We painted it yellow, right?
Now it's all murky brown.
Be honest. Have you told your parents
that you've become a sage?
Aman, you!
Won't you touch my feet unless I walk over to you?
- Why did you call him here? - What are you up to?
Aman?
[Aman] Do you even know who this guy is?
- He's the internet guy! - The Wi-Fi guy!
Well, jokes aside,
I have learned a lot from Shashi sir.
[Manchanda] You are a tiger, Mishra.
There are so many people outside eating samosas, right?
They will keep eating samosas all their lives.
A kitty party has been forced upon our house next week.
Now she will glorify her women's group.
The good news is that I may be made the regional head.
- Really? - Yes.
- What are you saying? - Greetings!
Oh, that's our Pinky uncle.
The one who threw 1,000 rupee notes on Santosh's face?
Area Sales Executive.
Commitment of quality and trust.
It's paneer.
It's fake paneer.
He's going to need a cardiologist soon.
But, congratulations, you have one right next door.
Is our mother's house really in such a bad state?
It is in a bad state,
so I was thinking…
- I'm going to my friend's house. - [Aman] Heard that?
[Shanti] You keep going over to Satish Negi's all the time.
He gave Raanu's son a mutual fund worth 10,000 rupees.
Did he tell you?
They don't think they need to tell us anything anymore.
Hmm.
- [distant dogs barking] - [Shalini] Shh.
[suspenseful music plays]
[in a hushed voice] Where is he?
[in a hushed voice] He's here.
[in a hushed voice] He's there.
[suspenseful music turns playful]
[recording beep]
[metallic clink]
[music fades]
Get that tire good, sonny!
You're on camera.
Instead of opening a book, you're slashing tires!
Saroj, Pushpa,
call the police.
And let the whole neighborhood know
that vehicle owners don't need to worry anymore.
Sakhi Shalini Mahila Mandal has caught the tire slasher!
[birds chirping]
[Santosh harmonizing]
- [thud] - [rushing water]
Who's in there? Is it Pinky?
[Pinky] Yes, Santosh! Coming, coming.
Your brother has managed to ruin my morning.
Now I'll be late for work.
Only when my family is visiting,
you are so worried about office timings.
[Santosh] Oh no, it's not like that.
Vishwakarma ji called this morning and asked me to come in early.
There's some good news.
- Maybe a gift for you? - [Santosh] I don't know.
Don't leave it in the office like the last time.
All right.
What's the matter?
I see a lot of utensils out.
Is all that for your brother?
Bittu's mother is making me host a kitty party.
I told you about it.
[Santosh] Well, that's great.
Pinky can pass his time with the ladies at home.
But he said he was going to tag along with you.
- [door creaks] - Pinky?
- Yes. - [Pinky] Oh!
It's 9:00 a.m.!
Don't they finish taking attendance at 10:00 a.m. in government offices?
Are you excused from it?
But tell me, why do you want to accompany me to my office?
Santosh, after you came into our family,
my mother would always say…
- What? - "Pinky, look,
your brother-in-law is a government worker."
"And not for some paltry department,
- but the electricity board." - Yes.
Her dream to see me in a government position never came true,
so I was thinking I'll sit in your chair and take a selfie.
- What a thought! - If it's possible.
[Santosh] Why wouldn't it be?
I'll seat you on my government seat
and take a selfie of you.
- Santosh, you take a selfie yourself! - Fine.
- Just stand behind me. - [Santosh] Sure.
- I'll take you in my SUV today. - Huh?
- They'll all stare in awe! - In the big car?
- Yes! - Nice!
[Shalini] Shanti!
- Oh no! - [Santosh] Trouble's here! Run!
- The poisonous woman is here! - Go!
[Pinky] My towel's coming undone!
[theme song starts]
[theme song ends]
TIRE SLASHER
Is everything ready, Shanti?
Bittu's Mummy?
You called me "Shanti."
You always call me "Annu's Mummy."
Our group passed a proposal two days ago.
From now on, women will call each other by their names.
You can call me "Shalini."
But, Bittu's Mummy, I'm used to "Annu's Mummy."
And to rid everyone of this habit,
I invited the ladies of the group to your house.
But this is not a meeting for the group. It's a kitty party.
You don't know what happened on the morning walk today?
The tire slasher, who had been a menace for the last three months,
was nabbed by us!
If you were a part of the group,
you would have been on the morning walk.
The number of rounds I make all morning in the house
makes up for the morning walk.
I just don't carry a camera along.
We caught the boy with my camera!
Shalini.
Hi, Vani. Come on in.
Shanti, this is Vani.
The youngest member of our group.
- [Shanti] Namaste. - Hello, Shanti.
Stay away from women for six weeks.
Your session is about to end.
So, make the renewal soon.
Okay? Namaskar.
If you don't mind, can I say something?
I doubt your so-called abilities.
I doubt your so-called intelligence.
Should I curse you? Smite you? Make a prediction?
Yes, do a reading.
Tell me, should I stay away from the ladies or not?
Write this.
Surya Narayan…
"Surya Narayan."
- will… - "Will."
- have a swayamvar. - "A swayam--"
Swayamvar?!
- Shalini? - Hmm.
Can I shoot from the roof?
You can shoot from anywhere! Make yourself at home.
You can hang the camera from there, too.
Bittu has a sister!
Shanti, step aside.
[Shalini] Shanti, let her work.
One second. Vani!
Vani?
Vani!
Is she my future?
No one takes my mother's name except for my Papa.
I'll shut her up! Move!
Tell her about me!
The lineman is a goon. The authorities won't do anything!
[all] The lineman is a goon. The authorities won't do anything!
We will not stand for this bullying or bureaucracy!
[all] We will not stand for this bullying or bureaucracy!
The lineman is a goon. The authorities won't do anything!
[all] The lineman is a goon. The authorities won't do anything!
We will not stand for this bullying or bureaucracy!
[all] We will not stand for this bullying or bureaucracy!
What's going on here, Santosh?
[chants continue]
I don't know what this is about.
You said there was good news awaiting you at the office.
Come, let's see.
[chants continue]
Vishwakarma ji.
They called me in saying there was good news with a protest outside!
They should have given us the day off.
But, Mishra ji, I do have some good news right here. Look.
A new housing development program
has been launched for government employees.
You can buy a house with easy instalments.
Just don't put off filling out the form.
It's a government policy, Vishwakarma ji.
It's not going anywhere that fast.
Well, I believe in first-come, first-served.
Oh, me too!
- [Vishwakarma] Nice. - Vishwakarma ji,
this is my brother-in-law, Pinky.
- [Vishwakarma] Namaste. - Myself, Pramod Pathak.
What's going on outside?
Some lineman got a bit rough with a consumer.
His whole village is here to protest against it.
- Really? - The crowd is threatening to continue
until the principal secretary apologizes in person.
- [dismissive chuckle] - The principal secretary is coming here?
Then he will bring a videographer along.
[Vishwakarma] As if!
He has passed the baton to the boss.
Now the boss will pass it to a subordinate!
[chuckle]
Well, Vishwakarma ji, what village are they from?
They're from Pihalia village.
- [Pinky] Pihalia? - [tense music plays]
Oh my!
What block?
[Vishwakarma] Champa Nagar block.
- [clerk] Mishra ji. - Yes?
Sir wants to see you.
Yes.
This is my brother-in-law.
- Get him refreshments. - Sure.
Pinky, wait here. I'll go and see him.
Don't worry, Santosh.
[tense music ends]
Where do you work, Pathak ji?
You can say anywhere.
I run a business.
Really? What business?
Using opportunities.
Whenever an opportunity arises, I run with it!
[both chuckle]
It's perfect!
By the way, what's your boss's name?
Read it out loud.
"Fight breaks out between consumer and lineman,
consumer brutally assaulted,
fierce protests held outside the department."
Under whom is this block?
It's my block, sir.
But what can we do if the lineman acts like a hooligan?
The lineman works on an ad hoc basis. You're a permanent employee.
At your age, what if they blame you?
Why would they blame me, sir?
- Everyone, wait outside. - Yes.
Okay.
See, Mishra ji, I found the solution.
An apology to the assaulted consumer and his whole family.
- That's good. - From you.
Why should I apologize, sir?
The lineman should apologize.
Oh, no, no, no!
- That will be a mistake! - Pinky?
If these people see the lineman, they might kill him!
Isn't that right, Mr. Sinha?
They won't calm down until an officer of your rank smooths things over.
- [softly] I asked you to wait outside. - You are?
He's my brother-in-law, Pinky.
Myself Pramod Pathak.
Oh, I see. Namaskar.
- Your brother-in-law seems experienced. - [Santosh] Sir…
if I apologize to them,
won't it look like I carried out the assault?
The crowd might just turn on me, too.
[chuckles] Santosh! Would anyone look at you and say
you can assault someone?
No, Mr. Sinha. The public can be foolish, but not that much.
Yes, you're right, sir.
Don't worry, Mishra ji.
I'm not sending you there alone. You will have this.
- This. - What's that?
A demand draft.
A compensation of 10,000 rupees has been approved for the victim.
- Ten thousand! - [Pradeep] Right?
He's from a village. You could've done with 5,000.
- You guys are so-- - Where do you work?
Sir, they have cameras outside.
If they run stories in papers maligning me--
Well, the lineman was under your purview.
But I'm under you.
[Pradeep] That's why I have taken up the task
of saving your position and reputation.
How?
If this matter isn't resolved by today,
the Principal Secretary will start an inquiry.
As he should. The truth will be out
that it was the lineman's fault.
You're stuck on the lineman!
- [Santosh] But it's true. - Santosh,
if they see the lineman anywhere near them,
- there will be mayhem! - [Pradeep] Yes.
[Pinky] People will start breaking things and burning vehicles!
And you know my SUV is parked outside.
Sir,
please give me some time to think about this.
- We cannot hasten these things. - No!
You cannot afford any more delay here.
You're a government officer.
- You have some authority. - Yes, yes.
If you stand before them and grovel,
they will melt in no time.
Will you take jaggery in your tea?
[Pinky] Jaggery is good, sir.
[indistinct chatter]
Wow, even I love watching movies.
By the way, my name's Sunny.
And… Who named you Vani?
[Vani] Vimla did. My aunt.
Oh, it's a nice name.
This is my friend Aman.
Oh, hi. You're Shanti's son, right?
- [Aman] Hmm. - Yes.
And whose mother are you?
Huh?
I mean, you're on first name basis with all the aunties here.
- That's why I asked. - Vani makes films, Aman.
And Aman is an aspiring novelist.
Oh, wow.
Will you write for my films?
Sure, why not?
But about you.
Satire.
- You got the poster? - Yes.
Shanti, get two more cups of tea!
Coming.
Mummy,
these younger aunties are calling you by your name!
Why don't you say something to Bittu's Mummy?
- Are you working for her or something? - [clicks tongue]
Bittu's Mummy looks so happy.
It wouldn't be nice to bring it up now.
Don't you ever make the mistake of joining her women's group.
I'm telling you, she has a dark future ahead.
How would you know?
Are you an astrologer?
[Shalini] Really well-made.
But, Shalini, I have to say,
I didn't know you were so brave.
Weren't you scared?
What if the tire slasher had a knife?
He didn't have a knife.
But he had a sharp screwdriver that he used to slash tires.
But when I have my camera in my hand,
I am not scared.
It's a great line, no?
- Vani! - Yes?
I will say this line looking into the camera.
Did you finish the morning video?
- Yes. - [Shalini] Then let me see it.
- Come on, show everyone. - One minute.
- Shanti! - [Shanti] Yes?
- Come here. - [Shanti] Coming.
Look at this. You didn't believe that I caught the tire slasher, right?
Here's the proof.
[Shalini, in video] Look at him.
Look at this person.
He is the tire slasher…
Why did you put that flickering thing on his face?
He hasn't been implicated yet, so--
We caught him red-handed.
And handed him to the police.
You know what, just put red on his face.
He is the criminal!
So it looks like it.
Auntie, tell me something.
Was it your idea to put your face on the poster?
This is a meeting for Sakhi Shalini Mahila Mandal.
Only women can raise questions.
Men will keep quiet and support us, that's all.
We can support you?
Shall we hang the banner higher for you?
I mean, Aman and I can help you.
But Vani is taller than you.
You can help Shanti instead.
- Pick up the used cups-- - Shalini…
ji…
just tell us where to hang the poster.
Hang it on a wall that's the cleanest!
Seriously.
[tap sound]
- [girl] Yeah, I'm done with the workout. - [ringing tone]
- [Manchanda] Yes? - Mr. Manchanda!
I found a solution
- to the problem with Dr. Prithvi. - [Manchanda] What?
- Did you get into this clinic? - Not the clinic, sir!
I'm going to invade his personal space.
[Manchanda] Very good! Well done. Tiger, you're learning well!
Thank you, sir. I learnt it all from you.
- [Manchanda] Really? Okay. - Yes.
Give me ten minutes, and I'll give you good news.
[Manchanda] All right. See you.
[upbeat music plays]
[Prithvi] Yeah. Nice, nice, nice. Last three, last three.
Yeah, yeah. Good, good, good.
Two more. Two more, two more.
Last one.
Sir, you should bring your elbows out.
- And your butt out. It works better. - [Prithvi] Yes, that's it.
Oh, Dr. Prithvi!
- Hi. - [Annu] What a surprise!
Anand, hi!
Oh, what a double surprise!
Both of you come here?
- Yes. - You also come to this gym?
No, I've heard a lot about it. So I came here for a trial.
If I like it, I get a membership.
- [Priti] Nice. - How's the gym?
- Overpriced. - Expensive.
Costly.
Don't spread it in your circle that I work out here.
Or the MRs will line up here.
[chuckles]
Where did you work out before?
Oh, in my veranda. We have a good space in the house.
So I exercised there. But I'm thinking of joining the gym.
If you do join this one, let me know.
We'll try to match our timings.
Why try? I think they will match.
I mean, like today, our timing synced up without even trying.
How much do you squat?
As much as I can without hurting my legs.
[Priti chuckles]
It's an empty bar. Come on.
How many reps?
Sir, I will do them,
but let me stretch and warm up first. Then I'll do weighted reps too!
- [Prithvi] Yes, yes-- Hey. - One.
- Come on! Yes, go down. - [strained grunts]
- You need to go low, man. - Yes, yes.
- More, more, more… - More? Sir, support me.
- more, more, more. - More? Darn it!
- Sir! - [Priti] Oh God!
What happened?
Hey, man! Hey!
Easy!
[pained laugh]
Oh, it's nothing.
I didn't stretch today, so I pulled a muscle.
It'll be fine with a hot compress.
It needs an ice pack.
You should write me a prescription.
I can then tell people
that Dr. Prithvi gave me a prescription for free.
Anand!
- Okay, I'll see you outside. - Yeah.
Are you okay?
- I'll get going. Take care of yourself. - [Annu] Hmm.
- Bye. - [Annu] Bye.
- What are you doing, man? - Sorry, sir.
- It's tight. - Bye!
What does the membership cost?
Twenty-five thousand yearly.
That's expensive!
Don't you have any offers going?
You should take the couple membership.
Join with your wife. You'll get a discount.
That's what Priti ma'am and Prithvi sir did.
[dramatic music builds]
Feeling good?
[dramatic music ends]
[laughs] You…
They scammed you.
- They're not a couple. - [all] We don't care for bureaucracy
or bullying!
[man] We don't care for bureaucracy or bullying!
[all] We don't care for bureaucracy or bullying!
[man] We don't care for bureaucracy or bullying!
[all] We don't care for bureaucracy or bullying!
Yes, what is it?
- [chants continue] - Listen.
I'm in a dilemma.
- Then get out of there. - [Santosh] How can I?
A consumer was assaulted by a lineman from my block.
His whole family and village are out here.
Then why are you in a dilemma?
[Santosh] Thanks to your brother!
The fraud put me on the spot with my boss.
They want me to apologize to the angry crowd.
This morning, he was singing my praises and gassing me up.
Now he's out to humiliate me!
But why are you worried?
It's the department, not you, apologizing.
- You're just the face. - Exactly.
Now Pinky will keep telling everyone
how his brother-in-law had to grovel in front of an angry crowd.
- Don't you see it? - [background chatter]
Oh, even I'm being annoyed by a crowd here.
Should I send Bittu's Mummy to fight for you?
I can't bear her new avatar.
Please don't change the topic.
I really want to thrash Pinky and take him to task!
Please do it at home.
Not in front of everyone. Okay?
Listen, I have to go.
- But I'm not-- - [disconnect tone]
[Vani] Okay, side pose. Nice. Come closer. Okay.
Shanti, you're in the frame again!
[sighs] Shanti, move. Let her work. She's taking a picture.
- So sorry. - It's okay.
- Come. - [Vani] Three, two…
- one. Great. - [Pradeep] Mishra ji…
I understand you're worried.
But you're doing this for me, and I'll remember that.
Your brother-in-law is a sensible man.
- [slurp] - [Pradeep] Take him with you.
He'll handle it. Please.
Don't worry, sir.
- We're jaggery friends now. - Jaggery friends!
- Take care of it. - Sure.
[chants continue]
[Shanti] Isn't this too much?
What? It's such a small bouquet.
The party has grown, Bittu's Mummy.
I cannot handle it anymore.
- You should've done this at your home. - [Vani] Okay, next.
Shanti, please step aside.
Shanti, please move. We will talk later.
Come, Hema. Please come.
- Come. - [Vani] Sure. Get closer.
[Pinky] It's not a disaster, but an opportunity.
The boss's feet can be more revitalizing than the sun.
[chants continue]
[pensive music plays]
SAKHI SHALINI MAHILA MANDAL
[pensive music fades]
Found her!
On social media, she goes by her name Vani Shamani.
And her birthdate… 29th March!
Aries! I knew it!
She's from Mars.
No wonder she's so bold.
What? She's from Mars!
I'm Surya Narayan!
What a couple we'll make!
You know what, Aman, give me some ritual
that would make her crazy about me!
Last year, Shilpi really did a number on me!
She will call your mother by her name.
You're okay with that?
Stay away from girls for a while, Surya Narayan.
[Vani] Okay.
FOUNDER - SHALINI
Now, the founder of Sakhi Shalini Mahila Mandal,
Shalini, will say a few words.
"Wow, woman,"
is what the police officer said
when I had the notorious criminal, the dreaded tire slasher, arrested.
- Wow! - I--
Who's Bittu's Mummy?
Friend, I just started my speech. Please sit.
I'm no friend of yours.
Then who are you?
Sonu's Mummy.
Why are you screaming? Who's Sonu?
Sonu! Hey!
- Get in here. - No, he's a male. Males cannot be here.
[Aman] I'm also a man. I'm standing here.
Don't be scared. I'm here with you.
Is she the lady? Look at her.
Isn't he the boy I had arrested?
- Yes! I'm coming from the police station. - Why?
He's my son.
And you, you turned him into a tire slasher!
My dear, every tire slasher is someone's son.
- My son isn't one. - [Aman] Yes.
- Why? - Seriously?
Is it a crime to get petrol out of your own vehicle?
- True. - Wait.
- What do you mean? - Sonu's Mummy, please continue.
The vehicle you caught my son tampering with was ours!
- Hmm. - No… I mean…
Is there proof that it was your vehicle? Tell us, come on.
I gave the police the proof.
We don't have to give it to you.
Then why was he holding a screwdriver? Right?
Yes, if he were only draining the oil?
- Wait, listen. - Then why the screwdriver?
Sonu here was draining petrol from his father's motorcycle.
He doesn't know how to ride a geared motorcycle.
So he was draining the petrol to put it in his scooter.
Isn't that allowed now?
All right, okay, Sonu's Mummy. What do you want?
- Well, Bittu's Mummy here… - Shalini.
- Yes, of course, Shalini. - [Shalini] Yes.
- You'll go on camera… - Sure.
and apologize to my Sonu.
- [all] What is she saying? - [Annu] Yes, apologize to him.
The camera is already recording. Apologize.
- No, wait. No. - [Annu] Why won't you apologize?
- What's wrong is wrong. - Nothing's proven yet.
- Zoom on her face. - It's wrong to accuse someone--
[women arguing, indistinct]
- [Aman] Make her apologize. - Stop this.
Why should we?
- Auntie, speak up. Tell her. - [Shanti] Please calm down.
- Please, people. - [Aman] Apologize to her.
[Shanti] Everyone, calm down.
No matter who comes out,
don't back down.
[indistinct chatter]
Scared, Santosh?
Don't worry. I'm here for you.
That's what scares me.
Stay here.
- I'm going out there alone. - No, no, no.
If I let you go there alone, my sister will never forgive me.
Santosh,
government positions have a class of their own.
We private workers only look out for ourselves.
But you, you are a public servant.
Worker.
It's the same.
They're synonyms.
[Sonu's mom] You shoved a camera in my son's face to scare him.
So now you will apologize to him on camera.
Sonu's uncle is a criminal lawyer.
[woman] How can she talk to her like that?
What? Are you trying to threaten me?
- [Shanti] Calm down. - [Shalini] Is that a threat?
- So what if he's a lawyer? I-- I-- - [Shanti] Quiet, please.
Everyone, keep quiet.
No one has to summon their uncles here.
We can all resolve this calmly.
And this is my house. What I say goes.
- Shan-- Shalini. - Bittu's Mummy.
I’ve always called you “Bittu's Mummy.”
- Apologize. - [soft music plays]
Shanti?
Everyone makes mistakes. Just apologize for it. It's no big deal.
Come on.
Auntie, it won't kill you to apologize.
[soft music fades]
Sorry.
And for God's sake, stay away from my house.
Sakhi Shalini!
- [soft music plays] - Come on, Sonu. Let's go.
That wasn't fair, Auntie.
- [Shalini] What? - You made a video of that kid.
- Delete it. - [Shalini] No. Why should we?
Look, his face is covered.
You can't identify who it is.
Post it.
Listen to me.
Everyone's vehicles are parked outside in the open.
You all should be thanking me!
This boy might not be the tire slasher,
but there is one in this neighborhood.
The video will scare him straight!
I was only helping this society and our neighborhood, so--
Uncle was right, Mummy.
This lady is not good for mental health.
- [Shanti] This is wrong, Bittu's Mummy. - Shanti?
[soft music fades]
- Please-- - [indistinct chatter]
Can you get them here?
- [man] Come. - Is that your boss?
Come on, everyone. Let's go, come on!
The lineman is a goon!
[all] The authorities won't do anything!
The lineman is a goon!
[all] The authorities won't do anything!
- The lineman is a goon! - [all] The authorities won't do anything!
- The lineman is a goon! - All right.
- [all] The authorities won't do anything! - All right, that's enough. Wait.
Is he the consumer?
[tender music plays]
Sir, please.
Look, sir.
I apologize to you for what our lineman did to you.
I hope you will accept this small compensation for your troubles.
- [tender music fades] - [soft thud]
[narrator] Humans made guns and missiles
to maintain peace in our world.
And you all know how much peace there is in the world!
But the middle class is calm,
not because they own shares in these weapons companies.
They remain composed
thanks to a word at their disposal,
"sorry."
When someone says "sorry" after they have offended you,
it calms you down,
for at least it's an acknowledgement
of your virtue and their vices.
At least the pain we were put through was not in vain.
But then there is a kind of "sorry"
that breeds doubt rather than peace.
Was this one a sincere apology…
or an excuse to make more mistakes?
Search yourself and try to remember
the times you said such "sorrys" in your life…
STATE ELECTRICITY CORPORATION
…and times when others did it to you.
Sorry, perhaps I spoke too much.
[end credit music plays]
[end credit music ends]