As Anbu picks up his 6 year old son, Jai, from school, he notices that the little boy
was looking upset.

"Enna aachu magane?" (What happened son?) He asks while starting the car.
"Onnum illa..." (Nothing…)

"Paatha apidi theriyaliyae… Ethachu na unga appa kitta solli paaru, oru vela solution kidaikum. Suppose Appa kitta solla mudiyala na, unga Amma kitta aachu sollu." (Doesn't seem like that. If it's something try telling your dad, you might get a solution. Suppose if you can't tell your dad, tell your mom.)

"Athu vanthu… Iniki PT period la velila ponoma… Anga oru spider paathu bayanthuten…  Ellarum naa alugutha paathu kindal pannanga." (That… Today we had PT period… I saw a spider and got scared… Everyone made of me after seeing me cry.)

"En paiyana evan than kindal pannuthu? Iru vechukuren avangala." (They made fun of my son? I'll show them.)

"Athulam onnum veenam pa. Appa ennaku oru doubt." (That's not needed dad. Dad, I have a question.)

"Kelu magane." (Ask, son.)

"Ennakum ungala maathiri bayama illaama oru brave man ah irukanum. Athuku naa enna pannanum?" (I want to be fearless and brave like you. How can I do that?)

"Mothala ennaku bayam illa nu yaaru sonna?" (First who said I'm fearless?)

"Ungaluku bayam lam iruka?" (You have feara?)

"Athulam neraya irukku… Thenali Soman maathiri sollitae pogalam." (I have many… I can go on like Thenali Soman.)

"Athu yaaru pa?" (Who is that dad?)

"Yaaru nu theriyaathu? Iru unnaku inniki night ae antha padam pottu kaamikuren. Basically ennaku antha character maathiri neraya bayam. Hight na bayam. Pei na bayam. Naai na bayam. Ethuvume panaatha thavalai paatha kuda bayam. Namma veetu pakathula oru area irukume, anga thavalai irukuthu naala pogave maataen."

(You don't know who that is? I will show you the movie tonight. Basically I have lots of fears like that character. Scared of heights. Scared of ghosts. Scared of dogs. I'm even scared of frogs that do nothing. Because there are frogs in the field next to our house, I dont go there.)

"Ivlo bayam iruka?" (You have this many fears?)

"Ithu verum sample than. School pogum pothu marksheet paatha bayam. Parent teacher conference na bayam. Vambu senja amma kitta maatiruvoma nu bayam." (This is just a sample. During school, I was scared to get my marksheet. Scared of parent teacher conference. Scared that my mom will catch me for any troubles I make.)

"Ithulam school varikum thaanae?" (All this was during school right?)

"College ku nu separate ah oru list irukku. Olungana degree edukuroma bayam. Enga maths teacher paatha bayam. Pass pannuvoma bayam. Pass pannalum vela kidaikuma bayam." (There is a separate list for college. I was scared if I chose the right degree.  Scared of my maths teacher. Scared whether I will pass. If I pass, scared if I will get a job.)

"But athuku aprom ok la?" (But then ok right?)

"Athuku aprom thaanae unga amma va one side ah love panna arambuchen. Propose panna reject pannuvala bayam. Propose pannalina vera yaarachu love panniruvangalo nu bayam. Naa one side ah love pannutha avanga appa ku therinjuthuma nu bayam. Oru varam bayathula joram kuda vanthuchu."

(Then I had a one-sided love for your mom. I was scared she would reject me if I proposed. Scared someone else would get with her if I don't propose. Scared her dad will know i have a one-sided love for her. I was so scared that I got sick for a week.)

"But amma accept pannuthu ku aprom bayam illa la?" (But then after mom accepted, you weren't scared?)

"One side love aachu paravala. Love panna aprom romba bayam. Unga amma naa mokka pannuthu paathu ava vittu poiduva nu bayam. Rendu per family um no solliduvanga nu bayam. Cinema la vara maathiri unga amma ku vera yaarachu katti koduthuruvangala nu bayam. Kalyanam nadukuthu kula avlo than nu aiten naanu."

(One-sided love was even ok. Love made me even more scared. Scared your mother will leave after seeing me being an idiot. Scared both families won't agree. Scared they will marry off your mother like in the movies. I was exhausted by the time I got married.)

"Apo kalyanathuku aprom bayam pocha?" (Then it was ok after marriage?)

"Magane… kalyanam la sathaarnam kidaiyaathu. Daily ethu solli sanda poda pora nu bayam. Ethaachu prechana vantha unga thata kitta pottu kuduthuruvaalo nu bayam. Avaluku vecha promises ah kaapatha mudiyaatha nu bayam. Unga Amma naala unga appa evlo kastham pesuren nu theriyuma?"

(Son… Marriage isn't simple. I was scared of what she would fight about daily. Scared she will go tell her father if there is a problem. Scared if I can keep the promises I made to her. You know how much your dad suffered because of your mom?)

"Ennala ungaluku entha bayam illa thaanae pa?" (You didnt get scared because of me, right dad?)

"Magane… unnala than en vazhkai la neraya bayam." (Son… because of you, I have lots of fears in my life.)

"Enna pa solluringa?" (What are saying dad?)

"Unnaku ovvoru adi padum pothum, kaachal varum pothulam bayam varum. Velila yaarachu unnaiya thappana kannu la paathuruvangalo nu bayam. Un aasai ellam ennala niravetha mudiyuma nu bayam. Oru naal intha appa kitta nee marikka arambuchu, en naala avamanam patturuviyo nu bayam. Thappana aatkal ah theriyama nambiruviyo nu bayam. Un kitta irukura positive qualities vittu koduthuruviyo nu bayam. Unnaku nu oru vaazhkai azhaga amunjathuku aprom, intha appavukku neram illama marathuruviyo nu bayam."

(I get scared each you get sick or hurt. Scared someone will look at you with bad intentions. Scared if I can fulfill all your wishes. Scared you will start hiding things from your dad and feel embarrassed of me. Scared you will trust the wrong people. Scared you will give up your positive qualities. After you establish your own beautiful life, scared you won't have time and forget your father.)

"Appa?" (Dad?)

"Manushan na bayam irukkum. Athu thappu illa. Aana bayam naala vazhrathu niratha koodathu." (Being human means getting scared. That's not bad. But don't let fear stop your from living.)

"Seri pa." (Ok dad.)

"Good boy. Veetuku vanthaachu. Unga amma unnakaaga saapadu ready ah vechupa." (Good boy. We're home. Your mom will have something for you to eat.)
Jai nods his head and rushes to the kitchen. There his mother, Hema, had prepared some snacks for him.

"Amma!" (Mom!)

"Va da. School eppadi irunthathu? Seekram saapudu." (Come. How was school. Eat quickly.)

"Seri ma. School ok than. Appa dhariyasaali nu ninachen. Neraya bayam irukku nu sonnaru?" (Ok mom. School was ok. I thought dad was brave. He says he has lots of fears?)

"Apidiya?" (Really?) Hema chuckles at her son.

"Aama. Avaruku unga naala, en naala lam bayam. Namma veetu pakathula iruka area la thavalai irukku nu pogamaatara… Irunga… Rendu naal ku munnadi than anga ponnaru. Apo poi sonnara?" (Yes. He said he has lots of fears because of me and you. Because there is frogs in the field next to our house he won't go… Wait… Two days ago he went there. That means he was lying?)

"Illaiyae. Avaruku unmaiyavae thavalai na romba bayam." (Nope. He is really scared of frogs.)

"Apo anniki?" (Then that day?)

"Anikki nee antha area la vilayadum pothu keela vizhunthala? Unnakaga mattum than anga ponnaru. Nammalukku onnu na, avaruku bayam lam theriyaathu. Dhairiyam na bayam illa nu artham kidaiyaathu. Mukiyamanathu kaaga bayatha kadanthu poguthu than dhairiyam. Ippo sollu, unga appa yaaru?" 

(That day you got hurt playing there? He only where for you. If something happens to us, he won't see any his fears. Brave doesn't mean fearless. It means to get past your fears for what is important. Now tell me, who is your dad?)

"En appa… En hero!" (My dad is… My hero!) Jai says excitedly, before running back to his father to give a big hug.

Happy Father's Day to all our heroes!