What are they making us watch?
A French movie. Just keep quiet.
Focus, girls. This is sex-ed.
Every girl should have sex education.
So that we learn not to outsource our pleasure to shitty people.
Hey.
What do you think you're doing with your phone?
Shit.
Side-braid, I'm talking to you.
Get up.
Phone.
Unlock it and hand it over.
Give it.
"Look at what they're showing us in the name of sex-ed."
Delete it.
One second. Is there a green tick?
Yes.
Fuck, that means he's seen it.
Deleted.
What's your name?
Devika.
"Snitch-ika."
Don't say that.
Look at what it says over there.
-On the wall. -Read.
"A headstrong girl
defi…
defies…
so…
soc…"
Sit down.
What's your name?
-Vandana. Vandana Ba-- -Read.
"A headstrong girl defies societal norms."
Read the first cell on the second last row.
"Takes control of her pleasure."
Shiku.
Shiku…
This isn't going to be easy for me either.
Then let's go back home.
Look at all these big trees.
So beautiful!
You'll definitely see a nightingale flying around.
Papa, enough.
Listen.
You may not understand today.
But you will one day.
Take care of yourself.
I will call you every day at eight o'clock sharp.
Wallika Bisht?
-Good morning, Ma'am. -Welcome to Matilda House.
-I'm your warden, Mrs. Madan. -Yes, Ma'am.
Breaking news from the Matilda House campus.
Student Body President Paro Sarna made freshers watch a porn video, forcibly.
A girls' college is not just responsible for education and security,
but also for molding them into morally strong, independent women.
When the Student Body President shows porn to her juniors,
what can you expect from such a college?
Would you send your daughter to study at Matilda House?
I for one would never do that.
Amazing, Devi. You've gone viral. Well done.
All the news channels are playing your stupid video on a loop.
Sorry, sis…
I mean, Ma'am.
I didn't know he would post the video online.
Please forgive me.
Day scholars, what are you doing here?
Who brought you inside today? Shubhra or Paro?
No, Ma'am, she called us. She wants to make a video of us.
Yes, Ma'am, she wants to make a viral video of us.
Okay, out.
Snitch-ika.
Devika, this is Wallika.
English Honors. Please help her out.
Special assembly in seven minutes. Attendance is compulsory.
-Yes, Ma'am. -Okay, Wallika?
I know where the assembly is.
Should I take you there?
Ma'am said to help.
Thanks.
WHY IS PAPA DOING THIS?
AND WHY ARE YOU SUPPORTING HIM? YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE MY BFF…
LISTEN. YOU'RE AT THE RIGHT PLACE. CHILL.
Look at that one.
If this is not a zombie apocalypse, I don't know what is.
These smartphones have sucked their brains out.
How are we supposed to educate them?
Let's make memes and reels on the course material. Might help.
Good idea, Kamala. Very innovative.
-Hi, Vandana. -Hi, Tabassum Ali.
TabbyFashn. If you ever want a makeover, please let me know.
I think they're beyond redemption, PD.
They're kids, Preet. What did they tell us when we were of that age?
"Reading too much will rot your eyes and brains."
You're just getting cynical with age.
I was born cynical.
Paro, meet me in my office later.
Good morning, Ma'am.
-Good morning, girls. -Good morning, Ma'am.
At Matilda House, we don't provide education just inside the classrooms.
Everything that happens here will teach you something.
To learn from it, you will need to leave your comfort zone.
But showing someone adult content without their consent
was wrong.
At Matilda House, we have a long history of dealing with all problems
that arise, in the spirit of openness and dialogue.
This new way of dealing with things might cause you discomfort.
But when that happens, ask yourself, "Why?"
"Why does this make me uncomfortable?"
The answer to that question will bridge the gap
between who you are,
and who you can become.
Should you be worried about stepping out of your comfort zone?
Absolutely not.
-Hi. Vandana Batra. -It's a library.
Sorry. First-year, Chem Honors.
Wallika Bisht.
Oh. Are you also a "fachha"?
-They call first years that. Even I… -Excuse me.
Because you are safe at Matilda House.
Everybody, use a pipette.
What's a pipette?
This thing.
Thank you.
We're all here to catch you when you stumble, but,
stumble we must.
Because those who don't fall, don't move forward.
Aarushi Gupta?
Present, Ma'am.
Krishna Mukesh?
Present, Ma'am.
TabbyFashn.
If you ever try to give a makeover to one of my classroom doors…
Do I need to say more?
Go take your seat. And take this.
We have a new student today, Wallika Bisht.
You've missed a whole week. You've lots to catch up on, and fast.
-Okay? -Yes, Ma'am.
-Jyoti Kumari? -Present, Ma'am.
-Hi, I'm Tabby. -Lola D'souza?
-Hi. -Present, Ma'am.
Makeover?
Shreya Goyal?
-Home, a hostel, or PG? -Hostel.
Now who knows this Trisha Seth?
Not so fast, not so fast…
Suck it, bitches!
Mom!
Pause, don't cheat, fuckers!
Trisha, the college has sent a complaint about your attendance.
What do you want me to do?
-Hi, Auntie! -Hi, Auntie…
Hi.
Listen, please tell your friend she has to go to college.
Or she can forget about her Boston dreams.
Mom, seriously. Can you leave?
-What am I gonna do with you? -Mom!
Take the door with you.
The concept of knocking is totally alien to her.
Tee, Jay, I wanna talk to Trish.
Sex chat on the big screen?
Dude, Auntie's right.
Over here, they're serious when they say provisional.
Can't fuck around, Trish. You need the attendance.
Look. I just miss you, okay?
I want you here.
I get it.
Can we play now?
There was a time when Matilda House produced known scientists,
academicians, filmmakers, and pillars of civil society.
And today, Matilda House only produces porn and not education.
Recently, the girls touched a new low
when Student Body President Paro Sarna
exposed first-year students to porn.
Yes, you heard it right.
This is the same Paro Sarna, who, two years ago,
went on strike to forcibly extend the Girls' Hostel curfew timings.
She is a certified troublemaker.
-So, Mr. Suresh? How's it going? -Very well, my dear.
-What about you? -Very well, but…
what's this I see here?
Sorry, it's the last one. I'll stop smoking after this.
You'll stop smoking right now.
Mr. Suresh, can I go in now?
Please, please…
-One minute, you can go in after her. -Okay.
May I come in, Ma'am?
Paro, does trouble follow you or do you seek it out?
I try my best, Ma'am.
This is serious, Paro.
They're asking for your blood and mine.
And that too on national television.
Ma'am, that's because the freshers are stupid.
Paro, when you came here, you were just like them, remember?
Oiled hair, shy, timid…
They're exactly where you were two years ago.
Ma'am, it was just erotica from a female gaze by a French filmmaker.
That wasn't porn, it was sex-ed!
And anyway, why is watching porn a problem--
Showing it is.
You showed them the film without their consent.
I've been on the phone all morning.
Come here. Come here.
With us today we have Mayank Asthana,
who is a member of the
Pan India Chhatra Association or PICA. Welcome.
-Tell us about your opinion. -Mr. Chaurasia…
by virtue of being one of Mother India's sons…
it is my duty to uphold Indian values
and protect my little sisters.
The IT Act Section 67A
passed in the year 2000,
very clearly states that watching or broadcasting porn
carries a penalty of one lakh rupees and five years in jail.
This means that Paro Sarna went against the Indian Constitution.
She should go to jail. Right?
No, no. I'm not saying that our sister Paro should go to jail…
Thank you, brother. So sweet.
But some obscene girls from Matilda House…
-Ma'am, obscene? -have polluted the environment--
Mayank Asthana is calling us obscene?
Last year a girl accused him of MeToo. I know because I helped her.
That's why both he and PICA lost the University elections
and that is why he has filed this PIL.
What guts he has!
This PIL is going to put us in a hell of a fix.
Tabby?
How much longer will it take? I have an audition in an hour.
Are there more people after this?
There would've been if my fliers were still up around the college.
They could've at least left them on in the toilet. But don't worry.
I think an hour is enough.
Wally?
Don't you know what they showed?
Oh, it was nothing. It was French erotica.
Much ado about nothing.
You were there?
-Tell us everything. -Later.
I think you're done. See this.
-Like it? -Yeah.
Thank you.
Now listen. Remember to take a photo and tag me.
-Yes. -Post, not just a story.
-Okay? Thank you. -Bye. Thank you.
Come, Vandana.
Can I keep this here?
Sit. Make yourself at home.
So am I special or do you take everyone for granted?
I live in Old Delhi with my aunt.
If these girls come there, my aunt…
will grind me into kebabs and feed me to them.
So it's better if you get to know me first.
You can decide to hate me later.
And anyway, y'all better love me.
Because when I become an influencer with a million followers,
I will be rich.
Then I will travel the world, attend the Bir Music Festival…
June, right?
You like rock music?
Why? Am I not allowed to?
Oh…
Because I'm a small-town girl from U.P.
Because you're this wannabe fashion-influencer type.
So I should be single-dimensional and superficial?
That's the stereotype.
You know what I love the most?
The sound of a stereotype when it breaks.
Cha-tak!
And anyway, you're the one breaking stereotypes.
A girl on these wheels should be a "poor thing,"
but you're quite a bitch.
Cha-tak.
Vandana!
Hi! I'm Tabby.
They're just leaving, okay?
Snitchy is your roomie?
Shit.
YOU SURE HAVE MADE NEW FRIENDS
I DON'T WANT NEW FRIENDS!
Next, Vandana Batra.
Actually…
I've prepared something different, so, I hope that's not a problem.
Vandana, I'm the President of the Theater Society, not a jailer.
Introduce what you've prepared and begin.
This is an excerpt from "Mashaal"
by Ghayal.
I mean, I'm in love with PD's mind, bro.
Well, who isn't?
Okay!
Girls, who said they had the 50 percent promo code for the Eatit app?
Oh, I can.
Please order dessert. Cash on delivery. I'll pay for it.
-Yes, Professor Dhar, on it! -Okay.
I told them that it was intelligent erotica.
It might feel a bit weird at first but you still need to watch it, right?
Understanding pleasure from a female gaze is so important.
But, no. These stupid freshers still thought that it was porn.
-When it wasn't porn! -It wasn't porn!
A lamb kebab for you?
But what they're saying on TV right now,
"Our daughters, our girls, our sisters."
The same people will harass girls on the street,
indulge in eve-teasing and cat-calling,
then this Jay Chaurasia won't say a thing.
But now like a donkey, he keeps screaming, "It was porn, it was porn."
-When it wasn't porn! -When it wasn't porn!
One piece?
I'm the senior. The freshers should trust me.
I will not show them a bad thing, it wasn't--
Wasn't porn.
Have one piece. It's good protein.
You know I'm a vegetarian, why do you keep asking me?
Well. You don't want a kebab and still, I'm trying to feed you one.
You should have it because I'm your professor.
And you should trust me. I won't offer you something bad.
And after all, it wasn't…
Porn!
Very funny, PD.
Papa, today I performed that verse from your play which--
Vandu! Is the CAT entrance test going to have questions on '"Mashaal"?
No, Papa, but what we wrote togeth--
Anyway, your college is in the limelight for the wrong reasons.
Forget about all this for three years and focus on studying for the CAT exams.
Yes, Papa.
Bye, Papa.
Papa! You're 15 minutes late!
Wallika, the Wi-Fi is fixed. Good night.
-Shiku… -Good night, Ma'am.
You're 15 minutes late, Papa.
Sorry, I was just going to call--
You can't do that!
You said you would call every day at eight o'clock sharp.
I'm sorry, Shiku.
I'm so far away, Papa.
I won't even know if anything happens to you--
Relax, my child. I'm fine.
Tomorrow at eight o'clock, sharp. Yes?
I promise. Now tell me, how was your day?
Matilda House. A college besmirched,
thanks to the rebellious nature of its students.
The most popular course of this college is Shameless Honors,
in which subjects like Protest Science and Obscene Behavior are compulsory.
-What rubbish is this? -Right?
Imagine, I had to sit and listen to this nonsense.
Jay, please! Generations have trusted their daughters to Matilda House.
You're questioning the trust of thousands of parents thanks to this one incident?
Aren't you also risking the safety
of thousands of students to protect one student?
-It's not the same. -Why hasn't Paro Sarna been expelled?
-Expel?! -If… I mean--
I mean, if he wanted to just be a loudspeaker,
why the hell did he even go to Oxford and do journalism?
First, he gobbled up someone else's seat,
now he's feasting on the nation's brains!
Tomorrow's the board meeting, man, and…
-I have a bad feeling about this. -Really?
You know Sihag has had it for me from day one.
Now he's got his chance.
Today we have Lata Bakshi with us,
the Principal of Lady Scholars' College, Panipat.
Lata Ma'am.
By the time you joined LSC, frankly, everyone had lost faith in it.
Your methods were criticized too.
But when the results came out, everyone had to shut up.
Chaurasia sir,
whenever I see a girl ignoring her studies, it saddens me deeply.
Because knowledge is wealth.
The world will move ahead only when women can move ahead.
And women will move ahead only when they study.
She's turned LSC into a jail.
Uniforms. No internet in the hostel rooms. Oiled hair.
Right now, everything other than studies is a waste of their time. That's it.
Thinking about right and wrong, being curious
having opinions… isn't all that a part of education too?
Of course.
This coming from a female educator…
Oh, come on, Dhar.
-Not all female educators are progressive. -Yeah.
We are the special ones.
-And this one is fully insane. -Not insane,
she's dangerous.
If you don't listen to her carefully, it actually seems like she's making sense.
I sent you that video and you showed it to the whole world?
What on earth for?
Thanks to you everyone's calling me Snitch-ika, dude.
Look, Sukesh. My life is pretty messed up right now.
Plus, everything they teach in class goes over my head.
Our school didn't even have a chemistry lab.
And students here wear lab coats like actual scientists!
Being a state topper means nothing here.
I can't even do an experiment properly.
And everyone keeps blabbering in English.
Titration, Filtration, Solution.
And pipette! Do you even know what a pipette is?
No, you ass. Not the spelling for "puppet".
What Thakur sir referred to as a "nalli".
Yep, that. Apparently, it's called a pipette.
And then there's my roommate.
She doesn't sleep and doesn't let me sleep.
If I say anything, she doesn't listen.
And I can't even tell anyone these things.
Because her chair has wheels. The permanent type.
I should complain? So that everyone hates me even more?
Okay, bye.
Hey, Trisha?
Trisha.
-How much longer will this act last? -What act, babe?
I'm your captain, "babe".
Shove that attitude inside your fake Gucci bag and come to the field tomorrow.
And play for this cheapskate college? No, thank you.
What did you say?
I said thank you, for deeming me fit to be in your team.
But what to do, six weeks till I can even wipe my ass.
You got in through the hockey quota, Trisha. You will have to play some.
So, you'll force an injured player to play,
Captain?
No.
I swear I'll break your arm for real, Trisha.
Break my leg instead.
That'll give me a four-month medical certificate.
I'll be so grateful.
What was she saying?
She needs to be taught a lesson.
Trisha Seth? Finally.
Dr. Chaddha. He's still going strong.
Amazing what a man will do for 500 rupees.
Or is it a 1000 now?
Go sit down.
This week, we begin our exploration of post-colonial writers.
Starting with a poem by the great Latin-American poet-writer, Pablo Neruda.
So in the poem, "Tonight I Can Write the Saddest Lines,"
the poet Pablo Neruda tries to make sense of his loss
by returning again and again to the memories
that fuel his heartache.
And that's why the most poignant line in the poem is
Love is so short Forgetting, so long
Nice outfit.
It's giving.
Listen, will you give me your notes?
I haven't really been coming.
Of course!
But if I give you my notes, will you follow me back?
Hey, you two! We're only talking about a Nobel laureate.
Some attention to his work might be good.
Okay, let's take it from the top.
The parents of 12 students have pulled them out of the hostel.
And five out of them have political connections.
The Education Ministry keeps calling, and that Mayank Asthana's PIL?
There has never been this much outcry before.
Don't even mention Mayank Asthana. You know he's only doing it for publicity.
Exactly.
Manish, I understand your concerns. But they're exaggerated.
-Just give it some time-- -Time is what we don't have, Ma'am.
Matilda House is walking on the edge right now.
The state funding gets lesser and lesser every year,
ministers are calling and criticizing us.
It's time to take some strict and drastic steps.
Warden Madan was on duty that night. She needs to go.
That won't accomplish anything.
-Exactly! -Yeah, you're right.
It's not enough.
The student that forcibly showed porn to the first-years that night,
-she needs to go as well. -Absolutely not.
No way.
Then there's only one way, Malvika.
What?
Mr. Mathur, you can't be serious!
Bro, even you don't know why this emergency assembly is happening?
Well, then what's the point of you being Student Body President?
Wasn't there a board meeting today?
Yeah, Malvika Ma'am called for the emergency assembly after that.
Oh.
I don't have a good feeling about this.
-Hi, Wally. -Hi.
Do you know what this meeting is for?
No.
Hi, Vandana.
-Hello. -Hi, Wally.
Do you know what this meeting is for?
No, dude. I have no idea.
I went to class but I understood nothing.
You got through Stagelights!
Really?
All the best!
Thank you, thank you.
Guys, I got through Stagelights.
Congratulations!
Good afternoon, Ma'am.
Good afternoon.
-Good afternoon, Ma'am. -Oh, she's here.
Good afternoon, Ma'am.
Everybody, sit down.
Wow.
At Matilda House, you all have learned
and to the ones who are new, you will also learn this…
You don't need to fear anyone here.
Without fear,
you can achieve things without succumbing to pressure.
Things that you want to achieve.
-Right? -Yes.
And, if you have to choose between
practicality or your principles, just one,
then you will have the strength to do the right thing.
To hell with what they say. Right?
Yes.
They call me headstrong Like it's a bad word
But it's the best compliment I ever heard
Because no label Could make me prouder
In fact, let's scream it a bit louder!
Standing tall because I'm no sitting duck
If you want to stop me I wish you good luck
Headstrong girl, yes that's me!
They call me headstrong Because I’m free
Headstrong girls own these walls
Made of courage, strength, and gall
If you fight me, you will fail
You don't stand a chance Hiding your face will be to no avail
Because I am the wall And I am the ditch
Try and get past me You bitch!
So proud of you.
The changes that will take place in Matilda House over the coming days…
don't fear them.
Trust yourself. And trust Matilda House.
This is your safe space.
Nurture it.
I'm leaving this college in your hands.
What you're inheriting by being students at Matilda House,
might be difficult for you to understand today.
But I know you won't let me down.
Malvika Ma'am! Malvika Ma'am!
We love you, Ma'am!
Malvika Ma'am!
Malvika Ma'am! Malvika Ma'am!
Mrs. Madan, we will find something else for you.
-Keep working hard. -Yes, Ma'am.
This is not our house! It's not our house!
What are you doing? It was such a pretty painting!
-Stop that! -It's not. It's not.
-It's not. It's not. It's not. -Calm down, Dhruv.
-We lived in C43, this is not C43-- -Custard--
-Do you want some custard? I'll make-- -This is not C43, custard is not C43…
-I'll head out, might get late-- -This is not our house.
This is not our house.
-Dhruv. -This is not our house.
-This is your house, child. -No…
-No, it's not… -But this is our new house.
-This is not my house. -This is your room!
-No! -Just stop.
One minute, one minute, calm down…
-It's okay, it's okay. -The door was on the right…
-The chessboard was on the shelf-- -Dhruv, this is our new house!
-I'm going home. -We have moved. You know--
You…
I'll bring you another sari.
No. I'm late.
-Just handle Dhruv. -Yes.
Come on, girls. Go.
Malvika Ma'am! Malvika Ma'am!
-Malvika Ma'am! Malvika Ma'am! -I know, I know. I know…
and I understand.
But… But no matter how good, precious, and perfect something is,
we have to learn to let it go.
And make way for something that is…
That is…
Well, join me in welcoming our new Principal,
Mrs. Lata Bakshi.
Good morning, everyone.
Just look at her…
Thank you, Professor Handa.
She won't last a month.
A stain on a clean sari.
Can't be ignored, right?
Just like the porn night incident.
So let's fix some of the mistakes that have been made up till now, together.
After a lot of convincing, the governing body has agreed to take Mrs. Madan back.
-Oh, thank God. -Great.
Now to another mistake.
The porn night incident.
I know that some of you believe it was right and some, wrong.
Even Matilda House's reputation, built over the years,
is not able to rise from the notoriety.
So in a few days,
there will be a referendum
The outcome of which will not be made through protesting or mutiny,
but through voting.
To placate your parents, guardians, the media, and the board members,
my proposal is this…
For a brief period,
the controversial hostel timings be moved back from 11:00 p.m.
to 07:00 p.m. again.
-Are you serious?! -What?!
-That's ridiculous. -What bullshit, dude.
-Ma'am we fought for that curfew. -I know.
I know this decision is very difficult for you all.
But we will need to take this difficult step to get out of this situation.
Matilda House's reputation and the future of you all depends on this vote.
So it won't be up to just those living in the dorms…
Day scholars will vote too.
What?
You can't do that, Ma'am!
That's not happening!
She's literally changing the history of Matilda House in a day.
-I could've taken this decision by myself. -That's not fair!
But I'm choosing to leave it in your hands.
So think about it…
very carefully.