Paandi Naattu Thangam (பாண்டி நாட்டு தங்கம்)

Mahalakshmi, I hope that the milk you give us flows in abundance,...

...as usual.

Sister, the milk man is here. Pour some for the deity, and...

...give me the balance.

Why don't you just give us the money right away? You guys don't...

...do anything properly unless you are told.

You look so naive but you are intent on making money.

I'm sorry, dear, here's your money. Count it well.

It's fine, I trust you.

Here's the milk money, mum. - I am working with sour milk.

Keep it over there. - Mum.

What is it? - I.....

What is it? - Mum, can you get me a new...

...blouse and skirt with the money? - What's the rush? We can get later.

Please, mum. Let's get it while we have this money now.

Don't be so adamant, Thurga. Your father and I are working so...

...hard and earning all this money just to make sure you and your...

...sister will be settled in life. We are worrying so much because...

...you are both girls. You don't understand that and you are...

...asking for this and that. Radha, please take the money...

...and keep it at the altar. Give it to her!

Have you all eaten? - Yes, dad.

Thurga, here you go, I bought some snacks for you and your sister...

...at Alanganallur, eat it. - Sister, shall we go?

Dad, we are going to collect some firewood.

Thurga, I made some porridge, bring it with you, don't forget.

Be careful, dear. - Come back by evening, dear.

They should be living a better life, but they are suffering.

What are you saying? Our daughters aren't the only ones who do this.

Other kids do it too. - That's not what I meant.

I am worried about their future. - Look, God knows what to give.

Brother, you always seem to be cutting down these trees.

I hear that the new forest ranger is sharp, and he might just...

...take us down if we take even a twig.

I have already targeted this tree, I will not stop until I cut...

...it down. Off with you!

You are definitely able-bodied and smart enough to manage...

...an entire acre of land. But, you are lazy enough to...

...cut down trees. We will only have rain if we have trees.

I have a wife and kids, sir. Not only these trees, I will not...

...cut down any trees hereafter!

Not only trees, I don't want to see you touch even a small...

...crumb from this forest. Get out!

Yes, sir, I was just praying. - Don't run! Stop!

I don't know what the new officer is like, I can only buy it once...

...I know it. - What do you mean?

I'm on duty! Don't touch me. Go! I said, go!

Go! - Come on, walk!

I am always strict in my duty.

What were you guys doing while they were cutting down the trees...

...and making these bunches? - We only got to know after they...

...cut them down. - If we had known earlier, we...

...would have caught them earlier. - Did you expect them to tell...

...you before cutting? - Yes, sir. I mean, no!

They do not listen, no matter how much we tell them.

We did not cut the trees, sir. We just picked up the dry branches.

God only knows how much we suffer just to get this firewood.

If we get bitten by something poisonous in the wood, we might...

...even die. We are willing to risk it just to make some money.

I have been doing this for twenty years, and I don't even have...

...something as basic as oil for my head.

Even at my age, I am doing this just to have one meal at least.

We are not cutting down teakwood. - The richer people cut down...

...valuable trees and bring them off in lorries.

Have you seen them do that? - See? The lorry sometimes stops...

...because of the heavy load and we help to push it.

Look, bring me a letter of evidence from your village chief stating...

...that you all belong to this village. I will get all of you...

...identification cards from the government. Then, no one will...

...stop you like this. You can go for now.

God bless you, sir.

Bye, sir. - May your family prosper.

Bless you, son.

I knew that you would let us go. Bye!

Five for these.

Twenty for these. - This is not fair. Why does she...

...get Rs20? - He's not quoting for the wood.

He's quoting for her.

I can give this twenty five, man. Here you go.

Ten rupees are enough for us. Here. Come on, sister, let's go.

She never speaks even one word. As if she has pearls in her mouth.

An honorable man visits without an invitation. I don't think you...

...know me. I am the most powerful man here. In fact, everyone in...

...the district knows me. - Right. What do you want?

Young man, I usually give some respect to anyone who comes to...

...this forest as an officer. That's why I came to show respect.

The criminals who escaped from prison, kill someone, or steal,...

...they all come here to stay. If you have any trouble, it...

...would be a big loss to our country. Young man, if you need...

...anything, I can arrange for it. - And then?

And then, sometimes, my boys might cut down some sandalwood.

I need you to turn a blind eye to it.

If I don't? - I will make you.

If I stop them? - You might lose your head.

Get up. - Are you talking to me?

Get up!

Leave this place before you lose your respect.

Young man, I have killed as many people as there are white hairs...

...on my head. - I don't care about your...

...white hair. I don't know how the officers before me behaved.

But, if you fight with me, you will not even have bones left.

You cannot steal even a piece of straw from this forest without...

...my knowledge. Get out!

All the guys before this used to suck us dry. At least this man...

...is good. May he be well.

Thangapandiyan. His heart is made of gold, just as his name.

If there were one man in each village like him, our whole...

...country would prosper. Here you go, dear.

Periyakaruppu's daughter? Here. - Go on.

It's for me and my sister. - Okay. I'll come and see it later.

Here.

Sir! - Welcome, young man.

The forest officer is here to see you.

The forest officer? I wonder why. - He wishes to speak with you...

...privately. He is outside. - Why have you let him stand...

...outside? Invite him in, boy. - Come in, sir. Come in.

Greetings. - Greetings.

Dad, he's the one who got us all identification cards to collect...

...firewood in the forest. - Is it? Awesome. Come in.

Our whole country will prosper when we have people like you in it.

Have a seat. Would you like something to drink?

Sure! - Be quiet, man. No, sir, it's fine.

Can I know what brings you to this poor man's house?

I have an interest in music. I do sing the musical prodigy...

...Mohanasundaram's songs when I'm free.

Akin to the crow being unable to sing like the cuckoo, I could...

...not sing his songs. But, your daughter sang the song almost...

...effortlessly. - Do you like Mohanasundaram's...

...songs that much? - Does sugarcane ever taste bitter?

I love his songs like life itself. - Radha is the daughter of the...

...man himself.

So, she is not your daughter? - If she was, how would she be...

...able to sing? She would just wash the pots and pans. She even...

...has two ragas named after her. - What ragas are they?

What do you know about music, man? - My grandfather used to sing...

...folk songs. - Please stop. Him and his antics!

Ragas by the name of Radha? How is that so?

We are simple village folk. What do we know? You should ask Radha.

Radha, tell him, dear. - My dad liked the ragas...

...Ragavardhini and Dhaanarubini. Since he liked them, he used...

...the beginning sounds of those ragas and named me Radha.

He used to bring her to all of his concerts because he wanted her...

...to become a renowned songstress.

Even at that young age, when she sang, people would feel like...

...listening to her forever, forgetting even hunger.

The entire village knew that she could sing so well, and honored...

...her with garlands. The garlands had not even wilted yet.

One day, when she and her father were on their way back after...

...a concert.

He was both a father and a mother to her, and he left her too.

We have been raising her as our own ever since.

I came to learn more about her musical talent. But, I never...

...once imagined there would be such sadness in her life.

Even though he did not leave her any assets or treasures, he did...

...leave her with the invaluable musical talent. It will always...

...help her to survive. If you ever need any help at all, please...

...feel free to ask. I will leave first.

All right, son.

The officer has already said so, you don't need to collect...

...branches anymore, you can take the whole tree!

Coming, sir!

Come and listen, everyone! Come on over!

All the elderly stay there! Everyone else, sit closer!

You might not have seen Rambha, Menaga and Urvashi.

My girl is coming, see her! Come!

Did they bring down all three of them from the skies above?

She looks just like Kovai Sarala. Face like moringa fruit.

Fingers like ladies fingers

A face like a tomato. A nose like a chili. There's nothing like lime.

It's okay. Overall, very nice!

Is she burping for something she ate long ago?

My girl is now going to walk on the wire, please clap for her!

Sky above, earth below! Rich people fly in the skies above.

My girl walks on wire! Do you know why? For a meal.

What would happen if she falls from above? No one marries a girl in...

...our country even if she is fully able bodied. If she becomes...

...disabled, who would marry her? - I would!

Did anyone ask you? - No.

Then, be quiet. You can't keep your mouth shut.

Greetings. Give me some money! Give me...

...a handful of money! Give me money! As much money...

...as you can, ma'am!

Uncles! Aunts! Mothers! - What is this, dear?

Fifty rupees, straight to my mouth! - Mouth? I put it in the tray.

Dad, come here! - What is it, dear?

This man gave me fifty rupees. - Such a kind heart. Everyone...

...only gives tens or twenties. How did he give us fifty rupees?

I always appreciate the arts. I like artists very much.

We are the same, sir. Girl, fall at his feet and get his blessings.

Where are your feet, sir? - Down there, like everyone else.

Your dhoti is hiding it. - I'll lift it a little.

See that, sister. Something fell from the bike. He didn't notice.

It might be something important. Go and give it back to him.

No, I am scared! Come with me please.

It's all right, dear. Go on. - Please come with me, sister.

All right, come on.

Where do you think he is? - He must be inside.

Thurga, wait! You can't enter someone's house without permission.

I see Illaiyaraja's photo. Come on in, sister.

What are the two of you doing here? - This fell down when you were...