'KANCHE'
September 1, 1939.
1st of September.
The day the beast of war was unleashed.
The atrocity of Nazi dictator, Adolf Hitler, who wanted
to wreck the foundations of civilisation.
Benito Mussolini's totalitarianism, which marches
on corpses of the people.
The militarism of the Emperor of Japan, Hirohito.
Blood stains are spreading on the world map.
These are becoming indelible stains in the pages of the history.
Hitler started his massacre
with the slaying of millions of Jews.
The bloodbath that started with a fight over Poland
has led to the Second World War.
Japan, Germany and Italy formed one bloc.
The rest of the nation formed another bloc.
Such a massive war never took place
in the history of earth.
100 million soldiers are directly fighting in this war.
The world is getting devastated completely, economically
industrially and also technically.
Already the earth has come resemble a skeleton.
The effect of the war can be seen on every human being.
Every country is sacrificing its soldiers in this war.
India alone
is being represented by an army of 2.5 million soldiers.
Now, Benito Mussolini's era has come to an end.
Italy, an ally of Germany, has also become its enemy.
The German forces are invading to conquer Italy.
75,000 Indian soldiers from the Royal Indian Army are fighting
along with the British forces in support of Italy.
Jackson will be here any moment. - Okay.
Battalion! Dismount!
Take it back inside.
I got it. - Sir! Dhoopati Haribabu.
Sixteenth Battalion, Royal Indian Army, sir!
All right.
Colonel Eswar Prasad.
He will be your commanding officer from now on.
"I will bring tinkling bangles and colourful blouses for you."
"I will buy the tinkling bangles.."
It is a new camp. So they are excited.
Kanta Rao, listen to me. Search for some holes and burrows.
If the Germans invade, you will have a chance to escape.
If you are so afraid, why did you come till here, Dasu?
You should have gone home from Burma.
That's my fate, man! They asked me to get in. I did.
I thought it was a food cart.
How would I know that it was a funeral van? - Sir!
If something happens to us, will they give money to our families?
Forget about money. If we die here
they won't even send our dead bodies.
My wife will be totally lost.
That's what you think.
Chalam once said that, 'If it is a lady, immaterial of..'
Everybody listen to me. I will tell you a story.
Okay! Once upon a time, a man like our Dasu
got married. - A man like me! Then continue..
He dressed handsomely and went in to the bedroom.
Oh, man.. - Then it isn't like me. It is me!
By then the bride was playing with pebbles in the room.
Of course. Since Dasu is there, she will play the whole night.
He went near her. But there were no milk and fruits.
He said, 'Hey, girl! Where is the milk?'
She said, 'While coming here, I gave it to the cat, dear!' - Cat?
He asked, 'Where are the fruits, girl?'
She said, 'While coming here, I gave them to a kid, dear!'
He said, 'It's okay. You are here anyway.'
"Come, give me a kiss and caress me." - Oh!
She said, "While coming here, I gave it to your brother, dear!"
It was not me.. Look there.
It was him! - No, it was you.. - It's Jayasurya.
It was him. Yes, it was him. - Dasu!
Here everyone is for himself. - Friend..
Eswar! What's wrong with you?
Why are you looking so serious?
'10 May, 1944.'
'To dear Ms. Seeta'
'from Dhoopati Haribabu.'
'I hope you are fine.'
'The border of Italy is a little distance away from our camp.'
'It's the same as the distance between your house and mine.'
'It is a new camp.'
'So, trucks, tankers, et cetera, are just getting arranged.'
'Another important thing.'
'I met Eswar here.'
'He is our commanding officer.'
'I am reminded of all those old memories.'
'January 12th, 1936 Madras Cultural Club, Madras'
Come on!
Come on, boys and girls!
Now is the time for dance!
Dear friends! On the occasion of her birthday, our princess
is cutting the cake.. - Where is the matchbox?
Do you need a matchbox? Don't you need a cigarette or cigar?
I asked it light the candles. - Steward!
Come, light them. You are very fortunate. - Cake looks good.
Now our princess will blow the candles.
You should not snuff out light on your birthday! - What?
If possible, you should light a few lamps on a birthday..
Light represents feminine energy.
It glows when you tend to it. Burns us if we are negligent.
Well said, Junior!
Women are like light.
Men are like wicks. They always burn away.
Please leave. Come on, blow the candles.
Hey, Shakespeare!
Me? - Can I at least cut the cake?
Or we shouldn't cut a cake on birthday.. - Certainly.
It's cut to be shared by all, right? - Well said.
Cutting is for sharing!
Dear, please cut it
and share it with us. - Okay.
Mister!
For telling us a nice thing.
Happy returns of the day, Ms. Seeta Devi!
Thank.. How do you know my name?
I am from Devarakonda. It's a part of your Rachakonda province.
Is it? - Yes.
How come here? - I study at the University College.
It's a part time job.
We study there, too. But we have never seen you before.
You pay attention to only those who look at you. I don't look at you.
Well said, my junior.
Girls pay attention only towards those who look at them.
Not only in 1936
even in 2036
no one can understand these women!
What's the name of our Shakespeare?
What's there in a name?
A rose is a rose.. - What is your name?
Hari, my Majesty!
Keep in touch.
Shakespeare!
"Who is calling me with a snap of her finger?"
"Who knows."
"Where are our steps taking us to?"
"Who knows."
Ms. Seeta talks very nicely.
"Who is calling me.."
Ms. Seeta! Do you know the news from our village?
There was a hailstorm there. - You speak nicely, too.
"Where are our steps taking us to? - Who knows."
"A silent unrest.."
What happened?
Car is not running. - I'll make it run.
Do you know how to drive? - I do.
"...has welcomed the friendship."
"Before we realised such things, our story had begun."
You are driving. - Look at the front.
"Our story has started."
Look at the front.
"Who is calling me with a snap her finger?"
"Who knows."
"Where are our steps taking us to?"
"Who knows."
Move a bit to the right side.
Alas! The right has become the left.
"Unable to turn days into seconds"
"the time has fled from the scene."
"The whole world will bow its head conceding defeat"
"because we never care about it."
"Even though we are dreaming, we are still awake."
"Who will come near us to disturb us?"
"How does the dawn arrive and where does the darkness hide?"
"When does the sleep go to sleep"
"and when does start actually starts?"
"Before we realised such things, our story had begun."
"Our story has started."
"Who is calling me with a snap of his finger?"
"Who knows."
"Where are our steps taking us to?"
"Who knows."
Shakespeare!
Do you like me?
No. I love you.
What's the difference between the two?
Suppose there is a rose.
If we like it, we pluck it. If we love it, we water it.
Be ready.
Let's get married.
"I wonder what's bubbling up on those lips!"
"It's sweet like the nectar sprinkled by the flowers."
"Such musings are the universal language during such moments.
"There is no dictionary to explain their meaning.
"Like the chants of an ongoing wedding.."
"Like the tunes of wedding band.."
"A silent unrest is being heard by the heart."
"A tuneless melody has welcomed the friendship."
"Before we realised such things, our story had begun."
"Our story has started."
"Who is calling me with a snap of her finger?"
"Who knows."
"Where are our steps taking us to?"
"Who knows."
The journey seems very new. Right, Princess?
We visited this village often.
But now it feels like going to heaven.
But when I think about the village, I get frightened.
We can't meet there like this. - Even Ms. Seeta Devi has fears!
Why? Don't you any fears?
I'm always afraid
that I might have to fear something in future.
To the fearless person.. - For me?
...a present.
By your grace, I am travelling in the first class for the first time.
And now this coat.
I am afraid thinking what needs to be changed in future.
As if you've changed a lot for me.
After the train stops, I will get down before you.
Not only in 1936. - Okay?
Even in 2036
lovebirds have to hide from the world.
There is Seeta!
Why you have become so thin, dear?
Why did you become so thin, Granny? - Why are you calling me like that?
Grandpa! - Haribabu!
It sound like calling a puppy. - It means, 'Grandma'!
It's the language of the British.
Why are you getting down from first class compartment?
They allowed me to sit as I am wearing this coat. - Oh!
Hey! You look like a noble-born.
Did you complete your studies?
One book is left, Grandpa! - What is it? - It is called love.
I will be well learned, if I study it. - Then study it.
Okay. - Study it.
I am working on that, Grandpa.
Eswar! - How are you, Princess?
Fine, Officer!
When did you come? How long will you stay?
Did you see? She calling her brother by his name.
I like to call him by his name.
Eswar is not only my elder brother
but a friend, too.
What's wrong in it? Relations are meant to make us happy
and names are meant to be called. - Who are you?
Sir!
He is my grandson. He studies in the city.
He doesn't know the customs of our village.
Hey! Greet the elders. - Greetings.
Well said. Relations are meant to make us happy
and names are meant to be called.
Konda! - Sir?
My hair is overgrown. - I will come at dawn, sir!
I will give you a haircut and a massage.
Eswar. - Haribabu.
Attack!
Right.. Nice!
Come on! Attack him, Jack!
Take him down, Colonel!
We got three canons positioned there.
What about the perimeters?
Anti-aircraft guns right there, there and right over there.
Yes, Captain! - Major!
If Germans launch a sudden attack will you tell us the way to escape?
What? - Shut your mouth!
I mean there are bunkers and trenches.
It will be good to be alive.
Well done.
We are expecting our tanks to arrive in two days' time.
That's enough. - We still need to dig trenches over there.
Well done! The champion!
Let us hear it for Eswar!
For the seventh time in a row.
Show!
You there! Captain Hari!
Let's see if you can take on your commandant.
Come on, men.
Very nice!
Even though I killed many people on the battleground
I never felt like it.
The anger that I couldn't kill you
will be quenched today!
We are from the same place. Let's come to an agreement.
If I die
you take my dead body to our village.
If you die, I will carry yours.
If one us carry the dead body of the other
our village will be united.
Go, take cover!
Tanks..
Move, fast..
Soldiers! Go to shells.
Soldiers, move! Come on..
Soldiers!
This way! - Quick. Move ahead!
Roger that. General's here! - Give me that.
Get me the air marshal now!
Dive in, now.
Mr. Singh, save me.
Go. Get away. - You. - Give us cover.
Four hours?
I don't have god damn four hours!
I need air cover now!
Move!
Soldiers, move!
Looks like all the Germans are here to kill me.
Sir! We are surrounded on all sides.
Severely outnumbered. We can't hold them back any longer.
Point 64.
Use the uphill cannons.
I'll try to send a few of my men, sir.
Very good.
Get me Hari and his men.
Get over here!
Get over here, now!
I need men!
Captain Hari, uphill..
I am sorry, General! Our men weren't able to reach it.
We are losing more and more men out there, General!
The war is over. - Shall we surrender?
Right, Major.
Martin..
Hail Hitler! - Sieg Heil!
They surrendered. - It can't be.
What? - Come on, let's go.
Shit! - Come on!
Move on, Captain!
We have surrendered and we are prisoners of war.
Under the Geneva Convention
you must respect my men and my officers.
Respect for surrendered soldiers?
Respect is something earned.
I will not divulge any information what so ever.
Fear made you surrender and it will make you talk.
You can skin us alive, but we won't talk.
You have your loyalty, we have our ways.
You are dreaming. - Oh, really?
Something is not right here.
Why are they taking positions?
Go. Go to the height.
Hail Lord Hanuman.. - Hey!
Come on, buddy! Let's get away.
Looks like something is wrong.
That's General Weinstein. They call him 'The Fox'.
No!
What's going on?
I made a great mistake. - Take the Indian army.
By the blessings of our mothers we are still alive, buddy!
Come on, buddy! Let's get away.
We have to save them.
It's too dangerous.
No, Captain. We can't go out there.
We cannot leave our officers to the Germans.
Why do you want to put yourself in danger?
Buddy, I can't do it.
I will leave. - Go! You will go alone.
We have to save them.
How? How are you going to do that? We are just five.
Let's first follow them and find a way.
Yes, you're right. Let's do it. - Okay, Captain!
Let's go. - What is okay, man? It's okay for you, but not for me.
This is to save Eswar, right?
Will he come to rescue you?
He won't, buddy.
At least we can live. Come on, buddy!
After killing Mahishasura
out of the 18 forms of Goddess
17 forms went to the heavens.
The remaining one form is of Goddess Durga.
The Goddess has incarnated
in different forms in different villages.
Nookalamma, Ankaalamma
Pochamma, Maisamma and so on.
Our village deity is Sarelamma.
She liked the send-off present given by Her elder brother.
That's why She is named so.
Who is that brother?
None other than Lord Sriman Narayana.
Lord, by the name of Tirupayya
goes to each part of the village
and collects all things His sister needs.
He gives them to her once every 12 years.
'Come what sorrow can'
'it cannot countervail the exchange of joy'
'that one short minute gives me in her sight.'
What is this madness?
We didn't meet after we came here.
You are saying as if I'm very happy about this.
Believe me, I feel restless without you.
I feel like talking to you. - Is it?
From now on, whenever we are apart
write all your thoughts and mail them.
Is it enough if I write letters?
Or some whispers in the ear..
You are blushing, my Highness! I see bridal glow on your face.
Shall we get married after the village carnival?
My family also wants me to get married after the village festival.
Did they accept so easily? - Not with you
but with my uncle's son.
How is that? - My grandfather is standing outside.
Go and ask him.
Traditions, festivals and conventions.
These are necessary for the unity of the village.
Now tell me, what would the people from each caste contribute?
We, Sahukars, have 20 families.
We will give 100 kgs butter, 25 tins of churned oil
and 10 baskets of jaggery.
Our caste people own 2.5 acres of land.
We'll give one-twentieth of the produce from it.
The deities will be decorated with jewels.
If you bear the expenses, we will make them free of cost.
We will weave the saris for the Goddess.
We will stitch all the mats and baskets that are needed.
We'll present footwear to the Goddess, sir!
Everything is fine, but don't kill one another
like last year's festival.
In last year's festival, Veeri cut off my father's hand.
This time, I will cut his leg.
Did you remember? - Won't I.
He reminded you, you fool!
Why did Veeri cut your father's hand?
Because he demanded the chariot pass through our street first.
Forget about God!
It is human beings who decide.
This time the chariot should start from our street!
What are you talking?
The chariot will pass through our street first.
and the presents will come from the Divan's house.
This has been our tradition.
Do you want to change it? - Yes, I will change it!
I will change it. And why not?
Do you want a monopoly over God?
You people killed my dad for raising objection.
I will not accept it. I don't care about the consequences.
But the chariot must start from our street only.
Don't try to create conflict in the village.
Sir, he is trying to stop the festival.
Sir, we have to listen to Munuswamy, too.
Will God deny if asked to go through his street?
Tradition perishes when they become old.
Everything happens for our own good. Why can't we change it?
Then why should the chariot start from their street?
Why shouldn't it start from our street?
If that's the case, ours is a big locality. We have 100 houses.
Even if you are well off, our surnames are more respected!
Hey!
Don't talk about surnames.
You people are cowardly braggarts.
As if God does not have any shelter!
Hey, Munuswamy!
It seems you said the same thing on the shore, too.
I will cut you down!
I will see your end! - I will show you what I am!
We will kill you. - I'll kill you! - Come on, guys!
I am afraid, Hari!
Hey, Hari! When did you come from Madras..
Oh, my! Isn't she Ms. Seeta?
What is this?
Did you become close?
You people are naughty!
Is it that thing?
Yes. It's that..
You have to help us, Janardhan! - Forget about me.
With your relation
you have given a tough time to the village.
Let it happen! Get married soon!
"Get married soon.."
We will not tolerate this.. - Please be patient!
Please calm down!
Because of these quarrels
we lost so many of our kith and kin last time.
If we stay united
God will take care of us. - Stop your foolishness. Stop it!
I will kill you people! - What do you mean?
Why would you get by inciting such fights?
Existence won't come so easily.
If this quarrel becomes a violent confrontation
and results in the death of a few people
and if we stand beside those dead
we will become the leader of the people.
What do you think about the power of position?
It's the total authority over clashes.
Stop it!
I am telling you people!
This time my grandson will take my place as the Landlord.
From now on, his word is law.
This marriage has to happen.
But it has to be with me. - How?
I don't know.
But I promise.
I will marry you and take you to my house.
The traditions are there to be followed, and not to fight.
This will be celebrated just like the previous times.
I am afraid, Hari!
I will talk to Eswar.
He is the only one who can understand us.
I will win over Eswar. He is my to-be brother-in-law, right?
Unlike the previous year, there shouldn't be any fights this time.
This time the festivities should be extravagant!
"The village has become a stream"
"and has shattered its boundaries."
"It has united the fort and the locality."
"The village has become a stream"
"and has shattered its boundaries."
"It has united the fort and the locality."
"In the midst of the collision of band and trumpets"
"claps and rhythms"
"a good unison is formed."
"He is the one who rules the seven worlds."
"Come with pomp and show into our streets today."
"The rich and the poor should become one here."
"The words of unwanted people should not matter at all."
"While taking the offerings to Your sibling"
"did You come all the way to my house, Lord?"
"Oh, the husband of Mahalakshmi! What can we give you?
"What we have is what you've given us."
"What did the wheel of the moving chariot say?
"Sickles and ploughs are used to worship the land."
"No matter what, all that we do"
"is to serve the Lord."
"Bless this soil of ours"
"not our castes."
"This event belongs to everyone"
"All the people are like our relatives."
"He is the one who rules these seven worlds."
"Come with pomp and show into our streets today."
"The rich and the poor should become one here."
"The words of unwanted people should not matter at all."
"Even those mountains"
"will take care of us as our guardians."
"Dance with vigour!"
"Dance away!"
"During this joyous celebration"
"raindrops resembling diamonds should shower from the heavens."
"We should celebrate this festival"
"without paying any attention to caste differences."
"Our happiness should spread to miles"
"as a symbol of our unity."
"Because of this event"
"all other villages will follow us."
"He is the one who rules these seven worlds."
"Come with pomp and show into our streets today."
"The rich and the poor should become one here."
"The words of unwanted people should not matter at all."
Ma'am, please give me some water.
Will you drink water from our house, ma'am?
Not just drinking water, I'll live in your house if you allow me.
Shall I?
Mother, she is Ms. Seeta. I met her at the station.
I know her, Son.
How? - I gave you your first bath.
What do you mean?
I midwifed your mother during your birth.
I cleaned you up and gave you the ritual bath.
Wait. I will bring you water.
What are you looking at? As soon as I was born
I asked my mother about you. What a coincidence!
I met you on your birthday. - Yes, you did!
Listen to me.
Your brother likes me a lot. He wants me to enlist in the army.
Go. You will look great in uniform.
But remember. You should get into a better position than Eswar.
Only then will I be happy.
Better position? You just wait and watch.
One day, Eswar will salute me saying
'Dhoopati Haribabu, I salute you!'.
If they drive all night, they'll reach this way.
That must be the transfer point.
We have to reach the railway line before the Germans.
That's only when we can plan an ambush.
What does ambush mean? - A sudden strike.
We have to get there before the Germans and hide.
It would not be an ambush, it's suicide.
To get there fast, we have to cross this mountain.
This mountain? Do we have to scale it?
Across this mountain there's a village named Muskita.
We may get vehicles there. Let's go.
Poet Srinivas Rao said, 'I sacrificed a piece to fuel'
'the world's fire'. Similarly, you are sacrificing me.
Hey, cook. - Right, Dasu. Come on! We're losing time!
That's what I am saying! Our time is up. Stop!
They say unmarried men should either join mendicants or the army.
I joined the army to earn something in return.
It seems that I will turn into ash here. It's my fate.
Let's go!
I am starving to death. Give me something to eat, buddy!
What now? - I need to eat! Hey, cook.
Rats are running in my stomach! - Bats?
No, I meant rats!
Captain? - Rats are running in his stomach.
How is that possible? Rats?
In your stomach? Yes, I will fix it.
Eat this. - I am not a buffalo to eat grass.
Come on..
Thank God they didn't press the trigger. I could have died!
Oh, Goddess Annapoorna!
You are in all continents, not just in Kashi.
We thought we'll starve to death. We have some bread here.
It's all right. It's his granddaughter.
She is his granddaughter.
She is pretty!
Buddy! If we die without experiencing any pleasure
we'll also be thrown out of heaven.
I don't think that they'll mind. Just ask them.
I don't think you'll be killed by a German, Dasu.
I might kill you before they do.
Okay?
There are Germans outside. Can you please help us?
I just wanted to eat.
What a waste! It seems that I am going to die.
I thought women are different in every country.
But mothers are same all over the world.
Ma'am, forgive me for my mistake!
Yes. - Once it gets dark, he can show us the way.
A German doctor loved and married a Jewish girl
They have a daughter. Nazis consider her impure.
They are searching for her to kill her.
Buddy, poet Srinivasa Rao said
'No country can feel good about itself.'
'The history of mankind reeks of oppression.'
It's 20th century. Germany is a developed nation.
Still they are following Hitler's orders.
Awesome!
Shall I cut your nails, sir? - Hello, Officer!
What is it? Are you watching the game or girls?
I never do anything beneath my dignity.
A barber shouldn't forget his place.
His place is always at his master's feet.
Are you talking about Hari? Just ask whatever you want to.
It's not a war to hide our motives, it's love.
How can you fall for him? Do you know who he is?
He's a man and I am a woman.
What more is required to fall in love?
What's so special about him?
He's educated, handsome, and he makes me laugh.
I'm assured he can take good care of me.
What more does a man need? - Social status.
Don't you mind his caste?
What about our prestige if you become his wife?
You can marry a girl from one such family. Then we'll be even.
You are my sister.
If you were my brother, I would've slapped you.
You are older than me. If you were younger
I would've slapped you and told you not to think like that.
Mr. Eswar! Come on! Let's wrestle!
Hand to hand combat! There's nothing to lose, come on!
Hey, are you crazy to fight with him? - Hari!
Why are you inviting trouble? - He has to conduct my wedding.
I have to impress him. - Sir, he doesn't know our customs.
Let them play, Konda. They are young boys. Leave them.
It's a festival.
No matter who wins between you two, I'll be the winner.
Go.
Leave me, Mr. Eswar!
I might die. - You must die.
How could you think I'd allow you to marry my sister?
Look at my sister for the last time.
Forget her
and you will live.
Is there any alternate route?
Once we cross the church and go four streets across
we will reach point 5716.
Oh, Lord Hanuman! Help..
Hail Hitler.
There are fifteen soldiers.
We fell out of the frying pan into the fire.
These monsters are everywhere.
Hail Muller! - Sieg Heil!
I am here to kill my enemies.
It's smiling at me.
Does it have German blood?
We all have the same blood.
That's impure blood. - How?
She was born to a filthy creature.
She shouldn't address a German as her father.
Kill her.
Kill Her.
As a doctor you must have cut her umbilical cord.
Now slit her throat.
Take this.
You willingly made a mistake.
You have to correct it even if it pains you. Come on.
Kill it!
Please, Muller.
Leave us alone.
We will go away from here.
Poor little child!
I beg you. - Kill it!
This is not our problem. Let's get out of here.
Captain Hari!
You must kill it!
Did you hear me?
Buddy, what are you going to do? - It isn't our problem.
Captain! Captain, listen to me.
Damn it! What are you doing?
Muller, come here!
We don't know where to go and how to go.
But we have to go. We have to live.
We have to live at least a day without the fear of death.
We will accompany you. Please take us with you.
He is still saying the same thing. He wants us to take him with us.
Tell him we can't help him. We have a mission to complete.
Please show some sympathy.
There are women and children.
He says they have lost everyone. They got nowhere else to go.
I understand, Eddy, but I am helpless. - Buddy.
There's nothing I can do. - The guy who ran away..
Was he Hitler?
No, he is not. Hitler is a short guy.
What? Such a short man is terrorising the world?
Yes, people are scared of microbes.
They say they have been living under oppression.
Is it a sin to be born as a Jew?
Please protect us
Hari, tell them, 'I can't help'.
Sir, we have nowhere else to go. - Captain
We got to take them with us.
Hari, we can't take them. We are soldiers.
We are on a mission.
A soldier is the one who saves lives.
They could put us in danger.
What if the baker's girl had thought the same?
She was in danger, too
We can't take them. I can't allow this.
Please help us to survive.
Please take us with you.
Captain, let us drop them at a safe point.
All right, this is your decision, Hari.
You are still the same, buddy.
Hey, are you waiting for the arrival of God
or to see your girl, Seeta, who is following the chariot?
Silly. - What? Me?
You are the first one to say that about me.
It's not your Seeta, but his sister.
Can you see her brother next to her?
He is glaring at you furiously.
Poor thing! You need a miracle to meet her.
Janardhan, aren't you there for me? - What?
Did you not notice her brother's angry look?
I can't interfere in this matter. I should go about my work.
Janardhan. - I am not Janardhan Sasthri.
I am John Paul Shastri.
John Paul means the caretaker of the world
It means Lord Krishna.
Why don't help us get married, brother-in-law? - What?
Of course!
Seeta, this way. Take Goddess's present inside.
Ma'am, this is a lucky charm.
It is believed that a girl will get married soon
if she immerses it in the temple tank.
Go, dear. - Seeta, I'll come along with you.
No, you are in the midst of a veneration.
You should remain here.
Let her go, sir. - I'll accompany her.
Let's go. - Married women shouldn't accompany her.
You might get married again.
Oh, no! I won't accompany her.
Please go, dear. - Go, dear.
Okay. - You will get a good husband.
Please listen to me. Go back to Madras.
I won't go. What will he do?
He will kill you.
If one can't kill someone, it's not because he can't.
It's because he doesn't want to. Anyone can kill.
Can't I kill?
Will you kill my brother?
My brother loves me more than you do. Do you know that?
I didn't mean.. - Shut up!
I thought he'd understand me, but he said he'd kill you.
I thought you'd comfort me.
But you say you will kill him.
I was mistaken. What I said was wrong.
Ms. Seeta, I will give up my life willingly for Eswar, if required.
Okay? I promise.
Grandpa. - Yes?
Seeta should get married. There's no need of an auspicious moment.
Just a nuptial chain is enough. - What happened?
I don't mind losing my life at the hands of your brother.
But what is the use of this life if you stop talking to me?
Stop it, Shakespeare.
This kind of wedding has never happened in this town.
Anything untoward may happen. I am so scared.
If the people unite, there will be no fights.
Someone has to come forward, right?
How good it will be if four lips come together!
Our village will prosper if we both marry.
Trust me.
I will marry you in your house
and bring you to my house.
What makes you feel so confident? - You.
If our countrymen are fighting the British
it's neither because of the anger
nor because of patriotism.
It's because they are hot-headed.
They want to rule themselves.
These low caste people
chase after our girls because they are hot-headed.
It's not love
but a challenge to our authority.
If we kill Kondaiah's grandson
Seeta's reputation will be tarnished.
We might lose our grip over this village.
I'll cut off his leg..
Eswar.
An invisible fence separates each human being from another.
We should be wary of it.
If one crosses it, that fence must bring them down.
Each caste group dislikes the other.
He had an affair with a woman from their caste.
Fight over land and water.
Fight over race and community.
Fight over language and even dialects.
If we instigate this beast of caste chauvinism
it will raze the whole village down.
That inferno will also consume Kondaiah's grandson.
All we need to do
is to ignite the spark.
And everything will be reduced to ashes.
"What light is this caste conflagration spreading?"
"What peace does theses gleaming swords bring?"
"Which crops needs to be protected with these thorn fences?"
"For Whose betterment is this bloodshed?"
"This animosity doesn't foster any friendship?"
"These fiery sparks won't quench any thirst."
"This is a gamble where life is at stake."
"It never awards anyone with victory."
"It derives pleasure and victory in death."
"It is never enlightening."
"When the differences are set aside and there's happiness all around"
"Those peaceful days.."
Put up the fence. If anyone crosses this fence..
How dare you!
"It reeks of vengeance."
"Has the earth been torn asunder to erect these fences?"
Seeta!
Your wedding has been fixed.
Be prepared.
I want to see you smoking. - What?
I want to see you smoking. - I don't like smoking.
You don't smoke if you don't like.
But you want me to get married against my wish.
Am I not even worth that cigarette to you?
Seeta!
Your grandfather has got
your mother's jewellery made into a nuptial chain.
Come and take a look at it. - Go.
It's not a mere chain, it's our mother's blessings.
I'll be happy if my beloved ties a simple thread around my neck.
Mother is not a gold ornament, Eswar.
It's love.
Your are just a woman. Shut up and do what I say.
What did you mean, dear?
It means low class..
Okay.
Low class.
Make her understand.
I am just a woman. How can I tell her, dear?
I need to keep my mouth shut.
Is your name Haribabu? - Yes.
Attack!
Who are you? Where are you from?
"A hunter shot an arrow towards a pair of birds."
"One of them fell dead."
"The pain it went through while dying"
"transformed a hunter into a sage."
"Where did this poisonous seed come from?"
"It's the source of sorrow!"
"This is a gamble where life is at stake."
"It never awards anyone with victory."
"It derives pleasure and victory in death."
"It is never enlightening."
Please, don't. - Who are you?
Get lost.
Buddy, it's very nice. Did you see?
Twenty corpses in one carrier.
What are we going for? And why are we taking them?
Good, buddy. - Dasu, my village has 500 houses.
When I was a boy, it seemed very large to me.
When I was five, my grandfather carried me on his shoulders
and took me to the town to watch a drama.
I saw the town for the first time and I wondered
if there would be any city bigger than that?
When I went to Madras for higher studies
then I learnt that our nation measures
about 2000 kms from North to south
and 2500 kms from East to west.
I also learnt that there are many other countries besides ours.
The total area of our earth is nearly 1970 million square miles.
Is it? - The sun is
1.3 million times bigger than the earth.
The earth and the other planets
keep revolving around the sun.
All this together forms a small solar family.
In this galaxy
each star is a solar family.
Dasu, in this infinitely vast universe
consisting billions of stars and planets
all our differences and hostilities fade into insignificance.
Mine, yours, boundaries, wars, et cetera!
What's all this?
We are just a tiny speck.
We are all the same.
No one is able to understand this.
Right, Mr. Bhaskar Rao?
What do you say? - Who is Bhaskar Rao?
He is my neighbour. He used to chat with me.
Oh. - He looks like this man.
That guy looks like Mr. Subba Rao. She looks like Ms. Kamala.
She looks like my cousin Suryakala.
Suryakala, come here..
Come.
Why are you smiling, dear?
She says she is going to see her daddy.
So, that's the reason you are smiling.
What she is wondering is, do you have a dad?
Yes, I do.
There. - Wow.
He is there.
She is saying you can have her daddy, too.
Buddy, why is she crying?
What happened?
They killed her father.
She lied to the kid.
Tears are above any language.
What's the baby's name?
Thikwa.
Thikwa?
What does it mean? - I don't know.
It means hope.
Hope. - Hope.
'To dear Ms. Seeta'
'from Dhoopati Haribabu.'
'Many a travels, many an acquaintance.'
'I saw a small baby here.'
'The baby's name is Thikwa.'
'It means hope.'
'Both kids and adults are hoping for the same thing here.'
'To see the next sunrise.'
Young men from village are enlisting in the army.
They have asked me to join, too. - Good.
What do you mean? You want me to join the British?
You won't be fighting for the British
but for the country and its people.
We have a country. That's why we are asking for freedom.
A nation cannot exist without its soldiers.
You are right.
'Not just there'
'I've came to know here'
'that there is love even in war.'
'Anywhere in this world, love is always like a war.'
"Let's believe that it's true."
"Believe in your heart."
"This world is for us."
"Let's believe that it's true."
"The dreams that we have"
"treasured in our eyes"
"will never melt away."
"Let our past lives"
"and future births"
"be like our present one."
"Let us be together forever."
"Let's believe that it's true."
"In a timeless place"
"where there is no barrier"
"let's nurture"
"our love together."
"Our love.."
"Let's believe that it's true."
Buddy, isn't that symbol drawn in our many of our temples?
That's Swastika, it is ours.
It says that the four directions of this earth belong to everyone.
And they are not exclusive to some.
Oh, does this symbol carry such meaning?
Swastika means auspicious.
Without knowing its meaning, Hitler is killing people.
Let's go.. Come on!
Calm the kids.
Move.. Fast!
Eswar!
Move.. Fast!
Sad we lost our Officer Jack.
He was a damn good soldier.
What exactly are you doing with all these civilians?
We had to bring them along with us, sir.
We didn't have an option.
And the German? - I trust him, sir.
We will give sometime for Eswar.
And when he is well enough.. - Sir. - ...we shall move.
Now go, get some rest. - Yes, sir.
There is a way out. Do you see this river?
We just have to cross here somewhere
This is going to hurt.
It's okay.
You gave me the gun I am not used to.
I was lucky to get my hands on that rock.
Otherwise, I would have been dead and buried six feet under.
Didn't Srinivas Rao say anything about it?
'Let bygones be bygones. Nothing is ours.'
Why wouldn't he? He might have said so.
Melissa.
Hey! - Wow! Is this a cierge?
Love letter.
Seeta. - Seeta.
My wife.
Why are you conducting this marriage so hurriedly?
Sir, Konda is here.
It's not right on your part to arrive late
for the wedding of my granddaughter.
My grandson is missing, sir.
I searched all over the place.
People are saying so many things.
I am scared, sir. - Don't worry.
These violent clashes must have scared him away.
If he were scared I wouldn't have to worry, sir.
But he isn't scared. That's making me fearful, sir.
Sufferings and responsibilities should be treated equally, Konda.
You played pipe at countless weddings
and also funerals.
Go, start with your work.
Take the bridegroom's party to the temple.
Break the coconut and then bring them here. - Okay.
The groom's folks have arrived.
Now you have no choice. Get ready.
We are just baby-making machines for them.
We are there just to procreate and produce heirs.
We should accept it as an honour and continue living.
What can we do? It's our fate.
I know it is difficult for you.
But you have to just get used to it.
Why shed tears on this auspicious wedding day?
To stop my tears on my wedding day
isn't as easy as stopping me from blowing candles on my birthday.
Is that my grandpa playing the music?
Shakespeare.
Please take me away.
If we separate, it will bring taint to our village.
If we elope, it will be an insult to our love.
We shouldn't let either of that happen. Come on.
Hey!
I have promised her that I will marry her in this house
and bring her to our house, Grandpa.
"How did a lady Hitler lose her heart"
"in this forsaken place?"
"If they see us"
"they will beat us black and blue."
Oh, my! - Let's go.. Come on.
Come on, hide.
Move.
Stay calm..
Captain Hari, we need to get out of there. This is the only way.
But there is a German supply camp.
I need you to do reconnaissance and get me the details. Be safe.
Soldiers, you should stay with them.
Let's go.
Sir, this is the base
and these are the waters.
There is a tank and nearly seventy soldiers.
There are four boats here and two bunkers.
If we can take a tank and attack those bunkers
They can get away on the boats. - I used to be a tank commander.
Just get me into that tank
and I will blow this crowd to smithereens.
This won't succeed. We cannot attack them blindly.
We need a real plan.
You are imagining things and terrifying others.
We should be brave and we should keep on marching.
Sir, this... - This is not our village.
We cannot use women to get away.
There are only seven of us. - That's enough!
We are here.
This war is not for me, you, or for the country, Eswar.
This is for the future.
For that little baby.
Hope.
Do you know something? That little baby is also fighting a battle.
She should be crying for milk, but is crying for dear life.
That baby is not even aware of this world.
Will you kill her?
Will you kill her in the name of caste?
The issue is similar to the one back home.
What happened there should not be repeated here.
Hey, Kondaiah!
Won't you let the others live in peace. Stop!
They've already erected fences. What will happen now?
My dear Hari!
This is your daughter-in-law.
Don't you have common sense, Kondaiah?
They have done wrong. Instead of condemning them
why are you condoning them?
The fault lies is in our minds
and not in their hearts.
I don't feel anything is wrong.
They..
They love each other dearly.
It's all over..
A disaster has befallen our village.
There is no discipline.
People marry whomever they wish.
They don't care about culture or tradition.
They will marry irrespective of their caste.
If our house is impure, we have to cleanse it.
Now we have to cleanse our town.
I know about you.
You are a parasite feeding off social conflicts.
Hey, how dare you touch him!
Sir, people like him don't belong to any community.
They are wolves in men's clothing.
Hari.
How dare you elope with my sister in my absence?
I came when you were there.
You weren't present when I tied the knot with her.
One should be lucky to witness his sister's wedding.
Tying the nuptial chain doesn't mean you are wedded.
Do we need to obtain your blessings?
Marriage is a pledge to stay with each other through thick and thin.
We've taken that pledge long ago.
Now I just tied the nuptial chain and brought her home.
I'll break the nuptial chain and take away my sister. - Stop!
Don't kill Hari.
We may have differences, but we are all united.
If you want, kill me.
Please take your sister with you.
We have to find a solution using my minds.
I'll break your skull.
What is it that has made you so bold?
Eswar, I will ask you something. Please answer me.
Our village celebrates the legend of a god
sending off her sister with presents.
You people carry that present yourself.
Why shouldn't your sister live in such a village?
I am asking you for my present.
Brother.
Please give me my love.
Will you?
What you are asking for is not love, but prestige!
Don't you care about the caste and creed?
No caste is inferior. Caste is based on division of labour.
Those who farmed came to be known as Kammas.
Cultivators came to be known as Kapus.
A potter's pot, a washer man's stone, a goldsmith's oven
and a weaver's spinning wheel.
They don't live for themselves.
They live for others.
If someone asks who you are
what they mean is your profession, and not your social rank.
Anyone who asks for it is not human.
Dear, even though he is young
he has stated something profound.
Please be generous, my dear.
Move aside. - Father-in-law! - Grandpa!
Hari!
Hari.
Eswar..
Eswar.
Hari!
Hari, don't!
No.
Eswar.
I beg of you.
Please stop it!
Eswar!
Hari!
Seeta!
Hari! - Seeta.
Seeta..
Seeta!
Shakespeare.
Why are you crying
on this auspicious wedding day?
Seeta! - If you cry
they think they have won.
Seeta..
We have finally won, right? - Seeta..
'The distance between two banks is little.'
'But there are hundreds of enemies and cannons in between.'
'That's okay.'
'If you are hopeful about life, you will fear death.'
'But death is scared of those who kindle hopes of life.'
'Let's see.'
'Sincerely, Dhoopati Haribabu.'
Buddy.
I used to believe otherwise.
But if I had fled, I would have lost a lot.
A whole army is on the move to kill a baby.
Before I die, even if I kill one of them
It'll be akin to paying gratitude to my mother.
I like you, Dasu.
Until now, you were just an army man.
But now you have become a true soldier.
It's getting dark. Let's go!
Let's attack them.
Yes, Captain.
We will stick to the plan.
Just kill each and every bastard out there
and get to the boats. - Hari.
You could have abandoned me.
But you came to save me.
Why?
For my Seeta.
When I said in jest that I'd kill you, she slapped me.
"Unknown to you, friend."
She was so fond of you.
For her sake.
"Don't you want to get closer?"
"I am not alone, you are with me."
Be careful.
"This is my breath.."
"I will believe in you."
"Does hatred govern a country?"
"Does destruction create a heaven?"
"If it does, do humans live there?"
"Oh, Earth! Did you question them?"
"Oh, Time! Did you see them?"
"Come, let's march."
"Let's show that this is not the meaning of war."
"Let's come to a determination"
"and break the barriers that separate us."
"Is there a weapon more powerful than love?"
"Is there any weapon that prolongs life?"
"The demons need to change their dogmatism."
"Life is as fast as the beat of vulture's wings."
"What does this enmity achieve?"
"No crop grows in the desert."
"The well of hope that feeds a next generation"
"shouldn't be let to dry up."
"Let's give courage to the pitiful lives."
"Come, let's march."
"Let's show that this is not the meaning of war."
"Let's come to a determination"
"and break the barriers that separate us."
Eswar!
Move!
"This wonderful world belongs to everyone."
"Do only a few have the right to enjoy it?"
"How does the rivalry that breaks relations"
"recognise the bond between humans?"
Go. - "What good does this chaos bring?"
"My friend, don't you know this?"
"For whose benefit is this massacre?"
"The rivalry that keeps us apart."
"Let's make the forces that divide us.." - Hari.
"...bow down before our spirit of unity."
"Therein lies our victory."
Buddy, come on.
Hari, don't go!
Hari..
I'll first visit the village. - Village? - Go home.
Sir.
Will you help me did a grave?
Will you help me?
Grave?
What happened to my Hari?
Hari!
I read all these letters, sir.
I felt like washing Hari's feet
and marrying my sister to him.
Where are they?
They are not here.
They couldn't live together in this world.
They are at least together in death.
My sister died.
I thought it was because of him.
But Hari
saved me by sacrificing his life.
Hari was a great son.
A good grandson.
A great lover.
A great soldier.
Above all
which I didn't realise
he was a great friend.
Dhoopati Haribabu.
Salute!
You just wait and watch.
One day, Eswar will salute me saying
'Dhoopati Haribabu, I salute you!'.
Remove this fence.
This is the order of the landlord.
I am ordering you on his behalf.
Remove it!
Our village used to be united
now it has been smashed to smithereens.
People should live together
without erecting fences.
Remove the fences.
Remove it!
How good it will be if four lips come together?
Our village will prosper if we both marry.
Mister.
Do you like me?
No. I love you.
"This wonderful world belongs to everyone."
"Do only a few have the right to enjoy it?"
"How does the rivalry that breaks relations"
"recognise the bond between humans?"
"What good does this chaos bring?"
"My friend, don't you know this?"
"For whose benefit is this massacre?"
"The rivalry that keeps us apart."
"Let's make the forces that divide us"
"bow down before our spirit of unity."
"Therein lies our victory."