Chani

This woman and her illegitimate baby.

That rascal Brit has fun and gave this dark lady a fair baby.

Pull that woman outside.

We will kill that sinning woman.

Yes. Yes. Yes.

No. No. Listen.

What would that poor woman would have done

when she was so scared of that sinner?

There was no one to listen to her cries of help

in the deserted fields.

That rascal Brit forced Phullo and ruined her.

I spit on you.

You are talking for this illegitimate child.

Haven’t you thought of the condition of the village?

People and animals have started dying.

Yes. Yes.

Plague is spreading.

Yes. Yes.

Our family members’ lives are in danger.

Yes. Yes. - Why?

Because of this sinner.

Finish her off or we will get finished.

Yes. Yes. - Take this sinner to the temple.

We will make her stand in front of the Goddess.

We will punish her as per the Goddess’ instructions.

Yes. Yes.

No. No.

My baby.

No.

My baby.

Goddess Jagdamba.

Goddess Jagdamba.

This sinner is the root of all our problems.

The one who is standing in front of you today.

She has given birth to the token sin of a Britisher

without getting married to him.

No Goddess, we will punish her the way you sentence her to.

Who is wearing whose cap?

What should I say about sins?

If this is a sin, then drown her.

First try to recognize what is sin and what is virtue.

And then you can drown her.

Then drown her.

Its been many years.

But it seems as if the scary sounds of drums

can still be heard from this part of the land.

And when you suddenly remember that

scary episode you look away.

And a few squirrels in the nearby trees

which are called ‘Chaani’ in our village

when we can see them, we find that girl right in front of us.

The one whom Gangaram had engulfed in his arms.

And nurtured and raised her.

He way of speaking, laughing,

that the villagers used to consider her as bad

naughty and of loose character and call her Chaani.

At that time, I didn’t know the meaning of these words.

I was young at that time.

I used to attend my uncle’s village school.

In fifth standard.

Kids.

Look here.

I have got cow dung, teacher.

You had called to coat the ground here, right?

Teacher.

You didn’t even acknowledge what I said.

Chaani, I have told you several times

that don’t disturb when we are having serious classes.

Serious?

Hey.

When will you start using your brains properly?

Don’t you understand that your basket of cow dung

is full of stench.

Eww.

Stench?

I can’t smell it, teacher.

Come on. Get away from here.

I don’t care.

I will leave.

But teacher, give me those pieces of chalk.

Ew. Get away. Get away from here.

And if you want to coat the ground

then do it after school is over.

At 5 o’clock.

Oh no.

At half past 6.

Okay.

You?

Chaani, you want chalk pieces, right?

Yes. I like chalk pieces a lot.

Look, I have got them for you.

Wow.

What is your name?

Dinkar. I live with my uncle.

Do you know that house belonging to the Sawant family?

Yes. - I live there.

Keep the basket of cow dung down.

It might be heavy for you.

Come on.

Hey. Why are you looking like that?

You are crying?

Go away. Why would I cry?

Then why do you have tears in your eyes?

You just said that place the basket down.

It might be heavy.

Yes.

So, why did your eyes well up?

No one in the village has spoken so nicely to me ever.

Look, place those chalk pieces there, under that tree.

I will take them on my way back. Okay?

Chaani.

Where do you live?

Under Ram’s plateau.

Near the river.

But dangerous crocodiles with sharp teeth live in the river, right?

Yes. They do.

And even ghosts.

Ghosts live there too.

Several.

They come at night to the river to have fish.

But sinners don’t see them.

Then you might be able to see them.

Forget it. I don’t see them.

Aren’t you scared of ghosts and crocodiles, Chaani?

Forget it.

I am not scared of anyone.

Are you scared?

Yes, why not?

You people in white are cowards.

Hey.

Let me go. Let me go.

Listen, Chaani. I like you a lot.

But I don’t like you.

Hey! What did you say?

What is it?

Ew.

Granny. - Yes.

I am going to school, okay? - Yes.

My nephew is going to school early today.

Are you going to meet someone?

Son, why are you taunting the child?

You have a rotten mind.

Whom will that poor boy go to meet?

Go, dear. Go. Okay?

Elder uncle.

What is going on?

The same old routine.

I just got my kids bathed and cleaned up.

Do you know what they say when they look at me now?

Uncle, do you understand their language?

Yes.

So, they are telling me that go.

Go and have your breakfast at home.

But I won’t listen to them at all.

How can I feed myself by leaving my kids hungry?

Elder uncle, you are really so kind and loving.

But why are you standing here?

You were on your way to school, right?

Go. Run.

Otherwise I will so you how kind and loving I am now.

Younger aunt.

Is your maiden home on the other side of that mountain?

Yes.

Have you ever gone to your maiden home?

After my wedding, no one from my in-laws sent me there.

And no one from my maiden home even called me there.

Younger aunt, the poem your were singing just now

in what book can I find it?

It is not in any book.

Then where did you find these words?

Your nephew a fool?

Me a fool?

I am cross with you.

Cat, go now. Don’t follow me.

Sit at home. Okay?

Hello. Please come.

Hello.

Come.

No, that’s fine.

Forget it.

Come. Come in.

Come. Come.

Take your seat.

Dear kids…

Dear kids.

Today is a very lucky day.

Like every year respected Moneylender Dharamdas

has come to his school.

Stand and bow to him.

Get up.

Bow to him.

Greetings.

Sit.

Dear kids. Listen.

I don’t like kids who roam around at all.

Don’t wander around aimlessly.

Don’t run after birds.

Don’t hit them.

Got to sleep early and rise early.

Pay attention and do your lessons.