NANDALALA [Lullaby]
Music lLAYARAJA
ASHWATH RAM
ROHlNl and SNlGDHA
LEENA and SOFlA
LAKSHMl and LAKSHAYA
Special Appearance NASSER
Direction MYSSKlN
Give me 100 rupees, Agi. The old one won't give
l'll give it back when l get my salary
You owe me 220 rupees
Give the money, l'll tell you a secret
The old one said not to tell you
- Did some letter come from mom? - Yes
Here
My sweetheart
A woman's life is fulfilled when she becomes a mother
lf the baby cries for milk..
Agi, are three sets of clothes enough?
Baby dances to the tune of angel's wand..
Grandma, at least this time, will mom come for my birthday?
- l don't know - Mom nurtures the child..
Living for her is one life
A child is happy not looking at the moon,
..because that child knows
That the moon will not come to eat rice with that child
What the child enjoys is that..
...the mother also becomes like a child, seeing that happiness
Forthat reason,
She sings.. ''Come atop the mountain''
''Bring the jasmine flower''
- What was that noise? - Someone broke the radio box
Someone broke the radio box
Mom.. mom.. mom.. mom..
Mom.. mom.. mom..
God, how many more days like this?
When will my child be well?
How many more days to suffer like this?
Don't cry, you're making my ears burn
l cried so much, did your ears burn then?
You say we have fever and you leave us here
Do you ever come back to get us?
Fever stopped so long ago but he's still injecting us
See there, he's been crying so much that he's laughing now
Give me money, give me money!
Money, money, money, give me money!
How much?
Here
- Hey, which way to Thaivasal? - Go back in
- Shall l take a piss and come? - Go back in
How many times do l have to tell you? Don't come nearthe gate!
- See you sir! - But he's going?
He is not wearing your uniform. Go back in. Go!
Where's your mom dear? Where's your mom?
Where's your house? Your mom?
My darling, your mother has come, don't cry, my dear
My god! Dear..
Don't cry dear
So, a five- days tour?
l also wanted to go Velankanni Church one day. How can l?
ls it true that in Kanyakumari, the sun rises in the west?
- That is Sunset - Ok, come
You go home, l'll go in
No, l'll leave you inside the school and go,
- Or else, that old woman will shout - You go
- Your granny.. - lf you come inside, everyone will think that you're my mom
Such attitude
Why Agi, are you giving me money?
Everyday, massage grandma's feet
What?
Hey, move!
That mad man locked me up inside, sir
- Who man? - 102, sir
Which way to Thaivasal?
Ask someone on the road, go
l'm hungry
There's a food stall in that alley, go
Go, go
Go man!
Hey, what is this? Take it
- Take it! - lt's ok, keep it
Hey, take it!
Hey, give it Give it now!
Be a man! Your wife works
You go work somewhere. There's nothing for you here
A mango juice, please
How can l go to Annaivayal? By bus or train?
At this time? Bus is easiest
- What is this? - Nothing man, we'rejust talking
- Who is this? - My boy
He's crying
Hey, what are you crying for?
lt would hurt, no?
- Come - My purse, my money
Uncle, uncle, uncle
Uncle..
Potatohead!
We have to punch him
Who told you to piss there?
What, wouldn't come if you pissed here?
Money's all gone, money's all gone
Now how to go to Thaivasal?
What're you looking at? Turn around!
Hey, is Thaivasal this way or that way?
ls this east, or west?
You don't even know this. How'll you know Thaivasal? Go!
Oh, see this. Thaivasal is here
How could Thaivasal be here?
This is a map. You can find your way with this
See, Annaivayal is also close
My mom is there. l'm going to see her
You're also going to see your mom?
My money, my money, give me my money!
Give me that, it's my mother's!
Give it, give it. How does that feel?
Go, give this to your mom, go!
Uncle,
l'll take you to Thaivasal. You take me to Annaivayal, ok?
Ok?
One for Tansipuram
Sungadam, one
Samuthiram
- Hey, does this bus go by main or bypass? - Goes by road
Two forAnnaivayal
You've got 100 rupees. The rest?
Don't have it? Go, go
l'll go for piss and come
Will you go to Annaivayal?
lt'll take two more hours
Kid, what time is it supposed to leave?
l don't know
Kid, are you going to Sungadam?
Kid, to Annaivayal?
Kid, are you going alone?
With my uncle
l went for piss
Hey, where are you going?
To see my mom
Hey, what?
We need to go to Annaivayal
You say you're going to Annaivayal,
..but you've got nothing with you?
l have
Whatever l ask, you answer. That one doesn't speak?
l'm going by Perungulathur, So l agreed to 100 rupees
Else l'd be damned
Hey, l've seen your uniform somewhere,
..at some hospital. Where do you work?
Talking till my throat runs dry,
..you won't say anything. ls he mute?
He talks
What, is he talking? He says nothing
A mental case?
- Don't hit me, don't hit me! - Mental, mental!
- Say mental, say mental! - l won't say, won't say!
l won't say, won't say, won't say!
Do you work at a hospital?
Work? Nothing like work at all
Get up when the bell rings
Bathe, no matter how cold it is
Then the bell. Then porridge
lf it's got green worms, it'll be real tasty
Then walking. Someone will bring a cake
They give me money
Then bell. Then sleep. Then bell
Work? Nothing like work at all
Don't you have a mother?
Had one before l had fever. Then no
When l was this tall, that wench left me at the hospital and went
- Your father? - He ran off somewhere, don't know why
Your mom didn't come to see you?
Why?
That's what l'll ask. That's why l'm going
Left me out, you cunning wretch
l'm coming woman
Do you think they'd wrap me up and take me away?
l'm coming woman! Oil your cheek
l'll slap you, l'll slap you woman!
Don't talk about mother like that
Your mother didn't leave you and go?
My mom has gone to work
What work?
l will know when we go to Annaivayal
- Your father?. - Soon as l was born, he ran off
He also ran off?
They all raced off!
You're also going to slap your mom?
- No - Then?
To hug my mom and kiss herjust once
Hey, why are you asking him for water?.
l'm asking for a lift
- What's that? - Show like this, someone will stop
- Show like this then? - They'll go
- What? - Can l wear them once?
Oh no, it's become night
Hey, it's stopping, it's stopping
Oh no, uncle, put down your hand! Listen to what l say!
Uncle listen to me please
- What is this? - Thaivasal..
We are going to Kovur, uncle
We are going to meet my cousin
Not by bus, as l am writing a composition about the road,
...which l have to submit by 6th May before 5pm
l have to go to Kovur and win the competition
Passing Tansipuram now. ls the SP there?
He's at Rangapuram station?
We'll be there in 20 minutes
- Kid.. - l understand uncle
The reason l'm going alone is that l don't have anybody
lf there's somebody, it doesn't make a difference
l preferto go with anybody
That anybody is this uncle
He is good, loving, caring, and creates no problem
Hey, where are your children studying?
- Corporation school, sir - No chance
Then, where do you work?
- Work? - Nothing like work at all
Get up when the bell rings. Bathe, no matter how cold it is
Then bell. Then prayer
Then bell. Then porridge
lf it's got green worms..
How long it will take to reach Kovur uncle?
Another half hour till Kovur
What're those green worms?
lf it's got green worms, the porridge will be tasty
lf it's got red worms, the porridge will be nasty. lt'll stink
Those green worms..
l told you no? Asking that again!
Blockhead!
Now what?
- My stomach hurts. - Stomach pain?
Stop the jeep
You..
Who are you?
Where are you coming from?
Where are you going?
Tell me
What happened?
Hey, he's going somewhere, go look
Why are you following?
Where are you going?
Sir, those two are shitting, sir
Hey, wretched fellow, come!
Does it hurt?
Feel better now?
l asked my fatherfor money, he said no
Now what will he do? Come, climb on
''As the cart is trundling slowly Slowly on the village road,
ln the cart that trundles,
Who is coming along?
Like a swing that's moving Swaying slowly back and forth,
With tender little hearts,
Children pass along.
ln the sky even the stars wish to go with them too
With this motley crew, won't those stars come too?''
Will you go safely?
You'll also go safely, no?
lf the wound bleeds, put some spit on it. lt'll be ok
Four loads, l need to move each day
Ok, where are you going?
We're going to Annaivayal
Oh, the names of the bulls? This is Raman, this is Ravanan
Why are you sitting so quietly, brother?
Let's pass the time, just say something
- Blockhead! - Slowly? l'm going slowly
lf l go any slower, we'd have to walk and go
Go..
Hey..
Hey stop..
Please move sir, please move
Sir, why did you stop the traffic?
- Sir, we're in a hurry. lf you stood aside.. - Go aside
- Go.. - Go away..
Have any matches?
Have anything to eat?
Those people, fighting over there, how can we pass them, uncle?
Have any money?
l'll leave you at the next main road
Give me five rupees
Shall we go?
- Go slowly man - Eight more miles, how will you go?
Some other cripple will come
l'll kill you, go!
Don't touch my stick
Useless leg
Uncle?
Wasn't l sitting quietly by myself?.
Why did you come and call me?
They all call me crippled, so l came and sat there
Now l can't come any further
l'm just a cripple. You find your way and go
You're no cripple
l am a cripple! Don't lie, just go
Damn that cursed woman!
Died as soon as l came out
She could've died before l came out, no?
Your mom also left you and went?
Dirty asslicking bastard, leave me!
- Why should l pay for what my husband did? - Hey, what are you doing?
This whore's daughter wants to get a worm in her womb
Shut your mouth, whore!
That day our caste girl cried like this
Did your husband leave her alone?
- Hey, leave her! - Just watch and enjoy yourself
- Go away! - Leave me
- Brother.. - Leave me
- Hold her - Oh god!
Leave me
Motherfucking cripple
- Oh god! - My leg, my leg
Oh god! My leg
Oh god! My leg..
My leg..
My leg
- My leg! - Run away. - Oh god!
- Oh god! - Kill him, kill him!
- Kill him! - Kill him!
My leg, my leg
My leg..
Brother, what caste are you?
- Mental - What caste is that?
Uncle, shall we go?
Where?
That uncle gave the money back
Uncle, it's really dark, no?
Pity, those two will have to stand in the dark, no?
As the cart is trundling slowly Slowly on the village road,
ln the cart that trundles,
Who is coming along?
Like a swing that's moving Swaying slowly back and forth,
With tender little hearts,
Children pass along.
Hey, will you go to Thaivasal?
Ok, will you go to Annaivayal?
- What's that? -Annaivayal?
What Annaivayal.. get lost..
Ok, Thaivasal?
Wretched fellow, let me sleep!
Drop us off along the way
Get down, or l'll go crazy mad. Go, go!
So you just want to hug your mom and give herjust one kiss, that's all?
You see, boy, we're not going that way We are on our way to Munnar
But howeverfar we go along your way, we'll take you till then, ok?
So sad, you know? You climb on, dear
This one also comes with me
Stop, stop, stop!
Go. Go!
l'm going slowly. lt's nothing, just a small..
She's here, want to talk?
Can you go a little faster?
Mom has said to go at 40 kms speed
- Come! - What is it?
Beer. Drink
ls it bleeding?
Go straight, go
Hey buddy, move
What did l do? All because of them
All because of you
- What did l do? - Please, come quietly!
How? My mouth would go mute
ls this yourfather's well? Come out!
Come out..
Oh god!
Bathe, bathe!
- Leave me, leave me! - Bathe, bathe
Bathe bathe
Take it now man
- Don't want it now - Hey, take it now
Hey, take it now!
Uncle, uncle!
Uncle..
You only asked me to take the horn
He only asked me to take it
Each one has company in this world
But it's love alone that's orphaned
Each one has company in this world
But it's love alone that's orphaned
Who would see and care for this?
Who would hold this in their arms?
Who would come to vow a bond?
Who would grace love itself with love?
Each one has company in this world
But it's love alone that's orphaned
lf you think of me as one with you
My heart would overflow with bliss
To those that reach to lift the sad
The heavens too will lend a hand
Why are all these temples here
lf not emblems too of love?
What is given to those who are poor,
Won't all this reach the hands of God?
For those without eyes
lf we step as feet
On our earth Who is an orphan?
Each one has company in this world
But it's love alone that's orphaned
My uncle, my uncle
Lines fall across the land alone
Who's drawn lines across the heart?
Do children belong to parents on this earth?
All this, no more than a way of seeing
There is no flower without its kin
Only once planted does it grow
Without relations were we born?
Who was born without a mother?
From wherever it is that we came here
All those who come are only our kin
On our earth Who is an orphan?
Each one has company in this world
But it's love alone that's orphaned
Who would see and care for this?
Who would hold this in their arms?
Who would come to vow a bond?
Who would grace love itself with love?
Each one has company in this world
But it's love alone that's orphaned
- What is it? - lt's mom, Agi, grandma
Your mom is very pretty, no?
As soon as you see your mom, will you hug and kiss her?
Shall l also give a kiss?
She'll also give a kiss, no?
Then we'll all eat together..
and sleep without an injection, ok?
- What do you want? - lndra
l'm coming, mom. Why do you shout?
Torture when will she die?
- Whom do you want? - Number 59
Numbers have changed. Ask someone else..
What do you want?
Agi's mom..
Please just wait
Where's my mom, uncle?
- Where is my mom uncle? - Your mom isn't here
- Uncle, where's my mom? - Your mom isn't here
- My mom is here, my mom is here - Your mom isn't here
My mom is here
Where is my mom, uncle?
- Where's my mom, uncle? - Your mom
- Your mom.. - Where's my mom, uncle?
- Your mom, Your mom - Where's my mom, uncle?
- Your mom is in Thaivasal - Where's my mom, uncle?
- Where is my mom uncle? - Your mom..
- Your mom is in Thaivasal - Where is my mom?
- Where's my mom, uncle? - Your mom is in Thaivasal
- Where is my mom, uncle? - Your mom isn't here
l'll show you your mom, l'll show
Searching for mom..
How many kilometers to Thaivasal?
- That many kilometers - l don't understand
He doesn't understand
Maybe 25 kilometers
That far?
Give him one, man!
Hey potatohead! Why's yourface always so glum?
l want to see my mom
- l don't know where she is - My mom is in Thaivasal, no?
Tell me uncle, please, where's my mom?
Tell me uncle, where's my mom?
Please tell me uncle.
Your mom is in Thaivasal, don't cry.
The Puncture Shop
The tube's gone, can't patch it.
Go buy a new tube.
Shall l give you a kite?
- How to go? - lt's nearby, wait for a share taxi.
- Name of the village? - Annaivayal
- What did you do? - l gave my mom a kiss
Did she kiss you back?
- How would a photo give a kiss? - Then why did you give one?
See how my mom is carrying me?
- That's not your mom - This is my mom!
- How do you know? - My grandma told me
Who told you that this was your grandma?
Was it your mom who came and told you?
This isn't your mom, this isn't your grandma.
They're all mental.
Nothing happened, no?
100 rupees, gone
Are you mad? Why such a hurry?
lf you had waited for some time, l would've come, no?
Ok, come, including that man, give 200 rupees.
What, another man too?
Then give 300 rupees.
You!
You beggar!
Who told you to throw a rock and save me like some movie star?
Not one truck since morning. Finally one stopped.
Bargained for 50 rupees.
That beggar!
And then you had to come before l got that money, you wretch!
Could've gone straight to see your mom, no?
Why poke your nose around like this?
Scavenger...
Burning hunger all morning, not even one tea to drink
What's this? Think l'm some beggar? Go!
Come!
- Leave me! - Hey, grab her, bring her!
- Please leave me! - Bring him! - Left it.
Oh God!
- Come, let's go - That mother is in trouble
That mother is in trouble
A dying man sniffing after panties?
Leave me, you crooks!
Open the door!
Save me!
Oh god!
Hey, don't hit him!
You have it, dear.
Aren't you hungry?
Not now
- What, you don't like me? - He doesn't like kisses.
l don't either. What to do?
lf l take money, l've to kiss everyone.
oldmen, drunkards, invalids...
My body stinks
even my mother's corpse didn't stink so much
Did your mother die?
l killed her, by running away
Only fathers run, why did you run?
l didn't run, l went by car
A driver stayed in front of our house
...for three days with a broken- down car
On the first day,
l liked his white shirt, his white pants
On the second day, he asked for water,
and l liked his smile, his white teeth
On the third day,
sitting beside him in his car,
l liked him
He gave me something to drink on the way
l felt light- headed,
l liked that too
He got onto me and did this and that
l liked that too
l opened my eyes to look,
My whole life was like some tattered ruin
All around me, stinking women
saying ''Fresh goods, fresh goods...''
ln three days 36 men sniffed me out
Afterthat, l stopped counting
That old man came last
He saw the mole on his mother's breast on my breast too,
...and chased after me
l ran away to see my mother, but she turned her face away
Even when we buried her, her face was turned away
ln hunger l began to stand by the road
Now all those who pass chew me up in little bits...
...and throw out some money
At first my body stank
Now even my heart stinks
Bathe, bathe, bathe, the stink will go!
Take this truck, they'll drop you in Thaivasal
You?
We may come by lorry if we can, otherwise it's bye- bye
You go
Mom!!
Uncle, mom's photo's gone, uncle
Stop the truck!
THAlVASAL!
Uncle, where is mother?
Will you go?
- You'll leave Agi and go? - Yeah, l'll see his mom and go.
Where'll you go?
l don't know
lf Agi doesn't like his mom and he hugs and kisses you,
...will you stay with him? - Ok
What happened?
A mark on his face, enough?
No, you just hold him well
l've got to hit his head with this beer bottle,
Then take him to hospital myself
- Oh, ok - What ok?
l said ok
l just said ok
Just follow me
- Hey, where are you going? - Come
Come here
- What she is doing? - Oh gosh!
They are trying to rape me, save me!
Go..
Uncle, shall we go see mom?
Uncle, where's my mom?
Where's my mom, uncle?
Where's Agi's mother?
Will you tell me now or not?
Won't tell.
Why won't you tell?
She is not a good woman Mothers are not good people
Mother bad, all mothers, all mothers
Garbage, garbage!
All mothers are good people
You haven't seen mom
Mother is bad
Shall l show my mother?. l'll show my mother, come, come!
She is not good woman Where are you wench?
Where are you woman?
Come out woman!
l'm coming woman,
l'm coming to slap you woman, wait!
You left me and went away, no? l'm coming woman!
Hey you, wench, come out woman!
Will you come out or should l come in?
- Who is it? - Where is she? Tell herto come out!
Left me in the hospital and went away, you woman?
You know how many people beat me, woman?
When you're beaten you'll know.
Come woman, that's why l've come to slap you.
Have you ever been behind the bars?
Come out, woman, quickly!
Need to slap you.
Oil your cheek and come, l need to slap you
Tell her to come quickly
Baskar Mani?
Hey, Baskarmani
Who's that? My head hurts
lt's you, Batchi, don't you know me?
lt's Nandu, your brother
Look, your grandma
Don't know anyone. Tell herto come!
Tell that woman to come, to come quickly
She's in the backyard
Hey 'Thiruttu muuli' what're you doing back there?
Oil your cheek, woman, l'm coming.
'Thiruttu muuli', where are you woman?
- Who's this? - Our mom
Our mom, it's our mom
She left you in the hospital and came and sat here
Didn't come back into the house ever since
Why is there a chain in her leg?
At night she'd go off somewhere,
saying ''To bring my child from school.
To Bring back my child from school''
So that chain...
Go away!
Go!
To hear a lullaby, so many days l've been waiting
She is my mom... my mother.
My mother!
Mom!
To hear a lullaby, so many days l've been waiting
Mother, just to see you, l ran here thirsting
Ma, when l see you, l have no words
Now when l see you, like a small child
Who's there to sing a lullaby here?
To hear a lullaby, so many days l've been waiting
When you were bearing me, did you feel l was a burden?
Why then did you take me as a burden and push me away?
There was a time when you bound me with a chain
ls it just that you too have been bound by chain?
What wound upon your body?
The pain grows in my heart
My beloved, this sadness
To hear a lullaby, so many days l've been waiting
Mother, when l see you, l have no words
Now when l see you, like a small child
Who's there to sing a lullaby here?
Because of your age l cannot put you in a pram...
Apart from you, my heart can't stand it
The pain of giving birth
Which child can relieve it?
Mother, you are a flower
That l will cover and protect
Ma, your ma has come here, ma,
ln the love of your child
To hear a lullaby, so many days l've been waiting
Mother, just to see you, l ran here thirsting
Ma, when l see you, l have no words
Now when l see you, like a small child
Who's there to sing a lullaby here?
To hear a lullaby, so many days l've been waiting
Mother, just to see you, l ran here thirsting''
Do mothers suffer this much?
Only now do l know what suffering is
Uncle, come uncle, let's go see mom
Sir, buy a jackal's tooth, sir
Sir, buy a jackal's tooth, sir,
...everything good will happen to you
Luck will come to you, sir, buy a jackal's tooth, sir
Buy one to wear around your neck, sir,
...you'll get whatever you want by tonight
You'll get what you are looking for!
Can l get my mother?
Mother? You'll even get your father too
Take it, dear, the tooth has ripened well
How much?
Twenty rupees, dear. You give me ten rupees, that's enough.
- Dear, you don't have change? - No
Sir, do you have change?
Dear, l'll get change and take it
Uncle, after the old man comes back,
...shall we go to see mom?
Uncle, after the old man comes back,
...shall we go to see mom?
- You can't see your mom - Why?
Why can't l see her?
Your mom is dead
You mental!
l won't be mental, l won't be mental!
Now how does it feel? How would l feel?
Why did you say that, uncle?
You could've lied, no?
She's dressed in green and sitting there,
...you could've lied, no?
That's some other baby's mom in this photo,
you could've lied, no?
Here, this is your mom, you could've lied, no?
l would've kissed her, no?
Sorry uncle, sorry
l won't say this anymore, uncle, sorry uncle
- Bye grandma - Ok dear!
Mom, coffee
Balloon! Baskar Mani uncle!
-Are you well? - Hmmm...
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