Mr. Sahai, y0u kn0w this university is f0r n0rmal students.
But because 0f y0ur faith in michelle...
and because we believe y0u are a g00d teacher...
we will interview michelle. - Thank y0u.
But t0day, y0u cann0t interpret f0r michelle.
We have called a special teacher, wh0 d0esn't kn0w either 0f y0u.
She will interpret.
They will interview y0u. An0ther interpreter, n0t me, 0k?
Ah, there she is.
Mrs Nair...?
Welc0me ms. Nair, meet mr. Sahai.
Hell0, ms. Nair. - Hell0.
Light
are y0u ready f0r the interview?
We're ready, sir.
Why d0es she want t0 study?
Why d0 y0u want t0 study?
I want t0 study... and learn...
s0 that I may live with dignity, with independence... and t0 be alive.
H0w many 0ceans are there in the w0rld?
F0r me every dr0p 0f water is an 0cean
she is n0t answering my questi0n. H0w many 0ceans are there in the w0rld?
They want a straight answer t0 their questi0n
If we are in India, 0n which side will america be?
If y0u are in India, which side is america?
The w0rld is r0und. S0 america can be 0n any side.
What d0es kn0wledge mean t0 her? - What d0es kn0wledge mean t0 y0u?
Kn0wledge... is everything
kn0wledge is spirit, wisd0m, c0urage, light, s0und.
Kn0wledge is my bible, G0d...
tee!
...kn0wledge is my teacher - brav0! Excellent.
C0ngratulati0ns, mr. Sahai.
Y 0ur student is n0w a part 0f 0ur university.
Thank y0u... thank y0u
I answered every questi0n they asked.
Michelle l00ks s0 happy t0day paul. Can't st0p talking ab0ut the interview
she hasn't st0pped smiling all day.
Why n0t? A girl wh0 c0uldn't sit at the dining table...
has a seat in the university t0day. Unbelievable.
Can y0u imagine? Can y0u imagine the day when we see michelle as a graduate?
Ah, it's g0ing t0 be such a special day, isn't it sara?
Y es, 0f c0urse, mama.
Whatever michelle d0es is always special. Isn't it?
Excuse me; I need t0 finish my sketch.
G00d evening sara. - G00d evening.
Mr. Sahai, c0ngratulati0ns. Y 0u have perf0rmed yet...
an0ther miracle. Still a l0ng way t0 g0, mr. McNally
the j0urney has just begun.
Teacher!
She's been waiting f0r her gift f0r s0 l0ng.
What is this?
Y 0ur friend, f0r... life.
I d0n't need
I d0n't want t0 be dependent 0n this.
This will n0t make y0u dependent.
It will make y0u independent. D0 y0u understand?
"It was the beginning 0f a new life..."
"a new feeling, a new h0riz0n..."
"y 0u had faith in me..."
"and I had faith in my wings."
Remember h0w happy I was that day?
Is it wise t0 let michelle live al0ne?
She is n0t al0ne; mrs. G0mes will als0 live here.
I will als0 live next d00r.
University is cl0se by, she will meet new pe0ple.
Besides, we can't pr0tect her all her life.
D0n't w0rry. She'll be fine!
What's wr0ng with y0u, sara? Huh?
We were all just laughing n0w suddenly y0u're fighting.
It's very irritating, mama. Anything that I put anywhere...
she picks it up and puts it s0mewhere else.
Ma, I l0ve her very much, I really d0.
But... please... leave me 0ut 0f this. Ok?
She's very excited, sweetie. Please understand
I understand everything. It's always ab0ut her, right?
Her excitement, her happiness, she's the 0ne wh0 means everything t0 y0u
but what ab0ut me? Sh0uld I speak t0 y0u in sign language?
Paul, I can't believe what she's saying.
Oh my G0d... michelle!
Michelle! - N0, mrs. McNally. Leave her al0ne.
With every fall, she'll rise higher.
I fell.
That's the spirit.
I want y0u t0 walk al0ne, with0ut any help.
50 steps. Straight, and then right. Underst00d?
J0j0... g0 sl0w... l'm getting 0ld.
Oh! I'm s0 s0rry.
Where is she g0ing?
Where... are y0u g0ing?
N0 n0 n0... this is the wr0ng way... it's this way.
N0... it's... tch! We're getting late...
c0me 0n... yes, hurry up
y es, c0me 0n...
run, run, run! Y es!
C0me 0n, c0me 0n... hurry up.
38 - present.
39 - present
40 - present
41
42 - present.
"There was s0 much t0 learn and there was such little time."
"24 h0urs with0ut tiring..."
"y 0ur fingers w0uld speak t0 me."
Whether life starts fr0m the w0mb 0r fr0m the earth...
its j0urney starts fr0m darkness and ends in darkness.
One day we will all have t0 pass thr0ugh this darkness...
and reach int0 the light.
"0ne day, we all have t0 g0 thr0ugh the darkness, t0... light..."
"New d00rs 0pened up f0r me..."
"new friends, new st0ries, new p0etry..."
"a new way 0f l00king at the w0rld"
"what y0u see is what y0u dream'
N0. she, she... she disagrees with the p0et
eyes d0n't see dreams but the mind d0es.
I can't see with my eyes, yet I dream.
Our dream is that 0ne-day I w0uld graduate.
Are y0u ready?
Ready...
tree... - tree...
burr... - butterfly...
bir... - bird...
fish... - fish...
bee... - bee...
"the best years 0f my life..."
"mem0ries 0f which bring j0y even t0day"
It's 0k...
It's all right!
What...? Tickly...?
It's n0t g0ing t0 sn0w. Please c0ncentrate 0n y0ur studies
N0, n0... y0u w0nt need the umbrella at all, c0ncentrate.
Give me the umbrella. Hey st0p it...
Give me the umbrella...
give... me... the umbrella
"can't y0u see"?
I'm s0rry sir
hey... n0... n0. n0. It's alright... it's alright.
N0, n0...
y0u are t00 sl0w! H0w will y0u pass?
Y 0u'll try?
Let's watch it
this is ten w0rds in 0ne minute
y 0u're g0ing t0 try and d0 thirty. Thirty w0rds, my f00t!
Pass? - N0 fail.
N0, n0t in 0ne 0r tw0 subjects, y0u have failed in all 0f them.
"Pe0ple celebrate success but we celebrated failure"
"while eating ice cream y0u t0ld me the st0ry 0f the spider"
"wh0 after a l0t 0f tries made her h0me."
"After all, failure is the first step t0wards success..."
"but f0r me these steps were never-ending."
Mr. Sahai, h0w are y0u? H0w is michelle?
She's all right, her results have c0me 0ut.
And what happened?
She has failed again.
But she said that her papers were easy.
She lied, s0 she c0uld enj0y her h0lidays
but y0u said that 0nly after falling can a pers0n rise higher.
Bef0re I fall, I want her t0 learn h0w t0 fly.
I'm getting 0ld, y0u kn0w?
Oh n0... - what happened?
Michelle has failed again? - Y es paul. I'm w0rried.
I think mr sahai...
ma... I want t0 c0me h0me.
Ma, I failed.
Teacher sh0uted at me.
I l0ve y0u, my baby, I l0ve y0u.
I was t0ld y0u were l00king f0r me mr. Fernandez
ah mr. Sahai, please c0me in. I have been waiting f0r y0u all day...
I want t0 share my biggest achievement with y0u.
Please have a seat.
Mr. Sahai michelle has been studying in the same class f0r 2 years.
S0 I th0ught I w0uld d0 s0mething t0... help her.
First year arts, entirely in braille.
Y 0u had 0nce said very few chances are given f0r d0ing g00d deeds.
I'm happy that y0u haven't wasted this chance.
N0w n00ne can st0p michelle fr0m g0ing ahead. Thank y0u.
N0t at all... It's my duty, my pleasure, my pride.
I trust that was all right?
Is anything the matter?
Then the b00ks, mr. Sahai. Please take them t0 michelle.
H0w d0 I g00ut?
H0w... h0w d0 I g00ut?
I beg y0ur pard0n?
The way t0 g00ut?
The d00r, mr. Sahai... it's right behind y0u.
Exactly the way y0u came in.
Y es...
mr. Sahai, is everything all right?
Tee... cher...
"New feelings were arising with age..."
"s0mething that I c0uldn't understand"
"I knew n00ne besides y0u teacher"
"that's why I th0ught 0f an0ther relati0nship with y0u teacher"
"was it wr0ng f0r me t0 think this way?"
"A l0t was changing..."
"but my failure was c0nstant"
time up, michelle... time up.
Michelle, y0u've already had extra time.
Michelle... I'll take the paper 0ut then.
N0... n0... - please...
leave it... - please...
leave it... n0... leave it...
kn0wing the answers is n0t en0ugh...
y 0u have let me d0wn c0mpletely. I am angry... I am very angry...
n0... kn0wing the answers is n0t en0ugh...
y0u need t0 put them d0wn 0n paper t00, understand?
D0n't just stand there like a failure!
It's all right. - N0. It's n0t all right, mrs. McNally.
It's n0t 0nly her failure, it's mine t00.
This is the third year in a r0w that she's failed.
F0r three years we have been d0ing th0se same less0ns.
She's just t00 sl0w at typing. 10 w0rds in 2 minutes. I mean...
hey, michelle... michelle...
where d0 y0u think y0u are g0ing?
Leave this bag... leave it, leave it...
leave this bag!
En0ugh! I want t0 g0 h0me.
N0. N0... y0u're n0t g0ing anywhere.
I d0n't want t0 stay. I d0n't want t0 study.
N0... n0... y 0u will stay... y0u will study. Y 0u understand?
Y 0u will study. In three years even the braille letters have w0rn 0ut...
but n0thing has entered y0ur brain. - Let her be, mr. Sahai!
Mrs. McNally, I haven't spent 18 years 0f my life f0r this!
I'm n0t g0ing t0 all0w her t0 be a failure.
Hey... c0me here... y0u... c0me here...
listen, y0u will... y0u will n0t...
y0u will n0t run away fr0m failure. Understand? N0t run away fr0m failure!
Michelle... what is this? D0n't y0u dare disrespect a b00k!
Pick it up... c0me 0n. Pick it up., pick up the b00k...
pick up the b00k... michelle... michelle...
pick up the b00k...
st0p it
as l0ng as I am alive, y0u will study.
I d0n't want t0 learn.
Y es! Y 0u will learn. Y 0u will graduate.
The black r0be. Our dream...
I d0n't want a r0be. My w0rld is black
N0. y 0ur w0rld... y0ur w0rld is n0t black. It is full 0f light!
My w0rld is black, black, black!
Black... black...
62 w0rds...
in less than 2 minutes.
She's n0t sl0w anym0re mrs mcNally
time f0r celebrati0n.
Time f0r... an icecream, my dear
Ice-cream? - Y es...
mrs. McNally. Life is an ice-cream. Enj0y it bef0re it melts.
Can I have tw0...?
Ice creams, 0f c0urse...
sir... ice-cream...
Ice-cream sir.
What happened? - Tee...
what's wr0ng with y0u?
Y 0ur change, sir.
Sir, y0ur change?
Tee... tee...
tee... tee... tee...
are y0u alright...? Call f0r a d0ct0r!
Mr. Sahai?
Y 0u are here... I've been l00king f0r y0u.
Y es...?
D0n't y0u rec0gnize me?
It's me... fernandez
michelle's principal.
Oh... yes. 0f c0urse. I'll get michelle f0r y0u.
Michelle! - Michelle can't hear, mr. Sahai.
I'll just call her.
Mrs. G0mes!!! - Michelle is n0t at h0me.
She's here.
T0 f0rget my name, t0 f0rget the d00r...
all this is fine... but t0 f0rget michelle like this...
s0mething is seri0usly wr0ng, mr. Sahai.
I really think y0u sh0uld get s0me help and see a d0ct0r...
G00d night. Mr. Sahai.
I'm... s0rry.
It's 0k. - It's 0k.
D0n't ever f0rget me...
I pr0mise...
I will never f0rget... y0u
y 0u w0rry ab0ut me?
N0. d0n't... w0rry ab0ut me...
just... getting 0ld.
N0... d0n't w0rry.
G0 t0... sleep.
Sing y0u... a lullaby...
N0, I can't sing...
hush, my baby. On the treet0p.
When the wind bl0ws, the cradle will r0ck...
hush my baby...
"a st0rm had scattered my dreams"
"all th0se dreams th0se were m0st dear t0 me"
"that day was the first time I felt fear..."
"h0w w0uld I live if y0u f0rget me?"
What happened n0w? - She d0esn't want t0 c0me d0wnstairs
she is feeling awkward t0 c0me in fr0nt 0f y0ur in-laws.
She thinks she'll sp0il the evening.
Then why did she b0ther c0ming till here?
St0p it sara...!!!
She's w0rried ab0ut mr. Sahai's health, please...
it really hurts me t0 see the tw00f y0u fight like this...
n0w y0u get her ready and y0u bring her d0wn.
I have a l0t 0f w0rk t0 finish...
michelle, I'm requesting y0u...
till n0w whatever y0u did was special.
But t0day is a very special day f0r me.
I'm in l0ve and I am getting engaged bef0re y0u.
I kn0w this c0uld upset y0u.
Maybe this evening will never c0me in y0ur life
and y0u may be feeling that y0u will never fall in l0ve.
I h0pe y0u will. I really d0...
but, until then...
please d0n't... sp0il. My. Evening. Ok?
I am very happy t0day because all the pe0ple I care ab0ut in the w0rld...
are in this r00m. On this 0ccasi0n, I'd l0ve t0 say a few w0rds.
I'm a very lucky girl that I g0t parents like y0u.
And a sister like michelle.
I haven't been the best daughter 0r the best sister.
But I want t0 tell y0u all I that really l0ve y0u very much.
And I l0ve this h0use.
There are s0 many mem0ries here.
I remember 0ne time michelle and I were playing 0utside.
We were running thr0ugh the grass h0lding hands.
And while running, b0th 0f us fell d0wn and b0th 0f us started crying.
Mama and papa came running 0utside and picked up michelle and left me 0utside...
and there I was... with my arms stretched 0ut.
Waiting.
I'm still waiting.
As a child. I... I used t0 be s0 angry with her.
The am0unt I l0ved her the same am0unt I was jeal0us 0f her...
whatever f00d I didn't like, I'd feed her.
I used t0 wake michelle in the middle 0f the night and ask her...
d0 y0u want t0 drink water? Michelle used t0 n0d her head and say yes...
and I used t0 turn my head and g0 back t0 sleep.
She w0uld wait f0r me all night l0ng.
I can't believe I did that.
Can y0u marc?
F0r all th0se things that I did, and all the misplaced...
anger... I'd like t0 say I'm s0rry.
Did I say s0mething wr0ng?
Then please let me finish. - I d0n't want t0 listen,
It's imp0rtant t0 me. Michelle.
Michelle... - en0ugh!!!!
Sit d0wn.
Slt... dowN.
F0r this j0y0us and eventful evening...
michelle had prepared a speech f0r sara,
I w0uld read and michelle w0uld sign...
but I d0n't think that michelle is in any m00d f0r signs.
It's imp0rtant h0wever, that we sh0uld all hear what she said.
"I was eight years 0ld, wild, vi0lent always angry at life."
"I felt that I w0uld never experience the beautiful m0ments 0f life."
"Then m0ther put sara in my arms f0r the first time..."
"and then I knew that I'd see the w0rld thr0ugh sara's eyes."
"Ma says, that I c0uldn't st0p smiling all day."
"Sara shared all her happiness with me..."
"she w0uld h0ld my hand and take me everywhere."
"When ma wasn't ar0und she w0uld feed me..."
"she w0uld wake me at night and ask me if I wanted water."
"Y 0u were the v0ice t0 my silent fingers."
"I am s0 l00king f0rward t0 y0ur wedding day."
"I'll dress up beautifully that day."
"I may never be the bride, but I will still be the bridesmaid."
"D0 teach marc h0w t0 sign, I have l0ts t0 c0mplain ab0ut y0u."
"Thank y0u f0r all0wing me t0 be y0ur bridesmaid, sara."
"I pr0mise I will n0t cry... as y0u walk with marc t0wards a new life."
S00n this happy n0te...
a t0ast...
f0r sara and marc
d0 y0u, marc philip bragger, take sara maria mcNally...
t0 be y0u're lawfully wedded wife? - I d0.
Marc... says yes.
D0 y0u, sara maria mcNally... - N0w the priest is asking sara...
take marc philip bragger t0 be y0ur lawfully wedded husband?
If she agrees... - I d0.
Sara says..."y es".
I declare y0u t0 be man and wife
N0w they are exchanging rings.
Y 0u may n0w kiss the bride.
The priest has asked them t0 kiss as man and wife.
On the cheek? - N0, n0, n0t 0n the cheek. On the lips.
Tee...
te...
what are y0u d0ing here?
Wanted... t0 talk.
D0 y0u l0ve... me?
I'm suffering...
I understand that y0u are suffering...
I may never kn0w... what it is t0... l0ve... a man.
Maybe y0u will never experience physical l0ve
but...
will y0u kiss me 0nce...
please?
Tee...
teee...
"In giving me dignity as a w0man..."
"y0u l0st all dignity as a teacher."
"I realized that I had asked t00 much."
"I made a mistake."
"Y 0u didn't even give me a chance t0 ask f0r y0ur f0rgiveness."
"I'm leaving"
"like y0ur walking-stick, never f0rget 0ne thing"
"darkness is desperately trying t0 engulf y0u"
"but y0u must always walk t0wards light"
"every step 0f y0urs, filled with h0pe, will keep me alive, michelle"
"once again light transcended int0 darkness..."
"and s0und int0 silence."
"F0r twelve years I walked the path y0u sh0wed me..."
"al0ne in the darkness."
"When after twelve years I had f0und y0u near the same f0untain..."
"and t0day after 12 days this mark sheet."
"I'm n0w a graduate in the arts."
"I want y0u t0 be the first 0ne t0 hear the g00d news"
mr. Sahai this is y0ur bed, please lie d0wn.
Please... that's it. Mr. Sahai...
this is y0ur bed, mr. Sahai!
Nurse!
Mr. Sahai...
please lie d0wn... mr. Sahai
tee...
teee!
Tee...
tee...!
"Amidst us t0day there is a student..."
wh0 has set an example 0f grit and strength...
and has pr0ved that n0thing is imp0ssible.
She is the pride 0f 0ur university.
And 0n this rare achievement, I w0uld want her t0 say a few w0rds.
Ladies and Gentleman - michelle mcNally
that's my daughter.
After many attempts...
the spider, in spite 0f falling several times...
has finally made her h0me.
The ant has climbed her m0untain.
A t0rt0ise has cr0ssed the dessert...
and t0day michelle mcNally, has finally bec0me a graduate.
But there is a difference between y0u and me.
What t00k y0u 20 years has taken me 40.
But I finally did it!
As a child, I always lagged behind 0thers.
My parents were always ashamed 0f me.
Every year I w0uld call h0me and say, "ma, I failed."
But t0day I can say...
"ma, I passed."
I kn0w that my parents are very pr0ud 0f me.
Telling the w0rld pr0udly that I am their daughter
thank y0u mama, papa...
as a child, I was always searching f0r s0mething.
But in the end, I w0uld 0nly find darkness.
One day, my m0ther put me in th0se unkn0wn arms.
He was different fr0m every 0ne. He was a magician.
F0r years he dragged me fr0m darkness int0 the light.
When it c0mes t0 G0d, we are all blind.
N0ne 0f y0u have ever seen him 0r heard him.
But I have t0uched G0d. I have felt his presence.
I call him "tee.
F0r me everything was black
but my teacher taught me the new meaning 0f black
black is n0t 0nly darkness and suff0cati0n.
It is the c0l0ur 0f achievement.
The c0l0ur 0f kn0wledge.
The c0l0ur 0f the graduati0n r0be.
The c0l0ur that we all share t0day.
But there is a difference between y0u and me.
T0day y0u all wear this t0 celebrate graduati0n.
But n0t me.
Because I want my teacher t0 be the first 0ne t0 see me...
wear this black r0be.
Every graduati0n day, he br0ught me here.
Every year, we w0uld stand near that d00r...
and every year he w0uld write in my hand...
"one day I want t0 see y0u 0n that stage michelle"
It has taken me 40 years...
t0 fulfill his dream.
And t0day, f0r the first time, I feel my lack 0f sight.
Because I want t0 see my teacher standing at the d00r...
watching me fulfill 0ur dream with pride
"teacher..."
"our dream"...tee... w0ah...
w0ah... w0ah
w0ah
w0ah...
tee... w0ah
w0ah
"dear ms. Nair, y0u'll be happy t0 kn0w that we have c0me int0 the light:
"T0day my teacher has remembered his first w0rd - water."
"He is the greatest teacher in the w0rld..."
"wh0 has pr0ved again that there is n0thing imp0ssible in this w0rld."
"Wh0 has taught me that there is s0 much happiness in living f0r s0me0ne else"
"t0day is my teacher's first day at sch00I miss Nair."
And his alphabets, just like mine, will n0t start with a, b, c, d, and e.
But with b, I, a, c, k
"black"