Rangasthalam (రంగస్థలం)

This story is set in the 1980s

Sir!

Sir!

Sir!

Sir!

Sir!

Sir... Nothing will happen to you, sir.

Nothing will happen to you, sir. You'll be fine.

Sir, nothing will happen to you.

Doctor!

Doctor!

Is he going to be okay?

You go out.

He will survive, right?

Get out first.

Give me the torch.

Start CPR.

Come on. Do it, quick.

Get the adrenaline injection.

A FEW MONTHS AGO

Black cobra,

with Lord Krishna's feet on its hood, around three feet long,

has a scar from a mongoose bite on its body.

It bit me four days ago.

Witch doctor Subbadu saved me.

I'm looking for it now.

I will not let it go, I will kill it.

This is its skin. If the skin is here, it wouldn't have gone far.

It must be caught.

No idea why, but I keep finding something whenever I search for this snake.

My name is Chitti Babu. I am the engineer for this village.

Everyone looks at the sky when their crops need water in any village.

But my villagers look for me.

Chitti Babu, when will you water my crops?

I told you, I will water them the day after tomorrow, all right?

Impatient old man.

Why did you water only half of my field, Chitti Babu?

Because you paid only half.

Hey, Chitti Babu, watch out.

What, rascal? Why does everyone always yell?

Can't you speak softly like a normal person?

If someone yells again, he's had it.

-Not that, man... -I will hit you with the pipe.

Speak softly now.

Nothing much. They are cutting the tree there, so walk carefully.

Yes, that's the right way to talk.

I should water your half-acre, right? Okay, I will.

Not just yours, but I will water his, his and everyone else's.

I won't leave anyone.

Hey, Chitti Babu! Hey, Chitti Babu, stop!

Why are you yelling?

I am the only one who can help you.

Would any fairy water your field?

Chitti Babu, move!

Oh, no! Hey!

Now you understand why they were yelling so loudly?

Because I am hard of hearing and one has to yell for me to hear.

This is my engine problem.

That's why everyone in the village calls me engineer. No, no...

They call me the sound engineer.

But this deficiency is a boon to me.

Hey, Chitti Babu.

He wants me to clear his debt.

I hear him. But I pretend as if I can't hear him.

That means I can hear some sounds and can see some.

Deaf rascal.

He said something and I saw it.

Hey, Erra Babu.

Come back.

What?

You said something as you were passing by.

I didn't say anything.

You said something. I saw your lips move.

Tell me what you said.

Oh, that? I just asked, "Is the chutney fine?"

-No, you said something else. -What did I say?

"Idiot." Say it.

"Idiot."

No sound.

"Idiot."

Not that, Erra Babu. It should be a bit lengthier...

Oh, no.

"Dirty rascal."

"Dirty rascal."

Erra Babu, the lips didn't meet.

What would that be?

"Deaf rascal."

-Say it. -He caught me.

-Say it. -No.

Say, "deaf rascal."

Deaf rascal.

Deaf rascal. Yes, that's it.

I have a disciple to tell me all that I miss.

What's the news?

Play the cassette.

We started with the engine early in the morning.

We met Papayamma while throwing the dung water.

She asked with love, "Hey, Chitti Babu, will you eat the cheese?"

Why will she not ask?

I've given her a discount of 10 rupees for the engine.

She should ask.

Then Aunt Rangamma shouted loud enough for everyone to hear.

You might have heard that.

Only Aunt Rangamma speaks loud enough for me to hear.

Even this engine is hers.

She has a loud voice and a soft heart.

She helps the needy.

Dear, you will have kids, too.

Yeah, sure. My husband's gonna return from Dubai, and I'm gonna have kids.

Here's 20 rupees.

Hey, Aunt Rangamma.

If you don't return it...

-Hey, Aunt Rangamma. -Hey... Wait.

...I'll ask in front of everyone and embarrass you.

Look at what I found.

A nice watch. Take this and give me 100 bucks.

Here. Take it.

How is it? It will look great on Uncle, right?

It looks good on you.

What?

I said it looks good on you.

Whatever. Okay.

Here, your 100.

-Keep it, dear. -My darling.

I didn't mention our village name, did I?

Rangasthalam!

Rangasthalam

The real story is just starting.

What, Narasamma, looks like you have a bumper crop this year.

You must be on cloud nine.

Yeah, brother, it's all my son's hard work.

He works hard day and night

in order to get his sister married this year.

He is my nephew, after all.

-It's all about your marriage. -Oh, go away.

This is an advance of 3,000 rupees. I will make full payment on delivery.

-By when? -I will pay, okay?

We hereby inform everyone that,

as Chikkam Narasamma did not repay the loan taken from the Society,

the crops from this land belong to the Society.

No one should reap the crop or work in this field.

If anyone does so...

Why are you planting flags? Your loan was repaid long back, right?

Oh, no, no. The public does not have proper rationale.

Did you dream that your loan is repaid?

You repaid the compound interest, but the principal is still pending.

What do we know about all these calculations?

As you didn't ask, we thought it's all cleared.

We have been paying all that we earned in the past six years,

we don't understand how it is still not repaid.

What can I do? I am the Society President.

You shout if I collect money and he shouts if I do not.

See how the officer is sitting in the jeep like a swollen potato?

Hey, looks like you've paid the advance?

Have you reduced 10 rupees per bag as you are paying in cash?

I'm paying 100 rupees per bag.

Pay the balance to the Society and take the seed bags.

I'm planning my daughter's marriage this year.

I cannot do it after this year. Show me some mercy, sir.

There is no lack of men in this village, right?

Give another chance to a widower like me.

Hey!

Oh, no.

Brother...

Namaste, sir.

It's all over. My son is dead.

He has left me and gone.

Why do you cry?

What do we do when there is a tree full of fruits?

We look for the ripe fruit, cut it and eat it.

Even God is like us,

he looks for the right guy and takes him away.

Think of it this way. His debt to God has been cleared.

Here, look into the funeral proceedings.

Sir...

Sir...

He is the president of our village.

He's been unanimously elected for the past 30 years.

No one even nominates against him.

Here, it's a single party, a single flag.

He is the judge and his word is law.

Not just in front of him,

but none dare to walk with slippers even in front of his house.

He is really crazy about the radio.

He is very religious. He worships all year long.

Some believe that he has special powers

and that something bad will happen to anyone who opposes him.

It's election time again.

As always, he is the only nominee for the president's post.

Hail, President, sir!

It is like a celebration in the village when he files the nomination.

Ranga, Ranga in Rangasthalam

Ranga, Ranga in Rangasthalam

Play it such that it can't just be heard, but it can be seen, too.

Ranga, Ranga in Rangasthalam

We all are toys and puppets though we do not put any color or makeup

We all are toys and puppets

Ranga, Ranga in Rangasthalam

Who cannot stop once the game starts We all are toys and puppets

We all are toys and puppets