Rangoon (ரங்கூன்)

Annai Sivagami Nagar, Ennore , Chennai

Get out of the way!

Venkat, how did all this happen?

Won't you guys listen? Get off the way

Is he a saint?

- Your name. - S. Venkatesan.

- Father's name. - Shanmugam.

Mother's name.

Indrani.

- Age. - 23.

Place of birth.

Speak up! Place of birth.

It's easy to be born.

It's even easier to die.

Surviving in-between is most difficult.

Dedaye, 90 Kms away from Rangoon

1988, Burma

Hello. Greetings

Greetings! I'm Indrani's husband.

Oh! Hold on. I'll call her.

Call Indra. She has a phone call from India.

Indra "ma". Phone call.

Hello! How are you?

I've been waiting for your call. Did you find a job yet?

I did. I sell fish every morning.

In the afternoon, I work as a broker in the gold market streets.

I've arranged for you all too to come here.

How are the kids?

They're doing great. It's dad! Say "Hi"!

Renu!

And, how's Venkat?

You little twits! Come back here!

Our lives never knew sadness, until the first separation.

Don't worry.

There are many more like us over there.

Be safe.

And so, I left the only home I knew for a land I knew nothing about.

Choney!

Wanderer! We bid you farewell.

The world is your motherland.

Oh wanderer! Son of these lands.

Your journey will take you home.

Our ride is here.

Where ever you wander, where ever you look.

The sky is what you make it out to be.

The trees, the birds, and the mountains are forever your's.

Fear not, for you are a man of the people.

Better days lie ahead.

For each ending is just a new beginning.

There is no journey without a path.

Believe, life will lead you on the right one.

There is no life without a journey.

And so, live on the wanderers.

Madras

I was one among the hundreds of thousands of Burmese Tamils...

...who immigrated to Madras between 1960 and 1990.

Annaisivagami nagar, Burma Tamils colony, Ennore, Chennai -600057

Don't cry dear

Please wait

Venkat, this is our home.

Look at our new house

Come, Shanmugam

Is this your wife? What's your name, dear?

Indrani!

Indrani, all of us in this colony are from Burma.

You'll be fine here.

Come

I'm Kumar. What's your name?

I'm Venkat.

Come on!

This is Venkat. He'll hang with us from now on.

This is Imphal. That's his brother, Nonphal.

This is Sasi. This is "Pillayar" (Lord Ganesha).

Don't call me "Pillayar" (Lord Ganesha).

I'm Manivannan. That's what you'll call me.

How dare you?

I've told him not to go with those boys to the beach.

What if he drowns in the tide?

I'll never hit you again.

We need to start our own shop. Build our own home.

And for that, you need to study and make it big.

Fresh fish!

We are going out to play

Let me go! Please

Venkat. Look, they're beating the crap out of someone. Hurry!

Don't hit me!

Wait, let me check it out.

What's wrong?

Look!

It's the truck driver's fault.

These guys drive like maniacs.

These accidents have become too frequent.

Dad!

Dad wake up

Dad wake up

I never felt a father's fake anger real affection ever after that.

Few years later

I was unemployed, waiting for any opportunity to come my way.

There were plenty of others too, jobless like me.

Hold on.

Our's is taller. Take a look.

Hey! Back off!

Who cares about height? It's about who pulls their weight.

You sure have "weight" on your side.

He may be a rival fan, but he's always on my side.

My best friend, Kumar.

Break it up! Khakis are here.

What's the ruckus for?

Same rivalry as our time. Different movie stars.

- Don't bother. - Let's go.

Kumaran. He runs an "Atho" stall every night in the hood.

His assistant, Nonpal.

Hey Kumar! Three "Athos" to go.

This is Kesavan. He had some clout in the hood once.

But only because of who he worked for.

Please sit.

Siya (Boss)! Why did you take the trouble?

It's fine. How's business?

Staying afloat.

Gunaseelan. Respectfully known as, Siya (boss).

Kesavan is only respected because he works for him.

Bro. He seems cool with you.

Can you ask him to give me a job?

Siya, Venkat and his family have been our tenants for years.

He's looking for work.

I studied economics for two years in college.

My mom couldn't afford the tuition further.

So I'm looking for a job. Any job is fine.

Burma folk?

They came in 1988. His father was a gold market salesman.

These kids are trouble.

A fight broke out yesterday.

Fan club rivalry.

Nothing like that. It was all in fun.

It's fine. Just keep it away from the market.

The market is where we earn our living.

Bring him to the shop tomorrow.

You got it? Party time! Where's the treat?

He hasn't even started. He's still broke!

Did I ask you to pay? It's my treat.

Just tell me you have nice shoes.

I have so much clout here it's like I own the place.

- Good evening, sir - Good evening

- How are you? - Fine, sir

- See you - Okay, sir

He owns this hotel. We're really tight.

Don't go there. Let's go.

My special entrance.

Sasi, the smartest of us. We call him Tip Top.

We call him that because of where he works, and what he wears.

You're a true friend.

It's Karaoke Night. There won't be any dance music.

Sorry man.

Dude, chill! We're good with the free booze.

Say, "Cheers."

I lose myself...

When I find you.

So you can find me when I am lost.

My heart pines...

The world declines.

Killing me softly as I see you go.

Look at him. Looks little and innocent.

But treats us in such a posh hotel without spending a penny!

Who is she?

That voice! That body!

Oh. She's a freelancer.

What? She sings for free? Don't you pay her?

Dude! "Freelancer" means she's not full-time.

I lose myself...

When I find you.

So you can find me when I'm lost.

Love you guys

This is Natasha & Team Signing off

Thank you every one

That chick...

She sang the first few lines in Burmese. Did you notice?

Really?

I was wasted after the first round. Did you notice?

Dude, I'll lie down here No not here, we've reached home

It's not every day a a girl just knocks you out.

Probably some rich kid. Out of my league.

Confidence!

You think this is a motel?

Move, mom! Get off my case.

Give him this.

You loiter around all day and come home for food.

How responsible!

Maybe, if you got a job, you could actually get your sister married off.

I got a job.

Doing what?

Buying used jewellery. Finding customers.

Like dad used to.

At Sowcarpet gold market.

14 grams. 920 miligrams.

Sell your old gold.

Get the old jewellery out.

I'll get them melted and sell them off.

Why today?

Crude oil prices are up. The dollar is weakening.

Gold will rise. Why not wait?