Kumari (കുമാരി)

-Grandma. -Yes.

What story are you going to tell me today?

Today,

I will tell you a story that my mother once told me.

The story of a brave girl.

-Shall I start? -Yes.

Pay close attention.

Okay.

Long ago, in a land very far away,

in the heavens beyond the skies,

there lived a beautiful Goddess.

One day, she had a desire

to visit earth.

So, she descended upon the earth along with other Goddesses.

As she wandered across the earth,

she fell in love with our world and its inhabitants.

All the other Goddesses returned to their abode.

But this Goddess

decided to stay back on earth.

And then?

And then, she met a man.

They fell in love.

And they had many children together.

But,

these children resembled neither humans nor Gods.

They were gruesome creatures, feared by all.

-Oh, no! -Are you getting scared?

-Yes. -Don't be scared, okay?

They were cursed with different looks and blessed with different abilities

and they started quarreling among themselves.

They began to wreak havoc across the world.

Seeing all this, the Goddess was tormented.

Unable to witness the disasters that befell the people she loved,

with a heavy heart, the Goddess cursed her own children.

After banishing them to the depths of the earth and mountains in the forests,

the Goddess returned to her abode.

And thus, without being worshiped by anyone,

they were permanently abandoned on this earth.

Several years went by.

However, when men came to know about the powers of these demigods,

they started worshiping them.

That was the beginning of a great disaster.

I am going to tell you the story of a land

that was cursed due to man's greed.

It was the time when the words of the landlords were considered gospel.

Who is that, Grandma?

That is Chokkan.

Chokkan was a vagabond orphan boy, from the forests of Illymala.

During a summer when mango trees were in bloom,

Chokkan, who was tending to a herd of cattle

left the cows at the cowshed

and landed in front of the mighty Lord Thuppan,

the head of the Kaanhirangat family.

Thuppan, apart from being extremely cruel, was also very short-tempered.

From what I heard,

the quality of gems cut by the people of Coorg,

is known across all lands.

Isn't it?

But...

if you check the chambers of the Kaanhirangat family,

you will find stones more precious than these.

This one...

is only worthy of being worn by maids.

Haven't I told you not to come this way?

Stop gaping and get lost!

Wretches! Foul creatures!

Well, I've quoted my price.

If you agree, I'll buy it. Or else, you may leave.

It's time for my evening prayers.

Chokkan, who lived in the forests of Illymala,

was not allowed to enter that household.

But Nangakutty, Lord Thuppan's wife,

who was confined to the four walls of that house,

was very fond of Chokkan.

Chokkan, why are you in such a hurry?

Eat slowly.

There's enough food here to feed a hundred people.

-No one will take it away. -Okay.

Well, aren't you scared to run around this forest?

I've heard Illymala Chathan haunts this forest.

So what?

Illymala Chathan won't harm anyone.

Have you seen it?

I am leaving.

Hey, stop! Don't leave!

Chokkan, your mangoes!

Why did Chokkan run away, Grandma?

Well, Chokkan had a secret that he couldn't share with anyone.

What was that, Grandma?

I'll come tonight. Okay?

Crossing the forest, mountain and waterfalls,

Chokkan actually goes

to meet Illymala Chathan.

Illymala Chathan?

Yes.

A forgotten child of the ancient Goddess.

The people of Illymala forest used to worship this demon.

Apparently, none of the people who went to Chathan's cave

ever made it back.

Oh, no! What about Chokkan then?

Here, take it.

Why doesn't Chathan harm Chokkan?

Chokkan was Chathan's friend.

Only he was allowed to go there with Chathan's favorite food.

But, on the same night,

another incident took place at the Kaanhirangat house.

Where's this smell of mangoes coming from?

Haven't I told you not to enter the forest?

That wretched boy must have left the mangoes here.

He must have touched them and eaten them too!

On top of eating the leftovers of that lowlife,

you dared to feed me with those hands?

Get lost from here!

To cleanse myself,

I have to take a dip in the pond now. That's the only way!

Get lost from here!

Move aside.

What will happen if you eat those mangoes?

The people of the forest and whatever they brought

were forbidden for the members of that household.

Crazy rules made by stupid people!

That's all.

And what did the Lord do?

Lord Thuppan who was fuming with rage,

went to the pond to take a bath.

But what he saw there

was an unbearable sight.

Who's there?

You?

How dare you enter these premises!

Scumbag!

Come here!

Stop there! I will teach you a lesson today!

You have the audacity to bathe in Kaanhirangat's family pond?

No, Lord! Forgive me!

-No, Lord! -Forgive you?

-Forgive you? -No, Lord!

Today, I'm going to... Come here!

Die!

Chokkan's death brought forth the wrath of Illymala Chathan.

The fate of the Kaanhirangat family was never the same again.

What is it?

Don't cry.

Don't worry.

What was that sound?

Oh, no! Move away from there.

Don't cry, son.

From that day onwards,

the curse of Illymala Chathan

started haunting the people of Kaanhirangat, relentlessly.

Rivers and ponds dried up.

There was suffering all around!

The villagers reminisced over Kaanhirangat's long lost glory.

Several people were cursed with lesions and wounds, and rotted to death.

Everyone spoke about only one thing...

The unabated wrath of Chathan!

They felt that even the Goddess who was responsible for the village's prosperity,

was helpless in this situation.

Before long, the wrath of Chathan

started affecting Lord Thuppan as well.

Astrologers and sorcerers came in hordes.

But all their efforts were in vain.

The fear of death gripped everyone.

So, in order to save the family and the village

from Chathan's curse,

they decided to summon another dark power

from the depths of the underworld,

Gari Devan!

On the night of a Lunar eclipse,

Lord Thuppan summoned Gari Devan.

Later, this world full of demons, demigods, curses and spells

became her world.

Kumari's world.

O' white flower, O' white flower

Who was the one who Read your palm lines?

Who whispered sweet nothings

About you in those pearly ears?

To see the crimson red sky,

Riding on the beaded breeze

The friendly dove waited...

Is it time for fun and frolic?

To see the good times

When there's a snowfall within

Come, o' dear mynah!

To buy the seven colors Flashing before the eyes

Come down, o' rainbow

The rain of thoughts

Overflows to touch the eyes

Your mischief always brings

The coziness of a moonlit Night in the mind

O' white flower, O' white flower

Who was the one who Read your palm lines?

Who whispered sweet nothings

About you in those pearly ears?

O' sweet bird, who makes offerings

At the temple in the jungle

Come this way to see this village

When the sun shines upon the hills

Let's go around the fields, and brush Our invisible wings against each other

Let's get drenched together in the rain