Meanwhile, Krishna Iyer (Jaknakaraj), a Brahmin who had wanted to marry Vaidehi, but was rebuked publicly by her, sees Vaidehi return. He riles up the villagers with news of Vaidehi's return and states that it's extremely inauspicious for the village, since her last death rites have already been performed. He also states that it is not proper for Brahmins to live in a non-Brahmin house. He then sets some hay on fire and tells the villagers it's the god's disapproval of these two "crimes." He assembles a mob of villagers towards Balu's house, and they demand that Balu kick out Vaidehi from his home. Balu refuses, a fight breaks out, and in the ensuing scuffle, he is stabbed and dies. His final request is for the villagers to live in unity, and not let caste divide them. In the poignant closing scene, Sankara, who has now lost two fathers, is seen alone in the twilight hour of the holy Sandhyavandanam ritual removing his Brahminical "ponool" and immersing it in a nearby stream, disgusted with and in open defiance of Brahminical beliefs, while performing the last rites of Balu Thevar as though he were Thevar's own son.