WAITING FOR A BRAND NEW DAWN
This is a call from your main gate security.
Going down.
Please stand clear before closing the door.
Nalli…
You might have received…
food delivery.
It's a no-contact delivery.
My phone's GPS had chosen your address from saved locations, by mistake.
I can't cancel--
My phone's GPS had chosen your address from saved locations, by mistake.
I can't cancel the order now.
The guy will get pissed off, if I ask him to bring it here.
So, if you haven't had your meal yet, will you please have it?
-Hi! -Hi.
Greetings. I am good.
Hi.
-Sumati? -Hi!
Hi.
Greetings.
Nallathangaal.
-Are you doing good? -Auntie, how are you?
Where is your mom? Is there--
Could've been a power cut there. She will be online soon.
Do you have work? Go ahead.
Good evening to everyone connected through video room.
We're now standing near the reception entrance.
Guests have started coming. Let's see them.
Why are you standing still? Sprinkle the rose water.
Okay, dear.
Will you not do that if I were there in person?
Come on… sprinkle.
Sprinkle it on me.
-Yeah, that's enough. -Do it.
What are you doing? Bring me the sandalwood cream.
Rock candies? Give me some dear!
How does this look?
Everyone is laughing.
Rekha, you're looking so pretty!
You're looking superb!
Happy married life.
-Congratulations! -Happy married life, Rekha.
Congrats, Jibin.
Hello.
Hello… look behind you.
Your pup is biting something.
Hello.
Mr. Skygazer!
Hello, looks like a file in there. Look behind you.
Hello, watcher of the sky--
-Hello, Mr. Skygazer! -Please watch your dog too.
That sister is trying to tell that for a long time.
That's what happens.
Foreign dogs behave like this! Didn't I tell you?
He ate all of it.
Thank you.
-That's alright! -Thank you.
You're on the groom's side or the bride's side?
I'm Jibin's friend.
You might have worked with him in Bengaluru.
No, I met him during a train journey.
Oh! Train, is it?
Congratulations!
It's drizzling here, so we are leaving.
I'll send the wedding link for tomorrow. Please make it to that session too.
-Yes, we'll definitely be there! -Bye!
Bye!
-Bye! -Bye.
Everyone, please use side dish on your hands to keep them clean.
-What side dish? -Side dish, right?
-What side dish? -Hey, don't annoy me.
It's an English word, that's it I'm forgetting everything else
Hand us your garbage!
Segregate your garbage into three!
Can you tilt the frame to the right?
Yeah. Stay there! Stay there!
Can you pose now? Ready?
What happened?
Oh, you can't pose without a click sound, right?
Just a minute.
Wait, I'll give you click sound.
Pose!
We were unable to cope with its pace.
But you guys weren't able to understand
our patience too.
Now, because of this lockdown
I think you might have understood loneliness a tad better.
Likewise, I hope you will definitely learn about senility.
And be empathetic towards old people.
This lockdown has taught us patience
and how to slow down.
I thank this lockdown just for that.
God bless you all!
That was so lovely, ma'am.
Thank you so much for your blessings.
We believe we will definitely be more empathetic and kind.
Even though we are stranded in separate life boats on this ocean called pandemic
we are there for each other.
We are "alone together" in this!
I'll take a pause.
If you want to share anything, you can.
Mr. Sky Gazer!
Please go on!
When my friend was tested positive for covid,
he left his dog with me.
He asked me to take care of his dog
for ten days as he used to get tired easily.
And he will get his dog back after his quarantine period.
He never came back.
He had breathlessness.
He got admitted in hospital.
He battled it out for two days but…
When his brother called me to inform his death…
I couldn't see him because of Covid protocol.
Not able to remove my mask in the hospital corridor.
Breathing my own tears and breath! That…
That feeling--
Hi, Nalla! Thanks for joining the meet.
Thank you for sending me the invite.
It was really good.
The way you hosted and made people comfortable!
They opened up so beautifully.
Thank you so much!
I just need a favour.
Yeah, go ahead.
The guy who spoke about his friend
passing away and having to pet-sit his dog.
Can you share his contact?
I saw him at another wedding event.
It's just that I have a message for him.
I'm not demanding the reason! Sending his number right away!
I've sent the number. Please check.
Sorry, I'm running late for twitter space.
-That's why I'm in a hurry. -Thank you!
-Hi. -Hi.
Hey, say hi.
Good boy, say hi.
What's the name?
Dheeran.
Hello, Dheeran.
No, my name is Dheeran. His name is Dude.
Fuck.
I don't know how to react.
I'm so sorry.
It's okay.
No. It's for whatever you are going through.
You shared it very beautifully.
But, I couldn't be there in the session till the end.
I didn't know anyone on the call.
For some reason, I felt it easy to share with strangers.
Makes me feel secured.
Looks like all of us have softened a bit.
It's a great quality to admit our vulnerability.
And it's very necessary during times like this.
It's been five days since he died.
I saw a Facebook post he had written a week back on my feed today.
My hand habitually tried to call his mobile.
For a minute I couldn't understand anything.
I can't accept the fact…
that he is no more.
There's a reason why we conduct funeral, right?
We can see the deceased for one last time and vent out grief crying our hearts out.
There is no opportunity to do so now.
And I didn't know how to vent out.
I was just roaming around like a zombie now.
I feel I am getting casually desensitised.
Death news has become just a news…
like any other.
We just scroll by…
and move on.
I don't know whether I'm the only one who feels this way!
This seems like a pattern after the second wave.
When Mr. Vivek passed away…
I felt like, I was robbed of my childhood memories.
Cinematographer K.V. Anand..
He was an inspiration to me.
If these had happened during normal times,
may be we would've been in shock and mourned longer.
I was wondering whether we've become more numb to all this now.
Reminds me one of Vivek's dialogue "Tone down your shock, tone it down."
The second type, are people whom we would call to speak
but they would say… "Maybe later."
Yes, "May be later" is what they would prefer
but they'll keep listening to what we speak.
Mom, you said you stopped watching news
because it carries only covid stats, right?
I have identified some good news for you. Listen!
You don't WFH?
Sorry. Work from Home
I'm an events manager and also a photographer.
A total outdoor package.
I can't do WFH. Things now are just WTF for me.
What?
We are not living anymore, right?
We are enacting our lives.
Now I don't have a job too.
I tend to recourse to remote photography and manage with coxcombry.
What? coxcombry!
Just joyful fooling.
Are you not accustomed to the dank meme culture, social media folly?
Yes, not very much.
I listen and scroll feeds.
It's become a forced habit since the lockdown.
Is your name Nallathangaal?
I thought you were a Malayali when I heard your accent.
Yes! Mom is a Malayali and Dad is a Tamilian.
Mom likes the story of Nallathangal a lot.
So, they named me that.
Do they call you Nalla?
Nalla, Nalli, Nalli elumbu, Thangam and so on.
Since "Nalli elumbu" is a nickname of an idiot
I asked people to not call me that.
What do you do?
IT, of course!
During normal times, I take a trip with my friends whenever I find time.
I'm a travel freak.
And when I'm alone, I like sky-gazing.
I used to spend sleepless nights just looking at the skies
or I would sit and watch the waves.
I do social media, gaming just for the sake of it.
I have wanted to ask you ever since I noticed.
How did you find this house by the beach?
Actually, I booked it for a weekend stay.
The owner became my friend.
So, now I'm camping here.
I get lost in the city.
Actually, the view from terrace is wonderful.
Wait, I'll show you
Oh, yeah.
This is my terrace.
Oh.
This is my gym room.
I exercise a bit when I find time.
Okay.
Nice, isn't it?
Practically, this is not a lockdown for you at all.
Why?
For us, beaches are closed and we are jobless too.
Look how confined everything is.
You're enjoying the sea breeze while you get to work.
So, the lockdown is a blessing to you, right?
Yes. The introvert in me is partying.
My bad.
You were talking about remote photography
and the topic steered elsewhere.
Right now, I just work with my regular clients.
I need to survive.
And send money to my parents.
I thought I was a privileged ass to be able to comfortably
watch Netflix and Prime from home during the previous lockdown.
Only now it dawns on me that I'm jobless too
and my savings will be gone a matter of three months!
Our lives have changed. Our work nature has changed!
I have to adapt to these changes and do something creative.
Let's see.
There should be a way out!
Of course!
Might be a difficult thing to crack
but you will definitely do well!
Well, as your name suggests!
Thanks!
Your workout space is very interesting.
I remember seeing something like this, in a French film.
Do you watch a lot of films?
Not these days!
Because, the world shown in films don't exist anymore!
Yeah.
We are in a different world now and I can't connect to those films!
But even during lockdowns,
there are folks who talk about productivity
and keeping the creative juices flowing.
That's annoying.
Pure consumeristic shit!
-What's the use of their productivity? -Exactly.
Which world are they going to live in?
This is toxic positivity!
If it's only going to be like this from now
we will do something to survive.
But thinking of productivity?
Such an elitist attitude!
I feel you!
When the world is healed,
when we hear less siren sounds,
and when hospitals breathe a sigh of relief…
I'll make a "living in the face of fuck"!
Wow! Cheers to that!
Yeah! It feels like an achievement just to step out and throw away trash bags.
It's a milestone for me.
I actually dress up to take trash bags out.
You know you radiate an amazing energy.
I'm getting revitalised.
No, we exchange energies!
One good thing about this lockdown is that
we get to understand ourselves and our loved ones in an intense manner!
We look into our own souls.
We take "soul tour"!
Soul-tour? Sound so good!
But I still haven't recovered from that "bathroom tour" video!
Why are you laughing?
I'll have to take Dude for a walk now.
He is so used to car rides.
And he misses his owner very much!
So, I take him to a beach-walk
and get back home after playing.
Has Dude bonded well with you?
Feeding him reminds me to eat properly myself.
Walking him is an exercise for me as well!
By cleaning his droppings, I keep the entire house clean.
So we are in the process of mutual care giving.
Beautiful!
Hey, I'm talking under your influence, catching your vibes!
Like your trash-bag trip, I am going to walk for ten miles.
What do you think about that?
Is that aloe vera behind you?
Looks like Dude can reach that.
Please place it elsewhere!
It could be dangerous for him.
Done, I'll do that!
Loneliness is our dreadful companion
Whom we slowly got befriended with
Amidst an ocean of isolation
Called pandemic
We keep floating all alone in a boat
Enough of it!
The yearning to meet Grows slowly within us
Our fingers seek out to provide solace
Stay alone, know thyself
Stay awake, stay compassionate
Be organized and be kind
Even if we are away from each other Our affection will connect us
-Hi. -Hi.
Are you busy?
No, I'm just going to do a temperature-check.
Can you video call me tomorrow…
when you take out your trash?
Just called to ask this.
I'm even going on a grocery run tomorrow.
Which store?
It's a nearby store called Roots.
Oh, tell me when you're going. I need to do a quick grocery run too.
If it's okay, can I come with you?
Not catching you on phone, for once.
Yeah!
Sure? Only if you are okay, that is?
Yeah, that works!
See you tomorrow.
How did you come?
-By car. I parked it nearby! -Okay.
Dude! I am sorry.
Cutie pie.
-Shake hand. -Come on, shake hand.
Cute.
Let's go.
Good boy.
He's so cute!
Yeah he is a cute boy!
Actually, I got some dog food,
nail clipper from Amazon.
I thought I could sent it through Dunzo or Genie.
I didn’t know we'd meet so soon!
So, here it is.
Why are you this sweet!
Oh, come on! Please have it.
Thank you.
Do you eat only organic food?
Yeah, I'm just avoiding white rice and white sugar.
I even learnt how to brew wine organically during last lockdown.
Wow!
I've got a small sample for you.
What?
Have it and let me know if you like it. I will give you more, okay?
What?
Hey!
It will definitely hit you.
What else do I need?
I couldn't manage to get it during lockdown.
Thanks! You're wonderful!
Fill your glass and give me a call tonight.
-Let's clink glasses! -Sure!
Can we have jaggery drink now?
-It tastes amazing here! -Sure.
Come.
Two jaggery drinks.
Thank you.
How much is it?
That's okay, we can pay later.
It's very good.
Actually, I've one another thing.
Another one!
This is contact of a Pet-sitter company.
You said you are a travel freak, right?
So if you want to travel when the restrictions are lifted
you can leave Dude with them.
They will take good care!
Actually, I can pet-sit him!
This option is only when I'm not available!
What else do you have in there, Santa Claus?
That's all!
I feel so ashamed.
I've got nothing to give you!
I just have an idea though.
I can share it with you.
They have closed parking space big apartments, right?
Maybe you could pop-up screen
and project movies there.
People could just sit in their cars, and watch movies at their own comfort.
Could also feel like a social gathering.
And…
It's just a regular drive-in theater concept but doing it during these times
in apartment would be more feasible, I think.
Theaters are being open and shut!
So, maybe this could be a thing.
I shared it with you since you are into events.
Sorry, if I said something wrong.
No way, I'm…
surprised! Go on!
The other day I searched for you on YouTube.
I did find a video in which you shouted,
asking people to put their mobile phones on silent mode.
You performed stand up comedy.
I just wish to see the Nalla,
with the same energy and vibe.
Blue!
Cheers to the woman who is making my blues beautiful.
Cheers.
Did you switch on those lights just to tell me that?
Are you really shutting me down fearing that I'll tell you something romantic?
By the way, wine tastes super!
Answer me now.
Are you afraid that I'll make this a romance?
Yes!
I won't!
You have lots of love that nobody needs.
You are still exhausted from exiting a relationship.
You need to heal out of it, first.
I've understood that we aren't merely attention seekers but connection seekers.
And in times like this, we are all weak.
We ache of loneliness.
You were feeling good about even taking out your trash.
So comparatively I might have mattered a bit more to you.
When everything gets normal
neither me nor the trash bin would matter to you.
You're on a roll, right? That wasn't fair at all.
Why are you comparing yourself with a trash bin?
No, Nalla.
I will neither take advantage because you are feeling weak
nor occupy your space just because you let me in.
I know that.
I know that I was unable to express my emotions or talk to anyone.
I was toughened as a rock.
Tissues under my eyes ached…
because I couldn't bring myself to cry.
I've only cried in front of the sea, so far.
But these days even the sea winds seem to pierce my eyes.
Looking from here, your room lights
and sea waves seems merged.
Looks like bio-luminescent waves to me.
Feels very celestial.
A dream occurs to me now.
You, Dude and me are standing on the beach with waves hitting us.
You are not sharing just with the sea, but to me as well.
Or at least in my dreams.
I never told you my friend's name, right?
Kanna Dinesh.
We used to watch TV series and discuss about it.
After he was admitted in the hospital,
he asked me to download the last episode and bring it to his ward.
As the hospital ward had network issue.
When he called the next day, I thought he wanted to remind me of that.
I decided to give it the next day…
and didn't answer his call.
With that unanswered call, he…
He had tried to reach me just before he passed away.
I don't know what he wanted to tell me.
I wasn't there for him when he needed me the most.
I still haven't seen that last episode.
But my dreams haunt me every day telling me "This is that last episode."
My guilt is killing me!
Sorry, Nalla!
Thank you.
Tears!
I can see your tears.
Thanks for letting me open up.
I really feel a lot lighter.
Cheers.