"Let us pray to Lord Hanuman! The destroyer of evil!"
"He is mightier than mountains! Beyond all malice and sickness!"
[indistinct prayer]
"Let us pray to Lord Hanuman! The destroyer of evil!"
[sanskrit chants]
Tell me something.
Were you playing the drum or working out?
I am asking you if you have been trained.
Hail Lord Mahadev! Hail Lord Mahadev!
Lucky, are you dumb?
When one is under pressure one has to sing!
I did give you the number of Kukku from Chatarpur.
Did you send your resume to him? What did he say?
What else? 'I'll get back to you'
Did he get back?
I called him 12 times and he called me back once.
Kukku!
What did he say?
What else? No freshers needed.
And I had a gap of two years. I well know that!
But he is right.
You need to have experience for a job.
I need to get a job first to have some experience.
I cannot buy experience from a shop!
I need to work something out. Do not worry.
Why are Humpty Dumpty here?
I got a call from them this morning.
They wanted to get a job done.
And there is only one man in this area that can get things done. It is you.
Come here!
What do you think of me?
You get me dragged in all this nonsense and hence I cannot get a proper resume.
You...
Hello brother.
Yes.
Speak.
He hung up.
Then you may go and get it.
How much do we want?
Dry fruits are needed in small quantity.
And hence I ask, how much?
- Call him! - He must be busy at the temple.
It is a Wednesday. Why is he there today?
He goes every day. That is his work now.
First he washes hands and sweeps the floor.
Then he washes hands and rolls our carpet.
Then he washes hands and offers vermillion to Lord.
Then he washes hands and offers oil to Lord.
Then he washes hands and distributes offertory.
Then he washes hands and looks at them
as if he washed off his fate!
Do you know what I think?
It has become his passion now.
He could not clear SSC so he wants to be a priest.
Call him and tell him to bring dry fruits.
Today we will make some 'Kheer'.
For real? We get to eat kheer?
I'll cook today but you get to eat tomorrow.
Why?
Today is the 'Sharad Purnima'. Elixir is added to 'Kheer'.
So why can we not eat it today?
Make the call.
Who is it?
Mom, answer the door.
What is it?
Ma'am, can I have some water?
Aman! Bring some water!
What are you doing? Why do you put it here?
I will not be able to open the window.
Open your heart! That is what matters!
'Save and educate girls!' We do not have daughters.
Then educate sons!
Our nation needs them.
Rishikesh, how are you?
- Greetings! - Greetings!
Here you go, have some sweets.
Are you a father now?
I am not married yet.
I got a job. I cleared SSC.
So you will no longer go on handing out bills.
Here is the bill.
Today is the last day for me.
So please pay it on time.
I will be leaving now.
- How are you Rishikesh? - Great!
Here, have some sweets!
I did not want to have a bath!
You should have told us!
This seems to be someone else's bill.
'Mishra family wanted to make 'Kheer' full of dry fruits.'
'And here comes the electricity bill.'
'And now that the bill is hefty expenses will be reduced.'
'A classic case of middle class family.'
'Not much has changed in this family.'
'A father that still works for the electricity department.'
'And his scooter gives the same mileage.'
'Elder son, Annu Mishra, busy without work.'
'And he feels that his house is a lodge.'
'Younger Son Aman Mishra.'
'Wakes, brushes his teeth, studies hard'
'and forgets all very soon.'
'And as usual, we have the mother, at last..'
'One who waits for elixir to drop in her 'Kheer'.'
'Welcome back, I am the piggy bank of this house.'
'I have no money but I gather stories.'
'Pay heed, stories and not tales.'
'Had this been a tale the 'Kheer' would be poisonous'
'for that extra touch of melodrama!'
"Sometimes, as easy as games of children."
"Sometimes it gets difficult and taxing."
"Simple and yet twisted."
"But we did hold on."
"Sometimes slick, sometimes it slacked."
"Sometimes a bit low and then high stacked."
"A mellow sweetness that would dissolve."
"Or a touch of spice!"
'Such is life. A collection of memories.'
It seems that the TV has been running a lot.
You watch the shows.
You recite movie lines in sleep.
You cry in the washroom seeing the protagonist cry.
You want to offer freshwater using motor pump to plants!
You want the geyser to run so you can have a bath.
You have me iron your handkerchief.
And I am the one watching too much TV?
Someone shut her up!
Mom, have you been watching news debates?
You mock others! Rishikesh cleared SSC.
- Who is that? - The one who hands out bills.
He has got a job.
- Where is he posted? - Sonbhadra.
It is at the border. Rural.
- Less HRA, I believe. - Add the TADA in.
- About 23,000 at best. - Good sum to start with.
- Where is this place? - Outside your syllabus!
- Focus on your board exams. - Like you do as a priest?
He said it was your passion.
It is a good thing to pray. Why do you bother him?
A devotee stands before God with clean hands
and he chases after God with empty hands!
Mom, God wanted to meet me so I went to him for a while.
- Dad, a problem happened. - What is it?
Lucky brought Humpty Dumpty over there.
I saw him all grumpy and sad.
I asked him what was the matter so they said they had a spiked electricity bill
and they wanted to talk to me as you work for the department
and they seek a settlement.
What did you say?
I said get lost. I refused.
Well said.
Then he said if we can work something out.
What did you say then?
I said that my father is an honest man.
And he would rather beg than go for such foul income.
He is speaking of your father.
Dumpty was very said. He could pay up such a sum.
He said he would kill himself by jumping from the ropeway.
That transformer is short.
We got a complaint. How will he reach there?
He is a player of Long jump. He can do it anywhere.
- How can it be so high? - Something is wrong.
You do not know. Rashmi, from the third lane told me of it.
- You seem to be fond of her. - She is fond of me.
-He does not listen. - He has no job but seeks company of women.
That is not. They come after me.
What do you mean by that?
Do not burn it out.
You are a clerk and not a lineman.
Thank you for reminding me.
- I was about to swing here! - What are you doing?
Let me do my job. I know what I am doing.
The reading is fine.
- And the wheel is going proper. - Dad.
Let us move to Delhi.
Why?
I heard the government pay for electricity.
Is that right?
Then so be it.
So get us some tickets.
Book a flat for the family.
Find a school for yourself and temple for your brother
and find a job for me. For you mom..
Get her Bittu's mom!
Lucky calling.
Yes, Lucky.
It cannot be done.
- He is my father. - Look at the way he speaks.
Do not do it. You did it last time. And you fell ill.
Hello, listen to me... Just listen to me. Hello...
- He bound me in an oath. - Whose?
- On his own life. - Then let him die.
[Humming]
Dad.
Please get it done.
Oh no.
Focus on the hand first.
- I am doing it. - And then you must adjust.
Stop sitting at the temple. or you will be punished.
This life is hard, my dear.
Dad, let us make it easy then.
I am not asking to get this done for all but few.
It is not for free. We get a little something.
And Lucky has made an offer already.
- What did he offer? - Commission Rs. 10 per unit.
- Cash? - I can have it sent to your account.
- That is corruption. - Convenience fees.
- It is one and the same! - Dad! Dad!
Sit here. You have been acting out.
Work at my feet now.
It helps both parties.
- Is that so? - Indeed, it is.
Think of it.
You had my driving licence made at age of 16.
- And how did it happen? - How?
Bribe!
Broker got the money we got the license.
No one gains no one loses.
How do you think Mr. Chaudhry gets you a reservation?
You are not praying a bribe for it.
You pay a convenience fee.
And look at him, he has a car. And I own a scooter.
Look at that. I have been working for 30 years
and you will now tell me of convenience fee?
Dad, everyone takes bribe in your office.
Mr. Dubey has earned a lot and got such a nice house.
- It's okay. - I went to poop in his toilet.
Due to the AC in there I could not do it well.
He has such pride.
He may act all prideful
But no respect.
I may not have earned money
but I sure did earn respect.
Then why do you not contest an election?
You will not get a single vote from our house.
Truly said. It does sound true.
Mom, one needs respect.
Go ahead, tell mason to use respect to make your house.
And we will use respect to get provisions for next month.
You may pay four your data pack by respect.
If you need the pack for a month you may use all our respect.
And you need a new phone.
Use the respect that is left to buy that phone.
The one with dragon processor.
What is that?
He keeps playing games! All day long!
His phone keeps charging!
- Mom he does play a lot. - Stop this game at once!
This game will cause us a lot of troubles.
Aman, get some milk. I have to make kheer.
You will need a lot to make some kheer.
No need, I'll add some water. Skim it.
- I am not eating that! - I want dry fruits in it!
You will eat what I cook!
We have already spent a lot this month!
It will not cost much. Just buy it.
I know well how to run this house.
No one touches it. I'll place in courtyard.
We'll eat it by spoon!
- It is 'Shard Purnima'. - So what?
The kheer I'll be made today but we can eat it tomorrow.
-Then I wil bring the milk tomorrow. - He is a dullard.
Kheer will be made today and placed in courtyard for the thing to drip.
- What? - Elixir.
What if it does not drip?
No way! It will happen.
We all will eat the sacred kheer.
Our entire family will be blessed and safe from troubles.
Why did I not hear of it before? How?
Come here.
- Come here. - Yes, tell me.
This is double.
- Make it triple! - Dad!
- Mom! - Stop it now!
- Why do you not study? - I was just..
Get back to studies now!
I admit that we have much expenses
but we cannot dial it down on food.
We can shut the fan off.
Darn it!
What does such honesty bring?
I wish I could earn enough to feed good stuff to our sons.
Let me tell you
gold looks great on you
It is a duplicate.
You had mortgaged the original for your sister's wedding.
Running away from the truth will not help you.
To water the plant.
Who waters the plant at night?
I do! My plant my rules!
Let me see what happens!
Move your leg, I am sleeping here!
Move your leg!
How much do you get?
What?
- Convenience fee. - How about you focus on your studies?
- I cannot sleep. - Go take a dump.
You ate a lot and now you are troubling me.
You used up all my deodorant.
How much are humpty Dumpty paying?
1500 in cash,
a memory card of 32 GB
and a carton of mint cigarettes.
- And what will I get? - A kick! Want it?
You did not find me on the streets! I am your brother!
- I should get some! - You get an advice.
Look.
There are two types of people who can fly a kite.
One that takes others down gently.
And then there are those who do it instantly.
But while trying the gentle measure one does lose their own kite.
Just as I lost my chance in SSC.
But one who does not give up rarely fails.
What do you mean?
I want you to give your best for the board exams.
- Do you not get it? - I got it.
You are dumb. Bring me some water.
I am exhausted. Make it quick.
- I am sleepy. - Move!
Nothersome!
No one pays heed.
- Dubey, tell me something. - Yes, Mishra.
- About that... - What is it?
Something often done in the office.
- Power nap? - Convenience fee.
Is it risky?
Mishra, even a squirrel takes risk.
Have you noticed?
She acts hasty to get a grain of food.
She risks her life everyday to survive.
Mishra, it is time
to make risk compulsory in life.
Do I now have to be a squirrel in this age?
Why do you get so scared?
I had five people adjusted in the second lane.
- What are you saying? - I mean it.
- Is that so? - Tell me something.
Your kids are growing up.
We do not have a lot of money.
I only had a small house.
Had I stayed there my sons would kick me out.
Mishra, for people like us convenience fee is no risk
but an insurance.
Do you get that? Do you understand?
Mishra.
- 'Dilemma, quandary, impasse.' - Hello. Mishra.
'An emotion stuck with middle class people.'
'One that cannot be accepted nor rejected.'
'Worried about family's honour and reputation.'
'Public humiliation.'
'Often prevalent in small towns'
'these are some permanent lines.'
'Mr. Mishra here.'
'He has a dilemma.'
'He is like the money in PF account'
'that must be invested but without any risk.'
The number you have dialled is currently busy.
- Rs. 800 for Maheshwari. - 800.
- And Rs. 1100 for Salman. - 1100.
Hold it.
Make it 1200.
Last time he gave us a cheaper sweet.
And a rotten banana.
He gave you a banana?
Make it 1250,
There it goes.
What about Humpty and Dumpty?
Dad, they are friends.
Okay. Make it 1800.
- I have agreed upon 1500. - What should I write?
Make it 1500.
How is the kheer?
- And you are asking for that. - What is it?
- Actually.. - What is it?
- What are they giving? - What are you taking?
It is nothing, Dad! Just write it! And have some kheer.
How is the kheer?
Does not taste like Elixir.
Elixir is tasteless. It brings grace.
- Not that I see any! - We have no peace!
Stop it now, have some kheer.
What about the bill of Bittu's mom? Was there a spike in hers?
- Do you not know? - What?
Last weekend her house lost power.
She asked her son to siphon power illegally from overhead cable.
And he was a fast guy and he went right up.
Dad, he acted fast and he threw the clamp
but the clamp flew to the third lane and not on second.
And there was quite a scene.
The transform was burnt. A huge scene.
- What then? - Nothing else.
The line man came to them the next day with register
and she began fighting and arguing.
The register was taken and she bit the lineman's hand.
It was swollen blue.
He was so angry.
And while going back he removed the earthing.
She went to the kitchen turned on the blender
and she was pushed back due to the shock.
And then she fell hard.
And she was in great pain!
So who got her up?
- Who lifts the downtrodden? - Stop this nonsense!
Shut the Tv down.
People leave the TV on like a radio.
Anu, I have been calling Dubey. Take a look.
What sort of friends do you have?
Mom!
- Moving to our headlines. - What happened?
'Breaking news! Four workers of electricity department'
'have been arrested for corruption.'
'They would inflate bills by tampering meter.'
'And then asked consumers to pay a convenience fee.'
'The cheif engineer is the leader of this gang'
'and he has confessed his crime.'
'Last night he had adjusted the bills of 15 people.'
'For years this has been going on.'
'And the property can be seized.'
It is Mr. Dubey!
Yes, dear. He ruined it all.
Dad, what will they seize?
All the stuff of the house is taken.
They even take the gas cylinder.
Will they also take away Mr. Dubey's bike?
Even the duster that he uses to clean the bike!
And the AC from the toilet!
'No one will be spared.'
We survived due to grace of God.
It is the grace of elixir.
'Let us ask Mr. Dubey.'
'Mr. Dubey, how did you operate this gang of yours?'
Shanti, this kheer is amazing!
I mean it.
Dad, what will we do now?
'Mr. Dubey...'
I was thinking of fighting the elections.
Dad, hire me as your assistant!
- Silence! - Over there! He is being slapped!
- Dear God! - Let them suffer!
One reaps what one sows!
Let us go now!
'And it all began with God's name'
'and nothing came into hand! No wealth, no grace!'
'And what now? Back to basics.'
'Shanti will go to temple and pray.'
'Not for herself. For her family.'
'Indian Middle class thinks the stars are against them.'
'That is not true at all.'
'And to survive this middle class may try all they can'
'but in the end they fall. They fall.'
'Just as Mishra family saw it all.'
'You thought their fate would change.'
'Tales change, stories do not.'
'And it is these stories that become a memory'
'and those are saved.'