Newton Page #4

It won't hurt

Are they edible?

It's sour

We make them into a chutney.

Very tasty

Interesting

What's interesting is that you live

a few hours away...

...yet know nothing about life here

Is that someone singing?

- What's going on?

- Interrogation

About what?

They were climbing trees,

playing

They were spying to see how

many men we were

"How many men?" You think you're

in an action movie like "Sholay?"

The Maoists even use toddlers

Not true

Who's asking you?

- You're one of them

- One second

You can't talk to her like that

If they're spies, why make them

sing?

You prefer I beat them up?

- Ask them if they saw anything

- No

Hear that? The answer came out

like a shot

Pretends he doesn't speak Hindi

Hey Mowgli, come here

What are you doing?

Go!

Tell everyone in the village

to come and vote. Go

It's all for your benefit, sir

You sound threatening

Mr Newton...

In uniform, a request sounds like

a threat

They aren't your slaves

Newton, stay a Newton

Don't try to be an Einstein

We're leaving soon

More ambushes at night.

Get back to your duty

Let's go

What time did we first meet

Atma Singh?

- Around 4:
30 or 4:45am

- 4:
30 or 4:45?

Probably 4:
45

When did we leave?

Don't know

I got there at 5:30

Are you filing a complaint?

Why raise your blood pressure?

We know the elections mean

a lot to you

But only one thing changes:

the framed portraits of our leaders

Who cares if people starve or not,

voting is a more important right!

Are you a pessimist like him?

No. I'm an Adivasi,

a "tribal"

What's going on?

Go back to duty

Run!

What a pain

How did you end up in this jungle?

Couldn't pull any strings?

I wanted to sit in a helicopter

- Mr Newton, Digcent is on the line

- Who?

The DIG, sir

Newton Kumar

How many votes?

Zero votes

It's not going well.

I tried telling Atma...

Hello. Listen to me.

The voters will come

I spoke to Atma Singh

I'm on my way...

...with some foreign journalists

Remember, my reputation is at stake

Clear?

Your WhatsApp profile is good

I thought you were blonde

Krishna's unit will go down the hill.

My men will go the other way

Mr Newton, may we go?

Don't force anyone to come.

Let them come voluntarily

Force them? Tell us and we'll

leave our guns here

One unit stays here to protect

the booth

Get up!

Move it

Stop listening to their excuses.

Get them together in 5 minutes

Where are you going?

Fill it up

Hurry up!

- Do you know Hindi?

- A little

How many villagers have

voting cards?

- What's that?

- He says "40"

Tell him to bring his card

and convince the others. OK?

Do you have a voting card?

Card? Go and get it

Cook the fat one. Make it spicy.

Do you have a voting card?

Come on!

Stop!

We're taking the voters with us

Get going!

Do you know the history

of this place?

Dandakaranya Forest

Know what it means?

"The Forest of Punishment."

Where it's given and served

Sita and Rama were exiled here

Surpanakha's nose was cut off here

Sita crossed the line drawn

by Lakshman

She was kidnapped by Ravan

and taken to Sri Lanka

Lots of history here

You are too young to have seen

the TV serial Ramayana

The mythical aircraft, Pushpak?

It flew from here

- From here?

- Yes. See that clearing?

Doesn't it look like a runway?

India's first pilot was Ravan

Of Sri Lanka?

Sri Lanka and India were the same

country then

He flew her straight to Sri Lanka

What are you staring at?

People with a voting card,

raise your hands

The ones with the card, go over there.

Only they can vote

Where are the young?

Gone to pick Tendu leaves

- When will they be back?

- By lunch

Sit over there

They're all old. Where are

the young ones?

They've gone to work

We found this lot, so we

dragged them here

- Dragged them here?

- No, sir

They came voluntarily

The others have been informed

They'll come after lunch

Get in line

Everyone, in line. Hurry

Malko, Loknath. Shall we start?

Go ahead, start

Name?

Sukku

Sukku Ram

Number MZZ...

Please come

What's her name?

Komaldai

Number 19

Cast your vote

What?

He's just standing there

Maybe it's the first time he's seen

a machine

Nor have his ancestors!

He's dumbstruck

Listen to me carefully

Cast your votes, one by one

See this? A machine like this

is inside that room

The machine will register your vote

There's a button next to

each candidate's name

Press the button for the person

you want to vote for

OK?

Please translate

- How much money do we get?

- Shut up!

Voting is your birthright

You won't be paid. Nor will you

be forced to vote

Understand?

Any questions?

Don't be scared. Ask

How does voting benefit them?

This is the country's biggest election

Don't you want roads, electricity,

water and social justice?

The man you vote for will make all

this happen

He'll bring improvements

"This jungle is more dangerous

than beautiful

"We could be ambushed

"An IED or a land mine could explode

"So it's a big deal that elections are

being held under these circumstances

"With cameraman Israr Ahmed

"I am Vinod for S News,

Kondanar"

Parliament is where important laws

of this land are passed

It's in Delhi

The candidate you choose...

We have our own laws.

Thousands of years old

Please cooperate and translate

Tell them that the man they vote for

will go to Delhi

They say he's their leader,

he can go to Delhi

You can't go to Delhi, you aren't

standing in the elections

Show them the list

Choose someone from this list

and cast your vote

Binod Kumar,

Nationalist Party

Meena Kumari,

Indian National Party

Lal Singh Tekam,

Public Service Forum

Gladstone Usendi,

Progressive Party

Comrade Bhim Kumar,

Peasants' Party

Jhitku Ram,

Citizens' Union

Maheshwar Baghel,

Ideal India Party

Beduram Kashyap,

People's Front

Muttaka Masram,

Farmers' Party

Lingaram Netam,

Independent

Budhri Patel,

Independent

Dr Joga Chaudhary,

Independent

Nelawati Devi,

Independent

You may vote for anyone on this list

Here are the names

First time they've heard these names

Which candidate will give them

a fair price for Tendu leaves?

They say if they vote, the Maoists

will trouble them...

...or the police will.

No one asks what they want

What do they want?

Freedom from both

Did they say that?

Sir, should I handle it?

Loknath, two minutes. Let me explain

Two minutes

After the elections...

Mr Newton, this is beyond you

Now let me take over

Shame on you people!

These gentlemen have come

to this jungle...

...risking their lives for you

What?

Just wait

Must you treat them like this?

Please wait

- The voting machine is like a toy

- What nonsense! It is not a toy

- What are you saying?

- Be quiet

- These are your first elections

- So what?

You can't get their vote,

and obstruct others who can

You're the obstructive one.

I will report you

Go on. Write up your report

Krishna, take him away

This toy is easy to play with

It has everything

A carrot, a ship, a motorcycle,

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