Hey, eyes on the board!
Why are you noting this down?
This is an example problem. It's already in the book.
Oh yeah.
This is what he does. He will never teach us any math...
He makes him write the example sum on board..
and meanwhile he solves the crossword puzzle.
The remaining problems will be homework for us.
A teacher's job seems to be very easy.
-Shall we also become a teacher? -Keep quiet, will you?
Look at Tamil. She completed three sums and is on to the fourth.
She is the reason we are getting beaten up.
Sir, in the fourth problem, the question itself is wrong.
The question is wrong?
Show me.
It's impossible.
You handle it, sir.
Watch him beat around the bush and get out of the situation.
It looks correct.
Kindly solve it on the board for us, sir?
Sir, stop staring and solve it on the board.
Do you think you're smarter than the teacher?
Your curiosity is of no use.
The problem is from the syllabus of 10th grade.
Learning the formula is enough for now.
Stop rushing for each and everything.
From the looks, your schooling will be done in two months.
Why do you care about this? Sit down.
Bloody scoundrel! I'll poke his eyes out!
Filthy demon! He will die and go to hell.
He is desperate to prey on others.
Only if I confront him, I'll be at peace!
Will he ogle at his sister or mother?
That shameless pervert will do, sister. He didn't turn like this now,
he has been like this for ages. He takes after his ancestors!
He must tied up and lashed to death.
Looks like you're imagining him and stone washing the cloth.
I am that furious!
Why are you upset?
Here comes the pervert. Let me deal with him today.
Hey, stop the vehicle.
What's with disrespect in your tone?
You will only get the respect you deserve.
Government salary is not enough for you hence you lend money and rob people.
Is that not enough for you?
Why do you bother? Is your husband not earning enough?
Dare you speak about my husband!
I will rip your tongue off.
Don't you have any shame?
Stop laughing and shut up!
You are pissing me off!
What's your problem now?
Are you finding it difficult to clear her math doubts?
Look at me and talk!
That was a question from 10th grade.
It's not like your daughter will complete her 10th grade,
earn SSLC degree after her name!
-I don't think so. -What's wrong if he earns that degree?
My daughter will earn 'SAC' degree!
Mind your own business!
Excuse me?
You talk as if you don't know the practices and traditions of our village.
I don't care if she earns 'SAC' or 'MAC' degree!
But after that all you can do is lock her up at home.
Get lost, you scoundrel!
I will ensure that my daughter gets 'SAC' degree.
Try your luck but don't expect us to be mute spectators!
I will even hang up a board with her degree!
Keep your daughter safe inside your house.
Don't you dare stare at my daughter again.
I will butcher you!
"AYALI"
Greetings, Madam.
Sir, there is a science exhibition on headquarters tomorrow.
Organize an exhibition tour for the 8th, 9th and 10th grade students.
There is no use in taking these students there.
You don't get to decide that. Do what you've been told to do.
How about I an take an off instead?
I get to decide that, don't I?
Sir, please be responsible.
Madam, don't you know about the villagers?
I can take the boys alone to the exhibition.
That's not necessary. Instead take an off.
My pleasure, madam.
This job is not a necessity for me to make a living.
I have enough assets to feed me and three generations after me.
See you, madam.
Isn't that Kuruvamma's daughter?
The way she's walking is as if she in going to war against China.
Tamil, wait there.
Your mom was suppose to bring the cattle along this morning. Where is she?
Why don't you ask her that?
Arrogant little girl!
Look at her attitude.
You are caught red-handed. Your mother is searching for you.
What are you doing there?
Come on. It's getting late.
Mom, don't do this.
Please listen to me.
Quick, change your dress.
Mom!
Please listen to me.
People will be here. Make it quick.
Mom, don't do this. I plead you.
Mom...
Mom, let's not do this.
Stop saying that!
Don't we have to go to Ayali temple?
Temple?
Today is 'Vaigasi' full moon day.
We must visit Ayali temple.
You forgot that?
What is with that expression on your face?
Happiness. I am so happy.
Stop showing your teeth and get ready.
Mother almighty! Save us all!
Everyone seek blessings from our deity Ayali.
We are happy because of her.
To all the girls here, I have a request to you all.
It's your responsibility to keep our village's pride and reputation in tact.
Fall at our deity's feet and promise her that you will live up to it.
Now ladies go inside the temple and offer your prayers.
Go on, dear. Go on.
Please wait.
Is this enough for you?
Get lost!
-I know your intention is to steal it. -Get lost now!
Go on, dear.
All the ladies look so enticing.
Hey, what's with that stare?
Now that all the girls are here.
You do the honour of selecting my second wife.
Because you know what your husband likes best.
Don't you have any conscience?
Conscience?
You can't bear a child and you want to cry now?
Wipe your tears, first.
People are watching. If your mom sees, she'll come and pick a fight!
Stop shedding those fake tears.
Let me go and talk to him.
No. Stay put.
We shall first offer our prayers.
What are you up to?
What is this? You don't seem to do anything properly.
I'll give one slap and break your jaws!
Why are you always weeping?
Rather than killing me nice and slow,
kill me once and for all.
Then do my final rites and live peacefully!
Stop talking like an adult!
So, I'm a kid all of sudden now?
Don't you know that when you keep torturing me?
Dear! Come here.
Dear, come on.
What's your issue now?
Do you think I'm scolding you on purpose?
Isn't my situation also the same as yours?
Aren't you seeing what I'm going through?
On one hand the villagers and on the other, your dad's mother.
I unable to bear all their tantrums.
If it makes you feel better, hit me if you want.
Dear...
...I don't want you to suffer like I did.
It is fearing that, I keep scolding you.
Dear, what is it?
Doesn't he love you?
Are you both happy together?
My dear...
...I am your mother. Please tell me.
Are you both together or not?
We are together indeed.
But his family is looking for another bride for him
I'll be treated as a beggar in his home hereafter.
That is going to be my fate.
Mom, the girls are on their way with the milk pot.
Give me mine, let me go and stand in the line.
Go and pray for the welfare of your elder sister.
Okay, mom.
Come on, dears.
You will be privileged to worship Ayali only for few days.
So worship as much as you can and get her blessings.
She is a ferocious Goddess.
Do not break any of the promises we made to her.
Offer her kumkum, milk and swear to live by her rules.
Then, she will grant all your wishes.
You come, dear.
Girls who have attained puberty...
...should not enter the temple. It's deity's order.
Only girls who haven't attained puberty are allowed beyond this point.
Breaking the rules and entering, will enrage the Goddess.
If anybody violates these rules and go inside...
...you will not live beyond the next new moon day.
Violators will vomit blood and die.
Ayali is a deity with thousand eyes.
No one can escape her eyes.
-If we do this, it will be done. -Have you begun?
-Hello, Tamil -Give me that.
She did everything.
-How did her Pongal turn out? -It's good, aunt.
Why aren't you standing in the queue?
Aren't you making the Pongal?
I know when to do it. Come on.
Let me finish preparing the Pongal with Mythili.
Come on. Come and stand in the queue.
-Go on dear. -Mom, listen to me.
Move away from the line and I'll thrash you. Stand in the queue.
Keep moving forward.
Take this. Go on and seek your blessings.
Go inside, dear.
What happened, dear?
Only after you finish praying, others can follow.
So go in, pray to deity and ask her whatever you want.
Why are you hesitating?
Take this. Go on and seek her blessings.
Come on, dear.
Offer this Kumkum to the Goddess.
Offer her milk, make a promise and seek her blessings.
She will grant you anything you ask.
You must be my strength and support.
I did not enter the temple intentionally.
I don't have any other option.
Didn't I ask you not to bless me with puberty?
If I hadn't come inside now,
everyone will start doubting me.
Then they wouldn't let me study further.
What did I do to deserve that?
I want to become a doctor.
If you think I have made a mistake,
you may punish me.
Under the pretext of testing and without anyone knowing...
...two girls from the other village, who had attained puberty...
entered the temple.
Poor girls, they vomited blood and died.
Their villagers got scared...
...and they buried both their corpses here.
The two of them are now laying at the foot of the Goddess.
That is why your mothers are making Pongal as offering.
If you think of cheating our deity,
she will spare none.
You will vomit blood and die.
"You'll vomit blood!"
"You'll vomit blood! Blood! Blood!"
"You will vomit blood and die"
You will vomit blood!"
"Blood will ooze out of your eyes, ears, nose and you'll die!"
"You'll vomit blood! Blood! Blood!"
Mom, I am bleeding. Get up, mom.
-The bleeding doesn't seem to stop. -Show me.
Mom!
Where is Dhandapani?
Sir, he is absent today.
At least today you solve the sum on the board.
Shut up, everyone!
Sir, someone has written the day as "Turtle day" on the board.
Sir, they are teasing you.
Who would write up the 'Day:' as 'New Moon day'
"They will not live beyond the next new moon day"
"You won't live past the next new moon day"
The sun is over the head and you're still sleeping?
Get up!
The new moon day is over!
Dear, come let's eat.
Tamil!
Tamil, have your food and go.
Tamil.
Where is she off to. without even having her food?
You are a kind Goddess.
People said so many things.
That you are a ferocious Goddess.
And violators will vomit blood and die..
I hope you understood me.
You understand that what I'm doing is not a mistake.
All I need is your support.
I will definitely become a Doctor.
See you.
I forgot to thank you out of happiness.
You did so much for me.
I will offer three rounds to you.
O Mother Ayali...
I finished three rounds.
What are you doing here?
I am headed to school.
School is on the other side. What are you doing here?
Why would I come to temple? To pray.
Oh my God!
What is this? How did this happen?
It looks like a burn. How did it happen?
Tamil, tell me how did this happen?
I must reach school before the bell goes off.
Answer me! Tamil, stop!
What is this?
What is all this?
Tell me, what the hell are these?
Tell me, why have you got these sanitary clothes in your bag?
Tamil, answer me.
It's driving me crazy! Tell me why have you got this?
Answer me!
Why do you need this?
Mom, I am sorry.
Mother Goddess, forgive me.
She is a kid after all.
Please don't punish her.
She is your gift to us.
She is all that we have got. Please forgive her.
Mom, is that what you were scared off?
I discussed it all with Ayali. She won't do anything. Come on.
You discussed with Ayali?
You will die, you idiot.
But I did not die. Also, new moon day is over.
I am fine.
"Puberty attained girls must not enter temple"
"The Goddess will punish violators"
Aren't these lies used to instill fear amongst the villagers?
I've clarified all that with Ayali. Now, come on.
Mom, come on.
Come on.
She is our own Ayali. She won't punish us.
Tell this to your father. Come on.
Showing me your arrogance?
Is this all a joke to you?
If the villagers learn about this, we will be outcast.
They will tonsure your head and isolate you!
That will be the end of your life.
I am going to become a Doctor. Ayali granted my wish. Don't you dare stop me?
Alright, wait. I am going to tell this to your father.
Then I too will tell him!
What will you tell him?
-What will you tell him? -I will tell everything.
If you tell him about my puberty. I will tell him that I entered temple.
Let them tonsure my head and isolate me.
Let my life be ruined.
So, have you learnt your lesson? This is what I meant.
Tamil...
Listen to your mother and be a good girl.
Alright. Studying to earn a 'SAC' degree.... or MAC degree...
Forget it all.
Any village or house that doesn't control their women...
...will end up in ruins!
I am saying this for your good, am I not?
You go to school.
I got to find a place to throw the cow dung water.
Jerk face!
-Sir, thank you so much. -Get lost!
-Good morning, teacher. -Good morning.
Tamil...
Come here.
Mom...
-Don't do this. -Come quick.
-Mom, don't do this. -Come sit down.
Mom, please no.
Sit down.
Mom, I don't need this. I want to study.
Keep quiet and listen to me.
Mom, don't do this.
Drink this.
-Mom, no... -Drink this.
No, I don't want.
It's only a little.
-Drink this too. -Mom, no.
That's it.
Mom...
I was 14 when I got married and moved in here.
At that age, I did not know what marriage was all about.
I looked just like you back then.
Even after four years of marriage, we didn't have a child
The villagers started calling me infertile.
They asked your father to marry another girl.
But he did not agree to it.
After a point of time...
...they blamed your father for not being a man enough.
Your father was embarrassed and felt ashamed.
I prayed to our deity.
To bless me with a child for the sake of my husband.
I was even ready to die after giving birth.
After seven years...
...you were born.
Your father cried out loud and said "You were the blessing that lit up his life"
That was only time I saw your father cry.
Tamil...
...you are his world.
His wish is to do this ritual in a grand manner.
What will I answer him?
Mom...
The amount of love you both have on me;
I love you both more that that.
Like how you have a wish,
I also have a wish and that is to study.
This is wrong.
This will infuriate Ayali.
Stop repeating that!
Did I do something wrong? All I want is to study.
No God will stop anyone from getting educated.
God is here only to protect us.
Ayali will protect us.
No, it didn't. It ratted you out to me.
It did not rat me out.
It has sent you to me.
Hereafter, you are my Ayali.
You always find ways to shut me up.
You can't shut up the villager's mouth. What will say, if they find out?
Mom, that won't happen.
I crossed the whole village that day.
I told them it was ink stains and they believed it.
No one will know unless we tell them so.
The village is full of fools, why are you scared of them?
Stop it, you're going overboard!
I asked you to go to school to escape from Murthy!
Do you think hiding your puberty is an easy task?
It's a monthly affair.
If the stains give us away on one month or the other...
What will you do then?
Tell me.
I shall take care of it.
-Listen to me -Mom, you listen to me first.
If people learn the truth...
...tell them it happened on that very day.
If by chance, the villagers find it out...
...tell them I attained puberty on that very day
Who will question us? Illiterate fellows!
I will handle the village.
Now, move this away.
She thinks she's crafting a master plan!
So hard to believe that she came out of me.