...

Two cups of tea

Make it fast..

And two snacks for her..

Do you like vada?

Yes

slowly..It is hot..

I had a younger sister,

Manja

Manja (Yellow)?

She was my sister

She was with me all the time..

But she is not like you

She was a coward..

Really?

But like you, she too loved flowers

Who is there?

Siva..Siva...what is this?

God ! what am I seeing?

Oh Goddess ?!

She got very scared..

Was feverish for three days

And then, died..

What is wrong in washing
one’s legs in the pond?

The pond belongs to the upper castes

She shouldn’t have gone there

Why?

Come on, walk..

We are not supposed to enter anywhere..

Those days, we weren’t even
allowed to walk on the roads

But why?

Our legs were covered with mud

Maybe they didn’t want to dirty the road

Why not wash the feet and walk?

Washing won’t clean us of our dirt, dear..

It is accumulated through ages..

Big bores!

Didnt you hear?

They are all big bores!

In the office and outside!

I heard..

That Thomas is a big bore

Crooked..

Bastard!

Can’t believe anyone!

Not at all like what they appear to be...

Mom, Azhagan uncle's..

Don’t come here now
I’ve a lot of work..

Dad..

What happened?

What happened?

Azhakan uncle had a sister

Azhakan uncle had a sister

Is it so?

It is ok..

You come...

Hello, why are you roaming?

I was telling Susie the story of Manja

Dont come here..

When did you start walking on the roads?

What?

When did you start walking on the roads?

Oh, I get you..

Have you heard of Ayyankali?

No

He was our leader,

Leader of the lower castes

Those days we were not permitted to walk on roads

Ayyankali,

BEEPwearing a head scarf and all,

Rode a bullock cart on the road

Where do I get to read it?

What?

Ayyankali’s book?

I don’t know about all that, dear..

I haven't read all that.

I heard about these from others
While we went on strike..

How in the world could I read?

Come...

Wanted a book on Ayyankali

Couldn’t find it..

Keep quiet

Here is the book on Ayyankali

Ayyankali

In the second half of 19th century

And early decades of 20th century,

Ayyankali, a courageous warrior,
Who held up the torch of new awakening

And led his community to progress..

A great personality, the star that rose and shined over
The horizon of Kerala’s renaissance

Ayyankali’s strides forward broke open
New paths of struggle in Kerala’s march into the future

He fought against the injustices of caste system
Standing firmly in the heat of human rights violations

His greatest achievement was that he was able to
Bring about revolutionary changes in the society he lived
in..

This book on Ayyankali
For whom did you bring it?

For our daughter

Is it not text books that she need now?

I think she should grow up
reading such books

And grow up as an intellectual like you,
Looking down upon all others?

Why do things that deserve to be looked down?

You!

Now let us all have a grand lunch..

Come, let us go and see there..

Looks good?

Even for church festivals,
They come as family!

Enjoyed the festival?

What’s up?

Coming to celebrate?

We’ve booze with us

Here? You’ve some place to sit?

Don’t worry about that, come with us..

Something urgent came up

You wait here..

We will come back in a moment

Anitha, you should do something of your own

Only then will you find meaning in life

Now see this!

We’ve to just sit and wait for them to come back..

You were employed in Bombay?

I was working with an NGO

I should’ve taken up some job,

But with two deliveries in a row,
I lost interest..

She is listening to us..

She understands everything I say..

Now she is coming towards us

Nothing to munch?

No cooking and all here?

Only book-reading, eh?

I am reading after I finished cooking dinner..

I forgot about your munching..

Where is this thing called pickle?

There is this thing called kitchen
It should be there..

Tit for tat, eh?

Nancy, for some days now
I have been thinking of calling you..

How are you?

I am ok

She is here only..

No friends..

There’s one friend, an uncle..

There’s a public library here

That’s a great relief!

No other activities

How’s your mother?

I will call you later..

Madam..

Any outside work to do?

You are Azhakan’s wife?

Yes, I am Chirutha

I was wondering about you..

Kurup sir’s wife was ill

I was with her for last 10 days

Today I got a break..

He gave us place to stay,
otherwise where do we go?

He won’t come to the colony..

On some days, he drinks and then sings..

Sometimes, I too take a swig..

You too sing?

Only when I get high..

Oh..

Did he say he doesn’t like me?

He must have said that..

I too don’t like him

But what else can I do but put up with him?

We are seven children,
of which five are girls

My parents were struggling
to get all of us married

It was then that I met his mother

Gem of a woman!

And he’s the only son!

Who am I to say no to such a proposal?

When we got a son, I was happy

But he never loved our son

That’s why he got lost

Don’t even know where he is now..

He had a love affair earlier

And she died..

He still feels sad about it
Hence the singing..

Haven’t you ever felt love for anyone?

Love? Me?

Love and poverty don’t go together..

From my birth,
It was poverty

Poverty and wandering...

What happened

I feel dizzy..

Sit down..

Time to visit Prisoners...

Comrade Koshy Mathew

zindabad !

Comrade Gopala Verma

zindabad !

My son…

Down with Emergency

Bring Azhakan...

Comrades !

The dark days of Emergency thus came to an end

The valiant struggles of enlightened people
From all over India..

It should be a lesson to us all

Before comrade Koshy Mathew
and Gopal Varma address us,

I’d like to remind you something

Comrade Azhakan is coming out
after one year in jail..

To the sufferings of his poor but courageous
wife and mother during that period..

We should pay homage

Red Salute to them!

Red Salute

Now I invite Koshy Mathew to speak..

This is our colony..

Meanwhile we’ve received orders
To move out of our houses

His mother insisted that we should get married
when there is a roof over our head

We both never spoke about it

Oh god, please protect my children!

Finish it soon...

Come let’s demolish the huts!

After that, we were evacuated from
Every place we stayed..

Two months before I gave birth, his mother died

While we were wandering from one place to another
How can our son study?

Don’t push sir

What will you do if I push

We were driven away from every place..

Walk

Where is Ayyappan?

Where is my son?

I’m leaving, madam..

Whatever I told you,
let him not know..

What all did she say about me?

Whatever I told you,
let him not know..

She didn’t like me marrying her
And I too didn’t like it

So what to do but stay together?

We happened to have a son
Rascal!

Who knows where he is now?

He left home when he was 10

She goes for work early morning
Comes by evening, cook some food..

I go for work early in the morning
Come by evening, have some arrack

And then sing..

Yes, I will sing..

Chirutha told me who you sing about!

In every song, it is she...

Mala

I was everything for her..

And I was about to marry her..

Have you heard of Liberation Struggle?

Yes, quite a lot..

What is it, mom?

I will tell you later..

That struggle killed her

Goonda Velayudhan is killed!

Goonda Velayudhan

Was slashed 16 times!

Those were times of stabbing and slashing..

Scene from the film "Ormakalundayirikkanam" (1995)

No caste, no relegion, no Justice for you...

No Church, no Temple, no God for you...

This procession is to dismiss the government

Why dismiss?

Because it is the government of the poor

Of the poor?Ours then?

Of course

But I didn’t know that..

You will get to know soon..

We will be given land..

They’ll give us land?

Then why should it be dismissed?

You go and ask them!

No to the bill cheating the farmers...

No to the bill cheating the farmers...

Endurance struggle zindabad !

Those striking against government
They’ve asked me to join them

Three days’ procession to the town

They’ll pay me

Then you go..

But the government should be dismissed

What?

That’s what we should say

Then say that. You get paid for that

But no one can dismiss this government!

Too smart!

I will bring all the money back,

Won’t spend a paisa..

I didn’t know then
That I was seeing her for the last time

Somebody threw stones at the procession

Then it turned into a fight between

those in procession and the people there

Somebody in the procession stabbed another

And it struck her chest

She died on the spot

I didn’t go to see her

Mom, let us go

The same day, I left that place with mom

Now where are you dragging me off to?

Just once.. please

No..

Hey, don’t go..

When I leave the library with a book
It feels like student days

What all plans we had then!

To work in different areas

– art, social work, administration..

And I ended up managing
Three people’s kitchen area !

Put it that side..

We are neighbours..

Uncle, what happened to you?

I was cleaning your dad’s office

Let me go and take a bath

Kannadi
This episode of Kannadi is getting completed here

next episode after 2 weeks

A neighbour, it seems!

And he smiles at me as if we are friends!

Why do you get so offended?

He must have smiled
because he thought you’re his neighbour

Our dear chief manager couldn’t take it!

Get lost!

Aren’t you going to Kurup’s house?

No, today there are some visitors..

You are not going for work?

My whole body aches..

You should limit your drinking

It is not because of that

I feel feverish

Sit there,

Let me boil some herbs for you

Who is this?

Shall I come in?

Come in

Isn’t this Sri Narayana Guru?

Yes

You didn’t go for work?

Not feeling well..

Had medicine?

I am going to..

Everything will be ok then..

Without you, there’s no fun..

I got a book on liberation struggle..

And then?

Amma read it and I listened

Now it is when you say such things

That we are able to learn about them..

So I’ve become a song book for you?

Not song book, but text book..

Yes..

Sometimes I feel it is good

That I didn’t have a native place

So many different lands, different people..

All lands are like one’s own
Yet not one’s own..

That too is a good thing!

But not even an inch of land of one’s own!

I stayed in many places

But I was never lazy, I worked

Joined the people to fight for rights

Rehabilitate the displaced!

Justice from Government!

Long live Revolution!

We’ll win our rights!

We got nothing

It is long since you sang..

I’ll try tonight..

Ompuri’s acting was marvellous

Only Govind Nihalani used his talent!
In Ardh Satya and Aakrosh..

All the frauds are here!

They are my friends now..

Now?

Get lost, you..

Ompuri’s acting in Ardh Satya was good

But in Aakrosh..

What a character!

And that wail at the end!

A performance that blended actor and character!

True! Aakrosh is a great film!

What about a song?

That’s why Abubacker is here

Come on Abubacker..

We’re in good mood

Which song?

Your favourite!

Yes, that will do..

The one who roamed around Aluva riverbed
Holding the tail of the wind

Didn’t the torrential rain,
Carry you in its currents,

And take you to Kochi backwaters?

Oh,the dark spotted koel
That came to bathe in Kurumali river

Great song!

The song is good

It is our Azhakan..

The one who cried holding the feet
of the rising waves of the backwaters

Didn’t anyone come with a boat
To row and row you away?

I will put an end to his singing!

Why are you silent?

If he sings, what is your problem?

When decent people come here,

He starts his bloody song!

But they all listened to it!

That’s their decency!

What decency?

They liked the song, so they listened

You didn’t like the song

Because you don’t like him!

They liked the song, and I didn’t

Because I don’t like him

Why don’t you go and teach?

This place is becoming problematic

First I thought it’ll be a relief from Bombay’s rush

But here, I’ve nothing to do

Because it is vacation time they are with me

After that, I have nothing to do..

I’m boring you

with my worries...

Sorry!

I have a doubt..

Yes?

What we call the meaning of life and all
It varies according to what we feel..

If we don’t feel it,
There is no meaning, isn’t it?

Her relatives have arrived

The body will be taken to their place
That’s the decision

How sad!

So post mortem will be done there?

Yes

Hold that end, and put it there

Gently..

Take care when you go down the steps..

Mom,

What happened to Anitha aunty?

Don’t know, dear

Maybe God called her

How can you say no to god?

Will God call me too?

Let me take a bath

That Thomas is a big bore

With such a beautiful woman with him

He fell for that dirty bitch..

BEEPHe had other relationships?

So, you all knew that?

We asked him several times to leave it..

Why dont you dismiss him from the company?

For what?

For pushing a woman to suicide..

What are you saying?

Company can’t do that

Anyway, it is not a murder..

Hello, madam,

Your extremism and all
Won’t sell here, ok?

Mom..

What happened?

What is it ?

What happened?

She got scared of something..

You go to bed..

Go to sleep dear..

I hate this place now

An innocent girl,

Away from her place

Placing her faith in this scoundrel..

Her relatives came and took her

And no one says anything

What kind of place is this?

I will call you later, Nancy

So, you delivered us one after another?

Hey intellectual!

I was not very keen in giving birth to you

Why, mom?

I didn’t like it

Then why did you deliver?

Because of your dad’s madness

If dad gets mad, do you deliver?

You…

Why you are in our colony?

But you don’t stay here..

Still it is our colony..

Road access and water access

That’s the boating point I told you about..

Thomas, please arrange his stay..

Oh, Koshi Mathew sir?!

Azhakan!

How are you?

Hmm..

I am fed up with this Azhakan

What happened today?

We went to visit the Harijan colony

Our company is going to acquire it

What will they do then?

They’ll be resettled somewhere..

That is not the point

Our partner from Bombay, Koshy Mathew had come

He knows Azhakan

They were both in jail during Emergency!

What a fuss he created !

Caught you !

You know what your problem is?

Enlighten me!

Jealousy!

Towards that stupid guy?

If he hits, you should catch, ok?

Go and bring it fast..

Playing cricket, eh?

Yes

Come on, catch..

You were jailed during Emergency?

For a year.

What is Emergency, mom?

Will explain later

Bring the ball..

I am coming.

I became comrade then..

You want the eggs to be boiled or..?

Whatever you like..

You don’t tell me anything

How do I know what big people eat?

Have it, sir..

The grocer is suspicious

Why I need so much bread and other things..

I told him, we’ve a function at home..

Do you belong to this place?

I come from far North..

I left my place long ago..

Have been living in many places..

Actually, wandering around..

The condition of these people is really sad!

It should be changed..

Please have food..

I heard two people are staying with you?

No, there’s no one here

We heard so..

Only me and my mom stay here..

We want to check inside

That’s not possible

Why?

I don’t like someone entering my house

That’s all..

We will demolish this hut
And drive you away..

You can do whatever you want

But you can’t enter my hut

Sir, there is a pit there..

Watch out..

Come on..

Give me water..

Let me see..

Sir, you come here..

After that, we’re meeting for the first time now..

Come here..

He recognised me at first sight

Do you know why he has come here?

No.. they were looking around our colony

He’s your husband’s boss..

The company is going to acquire your land

To build flats there

Flats?

Then where will our people live?

They say they’ll resettle you somewhere..

Resettle us?

How can it be?

Where will our people live?

We won’t evacuate..

We will protest and struggle against it..

Farming is man’s basic right!

Land to the Farmer!

Snow, on the fragile nerves of the leaves
Snow, on the peaks of the hill

Snow, melting highland ancestors
Snow where firehill grandmas smoulder

Snow on the head of God’s snake
Snow in the attic where goddess resides

In the verdant green of the grass shoots
Snow drawing water marks

Snow, that covers the fire-face of Sun God
And revels sucking blood

Snow that draws the narrow bridge
Over which people, holding hands, pass without falling

Snow that turns drinking water to stone
Snow that upturns settlements

Snow that roams around as white bear
Snow that swallows  lightning

Coming from the South with the smell of death
Snow that dances in the veranda

Descending from the palm tree with the smell of the flower
Snow that catches the earth in its fangs

Snow that guzzles songs through the river
Snow that sheds from the feathers of the vulture

Lo, a pulaya sings the song of the burial ground
With his drunken tongue, sitting in the cold..

Hey..

Don’t you ever set foot in my compound!

Hey..

Come..

Koshy Sir?!

Why did you beat uncle?

Don’t you open your mouth!

It is all because of you!

You shouldn’t have beaten him..

When decent people come home

He comes drunk and sings in front of my house..!

All those decent people are
lying there dead drunk!

Don’t talk nonsense!

They’re my friends,

I can own upto them

But who is he to you?

Shame on you !

Radha dear, have breakfast..

Me and mom were really sad -

When my dad hit uncle..

Don’t bother about it, dear

Your uncle needs a beating once in a while

What’s happening in the colony?

They are on strike

Azhakan didn’t go to work?

When people are on strike?

How can he?

Your hero is on fasting from today

At the company gate..

Comrade Azhakan !

Bye !

Some food before fasting..

Eat well, Azhakan..

I too am fasting outside the pandal, madam..

Who asked you to fast?

How can I eat when you are fasting?

Now, both of you eat well..

Dear, have food..

Azhakan uncle would’ve eaten nothing..

Then what?

Will he eat biriyani while fasting?

You eat..

Hunger Strike..

You know why we’re boozing here?

To sing sitting here..

From now on, that scoundrel won’t sing..

He is fasting to death

He will be arrested before that

and he won’t come out

So, from now on, his songs are ‘cut’

I am celebrating that!

Some people may not like it

They can leave..

Such an uncouth man!

Hey, stop there!

You can’t bear it, eh?

You want to listen to his song?

Do one thing..

Put us all in jail..

Then you can bring his song home, eh?

To the bed room.. -

Sir You still have this house

The house is gone

This is no more a house

How can it be?

The company is still paying the rent

And you are still the company’s staff!

Long live the revolution!

Comrade Azhakan zindabad!

Indefinite Hunger Strike

Reheja company should abide by justice

Come on, be seated..

Hunger strike !

So you are leaving dear?

You should study well and become a doctor!

2015 -
A Tea Plantation

Come, Madam

Long live revolution!

Indefinite Hunger Strike

Manja!

At last you came..

The thought of leaving without seeing you

made me tired

Shall I lie down on your lap?

So you have become a doctor ,eh?