Crossroads of Ambition - Based on The Tales of Hiranyakashyap Mythology - Script

EXT/INT. HIRANYAKASHYAP HOUSE - DAY

Hiranyakashyap was born to Kashyapa and Diti while they were working hard. He soon had a younger brother, Hiranyaksha.

Unfortunately, Hiranyaksha died at an early age in an accident, as his parents couldn't afford timely treatment for him at the hospital. Witnessing this, Hiranyakashyap grew fearful that he might also die and feel helpless if their family didn't have enough money.

To understand how to make money, he asked his parents.

HIRANYAKASHYAP

How can I earn money my father? How could I earn Money?

KASHYAP

Only way to earn Money is by having a good 9 to 5 Job. To have that you have to study on great University or College. Like SSN. To go there You need to study in your finest. You need to prove you have born to a prodigy family.

HIRANYAKASHYAP

But Amma and You were only 12th Passed.

Hearing all the advices gave by his 12th passed father for finacial independence....

KASHYAP (O.C.)

You know I work at CUB BANK. Shut up!

In any case, Hiranyakashyap took this as a challenge and began to focus on his studies. He achieved remarkable results, securing a 95% score in his 10th-grade board exams. However, he observed that everyone around him was expressing similar aspirations. During his 12th-grade studies, he faced various distractions. These included a girl confessing her crush on him, his friends sharing a collection of explicit content, and other diversions. At one point, he even experienced a setback when he failed a math exam.

Despite the laughter and mockery he faced due to his momentary downfall, Hiranyakashyap persevered. He achieved a perfect score of 100% in his 12th-grade board exams and attained a remarkable 99 percentile in the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE), securing admission to IIT Madras for Mechanical Engineering.

While at IIT Madras, his ambition continued to drive him. He sought a 9-to-5 job with an impressive salary, leading him to secure a placement at Infosys with a higher salary than many of his Computer Science Engineering peers at IIT Madras.

His achievements did not stop there. Hiranyakashyap also acquired medical insurance, a car, a new house, and more. He eventually got married and fulfilled his father's wishes. He mastered various aspects of his life, achieving success across different domains.

HIRANYAKASHYAP

Now I can master all, I earn money, I can make all work below me, and finally I will not die

CUT TO:

INT. HOSPITAL WARD - NIGHT

The story continues with the need for a successor to carry forward the family's glory, leading to the birth of Prahlada. As he grew, it became evident that he excelled in the arts, particularly drawing. Prahlada possessed a free-spirited nature and valued his solitude, desiring an environment free from disturbances. However, when circumstances compelled him to engage in activities that didn't align with his talents, he struggled to perform well.

CUT TO:

EXT. BEST SCHOOL OF CHENNAI - DAY

In his pursuit of achieving what Hiranyakashyap had attained, Prahlada desired for his son, Prahlada, to possess the same level of knowledge and power that he had gained through penance. Prahlada became an inspiration for this endeavor.

As time went on, Prahlada was compelled to engage in various activities against his natural inclination until his teenage years. However, as he entered his teenage phase, his innate intuition began to question these circumstances.

PRAHLADA (V.O.)

Why am I doing this? (Echo)

CUT TO:

INT. SCHOOL AUDITORIUM - EVENING

His existential questions and dilemmas led to an internal division, creating two distinct aspects of himself: one was the son his father was proud of, and the other was his authentic self.

He found solace and expression in music, particularly playing "Ilamai Idho Idho" with his school band on his guitar. As he performed, the entire crowd celebrated him and his musical talent.

CUT TO:

INT. PRAHLADA'S CLASS - DAY

All the parents were siting on the benches and waiting for the chance to speak with the teacher of the class.

TEACHER

Good morning Prahlada's Parents.

HIRANYAKASHYAP

Good morning (with his military salute for no reason)

TEACHER

Sir have you noticed that your son is having a great talent in Music.

HIRANYAKASHYAP

MUSIC ah? What about his studies?

TEACHER

He is a average student in academics. Gets 70-80s in his exams and i can see the consistency so help him with his Talent please sir.

CUT TO:

INT. HIRANYAKASHYAP HOUSE - DAY

Hiranyakashyap received news that he had never anticipated: his son was considered average academically and was prioritizing his passion for music over his studies. Upon returning home, he removed one of his shoes, moving cautiously.

HIRANYAKASHYAP

Prahalada! (He grimed with anger)

PRAHLADA

Yes my father? OMW.

HIRANYAKASHYAP

OMW?

Prahlada approached his father, observed his expression, and then retreated to stand by a wall.

HIRANYAKASHYAP

What the hell is "OMW"?

PRAHLADA

"ON MY WAY"? (With suspicious and alert)

Subsequently, Hiranyakashyap took his other shoe and struck it against Prahlada's face.

HIRANYAKASHYAP

I instructed you to focus on your studies, not to indulge in 'Thya thaka dhimi'. It appears you possess musical skills. Do you know that at your age, I lost my younger brother? Our family struggled with poverty. I worked tirelessly to afford a keyboard for your amusement, not for your career.

PRAHLADA

I don't have a Younger brother. Lol (Laughed)

HIRANYAKASHYAP

What hell are you talking?

He advanced, his fingers coiling around Prahlada's throat like the tightening grip of fate itself. The air grew heavy with tension, as if the very atmosphere trembled in response to their turbulent encounter.

HIRANYAKASHYAP (CONT’D)

You guys are no use makes nothing out of anything and laugh at our sacrifices.

PRAHLADA

Yeah that doesn't mean i should go through tough life and sacrifice. In fact...

HIRANYAKASHYAP

Talk to me as if your age. Don't talk to me as if you earn and have a life like me.

PRAHLADA

It's YOLO. Seems to be Pussy!

HIRANYAKASHYAP

Yeah da! Yeah! I was a Pussy and Your mom was Duck and got birth to you an Ass.

PRAHLADA

WTF? LMAO!

HIRANYAKASHYAP

Speak normally not in morse code you Olf!

Prahlada managed to suppress a burgeoning laughter, as if he held within him the secret mirth of the universe.

HIRANYAKASHYAP (CONT’D)

From now on you are going to study and get marks or else I will take immediate actions.

CUT TO:

INT. PRAHLADA’S CLASS - DAY

Soon after the incident exams happened. and soon Schools are free enough to conduct another PTM

TEACHER

Sir, TBH Your son's performance dropped this time

HIRANYAKASHYAP

TBH?

TEACHER

To be honest.

HIRANYAKASHYAP

Speak in English not in Morse code please.

TEACHER

I observed him in the examination hall. He appeared visibly burdened, his demeanor markedly different from his previous confident self during exams. Have you been imposing the pressure of achieving high marks on him?

HIRANYAKASHYAP

Of course not! I said him to study and he never does it!

TEACHER

My sincere request please let him do what he wants and not force him.

HIRANYAKASHYAP

I'm not forcing him anything. Don't try to teach me what parenting is!

TEACHER

Sir you are understanding it wrong way.

HIRANYAKASHYAP

We know what is the right way? I'm Alum's of IITM. I know how to make my son get ready for it.

In the aftermath of the confrontation between his teacher and father, Prahlada could sense the unmistakable aroma of arrogance and anger that clung to his father's demeanor.

CUT TO:

INT. HIRANYAKASHYAP HOUSE - DUSK

Upon returning home, Prahlada retreated to his room, securing the door with a decisive lock. Meanwhile, his father's forceful knocks reverberated through the air, accompanied by his escalating cries of his son's name.

HIRANYAKASHYAP

Woh sir started getting stressed it seems. Apdi enna da pudungura! (What hell are you doing apart from that)

In response, Prahlada reached for his phone and donned his earphones, settling down by the back of the door that his father relentlessly pounded. As if orchestrated by fate, the melodious strains of "Kadaseeia Briyani - Aarariro" began to resonate, painting the backdrop with its poignant notes.

FADE TO:

EXT. OPEN AIR AUDITORIUM - DAY

Prahlada's fingers unleash a cascade of powerful guitar chords, each note echoing with defiance. His voice rises, entwining with the music, as he begins to sing with unwavering determination.

PRAHLADA

Acham vidhu..

Ucham thodu...

(Leave the fear and conquer the world)

In the midst of his fervent performance, Prahlada's voice crescendos into a shout that reverberates through the air. He addresses the audience with a resounding question, cutting through the music with an electrifying intensity.

PRAHLADA

Have you ever considered that when you clear a forest to make space for your own dwelling, that area once housed monkeys and birds? Hunters and poachers would arrive, bringing death and chaos to these voiceless creatures, all for the sake of your comfort and enjoyment. But can we, too, subject our aspirations to the same fate? Should we extinguish our passions and conform to robotic roles, merely replicating the lives our parents led?

AUDIENCE

NO

In an act of defiance, Prahlada raises his middle finger, a symbol of his rebellion, and seamlessly resumes his song, pouring his emotions and message into the music once again.

CUT TO:

INT. HIRANYAKASHYAP HOUSE - NIGHT

Upon returning home, Prahlada's father, consumed by his own perspective, brings down a metaphorical hammer upon the keyboard, shattering it into fragments, mirroring the shattered state of Prahlada's emotions. However, a transformative moment unfolds as Prahlada, accompanied by a friend, enters the house bearing a brand-new keyboard adorned with beat pads. This instrument, earned through competition, symbolizes a renewed spirit and unyielding determination.

CUT TO:

INT. HIRANYAKASHYAP HOUSE - DAY

Hiranyakashyap discovers that Prahlada and his friend are preparing for yet another competition. Driven by his own motivations, he covertly adds Bisacodyl (a stomach cleaner) to Prahlada's milk, intending for him to skip it. However, his plan backfires, as Prahlada's mother unknowingly consumes the tampered milk, a drink Prahlada usually avoids.

CUT TO:

INT. PRAHLADA’S CLASS - DAY

One day, the teacher herself notices Prahlada, his countenance marked by evident distress.

TEACHER

What's the matter rockstar?

PRAHLADA

Nothing mam. Just disturbed with my Father's actions on me.

TEACHER

What did he beat you?

PRAHLADA

He scoffs and laughs

He bet me with his Shoe when you said I have talent. Still waitng for that.

TEACHER

Prahalad you know what he soon will realize that he did mistake.

PRAHLADA

How?

TEACHER

He will.

CUT TO:

INT. HIRANYAKASHYAP HOUSE - DAY

During the summer holidays, Prahlada's father enrolls him in a coaching institute, aiming to prepare him for IIT Bombay. However, the reality deviates significantly from the intended plan. As he steps into the institute, he finds himself struggling to comprehend even the basics.

While his classmates race ahead, engrossed in solving the twelfth problem, Prahlada focuses on breathing and trying to keep up. As he tackles the very first problem of the day, the rest of the class has already progressed far ahead in this competitive race. Amidst the intense competition, Prahlada decides to take a pause, conceding to the mounting pressure and taking a moment to hydrate himself.

Subsequently, he begins to hum a tune, the sound filling the air as a small oasis of respite during the break. The entire class eventually joins in, united by the melody, and revels in the shared experience of singing together. Prahlada's singing prowess captivates everyone, leaving them mesmerized by his musical ability.

RANDOM STUDENT

Prahalada Nice singing, Come tomorrow also.

PRAHLADA

Thanks Man...

As Prahlada turns, his gaze falls upon his father. Filled with trepidation, he witnesses his father's stern presence. In a heart-wrenching moment, his father's hand delivers a forceful slap in full view of the public. This act of discipline is followed by his father swiftly taking Prahlada away, both their emotions heavy and unspoken.

CUT TO:

INT. HIRANYAKASHYAP HOUSE - DAWN

Hiranyakashyap's patience reaches its limit, and he hurls his son's bag aside. Another resounding slap follows, and he forcefully drags Prahlada to the center of the hall, a sense of urgency and frustration filling the air. He demands answers, his voice laced with intensity and urgency.

HIRANYAKASHYAP

I gave you all chance now it is your last chance. Stop music and continue studying.

PRAHLADA

Even when we walk we hear beats. when Music is around us how can i stop?

HIRANYAKASHYAP

The young child appears to have transitioned into a full-time musician who resorts to substance use. Well done! But amidst all this, you remain unaffected by pain, don't you? Well, experience it now.

He slaps

PRAHLADA

Beat beat till death but don't forget Living in peace and living in Rat race is differnt.

HIRANYAKASHYAP

You know why your Uncle died. I will say He met accident when he was your age. Because he drove motorcycle. He loved racing them and met accident. Stupid needs to live only once and enjoy like his uncle. see where all the Characteristics come from!

PRAHLADA

(He shouts)

So it is not your fear of death which made you live in rat race instead of passion. Which will persist my father!

Hiranyakashyap's anger reaches its peak, his emotions boiling over.

HIRANYAKASHYAP

You know when I get injury I can survive while you will die like the dog which hit by the truck.

PRAHLADA

Atleast my life is full of suffering and death brings peace. Death will not fear me.

HIRANYAKASHYAP

Oh? Let me show than what is pain of Death is!

Hiranyakashyap clenched his fists, his fingers curling inward, and with a swift motion propelled by the momentum of charged air, he attempted to deliver a forceful punch towards Prahlada's stomach. However, in a quick reflexive movement, Prahlada managed to evade the blow, redirecting his own energy to strike the pillar of the home instead.

CUT TO:

INT. HIRANYAKASHYAP HOUSE - DAWN

His fists made contact with the wall, and in a surreal twist, they emerged on the other side. The impact sent shockwaves through the house, causing it to tremble. As his hands throbbed with pain, Prahlada witnessed the astonishing event unfold. Swiftly, he dialed for an ambulance, urgently needing to get his father medical attention.

The ambulance arrived, and in the process of attempting to rescue his father, the pillar – a symbol of strength, confidence, and fortitude – was inadvertently destroyed. This act seemed to mirror the upheaval in their lives. The collapse of the pillar, which Hiranyakashyap himself had built, became a reflection of his own vulnerability. Amidst the chaos, the pillar fell onto his head, further exacerbating the turmoil.

HIRANYAKASHYAP

Ask my son to meet me!

Slowly Prahalad comes to the ward where his father is admitted.

PRAHLADA

What my father? Want to slap again?

HIRANYAKASHYAP

Yeah i want to. But I can't.

PRAHLADA

Understand now Beating can't change the fact I'm an average.

HIRANYAKASHYAP

My son, I was in anger which lided my eyes and which stood in my way to avoid me from doing the job which father should have done.

Prahalad Touches his huge swellings in face due to the slaps

PRAHLADA

I don't know what you speak but I hope understood.

Hiranyakashyap smiles and sees the ceiling from the Streaches with his arms tied.

Prahlada comes out and goes home and touches the pillar. He said that pillar saved him, The pillar which helped him to continue his passion now.

From this incident Hiranyakashyap stopped Beating Prahalada. His older self died, and new one born.

EXT. CLOCK TOWER - DAY

Subsequently, Prahlada successfully completed his 12th grade and joined SSN College to pursue his studies. He chose Electronics and Communication Engineering (ECE) as his field of study. To honor his father's wishes and seek his happiness, Prahlada also pursued a B.Sc. in Data Science at IIT, aligning with the trend followed by many of his peers in the college, hoping that this choice would enhance his prospects during placements.

In this narrative of hope and transformation, let's anticipate that Prahlada continues to follow his passions, charting a path that resonates with his true aspirations.

THE END