I keep writing scenes and other random stuff. Thought they’d make for fun blog posts, titled ‘Tanglish Talks’. Do read, share, mock, comment, ring the bell icon, whatever 🙂 !
Given the comments about the ending of this much-loved movie, I imagined an alternative 🙂
SCENE
THIRU JR. is sitting in the living room, after SHOBANA’s “forget this ever happened” talk on the terrace.
In the background, NEELAKANDAN approaches THIRU SR., who is having his beauty-facial.
NEELAKANDAN
ஏன் வழக்கத்த விட உம்முனு இருக்கான்?
THIRU SR. removes the cucumber slices from his eyes.
THIRU SR.
தாலி கட்டறதுக்கு முன்னாடியே புருஷன்-பொண்டாட்டி
சண்டை நடந்திருக்கு. அதான்…
NEELAKANDAN
பொண்டாட்டியா….
THIRU SR.
(putting back cucumber slices over his eyes)
அட நீ வேற யா! புள்ள தான் மக்கு-னா அப்பன்
double-மடங்கு மக்கா இருக்கியே. ஆள விடு.
NEELAKANDAN makes an exasperated ‘ptch’ sound and approaches his son.
NEELAKANDAN
டேய்! என்னடா ஆச்சு. அவரு ஏதோ
சண்டை-கிண்டை-ங்கறாரு! என்கிட்ட…
THIRU JR. gets up suddenly and leaves the house. NEELAKANDAN stares at him. He stares back at his father.
NEELAKANDAN
(raising his voice)
சரி. ரெண்டு தோசை-யாவது சுட்டு தரையா?
THIRU SR.
மணி என்ன?
NEELAKANDAN
(irritation mounting, not getting why this question is being asked)
ஒம்போது அம்பது.
THIRU SR.
இன்னும் பத்து நிமிஷம் இந்த கடலமாவு ஊறணும்.
பசி பொறுக்கலே-நா kitchen shelf-ல பாதி
biscuit packet இருக்கு. தின்னு.
SCENE
THIRU JR. marches into SHOBANA’s bedroom. She is sitting exactly like THIRU SR., with the beauty treatment. Beside her is a plate of bajji-s. THIRU JR. pulls the cucumber slices off her face. She sits up with a jerk!
THIRU JR.
என்னங்கடி நெனச்சிட்டிருக்கீங்க அக்காவும் தம்பியும்!
அவன் என்னடானா ரேஷன் கடை டப்பா-வ என்
கால்-ல கொட்டறான். நீ assault-ஆ ‘மறந்திடு’-ங்கற?
SHOBANA begins to speak. THIRU JR. stuffs the cucumber slices into her mouth.
THIRU JR.
(angrily)
பேசாதே! பேசாதே! (pause) எல்லாம் அந்த கிழவன் குடுக்கற எடம்…
SHOBANA begins to speak. THIRU JR. stuffs a bajji into her mouth.
THIRU JR.
ஒனக்கு தான் தெரியும்-ல? ஆறாங்கிளாஸ்-லேந்து தெரியும்-ல?
என்ன பிடிச்சிருக்கு-னு தெரியும்-ல? என் மண்டைல சீக்கரம்
ஒண்ணும் ஏறாது-னு தெரியும்-ல? இவ்வ்ளோ வருஷம்
இல்லாத மூளை எப்பிடி டி திடீர்னு மொளைக்கும்?
SHOBANA begins to speak. THIRU JR. stuffs a bajji into her mouth.
THIRU JR.
பேசாத! பேசாத! (pause) தாய்-கெளவி! அவ்வையார் மாறி எனக்கு
advice குடுக்க தெரியுது-ல? ஏன்? ஒனக்கு குடுக்க தோணலியா?
இந்த மடயனுக்கு தானா ஒண்ணும் புரியாது!
நம்ம தான் பதிவா எடுத்து சொல்லணும்!
இது தெரியாம என்னடி best friend நீ?
SHOBANA begins to speak. THIRU JR. stuffs a bajji into her mouth.
THIRU JR.
பேசாத! பேசாத! (pause) ஆமா. பத்து வருஷமா என்ன பத்தியே
நெனச்சிட்டிருந்தேன். உன்ன பத்தி நெனக்க தோணல.
ஏன்னா என் மண்டை-ல ‘அந்த accident மட்டும் நடக்கேலனா
எப்பிடி இருந்திருப்போம்’-ங்கறத உருட்டிட்டே இருந்தேன்.
எங்கப்பா-வ இன்னும் எப்பிடி-லாம் torture பண்ணலாம்-னு
நெனச்சிட்டே இருந்தேன். நீ தான் college போய் பெரிய
டிகிரி-லாம் வாங்கிருக்கே-ல? இது கூட தெரியாது?
SHOBANA begins to speak. THIRU JR. stuffs a bajji into her mouth.
THIRU JR.
பேசாத! பேசாத! (pause) சரி. நா ஒன்ன lover-ஆ நெனக்கலே.
ஆனா எப்பயாச்சும் “நீ என் தங்கச்சி மாறி-னு” சொல்லிருக்கேனா?
அத வச்சு புரிஞ்சிக்க வேணாம்?
SHOBANA’s MOTHER walks in with a fresh plate of bajji-s. She is unable to control her smiles.
SHOBANA’s MOTHER
நல்லா சொல்லு பா. நீ ஒருத்தன் தான் இவ வாய அடைச்சு
மத்தவங்க சொல்லறத கேக்க வச்சிருக்கே!
SHOBANA’s MOTHER leaves. SHOBANA begins to speak.
SHOBANA
அம்மா, நீயும்…
SHOBANA begins to speak. THIRU JR. stuffs a bajji into her mouth.
THIRU JR.
பேசாத! பேசாத! (pause) அதாவது நாம தான் ஒலகத்துலேயே
பெரிய தியாகி. அந்த டிகிரி வேற வேணும்-ல?
தூ! ஒனக்கே வெக்கமா இல்லே?
SHOBANA begins to speak. THIRU JR. stuffs a bajji into her mouth.
THIRU JR.
பேசாத! பேசாத! (pause) எனக்கு தெரியும். “நான் ஒரு
பொண்ணு. நான் எப்பிடி ஒங்கிட்ட I love you சொல்லறது.”
அதானே? நீ எப்படி பொண்ணு மாதிரி இருந்திருக்கே?
இந்த விஷயத்துல மட்டும் என்ன திடீர்னு வெக்கம், தயக்கம், etc?
SHOBANA finally stays silent, finally registering his point.
THIRU JR.
பேசாத! பேசாத!
SHOBANA
(in a raised voice)
நா வாயே தரக்கல டா …
THIRU JR. is thrown off-balance, as his rhythm is interrupted. He looks at SHOBANA. She stares back at him, and then lies back, putting two more cucumber slices on her face.
SHOBANA
மீதி என்ன இருக்கோ, அதையும் சொல்லி முடி.
THIRU JR.
(with hesitation, tripping over his words)
இப்ப நான் சொல்லறேன்.
I… I… I… love you. அவ்வ்ளோதான்.
இனிமே Canada-கீனடா-னு பேச்சு வந்திச்சு…
THIRU JR. storms off. The camera moves close to SHOBANA’s face and stays there for a few beats. SHOBANA is serious, munching a bajji. Slowly, very slowly, a smile blooms.
SCENE
SUPER ON A BLACK SCREEN: ‘TWO YEARS LATER’
The word ‘Years’ is scratched out. ‘TWO MONTHS LATER’
The word ‘Months’ is scratched out. ‘TWO WEEKS LATER’
The word ‘Weeks’ is scratched out. ‘TWO DAYS LATER’
The word ‘Days’ is scratched out. ‘TWO MINUTES LATER’
SHOBANA — face-pack intact — is hugging THIRU JR. from behind. He is making a dosai.
SHOBANA
ஒனக்கு நெஜமாவே தோசை சுட தெரியுமா டா?
THIRU JR.
(with a pause)
தெரியாது. ஆனா இப்போ திரும்பினா ஒன் மூஞ்சிய பாக்கணும்.
அவ்வ்ளோ feelings-ஓட உள்ள இருக்கறத எல்லாம் கொட்டிட்டேனா.
கொஞ்சம் கூச்சமா இருக்கு.
SHOBANA
(hugging him tighter)
லூசு.
NEELAKANDAN walks in and searches for something, oblivious to this hugging-display.
THIRU JR.
என்னப்பா தேடறே?
NEELAKANDAN
இங்க ஏதோ biscuit packet இருக்குனு உன் தாத்தா சொன்னாரு…
THIRU JR.
இப்பதான் தின்னு முடிச்சேன்.
ரெண்டு நிமிஷம் இரு. தோசை தர்றேன்.
NEELAKANDAN
(with amazement)
ஒனக்கு தோசை சுட தெரியுமா டா?
SHOBANA
அதான் ‘மாமா’ நானும் கேட்டேன்.
NEELAKANDAN
‘மாமா’-வா? என்ன நடக்குது இங்க?
CUT TO THIRU SR., sitting elsewhere.
THIRU SR.
(to audience)
நான் சொன்னேன்-ல? புள்ள மக்கு-னா
அப்பன் double-மடங்கு மக்கு.
FADE TO BLACK
THE END
Baradwaj Rangan 
Kay
September 5, 2022
This is so much more apt than the rushed Canada ending. Can we start a petition for reshooting the last few minutes? 😀
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Karthik
September 5, 2022
This is nice! It has two things that the film didn’t have, a better guess at why Shobana never said anything before, and a genuine physical moment after they express their feelings.
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Divya
September 5, 2022
If the Tamil dialogues were written in English, even non-natives could read it n would have stayed true to the title of Tanglish Talks… 🙂
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Vijay Ramanathan
September 5, 2022
A fun variation! 😃
Feels like a better fit with the feel-good flow of the rest of the movie compared to the somewhat convoluted ending in the original.
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Voldemort
September 5, 2022
Awesome. I’m going to pretend hereafter that this is the ending I saw. Why are you not writing more fiction, BR?
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H. Prasanna
September 5, 2022
Dude, she probably got a Canadian PR. And they get universal health care. Why you do them like this?
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Sel Shan
September 5, 2022
What a blast this could’ve been at the theatres. Loved the biscuit packet part! rofl
Great job baddy! Please do more.
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corkscrew2brainbottle
September 5, 2022
உளுத்தம் பருப்பு, right? 😀
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Sam
September 5, 2022
^ ^ ^ seconding Divya, would love an English translation of the Tamil dialogues if possible, Google Translate would be a nightmare
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venki
September 5, 2022
That bajji thinufying scene is quite repetitive, might remind us basically am a watch mechanic.
Nice end to the story!
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Kay
September 5, 2022
Corkscrew – that’s a reference to the besan facepack. 10 mins left to remove the facepack after which dosai will be made.
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Vimal
September 5, 2022
Oh, no. Canada ending isn’t as big a problem as the corny reveal that she’d had feelings for him. Why can’t they skip romance and jump staight into marriage?! You know, if she wants to marry her friend, let her. Or don’t. But no way she’s had feelings and love and blah blah..
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Voldemort
September 5, 2022
On a related note, Megham Karukatha somehow reminded me of Rajaraja Cholan Naan. Maybe they are both the same minor scale, but it also felt like – I am not sure how to put this- it was inspired from the core of Rajaraja Cholan.
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Jayram
September 5, 2022
@Voldemort, what do you think about the Appa song? Does it remind you of Amma Amma from VIP?
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Voldemort
September 5, 2022
Yes Appa is overtly derivative of and mostly the same as Amma Amma and the movie’s background score also was similar to VIP’s, as pointed out by others as well. I felt Megham was not overtly derivative or copied, it just felt like a hat tip to Rajaraja Cholan. I mentioned this to a friend, who thought that the two are totally different, so it’s probably just me. However I think at least the scale should be the same for both.
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Kay
September 5, 2022
Voldemort – Now that you have mentioned it, both the songs do seem similar. At least the beginning of the songs. Maybe it’s the same raagam? The music experts can confirm.
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Djagmo
September 6, 2022
Very well written, Baddy! I also added my own imagination to your piece and the movie is now complete in my head 😀
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asvmf
September 6, 2022
This is so apt Baddy! Anyone else read it in Dhanush and Nithya Menon’s voice also?
Leads me to wonder how good the casting was…
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Karthik
September 6, 2022
There’s a couple of things I found odd about this reimagined scene. One, Prakash Raj’s character which I found hard to imagine being called a மடயன். He didn’t come across as oblivious, and especially, because of the scene where he tells Pazham how everyone knew these two would get together, it makes the மடயன் bit a little odd. (And the “மாமா” bit at the end felt a little too cute). Second was Pazham finding Shobana chilling with a cucumber and face pack. For me, the whole Canada bit was about her running away so as to not face her unreciprocated feelings. But the setup here made it feel like she was free of tension.
One thing about the “VIP” series of movies, is the “romance” track always jumps from the understanding friend zone to the caring wife zone, leapfrogging the whole Nora Ephron zone. So the characters, especially Dhanush, never get to a place where saying “I love you” is natural or straightforward. So he might be better off Harry met Sallying his way to that zone.
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brangan
September 6, 2022
Karthik: Prakash Raj’s character which I found hard to imagine being called a மடயன். He didn’t come across as oblivious…
So மடயன் is not just with respect to this particular scene/situation, but Thiru Sr.’s exasperation over 10 years of dealing with father and son, being a mediator/explainer over many such situations. “At least not that you’ve patched up, leave me out of this, idiots,” is how I thought of Thiru Sr.’s mind-voice. That’s how மடயன் came about.
Secondly, a face pack doesn’t necessarily mean “chilling”. Yes, she IS running away from all these feelings but that doesn’t mean every single second is going to be spent wringing your hands. You CAn say, “I’m tired of all this packing and thing, I need a small break.”
PS: Not really “defending” this ending, as it was written in just a couple of hours. Just explaining my POV 🙂
PPS: And to all those who said they read it in the actors’ voices, thank you 🙂 While writing, I imagined it in their voices, so that’s nice to hear. Also, it’s a sign of how strongly these actors “owned” these roles.
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Karthik
September 6, 2022
Secondly, a face pack doesn’t necessarily mean “chilling”.
Oh, I agree. Just that in this film, the earlier scene with facepacks had characters “chilling” and so my mind made that association.
as it was written in just a couple of hours.
Wow, thats remarkable!
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madhusudhan194
September 6, 2022
Hi BR. Don’t you think the ending in the film was a cop out? Thiru Jr’s real problem is his self pity and low self esteem. How does that get resolved even if he marries Shobana?
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abishekspeare
September 6, 2022
BR please come up with a way for non-tamil readers to understand these ;;
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Karthik
September 7, 2022
I felt Megham was not overtly derivative or copied, it just felt like a hat tip to Rajaraja Cholan.
I dont think I could see the connection to Raja Raja Chozhan, but I definitely thought it was heavily inspired by Kannale Pesi Pesi.
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Jay S
September 28, 2022
I enjoyed this a lot. And I don’t even like reading scenes. I thought it used all the characters aptly and brought everything to closure.
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Voldemort
March 25, 2023
Why aren’t there any Tanglish Talks these days?
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