Thaniyavarthanam (തനിയാവര്‍ത്തനം)

Thaniyavarthanam ( The Repeating Rhythm )

Narayana... Narayana...

Narayana... Narayana...

Where are the kids? It's 5 PM. Do they even intend to pray?

Narayana... Narayana...

Hey, they told us not to go upstairs.

If both grandmas find out, you’re in trouble.

Why are you going there? Come back!

I told him not to go.

Do I need to remind you both to pray every day?

Mom, was it uncle singing just now?

Go on, Grandma is calling you.

Uncle's voice is still so soothing...

Oh! My hand is aching.

How long have I been at this?

These days, it’s just a small affair.

Back in our time, the rituals lasted an entire week.

We’d lay out carpets and powder rice and turmeric.

Those were different times.

The parts weren’t divided.

We’d receive around 3,000 buckets of paddy as tenancy payment.

But now,

Balan struggles to manage even a single day’s expenses.

Still, what’s the use?

Oh, God...

How can we not deserve this?

We displeased Goddess Kaali.

The idol was thrown into the well.

Why was it thrown into the well?

Arrogance. What else?

Couldn't find any other place to play.

And what happened? He went mad and died.

Generations have passed, many men were driven mad and killed this way...

Her anger is still not over.

How many sacrifices and vows we made...

year after year, we performed rituals.

But did the curse go away?

Now, one is upstairs, going through hell.

Grandma, will I also go mad?

Oh, Goddess... Devi... please save my child...

Narayana... Narayana...

Oh, it’s you? Be seated.

Kids, put out the lamp and go inside.

Tell your grandma that Raman Karthav has come

So, how are things? Do you still treat patients?

Not going well.

People don’t seem to need a village doctor these days.

Now, everyone’s focused on pills and tonics

Still, can these pills and medicines compare to your gooseberry sauce?

How Sreedharan was going mad...

Only your medicinal head wrap could control him.

By the way, how is he now?

What can I say... He doesn’t speak.

For two days now, he’s been making some noise and singing.

Who knows how long this will last.

Yeah... Who knows who’s next?

Only Balagopalan and Gopinathan are left in the generation as males, right?

We can’t skip the ceremonies just because we don’t have the money.

Let things go as they should. We’ll manage somehow

I’ve arrived

You always arrive at midnight.

Here, I’m not going in. I’ll come back in the morning

Eat something and go, Gangadharan

No, I’m leaving.

It’s dark. Don’t you need light?

No, I don’t need it

Balagopalan... -Yes

Did you buy the Ayurvedic herbal oil for me?

No, I forgot

You'll forget.

You don't even remember I exist.

My legs are hurting

Where’s Hari?

He’s asleep.

Manikutty!

Come here.

Where’s the girl?

Where has she gone? Sumithra!

Come on, don’t disrupt the routine.

Raman Karthav is no stranger.

Take it, girl.

No proposals came for her?

Many came. Nothing worked out.

Now there’s one somewhat working out.

They say they’re not superstitious about the illness.

It’s all up to fate.

No matter what you say about the curse,

No girl in this family hasn't been unfortunate.

Everything will be alright.

Did he finish his meal? -Yes, he did.

Uncle seems happy today.

And then?

And then, huh?

Look at him, his sleep vanishing the moment you started narrating the story

Tell the rest, Dad.

Yeah... as soon as he took the ruby from his belt and showed it, the monster lost its vision.

Then the prince drew his sword and slashed!

Off went the monster’s head.

The prince didn’t lose his vision from the ruby?

You little fool! There’s no room for questions in stories!

...and then?

Then, the prince married the beautiful princess, and they lived happily ever after.

The princess is THAT beautiful?

Of course. The epitome of beauty.

Just like your mother.

Dad, will we both go mad?

Who told you that? -Grandma

Lies! Absolute lies.

All her stories are lies.

You shouldn’t believe any of them.

Where were you? Do you know what time it is?

Gopi is here. Get him something to eat.

But Mom is here

Mom will argue with him, and he'll stop eating halfway. You go.

You must be eating...

No, I’m taking a bath.

Do you have to roam around until midnight?

Why can’t you come back a little earlier?

What’s there to do here? I just want to escape.

To where?

Somewhere.

Hell is better than here.

Why are you chuckling?

I'm tired of this sister-in-law... superstitions, traditions, madness...

They’re from the old generation

So what? Why do that ritual every year?

To announce everyone that this house is full of mad people?

Or is it to make us play the part of the mad lads of this generation?

Just remember, there’s a girl here who’s still unmarried

Kumaran... -Yes

Did you weave the coconut fronds? -No

Then when will you? -Going to

Cut leaves from the low yielding trees. -Ok

Need more Jungle geraniums

Then get more.

It won’t come on its own.

You can find them at Shankaran Nair’s house.

Balan! -Yes

Here’s 500 Rs. Will it be enough?

This...

You don’t need to know where it’s from.

Let things proceed as planned.

The only thing I'm low on is money.

But no one should keep account of it in this family

Stay away. Don’t go near him.

Sreedharan, don’t make any noise. You know what happens when you do.

Not with Karthav!

You’ll get a good beating!

Now get up.

Walk.

Walk you!

Walk, I said!

Now, walk.

Where’s Gopi?

I called him. He said he’s not coming

Ask him to come. Does he want the curse upon him? Call him.

Aren’t you coming?

No. I don’t want to participate in this tragedy.

I’m surprised that even you can’t see the consequences!

I understand, Gopi.

Uncle, Mother, everyone... they’re doing this thinking it’s for our own good.

Do you really think anything good will come out of this? If not bad things?

I know that too.

But... their beliefs... can’t be changed.

We know it’s all superstition,

so none of this will affect us.

Let’s just not oppose them, to avoid hurting them.

I can’t. If I go mad because of it, so be it.

My friend Vinod Kumar says that...

...Goddess Kaali was able to kill Darikan (a demon) only because he let her. Is that true?

No way.

Kaali fought a war with Darikan and defeated him before chopping off his head.

We can’t show all that in a play, so it might look like Darikan let her.

Can I tell you something? -Go ahead.

Don’t call me 'Manikutty' in school.

Why?

The others mock me!

'Manikutty'...what a bad name!

That’s a name you give to cats.

Then what should I call you?

Anitha M. Balagopal.

So... Mrs. Anitha M. Balagopal...

Why restrict it to just school? We’ll call you Anitha M. Balagopal at home too.

That’s not necessary. At home, you can call me Manikutty -Okay

How are you, Abdu Ikka? Does your son write to you?

It’s been more than a month since he last wrote.

The news says there’s some riot over there in North India.

Master, please write a letter for me.

Will do. Come by my house in the evening.

So... Mrs. Anitha M. Balagopal, carry on. I’ll join you after having some paan.

Heard that Naana Kurupp’s Kaali play went really well.

Yeah.

So, Master, how about a strong tea?

I just had paan.

Put the paan’s price on my tab.

I’m off, Narayanan. It’s getting late.

Listen, Master... is Gandhi Ji still alive?

Which world are you living in?

No, the newspaper says Gandhi lost.

That’s about Gandhi University. They lost a football match.