LAND OF LIGHT BULBS

TitleLAND OF LIGHT BULBS
BrandPETRONAS
Product / ServicePETRONAS
CategoryA02. Script
EntrantDIRECTORS THINK TANK Petaling Jaya, MALAYSIA
Idea Creation ENSEMBLE WORLDWIDE Petaling Jaya, MALAYSIA
Production DIRECTORS THINK TANK Petaling Jaya, MALAYSIA
Production 2 FINGERPRINT FILMS Mumbai, INDIA

Credits

Name Company Position
Rajay Singh Directors Think Tank Sdn Bhd Film Director
Mapuskar Mapuskar Directors Think Tank Sdn Bhd Film Director
Teknam Heng Directors Think Tank Sdn Bhd Executive Producer
Teknam Heng Directors Think Tank Sdn Bhd Executive Producer
Madhukar Kotian Fingerprint Films Executive Producer
Anu Moothedath Directors Think Tank Sdn Bhd DOP Lighting Cameraman
Affandi Jamaluddin Directors Think Tank Sdn Bhd Editor
Woei Hern Chan Ensemble Worldwide Executive Creative Director
Carmen Cheong Ensemble Worldwide Copywriter
Cathy Chen Jia Ying Ensemble Worldwide Art Director
Loreen Lim Ensemble Worldwide Agency Producer
Mike Chong Ensemble Worldwide Agency Producer
Puneet Sharma Directors Think Tank Sdn Bhd Scriptwriter

Write a short summary of what happens in the film.

“Land of Light Bulbs” is a three-part series, inspired by the energy of India; its spirit of ingenuity. The story begins with Aman, an organ donor who’s determined to meet Chandar, the recipient of his eyes. Aman decides to embark on one last road trip, but as fate would have it, nothing goes his way. The unexpected twists and turns bring three strangers into his car. Time isn’t on Aman’s side, and neither is luck. But nothing will stop Aman. Along the way, the friendship between the four strangers blossoms, as they come together to overcome obstacles with ingenuity.

Cultural / Context information for the jury

PETRONAS is a Malaysian homegrown oil and gas company, best known for driving Formula 1 victories. But in India, we’ve gone beyond just that. For decades, PETRONAS has been providing India with sustainable energy solutions. We needed to create brand awareness and build brand credibility among Indian policymakers and stakeholders in the energy sector. As a foreign brand, PETRONAS needed to show India, not just our efforts in sustainable energy solutions, but our understanding of the country and its people. To show this understanding, we created content that would appeal to our Indian audience. Instead of a corporate film that told our story, we told theirs. The three-part series, “Land of Light Bulbs”, centres on the energy of India; its spirit of ingenuity.

Provide the full film script in English.

EPISODE 1. EXT. CARNIVAL - NIGHT We open with a huge vibrant Mela (carnival) which is bustling with people. We see the joy and excitement in people's eyes as they take rides. Bright and colorful stalls illuminate the Mela, People are buying things from bright and colorful stalls. It's a fun place where people are celebrating, having a great time. The large merry go round, a int wheel, But the centre of attraction of all Mela is the Maut ka Kuan(well of death) a carnival stunt where cars climb up a wooden well with 20 meter high wooden slopes. There's a car taking laps. Audience cheers as the grinding of the car echoes through the excited crowd hailing the charismatic driver. Suddenly the Mela's electricity gets cut. We see fear and adrenaline rush on man's face driving the car due the sudden change. FADE TO BLACK. "Energy can neither be destroyed nor created, it only changes forms." "Land of Light bulbs" A phone starts ringing. FADE TO BLACK. FADE IN. INT. AMAN’S GARAGE - MORNING "After 10 years" We see a phone kept on a Bamboo tool (Modha) surrounded by medicine bottles and tablet stripes. Someone's rough, greasy callous hands pickup the phone. He looks unwell, dark circles ringing his eyes. AMAN is our protagonist, a brilliant mechanic. He gets up wincing his eyes, straining his back. Aman looks too tired for someone having just woken up, he has worn out eyes and a dry face. He looks weak, He flexes his shoulders. He is in pain. As we cut to a wider frame, we see that it's a small and humble room. There are furniture and amenities for basic needs. Aman sits by the bed between them and talks on the phone. There is some good news for Aman. AMAN
 Thank you sir. Thank you very much. After talking on the phone, Aman gets up and removes the make shift curtain from one end of the room, to open a wider view to the whole place. We see that it's a garage. A wide range of wrenches, screwdrivers, cock-screws, tires and other things are scattered all around the chaotic space, amidst some old vehicle parts and a lot of opened, unfinished machine repairs. It almost looks like a mechanic’s lab. The call has perturbed him, brought him to urgency. Aman takes fast stressful steps towards a table to take out some medicines. He gulps down the medicines with a glass of water, then puts on a shirt, wincing his face in pain, and staggers through the workshop, to outside. While the inner space was Aman's personal space, The outer space is a whole- sole workshop, with workers bustling around, working. Aman is a owner of the garage. He sleeps through the day and works at night while his garage is run by his employees who is his only family. SANTOSH
 Bro how are you awake during the day? AMAN
 I am going to the hospital. SNTOSH What is the doctor saying? AMAN
 That the machine is useless now. But my headlights can be used by others. SANTOSH
 Brother Aman you stretch things too far at times. You should sometimes be a little serious. You have done good work in life for so many people. All they prayers is bound to work for you. There are under repair cars parked along the corner. Aman walks by them, checking them he is getting ready. AMAN
 Which car is to be delivered today? SANTOSH That one there. AMAN Get it out. SANTOSH
 You want to drive? AMAN So what? SANTOSH
 Let me drive. You haven’t yet stopped working in the nights. If the doctor come to know then... AMAN
 I think you should drop me to the hospital. But don’t come in with me.
 Santosh takes out the car. He is really concerned for Aman's health. INT. TOWN HOSPITAL - DAY Aman enters the doctor's cabin, a comfortable compact exclusive space inside the clinic. The doctor, already busy with some work on his laptop sitting across the table by the window, looks at him in surprise, gets perturbed. Doctor
 man why are you here? You should be resting. Aman staggers through the cabin to drop down on the revolving chair in front of him. Beside Aman is the Doctor's Checkup Station. AMAN
 Doctor I was thinking that now that we have a recipient... DOCTOR
 Yes I had informed you about it over the phone.. AMAN
 No. I just came by to thank you for that. The doctor looks at him with a questionable look. DOCTOR
 Just to thank me. You came here? AMAN
 Without you I would have taken my eyes with me to my grave. But now someone can use it to see the World after me. DOCTOR
 Oh You are doing a great deed Aman. People refuse to donate their organs due to superstition. I am proud of you. AMAN Doctor. DOCTOR Yes. AMAN If I just knew... The doctor look at him perplexed, and smiles. DOCTOR
 Who gets your eyes? Is that what you want to know?
 AMAN Yes
 Doctor says, as he starts leaving. DOCTOR
 Aman you should go back home and just rest. Before you start your emotional blackmail I must leave to attend to another patient. AMAN Doctor! Doctor leaves the room. Aman is left there, looking at "Feel Good Check" Chart on the Doctor's Wall. CUT TO: INT. AMAN'S GARAGE - EVENING Aman is laying, his eyes closed, by his untidy bed in the garage, as the sweet noise from the workshop comes by. Aman listens to some old instrumental music on an assembled Radio, kept by his bed along with many other gears, bearings and gadgets. His face clenched in a frown as if in deep thought. We close in to his face, among the clatter as he opens his eyes. He has realized something. He gets out of his bed in haste, picks up his phone and dials to the doctor again. AMAN Doctor... Doctor realizes that what Aman is going to ask about. DOCTOR Aman.... That’s not possible. Aman disconnects the phone thinking the next plan of action I/E. ANOTHER TOWN /SHIV’S HOME - DAY We cut to a glimpse of some well dressed and made up guests, sitting and waiting silently, sipping tea. The rich household is well decorated for the occasion. Looks like they are waiting for somebody. CUT TO : We see a guy wake up with in surprise. It's Shiv, a boy from a well to do Gujrathi family. His mother, dressed well for some occasion, is knocking on the door, he jolts out of bed, almost falling, with a worn out face, and ruffled hair. SHIV’S MOTHER Hey Shiv. Open the door. Shiv crawls to the door, opens it, his mother is furious. She hurriedly takes out a beautiful Kurta ( Indian formal shirt) from his Almirah and puts it on his bed. She also switches on the geyser in a rush, and starts pushing him in the washroom. SHIV'S MOTHER
 You are sleeping! I thought that you were getting ready, The bride’s relatives are waiting for half an hour. SHIV Mom how many times have I told you I don’t want to get married? SHIV'S MOTHER What do you want to do if you don’t want to get married? SHIV
 I want to change this village with solar power. SHIV'S MOTHER
 You can change the village later. For now just change your clothes. She pushes him inside the washroom. Shiv's Father is hosting the guests. He offers them more sweets. The girl has had enough sweets, she enquires where is Shiv. SHIV'S FATHER
 My son you haven’t even touched these sweets? GIRL Uncle where is Shiv? Shiv's Father is feeling embarrassed and angry. Shiv rushes out of the washroom, having washed his face, starts putting on the Kurta (Indian formal shirt) . While her mom is trying to find the matching shoes. SHIV
 Mom one day I will ensure that everything in this village runs on solar. Electricity, bike, Kitchen.. SHIV'S MOTHER You are going crazy. SHIV Mummy! Solar is future. SHIV'S MOTHER No! Your marriage is the future. Shiv's mother helps him comb his hair and get ready as fast as possible. Shiv just complies. SHIV
 Mom. I am just coming out because you asking me to do so. But I am not getting married. SHIV'S MOTHER
 Ok...just come out for now ( murmers) I will soon order for your bridal procession. My name is Santiben shah just for nothing! She tells him to just come out for her sake, and leaves the room in a rush, putting on a smiling face within seconds to attend the guests. CUT TO: INT. TOWN HOSPITAL CLINIC - AFTERNOON Walking by the old clinic again in haste, Aman bumps into an old sheepish clerk, with specs, who appears to be a decent man. Aman knows he can get the answers he seeks. CUT TO: AMAN
 Patel Sir is your scooter repaired? Patel
 Whatever was wrong with my scooter? AMAN
 Something could go wrong you know. PATEL
 What do you want from me? AMAN
 only if you had known...you know....that recipient... PATEL
 Aman Thats not allowed Aman corners him by the office table, and emotionally blackmails him by telling him that his soul will not find peace if he dies without knowing who his eyes are going to. AMAN
 I am aware of that Patel Sir. But If I don’t get that information before I die then my should will not rest in peace. PATEL So? AMAN
 If my soul dosent rest in peace then its going to wander within the walls of this hospital. And every night when you return home my soul shall ask you the same question. PATEL (Stutter) I am not scared of Ghosts. AMAN
 You must be scared of the Gods right? How will you face them? The old man just looks through his sunken eyes, into his passionate eyes, perplexed. We move with the old man as he walks away, irritated about Aman's confused state of mind. Aman is left back, watching him leave. INT. AMAN'S GARAGE - EVENING Aman is laying under a car, unscrewing something, covered in grease, working with focus, thinking about who will receive his eyes, when he hears approaching footsteps towards his door. By the next minute, there is a knock. Aman gets out, rushes to the door, only to notice an envelope lying by his feet, before he can unlatch the door. Aman picks up the envelope, tears it and takes out a piece of paper. He is delighted to see that it has information about the person who will receive his eyes. Aman rushes out of the door in a hurry to meet the person who helped him, but he has disappeared in the darkness outside the streets by them. AMAN Hello?! Aman also hears the departing footsteps, tries to follow, to no avail. He just gets back in the yellow garage light, and starts reading the paper. He gets to know that as per the efforts of an NGO, his eyes will be donated to an underprivileged boy in a village, few miles from his town. He had never expected it to be a village and ends up constantly thinking about the boy. AMAN Chandar Here I come. As he sits by the bonnet of his disassembled car, he realizes that this is the moment of calling he had been waiting for. Something strikes Aman's mind, Looking around the garage, he is hit by a creative outburst. Suddenly he can see the liveliness in the dead innate machine parts lying around him. He decides to build something. He wakes up Santosh, who is sleeping in the garage. AMAN Wake up Santosh. Santosh Whats up brother Aman? AMAN
 the time has come to get the machine out of its garage today. SANTOSH Which machine? AMAN Frankie. In the corner of the garage there is a dilapidated old Maruti 800. He starts working on the Maruti 800; converting it into a colorful fun vehicle he names Frankie. His vintage van has accompanied him through all his formative years, now it's time for it's rebirth. As Aman is busy working on his new car, lost in his labour, enjoying the rebirth of his car, Santosh is curiously busy, watching him work. Maybe he has realized that Aman is about to embark. SANTOSH
 Where are you going alone. I won’t let you go alone. AMAN
 Don’t mess my mind. Make some nice tea for me. Aman gets into a meditative flow as he starts building something with old things. He cuts, screws, welds, assembles the parts together, cuts off the unwanted pieces from his vintage, joins and shapes his vision of his ride that will take him across the city to the village where this small boy lives. Once done with the outside modeling, he starts working on the engine, tests it, repairs it. Santosh is making tea on a stove attached to an LPG cylinder. SANTOSH
 Where are you going alone? I won’t let you go alone. By the way brother Aman, how did this machine get the name of Frankie? AMAN
 Frankie is the short form of Frankestein. This machine has been made from a collection of assorted spare parts from different machines. Hence the name. SANTOSH
 Ok. But what is this Frankenstein? Aman laughs. He starts putting up the LPG. SANTOSH
 What is this brother? LPG gas? Why not use Diesel? AMAN
 Santosh this World is our home. And LPG means less pollution. When you can make your tea on LPG then why can’t my car run on LPG? SANTOSH You are right brother. AMAN
 Thats why Frankie will run on LPG. On clean energy. (Lost)
That’s why Frankie will run on LPG. On clean energy. So that even after I am long gone the World shall remain green and healthy. SANTOSH
 Brother Aman. Don’t worry you will be alright. Santosh is emotional, he hugs Aman. Finally they fix the LPG cylinder. The old Maruti 800 has turned into a new fancy colorful eccentric car with a personality, Frankie. CUT TO: EXT. VILLAGE RACE TRACK - AFTERNOON We see a huge banner "Grand Race Today" moving with the wind. We move above to see a large clock. It's a clock tower, in the centre of the town. We move below, in the heart of the clock tower, to see a commentator/announcer's stall is set there, and he blares through his open old styled conical loud speaker mic, taking reports from an earphone. The gathered crowd around him cheers. We see a narrow dusty path, running through the generic country houses, where a crowd of people has gathered, and cheers for the event. It's a local Race, an age old tradition of that town going on. ANNOUNCER
 The race is at its boiling point. The speed is frenetic and the racers are all mad in excitement. Coming closer to the roads, we notice a colorful finishing rope, glistening through the sunlight in the damp hot afternoon, as a swarm of people stands around the end point, watching the speeding cars along the village roads, celebrating the Grand Race today. Children, Men, Old women, all having gathered for this Grand event, shouting in ecstasy to cheer their favourite player. Announcer's men are stationed at various places, keeping a close eye on the race, passing him every second's report. ANNOUNCER's men Rajender followed b Karsan. ANNOUNCER
 Rajender leads the race...he is followed by Karsan and from behind all of them cutting across at furious speed is the new driver Asha... The race is in full swing, as we cut to a car, being driven by the young and fiery Asha, whose eyes are fixed on the road as she overtakes and rushes by the novice drivers, approaching the finish line, victory clear in her eyes. Her steering wheel has a poster of Lewis Hamilton. She touches the photo like it's a god, and right on the Logo, we see logo of Petronas. Javed is her buddy , he is mute. Javed is her navigator sitting next to her. The last lap is the most important one, and they are yet to overtake the driver that is leading as of now. Asha changes the gear, rushes in twice the speed, changes the gear again, cuts through a car like a wind, dodges another one before it speed up, Overtakes another one, now they are just one car away from being the winners. ANNOUNCER's men Karsan first, Asha second... ANNOUNCER
 And this race has seen its first female driver who has done so well. Will Asha be the first woman racer to win the race?Asha pulls all her focus and puts all her energy in pulling across this one, They are barely meters away from the finish line, Crowd cheers in ecstasy and wild excitement, The moment of extreme truth arrives, but sadly, Asha and Javed lose the race by a margin of meters. They couldn't overtake the last driver. ANNOUNCER
 Once again brother Karsan is waving his victory flag. Asha is furious at having lost. ASHA
 It’s the same story yet again. You had said that this time the engine wouldn’t overheat. Asha and Javed, stand on the sidelines as the winners celebrate. The men around Asha jeer at her. Driver 1
 I told you earlier that you should be sitting at home and playing with your barbie dolls. They mock the audacity of a girl who thinks she can compete against men in a man's sport and win. Driver 2 this isn’t a game for girls. Disappointed by their failure, Watching the eccentric crowd cheer for the winner, They just console each other silently, and promise each other that the next time they would win for sure. ASHA
 Are you listening? You had said that this time the engine won’t overheat. Your oil will work. Whatever happened? Javed checks the fuel meter, his shoulders drop down, so does his excited face. He looks at her in guilty confusion, tries to find/do something quickly to please her, perturbed. He cannot. He looks at Asha with puppy eyes, his lips turn to say something morally boosting. ASHA
 But anyways no sweat. We shall surely win next time. Javed smiles. They are tired but still hopeful. EXT. AMAN’S GARAGE - MORNING As he unveils his work to workers in the garage, They are surprised to see him leaving, also because he is terminally ill, and they are worried he might hit misfortune along the way. SANTOSH
 Brother Aman. I had told you that I won’t let you go alone. AMAN
 Till where will you accompany me? Will you go to the heavens with me? SANTOSH
 Brother Aman your health will not permit you to do all this. But Aman is passionately dedicated to his mission now. AMAN
 Will it suit you if I remain here and die? Sorry Santosh but I need to explore all my options alone myself. I have given my life to this garage. Now you all take care of it. But if you slander my name then remember I will come to haunt you even after I die in the nights. He settles his affairs, loads up his bags and leaves on a road trip to see the boy. INT. PROPEL STATION - MORNING Aman is leaving the city after a very long time. He is enjoying the new view. Shiv notices a Propel fuel station passing by, and he pull up Frankie for some quick refilling. STATION BOY Hey Brother Aman. Where to? AMAN
 I am out on some work. The car is serviced and the fuel is refilled. STATION BOY
 Oh wow. LPG? That’s the right choice. That’s the future. Aman smiles. The engines are cleaned, the LPG refilled, the engine oil is checked. AMAN Thanks brother. It’s shining. STATION BOY Always at your service. The staff on the Propel Fuel station happens to be very modest. Once reloaded, Aman start with his journey again. I/E. SHIV'S HOME - MORNING We cut to the day of the wedding. Shiv is sitting in his room wearing a groom's outfit all decked up and ready. The sun is out but he is sitting in the dark with the lights out and the curtains drawn. Suddenly a gust of wind blows the window open and as the sunlight hits his face we watch him look resolutely outside and run . He runs away, whiles his family and the villagers in pursuit, looking for him. EXT. HIGHWAY - AfTERNOON Aman is driving by the highway, enjoying some old music, and the beautiful landscape, when he suddenly hears a bursting sound. AMAN What was that sound? He gets stuck in the middle of nowhere. Aman stops Frankie, gets out to notice that one of the tires is punctured, hit by a sharp rock in their way. Aman tries to use the cock-screw and change the Tyre, but guess it's just too much work for a lonely man. AMAN
 Oh God. At least have some mercy on people who are about to die. Tired and Sweating, he is just about to give up, when a man dressed in the wedding fineries of a groom runs into him, drenched in sweat and running like his life depends on it. It's Shiv. Noticing Aman's plight, and saving himself, he tells Aman that he can help. SHIV Can I help you? Shiv, a stranger to Aman, helps him in changing the Tyre, in a rush, always checking behind the road if there are vehicles in pursuit. Shiv is very anxious and in haste, as if running away from someone. The moment the tyre gets fixed, Shiv hops into the car and requests Aman to drop him somewhere ahead on the highway. SHIV
 Give me a lift till somewhere on the highway ahead. Aman is relieved at having brought out Frankie, but also confused at this stranger in his car. Aman asks him a few questions, trying to know him, Shiv turns around to notice some vehicles emerging from the end of the horizon, blowing smoke. AMAN
 Why are you in this dress? SHIV
 Please save your questions for later. For now just drive faster. He gets perturbed and requests Aman to just rush as fast as he can, Shiv will tell him his story in the way, but they need to leave urgently. SHIV
 I swear I am not a thief running away after stealing. I haven’t killed somebody and am on the run too. Once driving through the highway in full swing Frankie pass through the Solar plants. Shiv lights up. SHIV My dream. AMAN What? Shiv breaks down and tells him that he has run away from a wedding he had almost no say in. SHIV
 Do you know that every year millions of people die every year due to the use of coal? AMAN No SHIV
 We have the free energy of the sun. that willl last forever. It was my dream to use solar energy and turn my village into an ideal village. But my folks want to get me married and turn me into an ideal husband. AMAN (laughs) So that is your story. Who is following you? SHIV
 Of course They are my parents. And the brides too. I have punctured the prestige of both my parents and my in-laws. His and the bride's father are both behind him SHIV
 Just take me as far away from my folks as possible. Aman is sympathetic and tells him he can travel with him for as long as he wants. AMAN
 Not an issue. You can travel with me as long as you want. SHIV Thanks. They set off together. EXT. VILLAGE RACE TRACK - EVENING The blood pumping another race is in its full swing by the village again, as people stand by the roads, shouting, jeering for their drivers. When Asha has taken a lot of lead from most of the racers,
after a moment of hesitation, Javed tells Asha, that though the competition is really speeding up now, but we need to take a few minutes off the road to let their engines slightly cool down, and also to refill the Fuel Tankers. ASHA Whats wrong with you? Wy did you stop the car? We are leading now. Asha stops beside the track. Javed gets out in a rush, and starts taking out some fuel canisters, Syntium Fuel and starts refilling the tankers. Some other cars, that Asha had left far behind, start passing by them. Javed Fills the tankers and hops back inside. Asha starts driving again. ASHA
 If I lose this time because of you then my dreams of becoming a F1 racer willl be completely shattered. We see Asha driving through the cars, cutting and overtaking along the way, even more focussed, more wild this time. Even the last time's winner is barely a meter away from her, she will definitely pass him and win this race this time. Javed is also fixated on gears and other gadgets, making sure Asha doesn't have to lose her focus even for a second. Every second matters. ASHA
 This new oil is just magic. This time he used a new oil, Syntium and it's working. ASHA
 Now I will show them what a woman can do. Asha changes the gear, accelerates to pass by the last driver, barely ten meters from the finish line, when suddenly something happens that spoils everything.

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