ExpertDabbler

Adi
is driving his car while talking to his mom thru his mobile with earphone

“Onnum problem illama. payyan out of danger. Avanga appa amma veliyoor poirundhaanga. avanga vara varaikum wait pannalamnu irundhen. Subbu vayyum driver aiyum hospitall la vittutu vandhutten. payanukku licence illai.
namma driver mela thappu kedyadhu. but namma vandila adi pattutaan so hospital selavu ellam subbu vai settle panna solliten. Saapida veetuku varen. enna samayal?”

He stops in the nandanam signal while coming from saidapet.

That was when he sees her on his left as she is taking an auto. The auto turns towards Venkat Narayana Road.That was Nandhini.

Adi
“Amma naan appuram pesaren”.

It certainly was Nandhini. He was sure.. She could not have seen him. How come she is here in chennai? Since when? When did he last see Nandhini? 3 years back?

When they both did their tenth std…

BG music

Shots of Adi and Nandhini in their X B class overlapped with Shots of Adi and Nandhini attending tuitions together. One morning Adi stops her in her cycle and says hesitantly that she likes her. Nandhini is a bit taken back. But smiles and speeds past Adi. Unfazed Adi writes a love letter and places in her book the next day in class without her knowledge. As luck would have it, that letter find its way to Nandhini’s dad and the issue becomes big for the adolecents to handle

On enquiry by her dad, Nandhini
“Illapaa, naan dhaan mudhala eludhinen. Adi mela thappillai.”

The truth, that Nandhini had saved Adi by spoiling her own name, is known only to both of them. She gets a thrashing of a lifetime from her once adoring father. By this, she also deftly avoided the issue coming to Adi’s dad’s attention..

One early morning in the playground, a boy comes running around to Adi to say Nandhini wants to meet him.

Nandhini
“Adi enakku unnai rombo pidikum. ana ippo indha love buv elam vendaam… Veetile neraya prachnai. nee padi. periya aala vaa. nama rendu perum serammnu irundha seruvom. Aana for now nee ennai thedadhe. naanum unnai theda maaten.”

That was spoken with a finality. Adi knew better than to challenge what she said. She always spoke softly but was an incredibly firm girl for her age.

That was the last he heard from her. Nandhini’s father got a transfer to their native place somewhere down south. The whole family moved.

Adi was frustrated and looked like lost for 3/4 months… And then the cricket entry happened.

He took to cricket more as a desperate measure to hold himself after the loss of Nandhini.

Life does not wait for anyone. It moves on. And for Adi it has moved at breakneck speed ever since till this moment. Where is she now? Studying? How about her family?

Adi brought the car to the road left side after crossing the signal and stopped the vehicle.

The calling starts,

Adi
“Suresh, innaiku Nandhinayai parthen da?”

Suresh
“Endha Nandhini? Aha andha 10 class nandhini ya? Engey da? Enna sonna? epdi irukka?”

Adi
“Nandhanam signalla…. Naan dhaan parthen. ava parkalai. Auto la poitta..
Dei ava enge irukaanu epdiyavadhu kandu pidikanum.”

Suresh
“Dei unakku vera aale kedaikalaya? Nee nenacha ipppo epdi figure lam varum? Poyum poyum 10 class first love ai thedariye?”

Adi
“Nee enna pannuviyo yedhu panuviyo enakku theriyadhu. enakku ava number, address enna panra, avanga parents details ellam venum. yedhavadhu idea sollu.
Adutha maasam England tour irukku da. Adhukkule avalai meet pannanum…”

Suresh
“Hmm. oru nalla idea. Pesama Nandhini nu google la search panni paaru”

Adi
“Podaang”

Suresh
“Pinna enna da? ennavo pazhaya lover ai parthanaam, indha singara chennai la avalai kandupidikanumaam….
seri onnu panren. namma school friend Sathya kitte kettu parkaren. avan dhaan ella ponnunga database um up to date a vechirupaan.
seri seri naan en aalai parka poren.nee ennai disturb pannadei.purinchudha?”

Adi
“Ellam neram magane.”

“Sir, inga Centurion Bank enge irukku?” Auto driver was standing near him as he lowered his glass windows. The driver recognized him.

Auto Driver
“Hey Nee Aditya illai? Enna maa adrey kanna nee? Unnai perkanumnu ethini naal nenchirupen? En payyanuku un aatamna usiri ba. Oru nimisham iru ba. Oru autograph pottu kuden”

The driver was busy taking out a plain paper for autograph.
Aditya is embarrased by the praises poured by the Auto driver.

Adi
“Thalaiva, amadi amaidi satham pottu oorai kuttidaadheenga. Centurion Bank ku ipdiye near poneengna Apollo specialty clinic varum adhukku pakkathile oru complex irukku…IOC ku oppositela…”

Sitting inside the Auto looking out elsewhere was Nandhini.

At the same time Adi gets an SMS from Subbu. “Call from Boycott reg yorkshire county contract. Tried to reach you. Call immediately”.

An assistant director claps
”Third Eye productions, ‘Coke, Any day any time’ commerical: Scene 4, shot 6, Take 2”

Aditya says smiling ,”Coca-Cola is my favorite drink. Any day Any time.
Ad music in the background “Any day, Any time”
BG Voice “Collect 100 Coke bottle caps and win a dinner with Aditya”

Director says,
”Cut. Take ok Aditya. Pack up”

Aditya’s Manager Subramaniam
“Adi ungalai parka HINDU Senior Sports correspondent Supraja wait panranga. Interview venumaam”

Adi
“Car la erikka sollunga Subbu. Pogum bodhu pesittey pogalaam. Avanga enga eranganumo drop panidalaam….”

In Aditya’s BMW

Supraja
“International cricket la vandha indha oru varushathile enna ellam marirukku Aditya?”

Aditya
“Enna maaralai? Maybe naanum, appa , amma vum dhaan maralai….Life la ellame velayata ve partha payyan. Indha fame, panam, sponsorship deals… TV ads.. idhellam partha rombo embarrasinga irukku. Ethanai Ad la varen nu enakke theriyalai. Manager ai dhaan kekanum. As a person naan innum schoola, veetile thittu vangina adhey Aditya dhaan. But the way people look at me has changed, except Home. Appa, Amma innum adhey middle-class parents dhaan. Oru varusham laam oru stint ne solla mudiyadhu. Naalaike form pogalam. Illena injuries. But naan mudincha varaikum adhai pathi ellam yosikaradhilai. Yosicha bayam irukku”

Supraja
“How do you actually mentally prepare for a Match Aditya?”

Adi was about to answer when that happened. A Boy around 15 years who was going in his TVS 50 in front of the car suddenly tries to turn right and comes right in the middle of the car’s path. His sudden brake was enough for the car to hit him and he falls down. Adi’s driver applies brake to avoid running over the kid and the vehicles in the back ram into Adi’s car.

The Boy is lying on the road in a pool of blood.

Adtya asks the reporter to move to the front, takes the boy in his car back seat and orders the driver to go to the nearby hospital.

The next day Newspaper reads

“Cricket Veerar Aditya car modhi paLLi maanavan balatha kaayam. Uyirukku abathana nilayil maruthuvamanayil anumadhi“

There is a huge cry about the incident and the way the rich and the famous drive in the city

“Ellam Pana thimir ba. Roade ivanukku dhaan sondhamnu nenaippu. Andha payyan pona, indha Aditya thiruppi kudupaana?” was the public opinion.

What would have gone unnoticed as yet another accident gets front page coverage bcos the person involved was a star.

BG Theme music.

Montage shots of Aditya studying @ nights. Writing his exams. Going around with Amma. visiting temples. Listening to kids and elders on how to play a shot. Listening to his mentor Pandian.

Sharjah at night with flood nights,

BG Commentary voice Harsha Bhogle
“Welcome back to the second session of the Final of the Australasia Cup between India vs Pakistan at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium. Winning the toss and batting first, Pakistan has made 315 for 6 in their allotted 50 overs.
India would begin their run chase in just a few minutes. Sunny, do you think India with their 4 top class batsmen….”.

BG continues

Adi is making his appearance as a wicket falls.

Adi’s parents are praying.

cut

Adi plays his strokes

Adi’s packed house in T Nagar. Praying mom, friends and relatives. Superstitions like ‘He hit a four when u were in that position, so please do not move”.
Shots of cricket being telecast in open air theatres,beach,in Hotels,Bars,every run cheered, every wicket mourned. Adi’s fours responded with crackers in Chennai roads.

5 overs to go.

Adi is run out.

Returns for a standing ovation.

The whole neighborhood goes silent.

Some one says
“Sandalan ipdi paniptaane… indha umpire kaasu vangirukaan… Ava adumbodhu third umpire ai koopidavee illai… ethanai run-out appeal kettom theriyuma? Nammava adumbodhu mattum 3rd umpire ai kupidaraan. enna akramam idhu?”

“Oi neeru summa irum. Pakistan kaara madhiri azhugini aatam nama ada padaadhu. Namma payyan parthiya, century kaaga adalai. Team jeyicha porumnu adinaan..Avan century venumnu nenaichirundha anda rendavadhu run ukku vandhirukave maataan…”

An Indian cricketer plays the ball to the fence. And runs to the dressing room jubiliantly.

Footage with commentary that goes like ”India romps home with a ball and 5 wickets to spare. Thw Whole of India is celebrating. Aditya Srinivasan top-scored with a well made 96 before being run-out in the end overs. Unlucky to miss a century…”

Cut

Ravi Shastri on the screen with other dignatories in the stadium
“Dear viewers welcome back and what a match it was. The Indians have won a thriller. It gives me immense pleasure that Aditya has been adjudjed Man-of-the-match. Aditya made his ODI debut this season and has been a sensation. He failed in his initial couple of matches but boy he came good when it mattered – in the final. Aditya before you can convey anything to us, we have special news for you from yr home. You have cleared your Std 12 exams in first class.

There is an uproar….

And Aditya’s response
”I owe both successes - 12th results and this man of the match award, to my Amma and Appa, none of this would have been possible without them, my Guru Pandian and my teachers at school, all my friends and relatives back home and The Almighty ……
This win was a collective team effort. All the seniors chipped in with valuable contributions…..”

Returns to thunderous applause….

Adi’s parents back home are filled with tears of joy.

BG music continues

Flight touches down the run way. Players get a great reception at the airport. Adi’s father is there. Adi rushes towards his father and embraces him.
Adi’s family moves to a bigger house.

Close theme music with Aditya lying in his mom’s lap and in deep sleep.

Early morning. Sun rise. Cooker whistles. MS songs in the background. Gayathri prepares coffee, takes it to Adi’s room who is supposed to be studying. But Adi is simply staring outside the window, is startled by his Mom’s entrance

Adi
Amma naan practice ku poittu varen

Gayathri
Ennada? Padikalaya? Evalavu solren thiruppiyum cricket dhaan mukiyama?

Adi(turns to his mom)
Amma en uyirai vangadei. Ippo Ranji la adara chance vandhirukku. Andha match varuikum naan kandippa practice ku poganum.

Gayathri
Seri da, paritchai mudichuttu poyyen

Adi
Adhukulley Karnataka Ranji match mudinchudhum. Inge paaru. Naan kandippa 12th pass panniduven. Adhu en poruppu. Ana pakkathu veetu payyan. Edhir veetu payyan kooda ellam ennai compare pannadei. Idhai un aathukaarar kitteyum sollu.
With that adi moves out, takes his cycle with his bat in the carrier.

Long shot in cycle going from right to left merged with the speeding train from far right to near left.

Inside the train,

Adi
Senthil, Inter-state cricket ada porom verum 2nd class ticket dhaana, naan 3rd AC ticketavadhu kudupangannu nenaichen.

Senthil
Aditya,sogam sogusu ellam International players ku dhaan. Board lam nammalai madhikave madhikadhu. Nee pudusu, Poga poga neeye therinchukuvey.

BGM…
Ranji Match against Karnataka, Adi is playing his shots on both sides of the wicket. Commentary in the background. Shots of selector Ram Lal applauding his strokes.

Home
Adi’s dad is seen watching the TV during his lunch break. Adi is in his 90’s.Power goes off. He frantically searches for his radio for commentary.

Srinivasan shouts
“Namma payyan nooru di”

“Baganave, En payyanai kshemama parthukko. idhe madhiri avan 12th pass pannanum. nee dhaan poruppu”. Offers his namaskaraams. Gayathri is happy beyond words. Starts to prepare payasam.

Adi scores century in both the innings. His second one a match saving one. Tamil Nadu is considered victorious because of first innings lead mainly due to Adi’s century.

Ram lal to his fellow selectors
Aditya is very talented. But i will not select him for that. He is just unbelievable when playing under pressure. Karnataka had 4 test class bowlers. But he tackles all of them on a last day pitch. Coming from an 18 yr old kid, this is just brilliant effort. International cricket is all about pressure.. It is better to pit the young blood into the highest level soon than make him wait. Too much of first class cricket will make him mediocre…

The news comes even before Aditya comes back from Bangalore. A call from BCCI selector Ram Lal makes it official. Aditya has been selected for the forth coming triangular one-day tournament in Sharjah.

His residence phone never stops ringing. Its celebration time for a middle class family and the entire neighborhood.

Early Morning. YMCA Cricket Ground. Adi is driving the ball hard in the nets session .

BGM Starts
A series of shots showing Adi driving the ball through covers, hooking, pulling, sweeping. Shots showing Adi’s name in HINDU sports column, “Adi , promising young talent” goes one column headlines in SPORTSTAR by one junior sportswriter along with Aditya’s cropped photograph showing him raising his bat on reaching 50 in a junior match.

The BGM reaches a crescendo as Adi comes down the track and hits a huge six as the ball raises high and out of the ground. Camera follow the ball and then moves to the clouds

Fade out

Fade In

Clouds…the camera pans to Adi and Suresh in Suresh’s bicycle. Adi is in front…

Adi
Pandian Sir, koodiya seekiram enakku Ranji la chance kedaikum nu sollirukaar. Epdiyavadhu Ranji adanum, appuram Duleep trophy, Irani trophy, Deodhar Trophy..

Suresh
Appuram?

Adi
Appuram ‘TV la India vs Australia Live from MA Chidamabaram Stadium, Chennai’ varum. Namma Tony maama.. adhaan da namma Tony Greig “And the new batsman is AaDityeah” nu solla dhaan poraar nee parka dhaan porey…

Suresh
Schoola unnai pathi dhaan peche ippo. 12 std half-yearly vandachu. Innum MPC la oru dhadavai kooda pass pannalai. Summa cricket cricket nu kelambi poidaraan. Onnum kandikka mudiyalai,ivanai public eludha vida kodadhu nu oru gumbal complaint. Innoru gumbal oruthanavadhu nalla adaraan. avanai kandippa encourage pannanum pesudhu.

Suresh drops Adi in his house.
Adi’s mom, Gayathri is at the gates

Gayathri

Dei, Unnai engey ellam thedaradhu? Unga school principal kitte irundhu phone appa vai udane vara solli. Poitu vandhu rombo udanchu poitaar. Unnai exam eludha vida poradhillai nu sollarangalam appa ku bayangar BP jsthi ayi ippo dhaan hosptal poittu varom. Kovilukku poirukaar..Dei sonna kelu.. innum oru 4 masam indha cricket ai yellam mootai katti vechudu. Pesama padi. 12th mudichudu. Appuram parkalam.

Adi
Ennama neeyuma? Seri va veetuku ulley poi pesalaam.

As he enters the house, the phone rings. Pandian sir at the other end.
“Dei, oru super news. Namma Giri illai? Adhaan da TN Ranji player. avanukku shoulder injury yaam. So unakku adichudhu chance. Nee Karnataka againsta Ranji ada pore.
Dei National selector Ram Lal varaar andha matchai parka. Nee matum adhile perform pannina unakku kandippa National team la chance undu ok ya? Parthu pannu.

“Ok sir. Thanks sir. I’ll do my best sir..”

Adi hangs up the phone.

Click here for Scene 1

—————————————————-
STORM AT HOME
Its dinner time when Adi’s cricket selection news is conveyed to his dad, Srinivasan even as he and Adi take their dinner meals, served by his mom Gayathri aka Saraswathi.

Srinivasan
“Adhellam onnum poga vendaam. Cricket aam coaching aam selectionaam.. adutha varusham 12th std. padippu pathi velila sonna vekakedu. ‘Vaathiyaar payyan makku’ ndradhai nirubiche theeruvennu kanganaum kattindu mark vangaraan …aayirakanakile selavu panni brilliant la IIT coaching serthu vitten. andhai pirikakooda illai. namma viswam payyan paaru ivan vayasu dhaan aradhu…. class topper, carnatic music kathukaraan, sincere a IIT prepare pannaraan. avan urupaduvaana ivan urupaduvaana?”

Gayathri
“Hukkum. Podhume unga anna payyan puranathai armbikadheengo. Namma payyan enna pannuvaan.avan adaradhai parthuttu coach ey vara sollirukaar. yaaru kanda? avan idhile periya alla varanumnu irukko navo?”

Srinivasan
“idhukku onnum kuraichal illai. indha cricket ellam practical a seri padadhu. middle class fwd community payyanuku padippu dhaan mukyam. mithadhellam appuram dhaan therinchukko. ipdiye mattayai thookindu suthindirundha un payyan urupadara madhiri theriyaley.”

Adi
“Amma, appa en mela vachirukara nambikkaiku rombo thanks sollidu. Indha madhiri naalu peru aasirvadham pannina podhum. naan engeyo poiduven.”

Adi gets up to leave the table.

Gayathri
“Dei, idhu epdi da porum? innum koncham saadam podaren”

Adi
as he is washing the plate in the sink)
“Urupadaadha payyanukku idhu podhum. urupatta appuram innum nalla saapidaren”

Adi leaves for his small study room. Gayathri looks at her son’s direction. All are upset.

Adi’s Parents room at night
Both of them are in bed.
Srinivasan
“Saaruku rombo kovamo? Kadhavai, Jannalai ellam padaar padaarnu adikaraan?”

Gayathri
“Anaalum ipdi solliruka koodadhu. Evlo sandhoshama vandhu sonaan theriyuma? Olunga saapida kooda illai….” Her voice breaks even she says this.

Srinivasan
“Nekku enna asaya avanai thittanumnu? Inniku velila college seat ukku competition epdi irukku theriyuma? FC na cut off mark evlo theriyuma? Indha cricket ellam eppavum soru poduma? Namakku enna businessa, padippu varalena kadayile utkarru nu solla? Ethanai nalla mark vangar pasangalukku sat illenu solla vendirukku theriyuma? Ivan mark vangaradhai nenaicha bageerngaradhu… Nee emotionala yosikarae. En varutham enakku dhaan theriyum.

Avan cricketo hockeyo edhukaanum kaaalaila mattayai thookindu poi tholayattum. Pinnadi en kitte vandhu nikadheengo. avlo dhaan solluven. onnu nyabam vachukodi 10,000 per mattayai thookina adhile oruthan dhaan Tendulkar a vara mudiyum. sollaradhai solliten. nee achu un pullayandan achu…”

Srinivasan turns away from his wife.