1 00:01:01,039 --> 00:01:04,000 I have been to Sri Lanka only once. 2 00:01:04,799 --> 00:01:09,560 And I hardly spent four hours there. 3 00:01:10,879 --> 00:01:15,439 So, my experience in Sri Lanka is next to nothing. 4 00:01:16,319 --> 00:01:19,239 Many years later, 5 00:01:19,480 --> 00:01:24,120 I read the story, ‘Kadugannawa, a note on a journey’. 6 00:01:25,599 --> 00:01:30,359 Everyone knows that most of MT’s stories have an autobiographical element. 7 00:01:31,480 --> 00:01:32,560 But this story compels us to feel that 8 00:01:33,000 --> 00:01:37,239 he speaks here of a personal experience, a part of his own life. 9 00:01:39,799 --> 00:01:44,319 Wafting over the Thaannikkunnu hill 10 00:01:44,640 --> 00:01:49,280 And over the banks of the silvery Nila river 11 00:01:49,799 --> 00:01:56,959 O come to me, my lonely dreams 12 00:01:57,239 --> 00:02:02,280 As you wander continually over my mindscapes 13 00:02:07,319 --> 00:02:16,080 Wafting over the Thaannikkunnu hill 14 00:02:40,520 --> 00:02:48,960 [Flight announcement] 15 00:02:48,960 --> 00:02:51,719 In the 37th year of my career as a journalist, 16 00:02:52,879 --> 00:02:56,719 my friends and colleagues organized a celebration. 17 00:02:58,000 --> 00:02:59,199 Quite by chance, 18 00:02:59,319 --> 00:03:02,759 the same day, I had a call from Srilanka. 19 00:03:03,680 --> 00:03:07,280 A conference for journalists from all over the world… 20 00:03:08,240 --> 00:03:11,719 and my role was to present a paper there. 21 00:03:12,960 --> 00:03:15,039 My journey was at a time when the horrors of war 22 00:03:15,520 --> 00:03:16,599 still filled the air. 23 00:03:17,560 --> 00:03:21,159 There are not many countries in this world that I have not visited. 24 00:03:21,879 --> 00:03:23,919 But Srilanka, this is the very first time. 25 00:03:25,000 --> 00:03:27,800 There’s a reason for this. 26 00:03:34,520 --> 00:03:38,319 [Flight announcement] 27 00:03:50,879 --> 00:03:54,360 [Indistinct chattering by the passengers] 28 00:04:43,040 --> 00:04:43,600 Venugopal. 29 00:04:44,879 --> 00:04:45,480 Nice meeting you, Sir. 30 00:04:46,360 --> 00:04:47,639 - Give me the bag. - It's okay. 31 00:04:47,800 --> 00:04:48,319 Come. 32 00:05:00,439 --> 00:05:06,360 [Indistinct radio broacast] 33 00:05:14,959 --> 00:05:18,079 [Speaking Sinhalese] 34 00:05:27,639 --> 00:05:29,959 Sir, the programme’s at 4 O'clock. 35 00:05:30,480 --> 00:05:31,759 You have some time to rest. 36 00:05:33,000 --> 00:05:33,839 Kadugannawa… 37 00:05:34,920 --> 00:05:36,560 How far is it from here? 38 00:05:37,199 --> 00:05:39,560 It’s about 89 kilometres. 39 00:05:40,120 --> 00:05:40,759 Why Sir? 40 00:05:50,199 --> 00:05:51,160 Kochunni Ettan, my older brother… 41 00:05:51,160 --> 00:05:52,759 where in Ceylon does Father live? 42 00:05:55,879 --> 00:05:56,759 Kadugannawa. 43 00:05:57,360 --> 00:05:57,920 What? 44 00:05:58,759 --> 00:06:00,879 Kadugannawa. That’s all you need to know. 45 00:06:06,399 --> 00:06:08,000 Kadugannawa… 46 00:06:08,160 --> 00:06:11,319 Ka-du-gann… 47 00:06:32,399 --> 00:06:35,839 I was able to meet some old journalist friends from the US and Europe. 48 00:06:36,800 --> 00:06:38,920 They seemed impressed by my presentation 49 00:06:39,680 --> 00:06:41,240 At least, they said so. 50 00:07:00,199 --> 00:07:01,199 They are gentle people, 51 00:07:02,240 --> 00:07:04,639 still devastated by the war 52 00:07:05,720 --> 00:07:07,439 The main conflict’s in Jaffna. 53 00:07:08,360 --> 00:07:09,639 That is the headquarters, right? 54 00:07:18,680 --> 00:07:19,839 Tomorrow, 55 00:07:20,560 --> 00:07:21,680 I’ll go to Kadugannawa 56 00:07:25,959 --> 00:07:27,519 Goodnight. Catch you later. 57 00:07:41,079 --> 00:07:41,600 Sir... 58 00:07:42,160 --> 00:07:45,120 Normally, state guests like you prefer Kandy or monasteries. 59 00:07:45,680 --> 00:07:48,360 You’ve chosen a tiny town, Kadugannawa. 60 00:07:50,199 --> 00:07:51,000 Why, Sir? 61 00:07:54,600 --> 00:07:55,360 I have reasons. 62 00:07:59,199 --> 00:08:01,000 My father had worked there for a long time. 63 00:08:05,839 --> 00:08:07,000 I may get to see a relative. 64 00:08:10,399 --> 00:08:11,480 What kind of relative, Sir? 65 00:08:42,120 --> 00:08:43,759 That was really good. 66 00:08:46,080 --> 00:08:48,000 Where’s Ramankutty, our neighbour? 67 00:08:48,120 --> 00:08:49,200 I heard he’s in Thrissur 68 00:08:49,360 --> 00:08:50,639 - And his farming? - Not so good, they say 69 00:09:01,960 --> 00:09:04,159 Amma, he’s come. 70 00:09:08,080 --> 00:09:08,720 I saw him. 71 00:09:20,279 --> 00:09:21,600 Who’s this now! 72 00:09:31,440 --> 00:09:33,519 Father’s little one is all grown up! 73 00:09:54,759 --> 00:09:56,120 What news of Kunjikrishnan? 74 00:09:56,720 --> 00:09:58,519 His letter says that he’ll be here for the delivery 75 00:09:59,440 --> 00:10:01,159 - And this is… - The 7th month 76 00:10:05,039 --> 00:10:06,440 Ah, give them this. 77 00:10:13,120 --> 00:10:14,320 Did you come on the morning train? 78 00:10:14,399 --> 00:10:15,639 Yes. 79 00:10:15,960 --> 00:10:17,320 The train was so crowded! 80 00:10:17,759 --> 00:10:19,399 Not a spot even to stand in! 81 00:10:20,600 --> 00:10:24,480 Once the war began, everyone decided to leave. 82 00:10:36,600 --> 00:10:37,759 Who is this child? 83 00:10:49,559 --> 00:10:51,279 She lives near my house. 84 00:10:51,799 --> 00:10:53,639 Her mother died of an ailment. 85 00:10:54,399 --> 00:10:56,039 A few days later, 86 00:10:56,159 --> 00:10:57,559 her father was killed by a bomb. 87 00:10:59,080 --> 00:11:01,879 The locals brought her to me. 88 00:11:11,679 --> 00:11:14,120 I felt I could not abandon her there. 89 00:11:21,120 --> 00:11:22,440 She’s a little girl, after all. 90 00:11:26,679 --> 00:11:28,000 You asked about relationship? 91 00:11:29,320 --> 00:11:30,080 My sister... 92 00:11:32,360 --> 00:11:33,039 Leela. 93 00:11:35,879 --> 00:11:37,360 Have some more. 94 00:11:37,360 --> 00:11:38,879 Enough, enough. 95 00:11:39,000 --> 00:11:40,200 Take it away, then. 96 00:11:41,399 --> 00:11:42,039 Some sweet payasam…? 97 00:11:42,279 --> 00:11:42,919 Enough. 98 00:11:43,080 --> 00:11:45,200 Children, have you nothing to read or write? 99 00:11:50,039 --> 00:11:50,799 Eat. 100 00:11:54,120 --> 00:11:55,679 Ammalu, did that child eat anything? 101 00:11:56,240 --> 00:11:57,519 Yeah, just a little. 102 00:11:57,960 --> 00:12:00,000 It will be difficult for her to get used to our ways. 103 00:12:01,279 --> 00:12:03,440 - Give her some more. - Enough. 104 00:12:06,159 --> 00:12:07,080 Did you eat, Venu? 105 00:12:07,120 --> 00:12:08,919 Then eat and go to bed. 106 00:12:09,360 --> 00:12:09,919 Go on, then. 107 00:12:12,360 --> 00:12:13,120 Isn’t it obvious? 108 00:12:13,440 --> 00:12:15,960 That nose, those eyes 109 00:12:15,960 --> 00:12:18,320 - Exactly like his - Softly… 110 00:12:18,840 --> 00:12:20,080 She was born to a Sinhalese woman. 111 00:12:20,559 --> 00:12:22,399 I saw Madhavan’s letter. 112 00:12:27,639 --> 00:12:28,759 Oh my God! 113 00:13:34,799 --> 00:13:37,840 Incredible! It’s rotating! 114 00:14:03,320 --> 00:14:04,399 Go and sleep. 115 00:14:04,480 --> 00:14:05,840 You never even open your books now! 116 00:14:58,000 --> 00:14:59,320 Now I know your name! 117 00:14:59,519 --> 00:15:00,120 Venu. 118 00:15:16,960 --> 00:15:19,919 It’s meant for the hair, not the table! 119 00:16:36,559 --> 00:16:37,919 People have been talking. I know now. 120 00:16:41,120 --> 00:16:41,879 Know what? 121 00:16:42,240 --> 00:16:45,200 That you’re having an affair and there’s a child. 122 00:16:46,120 --> 00:16:47,480 Is it that child who’s come with you? 123 00:16:48,320 --> 00:16:49,759 Didn’t I tell you about her? 124 00:16:50,360 --> 00:16:52,919 Why do you listen to what these people say, Ammalu? 125 00:17:02,639 --> 00:17:06,000 I heard you’d come. So I thought I’d visit you 126 00:17:06,000 --> 00:17:08,119 I’m glad. Come in, sit down. 127 00:17:08,519 --> 00:17:12,400 Caught the whiff of your cigar from out there! 128 00:18:11,000 --> 00:18:13,559 You’re just imagining things that don’t exist! 129 00:18:14,480 --> 00:18:16,119 I don’t know how to imagine things. 130 00:18:16,880 --> 00:18:18,279 I’ve been hearing all sorts of rumours. 131 00:18:18,480 --> 00:18:20,119 I just asked what the truth is. That’s all. 132 00:18:20,400 --> 00:18:21,480 Look Ammalu, 133 00:18:21,920 --> 00:18:25,119 people who have nothing else to do have made all this up. 134 00:18:25,279 --> 00:18:26,839 Don’t try to explain. 135 00:18:28,400 --> 00:18:29,880 Madhavettan wrote to me. 136 00:18:30,599 --> 00:18:32,519 Who? Your elder brother, Madhavan? 137 00:18:33,559 --> 00:18:37,559 That shiftless fellow? 138 00:18:38,039 --> 00:18:40,039 It was I who took him to Ceylon and got him a job. 139 00:18:41,000 --> 00:18:43,359 Just the right person to have stabbed me in the back! 140 00:18:49,680 --> 00:18:51,839 What’s this boy doing, lurking around the place? 141 00:18:52,240 --> 00:18:54,400 Go and lie down in your aunt’s room! 142 00:19:36,240 --> 00:19:37,359 Come to Ceylon, 143 00:19:37,920 --> 00:19:39,279 we’ll have a good time. 144 00:20:25,319 --> 00:20:25,960 Happy? 145 00:20:48,920 --> 00:20:50,799 - So you’re going to Vanneri? - Yes. 146 00:20:51,240 --> 00:20:53,160 Having come all the way here, shouldn’t I visit them? 147 00:20:53,799 --> 00:20:55,720 - Who’s there now? - Everyone. 148 00:20:56,599 --> 00:20:59,759 Father’s brother, the one just younger than him died last March. 149 00:21:03,279 --> 00:21:03,839 Come! 150 00:21:06,880 --> 00:21:08,240 Coming with me? 151 00:21:08,400 --> 00:21:09,759 To Ceylon? 152 00:21:11,039 --> 00:21:13,359 To Vanneri, my ancestral house. 153 00:21:13,920 --> 00:21:16,480 He has school. He can’t go anywhere now. 154 00:21:22,200 --> 00:21:22,920 Damodara! 155 00:21:23,279 --> 00:21:25,480 I’ve packed the snacks to be taken there 156 00:21:25,559 --> 00:21:26,839 and 2 banana clusters. 157 00:21:26,880 --> 00:21:28,000 Take them as well. 158 00:21:49,240 --> 00:21:49,839 Yes, sir. 159 00:21:52,680 --> 00:21:53,480 How far now? 160 00:21:53,920 --> 00:21:54,720 Half an hour more, Sir. 161 00:21:56,680 --> 00:21:59,000 Which are the sweets Srilankans like the most? 162 00:22:01,400 --> 00:22:03,839 We have a tradition to take sweets when we visit our relatives. 163 00:22:04,160 --> 00:22:05,240 - Yes, sir. - Shall we get some? 164 00:22:05,640 --> 00:22:07,240 Sure Sir, I’ll get them for you. 165 00:22:39,559 --> 00:22:40,119 Sir... 166 00:22:40,720 --> 00:22:42,359 This is the news of our programme yesterday. 167 00:22:42,519 --> 00:22:44,400 See this. The photo is yours, Sir. 168 00:23:16,880 --> 00:23:18,839 Venu, when are you going to Ceylon? 169 00:23:21,440 --> 00:23:22,519 Pardon, Cheriyamma. 170 00:23:22,799 --> 00:23:25,200 I asked, when are you going to Ceylon? 171 00:23:25,279 --> 00:23:26,079 Wednesday. 172 00:23:27,640 --> 00:23:29,400 That girl who came here, 173 00:23:30,359 --> 00:23:32,519 the one who came with your father. 174 00:23:33,160 --> 00:23:34,279 From Ceylon! 175 00:23:38,720 --> 00:23:41,279 She was 2 years older than you. 176 00:23:42,039 --> 00:23:43,880 If you could meet her... 177 00:23:45,359 --> 00:23:48,160 Everyone said she was your own sister. 178 00:23:49,599 --> 00:23:53,960 But how will you search for her without even an address? 179 00:23:55,279 --> 00:23:56,279 I can try. 180 00:24:26,839 --> 00:24:28,319 Did you find what you were looking for? 181 00:24:29,079 --> 00:24:29,720 Yes. 182 00:24:30,119 --> 00:24:32,240 What was that girl’s name? 183 00:24:32,799 --> 00:24:33,480 Leela. 184 00:24:33,880 --> 00:24:34,640 I’ve not forgotten. 185 00:24:37,160 --> 00:24:38,000 Leela! 186 00:25:09,359 --> 00:25:11,240 Here, all Malayalis are called Kochiyans. 187 00:25:11,640 --> 00:25:14,160 There are 2 houses on this road with Kochiyan connections. 188 00:25:14,400 --> 00:25:15,319 Let’s go and check, Sir. 189 00:25:20,240 --> 00:25:21,319 A funeral is going on, Sir. 190 00:25:21,559 --> 00:25:22,960 They’re here to pay homage to the dead. 191 00:25:23,319 --> 00:25:25,200 That’s why they have white flags and clothes. 192 00:25:26,400 --> 00:25:28,319 Ashley, this is not the house we have to go to, is it? 193 00:25:28,400 --> 00:25:29,920 No, Sir, we’re going to the third house. 194 00:25:48,000 --> 00:25:50,319 What’s the boy doing? Is he cleaning the water or what? 195 00:25:50,759 --> 00:25:52,799 No Sir, these people are very poor. 196 00:25:53,440 --> 00:25:55,319 They pluck these plants for food. 197 00:25:58,000 --> 00:25:59,640 Does a Kochiyan live in that house? 198 00:26:01,640 --> 00:26:03,359 - Sir, what is your sister’s name? - Leela. 199 00:26:03,759 --> 00:26:04,799 Is that Leela’s house? 200 00:26:07,240 --> 00:26:08,240 This is Leela’s brother. 201 00:26:09,000 --> 00:26:09,839 He’s come from Kerala. 202 00:26:11,200 --> 00:26:12,160 Are you Leela’s son? 203 00:26:14,160 --> 00:26:15,240 Can’t you hear me? 204 00:26:15,480 --> 00:26:16,319 I’m shouting! 205 00:26:16,680 --> 00:26:17,440 I can! 206 00:26:18,559 --> 00:26:19,720 Kochiyans are all crooks! 207 00:26:20,640 --> 00:26:21,680 Leela has no one. 208 00:26:22,079 --> 00:26:22,920 No Kochiyans! 209 00:26:23,279 --> 00:26:23,839 No one! 210 00:26:24,319 --> 00:26:25,079 Listen, brother. 211 00:26:25,480 --> 00:26:27,319 We’re not here to make trouble. 212 00:26:27,839 --> 00:26:29,960 All we want is to meet your mother. 213 00:26:30,039 --> 00:26:31,279 You’ve nothing better to do? 214 00:26:32,160 --> 00:26:33,359 So another Kochiyan has come to meet her! 215 00:26:34,359 --> 00:26:35,079 Bloody crooks! 216 00:26:37,039 --> 00:26:37,559 Sir, 217 00:26:38,400 --> 00:26:39,119 this is the house. 218 00:27:41,000 --> 00:27:41,799 Father… 219 00:27:55,359 --> 00:27:56,000 Leela... 220 00:28:00,599 --> 00:28:01,880 She does not want to meet any of you. 221 00:28:02,799 --> 00:28:03,440 Get out! 222 00:28:04,880 --> 00:28:05,799 Out! 223 00:29:51,319 --> 00:29:52,480 Whatever money I had in hand 224 00:29:52,839 --> 00:29:54,240 to be sent from home, 225 00:29:54,319 --> 00:29:58,079 not a bad sum in all I entrusted to Ashley. 226 00:29:58,720 --> 00:30:04,039 The boy will no longer have to eat water hyacinths to stay alive 227 00:30:05,240 --> 00:30:06,799 I will keep doing this until I die. 228 00:30:08,319 --> 00:30:11,440 It’s all I can do... 229 00:30:12,160 --> 00:30:13,359 for Leela!