- (eerie music sets in) - (thunder strikes)
(crickets chirping)
(music rises)
- (trumpets blaring) - (bells ringing)
(chanting)
(bus horn blares)
Why must we come so far for the ritual, thatha?
Our native town is Courtallam.
If we offer a pitcher at the temple in our town,
we must offer a prayer to the spirit in the well and invite her,
- and only then will the spirit come. - (boy) What should we do in the well?
The person possessed by the deity must go into the well with the palanquin.
He will die there. We'll bring him up and call upon the spirit.
The dead guy will be possessed by the spirit.
We'll take him back to our town and finish the prayer there.
What if he doesn't wake up?
We'll take him to the graveyard along with the palanquin.
(boy) Who's going into the well?
It's you. Who else?
How will I? Oh, my!
It's none other than the oracle Ganesan.
(rousing divine music)
♪ Om Kali, all hail Kali! ♪
- (screams) - (music halts)
- (crickets chirping) - (engine whirring)
It burns!
- Hey. - Huh?
Are the guys on the bike ready? Did you ask them?
Pandi is ready. They'll leave when the crackers burst.
(bus honks)
- (bus halts) - (whistle blows)
(man grunts)
(man) Goodness!
- Kaathadi. - Where?
- Neela and Vargees are on the bus. - (gasps)
- (suspenseful music) - I'll light the cracker right away.
(ominous music)
- Kaathadi has fired the cracker. - Hey, drive the car!
(tyres screeching)
(bike engine whirring)
(bike honking)
(whistles)
(bus squeaks, halts)
Neela, get off now. Get off!
Come. Come!
- (Neela) What happened? - (Vargees) Go into the forest.
Go on.
- Be careful. - (whistle blows)
(suspenseful music)
- (bike honking persists) - (man) Hey!
- (Vargees grunts) - (man groans)
- (grunts and groans) - (whistle blows)
- (thuds) - (women scream)
- (chaotic chatter) - (grunts and groans)
(bus squeaks, halts)
Hey! It's our guys in there.
- Stop. - Get down!
- (man) Get him! - (music intensifies)
Stop, you son of a bitch!
- Hey! Come on, get him! - Catch that son of a bitch!
- Hey! - What happened?
(man 2) Thamburan anna, Neela is not on the bus.
Kaathadi signalled with the cracker that she was on the last bus.
- Go, search at the bus stop. - (man 2) Okay, anna!
(panting)
(man) Hey, Raghu! Go to the left!
Catch him from around there!
- (thuds) - (groaning)
Don't move, you wimp!
Twist his arm and hold him!
- (man 3) Come here, you! - (man 4) Drag him! Hey!
Come on, dude!
- Pandi, get the weapon! - I will!
You dare make us run?
- (grunting and groaning) - (punch thuds)
Did you both think you could betray us and run away safely?
You think we'll let you go? Huh?
Where is that runaway whore?
(spits)
(Vargees) Don't speak about her!
You're the traitor!
- You berated her and your brother-- - (gasps)
- (emotional music sets in) - What is this, Rajadurai?
Why did you stab him before finding out where she is?
If I didn't stab him, what he said last would become true.
He should be stabbed, right? Huh?
Die!
(music intensifies)
(music turns suspenseful)
Hmm!
- (grunts) - Hey!
(Neela gasping)
- (Neela shouts) - (man screams)
(branches crack)
- (Neela) No, don't. - (man) See what I do to you!
- (man grunts) - (Neela's scream echoes)
- (horns blare, anklets jingle) - (drums beating)
- (man 1) Clean it up, guys. - (man 2) Move it around.
(ritualistic singing)
(Ganesan groans, grunts) Hey!
What is this?
- Hey, Manimadan! - What is it, Ganesan?
There's a girl here.
Lift it up.
Hey, hold it tight and pull.
(Ganesan) Girl, who are you? Can you hear me?
Hey, pull up the rope.
Hey, be careful.
That's it, pull it up. Lift it!
Slowly.
Vembu, looks like she is pregnant.
Vembu, I don't know who it is. She was in the well.
Ganesan, check if she is alive.
(Ganesan) She wasn't breathing.
Hey! It's the spirit in the form of a pregnant woman.
If she is alive, we will carry her. If not, we'll leave her here.
- Play the drums! - (singing continues)
- (men grunting) - (swords slashing)
- (sudden eerie sound) - (Neela gasps)
Hey, the spirit is here. Let's take her to our town and do the ritual.
Hey! Lift her up!
(song halts)
Anna, the job is done! Shall we burn him?
- Burn him! - (horns blare)
(ritual song continues)
(man) Out of the way!
The spirit is here. Out of the way!
(Ganesan grunts)
Thamburan anna, I searched as far as I could. Couldn't find her.
One of our boys is missing, too.
Did so many of you search for her and still let her slip away?
Hey! I need her.
- Alive or dead! - (eerie drum beat plays)
Selvam, she should be around here somewhere.
- Send our men in all directions. Go! - Okay, anna.
Look, if she is alive, she will be a danger to us any day.
Come, let's search for her.
(Ganesan grunts)
(flame catches, burns)
If you betray your own friends, this is how you will end up.
Come on.
(divine opening music)
A FEW YEARS LATER
VANADESAM TIRUNELVELI DISTRICT
- (divine music rises) - (temple bell rings)
I've mixed the cold and hot water. Go bathe.
I'm going to the temple to put on prayer beads.
Should I bathe in hot water? I should bathe in cold water!
Then, go bathe in the pond.
(music turns lively)
♪ The fragrance of oleander Wild jasmine and marjoram ♪
♪ One can smell it all around When they come to Vanadesam ♪
(song continues)
- (man) Ganesan. - Hmm.
Take 5 lamp bases and give it to the metal shop.
Okay.
♪ After the Aani month, we put on The prayer beads in the Avani month ♪
- (man) What is it? - Polish it. Uncle will give the money.
♪ In the Puratasi month We celebrate Dasara grandly! ♪
(in Telugu) Appa, the postman is here.
I'm leaving. It's time for the prayers.
♪ We wait for Dasara To put on our disguises ♪
♪ Just to chant "Om Kali, all hail Kali" ♪
♪ Goddess Mutharamman Comes to our rescue ♪
♪ Even if it's a small problem ♪
♪ When she is by our side Can anything shake us? ♪
Fish! Sardines and snappers galore!
♪ When we step in this direction It's all about growth ♪
♪ The fragrance of oleander Wild jasmine and marjoram ♪
- Atha, where is Vakkeel? - I've named my son Krishnan!
- And you're giving him random names? - (man) Atha!
Do people think he is a hay seller? They think he is a lawyer.
- It's a name to be proud of. - Give me the money.
...30, 40...
♪ After the Aani month, we put on The prayer beads in the Avani month ♪
♪ In the Puratasi month We celebrate Dasara grandly! ♪
♪ We wait for Dasara To put on our disguises ♪
♪ Just to chant "Om Kali, all hail Kali" ♪
- I'll smoke beedi after Dasara. - (shopkeeper) Then?
I have fasted for 45 days. It's just a matter of a few days.
- Give me some lemon juice. - Okay.
(song ends)
- (man) Tea! Tea! - (cycle bell ringing)
Come have some tea, ladies!
Didn't you go for the afternoon prayers?
The deity won't go anywhere.
After work is done, I'll go for the night prayers of Goddess Kali.
Or else, I'll put my disguise on and go in the morning.
(ominous music ensues)
Excuse me, this girl's name is Neela.
Have you seen her?
I don't know.
- Take a look. - I don't know either.
I don't know.
People all around Kalakattu consult about their horoscopes with me.
Based on what I see in the photo, this girl is not in this town.
Damn son of a gun!
(phone ringing)
Hello.
Durai, this is Kaathadi.
Yes, tell me.
We've searched all around Tirunelveli for Neela.
- She's not anywhere. - Then?
Kalakkad and Vanadesam are left.
Go search and let me know.
Durai, tomorrow morning, my daughter is getting engaged.
After the engagement, 2 days later, can I search for her then?
- What? - Now we need some money.
I've already paid you loads of money to search for Neela.
- You want more money? - Durai, just one more time.
You will get your money only if you find Neela. Hang up.
(man) What did he say?
He won't pay me without knowing where Neela is.
Oh, then...
- Come on. Let's go to Vanadesam. - Let's go.
Latha. Latha?
What is it, akka?
You had mentioned that Mallika should be added if we start a new chit-fund.
So, I came to note her name down.
- I don't want it, akka. - Just join it.
What have you saved up in the 5 years since you came to this town?
You have a daughter, too.
Shouldn't you have money on you when you need it in the future?
Okay, let Dasara get over. I'll think about it.
- Akka, just write her name for now. - Okay.
What's your husband's name?
- Oh, no! - (woman) What's with the scowl?
- Latha, did I say something wrong? - We need to pour the water. Come.
- Why did she leave? - You ruined it.
Why did you ask for her husband's name?
Ever since she's come to this town, she has not told me anything about her.
Her daughter has got measles now.
We're bathing her with medicinal water for the last time today.
You can come after Dasara. We'll take care of it then.
Okay.
(kid) Aachi, the water is cold.
(women ululating)
Come to me.
Hey, Selvam.
Let's go get a pot from the market for the grain ritual.
- Come on. - You go on.
I need to water the crops.
How will I bring so many pots by myself?
I told you I'm not coming. Go on. I'm not coming. Just go!
Sure...
You will come to place the pots on the heads of the women, right?
I'll deal with you then!
Hey, as if all the girls over there will throw themselves at me! Buzz off!
Wait for Dasara to get over.
- I'll thrash you with a broom. - All right, okay, fine.
- I know how your mind works now! - Okay, go on.
- Mind your business. - What is it?
He speaks as though he is your relative? Is he so close to you?
We're all part of the same troupe that performs for Dasara.
He dresses up for the deity Panimadan, and I dress up for the deity Mundan.
They're all our people.
I know what you are talking indirectly about.
Shut it. They make it their damn job to speak about caste.
Hmph!
Ever since this Dasara, people from all castes have become united.
If they wear the prayer beads, do they all become one?
They don't. Goddess Mutharamman unites them.
- (rousing music) - (priest chanting)
Om Kali. All hail Kali!
Om Kali! Om Kali!
♪ Oh, Goddess who rules the world! ♪
♪ Our Goddess Mutharamman! ♪
♪ Oh, divine one! Our Goddess Who rules the world! ♪
We bathed her with the final round of medicinal water.
Tell me about Dasara.
(Vembu) Ever since the times of King Kulasekaran,
the eight Kali Goddesses lived in the town of Kulasekarapattinam.
Goddess Mutharamman is the ancestral deity of Ayyadurai Kavirayar.
Once upon a time, when measles spread across and attacked everyone,
everyone observed a fast and prayed for the disease to go away.
The people who were cured of it dressed up as Kali and came here.
Over the course of time, that turned into many such disguises.
This practice spread across all classes of society,
and without any caste discrimination, everyone started putting on disguises.
When we dress up and dance, we must see everyone as equals.
Then, Goddess Mutharamman becomes one among us.
That is when we feel the Goddess inside us.
When will we leave for Kulasai from here?
We'll gather the grains from the ritual tonight.
After the pooja for the Goddess,
we'll put on the disguises in the morning.
We'll split the donations in town, and then leave straight for Kulasai.
Okay, then. I'll get going.
Goddess Mutharamman will fulfil your prayer satisfactorily.
You just have to carry the fire pot with prayer just like you vowed to do.
Don't be scared that you're doing it for the first time.
You just have to touch the fire pot.
Goddess Mutharamman will come to you and bear the heat.
- Go ahead. Bless you. - Okay.
(Mookandi) Fish!
Anchovies, sardines and snappers!
- Sardines! - Hey, Mookandi!
A letter from the agent has come. It's about a job abroad.
When do we go to pay the money?
Sure, we'll pay it!
- We'll pay! - (cycle whirs)
(mumbles) We'll pay. We'll pay...
- Huh? - (sombre music)
Sardines, snappers...
(kids chatter)
- (kids) Yay! They're here! - (Ganesan) Be careful.
Go to akka!
- (girl) Got scared already? - Bye!
Get down, kids.
Hey, Ganesan. Aachi is having a seizure. Come quickly!
- (bike engine whirs) - (woman) Aachi, it's nothing!
Don't be scared. Nothing will happen.
- (Ganesan) What happened? - (woman) Take a look.
Grab her legs. Anna, lift her.
(old woman) Hey, be careful.
- Anna, be careful. - (Latha) Amma! Amma!
- (Ganesan) It's nothing. - (Latha) It's nothing, Amma!
It's all right. It's all right.
- (old woman wheezing) - (anklets jingling)
- (Latha) Mallika! - (Mallika) What happened?
(Latha) Amma is having a seizure. Check on her quickly!
- (Mallika) What's happening to you? - (old woman) Oh, my legs!
- (groaning in pain) - (joints cracking)
- Oh, mother! - Did you apply oil and bathe today?
I did apply oil and bathe in the morning.
I've told you so many times to not wash your hair!
- Do you ever listen? - (old woman groans)
- (joints cracking) - God, why won't you take me away?
(Mallika) You're running your mouth too much these days!
- Feeling better? - I feel a bit better now.
I'm fine now.
If Ganesan wasn't here, paati would have reached the heavens by now.
She had a similar seizure last year.
You were a godsend again today.
- (kid 1) She won't give it to me! - (Mallika) Why are you crying?
Ganesan, I suggest you marry one of my daughters.
- I'll give you dowry. - (comical music)
- (Ganesan) Just keep quiet! - (Latha) We don't have to look
- for you to carry Aachi. - Shut up, akka!
(in code) The kids are listening.
(in code) I know! I'm noticing it too!
She's gone?
(music picks up and intensifies)
BAMA SOUND SERVICE VANADESAM
- (music halts) - Bama akka! Bama akka!
Come down quickly!
Wait, I'll give the connection to this and come down.
If you just keep connecting that, you will end up marrying the current.
Latha is enticing Ganesan to marry her daughter.
What are you saying?
(girl) It's true!
They're speaking in code so that I don't understand.
I understood it anyway.
- Is it true? - Yes, of course!
I'm coming.
(girl) Latha is dead today. She's had it coming!
What are you saying?
I swear on Goddess Mutharamman!
Latha is yearning to trap Ganesan.
So, I came to tell you.
Hmm? These women speak whatever they want within the four walls.
I stepped away from him because he's wearing the prayer beads.
But in that gap, will they dare to try and get him married?
I'll deal with them.
I've told you what I had to. Don't let it slip away.
He won't just go with it.
He's my guy!
- Come on, let's go. - (wheels squeaking)
Yeah, that's enough.
Stop it. Stop it, I said!
Wait.
- Tie it up at her entrance. - (boy) Okay, akka.
Vembu anna, just like last year,
- this year's Dasara too... - (Vembu) Yes, yes.
- ...will have a large crowd. - (Bama) I'll deal with her!
- That's right. Bama. - Hmm?
Did you tie up the speakers?
I've got a score to settle. I'll be back after finishing it.
- Okay. - The speaker is quite noisy!
- (Vembu) Keep quiet. - This is why you're still not married.
- Sure! Find a girl. I won't reject her. - (Vembu laughs) She's not answering.
(comical music)
(thuds)
(clears throat)
Listen up!
- Huh? - Since he does your chores sincerely,
you must not offer your daughter's hand in marriage and whatnot.
You must ask who the boy is seeing before making a decision.
- If you do as you wish... - Oh, my! This girl!
- She's so possessive of him! - (Bama continues speaking)
(Bama) If you still don't care who he is seeing and try to get him married,
then I will use this mic set as a weapon,
pass a current through your house and shock you.
Be warned. (echoes)
- Huh? - Look at her go!
- Hey! Don't get into it with her. - (Bama continues speaking)
She might pass electricity through a window.
I might hold it and just die! You better watch it.
I've said what I had to.
If any of you say that you want to marry your daughter off to Ganesan,
that'll be it, my honour!
Play a devotional song and crank up the volume!
(devotional song playing)
(Kaathadi) Do you know this girl?
- I heard that she is in this town. - (suspenseful music ensues)
I don't know.
- I don't know. - You don't?
- Do you know this girl? - I don't, sir.
(man) Have you seen her?
I haven't.
(Kaathadi) This girl's name is Neela. Do you know her?
She's a traditional doctor as well.
Ask at the traditional medicine shop there.
Okay.
This girl's name is Neela.
Do you know where she is?
This looks like Mallika, but you're saying she's Neela.
- Yes, Neela, Neela! - Neela?
Go west.
There's a house near the Uchimalai temple. Check there.
(loud honking)
(music fades off)
Ganesan, there hasn't been much business since Pillayar Chaturthi.
Will I refuse you of all people?
I've known Mookandi's mother since my childhood.
Just this once, arrange it from somewhere else.
Don't misunderstand me.
- (sombre music ensues) - Buddy.
Hmm?
This is the only thing I prayed to the Goddess for this year.
Hey! Don't just keep asking for this persistently.
I told you I'm trying to arrange it.
I've ordered flowers from Marimuthu. Collect it and keep it at the temple.
- I'll be there in some time. - I have to pay it in 10 days.
Hey!
Hmm?
Hey, you could give him the blue one, right?
Shut up! Are you going to marry him?
I'm going to marry him. I know.
(chuckles)
- Here. - Keep it there.
Ever since your son has worn the prayer beads,
he won't even look at me!
He had no parents growing up.
He doesn't know how to speak to girls.
He doesn't know? Today Aarambali Aachi had a seizure.
He carried her to Mallika's house
and then chatted away happily with the girls around there.
But it is difficult for him to speak to me, huh?
He's scared to look you in the eyes and speak to you.
That means he likes you.
Right! You always say something to shut me up.
(scoffs) I'll fix your boy myself!
Hmph!
- BAMA SOUND SERVICE - (song playing over speakers)
- I'll offer it to God. - All right.
Hey, girl! Come here.
Are you telling her everything I am saying?
How will I not?
Tell her I called her now.
- (scoffs) Like I have nothing else to do. - Darn kid!
(Bama) Hey, what's wrong? You look so good.
(girl) Bama akka, he wants to talk to you.
- He's calling you. - (Bama) Keep this, akka.
I'll be back.
- Did you call me? - Hey!
Why did you put up a speaker at Aarambali Aachi's house
- and cause a scene there? - Huh?
Do you know what they said?
Everyone in town knows I am almost your wife.
- Then why the fuck... (stutters) - Hey!
...did they say that for me to hear?
What foul words are you saying at the temple?
If they speak, it can be heard only until the end of the street.
If I speak, the whole town can hear it.
That's why I put up the speakers and threatened them.
Look, after Dasara, I'll leave not just my house but this town as well.
(loudly) What? You want me to keep this kiss until Dasara ends
and that the rest is after? How dare you leave me behind?
Hey! Why are you speaking about a kiss when I'm wearing the beads?
Look, after Dasara, our wedding will happen.
I've saved up ₹75,000 for the wedding.
You just have to tie the knot.
Hey! How do you have so much money?
Yes! Thalavaram, Rosiniaram, Keelur, Melur,
and all the way up to Kalakkad, it's our sound system that plays.
I've saved up the money meticulously.
Saved it up and?
We'll find a big hall, find some Iyer caterers,
host a reception and go for our honeymoon to Ooty.
And then, once I conceive, I want to feed sweets to the whole village.
It's all perfectly accounted for.
So smart!
I'll give you an account. Will you hear me out?
- What is it? - Mookandi wants money to go abroad.
I have ₹25,000.
If you give me that ₹75,000, we'll make it ₹1 lakh and send him abroad.
- Huh? - Once he's back,
charge him interest for that ₹1 lakh and keep it all to yourself.
Why? Doesn't he have anyone else to pay for him?
I asked a couple of people.
I didn't get any money.
He put the prayer beads this year and vowed to go abroad.
If he goes abroad,
once he's back, he'll get all three of his sisters married.
Every time the deity appears in front of him,
he tears up and keeps asking to go abroad.
They all see God through me.
I was wondering how I could help him.
The Goddess has come in your form to show me the money.
You should help.
Once Dasara gets over, I will marry you.
(happy music)
Really?
- Yes, girl! - Huh?
What is this? The saint wearing prayer beads is speaking so casually?
Why? Can't I be casual with the girl I'm going to marry?
Hey, Ganesan. It's time for the pooja. Vembu anna is calling, come on!
- I'll be back. - Hmm.
(music fades out)
(metal clangs)
(Kaathadi exhales)
(man) Look, it's locked there as well.
- (woman) Who do you want? - Huh?
What are you looking at?
- Mallika. - (woman) Oh.
She has gone to the temple for the Goddess Kali pooja.
- Who are you? - We're her relatives.
Is that so? She'll be back quite late.
Where's the temple?
Go to the main road, and once you get to the Mother Mary church,
ask someone for directions to the Mupadathi Amman temple.
She will be there.
Kaathadi, hmm.
(woman) You can meet her there.
- (drums playing) - (women ululating)
(trumpets blaring)
(woman) Hey!
(drumming intensifies)
Hey! (grunts)
(girl) Vakkeel uncle is divinely possessed.
(Vakkeel grunting)
(bells tolling)
(screams out)
(ritualistic music intensifies)
(Vakkeel grunting intensely)
(man) Goddess Kali!
Come on! (Vakkeel grunts intensely)
Come!
- Come on! Come on! - (Ganesan grunting)
(grunting)
(crowd) Om Kali! All hail Kali!
(grunting intensely)
(man) Ah!
- (drumming fades) - (suspenseful music builds)
(man) It's quite crowded.
- (Kaathadi) I think it's this temple. - (man) Come.
- (drumming gains) - (grunting)
(man) Neela is there.
I'll always be with you! Don't you worry!
I'll come along with you anywhere you go.
She knows people in this town.
(Ganesan grunting)
Come on, let's go.
(screaming and grunting)
Here!
(Ganesan) What's bothering you?
Shouldn't you show a girl for my son to marry?
Did you forget what you vowed to me?
If I give him to you, will you take care of him?
- Tell me! - How will I take care of him?
What will I do without your support?
Oh, Goddess!
You offered him at my feet, praying for his long life.
Did you forget?
He is my child. I'll take care of him.
(grunts intensely)
(Ganesan grunting)
(phone ringing)
Hello, tell me.
This is Koothaar.
Tell me.
We found Neela in Tirunelveli.
She is in a town called Vanadesam. She has a daughter.
If you send your men, we can nab her.
We couldn't find her all these days, and now we've found her.
So, that Vargees has an heir. I'm enraged!
What should I do?
Kill the child. I'll send my men to kill Neela.
What are you saying?
My daughter is getting engaged tomorrow morning.
We need money at the break of dawn.
At such a crucial time, just for the sake of money,
we came so far to Vanadesam in search of Neela.
I had promised you ₹15,000, right?
You'll get ₹20,000 now.
Kill Neela's daughter first.
How can I do it alone?
- (hangs up) - Rajadurai?
What did he say?
He wants us to nab the kid.
He's asking us to wait until his men get here.
You leave. I'll come later.
The groom's family will come tomorrow.
Come quickly.
Hmm. All right.
I'll take care of it. You can go.
Hmm.
Hey, Chubby, we're going to play. Do you want to come?
I'll come.
Mallika akka, we're going to play.
- Will you give Mudhra to us? - Tie it up fast!
- Here. - (girl) Mudhra, come let's play.
- (anklets jingle) - (Mudhra) Shall we play hide and seek?
(girl) All right.
50 banana trees. 250 coconuts.
- Correct. - The clouds gathering in the sky
make it seem like there's going to be a downpour for 5 to 6 days!
Listen, two sets of drums.
Three donated meals a day.
The transportation cost of the truck.
The cost of stay at Kulasai.
We need ₹30,000 for all of it.
Will you give it?
If it rains, we can't get on the streets and ask for donations.
- It will be very difficult. - (Vakkeel) So?
Tie up a coconut tomorrow morning.
Hey! Who are you asking to tie up a coconut to stop the rains?
That poor chap Ganesan's father.
He made it his business to stop the rains and died poor.
If you want to stop the rain, find someone else.
My family is in talks to get me married.
- Oh! - (Mookandi) Ah!
So, we can say your prayer this year is for your wedding night.
Hey, you! Take your mockery somewhere else!
We can tie up the rain, but it will come back as a storm later.
Oh, my! I've seen a lot already!
- So, you've seen it? - Yes!
(Mookandi) Then why do you want to get married?
- (eerie music ensues) - (kids singing "Ringa Ringa Roses")
(kids continue singing nursery rhymes)
(music fades)
(old woman crying)
Amma, what happened? Why are you crying?
I gave you up to the Goddess. Now she won't give you back.
When did you do it? Is it true that you let the Goddess adopt me?
Yes. It is true.
When you were four, you fell sick and the doctor said it was hopeless.
Your father and I came back crying.
The sanctum of the temple was closed.
We placed you at her feet and prayed to not send us away.
We begged at her feet to save you.
We gave you up to the Goddess
and vowed that the son is hers and the affection is ours.
The disease went away then.
After that, we didn't even have to give you any medication.
Nobody other than me and your father know about this.
This happened 40 years ago.
The Goddess is keeping an account even now.
Just listen to her, boy!
(thunder rumbles)
- Akka. - Tell me.
- It seems like it is going to rain. - Yes.
I'll take my daughter and leave.
All right. Go safely.
The sweet pongal is nice, right?
- Yes! - Mine has cashews!
- Where is Mudhra? - She's with Chubby.
- I got it twice. - Really?
- I didn't get it. - (eerie music sets in)
- Did you see Mudhra, akka? - No, I didn't.
(thunder rumbles)
- Akka, did you see my daughter? - No, dear.
(men) We didn't see her.
- She was stringing garlands, right? - What is she saying?
(Bama) I ripped through it!
- (woman) Mallika's kid is missing. - Mudhra!
- Bama! Bama! - That's it!
- Huh? - My kid is missing.
What are you saying? She was with the other girls.
She must be around.
Hey! The kid wouldn't have gone anywhere.
- So-- - Ganesan, Bama hasn't seen her either.
- My kid is missing. - She must be in the crowd somewhere.
We'll announce it on the mic. Who saw the kid last?
Hey! You were playing with Mudhra, right?
An old man took Mudhra saying he'd give her to Mallika akka.
He was wearing a sack on his head.
Dude, that same guy with no teeth had some pudding from me a while ago.
I remember it quite well.
- What are you saying? - It's true!
Ganesan, I'll search for her at the bus stand.
Go on.
- Take this. Don't cry. - Don't worry.
- (Mookandi) Get the bike. - (Ganesan) Let's check the market.
- Don't cry, Mallika. - Oh, no! Oh, no!
- (thunder rumbles) - I lost my kid!
Don't cry, please.
(announcer) An important announcement for the people of the town.
A kid has gone missing at the Dasara temple.
We've got information that an old man kidnapped her.
If you see any kid or old man around town, get a hold of them.
- Inform the police station... - Mudhra? Where are you?
- Mudhra! - Hey, go this way!
Listen up again. An old man has kidnapped a little girl.
- Mudhra! - Little one?
- ...if anyone sees something... - We can't find her anywhere!
...take a closer look and pass the information.
Dude, dude, stop!
There's blood in the sack over there.
Dude, there's a sack here just like the kid said.
It won't be anything.
Dude, wait.
Wait. Let's open it and check.
(suspenseful music builds)
Hey, Mookandi!
What happened?
There are blood stains on a sack here.
He says there are blood stains on a sack. What could it be?
(panting)
- Hey, wait. Hold up. - Mudhra! Mudhra!
- (man) It's nothing. Just wait. - (Latha) What is it?
- (Mallika) What's there? - (man) They're checking.
- It's nothing. - (Mallika) Anna, what's there?
What's in there?
Tell me, anna.
(intense music)
What's there?
What's in there?
- (Latha) Something is on his hand. - (Mallika) Ganesan, tell me what it is
(Mookandi) Dude, it's blood.
What's over there? I need to see.
- (Latha) Ganesan, what is it? - (Mallika) Let me go, anna!
Anna, what is it?
(Ganesan) Check what's inside.
- (screams in terror) - (eerie vocalisation)