Let me go to the shop. That girl is alone there.
Where's Aunty?
Aunty has gone to a funeral.
Hey, hey, listen...
Did you call me?
-You're Vilasini, right? -Ah, yes.
Here you go.
All right, then.
Need to buy some saffron powder.
The saffron powder here is good.
Curse you, you old hag!
Look, Ambareesh, this won't work out.
Is your horoscope reading doing any good?
Listen... it's called "astrology" in foreign countries.
But we are going to the Gulf after marriage.
The Arabs don't have any astrology over there.
You're right.
But that's where I find scope now.
There won't be any competition.
Where is Sarojini?
She went out.
Mm... Mm... Get in the car.
Brother, the shop is open--
I will tell Radhakrishnan. You get in.
Nayana's brother, you must be on your way from Dubai, right?
Babu, you are back!
Did you bring the items that I told you?
Yes.
Radhakrishnan, where did you go leaving her alone here?
I came to look after her.
I have only one sister, Radhakrishnan.
So?
Get in!
Are you taking Nayana with you?
What happened?
Stupid Ambareesh.
Guess I'll shut this and go home.
I hurried all the way for nothing.
Mashallah! Sreekuttan!
Babu!
Three times. You forgot?
-Got nervous suddenly. -How's it going?
-Where's your shop? -Over there.
Oh, that one, eh?
Is it doing good?
Leave all that. What about your marriage?
That also... Okay.
Things will get better. We should meet.
I've brought it, okay?
We'll rock!
Phew, good to know he didn't prosper.
I will pray. Everything will be okay.
Sreekuttan, we weren't laughing at you, okay?
No need for so much contrast.
Oh, my dear Sreekuttan!
Even Lazy got one.
That too a beautiful girl.
Exactly.
What a nice colour.
That's my creativity, you know.
I'll show you all!
Why are you smoking openly? People will see!
Let them see.
All this time, I've been smoking secretly,
worrying that people will see.
I don't give a damn now.
Did you ever like anyone...
like how Sneha liked you?
Like that...
Is there someone?
There is someone.
Really?
Who?
Devu...
You know...
Unni master's daughter.
Oh... why didn't you tell me this before?
Then let's fix that.
I don't think that's possible.
It won't happen.
Why not?
You know, right? Their whole family are atheists.
If a burglar barges into our house,
instead of reaching for a torch,
our family will first pray to God.
They are just atheists,
not Satan worshippers.
Let's at least try.
We can try, no?
Yes, we can.
Oh, dear God!
Tomorrow marks the commencement of Peethambaran's ambitious
One Chicken in Each Porch project,
aiming to transform Perilloor into
the largest self-sufficient Panchayat in India.
Oh... Shahladharan, it's you.
Yes, sister. How are you?
I am good.
Hamza asked me to cut down some coconuts.
Do it, then.
Are you alone?
Where is Shamla?
She headed out to tend the cattle.
Ah, let me quickly start my work then.
All right.
-Cut three or four tender coconuts also. -Will do.
Ummukkulsu, look at this. It's nice green grass.
Fill up your belly!
Shamla... how are you?
Can't see her udder.
The milking has stopped, right?
What's wrong with this guy?!
You should have let her mate.
Stop staring and eat!
Ummukkulsu...
Beware of that guy!
I will go and bring the porridge water.
Oh, God of Pathalakuzhi!
Will start auspiciously from the Tokyo Mitra itself.
(random chanting)
Where did all the coconuts go?
HAMZA!
What happened?
Look over there!
There is not even a single coconut on Tokyo Mitra.
Allah!
Oh, dear God!
My Tokyo...
Hamza?
Did he cut forty tender coconuts instead of four?
Those are not coconuts. That is Dad!
What happened, Dad?
Dad!
Nothing happened to him.
Dear God!
This tree had so many coconuts.
-Listen... -Yes, Dad?
You climb up and have a proper look.
Dad, the coconuts won't come back if I climb it.
Then why did I spend money and make you study BSc Agriculture?
Climb up and look.
-Don't push me! -Go and look!
Why are you pushing me?
-Just say it! -Check it out, son.
No need to push.
This tree makes the most coconuts in our country.
You keep quiet. Let him check it.
It was fine just last week.
Ugh! Shush, one minute.
God, what will I tell the Assamese?
Listen...
Here...
Chew this too.
-Check if the soil has phosphorus. -Hey, not this.
-Not this. -Why?
That Shahladharan has a habit of
peeing here at the bottom of the tree.
Yuck!
That's what I was telling you.
This is definitely that, Dad.
Yes, it is urine.
Ugh! Not urine!
-Then? -Black magic.
Just shut up, man!
Even God doesn't exist! Hmph!
Let alone your coconut tree black magic.
I'm serious. This is black magic itself.
I also think it is black magic.
All the villagers have their eyes on this tree.
-Correct. -Oh, you devil.
These days, it seems like only you and your kids
still hold onto such superstitions!
I know what to do.
-Shamla. -Yes, Dad?
When you go to the Panchayat tomorrow,
tell Nanukuttan to come here.
We must dig the bottom of the tree
and put in some fertilisers.
We have to keep some blades on top of the tree.
I suspect some people.
-Let their legs tear apart! -Dad?
I'll teach them a lesson!
Stop playing with the devil, Dad!
Stop yapping and go do some work!
In this month-end meeting of the No-God Gang,
which constantly fights against
the cultural decadences of Perilloor
that has only been increasing,
we have got a reason to be happy.
And that is...
two more of our fellow villagers
are joining our organisation today.
It is a positive sign that our village's youth...
After your dad's speech is done, I have a poem to show off.
She's wearing braces.
Let us pray that they actively participate in our cause.
But she looks good.
At least one atheist in each house...
They call sister-in-law Miss 4th Ward now.
Once her braces are off,
she will be Miss Perilloor Panchayat.
I welcome Sreeraman and Vasudevan to the Perilloor branch of the No-God Gang.
Devu...
Greetings. Greetings.
Here... for you.
Sit down, sit down.
For our next programme, Perilloor branch's
joint secretary Padmanabha Menon
will recite his poem: "The Song of Logic."
Menon...
Thank you.
Come here!
Come here... Hamza!
There are eggs at the bole of the coconut tree.
Guys, stop gawking and come here!
Eggs?
Just a minute, dear.
-What is it? -Come, come!
Come and look at the eggs!
-What happened? -Eggs!
Are you deaf?
Where are the eggs? Let me see.
-Not over here. Go to that coconut tree. -Oh, sorry...
I hit you by mistake.
You first...
-You can hold my hand. -No, thanks.
No?
Be careful, okay? Careful...
Come on, look over there.
I saw it while digging here.
Since Nanukuttan did the digging, it is still intact.
Looks like chicken eggs.
Does a hen lay eggs inside the soil?
It isn't some rodent.
Anyway, chicken eggs will be bigger.
Maybe the eggs were premature.
Everybody, move! Make way!
Let me take a look.
What's that?
Oh, dear Gods!
Didn't I tell you that it was black magic?
What did you say then?
"There is no black magic. There is no God."
Very good! Suffer now!
This tree used to give more than 100 coconuts.
And yesterday, all of a sudden, there was nothing.
That's why I said that someone did black magic.
-Yeah, that's right. -What?
There is a great Swami in Amshakacheri
who does black magic on quail eggs.
How do you know that, Sadasivan?
Um... That...
You see, I'm writing an article about the superstitions in Kerala.
That's true.
I told you it's black magic, didn't I?
How else do you think this could happen to our Tokyo Mitra?
Black magic...
Stop, stop! Right here!
Here you go, dear.
Keep this file with you.
I thought you would have at least
renamed the school after you bought it.
Why?
Isn't it a credit to have a memorial while you're still alive?
I need to sign a few bills.
You wait here. I'll be right back.
PEETHAMBARAN MEMORIAL HIGH SCHOOL PERILLOOR
Peethambaran, over here.
Oh, there you are.
There are spies everywhere.
Even the things I say at home are getting leaked.
That's why I asked you to come here
on a school holiday.
What is it?
Peethambaran, I told you, right?
I would like to start a new venture.
Come!
-Venture? -Yes.
What venture?
Like your old electronics store?
I've had enough of this teasing.
I need to impress these people
by succeeding in a business in Perilloor.
Let them know I'm capable of doing that!
What business are you planning now, Uthamman?
An Akshaya centre... Poonkattil Akshaya.
Don't focus on the name now.
What about the permissions and all?
Everything is okay at the collectorate.
But I need a small favour
from the Panchayat.
You do know that Peethambaran's Panchayat
won't just help anyone like that, right?
I know. I've brought it with me.
Oh, you have!
-Should I count it? -No need.
It's all in there.
We need more corporates like you in this town.
-Good boy. -Thank you.
I will take care of everything.
Peethambaran, there's a small problem.
That Sreekuttan's shop
is doing the same things as Akshaya but covertly.
So, it won't be of much use...
if we open another shop near that.
So, I should shut down Sreekuttan's shop
and give you the licence?
This amount won't be enough for that, Uthamman.
Here you go.
Just tell me how much. I can transfer the amount.
-I can do it right now. -No, no!
Don't transfer it. Give me cash.
Oh, okay.
It's evidence.
Sure... whatever you say.
Okay, okay!
-Smart boy! -Okay, okay, thank you.
-It's original black magic. -What is this Kunjikhader saying?
He and his mother believe in all superstitions.
You don't mind them.
Hamza, looking at it...
I also think it is black magic.
Then what are you waiting for?
Take those eggs and throw them away.
Those eggs are on your property.
You throw them away yourself.
Sadasivan, just throw that away.
Aren't you the president, Hamza?
It's only fair that you throw them away.
-Not that I don't want to do it. -Then?
You see, I cannot bend my back at all.
Menon?
I'm a pure vegetarian. I don't touch eggs.
Since when?
What?
I'm not on your team, Dad.
Moreover, I'm a believer.
I believe in God,
and I'm very scared of this black magic stuff.
So, you and your team take care of this.
All right?
Wait, no!
Don't!
-What is it? -Just stay put!
Why can't I throw it?
Brother, this is the right time.
You go and throw those eggs away.
Sister-in-law will be very impressed if you do it.
My dear Vasu!
Those are black magic-infused eggs.
If I just touch it,
our family will be doomed.
Do you remember the day we saw Kunjikhader
on our way to Sneha's house?
He had many coconuts on his scooter.
Now look at him closely.
Don't you feel he's overacting a bit?
This is most definitely black magic!
Sadasivan, look here!
Two, four, six...
Six, six! Six is the devil's number.
This is black magic.
Trust me, it is.
So, he's the thief who stole the coconuts.
Yes, yes.
When everyone here is all scared and confused,
if you go and throw away those eggs,
Unni master will come to you and ask,
"Shall I marry my daughter to you, my dear boy?"
Whoa!
Go on.
Go and throw them away!
What now?
Go!
Excuse me.
Set!
The girl with the braces is set.
Snake! Run! Those were snake eggs!
Run! They were snake eggs!
There's economic recession everywhere, Jaffar.
Thought it would get better when Biden succeeded Trump.
-The tea is a bit stronger. -That's fine.
Tea?
What do you get when you design a flex?
I get it good if there are spelling mistakes.
What do you mean?
You know what you get
when you stitch a pair of pants without a zip?
Definitely more than that.
Did anybody ask your opinion?
Sir, that's the shop over there.
Is the Panchayat one of Dragonfly's clients?
Oh, you've got customers.
I saw you first when I came to open the shop.
You're a good omen, Sundaran!
Jabbar, I'll pay for his tea.
Add it to my account.
Why simply waste the tea?
It tastes like chewing gum.
Don't burn your tongue, man.
Lazy, what's up with your marriage?
Look at him, so shy!
Sir, he's one of the staff.
Flex or DTP?
Neither.
This is a notice from the Panchayat to shut down your shop.
Jaffar! All good? Happy?
Sundaran!
What are you doing here?
I came here to cancel the shop's licence.
Whose shop?
Your flex shop.
-Get a seal from the secretary. -All right.
Aren't you Sreeraman?
You got a licence from the Panchayat for a flex shop.
-But you're not just doing that here! -I don't know.
You need a separate permission to provide online services.
-Do you know that? -No...
That's why the government has implemented Akshaya centres.
The Panchayat has decided to shut down your shop.
We have given the notice to him. Take it.
I know whose idea it was to shut down my shop.
Tell the president
she's gonna pay for this soon.
Start the jeep. Let's go.
We can take pride in having a leader in Perilloor
who vigorously opposes corruption and law violations.
Peethambaran often shares his dreams for this place with me,
and you'd be amazed if you heard his plans.
Rice, wheat,
strawberry,
tea,
watermelons,
cashew nuts,
dates,
almonds,
pistachio,
apple, grapes and more!
This man envisions a Perilloor that
both produces and imports all these wide range of products.
I won't take more of your time.
To inaugurate Peethambaran's One Chicken in Each Porch programme,
I welcome the most highly educated Panchayat president in our history,
Miss Malavika Purushothaman, to the stage.
-Come on, president. -It's okay. It's okay.
Come on.
-Go on, president. -Be brave.
Hi.
Hello.
Hope you're all doing well.
Oh, God!
Ch... ch... chicken...
Chicken is a part of our culture.
Isn't it?
True that!
And if we talk about chicken...
One Chicken on Each Porch...
One Chicken on Each Porch means...
there should be one chicken on everybody's porch.
And every chicken should have a porch too.
Thank you and good day.
Inaugurate it.
I inaugurate all of you to this programme.
Coming up next...
I welcome our dear Panchayat president
to distribute the chickens.
Cheruvallikkal Ajitha is going to accept the chicken first.
That is Chandu's mother.
That is Chandu's aunty.
That is Hariharan's wife's younger sister.
Karthyayani Amma's daughter-in-law.
This is Mani's sister.
What are they doing here?
Actually, this chicken project is mainly for
Peethambaran's favourite people.
I was also wondering...
Oh, no, Sreedevi madam.
Hariharan, you can distribute the rest.
That's a first.
-Mani? -Yes, Hariharan?
Start announcing the names.
What was the last name?
Hello, madam?
Are you the Panchayat president of Perilloor?
Hello?
Did you hear what I asked?
Hello?
Hello, Malavika?
Mm... yes.
Why didn't you tell me about it?
How could you hide something like this?
Should I know about it from others?
Sorry, madam.
How can you do your PhD research along with that?
When will you find time for that while governing the Panchayat?
That's not an issue. I will resign.
Best! See, Malavika...
you need to have some dedication
to whatever it is you're doing.
How can you step away from a responsible position just like that?
Do one thing,
continue with your current job.
-Madam, please listen to me-- -All right, Malavika.
What happened?
My only hope is also gone.
Somebody informed madam that I'm the Panchayat president here.
Who here bears such a deep grudge against me?
At least wash your hands, Uncle!
Even your nephew is mocking you.
And yet, you don't change.
Here's some egg curry.
He likes raw, not boiled.
What happened?
I don't want it.
Oh, didn't you know?
He doesn't eat chicken eggs these days.
Only snake eggs.
-Do you want chapatis? -No, I just want chicken eggs.
Give him one.
Who's that?
Must be the astrologer.
I had asked him to come.
For what?
To check your horoscope.
What's wrong with my horoscope?
What's not wrong?
You even ate snake eggs!
I'm wondering if it's some sort of snake curse
that led to the shop's closure.
I need to get it checked.
Who knows!
Is this your astrologer?
Yes, Ambareesh, the astrologer.
Look, I've got the board and charts.
Why can't you make a living out of a job you actually know?
Be quiet!
Please don't mind him.
Oh, not at all.
Because we studied together from a young age,
he might find it difficult to accept me as an astrologer.
No problem, mother.
(chanting)
Mercury, Venus, Earth.
What is Saturn doing here?
Any snake curse?
It hasn't been long since he ate the snake eggs, right?
It takes some time for the curse to reflect.
No obstacles as such.
What about marriage?
Don't worry!
It will happen soon.
His star sign is Karthika, just like mine.
A significant shift is on the horizon for our lives.
Our life's track is going to change.
A lizard is chirping. It must be true.
O Perilloor Goddess!
It's his phone's ringtone.
Not a lizard.
It's wrong to get up while doing this.
But this is urgent.
What is so urgent?
Ambareesh...
You said, according to our horoscopes,
we'd be married for the next seven lives, right?
-Yes. -Well...
let's try again in the next six lives, okay?
It's not going to happen in this one.
Babu has fixed my marriage.
Since the guy is employed in Dubai, I didn't object.
Please don't ask me anything else.
What happened all of a sudden?
Even yesterday she gave me a kiss on the phone.
Um... what happened?
Just a slight shift in my life's track.
Nayana's track?
-Yeah... -Hm?
Yes!
-Don't you want your fees? -Why?
Send it to me.
Wonder what happened.
Send it to him quickly.
Sure.
Ambareesh...
Your board.
You left your board, man.
I'll take it later!
-Oh... -Sreekuttan.
Need a minute.
What is it, Shamla?
Do you want to close down our mill too?
I should be saying this in front of your family.
But I didn't want your mother to get hurt.
What is the matter?
Aren't you the one who called Malavika's guide
and told her that she is the Panchayat president?
Yes.
Do you have no shame?
Nope.
Because of you, she lost her research position.
Do you know how much she desired that?
Even I had a lot of desires when I started that shop.
If she could shut it down, I can do this too.
There's no shame in that.
She's not the one who shut down your shop.
Hmph! Stop justifying your friend.
Believe it if you want.
I won't believe it! That shop was running smoothly.
All the problems began when she became the president.
She even contested the election to take revenge against me.
Do you think that Malu is running this Panchayat?
She's neither interested nor capable of doing it.
It's her uncle who's pulling the strings.
He was the one who took action against your shop
after taking a bribe from Uthamman to start an Akshaya centre.
Do you know why she came here?
She signed the nomination paper because you agreed to the marriage.
She left everything and came here only because she likes you.
And what did you do?
She already has a lot of problems
because she is in a position she doesn't like.
At least, you stop hurting her!
DARPANAM
"An evening in my school courtyard
"A memory of the first time I saw
"There stands my dragonfly Among so many others
"Perched beside the yellow flowers
"Did you notice me?
"Were you aware of my gaze?
"My dear little dragonfly"