Ore the freedom!

Scene 1 –Shiva's bedroom - 7.30 a.m.

Alarm goes "Tring!". A startled Shiva wakes up, immediately grabs his phone to check Facebook!  He gets an SMS from a friend. “Happy independence day!” . He smiles and replies in a flow “ thank you” without thinking! Immediately he gets another msg “Call cost Rs1. Balance Rs.10.80”.

(Show a placard that says “SMS will be charged Rs.1  for today” Background music – You n I…in this beautiful world…green grass…blue sky…)

 Narrator (N) : So begins the Independence day of Shiva, a normal guy of today. Lets take a glimpse of a day in his life..oops…the independence day….that is.. :D

Scene 2  - The Hall - 7.40 a.m.

N : Shiva has managed to get out of bed. He turns on the TV as a morning ritual expecting something like this...

Chorus singing : Vande mataram…Vande mataram...

                           Sujalaam..Sufalaam Malayaj Sheetalaam

                           Sasyashyaamalaam Maataram Vande mataram..(slow version)

N: What he sees is...(Shiva pointing the remote at the TV)

Channel 1 : Evan d unna pethan pethan pethan pethan pethan! 

Channel 2 : (an actress giving an interview) “oh…I don’t  wear any make up at all..you see  natural beauty…”

Channel 3 : India tholaikatchigalil mudhal muraiyaga..sudhandira dhinathai munnittu..bla bla bla nadikum…brahmaandamaana thirai padam…kutty puli…! 

Shiva says Cha! and turns off his TV

Scene 3 - Outdoor. 8 a.m. 

N : Shiva is ready to play some cricket with his neighbour’s kid.

Kid : Anna! You should get me a chocolate if you get out in the first over itself!

Shiva : Ok da deal !

(Demo..kid bowling..shiva batting..he gets out in the second ball. Background -  chale chalo from lagaan)

Kid : outttu!!! (screaming)

Shiva : (Grinning)OK..Let's go to school. After flag hoisting we can get chocolates and "kutty" flag for free! 

Scene 4 - The walk to school 8.30 a.m.

N : Shiva and the kid are on their way to school.

Kid : Anna..I ‘ve read about Independence day in a history lesson

N : Shiva ‘s mind voice thinks “enkitaye scene podriya?”

Shiva : Ok name some freedom fighters you know..

Kid  : after a short pause – Gandhiji, Nehruji

Shiva : ok Aprom..(then)

Kid : Avlo than enaku theriyum ( I know only so much)

Shiva : Appo bhagat singh, mangal pandey  laam…??

Kid : Amir Khan!!! Ajai Devgun!!! (Excited and jumping up and down)

Shiva : Hits his forehead . Sutham!

Scene 5 - School 8.45 a.m.

School choir singing - Acham Acham illai song from Indra.

Flag hoisting followed by the National Anthem.

N : Post National Anthem, chocolates are distributed. Shiva gets an SMS from a friend which reads.." Hey machi..come home..lets celebrate independence day our way! I have a surprise!"

Shiva to the kid  – Hey. You go home now. We'll play later.

Scene 6 - At Shiva's friends place 10 a.m.

Shiva : Hey dude wats kappening ?? (like in kasu panam dudu..song)

Friend : Va da..  (and takes him to the computer. After a few minutes of clicking and opening " My computer", he reveals a video)

Friend : Here's the video of the first ODI of the India Vs Pakistan match which happened on  1st Oct 1978!  Happy Indepence day machi!!

(A speechless Shiva gives him a hug)

(Commentator speaking in the background)

(Shiva and his friend are engrossed in the match and  cheer at the players) 

N : This is Independence day in the life of youth today…atleast most of the youth..Once upon a time, people came together to die for a nation. Now people come together to cheer for a nation. Or die for banning films! That is India today!  Be the change you want to see.. Happy Independence Day!

(start music)

Thaaye un peyar sollum podhe idayathil min alai paayume

Ini varum kaalam ilaignarin kaalam un kadal mellisai paayume

Thaai aval pol oru jeevan illai..aval kaal adi pol sorgham veru illai..

Thaai mannai pol oru bhoomi illai..Bharadham engalin swaasame

Unthan desathin kural

Tholai dhoorathil adho..

Seviyil vizhaathaaaa....

Sondha veedunnai vaa endru azhaikudhada thamizha

Andha naatkalai ninai
Avai neengumaa unnai
Nizhal pol varadhaaa...
Ayal naadundhan veedalla viduthi ada thamizha..!

(Humming from unthan desathin kural..) 

The end!

P.S. - The story ends at 10 a.m. with the match. It is quite obvious that the fellows would not stop with one match. So the rest of the day proceeds in a similar fashion with patriotism coming out only in the form of cheering for India during a cricket match! 

Courtesy - Office gang for the brainstorming sessions which formed the basis for this script. The Hindu Metroplus for the article about the pathetic state of the families of the freedom fighters who sacrificed their lives for a free India.