Riding the Stallion of a Dream (2010)

[bunniefuu]

To My Mother - Basantkumar Patil

Could you find any work today?

Did anyone die in the village today?

How can I get work, then?

Stop digging graves.

Then some job will come your way

My God! Blood?!

What happened?

Where did you get hurt?

On the belly or on the chest?

It's colour, not blood.

Colour! How did you get it!?

Stop wasting water.

Come with me to fetch water.

You'll learn how tiring a job it is!

Abhishek Patil Presents

Basant Productions, Bangalore

Riding a Dream

Vaijanath Biradar

Umashree

Sadashiv Bramhavar, Shivaranjan

Pavitra Lokesh, Baby Soundarya

Purushottam, Basavalingaiah Hiremath

Akki Channabasappa, Savanth

Mallikarjun N. Kanthi, Basavaraja Murugodu

Viresh Belagalpet, Basavaraja Tirlapur

Sound Recording: Krishna Unni, Dialogue Recording:

Sharavana, Music Recording: S. Vasudevan

Production Design

K.S. Prasanna Kumar

Costumes

Vaishali Kasaravalli

Story

Amaresh Nugadoni

Co Script writer

Gopala Krishna Pai

Music

V. Manohar

Editing

M.N.Swamy

Cinematography

H.M.Ramachandra Halkere

Producers:

Basantikumar Patil / Amruta Patil

Script - Dialogue - Direction

Girish Kasaravalli

Basannyappa,

What is it?

- Give me something.

What?

- Give me fifty rupees.

Get lost.

Basanyappa.

When will you stop begging for money?

There is no death in the village.

I have no work, no money,

He wants us dead, so that he gets his wages.

Give me betel leaf for five rupees...

His wife works in my field, but he will not...

...instead loafs around all day

Wait, I'll remove the vehicle.

Looks like Shivanna has come...

He's brought his family along!

I wonder why?

Maybe his father has taken a turn for the worse.

Do you mean he's in critical condition?

Get the luggage inside.

Master has come!

Come, Shivanna...

How are you, Matadayya?

- Quite fine.

O, Hema!

At last you've come.

Pinki too! Welcome dear...

Do you recognize me?

Don't you remember Matadayya uncle?

You haven't come for five years;

how can the kid remember me?

So why do you blame me?

You said it right.

She blames you for her mistakes.

Uncle, where is your monastery?

- Monastery?

Isn't your name 'chief of monastery'?

She is very cute.

I've no monastery, nor a house

This is all that is there for me

Come, come on in now...

How is father now?

No improvement! Same condition for the last six months.

Did you get hurt?

Dad, do you recognize me?

I am Shivanna.

...your son.

See... Hema also has come.

Father-in-law...

You know who this little one is?

Your grand-daughter, Pinky.

He wants her by his side.

Come... sit here.

- No, Daddy, no...

He smells bad.

Why don't you get his room cleaned everyday?

The servants do it twice a day.

But then, you know, he relieves himself in bed...

I don't know how you put up with this stink.

He lived like a mighty lion.

Why is God punishing him like this now?

Why blame God?

He has been very lonely after your mother’s death.

This wouldn't have happened if only you people had cared.

At least you come here once a year,

...the others never

I can't stand this man.

That's why I didn't want to come.

Daddy... throw the ball.

Come, come on in...

- Good afternoon

Give way, uncle

Your daughter is quite sharp.

Your father-in-law became cheerful on seeing Pinki

I think it'll do him good if you stay for a few more days.

I agree.

But Shivanna is the principal of a college now.

He can't go on long leave.

I don't understand you.

He can avail leave to come here to sell the land...

...but can't avail it to take care of his father.

His elders struggled hard to acquire this land.

Why does he want to sell it now?

He plans to quit his job and start an English school.

He needs money for it.

Is he mad to quit the college and join a school?

There's more money in English schools these days.

IRYA'S DREAM

Irya, get ready for your job.

O my guru, Guru Siddha, you've blessed me at last.

Are you going to work?

No.

- Then?

Guru Siddha appeared in my dream.

That means somebody has died.

So I'm going to go and prepare the grave.

Did you really have a dream or was it your desire to eat meat?

Has my dream ever gone wrong?

Who do you think has died?

Our Senior Gowda, who else?

Gowdas pay well.

I'll get meat, we'll eat to our fill tonight,

and then, in the night...

There's no dearth of that...

What makes you think you will be paid well?

They paid me well for digging the grave of Shivanna's mother.

We ate meat for many days and had a stomachache later!

Remember?

Out to dig a grave so early.

Who has died?

Senior Gowda...

Is that so?

He was ailing for so long.

Good, at last he found peace!

Did they send for you?

Why wait, I'll do my job

Let me get the grave ready

Come here...

Give me a smoke

Take the whole bundle.

Happy?

Now listen,

Shivanna is going out on some big job.

Don't show yourself to him.

Now leave...

Did this Irya ever go to anybody's house for no reason.

Now go and tell Matadayya that I'm here.

Irya has come...

Why has he come?

Where should I dig the pit?

Beside his wife's grave or...

You son of a b*tch;

nobody has died in this house.

You mean the "senior" is fine?!

Really?

How dare you claim to know the news before me!

Get going...

Stars will fall from the sky if my dream turns false

Move away from here.

- Bheemya, come here...

Give this to him.

He speaks evil and you reward him!

Don't bother with him...

Take this and leave...

Where should I dig the pit?

Malla, hold this guy...

My dream never fails...

I'll break your bones if you utter one more word.

Why are you squatting down again?

I'll wait.

For what?

Before long Senior Gowda will…

You spout evil again. Get lost!

Kenchavva, work fast.

Basannya,

Your friends hope to become rich overnight by selling their lands.

They are being dumb and stupid. Why didn't you stop them?

I tried my best.

But no one wants to till the land.

They don't listen.

They think a factory on their land will benefit them.

Which factory will come up there?

Who knows? Only time will tell whether it is a boon or a bane!!

Land can last long, not money.

Once they blow up their money, they'll be back as beggars.

You said it...

Where are you going?

Let me speak to my husband Irya.

What is the use?

He won't work nor allow others to work...

Get on with your work...

Master.

O master...

I trust my dream.

So I've got the pit ready.

If you think there is any truth in it, give me my wage.

Madam...

I am talking sense. No?

Madam doesn't want to say anything.

Sir, shall I wait here or you'll send the money to my place?

Why are you looking so glum?

Or, am I so good looking that it makes you speechless!

I thought somebody from the big house has come to give me my wages.

But it was you.

Rudri, has my dream turned out to be false?

This has never happened before.

Daddy... throw the ball.

O, come, come on in.

- Good afternoon...

That is for the master,

...sugarless.

Take the other cup

The factory officials will be coming tomorrow to buy off our lands.

Let's leave early.

Transfer of land records will take just one hour.

We should be at the registration office on time.

We can't keep them waiting. They are busy people.

Are we going to be paid on the spot?

Of course!

You sign the papers in one hand and take the money in the other.

Siddaraja, bring a huge bag.

They pay in cash.

You all come there in a hired vehicle

Once you get the money, you can buy a new car and return home.

Why are you silent Basannya?

Do you plan to come in your tiller?

I've decided not sell my land.

Why are you are singing a different tune now?

We have a drought one year, and a deluge the next.

What can one do with these lands?

But am I not growing flowers here.

Who has stopped you from doing the same?

We have grown old.

Not willing to soil their hands, children have moved to cities.

Why the hell should we keep this land?

Factory brings better jobs.

Our children may even come back home.

I've said what I wanted to.

Whether you sell your land or not is your choice.

Mummy, now you do it.

Were you scared?

You look worried!

Many still obey Basanyappa

If a few more decide not to sell their lands, we will be in a mess.

Pinky, switch on the light.

I'm a ghost, not Pinky.

Mummy, switch off the light

You think Matadayya has a hand in this?

Why do you say so?

He lives in comfort now as a caretaker here.

If the lands are sold, he'll have no place to go.

No. This is all Basannyappa's mischief.

Pinky...what are you up to?

Enough playing, now go to bed.

If the lands aren't sold...

...how do we get the money to start the school?

That's what worries me.

Thank God. All of them have come.

Get ready quickly.

Matadayya, finish your pooja fast.

We'll leave now.

I could never become the son he was proud of.

What is on your mind, Matadayya?

I suggest...

...perform the funeral rites first...

...and postpone the land sale.

Postpone by 15 days?

This deal is with the 'factory people'. Cannot be postponed.

We have to keep up the time.

Oh! You can't postpone it!

Would you also say the same?

Why should we postpone?

Sale of lands will be over by noon,

We'll return and finish the funeral rites before evening.

What rubbish!

Our Gowda is not an orphan to leave his body unattended.

Don't you have a sense of propriety, any dharma?

Shivanna, the village people will shun you if you do that.

If Pinky and I stay back, will it serve the purpose?

You have said it right.

That way we can keep both our deal and our dharma as well.

What do you say?

Mummy... I'm ready.

We are not leaving today, dear.

Is that so? Really? Fantastic!

Irya has come.

Why has he come?

Sir, where should I dig the pit?

Beside his wife's grave or ...

You son-of-a-b*tch, nobody has died in this house.

You mean Senior Gowda is fine?

Yes...

Give this to him.

He speaks evil and you reward him.

Leave me.

My dream can never go wrong...

I will break your bones

if you utter one more word

Rascal!

Comes drunk and makes trouble.

Suggavva...

No need to clean up Senior's room today.

You both go to work in the fields.

Work in the fields?

Hema has come home after many years

Let her serve her father-in-law at least for a day.

- Ok sir.

Thank God, we will be free of that foul smell at least for a day.

It'll be nice if Hema madam stays for few more days.

Mummy, there are 35 doors and 64 pillars in this house.

Good place to play 'Hide and Seek'

I should have brought my friends.

Look at my fate, waiting on a corpse!

It's your father-in-law, not a mere corpse.

What shall I cook?

Roti and vegetables?

I'll not eat anything until the body is buried.

Better if you do the same

But no such restrictions for the kid

Mummy, where are you going?

It's evening already.

Ask Shivanna to return immediately.

How long before you return?

I feel suffocated here...

Their job is still not over, so they'll return only tomorrow morning.

Indeed, your father-in-law's soul will be very pleased now!

RUDRI'S DREAM

Irya...

I had a dream.

Guru Siddha is coming tonight.

Really?

You don't look pleased!

Why?

We'll have to serve him with meat, booze ...

... and money too?

How do we manage all that?

People are passing through a bad time.

They hope Guru Siddha will bring good luck and pay generously.

Now hurry up...

You think this dream will come true this time?

Give me a few onions, a measure of jowar and some chillies.

Not on credit, pay and take it.

I'm asking for Siddha, not for myself.

How do you know? Did he phone you?

Give her what she wants.

Siddha might bring good luck to our village.

True, for the last two years we have suffered enough.

But who'll pay the money?

Your father?

All right, how many onions?

Four is enough

1-2-3-4

And a fistful of chillies

I hear this Siddha visits only in the night!

Don't know if it is true or just some story. I haven't seen him ever.

It's just an excuse for you guys to skip work.

This would do for Siddha.

My mother-in-law is not well.

Pray Siddha to bless her.

Guru Siddha is coming today.

Lend me a hundred rupees.

Budan, don't give her any money.

This is my offering to Guru Siddha, not a loan.

Give me another fifty

Isn't it enough to buy meat for Siddha?

We have to offer him liquor as well.

No, I wouldn't pay for the liquor.

You shouldn't have given her money. I didn't.

Why?

If it rains in the near future ...

... people will believe it's because of Siddha,

Like Irya, they too stop working and wait for Siddha to do some miracle.

For a mere 50 rupees you reel off such a long story.

How much more had I given her a hundred

Don't play in the hot sun.

Go inside, dear...

Or else, your skin will become dark, like mine.

Go, my dear, go in...

The house is stinking.

Stinking?

Let me see...

Rudri, what are you doing there?

The child says there's some rotten smell. Maybe it's a dead rat.

Nothing is dead here.

Go away.

Hurry up

What is there in the basket?

Guru Siddha is coming. So ...

You mean the 'Master-of-the-graveyard' Siddha is coming?

Yes...

When?

- Tonight!

Wait here...

Come here Rudravva...

We may also have committed some sin,

Pray for Siddha to forgive us.

Let Siddha's blessings be upon us...

Put it there

Something strange happened today.

Have you ever seen Matadayya giving money to anyone?

But today ...

Look here...

Give it to me.

Look here. Even I have got money...

Where did you get it from?

The liquor seller didn't take money today.

It is his offering to Siddha.

Well, give it back to me.

We benefited much by Guru Siddha's visit this time.

You can't taste it before offering it to Guru Siddha.

Rudri, did you hear the sound of a conch?

You must be hallucinating

I heard it clearly.

Siddha must have come.

I'll bring him home.

I heard Senior Gowda died.

- When?

When Siddha blew his conch, I believe, the old man sat up at once.

and prayed with folded hands, 'Take me away, O Siddha.'

Matadayya said that he collapsed immediately and died.

No sign of Siddha.

Our dreams have started failing.

Don't lose faith.

Didn't Senior Gowda die today?

Yesterday's dream came true today.

Likewise today's dream might come true tomorrow.

Eat this

You won't get sleep on an empty stomach.

All the better.

If we don't get sleep, we don't dream either.

SAME DAY - AT THE BIG HOUSE

Mummy, something is rotting...

Mummy, the whole house is reeking of bad smell...

See, there can't be any bad smell now

Now go out and play until your daddy comes.

Do something about this foul smell.

Stop there...

Come here...

Today you can have a day off.

No work today as well.

Go home now.

Shall I leave these things here?

We seem to be lucky today.

You said it, brother.

Daddy, don't go in.

The house is stinking.

Stinking of what?

Why are you frowning now?

Your father has been dead for more than a day now.

Wouldn't his body rot?

You let your father's body rot and went out on business.

The factory officials did not come in time, so ...

Shut up. It's all because of you.

There's no time for tears now.

Tell me what's to be done next?

What else is there to do?

Tell Irya to prepare the grave...

...and the servants to prepare the bier.

But what should I say about the time of your father's death?

If I say it happened yesterday,

you'll lose respect.

I don't wish to say he died today

You have put me in a fix

There's some bad smell here

Rudri, what are you doing there?

Your girl said there's some rotten smell.

Maybe it's a dead rat.

What is that in your basket!?

Guru Siddha is coming. So...

'The master of the grave yard' Siddha is coming?

Yes...

When?

- Tonight.

Wait here, I'll be back soon.

Siddha is coming today.

Offer Rudri hundred rupees.

Why should we pay?

We don't believe in Siddha.

I know that.

But here is a way to get out of this muddle.

So you have found a way out!

Mummy,

Grandpa's room is on fire

What? It is on fire?

Your father is sitting up!

- What are you saying?

It was I who made the body sit up yesterday

Otherwise the body would’ve become stiff

... making it impossible to fix on the bier

Mummy, is grandpa dead?

He's not dead. He's reached the abode of Lord Shiva.

It's not good for the kid to be here.

Shall I take her home and bring her back in the morning?

Will you go with uncle?

Come. Let's go.

Why did you send for us?

- What happened?

Your master passed away a little while ago.

Stop there...

- Shall I go in and see?

Not now.

First go and inform the people of the village.

Irya, are you there?

Senior Gowda passed away.

Come and prepare the grave.

You see he is unwell – has a fever.

- A fever?

No fever, nothing.

Just a hangover from last night's booze. Get up!

Get up, you rascal...

I dug up a pit two days back.

Ask them to bury Gowda there.

How dare you talk of Senior Gowda so flippantly?

Now get up and come with us.

When I say I will not come, I will not...

Leave me...

- Leave him alone, he's not well.

We have brought him

Irya...

Why are you so adamant!?

Are you angry with us?

Don't turn your face away.

He has a fever.

It stinks.

It is your mouth that stinks.

Day and night you drink and smell of liquor.

I can make out the smell of liquor from that of a rotten body.

...unlike them

Even your little girl was complaining of foul smell.

I am certain Senior Gowda didn't die yesterday.

What nonsense are you talking? Idiot...

Bhimya... throw him out...

Has he gone mad?

Get out of this place.

You brought me here on your shoulders.

Now carry me back the same way

Listen to this monkey's demand!

Why are you kicking him like that?

Irya dug up a pit two days ago.

We shall bury Senior Gowda there

Come now, let's go home.

Our master must have held on to his life waiting for Guru Siddha.

Otherwise how could he have borne all that suffering for six months!

How fortunate you are to have such a pious death.

Bless me with a similar death.

Go away from here.

My shirt, don't tear it please...

Don't worry, I'll fix it for you.

Why are you back again?

I'll go away.

Don't beat me please.

We'll break your limbs...

Listen everyone, they claim senior died yesterday.

What a great show!

They excel even the seasoned performers

Irya,

Where are you?

What happened ?

- My leg...

Walk slowly...

Have you been waiting for long?

- No...

Massage his leg with oil and apply a hot water compress.

As you say, Budan sab.

And then give him these pills.

All this add up to twenty rupees. I'll put that in your credit account.

Walk to the side, Rudravva.

Want to be run over by the tiller?

How is Irya now? Can he walk?

He may have fractured his bones.

Take him to the government hospital.

He can't even stand on his legs.

How do you expect him to walk to the hospital?

But I can take him on my tiller.

I don't know if he'll agree.

He feels let down by Siddha and finds no meaning in living.

You should have left them to their faith.

Why did you shatter it?

You have committed a blunder

This is your share, count it.

Good that you too are here

You don't have to feel dejected.

Your dream didn't go wrong on that day. You be happy.

Didn't our dream fail?

- Not at all...

Siddha had really come that day.

I asked my man to take him away

Why did you do that?

Sorry, it was my fault.

If Siddha failed to turn up, I thought Irya would change.

His intentions were good.

But things went out of control.

Don't sit with a poker face.

Come, let's go to the hospital.

Don't worry about the money.

Where are you?

Siddha is here.

Won't you call me in?

Sister, are you listening?

Can't you see I am here?

You'll bring a curse upon yourself if you don't follow the custom.

Serve me food.

Get me drinking water.

What's wrong with that guy? Has no respect for the Guru.

Look at him, sleeping uncaringly.

Go and wake him up.

Look at his fate for placing faith in you.

I made a mistake.

Deluded by liquor, meat, and grain.

I have committed a great blunder.

At least now you realized.

Now go tell the people about the injustice done to us.

Wear the rudrakshi, O sister,

That which holds within it

The powers of Siddhas,

Put on the rudrakshi,

O sister

YET THEY DREAM

How is it that you have come during the day time?

Just came to see you.

What are you doing here?

If I sit quietly ...

... they'll destroy my honour and finish me.

But what can you do on this rocky field?

I'll cultivate something.

Cultivation in this place?

You need gallons of water for that. Where will you get it from?

Everyday I'll piss at each plant!

That'll be enough.

Not a bad idea! Come on, take me home.

Let me first complete my work.

Till then sit on that stone

Why are you laughing?

These look like burrows of rats.

Do you know how farmers grow the plants?

First they dig pits along a straight line...

... and then they plant in it.

How can we know all that?

We have never done any farming.

Come. I'll teach you.

Hold this...

I'll pull the other end.

This starts unfurling.

Draw rows along the thread and plant the saplings.

Shall I start pulling?