Kaala (காலா)

Subtitle

Land

In the evolution of human civilization...

...land has played an important part

As civilizations developed...

...humans wanted to produce their own food

They converted forests...

...to agricultural lands making it conducive for existence

Lands they toiled in became their God...

...their religious rite and a caste ritual

Land became power!

From our myths and epics...

to the present wars fought to expand borders...

and to assert power...

...enslave the losing side

Even in Independent India...

land ownership and deprivation...

and the social status associated with it...

...are all unwritten laws

Even after many centuries...

...this hasn’t changed much in our villages and our cities

A considerable amount of land in the cities...

...is retained by the slum dwellers through their labour and numbers

We call them the ‘urban poor’

They face severe oppression in this country

Corporate companies...

and land mafia feel that...

the land of these under-represented people...

...is ruining the beauty of the city

That they are unclean...

...and are criminal hubs They want these people to be thrown out

People are removed brutally from their own land

They are either thrown outside the city...

...or into match box sized housing projects

They live and die, with no land to call their own

This happens in all our cities with all of us as the eyewitness

India’s financial capital...

...Mumbai is no exception to this

I am reporting from the open laundry in Dharavi’s 90 feet road

The State assembly elections are round the corner

Ruling Party Chief Haridev Abhyankar...

...announced 'Pure Mumbai’ scheme in the last term

A plan to demolish huts and build apartments instead

Keys to newly built houses are handed over in many places

'Puja' for the first building in Dharavi is going on now

‘Arise’, a people’s movement here is opposing this project

Come along, you will see...

The ‘Bhumi Puja’ is happening on one side...

...and protests by 'Arise' movement right behind

This first opposition to the scheme has created a furore among the residents

Hey, what are you doing?

Move

Turn it off!

Stop filming!

Sir, Camera!

We wash clothes every day.

We wash clothes every day!

We work hard every day.

We work hard every day!

Our houses are ours to keep.

Our houses are ours to keep!

'Our land is ours to keep.'

'Our land is ours to keep!'

Start!

'Our jobs are ours to keep.'

'Our jobs are ours to keep!'

Damn! Hey, Move!

- Our rights are ours to keep! - Hey, stop

- We will never give it away. - Stop I said

We are the owners and we don’t have a problem

What is your problem?

Hey, you are the Secretary

You would have a plan to mint money out of this

You will leave these people hanging?

Are you the authority here?

Dharavi is going to be filled with buildings

Saving the ‘dhobi ghat'!

Hey!

This ‘Akka’ has been here for 20 years

What will she do if there is no place to work?

'Our rights are ours to keep.'

- Brother is here. Come - Let’s go

'Our jobs are ours to keep.'

I thought there won't be any problems

- Yes - Look what is happening

- Don’t worry about it - Resolve it somehow

He will come here straight

Don't pick a fight with him I warn you

Why are you all scared?

Huh?

We are just protesting right?

Start!

Our jobs are ours to keep.

Our jobs are ours to keep!

- Move them - Yes, Sir

- 'Our rights are ours to keep!' - Go back! Move!

'We will never give it away.'

'We will never give it away!'

We wash clothes every day.

We wash clothes every day!

Our rights are ours to keep.

- 'We will never give it away.' - Shut up!

You will demand any damn thing if it comes for free?

What did you give for free?

Is Dharavi your father’s property?

Your father owns this? Tell me!

Huh?

'Anna', listen

It's unfair to give houses for some and not for the others

In the name of 'Pure Mumbai'...

...you remove only the slums Is that enough to make India clean?

Take everyone's consent before you decide

Hey!

Aren’t you my relative's son?

What work do you have on 90 feet road?

Hey, this is my Party’s project

Look!

Don’t create a ruckus Take your people and leave

Ok?

I won’t spare you because you are my relative

Go back to your work

- Go on, do your work - Ey!

'Finish this before evening...' - Sssh sssh!

I won’t be intimidated by your rowdyism

I am a Marathi girl! I live right here

Hey, shut up!

You know who you are talking to?

- I know. I can see! - How dare you?

Get down! Step down!

Don't you dare raise your voice!

Shut up! Stop it!

- Stop it! - 'Arrest them!'

I give you 5 minutes

Get out of here. Understand?

Why are you bossing around?

You wag your tail for the money they throw at you, right?

How dare you...

Devi Akka!

Hey! what the hell

Thrash them Throw them out

Let go! Let go!

Lock your arms! 'Patil, 'lathi' charge them'

Hold hands Lock! Lock!

Arrest them! Arrest them!

Arrest them! Arrest them!

Arrest them! Arrest them!

Chase them!

Vishnubhai! How dare you demolish the dhobi ghat!

Let's see what becomes of your arrogance in a bit

Stay right here! I will go get him

Beemji!

Listen to me Don’t go

Don't go

DON'T...!

EYYY!

Listen!

DON'T GO!

BEEMJI!

Listen Kaala, 2 runs out of the last ball

Hit it slow I will take over

'Go on, big man!'

Ya right!

He will do it

- Let’s see - He will!

Just 2 runs! ‘JUJUBI’

Anna, hit a six!

Watch my game now

Hey! Bowl Bowl I said

Target the stumps It is our game. Easy! Easy!

All Alert!

Hey, hold on

Now what!

Are you ready?

- Put it now - Come on, Kaala!

BOWLED!

OU...!

'Hey! Not out'

'What is it Brother-in-law! 'No...Not Out'

Rajappa! This is a No Ball

What is it Bawa?

No ball, see!

Pa, out!

No ball!

Wide Wide ball!

Superb Umpire!

Bawa, what say?

'You are the best'

- WIDE - You and your stupid cricket!

Wide!

'KAALA! They are demolishing the dhobi ghat'

They beat up my mother

'Lenin and Bharathi are protesting'

'It’s Vishnubhai, Kaala'

Vishnubhai!

Siva!

'We want Justice!'

'Justice! Justice!'

'We want Justice!'

Siva Anna

We have taken up this protest