Nov 29

KOLANGAL
Mano is treated pretty well, rather too well, in fact, by Anu's family. He is made to sit in the center of the religious ceremony, and take part in it. Rajendran, who has beendispatched by Karpagam to see if Mano is being treated ok, sneaks into the room and sees all this. Then the guard catches up with him and rushes him out. Easwaran and Mano follow. Outside, Rajendran tells Mano his mother is ill (this was exceeding the brief given by Karpagam). Mano is torn, but meek. Anu steps in and says nothing doing. He cannot go. She further insinuates that the mother in law, who was fine-as-an-ollakkai this morning, is playing games. Finally, Mano, still in two minds, meekly follows his determined wife back inside.

Rajendra relates this with suitable spicing to Karpagam, who seems much better. Aarati's wide eyes open even wider in permanent shock and anger.

Easwaran tries to privately advise Mano to leave and attend to his mother, but Anu and Kanchana catch him at it, and he too submits meekly.

Ganga brings Tolkappian to her home. Mother objects, but she manages to persuade her. Mother reconsiders...

SELVI
Clash of the supertankers -- my tiny TV screen could barely fit Tamarai and Selvi in at the same time. Selvi says she has 'allowed' Tamarai her rights. Tamarai flushes. How so, she asks. Because, think about it, legally, you divorced him. But he is still my husband. Knowing his misdeeds, 'twas I who cut him loose, to be picked up by you, says Selvi. Tamarai is now furious that Selvi has a Tali but she doesn't. Goes home and tells GJ Kaveri is his daughter, and that she needs Selvi's tali removed immediately. He tries to tell her she is in the 21st century, but to no avail.

In Amar's place, he confronts pops with the evidence. Pops is stunned and tries to mollify his son, but there is nothing Amar will listen to. He accuses Andavan of trying to sabotage his self-starting efforts. Andavan denies it unsuccessfully. Asks Andavan to reform. Andavan says he may be a bad man to others but to his son he is only good. No good. Amar's mind is made up. Good acting by Amar. Malar silently listens, then watches, as Andavan wonders what the source of all this trouble is.

Nov 28

KOLANGAL
Ramachandran proves to be a novice, after all. Comes straight back to minister and Adi, tells them that Ganga's threat was a bluff. Adi dismisses him without any promise of payment, and he has no recourse. Suddenly, Adi remembers his brother's engagement. Tells minister and daughter to accompany him. Minister asks him to go, saying they will be along. Once he is gone, the daughter (don't remember her name) goes on a rampage, breaking all the items on the mantelpiece, and ripping up the window curtains, and tearing down pictures from walls. Her anger is owing to the fact that Adi's brother is getting married, but not to her. She has set her heart on going to that family as a daughter in law. Funny logic. She derides them as worthless and ordinary, yet wants to go there as a bride. Finally, minister calms her down by saying he will see to it she gets married to Adi's brother. She is sore at having lost Adi to Usha.

Meanwhile at Adi's place, everyone is ready. Mano goes there, and is recognized by the old driver, who doesn't know Mano has married into the family. Big nose-cut for all.

Karpagam is running a temperature. Aarati offers to take her to a doctor. She says she is worried about Mano getting insulted.

SELVI
The new kid calls Tamarai's residence, speaks with her, and with GJ, not knowing the history, of course. The next day, the truth comes out, when Tamarai and Selvi run into each other at the school. The usual exchange of cold glances and insults. Finally, Tamarai asks Selvi why she behaves as though she is conferring rights on her. Because I was the one who gave you those rights, says Selvi.

Malar is playing a fine hand. She has hidden Amar's second contract (having burnt the first one) in his father's room. Then, when he hunts for it, she hints that perhaps is father is not happy with his progress and getting ahead. She urges him to look in his father's room, and there he finds it. She says don't confront your father, knowing he will.

Nov 27

KOLANGAL
Minister and Adi (who's looking after his business, he's all the time at Minister's house) are talking about Ganga's threat to expose them. Adi assures minister that he will neutralize the threat, with a secret weapon. Waiting outside is the weapon, Ramachandran, Ganga's brother in law. Ramachandran is offered a reward for retrieving the video copy that Ganga has of her cell phone message. Ramachandran tries to probe more but is rebuffed.

Anjali's engagement ceremony is scheduled. Kanchana wants to invite Anu. She drags her husband to Anu's home, but will not enter it. She pointedly invites just Anu and her husband (should he wish to come). Karpagam comes out and answers in third person that Anu may come but not her son. The next day, Anu is all ready, but Mano is not. After hemming and hawing, he goes with her. Aarti makes her usual speech. Karpagam is devastated.

Ramachandran follows Ganga and discovers her visiting the clinic. He sneaks in and overhears her conversation with Tols. She reveals that her threat to Adi was a bluff. He says he cannot forgive her for not sharing the video with the court. She says she doesn't care about Abhi, only about him.

SELVI
Suddenly, Selvi's daughter, who was non-existent, is six or seven and ready to join school. Wouldn't you know it, it is the same school as Sachin and Aishwarya's. She arrives to feed Kaveri (for the first time we learn the child's name) and find Sachin and Aishwarya looking after her. She feeds them also. When Tamarai arrives later, S and A introduce her to K, telling her that K's mom has already fed them. SHe is drawn to K, and without even asking what her mom's name is, says K should call her (K says Sachin has already given her his phone number), and also ask her mom to talk to her.

In GJ's new drug business, Nallathambi arrives with a formula for Chicken Kunia (whether the drug causes or cures it is not clear). GJ gets 15 lakhs from Tamarai and gives it to NT. As NT says it, the money coming in should be in Tamarai's name, the profits in GJ's. The set up proceeds.

At Malar's house, soliloquy by Malar about how when Selvi discovers the reasons for her getting married, she will one day be proud. Amar overhears her talking to herself, then after dispatching her to get coffee, searches the room.

Ceylonmani and Niranjan very happy with the baby. All settled on that front.

Up to Friday Nov 24

KOLANGAL

After a number of narrow escapes, Tolkappian manages to bring Upendra to the court. Abhi sees him and Upendra and is part elated, and part alarmed (at seeing Tols bloodied from the bullet wound). Tols talks to her lawyer, who rushes to the judge to get Upendra's evidence. But before the judge can see him, the goondas arrive, and, in front of the entire police force led by Tillai, they knife Upendra. The judge then sees him, he only says he was in Pondicherry, and then dies without giving any evidence. Abhi is devastated, as he was the only one who could clear her.

 

Ganga manages to take Tolkappian to a private hospital, where the doctor takes out the bullet, but refuses to keep him for more than a day or two, fearing it will be a police case. Ganga goes to the minister, and tells them that if any harm comes to Tols (or her), she still has copies of the tapes, plus Adi and minister's conversations. THey are in no position to doubt her. Their lawyer says the case against Abhi is still strong, despite the man she is accused of killing, Upendra, showing up alive.

 

SELVI

Niranjan and Ceylonemani have a baby. Big hooha about her dying, but at the last minute, Malar makes a visit following a call from Niranjan, and donates her O negative blood (very rare) which is what Sivamani needed. After a long time, Dileepan also appears, showing up at the hospital. In the end, mother and child are both well, justifying Selvi's faith.

 

PENN

Akash and Ravindran lure Poongadi into Manohar's house, promising to perform surgery on her. When she gets there, they subdue her and medicate her, after which they are set to do other things to her. At this point, Deepa, who has spotted Poongadi going with Ravindran and Manohar, has informed Ranga. Both show up. Akash pulls out a gun. Ranga tells him he cannot shoot her, she is his real mother. Akash is stunned. Poongadi gets up and has enough presence ofmind to knock the gun out of his hands. Ranga takes the gun and shoots Ravindran and Akash. Ravindran dies in surgery (performed by his father, and assisted by Deepa). Akash is saved. As he is convalaescing, Ranga brings Badri to him and tells him he is his dad. Badri says he would have grown up well had he (Badri) been around him. Later Kala goes to see him. He tells her Ranga has been lying to him saying she was his mom. He promises to destroy her and Deepa, and do to Deepa what he did to Jamuna, i.e., rape and put her in acid so there would be no trace of her. He seems half-lucid and half hallucinating. Kala is shattered by what she hears, and declaring he should not be allowed to live, pulls out his life support and oxygen, upon which he convulses and dies.

 

Nov 21

KOLANGAL

Upendra escapes, is chased by the goondas, an entire band of seven or eight ruffians brandishing a revolver running through the streets of Pondicherry, attracting barely any attention from the people or the police! At one point, he is cornered, when out of the blue appears Tolkappian, just as the head goonda shoots. He hits Tolkappian in the shoulder instead of Upendra. Tolkappia helps Upendra escape, and in the ensuing discussions, Upendra is transformed into one who now wishes to free Abhi by appearing in court and owning up to his crimes. The clincher is Tolkappian's sentence that were he to walk away, it would show that rather than a true artist devoted to the art of Shiva, he is a mere murderer who knows how to dance. Knowing that the goondas will be watching the roads, Tolkappian suggests that they go by sea, which they do.

 

Meanwhile, in Madras, Minister is angry at his men having let the two slip through their fingers, and even more infuriated when he learns they don't know where they've gone. Adi has an idea, maybe they are coming by sea, he suggests. Minister calls someone to watch the Madras harbor.

 

SELVI

Marriage is over. Girl says to Pandian she married of her own accord. Pandian now declares war on everybody, including girl, whom he disowns. Sembagavalli says let the married couple stay with her. When Selvi says Pandian..., she says she will save them even if she has to give her life.

 

Niranjan goes to invite his mother and sisters to his wife's valaikappu. Naturally, words with Amar. Malar is watching quietly.

 

PENN

Vijay and Swati's marriage takes place. Kumar has eaten much of the 35 lakhs and arranged the marriage in a third rate chattiram and shortchanged the guests in the food offerings also. At night, Swati has to correct Vijay's impression that it was because his father spent the money that he could not do a grand wedding. She says her mother gave her parents 35 lakhs, and also bought a diamond necklace for 3.5 lakhs, which she did not get either. Vijay promises to repay themoney to Ranga, and to move out in a month or two into a separate apartment, with Swati.

 

Akash attends the wedding, and makes eyes at Deepa. Senthil comes. Mohini is very sweet to him, but he rebuffs her. Nagarajan is quite cordial, however. Solai and Das are there, and Solai proclaims himself a son of the family.

Nov 20

KOLANGAL

Minister calls more goondas and gives them a slip of paper with the address of the STD/ISO booth from where Upendra had called. Tells them to go finish off Upendra. At any rate, he should not fall int Tolkappian's hands. They ask what they should do if they encounter Tolkappian. Finish him off too, is the minister's answer. His daughter is awestruck by his genius. How did you discover the address of the phone booth so quickly, she gushes. Oh, I just called up an associate in Pondicherry and found out, he says, not reticent about his wits (couldn't he have just called that number and found out?)

 

In Pondicherry, a muslim fisherman has discovered Tolkappian and is nursing him. He tells him to rest for a couple of days. Tolkappian resists, and then sleep overtakes him.

 

The minister's goondas make their way to the phone booth, find David, then spot Upendra standing on the wharf, waving to a tiny catamaran coming to pick him up. The goondas catch him, and drag him to the car. As the head goonda gets ready to shoot him, he kicks him in the balls. and with the guy in pain, gun in one hand and the crotch in the other (he could have still shot Upendra!) Upendra puts his dance lissomeness to good use and runs away. Their car, at this crucial juncture, does not start.

 

SELVI

Pandian wakes up in the morning and feels the other side of his bed for his wife (hard to miss) and feels nothing. He awakes and wonders where she is, when he discovers that she has flown, as has the captive, who was rescued by Niranjan and Pasupathi. An uninteresting chase ensues. In the meantime, the marriage has taken place, with Nagendra providing a police cover around the temple. The ceremonies are conducted by none other than Neela Narayanan, and Mahima who is there also participates.

 

Pandian is defeated. Now he wants to talk to his daughter to know she has not been forced into marriage.

 

PENN

Ranganayagi goes to Uma's house with 35 lakhs. Kumar is as usual condescending, but Uma is kind (why not, after getting 35 lakhs in dowry). Ranga is touched by Uma's solicitude in asking if she needs a car ride home. She says that riding in autos has shaken all the petty pride and arrogance out of her.

 

Meanwhile, Ravindran sets a trap for Deepa. She is going to the jewelry store with a similar bag of cash. He has a kid snatch the bag and run into an empty house. Like an idiot, Deepa follows inside. THe door slams, and she is confronted by Ravindran and his dad. They are going to kill her and use the money as a motive. She says, look at the envelope inside. The envelope says what will happen if she is killed, presumably mentioning their name. They let her go.

 

Week Ending Nov 17

KOLANGAL
Inside the jail, Manjula, Abhi's repentant murderess friend, overhears Selpettai Saroja and her warder accomplice plotting to mix poison in Abhi's food. Saroja tells her crony that she should mix it in the main dish, and even if a few people die instead of just Abhi, that's better, because it takes suspicion away. Manju rushes out and knocks out plates from several inmates' hands, saying the food is poisoned. She claims to have just overheard Saroja and friend talking about it. Saroja and her friend challenge her, and the friend actually grabs some one's plate and eats from it, thus making a lie of Manjula's claim. As she watches in bemusement, Manjula now sees Saroja's friend mixing poison into Abhi's food before serving it to her. For a moment she is too shocked to say anything. Then, in classic Tamil movie fashion, instead of pointing to the little bottle which she sees in Saroja's friend's hands, she merely insists that Abhi not eat her food. Abhi too is reluctant to believe her a second time. To prove her wrong, Manjula grabs the plate and stuffs her mouth with sambar and rice (and poision) from the plate, and clutches at her throat a few seconds later, collapsing. But not before she tells Abhi how happy she is to make amends for her crime by saving Abhi's life. Manjula is taken to the hospital, where, although she shows signs of revival, the doctor (ostensibly bribed by Saroja) lets her die. The women outside are satisfied that Manjula has been poisoned, and Abhi organizes a protest. Later, Abhi overhears Saroja tell her accomplice that the wrong woman has been killed, and how minister Sankarapandi wanted Abhi killed. Her rage knows no bounds, now that she knows Manjula was telling the truth, and that these women had killed her. She picks up a fat stick and chases the two women, beating them. She reveals that the women were talking about Sankarapandi. The police authorities are called in; while they are thered, the doctor says the postmortem reveals no poisoning, but the police inspector says casually that his people will look into it when Abhi protests again.

Anandi and her friend Bharati go to their editor, having gotten the news of Manjula's death and Sankarapandi's involvement from Abhi. Their editor decides to run the story, making their paper the only one to mention the minister's name. But people begin calling Sankarapandi once the story appears, and reporters badger him. Finally he thinks he has had enough, and marches into the editor's office to demand a retraction. He turns to see Anandi, and launches into a barrage of threats, saying that may be he had done all the things the paper said, but still, keeping in mind that he was a minister, and fearing for her own safety she should have the good sense not to write the story. Then he storms out.

Reaching home, where Adi is there to lend him moral support, he receives a call from the party office, asking him to tender his resignation. He slowly puts the phone down, telling Adi he doesn't understand, they are talking about some video, cd, etc. Just at that time, his assistant comes in, saying a cd had been handed in minutes before. Adi plays the CD. it is the scene of him threatening the newspaper and Anandi earlier in the day. He knows his goose is cooked. He acts well in this scene, an believable concoction of despondency, realism and pride.

Meanwhile, in Pondicherry...Upendra has made arrangements with one David to leave the country by boat to Sri Lanka. David outlines his plans. Tonight, you leave for Sri Lanka, where one Ganeshpandi will meet you and hand you a child. You will take the child and embark for Australia. Why the child, asks Upendra. Because that way you will be more believable as a refugee making it easier to get into Australia, says David. OK, says Upendra, half-amused. I'll go to the Ashram and pack up my things. He is waiting at a bus stand to catch a bus to the Ashram. There, Prabu's wife and young son, who have moved to Pondicherry (wouldn't you have guessed it) spot him, and in true Tamil film fashion, begin chasing him right away, unusuccessfully, of course. But they do run into Tolkappian, who is ambling about without any seeming purpose. The woman tells him all, upon which Tolkappian's manner registers a minor uptick in speed. He goes to the Ashram and learns that Upendra left in the morning but is not back...

Ganga receives a call from Upendra, from a Pondicherry number (she asks where he is calling from, but he refuses to tell her). It is from a public booth. He thanks her for her help and rings off. A few minutes later, when she is wondering what to do, the phone rings, from the same number. She says, "Upendra Master...", but it is Tolkappian, accusing her of letting down Abhi by not handing the phone evidence to the court. She says she did this to save him, extracting a promise from Adi. He says I don't believe you any more, but as he his speaking (it is a public booth) some men come and drag him away into a car. DAvid's men, on Upendra's orders. They take him to a cemetary, where Upendra begins beating him without mercy with a stick (the same stick that Abhi used in the earlier scene). He lies senseless.

Meanwhile, Ganga rushes to Adi's house and finds he is not there. She goes to Sankara Pandi's and tells about Upendra, Tolkappian, etc. Adi promises to help, as does ex-minister, winkking at each other.

SELVI
Selvi's dad stops her from eating the poisoned sambar (interfering busybody, prolonging our misery). James is discovered, and confesses. Selvi and Niranjan drag him to Andavan's house. Andavan blusters, but his admission having kidnapped James' wife and son, and ordering him to poision Selvi, are all captured on Niranjan's cell phone recorder, and upon this threat, he releases both, promising vengeance.

Waiting for click-click to become a major, Selvi is shifting her from one place to another, with only three days left. She takes him finally to Pasupathi's place. Pasupathi agrees to guard them, but when is out on work, Praba goes out to buy medicines for Click Click. Chellapillai spots him and informs Pandian where they are. He is ordered to kidnap Praba, which he does. But before Pandian can come and take Click Click with him, Pasupathi is back and takes her to (where else?) Selvi's place. But Praba is missing. Pandian calls Selvi for a prisoner exchange: his daughter for her brother. Selvi says no deal. She approaches Sembagavalli, Pandian's wife. It is agreed that she will go to Pandian's place (it is not known where he could be) and inform Niranjan and Selvi,s o they can come and grab Praba. Brave lady. She callse Chellappillai and makes up a story about wanting to come back to live with Pandian. pandian is overjoyed. Chellappillai takes her to the hideout. Praba is in the next room, reciting ancient Tamil poetry which none of his captors, exponents of Madras basai, can follow.

In his joy at his wife joining him (or perhaps sorrow at the prospect having to live with her), Pandian starts drinking hard, and Sembagavalli wisely adds a couple of tables to his drink as well, he dismisses all his cronies to go and have a good time to celebrate his wife's return. Then he crashes on his bed, passed out.

At Andavan's place, Malar displays her first sign of human intelligence during the entire serial, and a major one it is! It turns out that she and Amar have been living together platonically, and he asks if there can be anything more. She says, maybe, with time. Next day he brings back a contract he has been working on for six months, something he has acheived on his own, finally. He asks his father for a 2 crore investment that's needed. Malar overhears this, and acts. He keeps the file with the LC in the almirah. When he steps out, she quickly opens the almirah and grabs the LC, putting back the empty file. Almost immediately after this, he returns and locks the almirah. She takes the paper and burns it on the gas stove, remembering how they had burned her father's shop. Next day he come and looks for the LC, but it is not there. He tears his other files inside out, but it is not to be found. His father advises him to look closely at the women in the house. At night he Malar drops a hint, she thinks it is his father. He cannot believe it. He doesn't want you to progress on your own, she pushes. He protests, but the seed of suspicion is planted. Subtly done.

Sembagavalli calls Niranjan, who prepares to go.

PENN
Reconciliation all around. Solai with Ranga, Bharani with Solai, Bharani with Chitra (who finally reveals who she really is and starts wearing her saree like a non-gujarati). Solai announces that he is Bharani's elder brother. He is going to give up the financing business and begin a normal life. He advises Mohini to live with Senthil. Ranga wants to start a new diet foods business. Uma and Kumar come to see what she is up to, and begin making exorbitant demands, including the marriage cost to be 35 lakhs. She has no money, having distributed all her assets, but she readily agrees to their demands.

Solai and Ranga grow very close in a son-mother relationship, each trying to persuade the other to accept the house.

Up to Nov 10

KOLANGAL
Fight between Karpagam and Kanchana at the temple. Usha shows her baby to Karpagam, and Anjali, spotting this, summons her mother. Kanchana starts insulting Karpagam, and finally Karpagam answers back. Both nearly come to blows. Usha goes home later,and is accused by Kanchana of siding with Karpagam. Usha defends herself, saying the lady was only blessing her child. Kanchana offers an absurd threat: Get out of my house, and if you don't leave your baby with me, I'll commit suicide. Instead of taking her up on thiis fine offer, Usha leaves alone, going to Abhi's place.

A couple of days of trying to tend the baby, Kanchana and daughter Anjali are stymied by the baby's refusal to accept milk. Grandmother comes to Abhi's place to placate Usha and take her back.

At the jail, Abhi's act has chastened Saroja, but only temporarily. She talks to her buddy once more about killing Abhi.

SELVI
Absurdity upon absurdity. Pooja, frustrated with Pasupathi's turn to the straight and narrow life, takes on the task of killing Amar herself. When he learns of this, Pasupathi argues with her. Meanwhile, one day, Andavan and Amar spot her traveling on Pasupathi's motorbike. Andavan's sense of honor is outraged. How can Amar's wife (this switching on and off of wife-hood is Tamilnadu's gift to psychology) be off with another man (even though, as he says, Amar has thrown her on the garbage heap). So he contacts Pandian and asks him to 'lift' Pasupathi. When Pasupathi hears of this, he goes straight to Andavan and pleads with him not to interfere with his life. Andavan refuses. Pasupathi tells himself he has no choice now, but to fight. As Pasupathi leaves, Andavan turns to Amar and says who is behind Pasupathi that he dares to speak directly to Andavan in this manner. Amar says it is Selvi.

Andavan decides to put more trouble in Selvi's way. He forces James, who is still in Amar's custody, to pour some chemical into the sambar in Selvi's Mess. He has no choice, so he goes to Selvi's Mess and Selvi gives him a job. The next day, though reluctantly, he pours the poison into the sambar bucket. But he doesn't realize that Selvi begins the morning by first tasting everything that has been made in the kitchen. As she is about to put a hand full of sambar and rice into her mouth, a hand stops her. It is her father, Yogeswaran.

Yogeswaran had earler gone to Andavan's place, and pretended to bless the couple (Amar and Malar) and thank Andavan for looking after the family.

Meanwhile, Guru prasad, who has been threatening and beating up Neela Narayanan for his friendship with Mahima, mistakes brotehr Narayanan for Neela Narayanan, and tries to threaten him. Narayanan  beats him up, and asks him to keep away from Neela Naryanan.

PENN
Beautiful story of Solaiappan, who has succeeded in bringing Ranganayaki to the street. Recall that Ranganayaki had given away all her wealth and decided to move back to the house she had built. When she goes there she finds that Solaiappan owns the papers, because Bharani had borrowed some money against the house, whose papers he had tricked Ranga to sign away when she was in the hospital. Ranga and Deepa go around to various places, but don't find any place to stay. They are on the footpath, shadowed by Das, Solaiappan's man, to report to Solaiappan on her plight. Later Badri shows up and takes both of them to his house, telling Ranga this is her home from now on. He plans to move to Chegleput to watch Akash, his son, whose growing up he was deprived of watching.

Ranga marches into Soliappan's house, demading he return her papers, accusing him of cheating her son Bharani. Solaiappan drags her to the room where he has her photo full of stuck pins. He then brings out a box and asks her to open it. Ranga does, and finds a blood stained cloth. That, says Solaiappan, belongs to my mother. He then relates how his mother and he and his little sister used to live on the land that was now Ranga's land. Suddenly one day, some men arrive, asking them to leave, because someone has bought the land. The mother says she has always lived there, and the men beat her and her daughter up, killing them. Solaiapan, age 6, only slowly discovers they are dead. Finally, the child manages to get some help and they are taken to a hospital. Some people claiming to be his family show up, drunk. They take the bodies back to the land, where they say they will bury the bodies. But the police come, arresting them and taking the bodies away for disposal, chasing away the kid. THe flashback is beautifully done, with a minumum of narrative. When he roams around, without food, for four days and comes back on the fifth, he finds construction going on, with Ranga and Badri there. When he throws a stone in anger, Ranga doesn't seen him, but his men chase her away. He decides that day to dedicate his life ot chasing Rnaga and bringing her to the street. This he has finally succeeded in doing. He declares proudly, if wearily, that the land was once hers, but it is now his.

To his surprise, Ranga has tears in her eyes. Instead of arguing with him that it was not her fault, she says that although she had no knowledge of all this, having bought this land from a broker, she felt directly responsible for the sin of depriving a six year old boy of his mother.  She says that in his place, she or anyone else would have done far worse, if anything, Solaiappan was being kind. Come on, she says, your anger is completely justified. Hitherto you have only been throwing pins at my photo. Now you have the real thing. Throw what you want at me. She turns to see Solaiappan weeping. She says why are you weeping? I cannot be forgiven for what I have done, and will be chased by this throughout my life.

Solaiappan replies that he expected her to deny all responsibility and to try and fight for her land. He says that by your forgiveness of me you have forced me to forgive you. Here are your documents. Please take them. Ranga says no, the land is yours, if I even thought of it as mine I would be inhuman. Then she walks out. He is left staggering. He pulls out all the pins sticking on Ranga's photograph, and expresses his astonishment to himself.

A beautiful scene, where the story overcomes average acting by Ranga.

Nov 6

KOLANGAL
Adi is talking with Bhaskar, trying to get him to turn over the key to Abhi's safe. Reminds him of the 50 lakhs he has given him. Bhaskar's honesty is a curious one. Instead of refusing to give him the key, he argues that the key would do him no good, because the safe needs another key which is with Rajamani madam. Adi also (naively) tells him that that is no problem, because he has someone working on the inside track with Rajamani madam -- Ganga. Even as he says this, Ganga arrives in their midst, overhearing the last part of this conversation.

Later Ganga comes to Bhaskar and asks him to give up Abhi's key. Bhaskar now has a sudden attack of conscience, saying Abhi has trusted him, and he cannot betray her. Ganga argues that self-interest is the most important. Krishnan-sir overhears their conversation.

At the jail, Abhi learns of her friend Manju being forced to dip her hand in boiling water by the bully-murderess (what's her name?), who has also been commissioned by Minister to kill Abhi. The bully calls Abhi next, asking her to test if the water is boiling. Visual inspection is not enough, you must dip your hand, she says. Abhi then puts her hand up to her elbow into the boiling water, and keeps it there, bearing the unbearable. The woman is horrified. As she herself approaches Abhi saying, what are you doing? Abhi snatches her hand and plunges it into the water too, holding it there. Then, hearing her screams, help arrives. Abhi forces the woman to say that she dropped boiling water on herself by accident. Manju discover's Abhi's act, and commisserates. Abhi says she has had many mental wounds, but now she is getting used to physical trauma as well.

SELVI
GJ and Tamarai go to the commissioner, armed with Govind's photos of Nagendra holding the gun to GJ's head. The commissioner calls Nagendra and without giving him a chance to explain, puts him under 6 months suspension.

Malar visits her father's gold repair shop. Reveals that she is sympathetic to Selvi and her brothers, but really married Amar to wreak veangance from within. Father is proud. She asks him to come visit her house during the day sometime. She asks if he killed Karthan. He says yes. And he will do the same to Andavan shortly.

Nov 3

KOLANGAL
Maistri meets Aarati, complains about what's happening in the office. Aarati rushes to the office (which she has been erratic in attending) and confronts Bhaskar. He asks her to first start coming to the office regularly, and leave the management to him. When she asks what gives him the right, he pulls out the power of attorney Abhi has given him and shows her. She is silenced.

Aarati goes to meet Abhi in the jail, and tells her all about Bhaskar's arajagam. She is regretful, but says no one in the family should shed tears. Soon she will be out, and all will be well.

Ganga sees what is going on in the office, then reports to Adi what has happened. He is happy. Whe pressed, he answers that Bhaskar will do his bidding. Ganga does not understand. He asks her what she is doing about procuring a document for him. SHe says the document is under dual lock and key, one, Abhi's key, is probably with Bhaskar, and the other is with Rajamani Madam.

SELVI
GJ accepts Nallathambi's suggestion to start a spurious drug company. And he says he has decided in whose name he will start the company, so that when things go wrong, the nominal owner will be held responsible. The name is Thamarai. Nallathambi is surprised, but also pleased at this show of consciouslessness. He goes home and gets Thamarai to sign a sheaf of papers.

Selvi has accompanied Nagendra and his daughter to a posh restaurant. Independently, GJ and his sidekick are there to book a reception for GJ's wedding anniversary. When GJ spots Selvi, he claims that she as his wife is playing around with Nagendra. She says how come she is suddenly his wife? He continues to insult Nagendra. At the end of the episode, after GJ refuses to stop despite his warnings, he suddenly pulls out a huge pistol and holds it to GJ's head.

PENN
Kala's entry causes Akash to drop Poongadi's hand. Kala asks Poongadi to wait in the kitchen. Then she tells Akash that Poongadi and Kailash are married, and there is some doubt about whether the marriage actually took place. After she leaves, Akash wonders if his mother gave him a warning, or an incentive.

Later, he goes to Ravindran's house (formerly, Manohar's). Ravindran tells him they've located Deepa, who lives with Ranga, his mother's friend. Akash is shocked.

At Ranga's, she calls a meeting of her family with her lawyer.The lawyer reads out a distribution of her wealth, to the last penny, to all the three children and her father. Then she calls Deepa, who has packed a bag. She gets ready to leave. She shames her three brats.

Nov 2

My satellite reception was completely erratic for the duration of these shows. Perhaps the airwaves too are expressing their irritation with the story lines. Here's as much as I could gather.

KOLANGAL
Usha complains to Adi on the way back home about his uncalled-for harrassment of Abhi. He says he just wants to live a peaceful life, and it is Abhi who is preventing him from doing so.

At Abhi Constructions, Bhaskar is throwing his weight about (there is plenty of it), and ends up dismissing the maistri, who protests when he hires a useless materials supplier in place of the good one Abhi was using.

At Bhaskar's home, Suresh's sister-in-law comes demanding her one lakh back. Bhaskar's mother hems and haws.

SELVI
GJ goes into the lion's den (Andavan's house) and confronts Andavan directly. Tells him to lay off, otherwise he too will begin his operations again. Andavan blusters that he needs to know (a) why he abducted him and (b) why he killed Karthan. GJ answers that he abducted him because he got a plain paper signed by Tamarai and was trying to use it agains theif family. He also says to Amar, your dad did a big 'droham'. Andavan's expression changes as he hears this, and he falls silent. "As to Karthan", continues GJ, "it is true that I wanted him killed, but he escaped, and was killed by someone else and found by the police. I did not kill him, and this is the truth." When Andavan protests, he says Andavan is barking up the wrong tree. Someone else is out to get you, he says, disconcerting Andavan even more. Later Amar asks him what GJ meant when he said Andavan had performed a betrayal. Andavan refuses to tell him. (I too don't know what it could be).

Pasupathi meets Pandian, and politely refuses his commission to find his girl. Pandian in frustration lets him go.

Mahim tries to get Malar to listen to Neela Narayanan about his brother, but as Neela is talking, his brother shows up, and he, scared, changes his story, making Malar scoff. But before he does, he tells them his brother has even murdered women after having a good time with them. Malar dismisses these warnings.

PENN
Poongadi chronicles continue. She is now a 'Dead Woman Walking', and goes through all the motions of one preparing for the end. She gets a photo of herself taken, and selects a spot on the wall next to Kailash's mom's picture. When Kasi and Kailash persuade her not to hang her picture there, she allows them to take her picture away, and then writes 'RESERVD' (sic) with her own blood.

Akash (who has returned from the US) is shown making advances towards Poongadi when she comes to call on Kala. Kala walks in as he lays a hand on Poongadi and as she protests.

Catch-Up (till Nov 1)

KOLANGAL
Ganga heads out from her house with all good intentions to free Abhi with the evidence she has in her possession. But on seeing Adi there, she wavers and changes her mind, and strikes a deal with him. He sets her up in business, etc., and she gives him the phone to destroy the video of Inspector Prabhu's killing.

Minister orders Abhi to be killed inside prison, by a criminal woman named Saroja, whose brothers are sometime henchmen of his. A huge sum is promised if the contract is carried out. Saroja recruits an accomplice to help her finish off Abhi. They succeed in beating her up, although Saroja says the deed should be done so as to arouse no suspicion. After Abhi is beaten up, her friend (the lady she has been encouraging) comes and says she suspects this is not one of Saroja's usual tantrums. She says she may have been encouraged by her political friends. Abhi is set to thinking.

Meanwhile, Usha, who comes to see Abhi, goes and tells the minister that she has her eyes open, and if he tries anything funny with Tols, he will have to answer. Minister, of course, doesn't know where Tols is, but doesn't say anything.

At the ashram, Tolkappian and Upendra keep missing each other. Tolkappian goes to the town to phone Shanti. Only her daughter is there, and promises to tell her mother he called.

Tiruvengadam blackmails/cajoles Easwaran about tellin Adi and co. about Karpagam. E. borrows 15 lakhs from a Sheth and gives Tiruvengadam the money, T. promises to use it to free Abhi, then proceeds straight to a bunch of drunken party leaders to buy himself a seat in the assembly. A minor twist. While he is at their hotel room, the party boss spills liquor on the bed. He calls the hotel front desk to have them change the sheet immediately, and is very rude. Soon the staff comes in to change it, including the receptionist (they are short handed). Who should the receptionist be but Tiruvengadam's daughter in law, Satish's wife? The party goons ogle her and pass obscene comments, but T. is too attracted to the prospect of becoming an MLA to say anything. He later comes home and asks her to quit her job. She says and do what? Starve?

Adi catches Usha discussing Abhi's case with Bharati, Anandi and Shanti. He orders her to come home with him.

SELVI

Prabanjan's marriage is fixed with Click-Click. They decide on it. The marriage registrar says the girl is still a minor, and turns major on Nov 5. They decide to have the marriage then. This is overheard by Chellapillai, who carries the news to Pandian. Pandian shows up at Selvi's, and Selvi speaks sharply to him, saying she is no longer your daughter, her mother has decided on this marriage, etc. etc. While he is fuming and grunting, Niranjan comes out and charges at him, taking him by surprise and knocking him against the wall. Pandian is shaken, but promises to return. Selvi hurries the young couple out of her house.

At Inspector Nagendra's house, Selvi helps him with his young daughter, who has come of age. Selvi the surrogate mom.

Romance grows between Narayanan the Bad and Madhu. This is watched by Mahima, who warns Madhu withouth impact. She tries to tell Neela Narayanan (the good) that she is not ready for marriage. He doesn't understand.

At Andavan's house, Yogeswaran, dressed as a pathan, enters in the middle of the night. As he is about to stab the sleeping Andavan, Madhu spots his shadow in the window and raises an alarm. Andavan awakes, scuffles with the intruder, who makes his escape. But not before he reveals himself to Malar. Malar says she wants to talk to him. He gives her his address, saying he runs a small gold polishing shop nearby. Then he escapes. Andavan calls Pandian for protection.

Tamarai is hugely successful and wins awards for her business. GJ is J(ealous). He seeks Govindan's help in strarting a new business (with Tamarai's money, of course). He seeks out a consultant, who advises him to start making counterfeit drugs (medicines) under the correct label. GJ is attracted.

PENN
Poongadi reveals her altruistic plot to sacrifice herself as the first wife to save Kailash's real love, Deepa. Sure enough, she is shortly diagnosed with a rheumatic heart, and the doctor gives her six months. Kailash, who has been moved by her tale to accept her as his wife, is devastated. He seeks Deepa's help, and she advises surgery.

At Ranga's her father, in a fit of rage, reveals to the three grandkids that they are orphans, that Ranga had a lover,and that he had the child killed. They are suddenly faced with the deflation of status. Swati is touched by her sacrifice, and tells Goofy she will not accede to accepting Kadambam's MD post, etc. Goofy agrees.

At Goofy's place, Kumar sees new possibilities in all this.

At Kala's place, Akash arrives. She tells him Kadamban has been broken up, and that they are moving to Chengleput shortly.