Kadamban

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1

'Nature'

'For all creatures great and small

in this world to live joyfully'

'A boon granted by God'

'In the vast hilly region

of the Western Ghats'

'Believing only this forest and

the mountains for their sustenance'

'...these tribal people have been

living here for generations'

'Trees, creepers, climbers,

shrubs, bushes found here'

'...they think are their ancestors

in plant form as part of nature'

'This race occupying the jungle'

'...consider even the animals as

their kith and kin wandering here'

'This forest is their life source,

wealth, comfort, treasure, essence'

'Thanks to these people

inhabiting the forest'

'...our forests have been

conserved and preserved'

'This is one such tribe

protecting our Mother Nature'

'...in Kadamba Forest'

Come here, hold

Kadamba, you rock!

Only macho male from our clan

who climbed down to 'Hanging rock'

...to collect honey

is our Kadamban

"Serene peaks, scenic beauty

To travelers a specific identity"

"We lack nothing whatsoever

for our homeland to prosper"

"Green trees and foliage offer

Everything we want forever"

"All said and done however

we won't be slaves to any master"

"Money may come and go

Fame and name also"

"Let's be courageous

Trusting our land bounteous"

"Money may come and go

Fame and name also"

"Let's lead a life undaunted

With faith in our forest surmounted"

"Serene peaks, pretty picture

To travelers a salient feature"

"No wants whatsoever

for our world to prosper"

"Snakes, scorpions, lizards also

shower love, scuttling to and fro"

"Let us celebrate this life

No struggle, no strife"

"We will revel and rejoice

with our treasure trove of joys"

"Borne by mother us in her womb

Brings us into this world to bloom"

"Till we breathe our last

this forest nurtures us steadfast"

"With our harpoons we catch many a fish

We collect golden honey for us to relish"

"As a clan we share

with tender loving care"

"Without losing our orientation

We walk in the right direction"

"God manifests as this forest

giving us better than the best"

"Swaying in the wind that blows

He smiles down at us simple fellows"

"Forest fostering sustenance"

"River flowing in abundance"

"Without hassles of husbandry

we get food, we never go hungry"

"Blessed by our Goddess Palichi

our lives filled with prosperity"

Saw that Kadamba?

With no mercy whatsoever...

...look how the tiger has been

stripped of its hide and claws

This has been done

only a short while ago

Our fathers haven't seen

half the beasts our forefathers saw

We haven't seen

half the beasts our fathers saw

The animals we can see now...

...may become extinct

by the time our children grow up

Greed...trade

He fells the trees

and steals the logs

He kills elephants

and seizes their tusks

They come in hordes

from the plains

And treat our forests

like a money making machine

Even if our entire

forest area is destroyed...

...they won't be satisfied

Let me lay my hands

on the offender

He will face the same fate!

Forest Check Post

Theni Forest Range

There are 25 tigers

according to forest survey

Only 1 caught your eye, huh?

Before we can hoodwink

the forest people and hunt...

...some chap there tracks us

like a scent hound

What can we do, sir?

Then kill him also

along with the tiger

Whether you kill a tiger

or a man inside the forest...

...I'll be the one to investigate it

Not a soul can enter or exit

this forest without my knowledge

'Till the sun sets, looks like

he'll keep squeezing it'

You squeeze honey

like this, then imagine...!

Born rough, I swear

Hurry up, I have loads

of work pending at home

Pullakutti, you always claim

you have work at home

What kind of job is it?

What a question to ask!

Father...!

Come along,

my dear lion cubs

2 more are missing?

Mother is vomiting nonstop

She asked us to fetch you

You heard him, right?

You heard what

my cub said just now

Should I be more

graphic than this?

- Father

- What is it, son?

At least this time I need

a baby sister to play with

If not this time, next time

you'll have a sister for sure

Let's go

'Yaaaay! Next time

we will have a sister, boys'

- Moopa?

- What, doctor?

In our entire clan, only your son has

imbibed all the genes of our race, sir

Whether identifying

the signal of every bird...

Or in tracking the tigers' footprints...

...your son is truly a veteran

I've gone into the forest with

so many men to collect honey

But till now, other than your father...

...no one has collected honey from

Hanging rock with such alacrity

He has truly made

his grandfather proud

I swear on God

For a moment I thought

he was your father

What crap!

Buttering him up like this?

Is the only man

in this village?

Haven't we brought

the same honey back?

Or has no one seen me doing so?

It seems Hanging rock

is the novel factor

For a few ounces of honey

they lavish sugar coated words

If it had been

couple more ounces...

...they would've licked the honey

and then licked his feet too!

We have enough problems

to cope with at home

Then why poke our nose

into other people's business?

Why are you butting in

like a fox and whining now?

It has been 6 years

since our daughter attained puberty

If we had got her married

she would be a mother of 10 now!

Are you bothered about

finding her a groom?

Does she behave like a girl?

Running along with those boys

she romps and tromps all over

'Hey! Fatso, stop'

'Grab her'

Akka, she went this way

'She's forever getting

your man into trouble'

'Don't spare her'

'She runs so fast

despite her flabs!'

'Only way to get her

is to round her up'

'Go that side'

'Got caught, huh?'

'Try to run now'

Let me see

Don't knock my head

It hurts real bad

How many times

I've told you...

...not to go to the clearing

when Kadamban collects the honey

On top of it, what audacity

you'll take a dig at him!

Give me that bunch

of spurge leaves

If I ever see you anywhere

around my Kadamban...

...I'll rub this all over you

Get lost!

Just you wait

I'll tell your brother

What's up with you?

I hid it here and

it's itching badly, akka

'Why did you hide it there?'

Ouch!

'Pass it here'

'Hey! Maya'

Because Miss Fatso taunted you yesterday

Rathi had chased and warned her

She has fallen for you

hook, line and sinker

Why don't you marry her

if you feel the same?

Already her brother

hates the sight of me

Do I need to add

fuel to the fire?

Pullakutti, got scared?

If this calabash fruit had hit you

it would have knocked you out for good

Watch your ways

He's spoiling for a fight!

Whom was that meant for?

- Whom should I tell?

- Tell him

As if I am scared

'Twirling his moustache

and showing off'

Come and play if you are sure

you aren't an illegitimate son!

Oh no! That's the alarm call

of the red-wattled lapwing

Wonder what harm will befall us

Goddess Palichi, only you can

protect all of us

Praise be to you!

Hello, sir

Bro, Mr Chandramouli

Famous geologist

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