Karnan (கர்ணன்)

Not fathered by the Sun Nor witnessed by the Moon

Not fathered by the Sun Nor witnessed by the Moon

Born to a forsaken woman, this child Fed and grew on famine, this child

If you see him, tell him to come Somebody fetch Karnan at once

If you see him, tell him to come Somebody fetch Karnan at once

If you see him, tell him to come Somebody fetch Karnan at once

There's the big old banyan tree Perched upon its tallest branch

There's the big old banyan tree Perched upon its tallest branch

Though it is all alone The lone parakeet sings his name

If you see him, tell him to come Somebody fetch Karnan at once

If you see him, tell him to come Somebody fetch Karnan at once

If you see him, tell him to come Somebody fetch Karnan at once

If you see him, tell him to come Somebody fetch Karnan at once

All these countless temples In the village

All these countless Gods in temples

KARNAN

All these countless temples In the village

All these countless Gods in temples

And not one idol of him But he's one among my family

If you see him, tell him to come Somebody fetch Karnan at once

If you see him, tell him to come Somebody fetch Karnan at once

PODIYANKULAM INCIDENT YOUNG MAN, KARNAN, JAILED!

If you see him, tell him to come Somebody fetch Karnan at once

Never laid eyes on an armour Nor adorned any ornaments either

KARNAN

How he wielded that sword! None of his foes survived

How he wielded that sword! None of his foes survived

If you see him, tell him to come Somebody fetch Karnan at once

If you see him, tell him to come Somebody fetch Karnan at once

If you see him, tell him to come Somebody fetch Karnan at once

If you see him, tell him to come Somebody fetch Karnan at once

If you see him, tell him to come Somebody fetch Karnan at once

Karna!

KARNAN

BEFORE 1997

He wants to see you..

Oh, no! Catch it...

It took my chick! My chick! Kids, hurry up.

Mom!

Mom, be careful.

Didn't I tell you to wake me up to go to the pond?

How was I to know? I thought you wouldn't go.

You didn't wake me up on purpose, you liar.

What's your mother running for?

The thieving eagle has snatched a chick.

Your mother's gone to see it.

Every day it snatches a chick and eats it.

And we beg and plead to return.

-Did Yeman come by? -No.

I wonder where the fool's gone.

Where's my shirt?

Oh, look.

Get up... up!

You've hidden it under your bum!

Hey, Karnan.

Didn't I tell you to come and wake me up early?

Don't be angry. Sit.

We're late, step on it.

But you haven't eaten!

Stop. Where are you headed before breakfast?

I'll whack you! You stomped over me when I was asleep, cut the act.

Just go to see the fish get cut and return like a good lad.

If you try to cut the fish, I will slaughter you.

-Let's go. -Mind him, Uncle.

Return my precious chick to me. Please it's a poor little one.

It's going to eat the chick and they still gather to worship it.

-Oh, shut up. -How did they not invite you?

I heard even Duryodanan didn't go. He's building a temple, it seems.

Why would they call me?

Why didn't he go?

What's the point?

No one will cut the fish this year anyway.

They'll only stand by and watch. He's upset about that.

Why is everyone so afraid to cut it?

The last few times the fish was cut, there was death in the village.

Everyone's scared about that.

But we can't just leave the sword lying.

So we perform a customary prayer and put it back inside.

-Should I cut it this year? -You?

So your mother can kill me?

Forget all that. Can I cut it or not?

-You can, but... -Then let's go.

Are you being serious?

Yes, step on it.

Wow. This must weigh about 5 kilos?

-Shall we rub vermilion, then? -Hold on.

First, ask if anybody wishes to cut it.

Do you see one face that seems interested? They are only here to watch.

Were you seriously counting on them?

Is anybody interested, or shall I toss it in the water?

I think they've already tossed it in!

If you don't want to cut it, be quiet. Are you trying to pick a fight?

Let's get it over with, I need to open my shop.

Such cowards. Will it be vermilion again this year?

Another wasted year.

And they get upset when the elephant doesn't have tusks.

Change the rules, then.

He who fails to cut the fish mid-air will get his head tonsured in public.

No young man will step up. Why should he?

-A pointless expense year after year. -Oh, yeah.

It takes gall to wield the village sword, you know?

-Is that so? -Why don't you cut it then?

This "gall" has led to the sword lying unwielded for 8 years.

-Then you cut it. -No, you cut it.

You do it!

Hurry!

I'll kill you if they toss the fish in.

-Vadamalayan, calm down. -Stop!

Stop... Hey, stop.

Not vermilion, rub turmeric on it.

-Are you going to cut it? -Not me.

Someone is coming to cut it.

Grandpa, this is not a joking matter for you both to pull your antics.

If he fails to cut it, his head will be tonsured in public.

Only if he fails to cut it.

Brother, it's not enough to just brush against it.

One clean strike, it must fall down as two halves.

Where is the sword?

Well said!

Bring the sword!

Karnan, the sword is nice and sharp.

Just one hard strike...

and you can even cut an elephant. A fish is child's play.

Here you go.

Go.

Make way...

You took my chick though I pleaded with you.

Someone will come to clip your wings.

And he will beat you to death.

Hit those drums, People. What are you waiting for?

-We have begun. Hit it! -Yes!

Hit it so hard, that the very Gods descend to cut the fish.

Hit it, hit it!

Hit it!

Hit it!

Hey, toss it.

Toss it, man.

Karnan, you mustn't miss it!

Duryodanan, he cut the fish!

-Who? -Our boy, Karnan!

Into two?

One clean strike, and two proper pieces.

-Hey, Padmini! -What happened, Grandma?

Your little brother cut the fish and mounted the elephant.

Mom, it was Karnan who cut the fish, and he's mounted the elephant!

Let's go.

The boy disobeyed me and went to cut the fish!

-Wait till I see him-- -Stop whining.

I just said he cut the fish and mounted the elephant!

He managed to cut the fish. So stop shouting.

Come on, Mom.

-Stop your vehicles. -Don't block the road!

Come on! Dance.

Grandpa, what are you doing? You will get us in trouble.

Would it kill them to wait for once?

Hey, watch it, man.

Sorry, sir. There is a crowd.

Panneer, go take a look.

Dance!

Karnan, get down and dance.

You dance!

Oh, just come down!

Wait, don't pull me down. I'll come.

Come on, come on.

Yeah, hit it!

Vadamalayan, don't just stand there. Dance!

Sir...

-Sir! -What?

Looks like some festival. They're dancing around an elephant.

Has to be the Podiyankulam folks.

They cause such mayhem with that village sword they bought themselves.

What do we do with them?

They were once so scared of us. Now they dance around elephants?

They've gotten too cocky.

-There's a village here? -Oh, yes.

It's called Podiyankulam.

About a kilometer from here.

They don't even have a bus stop.

They must go to neighbouring Melur to even board a bus.

So when these nobodies put on such shows with elephants...

naturally, it irks the Melur folks.

Every time these people use their bus stop, there's a brawl.

-What the hell? -Not again.

Always at loggerheads.

You were in my way, you were asking for it.

Why, sir? The two villages don't get along?

Don't even ask. Where do I begin?

They fight like cats and dogs.

They have no idea why they're fighting and hurting each other.

And we are stuck in the middle.

So where do they board the bus?

Where else?

They walk pillar to post begging for their own bus stop,

refusing to use Melur's bus stop.

But who gives two hoots about these people? Not a soul.

Hey, flag him.

Left with no other choice, they come and wait here in vain...

and hitch a ride with a lorry or a van.

Sir, are they blocking the roads and dancing in revenge?

Yes, savages.