Arulvaan (2026)

[bunniefuu]

The people in this film speak

the Kadar language of the tribe.

For the audiences understanding, certain portions

at the beginning have been translated into Tamil.

'Hey! Blurt it out'

'I don't know anything, sir'

'I know you stole, tell me'

'I swear I don't know anything, sir.

I wasn't even in town'

Sir!

Where did the accident happen?

Near Kaana Vilakku

- 'Aiyo!

- Hit the child and drove away'

'Wretched fellow!

Hit the child and drove away'

'Go and save the child'

'Ambulance will be delayed'

'Bring an auto'

'For every individual'

'Time and Need provide

multi-fold experiences'

'Accepting that as a given'

'Looking at it repeatedly

and moving on, is life'

'A memorable experience embedded

for eternity in my thoughts'

'...is thanks to only one girl'

'In this hamlet, only a few men

knew to speak Tamil'

'Women knew only their own

tribal language'

'Some people living here have not

even seen the outside world'

'Despite the barriers

faced on a day to day basis'

'She nurtured self confidence to prove

each and every obstacle can be surmounted'

'Transformed her trials and tribulations

into a lesson for all to benefit

'That girl is Kurinji'

'Arulvaan'

'One Who Blesses'

"Enchanting water lily

My mountain ebony"

"Won't kurinji buds bloom all around

with your footprints on the ground?"

"Won't the tailor bird yearn to hear

your nectar-sweet voice, my dear?"

"Cool drizzles stretch their hands to you"

"Our deities lift you with love so true"

"Eternal rain showers waiting to

celebrate your success with you"

"Sheaf of grains turn towards you

instead of the sun, to admire anew"

"Enchanting water lily

My mountain ebony"

"Won't kurinji buds bloom all around

with your footprints on the ground?"

Don't throw a tantrum.

If you shouldn't go, you should not

I will go.

Why are you sitting quiet?

- Simply sitting and watching

- Why make a fuss, dear?

Let her come with me.

I'm with her, right?

Why be worried?

- You come with me, child.

- Okay, father.

You're pampering her

too much, not good at all.

Hold your plait.

Don't wander around.

Come back safe and sound.

"In your hands, our dear princess

our world exists boundless"

"To sleep peacefully in your shadow"

God, bless us

Come, let's go

Appa, where are we going today

to gather honey?

The honey on top of the hillock

is ready for harvest

We will bring that down.

- How far should we walk, pa?

- Well have to walk through the night.

"Koel's sweet songs heard crystal clear"

"In the lines of your palm, dear child

happiness flows free and wild"

"Honestly I praise you

as pearl pure and true"

"Not wrong at all to hail you as the light

dispelling darkness in every home bright"

"For our clan, my dear, heap wealth"

"You'll realize our forest is your breath"

Don't be scared.

It's the God we worship.

It won't harm us.

Kurinji

Good looks and brains

are not enough for a girl.

She needs to be courageous.

Not be scared.

You should not feel sad

if you have no one to help you.

A forest can be

really thick and vast.

You should learn to be courageous

to face any adversity in life.

Can you see the hillock over there?

I'll harvest honey and

be back, you sit here.

- Okay?

- Okay, appa

"Looking at your lovely face so innocent"

"Even the radiant full moon wanes 100%"

"When your eyes smile with love and care

even cicadas buzz and bloom everywhere"

"In hair's parting, above your forehead"

"Stars float & shine guiding the way ahead"

"With steps of our favorite child's dance

the soil beneath enhances in fragrance"

"You breeze in like a butterfly, my dear"

"You will cross the sea limitless

Touch the vast sky, our princess"

"Like a spring that never dries; bountiful

you will wander spreading love plentiful"

"On its bank like the cool wind spiraling

narrate stories to all, awe-inspiring"

"Enchanting water lily

My mountain ebony"

"Won't kurinji buds bloom all around

with your footprints on the ground?"

"Won't the tailor bird yearn to hear

your nectar-sweet voice, my dear?"

Appa, where are they going daily for work?

They are not going to work, dear.

They are going to school.

- School?

- Yes, dear

School? What do they do there?

A school is...

a place where all the children gather...

There will be a teacher

to teach them lessons.

Children will be given books to read.

Why should one study?

Education is what shapes

and controls a person.

An educated person will

be listened to by others.

Same goes for our

land and clan too.

Education is the

path to a better life.

Why didn't you study then?

It was not an option for us.

No body bothered to educate us.

Hearing all this makes

me want to study as well.

Father, let me study as well.

Let's see, dear

- Buddy...

- Yes...

- Be careful. Mr.Danger is on his way.

- Okay.

If he asks, tell him we

went to Mekkadu for work.

Okay.

Sir, we got two scapegoats.

He wont spare us even without anything.

Now weve got stolen mushrooms too.

Greetings, sir.

Where were you?

Sir, we just got back

from Mekkadu after work.

What's in the bag?

Lunch, sir.

Hand me the bags.

Sir, these are edible mushrooms.

Is this your lunch?

Mushroom omelette and Mushroom soup, is it?

- Sir, please forgive us.

- Are you trying foreigner's cuisine?

Why wait for lunchtime?

Let's feast rightaway.

What do you say, dear?

Hey, come on...

Thrash them...

How dare you cross the fence

and enter foreigners garden?

Bloody thieves...

You want mushrooms, is it?

Who do you think you messing with?

If the villagers come to know

about this, it might be a problem.

Slap an FIR against them.

Say they k*lled a deer or peacock.

Bring them.

If anyone dares to step

into the foreigners garden

this will be their fate.

Pandian, what's happening?

When are you going to hand over

this magical gold mine to us?

This magic gold mine belongs to us

Another 10 days you can trip

on these magic mushies.

And you can trip and die

in this mushie gold mine.

You don't worry, I'll take care

of the dirty, ugly tribal villagers.

Why didn't any of you study, ma?

In our clan, girls are generally

not allowed to

interact with other men.

We were told this over and over.

This even forbade us from

interacting with the teacher.

Then how can we study?

Why do we need education?

Only those who desire

a lot need to study.

We are happy with our

life within four walls.

Before you were born

we had schools in our community.

What good will it do if girls study?

Using that as a lame excuse...

Even the boys did not go

to school, just like the girls.

That is the reason...

Govt closed down the

school here, my dear

Mr.Paper, stop there.

What brings you here?

- I am going to visit the village on the hills.

- You can't go there.

Why is that? Is the forest on

fire? Or are you going to light it up?

You sound arrogant.

Come, speak with the officer.

Where are you going?

To the hillock.

Why do you have to drink inside a forest?

Don't you have wine shops back home?

I meant I am going to

the village up in the hills.

Are you drunk?

Being sarcastic, are you?

Check his bags.

Don't you dare touch my bag.

Tell me why I shouldn't go to the village.

Movement between the plains and the

hill village is banned. Government order

This is to stop smuggling of goods.

I will k*ll you, if I see you again.

Get lost. Look at his funny attire.

Aren't you the one who

smuggles goods all the time?

This isn't the only route to the village.

How are you?

We are fine

Why have you missed your path?

The entire forest is fenced

I got lost, not knowing

which way to go

Let's go

- Be careful.

- Yes, come on.

- How is your village chief?

- He is fine, sir

Sir, I have a request...

The fencing is causing us trouble.

Even in emergencies, were forced to

take a longer route, adding 10 extra km.

Even there, the foreigners have

put up electric fences in many places.

If even people cant tell which fences

are electric, how would animals know?

Please inform the authorities

and help us reclaim our path.

Dividing and claiming forests

in bits and pieces isnt new.

This has been

happening for ages.

I wont let this slide.

Ill write about it

in our magazine.

It will create a stir

among the higher officials.

I have an errand in

the neighboring village.

You go your way.

- Take care

- Okay

'Magic mushroom'

'It isn't the edible kind'

'It is an intoxicant

that dims our senses'

Hey!

Who are you, man?

Hey!

Call the forest officer.

Sir, right here...

You brute...

Have you lost it?

Because of you, the whole

clan will be thrown behind bars.

If he had died, who would

be answerable to his country?

If anything happens to the

foreigners or the wild animals,

You got to pay the price.

Get lost!

Move...

Let's go.

Come on.

Aa...maravalli...

Aa... maravalli...

My father gave a feast to the entire

village and named me 'Amaravalli'...

Pronounce my name correctly.

Shout only if you can pronounce it right.

Stop calling me

Avalli or Bvalli!

Hold this.

What is this?

I got into a fight with those foreigners.

Hey, its nothing.

Why do you care about others?

Why do you get so angry?

They keep trampling over

us because we stay silent.

My father and grandfather

created this forest.

How dare they block

me from entering?

Do you want me to wish

them well and walk away?

Should I stay quiet when

my people are in trouble?

I have only one daughter.

What if something happens to you?

What will I do then?

Why are you crying over this?

Just give me your word

Ill gladly give you a son.

Youre good with words, all right.

The boy from the southern

village seems like a good boy.

Your father is coming.

Don't tell him about this.

Father...

Where were you?

Mariamma from our

village has attained puberty.

So I went to buy pooja

items for the ritual.

Where is your kid?

She has gone to river to take a dip.

- Ask her to come.

- Okay.

- Dear...

- Yes...

Come on. Lets go for worship.

They are the ones who

pave the paths in the village.

Grandpa, how long have you been

doing this deity-possessed dance?

Ive been doing it since I was 16.

Who did it before you?

My father did it before me.

My grandfather

did it before him.

My great-grandfather before that.

Weve been doing this for generations.

Your mother is next in line after me.

Since I had a daughter

my son-in-law will take over as my son.

Youre a girl, so your

husband will do it in the future.

Dear, do you want to do it?

No, I am going to study.

Alright, dear.

Usually mom and daughter dance in anger...

Hey, stop everyone!

Stop! Where are you going?

Which forest are you

going to set on fire?

Sir, we are on our way to

worship our ancestral deity.

Deity? Who?

Ancestral deity.

- Where is that?

- In Mekkadu.

Mekkadu?

From whom did

you get permission?

Sir, we havent needed

permission all these years.

You must get permission from me.

You cant enter the forest as you please.

It would be a sin if we dont complete

this ritual for our ancestral deity.

To hell with the deity and the sin.

What is all this?

You worship trees and hills, dont you?

The trees and hills are all around you.

Offer your prayers and get lost.

Sir, why are you causing trouble?

The foreigners are exploiting

the forest for mushrooms.

You dont question them.

Why are you troubling us?

All we wanted was to offer prayers.

- Who are you?

- Dear, it's alright.

Stay quiet.

Hey, Mr. Chief...

Is he a rowdy in your village?

Dont you know how

to speak to an officer?

I should have thrashed you the very

day you fought with those foreigners.

I took pity on you people.

Two months ago, someone

was k*lled by an elephant.

Three people were k*lled by a tiger.

What if you get k*lled too?

Who do you think will

answer to the government?

Will you answer them?

Take everyone and leave.

Drive everyone away.

Get away everybody. Leave now.

People, bow before

the hills. Lets leave now.

- Let's go.

- Dear lord.

- Let's go.

- Why is the officer so adamant?.

Let's go everybody.

- Hey

- Yes, sir.

If we single out the chief, we

can drive the villagers away.

Lets target him first.

Is that a g*nsh*t?

It sounds like someone

fired a g*n inside the forest.

You go ahead. Ill

check and join you.

Okay, chief.

I dont know what that

g*nsh*t was about.

- Let our chief check and come

- Come on

I sh**t a deer, and

a monkey shows up.

Hello, clan chief.

What brings you here?

Sir, I heard a g*nsh*t

Thats why I came running.

Did you come after hearing

the shot, or did you fire it?

Sir, where would

I even get a g*n?

But theres a dead deer here.

Sir, snakes and other creatures

here are like our own family.

Even before cutting a

tree, we ask its permission!

Why would we harm them?

So you ask the trees for

permission to cut them, but not us?

Who k*lled this deer?

Whoever k*lled it will die a painful death.

Hey! Watch your tongue!

You say you didnt sh**t it? Then give me a

written statement that you didnt k*ll it.

Come on...

Is your signature enough?

Or should your entire clan sign?

My signature is enough, sir.

People will listen to me.

Clan chief, write here

that you didnt k*ll the deer.

I dont know how to read or write, sir.

Weve had no access

to education at all, sir.

Then leave your thumbprint.

Ill fill it in for you.

Not your right hand.

Use your left hand.

Place your thumb there.

Sir, what is this atrocity?

Why are you measuring our land?

How can you even ask me that?

Didnt you sign an affidavit

promising to evict these people for me?

Sir, are you trying to

turn us against ourselves?

First ask your men to

move out of our village.

Clan chief, you are

going back on your word.

I thought you would

evacuate the village for me

How dare you ask my

survey men to leave?

Should I tell everyone

what you did?

This man standing here

He promised to evacuate the

entire village within eight days

and in return, he took a

bundle of cash in his dhoti.

Isn't it true that he took the money?

- Look at what he did?

- Dear Lord...

Chief...

To this day, our chief

has never touched money.

Its a vow like no other. You

wouldnt understand even if I explained.

I swear on everything sacred.

This man didnt even

count a single currency note.

He bundled it in his lap and

walked away, swaying his hips.

When this mountain gives us

a livelihood to live comfortably

why do we need

this paper currency?

Hey! Go search

the chiefs house.

Okay, sir

Well know the truth soon.

If our livelihood is threatened,

we wont mind to risk our lives.

This mountain gave us the

strength to stand against anyone.

The same mountain

taught us patience.

Dont take that away from us.

It wont end well for you.

Chief, are you hearing this?

Instead of taking your people down to

the plains, youre causing trouble here?

Share the money I gave

you with your entire clan.

Youd better ask your villagers to

abandon the hills and move to the plains.

Sir, this is despicable.

You did this for money?

Do we have anywhere

other than the forests?

Where are we supposed

to find work with our kids?

Chief, please don't cry.

I beg you, my people...

I did not betray you.

Even if a dog licks the

offering we make to God,

our devotion to the

Lord never fades.

Your head, held high,

will never bow in shame.

Dont be upset.

Even if it cost him his life

my father would never have done something

like putting his hand in the fire.

My father innocently put

his thumbprint on that paper.

Look at the misery

it has brought us.

If even one man in our

clan were educated

we wouldnt be facing

exile from our own land.

Daughter

What is it, father?

Send some hot herbal

tea if you have any.

Ill send it over.

When the whole hamlet speaks ill of

a man who never wronged anyone

my heart feels heavy.

Please dont trouble yourself.

- Kurinji

- Ma?

- Take this to Grandpa. Be careful not to spill it.

- Okay

Take this. Watch your step.

Be careful, dear.

The Chief has made

a terrible mistake.

We are doomed.

Where can we go now?

Dont judge him so quickly.

- But he sold the land!

- Hush, his grandchild is coming.

- Its dark. Watch your step.

- Okay, anna

How are we going

to solve this issue?

Nobody knows the truth.

Grandpa, take this.

Dont worry, grandpa.

This is our village.

No matter who threatens us,

we will never leave this place.

I have no words, child.

My peaceful life has

come crashing down.

How much more

betrayal must I face?

Ive lost trust in everyone.

For our clan to move forward

with our heads held high,

never put your thumbprint

on a blank sheet blindly.

Why do you say this, grandpa?

This mountain belongs to me.

My word is law.

I make the rules.

He spoke to me

with such arrogance.

That arrogance came

from his education, child.

He made me stand there,

not letting me move an inch.

He ordered me to obey him.

His sense of authority

came from his education.

Education alone gives

courage and confidence.

For generations, our biggest mistake

was believing in an old superstition.

We told our girls not to look at

any man other than their husband.

To enforce that rule, we

kept you all uneducated.

You must study, dear.

If all of you study

your education can reclaim what we lost.

Promise me you will study.

Dont be upset, grandpa.

I promise I will study.

Alright, go home safely.

Let me rest for a while, dear.

Grandpa!

'The chief, shattered

by the villages mistrust'

'and consumed by guilt,'

'severed the very thumb

that was used against him.'

'And then took his own life'

Why are you creating

unnecessary trouble?

Trouble?

Were here to speak up for people

whose basic rights are denied.

The government and its officers

are meant to hear your concerns

and ensure you

receive proper support.

But you fenced our land and

handed it over to foreigners.

Youve stopped our

people from moving freely.

You k*lled a deer and

pinned the blame on us.

Its a ploy to

grab our land, sir.

Are they asking for the impossible?

They just want to live here.

Leaving their ancestral gods and land

behind where are they supposed to go?

Your officer tricked an illiterate man

into a thumbprint for a no-hunting pledge

Now hes using it to seize their

land. How can we stay quiet?

If they are guilty, I will

make them face punishment.

But first, ask him to show where the deer

is buried and produce the necropsy report.

Alright

You wont be troubled anymore.

Ill take it from here.

Have faith in me.

Please disperse now.

Sir, we trust you. Well leave.

Everyone, lets go.

Dont worry. Everything

will be sorted out.

Hell take care of it.

Appa

What?

I want to study

There are already three

complaints against you.

I have a full file of your

misconduct on my desk.

Youve brought disgrace

to the department.

Is this how you treat the public?

This is your last warning.

Nonsense.

Get lost.

Sir, the villagers ruined

our deal with the foreigners.

We shouldnt let them off easy.

Ill take care of it.

Sir, we should bury

everyone left in the village.

How many 'couplets'

have you memorized?

Only five.

I memorized ten.

- Recite them, then.

- Shall I?

'Though the world spins, it follows

the plow. Farming is supreme'

I memorized what the

teacher taught yesterday.

- Did you?

- No

Shell scold you.

Youre in trouble today!

...but it is good to forget

a wrong immediately.

- Shall we learn two new couplets?

- Yes, Teacher.

- Bhuvaneswaran, stand up.

- Yes, Teacher.

"To forget a good deed is not good, and good

it is to forget at once what isn't good."

Tell me the meaning of this couplet.

When someone does a good deed,

we must be grateful forever.

When someone does a bad

deed, we must forget it that very day.

Very good.

Everyone, give him a hand.

- 'Sister'

- Thank you, teacher

'Sit down, Bhuvaneswaran'

Who are you, child?

What do you want?

Okay, come in

Come inside...

Hey!

Who are you?

Where are you from?

Sister

Im from Poonkudi.

I want to study.

Will you teach me too?

Children...

Did you understand

what she said?

No, teacher.

- Bhuvaneswaran, come here

- Yes, Teacher

Find Kumar, the

honey seller, downstairs.

Lets see if he understands her language.

- Go call him

- Okay, teacher.

- Careful...

- Yes, teacher

Wait. Hell be here soon.

Okay, tell me.

What is your name?

Teacher, Kumar anna is here.

Come in...

- Hello,

- Greetings, teacher

Kumar, see if this child

speaks your language.

Ask her what she wants.

[Kadar] Where are you from?

Poonkudi...

She speaks our

language, Teacher.

Why have you come so far?

Brother...

Theres no school

in our settlement.

None of us can read or write.

She says theres no school in her

village. No one there is educated.

The Forest Officer tricked her

grandfather into signing a paper.

Theyre forcing the

villagers to leave.

Her grandfather

died of heartbreak.

So she came here, looking for a school.

Come here, child.

Come.

Your desire to

study is admirable.

Especially that you came on your own.

The government

supports girls education.

But you shouldnt have

to walk 15 km to study.

We can start a

school in your village.

You must gather

your village elders.

Ask them to go to town

and meet the Village Officer

or the Revenue Officer.

Theyll review it and send

a report to the Collector.

The Collector will pass an order.

Then your village will get a school.

Kumar, explain this

to her in your language.

Tell your elders to meet the Collector.

Then youll get a school in your village.

Where can I find this Colloctori?

Go down the mountain.

Hell be in the town.

You go and tell your elders.

They will know what to do.

Okay.

Go home safely.

- Amaravalli...

- Sister, tell me.

Father...

Your kid has come.

I went to the school in

the neighboring village.

I saw many girls like

me studying there.

'Hey, focus on your work. Stop staring.'

The teacher said its

too far to travel every day.

She said if our elders meet the Collector

...we can get a school in our village.

She said I can study here.

Father, can you go and meet the Collector?

Then we can all study here.

Hey! How dare you go that

far without telling anyone?

Dont you know wild

animals roam the forest?

Stay home like a good girl.

Dont make me come hit you.

Go back home.

Hey, let it go.

Don't scold the child.

- Go on. Keep pampering her.

- Dear...

It's the collectori, right.

We will go meet him.

You go home now.

Let me finish the work.

Alright, go on.

Okay father.

Yes.

The Collector is right here,

plucking weeds, waiting for you.

Let it go.

Dont scold her. Shes just a child.

She acts this way because you pamper her.

She just wants to study.

Just nod and let her be.

Why are you yelling at her?

You shouldnt encourage this.

After puberty

the custom is to pick a

stone and choose a husband.

We must drill that into her.

Enough! Shes just a child.

Let her study.

We can worry about marriage later.

Let her do what we couldnt.

Stop yelling at her.

If I give in, shell

become uncontrollable.

Leave it to me.

Ill set her straight.

Do whatever you want!

Kurinji!

Kurinji!

My dear Kurinji

Dear, what are you doing here?

What happened?

No, Dad

its nothing.

My dear

Do you think I dont

know my daughter?

Tell me whats bothering you.

Dad is here.

Dad.

When Im married off tomorrow

Youll all be happy, wont you?

I heard what you and

Mom said about me.

You gave me your word back in the village.

But within these four walls

you just nod to whatever Mom says.

Then how

How do you expect me to trust you?

No, dear...

In this village

no one cares about anyone.

Because of the ignorance of the village

I lost my grandfather.

Tomorrow...

we might face the same fate.

He cared so much for this village.

But today

they believe he betrayed them.

He

made me promise

that I should study.

But...

I hesitated at first,

thinking of the villagers.

Still, I gave my word,

because I believed in you.

I trusted you.

Was that wrong?

My dear

What I told your mother

was just to convince her.

But what I told you was a promise.

Theres a big difference

between a word and a promise.

As a father, I promise you. You will study.

As a father, I am responsible

to make that happen.

Don't worry, dear. I am here.

We must find somehow

bring the school here.

Hey, do you think the

Collector will meet us?

They say the Collector is kind.

Were not going for a personal issue.

Were going to request a school.

It would be great if he can

bring a school to our village.

- Yes, that's true.

- Oh, yes.

Kandha! Stop there!

Your daughter has come of age.

- What?

- Shes attained puberty.

Muruga!

Kandha, your daughter has come of age. You

must not cross the forest for eleven days.

Well meet the Collector later.

- Let's go back to the village.

- Come on.

Start the wedding arrangements soon.

Why are you hiding me like this?

Neither the sun nor a mans

gaze should fall on you.

Amaravalli, Kurinji will be married in

a week. Youll soon have a son-in-law.

- Youll be a grandmother within a year.

- Isnt that good news?

Please help me with my problem.

My husband doesnt

care if its day or night.

He only thinks about

his own pleasure.

Sister, some women worry

their husbands arent romantic.

- Why do you worry?

- My body can't take it.

Please give me a solution.

Youll find cat droppings

somewhere in the forest.

Rub it on your body at night.

The smell will keep

your husband away.

I asked for help, and

youre teasing me.

- Come quietly.

- Let her be.

Oh my God. It's him.

You were talking about a cat,

looks like a fox has come.

Keep quiet.

Where are you going?

To gather firewood.

Didnt we tell you

to vacate the village?

Yet you keep going about your work.

If you dont leave your village...

everyone in your village

will end up like your father.

Do you understand?

If you complain to higher officials

do you think Ill be scared?

Go inform your villagers.

Get lost.

What do you think youre doing?

Picking bloody firesticks, it seems.

Kandha, stop. Don't do it.

Hey, stop there.

You bloody tribe...

Stop there. You rascal.

Come on.

You pervert.

How dare you touch a woman?

Weve seen your perversion.

How dare you stop us

from entering the forest?

Ill k*ll you and

bury you right here.

Hey, hold on...

Let me go. I wont spare him.

The festival is near. Let it go.

Hes a madman.

Dont mess with him.

Everyone, listen!

Do the neighboring villages

know Kurinji is ready for marriage?

Sir, there are five eligible

bachelors across four villages.

Lets see who the lucky groom will be.

Let us see.

- Open the box.

- Yes, sir.

Sir, this stone

represents Mariyappan.

This is Muthu...

'This is Sengayan.

This is Kaani.'

This is Vellaiyan

- Dear...

- Chief?

Please come forward.

There are five suitors in here.

- Take this to your daughter.

- Okay, sir

Ask her to choose

the one she wants.

May she find a good match.

What is this?

Your future husband.

Pick one of these five stones.

Is this stone my husband?

I dont want a stone.

I dont want a husband.

I want to study.

Infront of our clan,

...don't bring us shame.

I will study and

make you proud, Ma.

If you care about our

honor, pick a stone now.

No matter what you say...

...I wont get married.

I want to talk to

the village head.

Call him here.

Ill slap the nonsense out of you!

Who do you think youre calling?

Amaravalli, go get the

chief. Let her speak to him.

Kurinji!

Kurinji, it's me. The village Chief.

Pick a stone, child.

Chief...

I don't want to get married.

I want to study.

Im not here to

grant your wishes.

You must pick a stone first.

If even one person in our clan had been

educated, would my grandfather have died?

We earn our livelihood from this

mountain. What use is education to us?

And even if we wanted to

learn, where would we go?

Your grandfather, the old chief, was

tricked and k*lled by the forest officer.

We need a school in our village.

Please go and

meet the Collector.

- Have you lost your mind?

- Stop it!

Okay, dear

If this is truly your wish...

...we elders will

discuss it and decide.

I will meet the Collector myself

and ask for a school for our clan.

Were not marrying you off tomorrow.

But the ritual must be completed.

Pick a stone and confirm the groom.

Okay, Chief.

I believe you.

Ask my mother to come in.

I will choose the stone.

Amaravalli, go inside.

Don't you worry...

Your wish will come true.

Now, pick a stone.

God, please grant us a school...

for our clan.

'Trusting in God and tradition, they

began the wedding preparations.'

'They made offerings so their

family deity would lack nothing.'

'In gratitude to the

mountains and the honeybees.'

'The wedding rituals continued.'

'Kandhan dressed himself

as the Divine Father.'

"Praise be to the Spear Holy

Personification of Shiva and Shakti"

"Praise be to the sacred lance

Held in Lord Muruga's hands"

"Torch of flame scorching red ablaze

Lord Muruga's spear protects always"

"This holy spear appeared naturally

to safeguard the world eternally"

"His hands wield the Holy trident

with the ferocity of a raged elephant"

"On His peacock rides Skanda

the valiant son of Lord Shiva"

"Muruga, through Your unchanging austerity

bestow grace on me, Your humble devotee"

"Your grand crested rooster will stay

as our guardian throughout the day"

"O supreme remedy and medicine

Praised by all demi gods in Heaven"

"Eldest son of Lord Shiva

Praised by the Vedas, Muruga"

"6 Holy abodes where You reside divine

transformed into our mother's lap sublime"

"Mountains, forests & beasts roaming free

turned into Lord Muruga's form naturally"

"As Lord Muruga is with us to guard

unending hardships will be resolved"

"Praise be to the Spear Holy

Personification of Shiva and Shakti"

"Praise be to the sacred lance

Held in Lord Muruga's hands"

"Torch of flame scorching red ablaze

Lord Muruga's spear protects always"

"This holy spear appeared naturally

to safeguard the world eternally"

This is an ancient

custom of ours.

- Kurinji?

- Appa

Princess of our hills.

God is with you.

Your wish to study will surely come true.

Remember, your father

supports you. Don't you worry.

Okay, father.

"Worldly life in endless motion

like waves swelling in a mighty ocean"

"Muruga, our red-hued lord, divine

In boundless love, His grace will shine"

"To make our wishes and dreams come true

the world revolves to see us through"

"The world evolves to fulfill our aims

while Time creates the right frames"

Kurinji dear, please stay put...

I am headed to the festival.

Your aunt will accompany you.

"Self-invited, Guhan came with grace

as baby Muruga to bless our place"

"In childlike form, He shines bright

soothes our hearts with healing light"

"Vedic rituals performed

Through aeons confirmed"

"In a moment transformed

with His blessings affirmed"

"His radiance so bright

dispels the darkness of night"

"Torch of flame scorching red ablaze

Lord Muruga's spear protects always"

"This holy spear appeared naturally

to safeguard the world eternally"

"Torch of flame scorching red ablaze

Lord Muruga's spear protects always"

"This holy spear appeared naturally

to safeguard the world eternally"

Kurinji, eat your dinner

and go to sleep.

Aunty...

As the Chief promised...

...after you meet the Collector...

...will you really make sure

a school is started here?

Thats not going to happen.

It was a lie to make

you choose a stone.

How could you

betray me like this?

Did the whole village

conspire against me?

Just to trap me in a marriage?

Yes. Picking the stone

sealed the marriage.

All that remains is for

the groom to arrive.

You will be handed over to him then.

What about my education?

It is your destiny.

We can't help it.

'Kurinji realized that the promise, that

she could study if she married, was a lie.'

"When our dear daughter entered teen age

it is time for sacred thread & marriage"

"She stands transformed, child to maiden

Woeful tears all of a sudden fall unbidden"

"Handsome Muruga's handiwork divine

to exchange garland with her groom in time"

"Muruga's antic, Lord Shiva's son sublime"

"His hands wield the Holy trident

with the ferocity of a raged elephant"

'Amaravalli...Amaravalli'

'Kurinji is missing'

"Muruga, through Your unchanging austerity

bestow grace on me, your humble devotee"

Kurinji!

Kurinji!

"Your grand crested rooster will stay

as our guardian throughout the day"

Kurinji!

"O supreme remedy and medicine

Praised by all demi gods in Heaven"

"Eldest son of Lord Shiva

Praised by the Vedas, Muruga"

"6 Holy abodes where You reside divine

transformed into our mother's lap sublime"

"Mountains, forests & beasts roaming free

turned into Lord Muruga's form naturally"

"As Lord Muruga is with us to guard

unending hardships will be resolved"

Who gave you permission to hit them?

"Mountains, forests & beasts roaming free

turned into Lord Muruga's form naturally"

"Self-invited, Guhan came with grace

as baby Muruga to bless our place"

Do you think you can do

anything to control the crowd?

Sir, they are not listening to us.

We were just making sure

theres no trouble when the CM arrives.

And theyre not very cultured.

They dont behave well.

The CM is coming here for their sake.

Kurinji!

Separating people in the name of

culture. Do you call that social justice?

People will treat us

the same way we treat them.

This program is

for their benefit.

- Seat them in the front row.

- Sorry, sir.

"My child, so pure with ideals high

No soul on earth can touch your sky"

"Where have you gone, our dearest?

Mother Nature is on an earnest quest"

"Our entire clan is in distress

Searching for you, o' princess"

"Nowhere to be seen, my dear?

Our entire hamlet is searching now here"

"Without your voice to lilt me through"

"No flute am I, just a hollow bamboo"

"Without your steps to match its song

our forest stream falters to flow along"

I don't understand

what you're saying, dear

Please go and ask

somewhere that side

"Without you, our roosters stay mute

No crowing wake-up call of salute"

"On tree tops, due vigil honeybees keep

In hives they wait for you, shunning sleep"

"The low wall guarding our village boundary

may crumble and fall without you, dearie"

"Water set to cook rice daily anew

just refuses to boil without you"

Go away

'A girl should have the courage

of a lion in the forest'

'Others should be scared of you'

'You should never be scared

of anyone or anything'

"If you walk at night all alone

like smoke drifting on its own"

"Can you reach your destination

without any sense of direction?"

"Even if the stream burns all night

and baby fishes cry in morning light"

"Will the waters turn a blind eye?

Likewise we still search with many a sigh"

"Like drizzles lost in the vast, blue sea"

"Days drifted by without any identity"

"Dawn and dusk elusive and illusive

Your absence hurts as a grief effusive"

"My child, with ideals lofty & true

No soul on earth can surpass you"

"Where have you gone, my dear?

Our hills & forest call from far and near"

"Our entire clan is in distress

Searching for you, dear princess"

"Nowhere to be seen, my dear?

Our entire hamlet is searching now here"

Walk that way.

Do you need some fruits?

Sir...

Whatever you are saying...

I don't understand.

Whatever I am saying...

You don't seem to understand either.

To go back to my own village...

I don't know the way.

If I am able to meet the 'collecotor'...

I was told I can study in a school.

That was the only reason,

I ran away from home.

I want to meet the 'collecotor'...

Please help me!

Here, take this.

Come on.

Why are you crying?

Eat and appease your hunger.

Whose child is this?

Hold this.

My dear...

I don't know whose child

She is burning with fever.

Get up, dear.

'Come, dear, get up'

Seat her in that chair.

Sit down.

Don't be scared.

Can you check the child.

She is unwell.

Inhale and exhale...

Give me that injection

What is the girl's name?

We don't know, doctor

We had gone to the temple.

She was shivering and lying

under a tree over there.

I didn't have the heart to abandon her.

So I brought her here, doctor.

This is only a normal fever.

But the child is a bit weak.

A couple of drips will do her good.

Wait for 3 hours and take her.

I have an errand to run, doctor.

Can I come back and take her?

I'll pay the fees and go.

- It's okay, I'll attend to it.

- Thank you, doctor.

Aiyo!

'Wretched fellow!

Hit the child and drove away'

'Someone call for an ambulance'

'Lift her'

Who admitted her in the hospital?

An auto driver admitted her, sir

'We interrogated him too

He is not at fault'

'Take her to the hospital'

'Her life is not in danger'

'Her hands and legs are fractured'

'She had an IV line on her hand

when she was admitted'

Her ovaries...

has been stolen

From such a young girl?

Bloody heartless!

Let me get hold of the rascal!

Did you ask the booth police?

Yes, sir, but the police arrived

a bit late to the spot.

The bystanders took her

to the hospital, sir.

- Send the CPR copy to all the stations

- Okay, sir

If they receive any call about

a missing child, inform me immediately

- Okay, sir

- You can go

- Are all of you here?

- Yes, sir

- 'Good day to all

- Vanakkam, sir'

Collector sir has come

to our special village meeting

He is presiding over this meeting, okay?

For the water tank in ward 3

Rs 300000 was the fund allocated

2,25,000 has been spent already

Contractor says he can finish

the rest of the job

Rs 300,000 for street lights.

Excluding all this, we have collected

a temple festival fund of Rs 300,000

- Do all of you agree?

- Yes, sir

- Good morning, sir

- Tell me, sir

Sir, 4 days ago a child was

involved in an accident

Accident?

We are unable to understand

the language she speaks.

We haven't been able to identify.

Nor has anyone come looking for her.

But repeatedly she says 'Collector'

trying to convey something to us

So I think it will be better

if sir can come over here.

Sir is in a meeting

I'll convey this immediately.

- Okay?

- 'Okay, sir'

- Greetings, sir.

- Greetings.

It has been ages since lamp posts

were erected in our village

But we have no current

nor light, sir

Our village has been blessed

with your presence.

Kindly help us get electricity, sir.

Sir, this is not a meeting to find faults.

This meeting is for you to

claim what is rightfully yours.

If your streets are not lit

as it should be, ask for your right boldly.

Decisions made in a village meeting...

It is equivalent to

a law passed in the Parliament

Even the Court cannot refute it...

But the decisions taken,

Should be only for

the welfare of the village.

No religion should be

targeted or demeaned.

Nor should an

individual benefit selfishly.

There should be no separate agenda.

This meeting is convened

for the welfare of your villagers.

Even I am a mere bystander...

So take a wise decision

and I will fulfill it for sure.

Our demands will be met it seems.

All of you can leave without any stress

Sir, we got a call from the office

of the Superintendent of Police.

A young girl is involved

in an accident it seems.

The moment she regained consciousness,

She has been badgering them

to meet the collector.

So SP wanted to know-

How is the girl now?

She is alright.

- Let's go

- Okay

- Sir

- Which hospital?

- She is admitted in Govt Hospital

- Come

How is she now?

She is fine.

How are you, child?

Talk to sir...

Si...sir

I feel...

When I see everyone...

I feel so scared.

I want to go back to my own village

But...I don't know the way back home

Now I-

My mother and father

I want to see them.

Somehow take me back home.

I request you earnestly.

You will be fine.

Don't worry.

Did you understand the language she spoke?

I understood

This is the language the gypsies speak

I mean this is the wandering clan

kind of speech

I know a 'bhai' who knows this language

Let me fetch him for you

- Chandran

- Sir?

Don't be hasty

- This isn't gypsy language

- Is it so?

As far as I know this is some-

A mixture of Malayalam and Tamil

She must have come from

a mountain village nearby

Also,

Recently I heard of an author

who wrote about these hill tribes

- Author?

- 6 months ago

He fought on their behalf

for a permanent land deed.

I know him.

His name is Dhanraj.

- Bring him to me

- Okay, sir

This is Mr Dhanraj

- Vanakkam, sir

- Please come

Sir, I know this child very well.

She belongs to Poonkodi village.

What happened, sir?

She was in a minor accident.

Her life is not in danger.

Where are her parents?

Sir, when I enquired about them...

I was told her parents

and this girl are dead, sir.

Ranger is the main cause, sir

His ego got pricked because of

being suspended and he k*lled her parents.

The people fought

for their land till the bitter end.

But that ranger...

Like hunting down beasts

he started k*lling that tribe one by one.

These people who sowed

only seeds of affection.

Those forest officers planted

weeds of violence.

Today this child is

struggling for her life, sir

Does she know her parents have passed away?

As far as I know, she wont know, sir.

Then its best for her not to know.

Okay, sir

Sir...

- Sir

- Don't cry, dear

I feel so...

...scared

Take me back home.

Don't worry, child

I will take you back

as soon as you get well.

Why did you come here?

A lady teacher in Kottakudi told me...

If I meet the 'collecotor'

I can ask him to give us

a school for our village.

What happened to my grandfather...

Should never happen

to my mother and father.

So I left the safety of my mountains and

came down to the plains in search of him.

In my village,

I'll walk through the forest, carefree

Even if I see wild beasts,

I have never once been scared.

But here,

People I have met so far.

I felt for the first time in my life....

A deep sense of fear.

My...mother and father

Please take me to them

Sir, just as we thought,

She is unaware of her parents' death, sir

A teacher in the near-by village told her

to meet the collector, so she could study.

She ranaway hoping

somehow to meet you, sir.

Unfamiliar with the route,

she lost her sense of direction.

The poor child has suffered terribly,

not knowing how to return home.

Blindly trusting that if she met

you, she could study at a school.

She went through great suffering,

hungry and afraid, sir.

Sir...

I know this for certain, sir.

That mountain tribe isnt afraid

of even the wildest beasts there.

But that child tells me,

Im terrified of the people here, sir.

She wants to be back

with her mother and father

I will educate you and

make your dream come true

You don't worry about anything, child

I'm there for you

This is the 'collecotor'

you have been looking for

Don't spare the wrong-doer

whoever he may be

Check all the private hospitals

If anyone comes on recommendation

put him behind bars too

"Child so pure

Flower of nature"

'DISTRICT COLLECTOR OFFICE, THENI'

"I will take care of you hereafter

And enrich your life better"

"Girl, you came to stay forever

in my life as my daughter"

"Like the first streak of dawn to savor

painting my life with laughter"

"Life does not bloom

if you stand wilted in gloom"

"Take bold steps forward

Worry fetches no reward"

"If you quicken your footsteps with gusto"

"The entire village will follow

as your faithful shadow"

"Tender breeze, rise and blow, my dear"

Arrange for a meeting with

Tahsildar, DFO, Education department

I'll do it, sir

Sir, you are already delayed

Please go in

- Good evening, sir

- Hello, sir

- Sir waiting, please go in

- Thank you

How many schools have been opened

in the mountain villages in our district?

Sir, under our control

are 39 mountain hamlets.

8 villages have boarding schools

that provide mid day meals

Children from the remaining 11 villages

go to the school in the nearest village

Teachers appointed in these schools

are doing so as a duty with no other go

"Girl, you came to stay forever

in my life as my daughter"

"Like the first streak of dawn, hereafter

painting my life with love & laughter"

- Sir

- Please sit down

I don't want any secret

or surreptitious stuff

'Think of everyone as equals'

Whatever it is, talk openly

Sir, a lot of villages do not send

their girl children to schools

Sir, girls after they attain puberty

...should not inter-act with young boys

is a custom they strictly follow

We face a language issue too

Not everyone is fluent in Tamil

Mudhuvar, Navalar, Valiyar

Mullukurumbar, Malai Vettuvar

Badugar, Kaadar,

Irular, Kaatunayakar

They speak a different language alien to us

'All of them find it hard to study

in Tamil medium of education'

Kallakudi, Sangankudi, Paramamkadavu

Irupugal, Poonkodi,

Kurinjikodi, Udumbanpaarai

More than 10 communities like this have

rejected the concept of school education

Sir, we have submitted reports

to the previous collector too

'He did not take any action'

When our own superiors

don't take any action

...what can we do, sir?

If you all keep giving excuses

like this, what can be done?

Tamil poet Bharathidasan has said

'Education is like a sweet plantain'

We should make education

ripen like a fruit to taste sweet

Because of our inconvenience

we should not make education bitter

They have still not got the education

you and I got and that is bothering me

I need all their details from

all your departments immediately

Okay, sir

I'll talk to the minister and

arrange to open a school there

"The sky showers rain on you

like your mother with love so true"

"When you cup it in your hand now

for you, my child, no more sorrow"

'PRIVATE HOSPITAL SEALED FOR ill*gal ACTS'

"The earth as your father guides you ahead"

"Protecting you in every path you tread"

"Hills and land around will be

your kith and kin eternally"

"In the lullaby of the leaves wonderful

life will no longer be a burden woeful"

- How is she, doctor?

- She is alright now

We'll remove the cast after 1 week

She can walk normally after that

Call me anytime

if you need any help, doctor

Thank you, sir

"Child so innocent

Flower of the forest"

"Like eye and lid are never apart

I'll protect you with all my heart"

"Girl, you came to stay forever

in my life as my daughter"

"Like the first streak of dawn hereafter

painting my life with love & laughter"

Meenamma, her name is Kurinji

- She will be staying with us from now on

- 'Okay, sir'

'KHRUSHCHEV LIED'

"For those who toil all day through

to make their dreams come true"

"The Lord comes rushing always

to lend a hand and words of praise"

"Goddess of Wealth will garland and cherish

those who relentlessly rise to accomplish"

What, Meenamma?

Do you understand this child's language?

I asked you if you understand?

"The sky shows the way to a new day

if today is disheartening in every way"

"You will lead a life without any woe

thanks to a new tomorrow, my dear doe"

"Your efforts despite the pain

will replace your loss with gain"

"Be bold and brave, walk ahead

without worrying your pretty head"

- Hello

- I'm Collector Muthuvel speaking

- Yes, sir

- Let Kurinji study here

She won't feel she has been abandoned

I'll take care of

everything from now on

As time goes by, we can tell her

about her parents' demise later

I'll make arrangements to open a school

for that community very soon

Okay, sir

Sir, generally officers like you

Pass orders and

move on to the next job

But I am happy you are empathizing with her

and following up with so much sincerity

"If you quicken your footsteps with gusto"

"As your faithful shadow

the entire village will follow"

"Tender breeze, rise and blow, my dear"

"Anticipate your dreams coming true here"

Which school did

the child study previously?

She hasn't studied in any school yet

She is a beginner

'She is from the neighboring tribal hamlet'

She doesn't know to speak Tamil

'But she understands to a certain extent'

She's my responsibility hereafter

I'll take care of everything, sir

We can fill up the form

and admit her tomorrow

Thanks, ma'am

Why are you upset?

What happened, Kurinji?

Sir

I didn't want to be the only one to study

I didn't come looking for you

only for myself

Our entire-

Our entire community should benefit

That's why I came here

In this school

The education you are giving me

If you can extend it to my village also

Everyone will be happy

and ready to study

Okay, dear

Why are you worried for this?

You can study along with

the children from your clan

But you have to be happy, okay?

Chandran, collect all the details from them

Take Kurinji and go to her hamlet

- Okay?

- Mountain top?

The officers you need

will accompany you

All of you do what is required

for all your neighboring tribal villages

Kurinji

Now you can happily

go to Poonkodi village

Okay?

Your dream of a school in your village

will come true very soon

Whatever and whenever

you need anything

Don't hesitate to ask me, okay?

I'll always be there for you

What are you thinking, dear?

Did you understand what I just told you?

Sir

With whatever trust

I came from the safety of my hamlet

With the same faith

I want to take back with me

I would like you to come with me too

If you come along

The people of my village

and my parents

...will be very happy

What is this child saying, sir?

Arrange for us to go to

Poonkodi village tomorrow

Sir, just because she wishes it

don't nod your head and agree, sir

It is hard to hold our head high later

The village is not near by...

It is in the center of three hills.

So used to the cool comfort

of air conditioned cars

When we see a flight of stairs

we enquire if there's an elevator

It is not that easy to climb up

those mountains, sir

We will be dehydrated

and lie somewhere in between

The dangerous beasts over there don't know

your designation or I'm your secretary, sir

This won't work out, sir

I'll call the forest officer here and

send this girl safely with him, sir

If you get startled by the mountain

the height of it will weigh on us more

Running the Govt is not just

in the hands of the ruling party

It is also how officers like us function

We are going up that hill.

Make the arrangements.

You have decided already.

I'll take care of the other arrangements.

Make it fast...

Sir, after this point

we can only go by walk.

Follow me, sir

He doesn't realise the consequences...

Watch your step, sir

Are you aware?

Hey, mind the horses.

Don't slip and fall down.

It is not a horse, donkey

Next ride, huh?

Have we reached the hamlet?

Hungering for ham now, huh?

We are only quarter way through.

It is a long climb to the top.

Is it that peak over there?

What peak?

Not that, man

You see the hill over there

- The mountainside above that

- Aiyo!

We have go 10 km

downhill from there.

10 kilometers?

If you tell the collector

I have a weak heart

I'll slowly back out and go back

Even to climb up a mountain, now you know

you need your beloved bro-in-law

I think you are avenging

a long time revenge.

You have a hole in your heart.

This man has a bad knee.

That chap is diabetic

If all you officers are roaming around

with various ailments, who will work?

'Watch your step and walk'

'Don't roll backwards'

I have a catch in my back

I can't take a step forward.

'Let's carry on'

Sir, we'll wait here, sir

Sir...

Turn around once.

You won't gasp for breath.

A river flows nearby,

You'll feel better

if you dip your feet in it.

Everybody turn around...

Hey uncle!

Turn around

For what?

If you look back at the path you walked...

Your gasping will stop it seems.

Who said so?

This girl just said.

Now stop piling questions.

- Turn around

- Oh! Straight from the horse's mouth, eh?!

Thank God!

Everyone turn around

I feel I can catch my breath now

- Hey, fish

- What, man?

This little girl knows

more scientific facts than we do.

She is too brilliant.

What's this fruit?

Growing all over the place.

Mangosteen fruit.

- What's that?

- Great source of nourishment.

He's got into his doctor avatar!

I am starving.

Pluck a few fruits for me.

Ask me directly, not roundabout way

saying good for kidney or as chutney.

Sir, please wait.

Please don't pluck it

Fruits within our hand's reach

we reserve for elephants

The fruits above are

for sparrows and doves

What is hidden from our eyes is for us.

I can pluck and give you

the fruits we can't see easily.

Whatever she said is going above my head!

Sir, what did she say just now?

Fruits at our hand's reach is for elephants

Whatever fruits seen above

is for all the birds

Really!

Whatever is hidden from our vision

She says, only that is for us.

Oh!

Don't we have to really hunt

for good souls in our land?

Yes, that is true.

Very humble girl

Give a fruit to sir.

It is okay if I am unable to

understand that girl's language

But just like she said, as soon as

I dipped my feet in the water

Every ounce of pain

in my body vanished into thin air.

What is that bundle you are carrying?

It is an emergency case

So we are taking her to the doctor

Oh! You are carrying a human being?

Go carefully and save that life.

Imagine what a terrible life

they are leading!

You should study well, son

You too, my dear girl

- You should not struggle like me.

- Okay, pa

Let me see how long we have walked

Is there no other path?

No, sir

Shortcuts have been blocked

by some wretched fellows

We have to walk around 8 km

for a distance of 4 km to the school.

When the river floods, that's it

We have to sit at home for 3 months

We have been giving pleas

and petitions to the Govt.

We are fed up.

They promise to build a bridge.

Five years later, they will

repeat the same promise.

We are used to

these false promises.

Kindly climb up carefully, sir

Where is that fence?

Sir, this is the fence.

Hey, fish

We think these tribal men

are stuck inside a forest.

But they know politics

like the back of their hand.

They are more knowledgeable than you.

- Break down this fence now

- Huh?

- I said 'break down this fence'

- Whaaat?

Why hesitate when our collector

has ordered us to do so?

Let some good come out of this.

Hey, fish.. Break everything away.

Go over there and break it.

Yov, lungi! If anyone dares

to erect a fence here

Tell him I will strip him head to toe!

Hereafter if anyone erects a fence

in the forest, break it to pieces

If anyone stops you,

tell them the Government's got your back.

Our Kurinji has come back home to us

She has come back.

- Aunt, come here.

- She has come atlast.

Come here.

Where have you been all these time?

Thank God for bringing her back.

The 'collecotor' is here

to meet all of you.

Where are my parents?

Where are they, aunt?

Both of them have left us, dear.

Ammmaaaa!

Kurinji

Nothing in life stays

with us permanently.

Only our education

is a part of us till we die.

I don't see you as an ordinary girl.

I see you as a revolutionist who fought

for the education of many other girls.

The education I bring to your clan will

laud you as a sterling example to follow.

Your entire village

should be proud of you.

The doors of my house

will always be open for you.

You can walk in anytime

as a daughter would.

- Take good care of this child.

- Yes, sir

No one has to be scared

of anything anymore.

This is your forest.

If you have any problem,

I'll come and support you.

Sir,

If we call people for work,

four persons rush in

for one man's job.

If I tell them the work is on the hillside.

They tell me they have their own graveyard,

Why should they go to the mountain and die?

There is no road, no electricity.

Wild animals pose a problem.

No one is coming forward

with all these disadvantages

But someone who loves education like you,

A good teacher will definitely come.

But it will take some time.

What is this, Chandran?

It's 50 years since we got Independence...

And we are not even able to

give education to those tribal children.

They may be living on the top,

But their livelihood

is still a bottomless abyss!

Teaching is not a job, Chandran.

It is a service.

Whatever the outcome,

I have given that girl my word.

Not just that, Chandran.

This is our duty.

Try your maximum best.

I'll definitely try, sir.

- Good morning, sir

- Tell me, sir.

Regarding this school matter,

Has this Government or officers

ever said no to any of your requests?

The Government Order has been passed.

The selected teachers

don't want to accept the post.

They are canceling their order.

What to do?

I'm not sure if it will happen soon.

I think it will take time.

'Education always'

'Wants to give something to others'

'Instead of just being happy at work'

'I wanted to work to make others happy'

'If you study, you can scale new heights'

'I wished the people on top to study too'

'I became a collector

from being a teacher'

'I resigned as a collector'

'And for those people'

'I took up the job of a teacher again'

'I realised I can create

many more collectors'

- Kurinji

- Sir

- Read this out to everyone

- Okay, sir

'Building 1000s of dining halls'

'Erecting 16,000 temples'

'And so many other such charitable deeds'

'May you be blessed

by educating an illiterate'

'Excellent, Kurinji'

'Who wrote this, Kurinji?'

'Poet Bharathiyar'

Dear...

Don't you worry.

In the form of the hustling

wind, or the air you breathe...

we are with you.

Do not give up on

this people like we did.

Don't you ever go back on

the decision that you made.

Your upcoming generation will remember you.

Greetings, everyone.

To stand in front of you on this stage

is giving me confidence and motivation.

The main reason behind this,

The man who was my father and mother,

The man who served us all,

The man who made me

stand here as Kurinji IAS.

My first salute

to my dear teacher.

Everyone is a teacher who imparts

his or her knowledge to others.

In that way, sir did not

merely educate me.

He instilled in me

a lot of confidence too

Just because girls will start

asking questions if they are educated.

For many centuries we were

denied our right to knowledge.

But only we know the reason behind it.

Many social activists like Ambedkar,

Periyar, Jyotiba Phule, Gandhi

...have fought for equal education

Even among the four castes

distinguished by their differences

...if one from the lower caste learns

Even one from the higher caste

will seek knowledge from him

'Quote from Sangam poetry'

There is an important message in that song

If a lower person goes up, it doesn't mean

the person on top comes down in stature

It means, everyone is equal

That is the beauty of education

Sir, in your 25 years of service

You have created 8 collectors,

6 IPS, 15 teachers and the list goes on

And all of them are tribal people

from the mountains

How do you feel about this, sir?

Doing something for our society

is not an achievement

I am doing my duty for these people

Education is doing its part by

imparting it back to the people

If the roots are strong and run deep

The trees will spread

their branches and grow tall

'In the mountain villages

near Bodi, in Theni district'

'Only 2 teachers have been appointed

for the students in this entire area'

'Hesitating to climb the hill daily

to reach the school'

'Teachers are absent more often than not

is a complaint lodged by the people there'

'I passed 12th grade and wished to

do my under-graduation in nursing'

'Due to flooding of this river

and no proper road facilities'

'I couldn't attend counseling in time'

'We don't have electricity

in our village after 6:00 p.m'

'I don't go to school'

- But do you wish to study?

- Very much

'Education will develop a society'

'Realizing this, a teenage girl

from a tribal village'

'...is the first girl from her village to

score maximum marks in 10th grade'

'Sangavi who hails from this village

aspiring to be a doctor'

'Passed NEET exam and

distinguished herself'

'...as the first generation

student to attend college'

'Neethu Sen has passed the exam heaping praise

and credibility to Thoda tribal village'

Judge at the young age of 23

'That too, hailing from Pazhangudi village

with zero facilities or exposure'

'Considering education and protection

as her first and foremost task'

'Sreedhanya, a tribal girl in Wayanad,

Kerala district passed her civil service'