THE ADAMANT GIRL
It's getting late,
(By the Grace of Lord Munusamy)
Things are out of our hands, Shanthi,
What do you want me to do?
We’ve no choice but to obey them,
This is our fate for having given birth to a girl child,
We must go,
Why are you all struggling to convince her?
Just break her limbs and marry her, brother,
Will it cost us more to feed her?
As if we couldnt find another bride,
Brides will queue up to marry my brother,
Just say the word
and I'll find you a better bride in my husband's family,
You troublemakers! Don’t change his mind,
Father, we’ve beaten her for the past 15 days,
Did she change her mind? Such an adamant girl,
Why are you so obsessed with her, brother?
You think you'll be happy marrying this arrogant girl?
Get lost!
Get lost, wretch!
Calm down! Don’t be rude to a woman,
Carry on,
-Why did you provoke him? -Stop this drama!
Leave it, Put your shirt on,
You all want that adamant girl to marry him?
What will my husband think of our family?
Rani, you don’t know when to open your mouth,
-Come, Pandi, -Shanthi, is your daughter ready?
Don't start another fight,
He's furious, Must you remind him about what she’s done?
'We are going to the temple Don't hurt your foot'
Trying to escape, huh?
I got off work saying I’m attending a funeral,
What about you?
I took leave without telling anyone, I'll figure it out tomorrow,
Our relatives have a problem,
It’s our duty to stand by them, They'd do the same for us, Right?
-What do you say? -True,
An huge insect bit my heel this morning when I was taking a dump,
It still hurts,
The crown flower milk is an antidote against the deadliest poison,
We'll find plenty on our way, Apply that to the bite,
I can see his bike, But is he at home?
As if that old junk needs a key!
Let's just take it, They’ve already left,
Selvam, bro! Are you there?
-Who's that? -It's me,
Why's he removing the milk can?
We’re taking Meena to the Seer in Palamedu, We need your bike,
-I have milk deliveries this evening, -We'll be back before that,
Why don’t you go to the Vilacheri? Many praise the Seer there,
As if we decide! Pandi's father does the deciding,
So many knots? It took me ages to untie the milk can,
Careful with the bike!
We won’t run away with it, Don't worry!
I forgot to ask you,
I heard your father was missing, Any news about him?
Don't remind me of that lowlife, It makes me mad,
Why?
We searched the village for two days,
Then we heard he was in the Samanar hills,
We rushed there and the lowlife said:
“Stop looking for me, I shall live as an ascetic,
"I’m no longer part of the family,”
I was baffled,
My mother made a scene, begging him to come home,
She somehow persuaded him,
He stayed for two days, brother, then ran off,
Look, how many houses have mushroomed here,
When I asked my brother to buy land here for me,
he sneered and said: “No one will develop this land, you moron,”
Now see how it’s developed,
There’s even a fish farm nearby, Soon they'll have a highway here,
If he had bought me a small plot,
I would’ve built a house and settled down here,
My brother is mean, He was jealous in case I’d become better off than him,
So he cunningly brainwashed me,
Don't feel bad, If you were rich, he would’ve listened to you,
Did your father answer the call?
Wait, mother, I'll pass you the phone if he answers,
It just rings,
What’s the matter?
I don't know why my husband is angry with me,
It's been a few days since I came here, He doesn’t care or even take my calls,
What's his problem?
Ever since he heard about Meena,
he’s derided our family and me, as if I had eloped with a man,
I know your husband well, Shall I talk to him?
No need, I know him like the back of my hand,
He's tight lipped now but just wait,
he’ll create a scene at my nephew's function,
Why make me feel worse?
It’s just a week before my son's ear-piercing ceremony,
I thought you’d all join in and complete the ceremony,
But everything that’s happening now scares me,
Don't worry, Muthu,
Your brother Pandi won't disappoint you in public,
He’ll spend at least 100,000 rupees to shut them up,
Do you think so little of me? You think I care about cash or gifts?
Don't get me wrong, Pandi,
Both your sisters fear you and they asked me not to tell you,
-Did I ever hide anything from you? -Shit! Look, it's them,
We took the long route to college, to avoid these guys
-How come? -They will rob us, Pandi,
They’re the worst kind,
Stop! Come aside,
Why don't you take two more pillion riders?
Our girl is possessed by a spirit,
We’re going to Palamedu to exorcise the spirit,
-Now what? -Sir, a girl in our family is possessed,
We want the Seer in Palamedu to exorcise the evil spirit,
-Why is the policeman coming here? -Be quiet,
-Is this her? -Yes,
How?
She must’ve wandered off alone, sir,
She seems very young, Take it,
Carry on,
I'll excuse you this time, Accompany her with care,
Fill fuel for 100 rupees,
-Excuse me, -Yes?
I need some things for the prayer,
Muthu, it’s an offering to God, Check the coconut before you buy it,
Coconuts from our grove are always fresh,
Give me the best one,
-Mom, shall I buy some snacks? -You'll buy the whole shop? Sit there,
Get him something to eat,
Fill my bike with fuel too,
How much?
285 rupees,
-For everything, right? -Yes,
Uncle, are these for someone else? It’s for your daughter’s sake,
Won't you pay? Must my brother pay for this too?
Hey, Muthu, Why are you being rude to an elder? Come, Muruga,
Be quiet, father, You keep telling us to be quiet,
-My brother keeps paying for everything, -Shanthi amma, why did you get down?
Did I refuse to pay?
But you didn't offer either!
Get in!
We say this for your sake,
Muthu, we better not speak, Our words are not respected,
You expect me to shut up?
We must show them their place,
They keep feeding off us because we let them,
Can’t you see how unfair they are?
Don't be upset, Muruga,
You know my daughters very well,
Their bark is worse than their bite, They don't bear grudges,
Morons! Just like their mother,
-As if their nature was new to you, -Not at all, brother-in-law,
-Then why are you so upset? -It’s not that,
The children we raised deride us now, That hurts,
That’s hardly a new thing,
I have a granddaughter too,
What if the same thing happened to my family?
Don't stress,
Muthu, I just remembered something,
When my son was very sick, I vowed to our Goddess that
I’d make an offering of a temple bell when he was cured,
But I completely forgot!
How can you take it so lightly? You can't afford to forget sacred vows,
You haven’t kept your vow in all this time?
I would've reminded you, if you had told me,
This path is used a lot,
It’d be better if they made it into a proper road,
Come again!
"If you change it even a little, I’ll leave,"
So spoke our Goddess!
-Is that so? -Yes, it's true,
Did you hear about Karuthakannan?
I thought that drug addict would die among us,
It seems he’s got a police job through influence and holds a high position,
His father must've stripped his pants and made out at an auspicious time!
Just our luck, It must’ve been a bad time,
We should be happy, At least someone from our caste got lucky,
Karthi, get down,
-Get down quick, -Take off your slippers,
-Leave them here, -Meena, come,
Muruga,,, Come, Pandi,
Mind your step,
Don’t look at the Goddess, Stand as far away as you can,
You’re impure when you have your periods,
I know, You don’t have to remind me,
Keep walking,
So you’re now finally taking my calls?
We just arrived at the temple of our family Goddess,
We haven’t seen the Seer yet,
What are you doing? I can't hear any noise behind you,
You didn’t go to work?
You didn't go to work, nor did you take my call,
What are you doing there in my absence?
Let everyone pray to God to solve our problems,
-Hurry up! -I’m coming, father,
Stand next to me, Karthi,
Kumar, open this packet of sacred ash,
Give me the camphor,
Oh God!
Suresh, ring the bell!
Hurry, Let’s quickly meet the Seer,
Rani is waiting all alone outside,
Meena is still there,
Keep walking!
Come, Muruga,
What happened to Lakshman?
That deaf fellow? He was a rash driver, He drove his rickshaw into a stream,
Thank God the passengers survived,
He has two children, And now this mishap,
Let’s go,
-Suresh,,, -I'll start the rickshaw,
Get in,
-Let's go! -We must get there soon,
Keep going,
What is it?
Ask them to get down,
Everyone! Get down,
-What is it? -How far can you reverse?
Pandi asked everyone to get down, Get down!
It’s okay, I'll turn it around somehow,
We know how that would go, Siva, Munish and Mani! Give us a hand,
Hurry up!
Listen, dear, Meena, get down,
-Why isn’t she moving? -Get down,
Look at her! Sitting there , still like a rock,
Hold it!
Uncle, stop staring! Why not help us instead?
Why trouble our elder?
Hold it! Lift! Heave-ho,
"Getting pelted is better than suffering the evil eye,"
Wonder whose evil eye has cursed our family,
Why are you complaining?
Didn’t we pray to our family deity? Good times are ahead,
What else do we want?
Look at my brother, He is at his wit's end,
Once the problem is solved -
if she marries him and gives birth to a prince,
won’t we jump for joy?
I keep putting my foot in it,
We told Pandi to marry her when she was in high school,
Meena's mother influenced him, So he said:
"Don't you want my future wife to be a graduate?"
"Should she be illiterate like you?" He was mocking us,
If he had heeded us, things would be different today,
Stop, Let’s ask that man the way,
Brother,
-Is there a wine shop nearby? -What?
Wine shop! Liquor! Where is it? Nearby?
Am I sitting here to direct you to a wine shop?
Get lost, junkheads!
Don't look at me like that!
Jobless addicts, You carry on,
People usually help out, What’s wrong with him?
Crazy guy!
Why did they stop here?
Check if it’s dirt? Or an insect?
Put your leg down!
-What’s wrong with uncle? -Nothing,
-What happened? -An insect got into Pandi's eye,
-Where were you both? -Shut up! I'm furious,
Suresh, get some water,
Look here, This side,
No,,, no,,, look up,
Up, Yes, like that,
I’ve found it, Look that way,
Don’t move, brother,
What is this?
So tiny! But how it made him suffer,
It’s not poisonous, His eyes will sting a bit, that’s all,
Wash your face, brother,
Can't keep your hands to yourself? Come here,
Splash water over your eyes!
His eye is very red,
Check if her fever has come down,
Kumar, can't you ride the bike?
-I can but your brother insisted,,, - He would insist but…
Let's move,
-Come with us in the rickshaw, -No need,
The wind will make your eyes worse,
Kumar, drive the bike, You come with us,
-Come with us, brother, -Get in the rickshaw,
He never listens to us,
Let's go,
Get in!
Blow warm air on cloth and dab your eye with it,
-What happened? -Let me check,
Pandi, get down,
Ma, I have to take a dump,
You’re such a pain!
Your son has no sense of time or place,
Like father, like son, Eating and crapping all the time,
It’ll only ruin your health, and you’ll look scrawny,
I can't hold it in any longer, ma,
Go once we get there,
I can’t control it, ma,
Eww! He might crap in the rickshaw, Stop at once,
That’s why you shouldn't buy him junk food,
Stop here,
Help him find a spot,
-What happened? -He wants to take a dump,
Oh, come on now!
She should’ve left him at home, like you left your kid,
Is he like my son? He won't go anywhere without his mother,
If we keep stopping, when will we ever get there?
What to do? He couldn't hold it in!
Hurry up!
Doesn't look like mother and son are coming back any time soon,
Once we're home, ask Rasu for some mother's milk, Dab it on your eye,
Hey!
Why is the rooster unwell?
Maybe it’s poor blood circulation - its legs are tied too tight,
Are you suggesting we untie it? You’d happily let anyone go Scot-free,
What were you two bird brains doing?
It was fine so far!
If something happens to it then how will we complete the ritual?
Mani, Siva, check it,
-Careful! -You think we hurt the jugular vein?
If that was the case, it would be dead by now,
-Check properly! -Let me check the ears,
They are so hot,
-Really? -Check its butt,
Get some water!
It seems fine,
Check the legs,
Hold it upside down and it'll flap its wings, Did it get hurt?
Hold it, Let's spray,
Wait,,, wait,
Spray now,
-You're spraying me! -Move aside,
That's enough, Pour some water,
Some more,
-Shall we fan it? -Yes,
Move aside, Let it get some air,
It looks fine,
Enough,
Give it to me,
All right now?
Yes, it's healthy,
Keep your hands to yourself, Don't disturb the rooster,
Karthi, stay put,
Uncle,,,
One bad omen after another,
It’s very unsettling,
Shall we take your daughter back home?
Is the Seer we're meeting an ordinary seer?
You think our girl is stubborn?
I've known worse cases that have been cured,
She claims to be deeply in love,
After we meet the Seer, she'll forget all about her love,
He'll totally change her heart and mind,
I know what I'm doing, Don't overthink, Trust me!
"My rights as maternal uncle began the day my niece was born"
"The pride of a maternal uncle is something only our caste can boast about"
"A mother nurses her baby only after maternal uncle feeds her sugar water"
"When the niece is a toddler, she sits on his lap and has her ears pierced"
"He gifts her a trousseau, So special is the maternal uncle"
"When the girl reaches puberty"
"He builds a thatched hut to shelter her"
"Assuring her 'I am there for you!' So special is the maternal uncle"
"Maternal uncle brings a trousseau filled with a variety of gifts for you"
"He brings silken finery, golden anklets and jewellery"
"And the people of our caste follows in the procession"
"Once they cross the river, they will arrive at the village"
"And the people of our caste follows in the procession"
"Once they cross the river, they will arrive at the village"
"Maternal uncle brings a trousseau filled with a variety of gifts for you"
"He brings silken finery, golden anklets and jewellery"
Why are you honking? Can't you see a procession is passing?
-Slow down! -Okay, sorry,
Kumar, don't disturb them,
"Maternal uncle brings a trousseau filled with a variety of gifts for you"
"He brings silken finery gold anklets and jewellery"
"And the people of our caste follows in the procession"
Muruga, for your daughter’s puberty ceremony
my son borrowed cash for the trousseau, He’s still paying interest on that,
(Krithika's puberty function Jan 29th 2023 Courtesy: Maternal Uncle Mani)
"As I jump for joy and run down the narrow streets"
"I wilt as I search for my soulmate"
"Her sweet sandalwood fragrance intoxicates me"
"I wish I could hold her in my arms, never let her go"
"I can no longer control my heart, or wait any longer"
"So let's tie the knot of marriage now"
"Your beauty enchants me"
"O sweetheart of mine"
"You make me forget my sorrows"
"Your beauty is without compare"
"An angel has descended on this earth"
"I will follow you like a shadow"
"Just turn around and look at me this once"
How dare you sing!
Why are you hitting her, anna?
Love duet, eh?!
Stop hitting her,
[overlap of voices]
Do you think all of us are idiots?
-Bloody wretch! -Stop hitting her, Stop,
-I'll kill you! -Don't hit my daughter, Pandi,
Get away from me!
I’ll kill you all, You wretches!
Brother, no, Don't hit her,
-Brother, I beg you, stop it, -You wretch!
What have you women done?
-Pandi, calm down, -God help us,
You shameless old wretch, This is all because of you,
A mother can tell when her daughter changes,
You must've known, Immoral woman,
Pandi, calm down,
Tell me, who did you pray for? Standing there all that time?
For your wretched lover?
Pandi, No!
Pandi, stop it!
Pandi, please calm down,
I'll kill you, You think you can stop me?
Pandi, don't kill my daughter,
Let her go,
If one of my sisters had fallen in love,
my father would've hung himself in shame,
You don't seem to be bothered,
Pandi, he's your future father-in-law, Show some respect,
Let him screw himself, Father-in-law, My foot!
I was working out of town, I trusted you all,
And you turned a blind eye to her lust and so-called love,
-Useless fellow! -Pandi, stop,
-Patience, Pandi, -Isn't your college near her college?
-Couldn’t you have kept an eye on her? -I didn't know,
This is how the evil spirit creates obstacles,
Let's go to the Seer at once, Or things will only get worse,
Don't act crazy, She’ll have a change of heart,
-She’ll reform, -Get lost!
She will never reform, Never! The adamant wretch,
Wretch, Singing a love song!
I should chop her into pieces and throw her into that stream,
Pandi, stop! Come on now, Calm down,
Don't do anything rash, You’ll end up ruining the ritual,
Patience, brother, No!
Bloody wretches! Stop telling me to be patient,
That wretch is adamant and wants to marry a boy from a other caste,
Instead of killing her, you’re trying to pacify me?
Be patient, brother,
Pandi, if she insists on marrying that boy after today's ritual,
you will not need to kill her, I'll do the honours myself,
Get lost! Move aside,
You wretch!
I'll slit your throat,
What were you doing, stupid women?
He was better off on the bike with me,
He was riding with us and all of a sudden he lost it,
Never mind, my dear,
I took a sacred vow,
and they broke my sacred garland,
This is a family of crazy folk,
See if I have a bruise,
-Here? -Yes, the pain is excruciating,
-Looks like a blood clot, -What!
-I said, it looks like a blood clot, -Is it a big one?
Yes, You'll need a bandage,
What’s he doing down there?
Suresh? Your sacred garland broke?
Shut up, you junkheads!
It's okay, Come on now,
Grumpy fellow,
-Munish, did you get hurt? -I'm fine,
-Don't tell your mother, She'll be upset, -Why would I tell her?
Father, ask Pandi to come by bike,
Yes, that's better,
Rani, get in,
Let's go,
See if she’s bruised,
Kumar, let Pandi ride with you on the bike,
Why? Any problem if I get into the rickshaw?
As you wish,
Let's go, Muruga,
Pandi, please get down,
Stop here,
Buy some snacks,
What can I buy for 120 rupees?
Give me two,
Siva, one day we must also buy a classy bike like this,
We’ll ride it in our village and beam with pride,
I’ll show it off in front of my future father-in-law,
My father had his own bucket list too,
But that lowlife died a loser,
The cap came off easily, So it must be quality liquor,
What's with him? Hitting everybody and creating a scene?
He hit me when I tried to stop him,
He only stopped when his father intervened, Doesn't he respect us?
Stop whining and drink up,
You know Pandi well,
This ritual was his father's idea,
If there's no change in her behaviour after the ritual,
Pandi will show no respect to his father and unleash his wrath on him,
"Come here, you lowlife,
"I'd have slit her throat but it was your idea to perform a ritual,
"She's unchanged, the adamant girl," Saying this, he'll beat up his father,
Don't you underestimate Pandi,
I don't think any evil spirit has possessed her,
-I think she’s slept with her lover, -Why do you think that?
I'm sure of it or why is she so adamant?
I think so too,
-Do you think that boy lured her? -No doubt of that,
Things are beyond fixing, No use going to the Seer,
Take her to a doctor, Find out if she's still a virgin,
Look, We’re drunk and so we spoke our minds,
Don't spread rumours like this around the village,
Why would I tarnish her reputation?
Stop judging me,
It's standing right in the middle of the road,
-Ma, look at the size of that bull, -What's this new problem?
-Bad times are upon us, -They’re unending,
Munish,
Chase it away,
What happened?
It looks very dangerous,
Dangerous, my foot!
-I've encountered many bulls, -Then go, It's waiting for you,
Watch out! Careful,
Father, come back,
-You better come back, -Don't take unnecessary risks,
It's charging at you, Why do you want to get any closer?
Do you think you’re still young and strong?
Come back and wait with us,
It’s used to this hilly terrain, No wonder it’s wild,
We have enough problems, don't create a new one, Don’t move,
I warned you, but you insisted on playing hero,
Should we not get going?
Sit inside, The bull may attack at any time,
Don't mess with the bull, Can we take another route?
That’s a long way around, Let's wait till the bull moves away,
Doesn't look like it’ll move,
Listen,
Go, ask if it's their bull,
Brother,
Who's there?
-A bull's blocking the road, Is it yours? -Yes,
Selvi!
I told you many times - tie the bull up properly,
Look, it's blocking the road,
Selvi!
-What is it, father? -Come here!
Look at what your bull is doing,
Why shout? The knot must’ve got loose,
You’re always shouting at me and my bull,
Keep talking back like this
and I'll sell you both in the livestock market,
I knew you'd be up to some mischief, Why are you blocking the road?
Father is shouting at both of us now, Come on!
You may go now,
Get in the rickshaw,
Hurry up!
Father is unhappy enough that I play with you,
Carry on like this and he’ll sell you at the livestock market,
If you're gone, I won’t have any friends,
I’ll have no one to play with,
Muthu,
What is it?
Suresh, stop the rickshaw,
What’s the problem now?
We can't keep explaining everything to you,
Where’s my mother going?
She’ll be back, Sit inside,
Lot of insects there, Be careful,
Why did you stop?
Meena,
Come,
You mean Raja's goat?
There's a famous saying in our village:
“Only the lucky get goat balls to relish,”
I hope the goat is okay now,
If the goat's horns are intact, then there’s nothing to worry,
I lost my temper and spoke hastily,
Don't take it to heart,
Are you upset with me?
Oh, come on now, Pandi, For whom are we doing all this?
It’s for him, so he saves face in front of our caste folks,
Do you think he doesn't realize that? Tell him, Muruga,
I didn't mind,,,
What happened, brother?
Where is she?
-What happened, brother? -What is it?
Go and see,
-But why? -I said, go and see!
Oh my God! Did she help her elope?
Shanthi, speak up!
Oh! Where do I look for her?
Where did she go?
Thank God!
I had my heart in my mouth,
Get down, Calm down,
Give it to me,
Ask everyone to get down,
Bring her with you,
Come, Pandi,
Ma, buy me a popsicle,
When she was young, she fell in love with a boy,
We thought it was the whims of adolescence,
So we married her off, hoping she’d forget the boy,
She seemed fine for a couple of months,
But we don't know what got into her recently,
She wakes up at midnight and sits up like one possessed,
If we ask her what’s wrong, she refuses to answer,
If we try to force her to talk, she glares at us,
The Seer will call us,
You should all find yourselves a good place to sit and wait,
Shanthi, take Meena with you,
We are unable to answer to our relatives,
We want her to change, bear a child,
and lead a good family life,
Don’t worry, Now you’ve poured your heart out to our God,
He’ll take care of your problems,
-Karthi, come here, -Grandpa's calling, Go,
Sit here,
Stay put, Okay?
What's the problem you need to solve?
My maternal uncle's daughter was promised to my brother in marriage,
She fell in love with her college mate and is adamant on marrying him,
He must’ve done some black magic on her,
We’ve come to exorcise her,
-Is that her? -Yes, she’s the girl sitting there,
Here,
Drink some water,
My dear,
Drink some water,
You’ll need strength to withstand the beatings,
Have some water,
They are not just beating me,
Give me that,
She’s under a spell, I shall break it,
Are you the husband?
Rub this on her head,
Is that all the strength you have, young man?
Apply more pressure, Only then her madness will go away,
She needs cleansing from head to toe,
Enough, Give me the sacred ash,
Hold it,
Give me that holy pipe,
Check how many tiny voodoo balls there are, It has hardened over time,
She’s been under the spell for a while,
I have broken the spell,
I'm surprised that she is still with you,
She should’ve eloped by now, You brought her to me right on time,
You and your family have done well, You seem most capable,
-Light the camphor, -Okay,
Give me the rooster,
-Hold it, -Listen to the Seer,
Go around the burning camphor three times,
Listen, I have broken the spell he cast on her,
She’s fine now,
Even if you try to chase her away,
she’ll remain forever a slave to your family,
That is all we want,
May our God save your family from all evil forces and bless you,
Come with me,
Cut its head off,
Don't look,
You were right behind us but where are you now?
Have you reached the village?
Come straight down that road, Our bike is parked at the street corner,
Park and come inside,
Okay,
Pandi,,,, Pandi,,,
Pandi, come, The Seer is calling us,
Come,
Come quickly, Pandi,
What is it, brother?
Come on, Pandi,
What are you waiting for?
What’s troubling you?
Why aren't you coming?
Pandi,,,
What’s happened to him?
What happened, brother?
Why are you hesitant? Come,
Don't waste my time, Hurry up, It's getting late,
We came all the way here, what's stopping him now?
-Kumar, what’s his problem? -I don't know,
What happened, Pandi?
Come, Pandi,
Come on, Pandi,
Don't make the Seer wait, Come, Pandi,
WRITTEN AND DIRECTED BY PS VINOTHRAJ
SOORI
ANNA BEN
PRODUCED BY SIVAKARTHIKEYAN
CO-PRODUCED BY KALAI ARASU
CINEMATOGRAPHY SAKTHIVEL B
EDITOR GANESH SIVA
RE-RECORDING MIXER SUREN G
SOUND DESIGN SUREN G - ALAGIAKOOTHAN S
PRODUCTION SOUND MIXER RAGHAV RAMESH
PUBLICITY DESIGN KABILAN
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER BANU PRIYA
STILLS &amp; MAKING CHEGU
PRO SURESH CHANDRA
DI PROMO WORKS
VFX SEKAR MURUGAN
CONTENT SUPERVISOR GUNASHEKAR M