Choona (2023) s01e01 Episode Script

1
It will happen…
Bad times will befall you.
Time is always in motion.
No matter how much you calculate,
eventually,
everything will come to an end.
And old enemies will rise.
Commit this time to memory.
And keep in mind, this tale began
-with a nightmare.
-Madan Singh!
Madan Singh!
-Proceed.
-Aren't you coming?
-Where is Bishnu?
-He is inside.
All right.
Bishnu? Bishnu!
Listen… why did he call me so early?
That too, in the bathhouse?
He's planning something?
I see.
Greetings, Mr. Shukla.
All well?
I had a bad dream, Pandit.
They say early morning dreams come true.
It woke me up.
Yes, I can see the redness in your eyes.
-It's not redness, it's anger.
-Anger?
Luck is not in my favor
right when I am about to do…
the most important thing in my life.
Time flows…
but bad times cannot be avoided.
There were six such planets
in Mr. Shukla's horoscope
which could totally change his fate.
These planets are the people
whom Mr. Shukla has tormented
and made enemies of.
And enemies always seek revenge.
You have made
far too many enemies, Mr. Shukla.
The alignment of these five planets
is against you.
It's not good.
You're here to fix that,
aren't you, Pandit?
Yes, that's right.
But Saturn in this planetary period…
It complicates matters.
And nobody has ever won against Saturn.
Ravana used Saturn
as his footrest at his palace.
He held all nine planets captive.
You must be aware of that.
But I am certain his defeat occurred
with Saturn in the planetary period.
-When does this period start?
-At two o'clock tonight.
For the next three months,
think only pure thoughts
and do morally good deeds.
Pandit…
I'm a politician.
There's no need to halt the planning.
You can plan all you want.
I am going to overthrow
the government very soon.
When?
-How?
-The plan is to buy three MLAs.
It will be a deal worth crores of rupees.
The money belongs to builders.
There is a possibility of larceny
during this period of time.
Theft!
I have to do it, Pandit.
And the Chief Minister?
He is old news.
The next CM is sitting
right in front of you.
Shift the planets around
so there are no hurdles.
I have a solution.
I'll give you two rings…
All ten of your fingers are occupied.
Where would you add these two?
I'll give them to you on a black thread.
You can wear it as a chain.
MR. CM CALLING
Sometimes, if you talk about someone
behind their back,
they end up calling you.
Don't worry. I won't say a word
about this to anyone. Really.
No wonder I couldn't find
a countermeasure
for his inauspicious planetary period.
Is he trying out a remedy?
I perform a small
ceremonial ritual for him at dawn.
But I'll skip it!
I'll tell him,
I couldn't wake up on time.
I no longer wish to do it.
Mr. Shukla, you will be the next CM.
I'm telling you.
Just do as I told you.
My planetary period
is currently in Capricorn.
So I donate fish. Similarly--
Madan Singh will drive you.
No, Mr. Shukla, I will manage.
Pandit, Madan Singh will drive you.
-Why trouble him--
-Madan Singh!
Go drop Pandit.
Understood. Let's go.
Come, Pandit.
What happened, Madan Singh?
Why did you stop the car?
Did you forget the way to my house?
What happened? Tell me.
-I need to take a piss.
-What? It's raining. Where will you go?
Where is he going to pee on this bridge?
But it was Pandit who was going
to end up pissing his pants.
Are you done? Let's go.
-Any last words?
-Please don't do this, Madan Singh.
I'll put a curse on you,
I'm telling you! I'm a reputed--
He… shot… me…
Madan Singh doesn't drive anyone.
But he does drop them.
Forgive me, Pandit.
And he was talking
about my bad planets crossing paths.
Where do these bad planets meet?
Where did Ansari and the contractor
J.P. Yadav's planets meet?
Where do such people meet?
Sir, this is the last drink.
The bar is about to close.
-Shukla Motherfucker!
-Shukla Motherfucker!
Shukla who?
There's only one Shukla Motherfucker.
Your stars decide your luck in politics.
And on the strength of these very stars,
Shukla is flying high.
Any land Shukla lays his eyes on
becomes his.
-Swachh Samaj Party!
-All hail!
-Swachh Samaj Party!
-All hail!
-Swachh Samaj Party!
-All hail!
-All hail…
-Avinash Shukla!
His welcome party may be small right now,
but his stature is equivalent
to the Chief Minister.
He is the Minister of Urban Development.
And his Swachh Samaj Party
is planting its flags everywhere.
-Hey, hold this.
-Hey, move back! Come on, move back!
-You come here. Hold this
-Make way!
Waving a flag around
won't win us the election.
You are a disgrace
to the Swachh Samaj Party.
What happened, sir?
I saw from the plane what you've done
to my constituency.
There is squalor everywhere.
I'll have to open a mall
or a housing society here.
What are you waiting for? Let's go.
The constituency must be transformed.
Come on!
PATHAANI TOLA
Pathaani Tola.
Fencing happened overnight
in front of this thirty-year-old slum.
And hoardings
for some Jupiter Mall came up.
Now, the residents of this slum
are confused as to why
anyone would build a mall here.
We need to uproot
these people from here, Asthana.
Okay, sir.
We've sold this land to Shenoy.
They're going to build a mall here.
What? Sir…
The government won't allow this.
I'm going to overthrow this government.
What about the residents of this area?
They'll create an uproar,
but eventually, they'll leave.
Rastogi will handle them.
Yes, Sir! I'll get to work
as soon as I get the order.
Sometimes, you should get things done
on my signal alone, Rastogi.
Sir, the work won't stop.
It's okay if we get the orders later.
I want this entire area empty
within six months. Do you understand?
Okay, sir.
Forcefully evicting the population
of such a large settlement
could only be done by the government.
Mr. Mishra!
Support my motion, understand?
So Mr. Shukla got busy trying
to get the motion passed.
-Namaste, sir!
-Of course!
-I am also with you.
-Oh? Where were you?
Mr. Dubey, it's better if you moot it.
You barely have one
and a fourth of an MLA.
-Our motion must pass.
-Yes, sir.
-See you.
-Those who support them stay alive.
Two MLAs who opposed them
died "by accident."
The Pathaani Tola
redevelopment proposal was passed.
Shenoy Builders of Shenoy Properties
got this contract.
This is the Pathaani Tola land parcel
where we want to propose a mega project.
Every builder builds
housing societies nowadays…
but we're planning to build malls here.
You can't imagine the boost
your political image will get
when you inaugurate this mall
at the ribbon cutting.
While narrating the story
of Pathaani Tola, Ansari…
No, he didn't have a heart attack.
He just felt some chest pain.
-Your wounds seem fresh.
-Not fresh, they are very old.
The enmity began with my uncle.
Shukla got Faulad Singh killed.
Faulad Singh was like an uncle to Ansari.
He was responsible for either creating
problems in the area or solving them.
Shut up! You guys show up here every day!
Don't you have anything
better to do than argue?
Come on, higher!
It's not that heavy, Uncle.
Faulad Singh's bike used to look tiny
in front of his seven-foot-tall stature.
Faulad Singh raised Ansari.
Today, he rides Faulad Singh's bike.
Nowadays, Ansari Sheikh is famous
for his infamous acts.
For his party,
his boys thoroughly thrashed
the President
of the Bazaar Union, Saifuddin.
The party Ansari is affiliated to
is less of a political party
and more of a mafia gang.
MAACHIS
Perhaps this is the reason why
their election symbol is a matchstick.
-Mintu Bhaiya!
-Happy birthday!
-Their leader is a thug of short stature…
-Mintu Bhaiya! Happy birthday!
…who has been nicknamed, not out
of love, but out of terror,
"Mintu Grenade."
Brother, Arunoday has got a gun now.
He always shows it off.
Hello, brother. How are you?
Hey! Brother, give the gun back!
So trigger-happy is this party…
-Please, it's mine. Not yours.
-…that sometimes, its members
pick a fight amongst themselves.
Are you threatening me?
I'm just saying… give me back the gun.
It's not yours. It's mine.
Why do you need the gun?
It's a necessity.
I stay in Gosainganj.
Every kid there has a gun.
If even kids have guns there,
then having a gun isn't enough.
Get a bigger weapon.
Yakub Ansari Sheikh!
My name is Arunoday Pandey.
You'll find our party's flag
on my bike too.
Find me and return my gun.
Did he just take my name?
-Hey, you--
-Come on!
Take him inside the theater.
Scoundrel, come on!
Hey, let go of me! You bastard, let go!
Hit me as much as you want
because you have the chance right now.
You're just a small-fry leader! You'll
disappear tomorrow and nobody will care.
You've got nerve, huh?
I'm going to become
the Chief Minister, son. Chief Minister.
Remember what I just said.
Now, I'm letting you go
so when you come to me, begging for help,
I'll remind you of this day.
Dixit, let's go.
The autobiography of a small fry…
is rather short.
You want to be the chief minister?
He wants to be the chief minister!
Goons like you don't become
the chief minister, boy.
They fall prey to a policeman's bullet,
which would have been your fate,
if it weren't for me.
I gave him that gun. Where is it?
Where is it?
If you have the guts,
snatch it from me!
Come on!
Here, take it.
Brother, he tore
our party's flag from my bike.
What?
You tore the party's flag?
Our party's flag!
Now, son, if I don't rip your ass apart,
then my name isn't Mintu Grenade.
But your name is not Mintu Grenade.
What did you say?
Did he just take my name?
Did he-- You did! Get down on your knees!
Mintu Bhai, keep a ladder handy
when you want to hit me.
Mintu Bhai's real name
was Sameer Khushwaha.
Let's be honest, that name
was not going to scare anyone.
He is Mintu Grenade.
Was he involved in the attack?
However, Mintu Grenade made fear
explode in people's hearts.
No, he wasn't.
Today, this grenade was exploding.
If anyone ever disrespects
the party's flag, they'll be done for!
Wherever you see a Maachis party flag,
stand at attention immediately.
Understood?
MAACHIS
For them, this flag is a sign of love.
But for others, it's a sign of danger.
This party and bullets
go hand in hand.
Because Maachis supplies local-made guns
and bombs, along with goons.
It incites violence,
and also forces a compromise.
Now shake hands as a compromise.
Shake hands!
Did you see how loyal he is?
Learn something from him.
He's not loyal.
He's nothing but a pet.
I get my revenge. Remember that.
Which one of you cunts is going to stub
the cigarette? There's bombs kept here!
Hand over the money
-from the answer sheets to Sageer.
-I don't have it.
-Dixit has it. Dixit.
-What, Mr. Dixit, busy watching the show?
Actually, Maachis is
a thug-making factory.
Come on, get back to work.
They train and foster new, emerging goons,
and sell them to national parties
at a good price.
Because they train these goons,
these goons work for them in return.
Supplying an audience for boring speeches…
We'll get these questions
in tomorrow's test, right?
-A hundred percent.
-…selling answer sheets,
doing unlawful settlements…
What are you thinking about?
Sign it.
This is not right, Ansari.
I won't sign it.
Association with Maachis had given Ansari
the reputation of a big thug.
If you don't sign this,
I'll sign your death certificate.
But now, Ansari wanted
to be a thug in his own right.
He was looking for a way out of the party.
DOWN WITH SHENOY BUILDERS
DAMN THE MALL
-If you build a mall here…
-You will go to hell!
-Down with…
-Shenoy Builders!
-Death to…
-Avinash Shukla!
-If you build a mall here…
-You will go to hell!
-Down with…
-Shenoy Builders!
-Death to…
-Avinash Shukla!
-Down with…
-Shenoy Builders!
-Who is their leader?
-Shabbir.
Call him for a meeting.
-Death to…
-Avinash Shukla!
-Down with…
-Shenoy Builders!
Is this why I made you the IG?
Sir, women are protesting.
We do not have enough manpower.
Then take some medicine
to increase your power.
Sir, half of the force is busy patrolling.
Don't make excuses. Stop the agitation.
Ask me how.
How?
Offer houses to their leaders.
Beat up 100-200 people.
Open fire at eight to ten of them.
You will miss, but fire anyway.
-Shenoy Builders…
-Then the crowd will disappear.
-Death to…
-Avinash Shukla!
-Got it, sir.
-Let's go.
Mr. Shukla had seen
what he came to see here.
That Rastogi was not up to the task,
and that Shabbir
was the leader of the area.
-Death to…
-Avinash Shukla!
-You have a strong vote bank, right?
-Yes.
-The votes should be in my favor.
-Voting will happen as per your wish.
The whole community's votes are yours.
But the problem isn't Shenoy Builders.
-Then?
-Shukla.
Shukla is also involved with this project.
Getting into politics meant
having to deal with Shukla.
That's the issue.
Once they hear Shukla's name,
they all back down.
No… I won't back down.
This state doesn't belong
to any one person.
Just don't forget our deal.
The whole community's votes.
By the way, I can arrange for some money.
I can immediately send some money
to your party.
I will not be doing this
via the party, Shabbir.
"Brother Ansari" will get this job done.
-That means you?
-No, you!
Without any support?
Will you be able to do it?
The mixture of peanuts and beer
was turning Ansari into
a-foot-and-a-half-shorter Faulad Singh.
-Ansari's time has begun…
-We won't forgive anyone!
We won't forgive anyone.
Brother Ansari's first political fight
will be as the choice of the public
for the rights of the public.
Stand in a queue. Don't push each other.
If you get injured,
you will have to go back home.
Or you may even have to go
to the hospital.
You'll get to meet Mr. Shukla.
Have patience.
And keep your documents ready. Thank you.
Is Mr. Shukla available?
Yes. Who are you people?
-We're Mr. Shukla's fans.
-How did you get in?
By jumping over the boundary wall.
Have you seen Mr. Shukla's bodyguard
Madan Singh?
Gluing three of your guys together
will create one Madan Singh.
He's like the wrestler Khali.
-So, it'd be better if you leave.
-What else were we supposed to do?
Have you seen the queue outside?
It seems to have no end.
Yeah, it goes to the end
of the next lane.
Mr. Shukla meets the public on Tuesday.
He's in a good mood today.
So, if you queue up,
he may even listen to you.
I know everyone accepts bribes
in this office.
Please get us a meeting. Please.
Look, you're right.
But the thing is I get bribed so much,
I am always satisfied.
Brother, tell Madan Singh that four goons
have forcefully entered the premises.
-What's the point of all this security?
-We're leaving.
We're leaving.
I just wanted to inform Mr. Shukla that
the Pathaani Tola mall will not get built.
Just wanted to think of a solution for it.
I see. So, do you have a solution?
It's such a big project. Mr. Shukla
won't let it go so easily, will he?
Mr. Shukla won't let it go at any cost.
What the hell!
I told you to call Madan Singh, right?
Tell Mr. Shukla that Shabbir Anwar Ali's
man will commit self-immolation
in his next public meet while sloganeering
against him and Shenoy Builders.
It means he'll burn himself alive.
-Which party are you from?
-Maachis.
-Yes, sir?
-You sent him in, Sushmita?
Sir, they were threatening
to burn someone--
I am going to leave Maachis
and join a bigger party soon.
-So?
-I'll be accepting offers.
I am backed by the minority vote.
I have seven lakh votes
from Pathaani Tola.
Out of a population
of four lakh fifty thousand,
you have three lakh votes
from Pathaani Tola.
I'll have the support
of the area, Mr. Shukla.
Your opposition party
is very interested in me.
They'll pay me,
give me a ticket to contest elections,
and buy me at a great price.
Yeah.
What do you want from me?
Buy me from Maachis, Mr. Shukla.
For you, they won't charge anything.
If I work for your party, I'll get some
land from Shabbir and give it to you.
You can build a mall there.
But not in Pathaani Tola.
If you give me an election ticket,
I'll win you a seat
from Pathaani Tola as well…
-You're ready to do so much for me?
-Of course, Mr. Shukla.
But you know what?
I will build a mall in Pathaani Tola.
If you remain stubborn… an innocent man
will lose his life, nothing more.
And if an old widow were
to set herself on fire,
then your problems could increase.
I'll take my leave.
I brought this garland for you.
That day when Ansari gave Shukla attitude,
without a gun or his party's support,
simply using a garland,
he immediately became a player
in the big leagues.
Mr. Shukla had taken notice of him.
The government--
There is a call for Sir.
Sir, there is a call for you.
Sir, Mr. Shukla is on the line.
Yes, Mr. Shukla.
Are you out of town?
No, I'm in town. How's everything going?
Not that great.
That mall project is running
into some trouble.
There's this new guy
from some small-time party,
who's threatened self-immolation
in protest of the project.
If he commits self-immolation,
then our problem is solved, isn't it?
He's not going to do it.
He's saying some old widow will do it.
What? You're scared of an old widow?
-You run the state!
-You're not getting the point!
We need to take action immediately!
I can no longer run the state
from the Ministry of Urban Development.
For the first time,
Faulad Singh's sworn sister's son…
LONG LIVE SHAHEED FAULAD SINGH
…put Shukla's enemy's photo
on his terrace
that people far and wide could see.
Hey, Ansari! Why have you put up
Faulad Singh's photo outside your house?
Oh, you can see it from the city station?
-Stop this bullshit!
-He was my uncle.
One can't put up a photo
of their uncle in their house?
People put up photos inside their houses.
It's on the wall of my house.
Tomorrow, you will ask me why I'm
air-drying chili pickles on my terrace.
Son, Shukla will stuff your ass
with that chili pickle
and leave you out to dry on the terrace.
He got your uncle killed
in an encounter, remember?
It was the STF, not Shukla.
That same STF will come
for you with automatic rifles.
You'll be found dead on some
railway tracks, just like your uncle!
Even Maachis won't be able
to save you from Shukla's wrath.
I'll handle Shukla
and his automatic rifle myself.
You'll handle Shukla?
Listen, Shukla is not Arunoday.
In fact, you can't even handle Arunoday.
I've been holding him back
from coming after you.
Really? Then don't stop him. Let him come.
Ansari doesn't need
the party's protection.
Ansari? Ans…
You're talking about yourself
in the third person?
-I am leaving Maachis.
-Go ahead.
But first, pay us our price.
Five lakhs. Then leave.
I am not asking for your permission.
I'm telling you.
I have earned a lot of money
for you, Sameer Khushwaha.
-Subtract five lakhs from that.
-What is he on?
Let's go.
I got these by chance.
-I don't have any more.
-These are enough.
You've decided to go on a suicide mission,
so I can't stop you.
He had acquired the gun,
but not the brains.
You see, a brave man
is also a little stupid.
Don't pull out your gun
until I tell you to.
Brother, Ansari must be waiting for us.
Which is why we are taking this route.
So, we've agreed to a truce.
The amount is decided.
You'll give me five lakhs,
and your loyal pet will give me ten lakhs.
Okay?
One more thing. Nobody will say
a word against him in the area.
Come on, call Sageer Bhai
and ask him to bring the money.
Which house is Yakub Ansari's?
The one above.
Hey, Sageer Bhai.
Count it.
Of course, I won't recount the money
that you have already counted.
Hm? Mintu Bhai will be out shortly.
You wait here.
Shabbir Bhai,
this is the "Save Pathaani Tola" fund.
So…
say, Faulad Singh…
Faulad Singh…
Long live.
-Faulad Singh?
-Long live.
Haven't you sloganeered before?
The first time you say, "Long live!"
The second time you say,
"Stay immortal!"
Faulad Singh…
-Stay immortal!
-Good boy.
Now, exit the way you came.
Or else…
He had AK-47 rifles.
Some minister must be backing him up.
Until we figure out who it is,
I can't let you fight him.
We will fight a minister with a minister.
Life gives people downtime on its own.
To think about the decisions
they have made,
to think about their social standing.
This was not an accident.
This was an opportunity.
You're looking just like a politician,
my friend.
Don't laugh, Asthana.
Anyone could be the next politician.
Look, boy.
I don't have any personal vendetta
against you.
Your uncle had picked a bone
with me, so…
I settled our scores.
You must've been a kid then.
What's his name?
Yakub Ansari.
Yakub.
I have a small favor
to ask of you. Will you do it?
Take me in your party.
For you, I'll even give up my life.
That's exactly what I want you to do.
Commit self-immolation in front of me.
I have never seen it in my life.
Hey, bring it.
Here.
This fire could reach
even you, Mr. Shukla.
One of Shabbir's men
will surely set himself on fire
during your next public meet.
He won't. For sure.
But you are confident, right?
Let's ask Shabbir then.
Go. Get Mr. Shabbir.
So, he's the one who got you the AK-47s.
Where did you get it?
Tell me.
It's an AK-47, not a toy!
Fake AK-47s aren't made,
it's not a local-made handgun.
It fires 30 bullets in one round.
Where did you get it?
From the Bangladesh route.
Bangladesh!
Asthana, have you ever been to Bangladesh?
No.
They have amazing food.
I've been there once.
So, brother Shabbir.
You can't stop me with two AK-47s.
You'll have to back off,
because the mall will be built
on Pathaani Tola's land at any cost.
And if you don't move,
I'll set the whole settlement on fire.
Do you want to see how?
But today's Thursday.
Rituals involving fire
shouldn't be performed today.
So I am not in favor
of burning you two to a crisp.
You got lucky.
Go, live your life.
But if you even think
about the land for the mall,
or if anyone tries
to set themselves on fire,
then I'll hit you with cases
under the POTA, MCOCA, FERA, TADA acts,
and the government will sentence you
to 200 years in prison.
Can anyone remain alive for 200 years?
Keep their AK-47 rifles as evidence.
You people beat him up too much!
He's a handsome boy.
You really ruined his face.
It's fine for this one.
His face was already like this.
Untie them and get them a doctor.
Just because I'm letting you go
doesn't mean I won't do anything.
This is the difference between
a politician and an actor.
We don't believe in acting.
We believe in action.
That's why I got Faulad Singh killed
in an encounter.
Never utter Faulad Singh's name again.
-Say, down with…
-Faulad Singh.
What a sweet boy.
You people said he's a student leader?
The minute Ansari said
"Down with Faulad Singh,"
he realized that Mintu Grenade
was behind this attack.
But he had no choice
but to swallow the insult.
So, you want to kill Shukla.
Why would I kill Shukla?
If you don't want to kill him, then what
was that glass-breaking and cursing about?
If we kill every motherfucker in India,
then who will run this state?
I won't make the same mistake as my uncle.
If I make Shukla my enemy,
he'll know about it.
I will bring such a storm into his life,
everything will be over for him.
He will lose all his power.
Then I will come forward to tell him
that I made it all happen.
And then that fucker will die of regret!
You'll bring a storm?
That's your plan? Against Shukla?
Look, brother.
There is a limit to how many sins
a person can commit.
And once they cross that limit,
their enemies start multiplying.
Shukla must have crossed his limit.
That's why you and I met.
As per Pandit's warning,
the clock had struck two.
The bad planets had not only crossed paths
but were also saying, "Cheers!"
But these are only two planets.
Exactly at two o'clock,
two more planets crossed paths
somewhere else in the galaxy…
Only time knew of the planetary alignment
forming against Shukla.
-Have you got any news?
-Have I ever returned empty-handed?
But the news is so big,
I want a share as well.
Yes, that's all right. If you help me
take revenge, you'll get a share.
Mr. Shukla is getting money…
from Shenoy Builders.
Three hundred crores.
It's a large deposit, officer.
It may cost you.
I have already paid the price.
-When is he getting the money?
-I'll find that out.
You look as white as a ghost.
Choona is a wonderful thing, officer.
Can't see it…
and you get conned.
Subtitle translation
by Banashree Chowdhury