Kayamkulam Kochunni (കായംകുളം കൊച്ചുണ്ണി)

In this, the year 1034...

...on the 7th day of the month of Kan ni...

...by consent of His Highness the Maharajah Uthram Thirunal...

...the Honorable Diwan Sri T Madhava Rayar...

...hereby decrees that...

...two days from now, on the 9th of Kanni...

...at 5 hours and 30 minutes past midnight...

...the dreaded criminal Kochunni...

...also known as Kayamkulam Kochunni...

...is sentencedmto death by hanging

The crimes he is guilty of...

...are the following

The COPY

How is it usually with the corpses of Muhammadans?

Ask the Diwan whether it is to be buried or cremated

Would His Highness kindly come to the balcony?

They're from Kayamkulam...

...not less than a hundred of them

And more are on the way

They are not here for any trouble... just poor folks

When its all over, they want the body to be given to them...

...with permission to bury him as per rites

If your Majesty gives orders...

This...is his story

From the folk tales...

...from the treasure trove of legends...

...from the pages of history...

...from the tales told by grandmothers...

...from what remained unread between the lines...

...the many layers of meaning

For as long as the land of Malayalam exists

For as long as the Malayali exists

Among those who live today and those who are yet to come...

Among all generations...

...he stands immortal...

...and this is his story!

Thief! Thief!

Get him! Thief!

Get him! Quick!

Thief! Thief! Don't let him go!

Catch him! Thief!

Don't let him escape!

Don't let him go! Catch him!

- Go that way! Come! -And let us go this way!

Come on! Let's go! Quick!

Kill him! Beat him to death!

Kill him!

Thief! You thief!

Isn't that your father, Koch unni?

You...!

Search him! Right there!

Oh, Mother!

Mother!

What is it?

Just lie still for three months

The injury from the kicking is deep inside

It is the coronotion day of Maharajah Swathi Thirunal

That is why they let you go

Or else your house would have been set on fire...

...on the order of the Adhikari

They let it go because it is a special day

Tell him to mend his ways now

If you stay here, you will die of hunger

Go to some other place and save yourself

Go! And don't come back

And don't tell anyone you are Bapputty's son

I don't want to go anywhere! I won't!

It's your mother's request - go!

God be with you!

I've heard of you

What brings you here from the North?

I don't stay long anywhere

Some places, I stay a while and teach

I heard...you have a vacant house and grounds

No one teaches the Tulunadan style here

And if it is Thangal teaching, pupils will come from far and wide

That property is ideal for a school of Ka|ari* (*a martial arts form)

And its been unoccuppied for long

We would be happy to see it put to use

Show him the place

Its that way

Who's there?

Who are you?

- You! - Don't beat him!

He was hiding here!

- I am hungry! - Get out! Out!

No!

Who's there inside?

- What's your name? - Kochunni

- Place? - Kottukulangara

And why did you come here?

Don't you have any family?

No

You meanmthey are dead?

Yes

And where are you off to now?

We could use some help at the store, Master

I think he will be apt

What are you saying, Syedali?

How can he...

I can teach him to serve customers and write accounts

And if he sleeps at the store, it would be good for security too

But without knowing anything about him...

Upon my guarantee

If you aren't willing, let me know

I will take care of him myself

But...what if he steals something?

I won't steal

I won't steal

Don't steal! Work for money and then come back

Or else just ask for it

But don't steal

What's going on, Kochunni?

-Add a plantain to the bill - Plantain?

I didn't ask for a plantain

Take it from my pay

There's hardly anything left of your pay anyway

Can you put my list on your pay too?

Why? Who are you?

What about that kid? He was nothing to you too

What else?

8 kilograms of rice...3 kilograms of beaten rice

2 liters of oil

1 kilogram ofjaggery... 5 bunches of bananas

How many of you are there at home?

Father, Mother and me

Are you buying groceries for a whole year?

Or is this how you normally eat?

What is all this stuff for?

Omar Khasi Thangal has started a school of Kalari across the river

I cook and clean for them

That's what this is for

It's been a while since his last visit

-Are there many pupils? -Around twelve

It's Nanu Chovan's boy!

It's a Chova boy! The well is polluted!

The well must be sealed!

Go and get Paramu immediately!

No upper castes should draw water!

Don't stand around! Move!

Move! Move away!

He must have leaned over and slipped

Move! Move!

Come here! Quick!

Come on! Seal it!

Kochunni! Kochunni!

Everyone move! Some more!

Pull! Come on, pull!

Oh no! It's a python!

Take the child!

Hit! Hit it!

Hey! No!

Let it go

Kochu Pillai! Move aside!

I am an uppercaste Nair. I draw water from this well

And I will continue to do so! I won't let you seal it!

You call yourself a Nair but want to draw water polluted by a Chovan?

To us it is poison! And as long as we are around...

...this well won't be here anymore!

How come this impurity does not affect your beds?

If the water is made impure by a Chovan falling in...

...push a Brahmin inside to make it pure again!

- How dare you! - Seal it!

- Seal it! - Take him away!

Leave me!

Make it fast!

When the snake coiled around you...

...how come you were not scared?

I knew the snake would be the loser

It's a good thing you don't brag

Leave me at the dock

We have stock coming in from Kochi

Four mouths to feedmand on top of that - tax!

- Don't Brahamins have to pay tax? - No

They have a book. It clearly says...

...who should pay and who need not

-And who wrote that? - The Brahmins themselves!

For bigger crimes...

...the English laws are also being applied now

But they also side with the upper castes

Sahibs, indeed!

They come from foreign lands to live in ours...

...and now their word is Law?

If only I knew the language...

...| would have given them a piece of my mind!

- What? You doubt it? - It's not that

Look ahead

God! You think they heard?

Kochunni?

The Commander Sahib wants to meet you

- Come! - Ok

If I am not back before dark, do come and look for me

- Say 'Thank You' - Huh?

- 'Thank You' - Should I, really?

- It is an expression of gratitude - Ok

Thank you

- What should I say? - Just keep your head bowed

He is asking if you can get Ithikkara Pakki, the bandit

- Who? - Ithikkara Pakki

Didn't their men who went after him...