Kadamban (கடம்பன்)

'Nature'

'For all creatures great and small in this world to live joyfully'

'A boon granted by God'

'In the vast hilly region of the Western Ghats'

'Believing only this forest and the mountains for their sustenance'

'...these tribal people have been living here for generations'

'Trees, creepers, climbers, shrubs, bushes found here'

'...they think are their ancestors in plant form as part of nature'

'This race occupying the jungle'

'...consider even the animals as their kith and kin wandering here'

'This forest is their life source, wealth, comfort, treasure, essence'

'Thanks to these people inhabiting the forest'

'...our forests have been conserved and preserved'

'This is one such tribe protecting our Mother Nature'

'...in Kadamba Forest'

Come here, hold

Kadamba, you rock!

Only macho male from our clan who climbed down to 'Hanging rock'

...to collect honey is our Kadamban

"Serene peaks, scenic beauty To travelers a specific identity"

"We lack nothing whatsoever for our homeland to prosper"

"Green trees and foliage offer Everything we want forever"

"All said and done however we won't be slaves to any master"

"Money may come and go Fame and name also"

"Let's be courageous Trusting our land bounteous"

"Money may come and go Fame and name also"

"Let's lead a life undaunted With faith in our forest surmounted"

"Serene peaks, pretty picture To travelers a salient feature"

"No wants whatsoever for our world to prosper"

"Snakes, scorpions, lizards also shower love, scuttling to and fro"

"Let us celebrate this life No struggle, no strife"

"We will revel and rejoice with our treasure trove of joys"

"Borne by mother us in her womb Brings us into this world to bloom"

"Till we breathe our last this forest nurtures us steadfast"

"With our harpoons we catch many a fish We collect golden honey for us to relish"

"As a clan we share with tender loving care"

"Without losing our orientation We walk in the right direction"

"God manifests as this forest giving us better than the best"

"Swaying in the wind that blows He smiles down at us simple fellows"

"Forest fostering sustenance"

"River flowing in abundance"

"Without hassles of husbandry we get food, we never go hungry"

"Blessed by our Goddess Palichi our lives filled with prosperity"

Saw that Kadamba? With no mercy whatsoever...

...look how the tiger has been stripped of its hide and claws

This has been done only a short while ago

Our fathers haven't seen half the beasts our forefathers saw

We haven't seen half the beasts our fathers saw

The animals we can see now...

...may become extinct by the time our children grow up

Greed...trade

He fells the trees and steals the logs

He kills elephants and seizes their tusks

They come in hordes from the plains

And treat our forests like a money making machine

Even if our entire forest area is destroyed...

...they won't be satisfied

Let me lay my hands on the offender

He will face the same fate!

Forest Check Post Theni Forest Range

There are 25 tigers according to forest survey

Only 1 caught your eye, huh?

Before we can hoodwink the forest people and hunt...

...some chap there tracks us like a scent hound

What can we do, sir?

Then kill him also along with the tiger

Whether you kill a tiger or a man inside the forest...

...I'll be the one to investigate it

Not a soul can enter or exit this forest without my knowledge

'Till the sun sets, looks like he'll keep squeezing it'

You squeeze honey like this, then imagine...!

Born rough, I swear

Hurry up, I have loads of work pending at home

Pullakutti, you always claim you have work at home

What kind of job is it?

What a question to ask!

Father...!

Come along, my dear lion cubs

2 more are missing?

Mother is vomiting nonstop She asked us to fetch you

You heard him, right?

You heard what my cub said just now

Should I be more graphic than this?

- Father - What is it, son?

At least this time I need a baby sister to play with

If not this time, next time you'll have a sister for sure

Let's go

'Yaaaay! Next time we will have a sister, boys'

- Moopa? - What, doctor?

In our entire clan, only your son has imbibed all the genes of our race, sir

Whether identifying the signal of every bird...

Or in tracking the tigers' footprints...

...your son is truly a veteran

I've gone into the forest with so many men to collect honey

But till now, other than your father...

...no one has collected honey from Hanging rock with such alacrity

He has truly made his grandfather proud

I swear on God

For a moment I thought he was your father

What crap! Buttering him up like this?

Is the only man in this village?

Haven't we brought the same honey back?

Or has no one seen me doing so?

It seems Hanging rock is the novel factor

For a few ounces of honey they lavish sugar coated words

If it had been couple more ounces...

...they would've licked the honey and then licked his feet too!

We have enough problems to cope with at home

Then why poke our nose into other people's business?

Why are you butting in like a fox and whining now?

It has been 6 years since our daughter attained puberty

If we had got her married she would be a mother of 10 now!

Are you bothered about finding her a groom?

Does she behave like a girl?

Running along with those boys she romps and tromps all over

'Hey! Fatso, stop'

'Grab her'

Akka, she went this way

'She's forever getting your man into trouble'

'Don't spare her'

'She runs so fast despite her flabs!'

'Only way to get her is to round her up'

'Go that side'

'Got caught, huh?'

'Try to run now'

Let me see

Don't knock my head It hurts real bad

How many times I've told you...

...not to go to the clearing when Kadamban collects the honey

On top of it, what audacity you'll take a dig at him!

Give me that bunch of spurge leaves

If I ever see you anywhere around my Kadamban...

...I'll rub this all over you

Get lost!

Just you wait I'll tell your brother

What's up with you?

I hid it here and it's itching badly, akka

'Why did you hide it there?'

Ouch!

'Pass it here'

'Hey! Maya'

Because Miss Fatso taunted you yesterday Rathi had chased and warned her

She has fallen for you hook, line and sinker

Why don't you marry her if you feel the same?

Already her brother hates the sight of me

Do I need to add fuel to the fire?

Pullakutti, got scared?

If this calabash fruit had hit you it would have knocked you out for good

Watch your ways

He's spoiling for a fight!

Whom was that meant for?

- Whom should I tell? - Tell him

As if I am scared

'Twirling his moustache and showing off'

Come and play if you are sure you aren't an illegitimate son!

Oh no! That's the alarm call of the red-wattled lapwing

Wonder what harm will befall us

Goddess Palichi, only you can protect all of us

Praise be to you!

Hello, sir

Bro, Mr Chandramouli

Famous geologist

Glad to meet you

And Mr Vijay Anand

Our company's new consultant

Very nice

- Let's carry on - Thank you, sir

'South of the Western Ghats is the Kadamba forest'

'According to our research team'

'...from Pulivarayan hills in the east to Kaduguthadi hills in the west'

'From Nettimuruchan forest in the north to Elephant Hills in the south'

'This entire area is limestone quarry essential for manufacturing cement for us'

'It is the best in quality'

'If we start excavating the limestone found here'

...this will be a treasure trove of constant supply for around 50-60 years

We can easily achieve a turnover of 500 billion to 1 trillion!

'That's our point'

Sir, did you brief your brother about the small hiccup?

Bro, there's a tiny hitch

What kind of hitch?

In that area...what is it called?

Kadamba forest, sir

It seems a settlement exists for generations in that area

About 100-150 families occupy that area even now

As long as they live there...

...we can't remove even a single small stone

Not just that, sir

Though our Govt has offered many schemes and asked them to come to the plains...

...they have firmly refused to do so and believe in existing without any aid

'They can't be persuaded that easily either'

What do we do now, bro?

We are starting the project

Black beetle

Black beetle

Hey! Black beetle

Why are you yelling now as if there's an earthquake here?

Black beetle, how can you get mad at me when I was just calling you affectionately?

If I'm a black beetle then are you a small bee?

Golden beetle!

How many times do I tell you not to run behind me like this?