“Once upon a time, on the bank of Godavari, in a village called Ramaraju Lanka. ”
Hey, it’s time for the ritual. Why are you not ready yet?
Dad, when I press red, the white disappears.
When I press white, the green goes missing.
That is how life is.
When you press one, something else vanishes.
This is not your cup of tea.
Get up. Come on now. Get up!
They are smart enough.
They will solve it in five minutes.
Five minutes? Oh, come on!
-Hey, Phani! -Dad! I am Mani!
Okay, fine. Hey, Phani, Mani!
Not five minutes. I will come back in half an hour.
If you both can solve this together,
I will give you ten rupees each.
-Ah? Carry on. -Hmm.
Kamalamma! Get the marigold garland ready.
We are getting late.
-Priest, here. -Please, give it.
-Grandpa! -Whoa!
Hey! I am an old man.
If you spring at me like this, I will go kaput.
The first morsel is for Goddess Talupulamma.
Who is the second morsel for?
The second morsel… is for Goddess mahakali.
You mean it for Goddesses but feed me. Why?
Oho! But you are our Goddesses, sweetheart!
Do you want some water?
Let me get you.
What are you doing? It is the sacred offering for God!
I am like Sabari.
I don’t like offering it to God without checking its taste.
Hmm. Smart! Get going.
-Hey! Sweety! -Mm…hmm.
-Dad! We have done it! -Huh?
How did you manage?
You always underestimate them.
Give them the twenty rupees now.
Something is tricky!
Yay!
-Grandpa! -Huh?
Why do we perform this ritual every year?
You should have built it perfectly back then!
-Hey, hey! -Hmm?
Our construction is flawless.
My dad had built this house.
We perform this ritual every year only to remember my dad.
How do you remember him, grandpa?
-My father was a small-time farmer. -Hmm.
He bent backwards to make money.
Then he built this house as he wanted one on the banks of Godavari.
Oh!
This house proved lucky for us.
-We began to buy all the farms around. -Really?
-We have set up a rice mill. -Oh…
If we are well-off today, It’s because of this house.
Oh!
My dad told me something before he passed.
“Hey! You shouldn’t sell the house under any circumstances. ”
Listen!
In future, whether I am dead or alive,
no matter how many problems and difficulties you face,
promise me that you will never sell this house.
-Grandpa! -Hmm?
We will never sell it.
-Hmm…? -Hmm.
You look like Goddess Mahalakshmi.
“…we pray to you to remove all obstacle”
“Like Goddess Parvati’s grace rests on the elephant faced Ganesha day and night, ”
“So does the grace of the one tusked Ganesha on his innumerable devotees”
“Among the Ganas, we offer our sacrifice to you the Lord of the Ganas”
“Our salutations to you. ” Madam, please announce your names.
Itikelapudi Prabhakar Rao with his wife Seshamma.
Visweswara Rao, Devika, Srimati and Kalyani.
Keshava Rao, Lakshmi, Phani…
Dad! I am Mani!
Okay, fine! Phani and Mani!
Sir, I will spell out the Resolve.
You can simply intone ‘mine’.
This will make your business flourish,
and you shall have a glorious life with great wealth and strong health.
to keep your entire family united forever
living in the same house blissfully,
I wholeheartedly pray to Lord Satyannarayana Swami
“Salutations to God in the form of Shiva- To the Goddess present in all beings…”
“20 years later”
-Wake up! -Hmm…
I said get up!
How can you be in such slumber at this time of day?
Let me sleep, mom.
You must deliver sweets and savouries to Mr Chowdary’s house for the wedding.
Get up!
Where is your sister?
She said she was going to the temple.
Our case is up for hearing today.
(Scoffs) Very well!
Of course, there is court involved.
This is a never ending case.
Yet, she clings to the house.
She would be happily married by now.
Make it fast, now!
Each one is eccentric in their own way!
We struggle to keep it together here.
She offers no contribution.
She would rather spend thousands on lawyers and go round the courts.
Even eccentricity has a limit.
She wanted to train in Hospitality.
Didn’t we pay for her education however difficult?
No responsibility. No acknowledgment of her own mother’s pain.
No one is bothered.
What’s wrong, Devika?
Why are you losing it early morning?
Is it about Srimati?
I wonder why they named her so!
How may alliances I have looked up for her?
She rejected the USA match.
She turned down the Delhi match.
Queen finds no one perfect! -Otherwise…
Why don’t you take this BP tablet?
Yeah. That is what is left now.
BP and Diabetes!
I got her a B. Ed match too.
What’s wrong with a teacher?
There was this Excise Officer.
A golden goose job.
Do you know how much he makes?
Can’t we survive without that house?
Has she heard of flexibility!
Such stubbornness!
Her grandfather built that house.
Of course, she would be attached to it.
Sure. Grandfather built the house.
But uncle kicked her out.
Yes, her uncle kicked her out and it was unfair.
That is what pains her.
May you be married soon.
Bah! Priest!
Why don’t you bless me… ‘May your wishes be fulfilled’?
Everyone talks only about wedding.
Don’t take me wrong.
A mistake by habit.
May you be victorious.
Are you okay with that?
RAJAHMUNDRY, EAST GODAVARI
Hey! Hey, hey, hey…
Shut up and play.
Phani…
Hey, Phani!
Dad! I am Mani!
-Come here. -Hmm.
What are you planning to do with the money Satyareddy gave you?
I want to open a poultry farm, dad.
Everyone who consumes eggs in the East Godavari District,
should think only of me.
Dad! I want to build a huge wedding hall.
With a few rooms attached.
Offering accommodation for a few. Wow!
Any wedding in the East Godavari District should take place only at our inn.
Nice. Very nice.
You will run a poultry and he will run a choultry.
In my opinion…
With the money from selling the house,
I want to buy a couple of nice properties.
You think I am going to put them in your names?
I will buy them in my name.
I have seen enough of your shrimp farming,
and if I still do business with you, I will end up begging.
Why do you treat them like dunderheads for a loss in business just once?
Why should I call them?
Do you have any doubts?
Hey, PhanMani!
Phani- Mani!
[both]: What is it, dad?
Shall we show your mom a nice game?
[both]: A game? Sure.
Hear you all!
I, Keshawarao, let you know all…
There is a 2000 rupee note in one hand.
And two five hundred notes in another.
Pick what you want out of these two.
We are two, right?
There are two five hundred notes, right? We pick these two!
One for you and one for me.
Let’s go.
Seen enough?
She could be a mother of two.
Look at her circling the court for seven years.
You spoke my mind!
Why are you here?
My boy showed me an English movie.
It was amazing.
The hero grows younger by the day.
Finally, he reduces to an infant and hops on to his mother’s side.
I was reminded of your elder daughter throughout the movie.
She has turned thirty.
Have you forgotten? Do you think she is still a child?
We had warned you if you ever talk about my daughter again,
you would lose your 32 teeth.
Have you forgotten?
Why would I?
I remember everything.
But I want to be the bigger person and forget everything.
What can I do? My son is in love with your daughter.
He refuses to listen to me. Ah!
You are aware, right?
He says only Srimathi shall be his wife.
I told him. “We don’t have to step down because this is your second marriage. ”
He wouldn’t listen! Ah!
I am forced to listen to him.
What do you say?
I say get out.
That’s the problem with you.
Not that I didn’t warn him.
“Son! They have no culture.
If you like her, wait for her at the end of the lane and talk to her.
Why do you force me to talk to them?”
Out! Out of my house!
Come on, sister!
As if your daughter came of age only the other day!
At this rate, she will never get married.
I would rather leave my daughter single than ever give her into your family.
Get out!
Okay! Please keep her single.
People raise daughters carefully.
But you keep your daughter with you carefully.
Hey! How are you, dear?
See?
The gentleman was here for your alliance.
This is how it’s going to be.
Seven years!
Postponement, argument… Argument and postponement…
Hey! You are a girl!
What can you do all alone?
Is the milk delivered?
Milk…
Did you see that?
This is all your fault, mother-in-law.
You pampered her so much, now she doesn’t listen to anyone.
How worried I am about her…
How can I make you understand?
Are all the orders correct?
The can of savouries is ready. What else?
-Aer they good. -Delicious.
Come. Hold this.
-Mom, bye. -Give me one more, mother-in-law.
Okay, Siri. See you.
You are my only support in this house, grandma.
Don’t mind your mom.
Ignore her words. Why do you bother?
Go safe and come back successful.
Sriram!
Forty eight.
-Valli, where is your brother? -Forty nine.
-Valli! -Fifty!
Bah! I told you not to disturb me during push ups!
Fifty…
-I lost my count now. -Sriram!
-Sriram! Sriram! -Uh…ah! Coming!
-Here. -Bah!
Why are you so late?
It’s almost time.
Sorry, sorry.
Enough of your push ups. Get ready for college.
Wait. I have lost my count!
-Fifty three… -What?
You stopped at fifty two.
Fifty… oh! Thanks.
Fifty three…
-Fifty four… -Siri!
All the best!
Good luck, okay?
Make it fast, girl.
Give it here.
Am I to sit holding these containers now?
-Kalyani! -Huh, mom?
Deliver them at Mr Chowdary’s house and collect the money.
Or they will skip the payment.
Okay, okay. Carry on.
We must pay the rent to Sriram today.
She is younger than me. She is already getting married.
We supplied the savouries when she came of age too.
She has become a bride!
Sister… This house has a wedding happening.
Someone will raise the marriage topic.
Please control your temper.
I don’t want your rudeness to affect our business.
Hey, Siri!
She is much younger than you.
She is getting married.
When are you going to invite us to your wedding?
Here. 1850 rupees.
Okay, dear. I don’t have change. I will pay you later.
-Don’t you have money in your phone? -Yes, I do.
-Transfer it then. -Sure, dear.
-We will collect the cans later. -Okay, dear.
Mrs Papayamma passed away the other day.
She was much younger than you.
When are you going to invite us to your funeral?
Hey! I spoke in your best interest.
Why are you snapping at me?
We are good enough to take care of ourselves.
“Have you seen this? My people!”
“Have you heard this stubborn story?”
“Have you seen this? My people!”
-“Have you heard this stubborn story?” -Bye, sister.
“Have you heard this? My people!”
“Why don’t you say yes heartful?”
“Winning is the only desire
without knowing how can you aspire?”
Hey, what is this?
Why are you sitting in the ladies’ seat?
Have you no shame?
Hello!
You are washing your feet with my water. Have you no shame?
“She is level headed, and follows her heart”
“She is as bold and teaches you a lesson if you fool around”
“She achieves goals with a strong resolve”
“The maiden’s words sound like fierce bullets”
“This attitude will not change”
“Annoy her and the lioness’ claws will find their way to you”
“Graceful gait and frightful confrontation this turbulence will not stop”
“Undeterred by obstacles She marches on her path”
Boss, it is very difficult to change uniform here.
Why don’t you wear uniform at home and come?
At home?
This uniform?
This is not even a nice sari!
This is a restaurant.
We are no models and there is no fashion show running.
You don’t understand our problem, madam.
This cap causes hair fall.
Isn’t that why you are asked to wear a cap?
-Check it. -Hmm.
Okay, ma’am.
Is everything okay?
All the guests are here.
But Thataji is waiting for you.
What for?
What do you mean? Didn’t they tell you?
He is leaving today.
What is this, Thataji?
I am the Floor Manager. Do you remember that or not?
Madam, madam, madam…
Instead of saying madam, madam, madam thrice,
you could have sent me one word.
You have told everyone else!
The salary is not sufficient, madam.
How much did they offer you?
They offered me seven hundred less, madam.
Why are you leaving then?
Tips are high at the bar.
I will get seven hundred as tip on a single day.
Business there is ten times higher.
That is the power of liquor.
You never fall short of maxims.
But you don’t know you must give a week’s notice before leaving.
They wanted me immediately.
I thought I can save some money.
My kids are also going for higher studies.
Please, consider.
Fine. Go ahead then.
I take leave, madam.
Sai’s buffalo delivered a calf.
Shall I send you some blessings?
If you don’t give them a raise, everyone will think of leaving.
For instance, you.
He has been postponing it for eight months.
He will come to his senses, when you leave some day.
Where will I go?
You want me to join some bar?
Why only a bar?
Can’t we find someone who pays higher than him?
Yesterday he said, ‘I have good news for you. ’
Let’s see how much raise he will give.
Good morning!
Very good morning, sir.
Sir…
You said you will give me a raise?
Srimathi! Speak in English!
This is a fine dine restaurant.
Sir, you said you will increase my salary.
When I said?
Yesterday you said you had good news for me.
Good news means salary only, huh?
Sir, you are postponing for the last eight months.
Thirteen thousand is very less.
I get salary by first and I finish it by tenth.
Please, increase.
If I increase, it will finish by fifteenth.
What you will do then?
See, Srimathi…
Uh, look, Srimathi…
Salary will come and salary will go.
You know my salary was eight thousand.
Half of your salary.
Sir, if you do like this means, workers will go off.
Today, Thataji also left.
Thataji is a useless fellow.
But you? You… I am promoting.
-Promoting? -Hmm!
From Floor Manager to Senior Floor Manager.
But salary will be same only?
Duty is also same only.
But name is very dignified, right?
Senior Floor Manager!
Can you at least give me off today?
I have a court hearing.
Tsk… speak in English.
For thirteen thousand you will get only Telugu, sir.
You want English means give more salary.
EAST GODAVARI DISTRICT SESSIONS AND OTHER COURTS COMPLEX
I cannot draft this.
Do it yourself. Go!
Go!
-Why are you so annoyed? -Get going!
-How cranky he is! -Next!
-What is the name? -Srimathi…
Mrs…
tell me your name.
Miss Itikelapudi Srimathi.
I am not married.
-Horoscope issues? -Yes.
I will give you my patriline. You can conduct some pacifying ritual.
Put the stamp for now. I am getting late.
Why are you in a hurry?
There are two cases before you.
Your hearing is only after lunch.
Next!
Madam Srimathi!
It’s me. Lawyer Viswanath’s junior.
Sir has sent me to represent you.
But why?
How can he not be present on such an important day?
Who wouldn’t be electrocuted once they touch the live wire called R. Thimmaiah?
How does the lawyer’s absence matter, Mr Thimmaiah?
I have justice on my side.
But I have the Will!
What Will?
Take a look.
All these years we were fighting not knowing who he willed the house to.
Now I find that my dad wrote his last will in my name!
I sent a copy to your lawyer this morning.
He must have broken into sweat after reading it.
Naturally.
(Indistinct Talk)
Uncle! How did this Will suddenly appear?
“What is up there in that corner room?
Six generations old vintage cot”
“Under the cot is the colourful box
and inside the box is a leather bag”
“Inside the bag is my dad’s will by
which he gave me the house and the mill”
“It’s written only in my name The house and the mill!”
How did you find it all of a sudden?
How is it sudden?
We have been looking for it for 20 years.
By the grace of Saibaba, we found it at the opportune time.
-Hail Sadguru Sainadh ji! -Hail!
I don’t believe you.
What father would bestow his entire property on one child?
No one! Normally no one.
But when the elder son is a rogue,
and the younger son settles all his loans, any father who knows this will do it.
My father did the same!
Uncle!
Don’t run your tongue just because my dad is not here.
If he were here, this problem wouldn’t arise at all. Huh?
Do you know how much I had to borrow for his sake?
You want to destroy the ancestral home and put up flats.
How can I approve this?
Sale agreement is already made.
How does your consent matter?
What do you say, lawyer?
See, dear. There is no male member in your family.
The judge was kind enough to direct him to give ten or fifteen percent of the sale.
I was more generous and convinced your uncle to give you 20 percent.
That is eight lakhs. Okay!
Let’s go.
She is shell shocked!
That is Thimmaiah.
Two spoons. Two…
Hello!
Grandma!
We are going to lose the case.
Uncle has produced grandpa’s Will.
Grandpa’s Will?
Where did he find that?
How does it matter?
What it says is more important.
-The Will is written in favour of uncle. -Huh?
The house is given to uncle in the Will?
What does it mean?
Did your grandpa want your mom, your sister and you to be on the roads?
Grandma! I saw it with my own eyes.
I read it thrice.
Our lawyer seems to have read it too. He gave up.
The judgement will be out in some time.
Siri! Why are you crying?
This is a drama played by your uncle and his lawyer.
Don’t worry about what they say.
In case you lose, we will approach the High Court.
Or we will go to a much higher court.
But why will we lose heart?
Who is it, mother-in-law? Is it Siri?
Bye. I will call you back.
Plaintiff… Itikelapudi Keshavararao,
represented by Ravuri Thimmaiah.
Defendant…Itikelapudi Srimathi represented by Bejireddy Viswanath.
See, madam.
According to the fresh evidence submitted by Mr Thimmaiah to this court,
the house belongs to Keshavarao.
It is clearly written.
But… since you have no father,
keeping your family’s situation in view,
the court orders that 12 percent of the proceeds of the sale of the house
should go to the family of Visweswara Rao.
As per the agreement entered into by Keshavrao for selling the house,
out of the 38,42,506 rupees, 12 percent,
which means four lakhs sixty one thousand,
should be paid to the family of Visweswara Rao by the order of this court.
Only…since this is ancestral property,
the sale agreement made by Keshavarao with Satyareddy is invalid.
Since Keshavarao wants to sell the house,
Visweswara Rao’s family can buy it at the same cost if they wish to.
The court grants the defendant six months’ time for the same.
Once the time elapses, all the rights to the house will go to Keshavarao.
Wait… wait! O, lawyer!
You stripped me of lakhs of rupees.
-Stop right there. -Not me. You please stop.
Two crore worth property…
-Stop, sir. I say no. -For 38 lakhs! How can I compromise?
Please, wait, sir.
-Brainless idiot. -Please, stop.
Wait! You better stop!
Stop! Stop! -Sir, sir, sir!
Don’t get so aggressive!
The judgement is in your favour!
How is the judgement in my favour?
I have a Party ready with two crores.
You made me write 38 lakhs in the document.
You fail to understand Thimmaiah’s strategy.
If I mentioned two crores, you would have to pay her forty lakhs.
Now you will pay only eight lakhs.
What if the girl brings the 38 lakhs?
-I will end up losing the entire house! -Wait…. wait, wait.
-Stop there! Stop! -No, sir. Please, sir.
-I will tell you. Wait! -Wait, sir. Please, wait.
If it is so easy to make 38 lakhs in six months,
why will there be so much poverty in the world? Huh?
Satyareddy is asking me when I will register the house since I took advance.
I am under his gun!
Wait for just six more months.
You have waited 20 years!
You couldn’t convince the court.
I guess I pay you to convince me!
Please, come. Come. I will explain.
38 lakhs, 42 thousand, five hundred, six rupees.
The court grants you six months’ time.
Thirteen thousand is very less.
You are a girl.
What can you do all alone?
Aunty, please find me a good match.
Who will give their daughter to you? Boozer!
She should be traditional.
What is this daily nuisance?
Madam… O madam!
Hmm. Namaste.
Our madam. She is very well mannered.
Okay.
We go all the way to Mandapet for work.
These guys go there to get drunk.
When will you change? Idiots!
In future, whether I am dead or alive,
no matter how many problems and difficulties you face,
promise me that you will never sell this house.
-Grandpa! -Hmm?
We will never sell it.
So?
You are expected to pay your uncle thirty eight lakh rupees?
Or thirty eight lakh stars?
Will you stop joking?
I mean…
you are staring at the sky so seriously. Made me wonder.
Thirty eight lakhs!
Where to get it?
My salary is mingy thirteen thousand.
Only when you let go of one branch, can you catch another.
Tell me in simple words.
You won’t be able to earn 38 lakhs on a thirteen thousand salary.
Resign from that worthless job.
Who will pay me then?
Siri… why don’t you start a business yourself?
If the idea is good enough,
you will be paying the others the mingy thirteen thousand.
Hey, don’t try to console me.
Not at all!
Rajinikanth became a super star only after he gave up the conductor’s job.
Abdul Kalam became India’s President only after he retired from his job.
Oh!
Dude! That’s true of great people.
Not of an ordinary person like me.
You have six months of time.
Do you know how long it took to build the Taj Mahal?
How many days?
Five months and 28 days.
Hmm! Come on.
We are already ten minutes late… Come.
Hmm!
Thank you, Sriram.
Abdul Kalam, Rajini Kanth,
Itikelapudi Srimathi.
Hey… hey, hey!
Good riddance.
Play it for all it’s worth. -Oh my!
Tell her to shut up, accept the eight lakhs and get married, mother-in-law.
Don’t you think I wish to see her married, have kids and be happy?
It’s her grandfather’s memory.
She tried her best to hold on to it.
She has achieved something.
By the way, Mr Basavaiah said losing in this court is not the end of the world.
There are several other courts.
Enough, mother-in-law. Stop it.
Instead of putting some sense into her…
Is she born to go round the courts?
I don’t want to go to any court.
Thank God!
I will pay uncle 38 lakhs in six months and get our house back.
All that you get is thirteen thousand.
Where will you get 38 lakhs from?
Sriram gave me a fine idea.
I am quitting my job.
She is quitting her job?
What was your great advice to her?
What could I tell her, aunty?
I only sounded an idea to her.
It can transform our lives.
Why don’t you share with us the idea that can bring 38 lakhs in six months?
Our hands are paining from carrying cans.
I don’t actually give ideas to people.
I only inspire them.
I don’t inspire them intentionally.
As I speak, people get inspired.
What did you tell her? What is she going to do?
I just don’t get it.
To be precise, I have changed your granddaughter’s perception.
If you hear it,
you will probably lift me up for coming up with such an excellent idea.
Hey!
Stop your drivel and tell us what you exactly told her!
You will con three people and those three will con another nine people.
I hope it’s not some scheme like that?
Thirty eight lakhs!
She says she is leaving her job.
My nerves are on edge...
Oh, my! Why do you have to be so stressed, Devika?
She has told you half.
She will tell you the other half too.
I want to set up a bar.
What do you want to set up?
I want to set up a bar in our village.
Siri…
I thought we discussed restaurant?
Hmm! Bar and Restaurant.
I just don’t understand.
What is it that you can’t understand?
Bar? Bar means a liquor shop, right?
They sell brandy and whisky.
Do you mean that?
Not just brandy, whisky, gin and vodka.
There will be my signature cocktails too.
TAJ MAHAL BAR