Somewhere in the Kaveri delta, 1980s. Venkatesan and his wife have come to finish selling Venkatesan's ancestral house. The sale almost concluded, the Venkatesans take an evening stroll down Car Street to the temple and back.
On the way, they stop at Kader Basha's shop to buy /1
On the way, they stop at Kader Basha's shop to buy /1
some nei varuval seeval (shaved betel nut speciality of Delta region), whose nephew in Saudi is buying Venkatesan's house.
A tall man with a tuft and the evident marks of a vaidika stops to buy betel leaves.
Venkatesan - Swami, are you buy any chance Rajagopalan of Nadathur /2
A tall man with a tuft and the evident marks of a vaidika stops to buy betel leaves.
Venkatesan - Swami, are you buy any chance Rajagopalan of Nadathur /2
Mama's farm?
Rajagopalan - Elai, Venkitta! I am the very same Raju. So, where are you now? I am told you have become an Central Govt officer now?
V - Yes, I am due to retire as Under Secretary in a few months. I will be settling down in West Mambalam. And what about you? /3
Rajagopalan - Elai, Venkitta! I am the very same Raju. So, where are you now? I am told you have become an Central Govt officer now?
V - Yes, I am due to retire as Under Secretary in a few months. I will be settling down in West Mambalam. And what about you? /3
R - I am still here, as usual. My daughter is now married and my son is working in TVS in Madurai
V - What need does your family have for a job? (turning to his wife) Raju was very much the 'minor' (spoilt rich young man) in those days. He always wore the best kurtas stitched /4
V - What need does your family have for a job? (turning to his wife) Raju was very much the 'minor' (spoilt rich young man) in those days. He always wore the best kurtas stitched /4
especially for him in Mayavaram. And he and I used to sneak out to watch movies at night. We were once recognized only by the brightness of Raju's diamond ear-rings. Look at him now. Looks like a Veda Vithu. When did you take up Veda Adhyayanam?
R - Actually, after the /5
R - Actually, after the /5
Communists became unbearable, my father was forced to sell all our lands. Many of them, we never received full payment. My aunt Maragatham was sent back by her husband after we lost our property, Appa never recovered from it. Manimaran now is the owner of all our lands /6
under various benami names of course. I make do with whatever I get.
V - I am sorry to hear that. But you did complete Adhyayanam, didn't you? You can make a good living in Madras.
R - Actually, no, I never properly learnt Adhyayanam. I go to shraddham ceremonies to be fed, /7
V - I am sorry to hear that. But you did complete Adhyayanam, didn't you? You can make a good living in Madras.
R - Actually, no, I never properly learnt Adhyayanam. I go to shraddham ceremonies to be fed, /7
and that's why this appearence. Even now, if you give me 15 rupees, I will say - Sarve mangalani avapyantu and I will say Tathastu /END
