Kottukkaali (கொட்டுக்காளி)

THE ADAMANT GIRL

It's getting late.

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.