What does she mean by, "We could lose Matilda House forever"?
I know, it's so weird.
This is just another dirty trick up her dirty sleeve.
Bakshi's just doing all this to stop us, to stop the strike.
Hello? Naresh Uncle?
Papa's okay, right?
I can't… I can't hear you.
Kidnap? What do you mean they kidnapped Papa?
Pardon my French, but why the fuck should we trust you?
I stand to lose if the strike ends.
You stand to lose? My foot!
First, you passed the referendum.
And just like that, you want to stop the strike, right?
This isn't just about Matilda House.
If they privatize this college,
they will use it as an example to privatize every other college.
The students will only listen to you.
Please make the strike stop.
She's making sense.
I think we should give her the benefit of the doubt.
No, but…
WE HAVE ONE CALL SAY PARO'S NAME AGAIN FOR ALL
Today, the freedom of our education is at risk.
If colleges like Matilda House didn't have subsidized fees,
there are many of us here who wouldn't be able to afford this education.
There are some people
who want to seize this opportunity from us.
That is why…
you should listen carefully to what Principal Bakshi has to say to you.
I know some of us
can't fully trust her,
but on this one,
I'm with her.
If this strike doesn't end,
they will successfully prove to the board that
Matilda House is a waste of public money.
But, Ma'am…
what about Paro?
And what happened at Masterpiece?
How can we just ignore that?
-Justice for Paro! -Justice for Paro!
I know you don't trust me.
But I promise I won't give up
until we get justice for Paro.
Who is this strike for?
For Paro.
So, all we need to ask ourselves is, "What would Paro do?"
Would she fight for herself or for Matilda House?
Ma'am!
-You have to see this. -What happened?
Oh my God! Lata, Dhruv was there!
Looks like Paro was just protecting him.
My answer is still the same.
If the strike doesn't end,
then Matilda House cannot be saved.
Send this video to Professor Handa and delete it from your phone.
It cannot go out.
This video will be of great use to us.
We'll use it at the right time.
But why was he coming here? I told him not to come!
A friend of yours called him up.
Which friend? He spoke to one of my friends. Which friend?
I think the name was either Devi or Devika.
Devi…
What?
What's happening, Wally? Are you okay?
Wally!
-What's wrong, Wally? -Wally, breathe.
Wally?
She's having a panic attack.
Breathe in through the nose and breathe out through the mouth.
-Breathe. Breathe, Wally. -Breathe through your nose.
Okay, breathe. Breathe.
Guys, what's wrong?
Her Dad's been kidnapped on his way here!
-Breathe! -Wally, water.
Wally, breathe.
No! Out.
Wally, water.
-Wally… -Out.
-Get her to hold on to this. -What?
-Trisha, please get her to hold this. -Out!
-Okay, all right. -Wally, hold this. Hold it!
-Out! Out! -Please breathe.
Tabby, just take her out.
We're here, just breathe.
Sorry, Ma'am.
If something were to happen to Dhruv that day…
He's fine.
We're all fine.
Okay, Ma'am.
IF YOU'RE SMART, YOU'LL GET THE HINT.
How can you do this?
I thought we were friends!
That's why I have only sent the press release to you, Lata.
But unless you come to your senses soon,
then this will be the breaking news on every channel.
You're threatening me.
Friends don't give threats,
they give advice, Lata.
We're fine, Mamma. Everything's fine.
Dhruv…
News of a sensational scandal has just dropped.
Matilda House Principal Lata Bakshi is hiding many secrets,
and one of them is an incident involving her own student.
Before joining Matilda House, the college in which…
Oh my goodness!
Preet, Nitin.
Look at this.
-Oh, my God! -All over the news.
We knew they were gonna come after her.
When a student posted on social media
that she wanted to take her own life, what did Lata Bakshi do?
Nothing.
The student was silenced.
Because Principal Bakshi cared more about her image and her job,
than her student's life.
Matilda House topper and a brilliant student Paro Sarna
is on the ventilator.
Why is it that wherever Principal Bakshi goes,
students' lives fall into danger?
Would you want your kids to have a principal like Lata Bakshi?
Well, I wouldn't.
We stopped the strike because of her.
For this… this murderous principal.
You guys just know how to talk.
Our freedom, our rights, break the locks.
But when it's time to fight, suddenly everyone has gone mum.
I guess you don't know how to fight. You don't know how to fight like Paro.
I know Paro much better than you, Wally.
I'm not saying anything because I know you're going through a lot.
No, you don't understand anything, Shubhra.
-Wally, you-- -Guys.
How's Paro?
She's here. To meet Paro?
You shameless!
Just remember one thing! If Paro dies, it's on you.
If my papa dies, it's on you!
-Wally! -On you!
-Wally, what are you saying? -You don't know her!
She's the most selfish person I've known.
She only thinks about herself!
Guys, can you give us a moment?
I need to talk to Wally alone.
-Devi… -Don't take it seriously.
What was that all about?
Why is Wally blaming you?
Because it's all my fault!
Bakshi had made my life hell.
So I told Bakshi about Paro's plans
and she amped up security for the auditorium.
I was scared, alright? I just wanted the scholarship.
Now both Bakshi and Wally hate me.
But how could I have known it would get this bad!
Now that dream has shattered, just like the roof of our cowshed!
Now I'll have to go back home.
So…
is everyone's first year usually like this?
Or is this a special thing that's happening only to us?
I'm still trying to process this.
Devi called Wally's dad to Matilda House because she has become an activist?
Like, how could she do that?
Honestly, if I was in Wally's place,
I would've torn Devi's books and clothes to shreds by now.
Honestly, same.
It's not that simple, guys.
It is simple, Vandu.
No matter what happens, don't bring family into it.
Exactly, it's like the basic code of friendship.
I don't know.
I just hope they can become friends again, that's it.
Like you two did.
Hey, I just realized.
I'm the only one who has never fought with any of y'all.
Wow, Vandana.
Fight?
You wanna fight, huh?
What pent up grudge are you taking out on me?
Vandana!
Hello.
A student's boyfriend was blackmailing her.
He had nude photos of her.
She wanted to get the boy arrested.
If she would have done that, it would have gotten out.
And her life would have been ruined.
So, I told her not to complain.
Her family members and I persuaded her
to sweep it under the rug.
She just wanted my support.
And I told her to keep quiet.
That was my mistake.
But then I don't know how those photos got on the Internet
and she wasn't able to bear it.
After her suicide, I was in a pretty bad state.
Sihag helped me a lot then.
And now he's using this information against you?
He said if the strike continued,
this would not reach the media.
And you stopped the strike.
The board members have called an emergency review meeting…
to decide Matilda House's future.
Now saving Matilda House is difficult.
Oh, shit.
Wally, listen. Why don't you go home for a few days?
Everyone's gone.
If I leave, who's gonna fight for Paro, huh?
You all are worse than PICA!
Wally, everyone agrees with the strike being called off.
Saving Matilda House is important too, right?
Wally, please listen…
HOW ARE YOU? I SPOKE TO NARESH UNCLE…
THANK GOD YOU'RE ALRIGHT
I FEEL SO HELPLESS, KUL. I'M ANGRY AT MYSELF.
I COULDN'T DO ANYTHING FOR ANYONE. NOT YOU, NOT PARO, NOT PAPA.
THE WALLIKA BISHT I KNOW WOULD NEVER GIVE UP…
Let's go, let's go, let's go!
Yes!
-That was fun. -That was fun.
It was a close call though.
But what did we just do?
I can't tell you that.
I mean, half an hour at the hospital…
followed by another half an hour on an isolated street in the dead of the night.
I think I deserve to know what we've done.
JJ, if I tell you, I'll really have to kill you.
-Very nice! Very nice, Dolly. -Good, Dolly.
Good.
Ready, Rupa? Come on.
Will you thrash him or shall I?
Alright, go on. Go.
-You sure? -Yes. Go.
-Go, go. -Ready, Isha?
-Coach, five minutes? -Yeah.
Thanks.
Good one, good one!
What's going on?
Nothing at all.
I was just busy with practice.
You've always had practice, you've never been too busy for us.
Trisha, selections are about to start, so I was just occupied with that.
Are you bored of me?
You can tell me the truth. I can handle it.
You don't like me anymore?
No. I don't like you.
I love you, Trisha.
And you know what the worst thing is?
I can't even do anything about it.
Trisha, I come from a very simple background.
Dad's gone and Mom has to work two jobs.
If I don't get selected this year…
Why didn't you just tell me all that? Why have you been avoiding me?
Trisha, it's…
It's just Matilda House. It's embroiled in controversy.
On top of that, your friend was leading the strike.
That day when I was outside Matilda House, the reporters literally hounded me.
I was all over the news. You know how worried my mom was because of that?
Trisha, cricket is a very competitive sport.
If the selectors find a problem,
that I'm part of a controversy, they'll just select someone else.
And I have to get selected this year, come what may.
You know it was my dad's dream, right?
I guess not everyone can be a Wally or a Paro.
It sucks, but I get it.
Please make it count.
I wanna see you on my TV playing T20.
I'll miss you.
I'd miss me too.
Someone spray painted on PICA leader Mayank Asthana's car.
Anyone with information about the culprit will be rewarded.
Mayank Asthana suspects one of Matilda House's leading student activists.
No, no. When did it happen?
He's fine, Wally. They didn't do anything to Prashant.
-Who's they? -We don't know.
-I need to go right now. -Okay, Naresh Uncle.
I'll call you in an hour, okay?
Wally, was Uncle found?
Hi.
How is he?
I haven't been able to talk to Papa yet.
But Naresh Uncle says he is fine.
-That's good, right? -Wally!
Wally, everything is alright.
He'll be fine.
It's okay, let it out.
-Last slice, okay? -You sure?
Finally, you're eating something.
Okay, listen. We have a new bet.
Tabby and I think Shubhra was the one venting her anger on Mayank Asthana's car.
No chance. My bet is on the twins. What do you think?
What does Devi think?
Let it go, dude. Forgive her.
Mrs. Bakshi, Mayank himself gave Wallika's name to the news channels.
Mr. Bhagat, she's the daughter of a well-known activist.
And her name is just being used for TRP reasons.
-It's obvious. -No, they have no proof!
This is just another way of maligning Matilda House.
Sir, they have no proof that Wallika Bisht did this.
But, sir…
Mr. Barua is no longer on our side.
Oh!
Keep trying, PD.
-Excuse me, Ma'am. -Don't worry.
We won't let the press blame you.
We'll release a statement saying you didn't do this--
-I did do it, Ma'am. -What?
-Wallika, you can't be serious. -Wait a minute.
You shouldn't have done it, Wallika.
I know… I know the last few days have been very difficult for you.
And I'm glad your father is safe.
It's not about my father, Ma'am.
It's all about Paro.
Ma'am, do you promise that you will get Paro justice?
We've found evidence against Paro's attackers.
We will get Paro justice.
And it is only possible if you stay in the hostel for some time.
If you protest tomorrow, then the media's entire attention will be on you.
We want them to focus on the issue of privatizing education.
Promise me you won't protest tomorrow.
Okay.
Love, we need to be outside Matilda House gates
before the board members' cars arrive.
-Done. -And the other colleges?
The whole university is on. Color-coordinated.
Jiti, don't be late, please.
Guys, we all lost. It was Wally.
My point is, who told PICA?
I told her to go home.
My parents are going ape-shit.
Hey, Devi? Your hostel fees cheque is with Madan Ma'am.
Go meet her.
Yesterday the cowshed roof needed repairing
and today the hostel fees is being paid?
So?
So… isn't her friend Sukesh part of PICA?
Wait.
You think she's the one who told PICA?
No, man! No way.
Dude, she's done it before.
-It's possible. -It is, man.
No, guys. It's Devi.
I think you're really looking into it for no reason.
Hello, hello, hello!
-Smoking always helps strategy, huh? -Oh my God, Bika!
You're a savior. Really.
-How are you? -Good.
-Hi. -Hi.
So, I've also been at it.
Mr. Barua is not with us.
I never liked him anyway.
Thank you so much for doing this, Mrs. Dutta.
Hey…
Whatever happens tomorrow, I will always be in your debt.
You're talking as if tomorrow's your last day.
We won't let you leave without finishing our ideological debate,
Madam Principal.
My resignation.
With the amount of mud-slinging I'm being subjected to,
it would be better if you took my place.
To be honest,
there have been multiple times I've dreamt of taking your place.
But I'm not in the mood for this dream to come true today.
Look, unlike your former friends,
we don't leave our colleagues alone in the face of a tsunami.
-Yep. -Absolutely.
Preet is right. We will have to fight this together.
-Yes. -For Matilda House.
Lata, please sit.
Thank you.
Let's get to work?
-Where are we at? -So, Mr. Bhagat is on our side.
He's never trusted Sihag as well.
That makes three supporters, we need one more.
-Then we'll have the majority. -How?
In Matilda House, the principal can cast two votes.
So it's like, one, two, three, and Mr. Bhagat, four.
And hopefully, I can convince Mr. Mathur.
-Yeah. -Five to four.
Then we have it.
This means we can win the vote tomorrow.
-Absolutely. -Yeah.
Yes.
Down with Sihag-Raghani!
Down, down!
Down with Sihag-Raghani!
Down, down!
Down with PICA!
Down, down!
This is the biggest peaceful student protest in the last two decades,
in which all the students, teachers and staff are present.
They all have just one demand. Education should not be privatized.
Push them out!
Those who put education up for sale!
-Push them out! -The people standing behind me
have kept their personal political beliefs aside
to talk about one thing, that public education should not be privatized.
What are you doing here? Why aren't you at practice?
This is more important than practice.
We have the university tournament coming up. You wanna lose that too?
If we lose this fight, we lose everything.
If Matilda House is privatized, half the team will not be able to afford it.
Including me.
I wish Wally was here.
-She would've really loved this. -Hey.
-Hi. -Hi.
Rani said if Matilda House becomes private, they won't be able to study here.
It's so unfair.
So many people are here. This is what will bring a change.
Raise your voice! Raise your voice!
Raise your voice against privatization!
Raise your voice! Raise your voice!
Raise your voice against PICA!
Raise your voice! Raise your voice!
Those who put education up for sale!
-Push them out! -I've quit ExperiManch.
Push them out!
Raise your voice against privatization!
Push them out!
Long live our unity!
Long live! Long live!
Long live the Students' Union!
Long live! Long live!
Down with PICA!
WHY AREN'T YOU TAKING MY CALL? DEVI, MEET ME. IT'S URGENT.
Down with Sihag-Raghani!
Down, down!
You see what I see, Anita?
Yes, they played right into our hands.
It's all going well for us.
The meeting will be a cakewalk now.
-See you in there. -See you.
We won't stand for it! We won't stand for it!
We won't stand for privatization!
We won't stand for it!
-Sihag-Raghani go back! -Go back! Go back!
If Matilda House's issues were purely financial,
we'd fix them simply by putting in more money.
But regaining one's lost reputation is impossible.
Even bringing in Mrs. Bakshi, a strict disciplinarian,
did not work.
-Strike after strike and vandalism-- -Alleged vandalism.
Project Ivy India will give these students a world-class education.
It will make Matilda House profitable again.
And most importantly, it will bring back Matilda House's lost reputation.
And as discussed, Matilda should be made autonomous.
-Exactly. -All right, let's sign the paperwork.
Let's do it.
Sukesh, why do you keep calling me?
-I'm running late-- -Devi, it's about your friend.
-Wallika. -Wallika is not my friend anymore.
Mayank Asthana is in cahoots with Sihag.
Sihag promised PICA funding for the election
and called for the attack on Matilda House.
And Mayank Asthana knows that Wallika defaced his car.
So, he's planning to enter your college with some PICA thugs
to teach her a lesson.
-I thought that was wrong, so-- -I'll be back.
I want to say something.
Mr. Mathur…
you graduated from SCRC College, which is a public-funded college.
Mr. Bhagat, both your daughters received
their Masters scholarships while studying in Matilda House.
Mr. Sihag, who has been earnestly trying to prove this system wrong,
happens to be here, thanks to the same system!
As am I.
The daughter of my peon, Suresh, and the daughter of an industrialist
study in the same class.
Should we not be trying to save this system of equal opportunity?
Project Ivy will make the gap between the poor and the rich even bigger.
Education is our right. It cannot be sold or bought.
Our Lata has been a debate champion since college.
Oh, please.
But this is not a debate, Lata.
-This is-- -I'm not done yet, Mr. Sihag!
Education is not for sale
Our right for education will prevail
-Down with your money talk -No way!
-Up with our futures -We say!
-Our futures, our progress -Will not be sold
Will not be sold Will not be sold
-We stand against it -We stand against it
VANDU, MAYANK ASTHANA AND HIS THUGS ARE COMING TO ATTACK WALLY
PLEASE HURRY UP
HE COULD COME HERE ANY MINUTE. CAN YOU GUYS COME HERE?
What happened?
-What's happening, Devi? -Keep it low.
Mayank Asthana and his boys are coming here to take revenge against Wally.
Will not be sold Will not be sold
-Matilda House! -Down with it!
-Stop! -Down with Matilda House!
-Matilda House! -Down with it!
Security! Hurry up! Get them out of here!
Hey, girls. Come on in.
-Why am I locked? -Wally…
Why is this locked?
Actually, we're planning a surprise for you.
-What? -We'll be back in five minutes.
Stay inside, okay?
Is this about JJ?
-I think we should call other people. -Just texting.
SURESH JI, SOME THUGS HAVE BROKEN INTO THE HOSTEL
Hey!
Guys, this is not funny anymore.
-Open this door! -Wally, Wally…
-Just five minutes-- -Vandana, open the door!
-Open the door. -Wally, just trust me, please?
Speaking of trust,
Devi, listen. What we said yesterday, we said without thinking.
We didn't mean it, actually.
-You weren't thinking? -Yes.
If tomorrow someone tells you that you put your best friend on the line
to pay your hostel fees,
how would you feel?
I know I've made a lot of mistakes.
But that does not mean that I'm to be blamed for others' mistakes.
You all can think what you want. I didn't tell PICA anything.
-I'm not Snitch-ika! -Devi…
I was the one who told Sukesh about Mayank Asthana's car.
So that we'd be able to pay Devi's hostel fees with the reward money.
So, this means, my mother didn't send the money?
Wally, are you crazy?
You guys are insane.
Why are you laughing?
THEY'RE INSIDE THE CAMPUS.
Sukesh messaged.
-They're inside. -Shit.
-Who's coming inside? What's happening?
-We'll need to fight. -What is happening?
-Who's coming? -Get ready to fight.
We'll fight, but how?
Trish!
-Tabby-- -Check your bags.
Open the door! Will someone tell me what's happening?
What is happening?
Look, the motion for privatization is already on the table.
So, why don't we just take a vote?
And let's see what people really think, instead of just debating about it.
-Yeah. -I have to leave.
I think some students are in trouble.
-What happened, Lata? -I don't know.
But for now, we have to stop here.
The students' safety is more important.
If you go now, you will not be able to cast your two votes.
My resignation.
As Vice-Principal, Professor Handa, you will take my place.
It is the right time to show Mr. Mathur the Masterpiece video.
Before you vote, please have a look at these testimonials.
It is vital for you to know what happened at Masterpiece,
and why the students called for a strike.
My girls certainly have a unique way of protesting,
but their persistence is not unwarranted.
If anyone raises their voice against Matilda House,
it will not be met with silence.
Hell yes.
This is what I have.
Tabs!
Trish.
-Vandu? -I am the wall, I am the ditch…
The hostel gates are closed, so they'll come in from that direction.
…you bitch!
-Who's coming? -I am the wall, I am the ditch.
Try to get past me, you bitch!
-What is happening? -I am the wall, I am the ditch.
Try to get past me, you bitch!
I am the wall, I am the ditch.
Try to get past me, you bitch!
I am the wall, I am the ditch.
Try to get past me, you bitch!
I am the wall, I am the ditch.
Try to get past me, you bitch!
-Open the door! What is happening? -I am the wall, I am the ditch.
Try to get past me, you bitch!
I am the wall, I am the ditch.
-Try to get past me, you bitch! -What is happening? Tell me!
Get out of the way, or this won't end well for you.
I am the ditch.
-Try to get past me you bitch! -What is this wall, ditch, bitch?
-I am the wall, I am the ditch! -Wallika, are you scared?
-Try to get past me, you bitch! -Open the door!
-Will you move or not? -I am the wall, I am the ditch!
Try to get past me, you bitch!
Leave them!
Vandu!
Leave them…
Vandu, hit him! Hit him!
Open the door!
Wally, stay inside!
Hit him!
Wallika!
Get hold of her!
"My dear Paro.
My papa always says that there are some fights you don't back down from.
That some people, some ideas are worth fighting for.
No matter what the price.
When I saw you fight, not for yourself,
but for everyone,
I thought, 'Here's another headstrong one.'
Because these fights gain us nothing.
But you don't even see gain or loss, do you?
You fight because you care.
And such fights can only be fought by a crazy, headstrong person.
Thanks to you, I was able to bring out the headstrong girl in me.
And now, I'm surrounded by my mad, crazy ones.
My headstrong girls."
Wally!
"People call us headstrong now. They're not wrong.
Yes, we are headstrong girls.
And one day, we will change the world."
Stop it!
Stop it! Enough!
Stop it!