When you have no brain, you have no pain!
After three long years in class nine, finally made it to class ten!
Raghunath Bankar.
Here!
Bhagwanrao!
You can count every mark you’ve ever got and you still won’t pass class ten!
Stop embarrassing yourself!
Hmm.
There is only one student in our village who deserves an exam pass.
And that is...
Ahilya Veskar!
Come, Ahilya.
Take your exam pass.
You've got the exam pass...
but how will you get a bus ticket?
How will you cross the village border?
You've got a pass in one hand...
and bad luck in the other!
This pass is of no use without a bus ticket!
If only you weren't born a girl!
Ahilya!
Is that the exam pass?
Let me see.
This is no ordinary exam pass.
It holds the future of our girls.
Be very mindful of every step now.
Because with every step, you're paving their path.
OK?
Wish you all the best!
Bye.
Ahilya!
She isn't back home from school.
She'll take her own sweet time.
Here.
And calm down.
You don't have to start worrying every time she's a little late!
She'll be here soon.
Should I make you some tea?
What's the matter?
Is something wrong?
Not really.
Everyone's talking about it.
That there's something wrong with her.
I'm not worried about them.
But I'm really worried about her.
What if something's wrong with her?
- Should we go to the doctor? - No! Not at all!
I mean there's no need to.
As her mother, you don't seem concerned.
So it's up to me now.
Like I said...
she always takes her own sweet time.
You don't have to lose sleep over this.
What will you do once she gets married?
I know a girl belongs to her husband, not her father.
But until then, she is my responsibility.
Oh!
Who's it, Lakshmi?
I can't possibly guess.
Aaba!
Show me your hand!
Why?
Hm.
Nice.
Good for you.
Go keep it safe inside.
This...
is proof that you've passed class ten.
There's no studying beyond this.
Aaba!
Haven't I always given you everything you asked for?
Now you want to cross the village border!
Anything except that.
But it's not like people haven't done it before.
Who has?
Saraswati's aunt!
That was with her husband.
And she came back in a few days.
Even Vaijuakka had gone.
She still brags about the bangles she bought five years ago!
Are you going to travel alone?
Shouldn't someone travel with you?
If I could, I would've thought about it.
But it's harvest season and I'm very busy.
I also have to install that motor. Forget about it!
I'll take Aai with me instead!
Ye...yeah.
I can go with her.
Aaba.
Didn't you say...
that until I get married...
I am your responsibility?
Then why are you hesitating?
Think of it as a few more days of responsibility.
And think of her as your representative!
Her?
How many days is the exam for?
Six.
Ahilya.
I don't want you leaving Aai's side even for a moment!
I knew it!
You won’t bow to the Devi, but one word from her and you melt!
Can’t help it. She’s the Devi’s gift to us.
Thank you for your support and cooperation, Aaba!
Wait, what?
Never mind, just wish me well!
I'll get you some tea.
Sure.
I couldn't have done it...
without your support.
I'll always need you by my side.
I'm well prepared for the exam.
Except for the periodic table of elements!
If I can't think of an answer...
I'll just think of you.
I know you'll help me.
I'll see you soon, Mai.
Let's go!
Today all eyes are drawn her way.
And tomorrow she won’t even look your way!
What'll you do then?
If it was just about her...
I would've stopped caring long ago.
But I care about her father's farmlands.
He needs a capable man like me to manage them.
And taming a wild one is more satisfying. Right, Master?
I know how to tame this wild one.
And?
- Be careful. - Right.
No talking to strangers.
And no staying out unnecessarily.
Good.
These instructions are for you!
Why will I need them?
I've got a Devi by my side!
Please, Aaba.
Leave some tears in the tank for my wedding.
There it is.
See you soon!
Has anything changed?
Or is it all still the same?
Things are always changing beyond the borders, Vaijuakka.
It's we who remain the same.
Do city girls dress like boys?
What rubbish!
How was the exam?
It was a breeze.
I've written it so well that I didn't even need the Devi's help!
Thanks to you even Lakshmi got a glimpse of the city!
Need to get going.
Aai!
Is Aaba around?
No.
It's time to start studying.
I mean...
I've done pretty well so far.
But...
there's still a few more to go.
I forgot the fertiliser at home!
Go get the saree from inside!
No! Wait!
What is it?
I asked her to hang the cloths out to dry.
She never helps until I ask her to.
You're just pure evil!
That's not her job!
Taking her side again, aren't you?
She needs to know about these things!
Your girl's going to make you cry.
Stop saying that already!
I don't want my daughter doing that again!
I'll get the fertiliser.
No, don't touch it!
I'll take it myself.
That was some quick thinking!
You're so smart!
There's nothing smart about this.
I’d only been hiding the truth from him so far.
But now I've lied to his face!
My period’s due next week.
What am I going to tell him?
That's your problem. I've an exam to prepare for.
For you, O Woman...
no one ever leaves beyond the borders of Vesai.
But Ahilya goes every day.
How come the Devi doesn't punish her?
Listen.
I've lied so much for you that the Devi's going to punish me.
Did you punish me when I lied?
Then why would the Devi punish you?
A little lamp keeps searching
All through the dark night
Little does it know
That it carries the light
Even if the night turns cold
Your flame will still be bold
Even if the night turns cold
Your flame will still be bold
Walk on with steady grace
You’ll see light fill this place
A mother’s care in your hand
A schoolbag on your back
The city calls your dreams, as its promise softly gleams
Let fortune grace your hands, not with henna, but with ink
Unless something can be proven...
to be true...
don't accept it as the truth.
Says who?
René Descartes!
Fear nothing, girl so brave, your flame will never cave
Step across the door, these customs bind no more
Leave sorrow’s songs behind, sing new tunes, unconfined
Did Ahilya inspire all the girls to push boundaries?
Did you really think it was that simple?
Some boundaries are invisible.
They're in people's minds.
Crossing them is not easy.
Walk on with steady grace, you’ll see light fill this place
Saraswati's going to love these.
She's been wanting them for ages.
You're now done with the Class Ten exam.
Hmm.
- So that-- - That means Class Eleven!
There's a lot left to study.
Aai, do you know about biology?
Cells in the body...
organs, the heart--
And the brain?
Yes, that too.
When do they teach you how to treat a damaged one?
The deal was class ten. That's done. No more studies!
That's not fair, Aai!
Aai!
Aai, say something! Are you going to rat me out?
For seven generations, no one in our family gave birth to a girl!
How did she do it?
No use for a chore, no hope for a future!
Why was I cursed with this woman!
Couldn’t even cook or clean right!
Only wasted her time reading books!
Said she’d go to school after marriage!
Go on then!
- Is she-- - And why has she given me a girl!
How did this happen?
And it's probably not even mine!
Not just that, she's left behind this burden for me!
Ahilya!
Who’s going to raise this girl now?
Ahilya...your friend’s gone forever!
How did she--
Exactly! How did your girl even die!
And what about the child?
Haven’t you shamed us enough already?
I'm giving you Sharada's hand in marriage!
Just ask the Devi for what you want.
I know She will grant it.
Ahilya!
I don't know what I was thinking asking for sarees and jewellery.
Oye! What're you staring at?
What’s the point of a board if it’s going to stay empty?
Next year, our names will be up there.
Yours right above mine!
Nothing you learn in school...
is going to help here.
The Devi's granted all your wishes.
Not all of them.
I still want those fancy bangles from the city.