Thotta... Open the gate.
Please come.
Careful there are steps...
Come...
This is an old model.
This is one of the first to come into India
Do you have the paper used in this?
We have a bundle of it.
Here...
It seems like a diary.
Whom does it belong to?
There was a couple who lived here in the 70s... - OK
I donât know them.
But I am a little curious.
In fact I am a writer Mr. Kumar.
Oh Super
I think there is a story in this.
A story that must be told.
A story never told...
In fact when I touch the Braille Slate
I feel sorrow.
I donât know how to explain it better.
This belongs to a woman.
Her name is Seetha.
Shall I read a bit from it?
Please do so.
âI AM A HOME...â
âI SENSE SORROW...â
âMY HEART SOBS...â
âI AM SAD...â
âSHE NEEDNâT HAVE GONE THROUGH ALL THIS.â
âSHE SHOULDNâT HAVE EXPERIENCED SO MUCH SUFFERING.â
âI PITY HER.â
âAS THE ONLY WITNESS TO THE INJUSTICE SHE FACED...â
âI WEEP IN GUILT!â
TITLE âSEETHAâ
Seetha, Shall we play Icespoice?
Itâs not Icespoice... It is âI Spyâ
-Whatever... Shall we play? -Yes.
Count to 25
I will hide and then you should look for me.
OK? - OK
Close your eyes. Close them.
1... 2... 3...
Thotta... - Tell me son...
Where should I hide?
- Where can you hide? - Shall I hide there?
Not there son... Sheâll find you
There?
Yes. That will be right. Go... Be careful.
Be careful.. Go.. Go
Careful... Sit down... Sit...
24... 25...
Balu...
-Madam... He is... -Hush, donât tell me
I will find him myself.
Where could he have gone?
And... Iâve caught you!
How Seetha? How did you find me?
You have two eyes donât you? - Yes
I have eyes all over.
A small sound, your scent is enough to find you.
How can you find me with that?
Oh I went to a special school, didnât I?
They taught all this there.
The ground is slushy, be careful.
Seetha... Wait!
Will you teach me that magic?
Then I too can find things with eyes shut.
Why should you shut your eyes?
Eat the snacks and Mango juice Aunt Mary has brought.
Now how did you know what she brought?
You are a genius!
There are no vegetables at home.
I will go to the store and be back.
-Do you have money Mary? -Yes I do, Sir gave me some.
I have kept the âmoney-orderâ and cash on the table.
Iâll take care.
(Seetha sighs)
Balu, are you worried about something?
Hey Seetha, how did you know?
You became quiet.
Your chewing slowed down.
So, I realised you were in deep thought.
My father, mother and I were very happy in Bangalore.
Then my parents fought.
My mother was angry and she packed our bags and we left.
Our neighbour here keeps calling my mother a âdivorceeâ
She says my parents will never be together.
I have a few friends here.
But my mother has no one.
It is really sad. - Yes.
What does âdivorceeâ mean Seetha?
âDivorceeâ means âFree Womanâ
Does that mean you arenât a âdivorceeâ?
Donât you have freedom?
I think Uncle has come.
I will leave now Seetha. Bye.
Mary... Mary...
Mary has gone shopping.
I am making tea.
Sugar.. Sugar..
This Mary, I tell you...
Someone has switched it.
Give me the sugar please.
I can sense how far away you are by the scent of your hair gel.
Very smart... You are fantastic.
I have met another genius just a little less smart than you.
Do you know who that is? - No.
My friendâs Alsatian Dog.
That dog sniffs around and finds things, just like you do.
Thatâs right.
If it wasnât gifted, it cannot find the thief, can it?
The Alsatian Dog is very clever.
Donât you want tea?
Seetha...
The cash is on the table.
How did you...?
When else do you address me directly, Sundar?
(Voice on radio) âTo mitigate the tensions in the borderâ
âThe President Mr. V. V. Giri has initiated a discussionâ
âAs there is fear that Pakistan may carry out air-raids on our major cities,â
âThe Home Ministry has announced that there may be sudden black-outs calledâ
âAs our Indian Defence forces move towards Dhaka...â
Why do you immediately tense up when I enter the room Sundar?
Canât you hear the radio?
Thereâs a war going on. Of course I will be tense.
And it is not always about you Seetha.
We celebrate our first anniversary in a week...
Shh.. This is my favourite song.
And I donât want to be disturbed.
-Thotta... -Madam?
Have you planted the roses? - Just got it done.
-If you havenât I will find out. -I just did it.
-You canât fool me. -Of course not Madam.
Mum... This is my friend Seetha.
She... She is so much older than you.
You should address her with more respect.
Even a teddy-bear looks big.
Seetha is my close friend. Come
Seetha... Look whoâs here!
Iâve brought my mother. - Oh?
She didnât believe me when I told her you could do everything.
Iâm sorry. I thought you would be younger.
No worries. I feel 15 years younger.
I am Lalitha. Balakrishnanâs mother.
Donât call me by my full name.
I feel I am at roll-call.
Be quiet.
What do you have with you Balu?
I told you, didnât I?
Seetha, my mother bought this for me.
A skipping rope!
I love to skip.
-Give it to me -Here
Not bad. It is nice and long. Good.
Come on. Why donât we skip together?
Me...? Oh No...
Go on Mum...
Come on. Donât be scared.
Here, hold this.
Balu, have a biscuit.
Thanks Aunt Mary.
1...2...3...
Everything in this world has perfect rhythm and balance.
We make mistakes only when we donât understand that rhythm.
Look at your mother.
We falter even if we can see.
Oops.. Seetha ma'am? - Ma'am, What happened?
Oops.. - Sorry.. Sorry Seetha
Careful... I am OK...
Careful... Hold her.
Careful... Walk slowly.
-I am so sorry Seetha -Youâve apologized already.
Itâs just a small scratch.
This was unnecessary.
You should do only what you can.
No-no. She was fine.
I was the one who faltered.
I got distracted when I saw you.
Please tell him Lalitha.
Now do you understand that it wasnât me who faltered?
I only meant it out of concern. Is that wrong?
No-no. Nothing like that.
Youâve every right.
OK Seetha, weâll leave now.
All right. Please drop in anytime.
I am not only Baluâs friend, but yours too.
Seetha, you are my friend first.
Yes-yes. You are my best friend.
And you will be second.
Balu really likes you Seetha.
He keeps praising you.
I work late and am unable to spend enough time with him.
If you donât mind, May I ask Balu to come here every day?
So I can pick him up from here after work.
Of course. I never get bored when he is here.
More the merrier if you come too.
I donât go out a lot.
I am not scared.
But Sundar worries.
You are truly blessed to have a husband like him.
Youâre very lucky. - Yes.
I sometimes wish I wasnât blind, just so I can see his face.
I am not that handsome.
You keep quiet. Lalitha you tell me.
How does he look?
He is very handsome.
You make a good couple.
Pray and ward off evil eyes.
We will leave.
Bye Seetha. Take care. - I will see them out.
Sundar...
Who asked you to come upstairs?
You could have tripped and fallen.
Every time my mother calls she asks if there is âgood newsâ
They will be upset if they know we sleep apart.
My Business is exactly where it started.
I cannot think of a child right now.
I understand.
I pray that you succeed soon.
(Sundar on the phone) Ah tell me sir...
The King is trapped. - Oh no...
Seetha, Can the King only move one step?
Yes, Only the Queen can move where ever she pleases.
Does that mean the Queen is a âdivorceeâ?
Oh... There you are!
Mum, do you know something?
In Chess, the Queen can move around freely, just like you.
Youâre learning to play is it? - Yes...
Good boy...
The Queen has more powers than the King.
(Sundar on phone) I will call you back sir.
-Oh No... A black out... -Lalitha, Donât move I will get you...
Sundar, donât move!
Careful!
(Seetha laughing) Didnât I tell you to stay put?
For someone like me, darkness and light are the same.
Only you have to be careful.
Hold my hand Sundar.
Come this way.
-Lalitha, you stay where you are. -OK Seetha.
-(Balu) Seetha come fast, I am scared. -(Seetha) Give me a minute Balu.
It may hurt someone.
-Come fast -I am right here.
Thank God.
-Hold your motherâs hand tight -OK
Sit here. - OK
Mum, sit down
I will fetch some candles.
OK Seetha.
Hey, the power is back.
I will make some tea then.
Shall I help?
No I can manage
-Seetha, I want coffee -OK Balu
-She is amazing isnât she? - Huh... yeah
She can do anything...
Iâll be back in a minute. - OK
-Mum, do you know to play chess? -Yes I do
-I donât need help Sundar. -Shut up
Just shut up.
You laugh at me? You dare to laugh at me?
-No... I... -What do you think of yourself?
Youâre blind and yet so arrogant...
You think you know more than me?
No Sundar, I never thought that.
Shut up... I told you to shut up.
If you ever show off again... that will be the end.
I know I shouldnât have laughed. I am sorry.
I told you to shut up didnât I? Donât talk.
I only married you because your father saved my father in the last Indo- Pak war.
Did you think I wanted to be saddled with a Blind woman?
If you want the dignity of a marriage, shut up and sit tight.
But if you insist on showing off, I will bloody kill you.
(Lalitha) Seetha...
Seetha, we donât want tea.
We will leave now.
Iâm worried there will be another black out.
Weâll be back tomorrow.
-OK... Come on... -Bye-bye Seetha...
Iâll meet you tomorrow.
Come on... Youâll be here tomorrow right?
-Most definitely. -Good
âDearest Dad and Mumâ
âIt is I, Seetha who writes thisâ
âI feel like pouring my heart out in this letter, about the injustice meted out to meâ
âBut I donât know how I am going to reach it to youâ
âAnd even if I do, I am not sure anyone there can read Brailleâ
âIf you knew what was happening here...â
â... I wonder if you will rescue me from this hellâ
âOr if you will tell me to compromise and carry onâ
âI feel like hearing your voicesâ
âBut Sundar allows me to talk to you only if he is presentâ
âHe locks the phone and hides the keys when he is outâ
âWhat do I do Dad?â
âShall I tell him to send me back Mum?â
âShall I fight with him and walk out?â
âIf I do that, where will I go?â
âHow will I reach you?â
âYou are so far away!â
âWhat do I do Dad?â
Seetha... Look at what I have brought?
I am busy Balu.
Are you upset with me Seetha?
Youâre not playing with me anymore.
I have so many friends who beg me to play with them.
But I feel sorry that you are alone and come to you.
I am writing Balu.
You go home, I will meet you later.
Itâs raining, how can I leave?
And my Mum told me to spend time with you.
Look I have a slate and chalk, I will teach you to write, come.
-Balu... -Here hold it...
-Balu... -Hold it Seetha.
I told you not to disturb me didnât I?
I am sorry Balu.
Please donât cry.
OK letâs play
What game shall we play?
Shall we play Icespoice?
I told you it is called âI Spyâ
I forgot. Shall we play?
OK. You hide.
OK. You have count to 25 and find me.
I always find you anyway.
Let us see.
Balu, where are you?
Oh Mother and Son are hiding together are you?
The scent from your powder has let you down Lalitha.
Loser, loser... Youâve lost.
Yes Balu, you go out and play with your friends
The rain has stopped.
My mum asked me to take care of you.
Donât worry. I will tell your Mum. Go. - OK.
Hi Seetha.
Have you no shame?
You ask your son to stand guard while you are with another womanâs husband.
Arenât you ashamed?
I am not the blind one here Lalitha, It is you!
Very soon your son will get to know what kind of a woman you are.
He will get to know you are a disgusting prostitute...
You say you work and this is the work you do?
How dare you talk like that?
You have no right to hit me.
You think you can do whatever you want and I wonât find out?
I will do what I want.
I have been very patient, but not anymore.
Iâll let your parents know how despicable you are.
Let everyone know!!!
I will not let it go. I am calling the cops.
Come on.
Let me go!!!
Shut up and listen to me!
Mary! Come here!
Let me go!!! Oh No! Madam!
Madam what happened? - Let me go!
What happened?
Mary, inform the police!
Is there no one to question this injustice?
Mary! Call the cops!
Let me go!
Where are you dragging me?
Let me go Sundar!
-Let me go! -Come on!
Mary... Mary...
Let me go...
Sundar, let me go.
Open the door.
Please open the door.
Mary...
Donât go... Sundar...
Donât go Sundar...
(Seetha) I will go to the police!
(Seetha) I will go to the cops. Open the door.
What happened sir?
Why does she want to call the cops?
This isnât a new problem.
She has been like this since childhood.
She would scream and shout suddenly.
She would use foul language. She would even get violent.
I married her thinking she had gotten better.
Poor thing. Huh... Hope she didnât hurt you Lalitha?
No I am fine.
Please donât open the door till I get a doctor to visit.
OK Sir.
You please come.
(Seetha) You will have a lot to answer to!
Mix this medicine with her food.
There is nothing wrong with me Mary.
It is the medicine that is making me groggy.
âAfter creating a beautiful musical instrumentâ
Please eat Madam. âDoes anyone ever...â
Only then can I clean the room. âThrow it away...â
Do you know why they keep lying that I hit Lalitha? - âTo rot...â
I found out she was with my husband. âIn dust?â
That is why they are trying to label me âmadâ
What are you saying?
I donât know whom to trust!
Please believe me
Just unlock the door.
I will not create a scene. I will quietly walk away.
âAfter creating a beautiful musical instrumentâ
âDoes anyone ever throw it away...â âTo rot in dust?â
Sundar, please let me go...
-let me go -Come on
âAfter creating a beautiful musical instrumentâ
âDoes anyone ever throw it away to rot in dust?â
Where do you think you are going? âTell me Oh Powerful Goddessâ
âYouâve created me with a spark of Intelligenceâ
âTell me Oh Powerful Goddessâ
âYouâve created me with a spark of Intelligenceâ
âWill you give me the strength?â
âTo be useful to my country and societyâ
âTell me Oh Powerful Goddessâ
âOr do I just live this useless life as a burden?â
âAfter creating a beautiful musical instrumentâ
âDoes anyone ever throw it away to rot in dust?â
Balu... Balu...
Theyâve told me not to talk to you!
Youâve gone insane.
I am not insane at all Balu.
This is a game.
We are playing robber and police, donât you know?
I am the thief now. Thatâs why they have locked me up.
Why have they not let me play this game?
Your mother said she didnât want you playing.
Please tell Mary to bring me some food please.
Aunt Mary has stopped coming to work.
Where is Thotta? Tell Thotta to bring me some food please
Thotta hasnât been coming in since youâve gone mad.
I am not mad Balu. I told you. This is a game.
My mum and I live here now!
Uncle, Seethaâs birthday is coming up.
Iâve decided to pick up a necklace for her.
Iâve saved enough for it Uncle.
Itâs just that it costs about Rs.20,000/-
âI asked for a body like a springy ballâ
âThat could wander where ever my mind wants it toâ
âI asked for a body like a springy ballâ
âThat could wander where ever my mind wants it toâ
âI asked for a pure heartâ
Youâre done! âAnd a soul that is...â
You canât play further. â...Reborn every day.â
How did you do that? âI asked for a pure heartâ
Come on Balu, letâs start over.
âAnd a soul that is reborn every day.â
âEven as my mortal remains burnâ
âI asked for a sterling soul that will sing the Goddessâs praisesâ
âI asked for sharp witâ.
âSo what is stopping you from granting me all my desires?â
âWhat is stopping you?â
Hello! This is Balu speaking.
-(Balu) Balu from next door. - Balu... Balu... Balu...
-(Seetha) BALU!
Seetha cannot come to the phone right now
She is playing Robber and Police.
Balu, ask them to come here and rescue me please.
Seetha says you must come here and unlock the door.
-Yes... yes... -(Balu) But thatâs not possible you know.
Weâve hidden the key!
-If you come here... -Hey hey hey...
Get lost!
Uncle that was the kid from next door.
Dad... (Sundar) Heâs keeps playing the fool like this.
-Seetha just stepped out Uncle. -(Seetha) I am here Dad... right here...
(Sundar) It is sad that every time you call she is out Uncle.
Have you eaten Uncle?
Take care of yourself. Iâll hang up now.
DAD!!!
(Seetha) Someone save me
What is it son?
Letâs stop this Robber and Police game immediately
See how Seetha is shouting.
Letâs play something else.
Let me join in too.
Robber and Police game?
Seetha told me everything.
Now she is the thief and you are the cops.
After that she will be the cop and you the robbers.
Didnât I tell you not to talk to her? Why did you?
This isnât a game Balu. She is really mad.
If you go near, she will catch you and harm you.
Lalitha, Heâs just a kid.
Sorry... Sorry, donât cry.
Arenât you a good boy?
If you do as I say then you will be safe.
-Will you listen to me? -Yes
Donât ever talk to Seetha.
Donât respond if she calls you. - OK
Only then will you be safe.
Will you sleep now?
Go on then.
(Seetha) Open the door.
Please save me
How long are we going to exist like this?
I want you... I want to make this legitimate.
I want to show all those people who mocked me.
And that wonât happen if Seetha is around.
How long can the phone calls be avoided?
We need to do something before this escalates.
What will I do for money?
My business depends on the money her folks send.
We donât need it. We donât need that money.
I work, donât I? The money I earn is enough.
Money is not the issue here.
We have to do something before her parents get suspicious and land up here.
Or else we will get caught out.
Balu... Balu...
I know youâre there.
Why are you ignoring me?
Letâs play together.
Come on up.
No. I am scared.
I wonât talk to you.
This isnât a game.
Youâve really gone mad.
My mother wonât lie.
She is a cop. That is how she will talk.
You canât believe that.
I am hungry.
Donât you feel sorry for me?
I havenât eaten since Maryâs gone.
Why do you shout?
Why do you howl like a dog?
Canât you just say youâre hungry?
These are rules of the game.
We mustnât say we are hungry.
We must eat without the cops knowing.
And must escape without them finding out...
Only then will the game be interesting.
Or else it would get boring.
Your mother didnât allow you to play,
But I will.
You and I are a team.
Our team must win right?
And only if I escape will our team win.
Please go and get me some food.
The door is locked.
Pass it from underneath.
(Balu) When I see you eat, you resemble a street dog.
It also gulps down the food.
Do you realise now that I was only screaming in hunger?
I really thought you were insane.
When will this game end?
Itâs not nice at all.
It will end only if I can escape.
Then we would have won.
We would become the cops.
And they would be the thieves.
We will win it for sure.
Bring a stone from the garden and break this lock.
I will be free and we would have won.
-Please go. -No.
Please... - No...
All you have to do is bring a stone.
-My mum will be angry -Please listen to me.
It has to be a large stone.
I will teach you how to break the lock.
Balu.. Balu.. OK.. OK..
I donât want a stone, come back, come back.
Just get me my Braille Slate and papers please.
It is on my desk in my room... Balu...
âHow did you find me?â
âYou have two eyes, but I have eyes all overâ
âCan the King only move one step?â
âYes, Only the Queen can move where ever she pleases.â
âOnly Balu is my Best Friendâ
When will you escape?
I am bored without you.
I think I will bring a stone to break the lock...
Balu... Didnât I tell you not to come here?
Lalitha, he was just chatting with me. - Please keep quiet.
Why are you shouting at her?
(Balu) Letâs stop this Robber and Police game right now.
Seetha has lost.
Release her. She is unable to escape.
You are cheating.
(Balu) Mary and Thotta are not around. How can she then escape?
(Balu) That is why I decided to help her.
Because I am on her team.
(Balu) Letâs end the game now. Bring her out immediately.
Then we will become cops and you can be the thieves.
When are you going to release the thief?
Weâll do it tomorrow morning.
Why not immediately?
Balu, it is dark outside.
Darkness and light are the same for her. Release her now.
It is all right Balu.
Itâs only for today.
Nothing will happen.
Are you sure Seetha?
Yes Balu.
Let them set me free tomorrow.
OK Seetha. And once we become the cops...
...weâll lock them both up in this same room.
(Balu) Donât worry. (Seetha) OK Balu.
Shall we go?
Mum...
Please set her free early in the morning.
(Balu) We have a lot to do tomorrow.
I am going to make a list of things to be done.
We need to call back Thotta and Mary. So many things to be done.
Seetha... Seetha...
Theyâve set her free before I woke up!!!
Mum... mum...
We should have set her free in the night itself, mum...
Why are you here Sundar?
To set you free!
Donât Sundar.
Please let me go Sundar.
Iâll go away. I wonât come back ever.
Please Sundar.
Is this it Sundar?
Is this all my life is?
Oh God...
I have to do last rites without her parents.
How many doctors did we consult?
Why did it end this way?
You donât deserve this Seetha. You donât.
Oh God...
Be Free Seetha. I have set you free.
âI refuse to be blindâ
âI refuse to be blind to the injustices happening around meâ
âMy life is in my own handsâ
âAnd only I get to decide how to live itâ
âI donât need anyoneâs pityâ
âI can achieve anythingâ
âIf this letter ever gets lost and someone finds it,â
âPlease donât burn itâ
âAn ordinary Seetha who will burn to ash is frozen in itâ
(Telugu) âNaa Thelivaina Modhodu kiâ [To my intelligent idiot]