Vaazha (വാഴ)

['Raavil poonthen' from 'Naduvazhikal' playing]

- There are three categories of children in this world.

- Those who are ambitious and study with determination to gain success in life

- and those who study and earn a job as per their parents' wishes.

- There's a third category that's totally different from these two.

- They have no clue why they're studying,

- and their teachers and parents don’t know why they’re being taught either.

This is a story of such people.

- Do you have plantain saplings? - There was one.

But he just bought it.

Oh!

You may take it if you want.

No!

It's alright.

I shall buy one the next time.

It's alright. You may keep it.

- Okay. - Okay.

Radhika!

Radhika!

Hand me that shovel.

- Let me plant this right away. - At this hour?

Oh, please!

Should I wait for an auspicious hour to plant a plantain?

Don't get into the yard in the dark.

Huh?

Take a shower and come.

I have prepared prawn mango curry.

Ah!

It's been ages since I broke a sweat.

I will plant the plantain later.

Let go of me.

- Come on! - Go take a shower.

I will shower later!

Come here.

- Hey, where's the shovel? - For what?

- To plant this. - Should you really plant it at night?

- Can't you do it in the morning? - That won't do.

I should plant it before someone comes searching for it.

No time to waste!

I'm really tired. Let me go to bed.

Okay.

Hey, make sure you water it everyday.

As if there's no better time to plant it!

One banana fritter, please.

Hey, brother-in-law! Sister has given birth.

It's a boy.

Is it?

- How much is it? - Five Rupees.

Here you go.

- I'll collect the balance later. - Okay.

One feeding bottle... One baby soap and a tin of powder.

One Fepanil!

One junior Horlicks.

Is there a specific one like that?

- It's the best choice for kids. - Is it?

Then I will also have that one.

One of these.

One of these.

Listen here, everyone.

- Do you like the school? - Yeah!

Do y'all like to draw pictures?

- Yeah! - Shall we draw a picture then?

Yeah!

Go and sit in the front.

What is this?

M.

How about we draw a tree using 'M'?

- Yeah! - Let's write 'M' first...

and like this...

- Is it good? - It is good!

Then, everyone draw a tree using an 'M'.

Draw it.

Best friends are born in this world...

not when we are at our happiest

- and find someone as happy as we are.

- It is during the hardest times,

- when you find someone who is just as messed up.

Why are you two smiling at each other?

Stand up, both of you.

What are your names?

Vishnu Radhakrishnan.

Aha!

- And you? - Ajo Thomas.

Ajo Thomas?

- Aren't you drawing? - Yes, we will.

- Will you? - Yes!

Then sit down, both of you.

How was Mommy's dear boy's first day in school?

It was awesome, Mom.

I came first for drawing.

- The teacher also gave me five stars. - Good boy!

I also made a friend named Vishnu Radhakrishnan.

Is it?

They're making the kids draw on the very first day.

The teacher said that I'm superb at drawing.

They will say many such things,

because they studied hard and became a teacher, right?

Don't you listen to them, Son.

Son, you should study well and become a great engineer.

You’ll still have lots to draw, even then.

Learn how to draw a house.

I think all they teach at that school is drawing.

I had said it beforehand.

We should have admitted him to a school run by our folks.

They will teach prayers and maths at those schools.

Prayers and maths?

Right.

Kids learn that only when they are frightened, right?

- Hey! - Yes?

His friendship with that boy...

I don't think it will be right for him.

Huh? Who? Ajo Thomas?

Yes.

We've just admitted him to first grade, right?

And you're already nitpicking his bad friendships?

That boy doesn't look like someone who'd study well.

If our boy makes friends with him, he'll just end up at the same level.

He just has to earn at least one mark more than his friend.

That's enough to be happy.

You either need a friend to study hard with.

Or to study with rivalry,

you need an opponent.

- To encounter the opponent Vishnu's father mentioned,

we had to wait till fourth grade.

B.C. Vishwam from class 4-B.

Who is this guy?

Dunno!

Did Sania give you toffees for her birthday?

Yes, she did.

Give them to me.

Why?

If you give them, I'll give you tips on how not to be afraid of the teacher.

- We already ate it. - Yes, I ate it too.

Shall I give it to you?

A friend in need...

is a friend in deed.

- Who is this? - That's how he joined us, one fine day.

Moosa.

Here...

This is a special chocolate my Dad brought from Sharjah.

Bye.

Ever since Moosa joined us,

we levelled up big time.

- Until then, we were confined within our classrooms with minor cases.

- But we began getting summoned into the Headmaster’s office regularly after that.

Not just us.

- Even our fathers also began coming there, with their heads bowed down.

He took his grandfather's constipation tablet

and gave it to my son saying it was a toffee.

What do you have to say, Sir?

If they are like this now, how will they be when they grow up?

My son studies well and always comes first in his class.

Sorry, Sir! The kids made a mistake.

What's the sorry for?

You are the one who's always encouraging them.

- Sir... - These kids!

That boy's diarrhea hasn't stopped yet.

You go to the hospital and do the needful.

And about these three...

Leave that to me.

I know what needs to be done.

- When I try to hold myself back, - Sir!

you keep getting on my nerves.

- We have never given any time for that cane to rest.

Nobody likes us, dude.

So what, dude? We like everyone, right?

Don't say a word! You're the reason we got all that beating.

- Isn't this something of beauty? - Beauty, my foot!

We don't want any friendship with you anymore.

Right.

Hey!

Have you had sip-up?

- What? - Sip-up!

We don't need any. We don't want to get beaten again.

Hey, that was inside the school, right?

Who's gonna beat you over here?

We don't want it anyway.

It costs just 50 paise.

Hey!

- I don't have a penny with me. - Me too.

In that case, I will pay for it today.

Come.

Chetta, three sip-ups.

Do you want the 50 paise one or the ₹2 one?

What is special about the ₹2 one?

It's milk sip-up.

- Milk sip-up! - We just need the 50 paise one.

- That's gone then. - Hey, isn't milk sip-up better?

Hey, fool! Don't we drink milk at home daily?

We will have the 50 paise one. That's the beauty of it.

How is it?

Superb!

True.

Do you know what this is?

What?

This is first-class dirty drainage water!

This is toxic.

Eww!

Drink up. Drink it fully.

See? We are drinking it.