Vote!

Its Democracy
The SCREEN PLAY

Presented by: Aishwarya Ketkar Anubhav Bigamal Ashwin Nair Gandhar Parnandiwar Kashish Dua Sejal Bansal

11/25/2011

INT. COLLEGE CAMPUS DAY:Narrator: Elections are on us! Some of the college goers just turned 18 and are very excited about the whole voting procedure. JOE: Hi! Alas! Finally we can vote! You guys must be excited, huh? MARY: Actually, Joe is it going to make any difference? SAM: Oh, Mary! Dont be so pessimistic about this. Its a democracy. Someone has to take the initiative. Then why cant it be you and me? We are the future of our country. Electing the right candidate is in our hands now. We should grasp this opportunity. EMMA: But Political parties are known for their corrupt methods of manipulating votes in their favour and I bet almost all of the candidates standing up for elections are tainted in some way or the other. Its like choosing the lesser evil. I really doubt if my votes going to make much of a difference SAM: You know, Abdul Kalam mentions in his autobiography - If you want the change, be the change. Tell me one thing! Meaning of a democracy is simply Government of the people, by the people and for the people. If you want the Government to be for the people it needs to be by the people! Not voting would do more harm than voting. Arent you interested in playing the role of an active citizen? Lets do our bit as citizens of this country, lets vote! Everyone finally seems to be in agreement with Sam.

INT. CITY OF THANE:Two civilians who are close friends walk along the road DAN: Hey Vivek! Why are you so upset? You look so shabby! Whats up with your huge beard and tattered clothes? VIVEK: Hey Dan! Yeah am pretty upset over the water supply cut! The last time I saw that tap flowing was 2 days ago! Seems like eternity. Whats up with my huge beard? You should rather be asking, whats up with this government. DAN: Yeah. Ouch! Oh god! Why is this pothole so huge! Calling it a pothole is an understatement. Why dont these people do anything about these potholes? Im pretty sure this pothole has damaged its fair share of vehicles. VIVEK: [Laughs] Maybe one day one of us might just end up drowning in these potholes. Viveks cell phone Rings VIVEK: Hello NEETA: Vivek! This is high time you complain to the MSEB now. A power cut again! Again!! The generator has also gone bust. Its dark in here and you know how much I hate darkness. And the TV Vivek! We need the TV! VIVEK: Yes. I and Dan are going to complain to the authorities, youll get rid of that darkness and youll get your TV back. Dont worry.

INT.A VAN COMES ANNOUNCING:ANNOUNCER: Roads are full of potholes! There arent enough water supplies! There are regular electricity cuts! Your governments sleeping; its filled with a lot of blind ostriches! Vote for me and I promise Ill build roads in the city, not potholes! Vote for me and I guarantee a 24 hour water supply! Vote for me and I guarantee there wont be any electricity cuts! Remember the symbol is a tea cup. I repeat, vote for the tea cup!

INT. ELECTION BOOTH:JOE: So all of you guys finally did end up voting huh? MARY: Yes, Joe, we did end up voting. But Im still not convinced with this whole voting business to be honest. EMMA: Yeah, me too. SAM: Youll see, youll all soon see. Just give it some time and all your apprehensions will disappear. Who did you guys vote for by the way? JOE, MARY and EMMA Together: The tea cup! SAM: Yeah me too. Their agenda looks quite cool. NARRATOR: The tea cup ends up getting the most votes and wins the elections. But guess what? 2 years since the elections, roads are still in the same condition, probably worse. Water supply and problems concerning electricity are ruining the lives of middle class citizens. High inflation rates have also added up to the plethora of problems.

INT. COLLEGE CAMPUS DAY:-

JOE: See? Even after 2 years our city is still in the same condition! No way are these corrupt politicians going to change. They wont even try to make the change. Where are our taxes going? Why are we paying them? Why did we even kid ourselves by electing this guy? SAM: Lack of awareness Joe! Being regular voters isnt enough; we need to be regular and well informed. Those Tea Cup candidates cheated us with their agenda. We should have known better MARY: But in what way were the other candidates different? Theyre all the same, I tell you, each and every one of them. SAM: You know [Takes a long pause] EMMA: Well?

SAM: You know how do we know that theyre all the same? Maybe theres a shining diamond in that dirty coal mine. I think we should set up a website where people like us can have access to information about these politicians. MARY: You think theyll give us that information? SAM: Theres a right to information act Mary. Theyll have to provide us with their personal details. JOE: So, then we will know their true colours. SAM: Exactly! I think this could really work out. We create a website, get the required information of the candidates and make the voting process more legitimate. MARY: Well, Im still not convinced with this whole idea. EMMA: Me too. SAM: Youll see, youll all soon see. Just give it some time and all your apprehensions will disappear.

NARRATOR: And sure enough all their apprehensions disappeared. Sam founded Mumbai-votes, a campaign that made people believe in their candidates again. Not only does it provide you with information about each and every candidate, it also tells you whether candidates have been able to fulfil their promises using its innovative and simple to understand ranking system. It is ideas like this that ensure that Neeta, Vivek and you and I dont drown in a gigantic pothole.