Chidambaram 1985

On a vast government-owned farm perched in the Western Ghats, at the border of Kerala and Tamil Nadu, Muniyandi, Sreenivasan, a worker who tends the farm’s cattle, tells the superintendent Shankaran that he is getting married and needs money. Shankaran agrees, but Jacob, the supervisor under him, is not thrilled. He demands that Shankaran return to the farm as soon as the wedding is over. Shankaran invites Muniyandi to drink with him, and when Jacob shows up, him as well; Jacob refuses, taking offense at drinking in the company of a “menial.” Muniyandi falls at Shankaran’s feet and sings a song about Shiva in repentance.

Shankaran travels to Muniyandi’s village to attend the wedding and volunteers to take pictures. The couple return to the farm on a bullock cart and then a jeep. Shivakami, Smita Patil, Muniyandi’s wife, is astounded by the lush landscape of Kerala. She discovers a flower garden and eagerly tells Muniyandi about her exploration of the farm. He takes it poorly, implying to Shivakami that she shouldn’t wander the farm without him. Later, she decides to write a letter back home and approaches Shankaran to write the address on the envelope in English. Shankaran takes pictures of Shivakami, who gives up her typical reservations.

The actors Nedumudi Venu and Innocent show up at the farm for an event. Shankaran throws a picnic for them, which Jacob joins. Jacob passes a remark on Shivakami’s character, which enrages Shankaran, who tries to punch Jacob.

Against Muniyandi’s wishes, Jacob gives Shivakami a job in the estate’s hay-making unit and moves Muniyandi’s own shift to the night. That night, Muniyandi is startled by the sound of a motorbike heading towards the hay-making unit. Suspecting that Shivakami is cheating on him with Jacob, he goes in to check, only to find that it is his trusted Shankaran instead. Overcome with deception, he slashes Shivakami’s face and hangs himself.

Shankaran runs away from the estate and ends up in the house of two of his colleagues. They do not understand what has happened. He eventually leaves and goes to the city where he becomes an alcoholic and finds a job in a printing press. His alcoholism eventually gets to his liver, at which point his doctor advises him to become religious to cure his addiction. After his attempts at reading Hindu scripture ends in vain, his doctor tells him to go on pilgrimages.

On a visit to the Thillai Nataraja Temple, Chidambaram, Shankaran finds Shivakami, her face slashed, now living off alms.