The film, based on a beautiful story by T.N. Seetharam, is about the travails of an old
lady in a traditional middle class family and the complex relations between individuals,
spanning generations.
Rangajji has this passion to tell fascinating stories to children. The young boys and
girls in the village love to listen to her stories, letting their imaginations run riot in
the process.
Rangajji's life takes a drastic turn when her son dies under mysterious circumstances.
With the death of her son, Rangajji's life is not the same any more. The task of giving
shelter to her falls on a rather reluctant distant relative, who initially refuses to keep
her, but gives in to the desire of the elders of the village, fearing disgrace.
Rangajji, who lives all her life practising madi (rituals of purity), now has to live
among the silkworms, the rearing of which she had always opposed (one of the reasons for
her conflict with the family providing her shelter). The only person close to her in the
family now is Murthy, the youngest son in the household.
With the arrival of Subbanna, the elder son of the family from Bangalore, several events
take place. Subbanna, who can't earn enough to send home, wants to start a soap agency and
needs Rs. 10,000. Rangajji hates to stay on in this house as she has no freedom not even
to tell stories. Her only hope is Padmanabhaiah, a close friend of her late husband who
lives in Bangalore. Ajji's only desire is to find him with help from Subbanna. She
therefore gives Subbanna the money he needs. When Subbanna stops sending home money, his
parents send Rangajji, accompanied by Murthy, to Bangalore. Subbanna is not at all happy
to see Rangajji. Ajji's last ray of hope is also dashed when she learns that Padmanabhaiah
is no more. Ajji has nowhere to go, and is unwanted and abandoned. |
