Oye!
I'm getting late for work.
How long are you going to take?
I'm not a machine!
Idle as ever, loud as always!
And late for what?
It’s not like your work ever helped us!
Listen!
That temple visit’s made you too bold, huh?
You need to be taught a lesson.
What lesson?
Enough of your lessons!
Stop using the Devi to guilt me!
You are all called to the school!
You meal is ready!
Now go stuff your face with it!
Huh?!
Welcome, Ma'am.
- Namaste. - Namaste.
- How are you Miss Mangal? - I'm doing fine.
Ma'am, this is our village head.
Tatyasaheb.
You must be proud that a girl from your village is in the merit list.
Yes, I am.
And that's the maths teacher, Gopal Master!
Ahilya's got full marks in maths!
Congratulations!
Thank you.
- This way, Ma'am. - Yes.
- Ma'am, namast-- - Let's go!
Come, let's go.
Namaste, everyone!
Our school has made history.
Even the rain Gods are here to witness it.
We have been used to seeing students not even passing Class Ten.
But now, not only has a student passed...
but Ahliya from our school...
has made it to the merit list!
Madam...
Merit list?
What is that?
It's some kind of special list.
Oh wow!
So has she become special now?
Can you all hear me?
Listen...
this is such a huge event.
And no one bothered to tell us.
This Mangal...
is smarter than I thought.
I'm very happy today. I had heard a lot about Vesai's Vadgaon.
Today, I've got a chance to visit.
And for a very special reason.
Which is that students in the village have passed Class Ten.
I want everyone to put their hands together for these students!
Damn!
Women can be civil officers?
When women progress more than they should...
this is what they sound like.
No one really excelled in studies before this.
And we turned out just fine!
Is she even making sense?
I want to especially congratulate Ahilya.
Not only is she in the merit list...
but she's the first girl in this village to pass Class Ten.
Being first comes with a lot of hardships, Ahilya.
Even Savitribai Phule, Anandibai had to face a lot of hardships.
But they paved the way for other girls to get an education.
I'm confident that Ahilya will also inspire...
other girls in the village to continue their studies.
Remember when knowledge touches a woman...
it blesses her family and the society.
Thank you!
All these women...
will make us dance to their tune.
What nonsense is she going on about?
My wife's already rebelling against me!
What more does she want to change?
I request Madam to present Ahilya a token of appreciation.
Get up!
Go on.
Ahilya!
Congratulations!
Ahilya!
This is your chance.
Say everything that's on your mind.
Come.
Namaste!
It is thanks to my parents...
and my teachers...
that I stand here today.
So firstly, I would like to thank them.
Madam...
you spoke about being first.
I'm not the first one.
Saraswati.
If Saraswati were here today...
she would have stood first.
Or maybe someone else before her.
It's not enough to be first.
Madam.
We won't be able to leave the village to study further.
I have a request for you.
Please build a college for us here.
So that...
we can build a future for ourselves in the village.
Thank you.
Say everything you want to.
Miss Mangal.
It's the first time so many women have turned up in school.
They're all really happy to be back to school.
I think we should let them enjoy today.
My first verse, I offer to Vesai Devi
The Mother who guarded our village with love
So many of you have come to the school...
for the first time today.
It's been years since you quit school.
My second verse, to Saraswati, my friend
Who held on to joy while bearing the weight of sorrow
This school will always welcome you with open arms.
I want you to come back.
Enter the classroom and dream again!
My third verse, to my mother Lakshmi
Whose gentle hand blessed my head with love
My fourth verse, I offer to young Sharada
Who faced every storm with unyielding will
My fifth verse, to a granny-like priestess
Who cast away the chains of old tradition
My sixth verse, I offer to Miss Mangal
Who sowed the seed and raised it with pride
My seventh verse is for every woman
Through you, the world learns to live in harmony
My song is done, yet a new path begins
As homes now glow with the light of learning
Lakshmi
Jaysingrao!
Are you any good at cooking and cleaning?
Shut up.
Are you mad?
- I don't think he'll come. - He must be busy.
He's here.
- Don't give me these calls. - OK, Saheb.
MLA Saheb.
The young leader of Vadgaon!
Jaysingrao!
That's some trick you played!
Trick?
You snatched that college right from under my nose!
Snatching isn't a good thing!
You used your soon-to-be wife to bag that college!
No, MLA Saheb. I really didn't.
What?
We don't need that college, Saheb.
As it is the village is doomed thanks to that school.
Please cancel the college project.
Everyone wants a college nowadays.
Tell them.
That lady Officer's willing so just take it!
Please, we don't want it!
Call us fools if you want to but please cancel the college project.
If you want to give us something, build us a wedding hall.
We really need one.
Girls are always getting their period.
You can get your share too.
Er...Master!
Saheb.
If you build this college, we'll lose our control over the village.
- Is it an original? - Yes.
Fine, if that's what you want!
Saheb.
I have another request.
Miss Mangal! Where are you going?
I can't let you leave.
No!
I'm not going very far dear.
I have an idea.
Until they build the college, come stay with me.
OK?
- Deal? - No!
Please, please don't go!
I can't wait back.
- I got transf-- - How did you suddenly get transferred?
Miss...
they'll lock us up in the house again!
Don't cry, dear.
They can't just lock you up again!
Look...
the women have started raising their voice.
They've started noticing the injustice done for generations.
And I know you can show them the way.
- Me? - Yes, you!
Please don't go, Miss. Please!
We feel stronger when you're around.
But now I'm scared so please don't go!
I understand, dear.
I know this burden is too heavy for your young shoulders.
But Ahilya...
you have something that these women don't.
And that is your education.
And...
I'm confident you'll use it to take them along with you.
Miss!
Please don't cry.
You'll just make it harder for me to leave.
Stop crying.
Now go home.
Go on.
Go on home!
And Ahilya!
Watch your step...
or you'll spill ink again!
Go!
Fire! Fire!
The farm's on fire!
Come out!
There's a fire!
The farm's on fire!
Come out, quick!
There's a fire, we need water!
The farm's on fire!
There's a fire on the farm!
Come on, hurry!
Get some water, quick! The farm's on fire!
Come on hurry!
Get the water! Hurry!
Where's that lowlife who set the farm on fire!
The Devi's going to destroy you!
You'll go to hell, you monster!
The river! The fish!
Looks like something's up near the river!
See what entering the sanctuary does!
It's these women who've incurred the Devi's wrath!
[people speaking over each other]
This is because of you women!
Shut up everybody!
I said quiet everyone!
Pointing fingers at each other won't help!
Women are not the problem.
Our thoughts are the problem.
The girls went to school.
The Devi didn't mind.
Then they went to the city.
The Devi still didn't mind.
But these progressive ideas...
brought by education has incurred the Devi's wrath.
Yes, that's right! We agree!
These ideas label our traditions as regressive.
It is due to these ideas that girls went to the city.
It is due to these ideas that women entered the sanctuary.
For 500 years, our Devi was at peace.
And it's these ideas that have angered Her!
We agree! That's right!
You're right!
But it's not too late.
What's done is done.
What we need to do...
is to beg for our Devi's forgiveness.
She is our Mother.
She loves us like Her children.
She has it in Her to forgive us.
Let's beg for forgiveness.
Excuse me, Mister!
The Devi does forgive a mistake.
But what mistake have these girls made?
The Devi herself led them to the sanctuary.
That wasn't the Devi.
That was you.
Wasn't it? You hag!
You've been lying and fooling us for years!
We should've banished you a long time ago!
Let's throw her out!
[people clamouring]
We don't need her here!
It's true that the Devi loves us like Her children.
It is also true that She will forgive us.
Ahilya!
But then why has She punished us?
We call Her our Mother.
Why did She push Her girls away?
That girl didn't run away alone.
There was a boy with her.
Did the Devi only punish the girl?
The Devi is a woman herself!
Why will she cast other women out?
And lock them up?
The Devi won't do such a thing.
You've been using Her name...
to guilt women into staying here for 500 years!
Listen to this!
These are exactly the progressive ideas I'm talking about.
The educated think our traditions are bad.
We are bad.
And the villagers are regressive.
We won't let your education...
give our traditions a bad name.
Understand?
Aaba, knock some sense into her.
So...
what's done is done.
Let's just ask to be forgiven.
Before that we should cleanse the temple.
These women have made it impure.
Let us not anger the Devi more!
Let's go!
The Devi does not get angry!
And she doesn't punish either!
It's not the Devi who set the farms on fire.
The Devi does not get angry.
- And I can prove this. - Ahilya!
Stay quiet!
Ahilya, please don't.
It's...
It's been a year since I got my period.
Aaba!
I kept it a secret so that I could go to school.
But I also entered the sanctuary after that!
The Devi didn't punish me.
Ahilya!
Aaba!
You've humiliated me!
You've shamed your own father!
Calm down, Aaba.
We can't keep punishing the girls.
Come on.
Get up.
Now that we know she's had her period...
let's get done with the rituals tomorrow.
And with the wedding day after.
She can only be saved by the village tradition.
I'm still willing to get married to her.
Aaba!
Here you go, Aaba.
Come in.
Have a seat.
Why are you being so desperate?
Is this the kind of girl we want as a daughter-in-law?
You've put my reputation at stake for a piece of land.
At least fear the Devi's wrath if not anything else!
The Devi will destroy us.
Let us not anger the Devi--
Tatya, stop.
Stop it already.
Why are we pretending like the Devi is real?
The Devi only exists...
when it benefits us.
Look at her.
She is our Devi now.
She's getting us land, money!
So stay quiet.
And just reap the benefits.
Understand?
This is not right.
Don't drag me down with you.
The Devi will not spare you.
- What? - She won't spare you.
You will not be spared.
Tatya!
Don't worry. Carry on!
I hope you'll tell me everything now.
I used to tell the Devi all my secrets.
But now, you'll be my Devi.
- Namaskar. - Namaskar.
See you around.
Aaba.
The women have emptied their eyes.
When do we empty our bottles?
Come with me.
Come. let's go.
Don't forget to call Gopal Master!
Don't be shy! Keep pouring!
Where's yours?
Mine's at home.
There's no point sulking now.
I knew this was coming.
That's why I had said no!
But you did it anyway.
Made my life miserable over going to school!
I told you not to take on the whole village!
But you always want to have your way!
All you're interested in is that school and those books!
You think your mother's a fool, right?
Well, reading a few books doesn't make you a grown up!
All you've done is pester me over learning this and learning that!
Listen to me.
You said you want to be a doctor.
Then why have you given up?
Why did you give up?
You need to get out of here.
You need to get out of this place.
Aai--
Aaba!
I'll see how he stops you!
I don't care who comes in the way.
I'll kill them all!
These despicable people took Saraswati's life.
But we won't let you suffer like that.
My dear child.
It is not your fault!
Why should you suffer?
It's enough that we do.
We're stuck in this place for good.
But I won't let that happen to you.
You need to get out of here.
Yes, you need to get out of here.
Study as much as you can.
And become a successful woman!
Please don't cry, Aai.
Don't you get it, dear?
You know what makes other mothers sad?
Losing their daughters to marriage.
Because suffering becomes their destiny.
Do you know what makes me sad?
My daughter's going away from this place.
To become a successful woman.
To be a highly educated woman.
To become a very successful doctor!
You will, won't you?
We need to get going.
Let's go.
A little lamp keeps searching
All through the dark night
Little does it know
That it carries the light
That she carries the light