Talk:Mullum Malarum/Fowler&fowler's notes made on watching the film

Created in the plot section of the main Mullum Malarum page in this edit of 06:50, 2 September 2019 with edit summary, "stopping; authors can decide what to keep and what to not, in keeping with lit-crit & film-crit guidelines Best regards." In a couple of places I have added text in my paper notes which I did not add to the WP article. Fowler&fowler«Talk» 12:26, 17 September 2019 (UTC)

PS I know nothing about the Tamil language and watched a version of the movie with English subtitles. My understanding was dependent on the English translation, warts and all. Fowler&fowler«Talk» 15:48, 17 September 2019 (UTC)

Notes for the plot made during and after watching the film (by Fowler&fowler)

Kali and his sister Valli, orphaned in early childhood, have grown up on the street, begging for food and money. In an early scene in the movie, they appear as street performers, Kali playing the drums and Valli perched atop a pole balanced by an older boy, who exploits them. Several early scenes also establish that Kali is short-tempered, unable to control his anger at people whom he sees lacking in empathy for the poor.

The film fast forwards to the present time. Kali and Valli are living in Athipatti village. Kali has grown into a handsome man, with roguish ways, and a winning smile. But Kali still seethes at displays of unfeelingness. In revenge for a rich man's cruelty to a porter, he breaks the headlight of the man's car, an act noticed by the newly arrived divisional engineer at a nearby powerhouse, Kumaran, who is parked nearby. Kali also has a good heart. While feeding the fish at the village's temple tank, he comes to the aid of an old man who is faltering on his way up, an act again noticed by Kumaran who is passing by.

Kali is an employee of the powerhouse. From a shed on a hilltop, he controls the winch for an cable trolley, ferrying employees back and forth to the powerhouse which is located in the valley below. At their first meeting, Kumaran catches Kali ignoring the regulations, giving free rides to townspeople. He orders the passengers out and announces his intention to ride alone in the trolley. Kali feels insulted. When the trolley has reached halfway downhill, he exacts revenge by stopping the winch and shouting below to Kumaran that it is malfunctioning. Kumaran, who by now is wise to Kali's conceits, shakes his head, smiling, and walks the remainder of the way to the powerhouse.

In an earlier scene, on the Chinnamanur canal's bank, where she is cleaning a fish she has just caught, Valli meets a beautiful young woman, Manga, and her mother, who have arrived from Ilaiyangudi, a drought-stricken town. Both strangers are hungry, and the mother is looking for work. Valli feeds them, gives them shelter in the balcony of the thatched cottage she shares with Kali, talks to Kali about allowing them the use of the vacant house next door, and hints at the mother's suitability for a job that has opened up. Kali at first feigns impatience with his sister at taking in strangers but soon relents. Later, Valli and her girlfriends meet Kumaran, who gives them a ride in his jeep, breaking into a romantic song.

Kali's anger at Kumaran, meanwhile, has been rising. He has been assaulting fellow employees whom he suspects of snitching on him to Kumaran. He waylays some musicians who are en route to a celebration attended by Kumaran. All incidents are brought to Kumaran's notice. Kali is given a last warning, which he doesn't take kindly. Later, as he is fixing his trolley Manga appears. They flirt by taunting each other. Kali's watch is lying nearby, which Manga on a whim picks up, and carrying which begins to run. A chase ensues—through the woods and to the river—where, waist-deep in water, Manga drops the watch into her bodice. Kali holds Manga's head underwater for several seconds and emerges with the watch. He rushes back to the winch.

In his absence, there has been an emergency at the powerhouse. A child has needed medical attention. The alarm sounding repeatedly at the winch has gone unheeded. Eventually, a passerby operates the winch and the child is brought back in the trolley and dispatched to a hospital. Kumaran is angry at Kali. The next day Kali is suspended for 10 days, but not fired. Kali tears up the suspension letter in Kumaran's presence and walks off in a huff. That night he goes to Mullimalai, joining the tribals who live there in song and dance. He then begins to drink. Later, staggering homeward, he passes out on an unlit street. A truck approaches. Kali turns over in his sleep and stretches his left arm out into the truck's path. The arm is left mangled by the truck. Kumaran hears about the accident and drives Kali 50 miles to a hospital, where Kali is admitted for ten days and his arm is amputated. Upon his return, he learns from Kumaran that the power company has fired him.

Valli hints to her disheartened brother that Manga would be a good wife for him. Kali at first scoffs at the idea but soon agrees, smiling faintly. The next day, Valli receives Manga's consent. At the local temple, a simple wedding ceremony is held, which Kumaran attends. He brings an envelope containing money as his wedding present, which Kali spurns, but Manga accepts. That night, Manga sings a song, in part comic and in part heartfelt, emblematic both of her love of good food and her desire to be loved. The song ends with the two embracing in bed. The next day she is overly shy.

Kumaran is attracted to Valli. After ascertaining her willingness for marriage, he asks for Kali's permission. Kali, stalling for time, asks him to return the next day. He impulsively corners a local grocer, Murgesa, known for his philandering, and offers his sister's hand in marriage. Valli, meanwhile, still thinking she will be marrying Kumaran, is in a state of exaltation as she strolls along the river, the occasion for a haunting background song. The next day Kumaran is denied permission, and an engagement ceremony is arranged in Kali's house for Murgesa and Valli. Valli is crushed but remains silent. At the ceremony, Manga who has seen through the ruse knocks a platter of betel leaves—whose acceptance affirms the engagement—out of Kali's hand. Kali is livid at his wife and threatens to kill her ("I'll murder you," he says in English), battering her head against the wall. Manga remains firm in her opposition to the engagement. Valli, however, apologizes to her brother.

The next day, Manga goes to Kumaran's house and convinces him to marry without Kali's permission. Kumaran eventually agrees, as does Valli later. On the appointed wedding day, Kali who still fully expects to see his sister marrying Murgesa wakes up to find the house empty. From Murgesa, he learns about the other wedding and accosts the wedding party which is on its way to the temple from the river. He accuses Valli of neglecting him because of his handicap. Valli is full of guilt and rushes into his arms. Kali triumphantly reminds the onlookers that he remains the most important man in his sister's life. His ego assuaged, he offers his blessings for the wedding, despite his dislike of Kumaran. With that, by the riverside, the film ends.