A Lotus in Mud (Leikhomlakta Thambal Ama)
- A movie screenplay -

Sada Singh *

"A Lotus in Mud"
Written by
Sada Singh

Genre: Coming-of-Age Drama
Setting: Early 20th century, Moirang neighbourhood, Imphal, Manipur
Tone: Poignant, inspirational, steeped in local culture and tradition
Theme: Hope, Resilience, Sacrifice, Social Injustice

Main Characters:

1. Nongda (Protagonist): A bright, curious 12-year-old boy who dreams of becoming a writer. He is determined, introspective, and sensitive to the struggles of his family.

2. Tayal (Nongda’s Sister): Nongda’s elder sister, protective of her brother, hardworking, and supportive of her family. Her storyline reveals the harsh realities young women face in their society.

3. Punsibi (Nongda’s Mother): The strong, resilient mother who works tirelessly to keep the family afloat despite her husband’s shortcomings. She represents quiet strength.

4. Kanhai (Nongda’s Father): A once-charming man, now a struggling alcoholic. His character represents the broader struggles of men in a colonized and rapidly changing society.

5. Ranjit (Nongda’s Mentor): A local school teacher who inspires Nongda to pursue education. He’s a calm, guiding figure in Nongda’s life, representing the power of education and mentorship.

6. Ahal (Neighbor’s Daughter): A kind-hearted neighbor who secretly harbors romantic feelings for Nongda as they grow up. Her subplot adds complexity to the emotional depth of the story.

________________________________________
Opening Scene
________________________________________

FADE IN:
EXT. MOIRANG VILLAGE – EARLY MORNING
A WIDE SHOT of the lush green paddy fields, dew sparkling on the blades of grass. The lotus ponds are still, reflecting the golden sunrise in the distance. The village of MOIRANG comes to life slowly. Women walk in the distance, carrying water jugs on their heads, and farmers begin their day.

CAMERA PANS across the landscape to a LOTUS POND, focusing on the pink and white blooms that rise from the muddy waters, untouched by the dirt around them.________________________________________CUT TO:
EXT. NONGDA’S HOUSE – FRONT YARD

A MEDIUM SHOT shows NONGDA (12), a thin, serious boy with dishevelled hair, sitting on a small stool near the lotus pond outside his house. He’s hunched over an old, tattered notebook, scribbling with an intensity that contrasts with the calm morning.

NONGDA (V.O.):

"In a place where dreams are buried beneath the weight of hardship, I found mine growing... like the lotus, blooming in mud."________________________________________

CUT TO:
INT. NONGDA’S HOUSE – MORNING

CLOSE SHOT of PUNSIBI, Nongda’s mother, lighting a small clay stove. She’s tired but focused, her eyes showing the weight of her struggles. The kitchen is dim, with the morning light filtering in through cracks in the bamboo walls.

CAMERA PULLS BACK to reveal the modest, cramped interior of the house. TAYAL (Nongda’s sister, 16) is stirring a pot of rice on the stove. Her movements are methodical, and practised.

PUNSIBI:
"Tayal, we must save some rice for tonight. We don’t know when your father will come home with money."
(She speaks softly but with a hint of weariness.)

TAYAL:
"It’ll be enough, mother. I can stretch it out."
PUNSIBI glances at her daughter, grateful for her quiet strength. ________________________________________CUT TO:
INT. NONGDA’S HOUSE – KANHA I'S CORNER

KANHAI (Nongda’s father) lies sprawled in a dark corner of the house, snoring loudly. His EMPTY BOTTLE of rice wine is tucked under his arm, a stark reminder of his addiction. His face is weathered, a shadow of the charm he once had.________________________________________CUT TO:
EXT. NONGDA’S HOUSE – FRONT YARD

Nongda is still focused on his notebook, writing with a passion that consumes him. The sounds of his family inside the house fade into the background as he dives into his thoughts.

NONGDA (V.O.):
"My father says the world has no place for dreams, but I don’t believe him. I believe that one day, my words will take me far away from here... far away from the mud."________________________________________ CUT TO:
EXT. SCHOOLHOUSE – LATER THAT DAY
A small schoolhouse made of bamboo and thatch sits on the edge of the village. Inside, children are seated on woven mats, their voices soft as they repeat lessons. The sun streams in through the open windows. CAMERA TRACKS to RANJIT (40s), the village schoolteacher, a calm and knowledgeable man with kind eyes. He stands in front of the blackboard, teaching about history and literature.________________________________________
CUT TO:
INT. SCHOOLHOUSE – NONGDA’S DESK
Nongda sits at the back of the room, flipping through a WORN BOOK. His eyes are wide with wonder as he reads about distant lands, far from the world he knows.

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