"Thank you, sir" "I wish you had stayed on to take your degree" "I couldn't afford to" "But don't give up your writing" "I remember your stories in the college magazine about village life" "They were very good." "You know, one can earn a living by writing" "Satyajit Ray Productions presents" "APUR SANSAR (The World of Apu)" "Original story by Bibhutibhusan Bandyopadhyay" "Apu:" "Soumitra Chatterji." "Aparna:" "Sharmila Tagore" "Kajal:" "Aloke Chakravarty." "Pulu:" "Swapan Mukerji" "Photography:" "Subrata Mitra" "Art direction:" "Bansi Chandragupta" "Sound recording:" "Durgadas Mitra" "Film editing:" "Dulal Dutta" "Production manager:" "Anil Chowdhury" "Music:" "Ravi Shankar" "Production, script and direction:" "Satyajit Ray" "Good morning." "Sit down" "What use will that be?" "It will rest your legs" "I haven't come up to rest my legs" "You know very well why I'm here" "I'm going to ask a straight question, and I'd like a straight answer" " What is the date?" " The tenth" " How many months rent do you owe me?" " Three" "That makes twenty-one rupees" "Will you pay me now, or shall I return this evening?" "That makes three questions, not one" "It's not fair" "Many things are not fair" "Is it fair that I should house you for nothing?" "That you should use electricity all day without paying for it?" "You have had education." "You have pictures of great men on the wall" "Is it fair that you don't pay the rent?" "It's a sign of greatness, you know" "I, too, could turn a pretty phrase but it would not be fit for your young ears" "Anyway, either I get my money this evening or I'll look for a new lodger" "This letter is for you, not me" "We're both Rays" "We are pleased to accept your short story "A Man of the Soil" for publication in the next ssue of Sahityik" "Not bad news, I hope" "Why do you get so few letters?" "Does nobody write to you?" "I'd like to open a love letter by mistake" "Perhaps it's as well" "I've experienced matrimonial complications" "HARIMATI PRIMARY SCHOOL" "You advertised for a teacher" "Qualifications?" " Intermediate Science" " No good, we want Matriculation" "But I got that before Intermediate" "What did the advertisement say?" "It did specify Matriculation" "Then why harp on Intermediate?" "What's the point?" "Would you work for ten rupees a month?" "Well?" "I understand you want someone in your factory." "I have Matriculation" "Any experience of labelling?" "Labelling?" "No, but I can learn" "Go through that door and down the passage." "Take a look first" "Pulu!" "You're a fine friend." "Why didn't you tell me you'd left the student hostel?" "I've been searching north Calcutta for you since four o'clock" "I finally got your address from the people you give private lessons to" "What's so funny?" "You've put on weight" "I had." "I lost it these last three hours" "Would you like tea at the cafe around the corner?" "All right." "But I've two tickets for us to see Sadhabar Ekadashi" "Is this a hideout?" "Are you forging banknotes or something?" "I wish I could" "And you cook for yourself?" "I'll cook you a meal one day:" "Rice and potatoes" "What about the railway job?" "I thought you'd got it" "There was a strike on, and they wanted people as strike-breakers" "So you've been unemployed?" "I give some private lessons" " How much do you make?" " Fifteen rupees a month" "Didn't you learn to type?" "Yes, I thought it might be useful" "Good." "I'll get you a job as soon as we return" "Where are we going?" "You'll come with me to my cousin Aparna's wedding on Monday" " Where?" " Just for a few days" " But where?" " Khulna." "Khulna!" "It's a hundred miles away" "You'll love it there" "An old-world village, a lovely river with boats on it" "Fields of grass and paddy." "Bamboo groves, mango orchards" "Doesn't it tempt you?" "Trees full of birds:" "Magpies, thrushes, nightingales" "And in the evening, fireflies and oil lamps aglow" "No electricity" "Doesn't it sound tempting?" "You'll come, won't you?" "Take me back to thy lap, O Mother Earth" "Take back thy son and wrap him n thine ample robe" "Let me be one with the soil, and spread myself" "Far and wide, like the joys of spring, let me burst the heart's narrow cage reak down the stonewalls of self and the cheerless prison of the mind" "To rush forth in a rapture of delight" "And flow to the far ends of the earth, surging, billowing, rolling on" "A policeman" "Who's there?" "Am Mainaak, son of the Himalayas, hiding my wings in the sea" "What's come over you?" "You sound as if you've had too much to drink" "I don't think I'll take that job" "Don't be absurd" "Why should I become a clerk?" "There is no reason why I should" "I'm a free man, without ties, no one to worry about" "Why should I become a clerk?" "But you can't keep pawning books to pay the rent" " Things will change" " Not without a job" "Listen, those with real talent..." "Needn't eat?" "Apurba Kumar Ray" "Make fun of me, but just wait and see" "Something up your sleeve?" "Some new poems?" "You're too prosaic" "You'll go abroad, become an engineer, get a fat job and settle down" "So I'm prosaic?" "That's gratitude!" "Who took you in hand in Calcutta?" "Country bumpkin scared of the traffic" "Who read your first short story, and what did he say about it?" "Don't get so worked up" "Do you know why I feel so elated?" "I've had my first good meal for months, thanks to you" "Well, are you writing anything?" "A wonderful novel" "Why didn't you tell me?" " Do you know a good publisher?" " No problem" "A boy" "A village boy." "Poor, but sensitive" "Father, a priest." "He dies" "The boy doesn't want to be a priest." "He wants to study, he's ambitious" "He studies" "In the process, I see him struggle" "He sheds superstition and prejudice" "He takes nothing on trust" "He tries to be rational" "He has imagination, he's intrigued by little things" "He has greatness in him, perhaps." "He has the ability to create" "But he doesn't" "Right, but that's not a tragedy" "He remains poor, in want" "But he doesn't turn from life, he doesn't want to escape" "He is fulfilled, he wants to live" "This is autobiography" "Partly, but there are imaginary characters, plot, love..." "Love?" "What do you know of love?" "You've never been within ten paces of a girl" "It's not that easy, you have no experience" " Is imagination worth nothing?" " Not where love is concerned" " You're quite wrong" " I'm absolutely right" "How much further wilt thou lead me, O Fair One?" "Tell me what shore thy golden boat will touch" "Whatever I ask thee, O thou from distant lands" "Thou smilest in thine own sweet way" "And I can never know what is in thy mind" "Silently, thou liftest a finger pointing to the trackless, wild sea" "As, far to the west, the sun goes down in the sky" "What lies there?" "What do we go to seek?" "Tell me, I pray thee, O stranger fair" "Where, at the edge of evening, glows the day..." "Give me your hand" "Wonderful." "Really wonderful" "Look who is here!" "It's Pulu, and not alone" "I hope the journey was not too unpleasant for city people" "My youngest son, Murari." "He's studying at Daulatpur College" "Take his luggage" "My aunt" "It's a pity you didn't think of him as a possible son-in-law" "Where have I seen him before?" "Impossible." "He's never been here" "But I know his face so well" "Yes, I saw a picture of Lord Krishna looking just like him" "Lord Krishna..." "Binu, my son, come out now" "What's wrong?" "Isn't he well?" "It's nothing." "The sun was so hot" "The long journey and the fasting must have upset him" "Bring water, and a fan" "This is a fine wedding" "That boy is insane" "Who says so?" "He is perfectly sane." "The journey and the heat..." "If you don't stop the wedding, I will" "But the auspicious hour is passing" "Leave this room!" "It's you who is mad" "When the hour has passed, my daughter will never marry" "Isn't there another auspicious hour, at ten?" "Don't ask me." "This means ruin for me" "Have I missed the ceremony?" "There's no wedding" "The bridegroom is mad" "Apu, everything depends on you now" "Are you joking?" "What is all this?" "If the wedding does not take place at the auspicious times the bride is cursed" "But what can I do?" "We have to find another husband for her and you are the obvious choice" "You want me to be a substitute bridegroom?" "Is this a play or a novel?" "What do you take me for?" "Are you still living in the Dark Ages?" "Calm down and listen to me" "No, I won't listen to a pack of lunatics" "Everything depends on you" "It's no use, let's go" "Come here a moment" "Can you really get me that job?" "You'll have to lend me a shirt, and I must have a shave" "Your daughter didn't worship Shiva in vain." "A curse became a blessing" "The moment I saw him," "I knew he was nearer to me than my own kin" "Pulu has brought many of his friends here but I've never felt so drawn to anyone" "There are a few things that I must tell you" "I've had no opportunity before" "How much do you know about me?" "Has Pulu told you anything?" "Yes" "What did he say?" "You're an orphan" "Yes." "I lost my father when I was ten" "Mother died seven years later" "I had a sister, too" "What else did he tell you?" "You write well" "He told you that, did he?" "Can you read?" "Yes." "Bengali" "I'm writing my novel in Bengali" "I know" "What else did he say?" "Nothing else" "That's not very much" "You know little of the man you married" "I have no means, no job and almost no future" "What kind of home shall I take you to?" "You've been brought up in these surroundings" "A spacious house, servants, fine rooms" "This marriage was forced on me." "I was against it, but..." "Something changed my mind, I felt I would be doing a noble thing" "Everything became confused" "Why don't you say something?" "I can't decide until I know your mind" "Aparna, will you be able to endure poverty?" "Can you live with a poor husband?" "Yes" "Can you really?" "Why not?" "Then I'll take you with me." "If your father objects, I'll ignore him" " Will you object?" " I don't know" " I wonder what they'll say" " Who?" "My neighbours." "I went to a wedding, but I shall return with the bride" "I'll come back for the luggage" "This is my room" "Sit down." "I won't be long" "You must be very sad" "Really not?" "They want to see us downstairs" "Make way." "Let's see the bride" "What a lovely bride!" "Why gawp?" "Am I new?" "Only after meals." "You promised" "Do you lament your decision?" "What?" "I don't know such difficult words" "Will "regret" do?" "Yes" " Do you regret it?" " Regret what?" " Do I have to explain that too?" " Yes" "You missed out on a rich husband" " You're laughing!" " No, I'm crying" "You must feel sorry" "Of course." "I could have had an easy life" " I'm going." " Where?" "To look for a maid servant" "Don't be silly." "Come back, please" "Who will pay for the servant?" "I'll get more private lessons" "Then send me back to my parents" "One lesson is bad enough after a hard day's work" "What should I do, then?" "I'll tell you:" "Give up the lesson you have" "And then what?" "Then my poor husband will come home early" "Then I shall lament no more" "God of Fire!" "Destroy his meditation!" "Are you cross with me?" "Yes." "Why do we always take a cab?" "Buses are crowded." "We're alone here" "But it costs much more" "Does it matter?" "Soon you're going to your parents, my expenses will be halved" "Only for two months" "Isn't that a long time?" "What about the extra expenses when we come back?" "Ah, yes..." "I wouldn't have let you go, but your mother was so insistent" "And I felt you'd rather be with her at such a time" "A relief for you, too." "No one to bother you for two months" "One job will be done" "I'll have time to work on my novel." "I haven't touched it since we married" "Is that my fault?" "No, it's your virtue." "You know how much my novel means to me, don't you?" " Well, you mean much more" " Really?" "I shall dedicate it to you" "You'll what?" "I know what "wife" means" "You don't." "I do" "I do, too" " What?" " The matches" "What is there in your eyes?" "Kohl" "We'll expect you in the holidays" "I'll do my best." "Send a telegram when you arrive;" "letters take so long" " Promise you'll come" " Haven't I given my word?" "You must write twice a week" " You must write, too" " Not unless you do" "Write to my office address, or Mr. Ray will open your letters" "I had so many things to tell you" "Yes, I asked Pintu's mother to make you some cakes" "There's a bill to pay at the grocer's" "I've left some jewellery behind" "Please take care of yourself" "You'll see her in a week, so cheer up" "I wish I knew your secret" "How to be married and happy on forty-five rupees a month" "How do you know I'm happy?" "I can guess" "I don't know what your wife is like, but mine..." "I like them to be a little pert a little saucy, a little naughty" "It adds spice to a marriage, don't you think?" "My wife is just the opposite" "Never quarrels, never complains, never answers back always meek and obedient" "Utterly bland, tasteless" "Plus this" "You've promised to come on the 8th f you don't, I'll never speak to you again, never, ever" "You should have sent me eight letters last month and I only got seven should never trust you" "And I feel jealous of that girl next door" "She sees you morning and evening, and I don't" "Do keep the window shut" "What else is there to tell?" "The more I write, the more you will laugh at my mistakes ut I don't care." "You are the writer, not me" "Please take good care of yourself am well, but my heart is sick." "T will heal when you come f you don't, I'll never speak to you again, never, ever" "What is it?" "Aparna..." "In childbirth..." "She said: "I'm leaving him in your care, Mrs. Ganguly" ""He's so absent-minded, he forgets to eat sometimes"" "Such sweet words and such gentle ways" "Well, it's a good thing the baby was saved." "Fate works in strange ways" "But a young fellow like you shouldn't give up" ""While Krishna has his knot of hair and flute there'll be women to serve him"" "Why, you could marry ten times over if you wanted" "Dear Pulu." "You must have heard the news by now hear you're going abroad." "Wish you success 'm going away, too don't know where I'm going, ut I do know why:" "Want to be free 'm taking my novel with me." "'Ll send it to you if I finish it" "You may publish it f you like it enough." "Yours, Apu" "What have you thrown in my food?" "I'll teach you a lesson, my lad!" "He's bitten me" "Wait and see what your grandfather will do" "You'll tell grandfather?" "Just wait." "You need a good hiding" "He'll bash you if you do" "Who will bash me?" "My father." "He lives in Calcutta" "Father!" "That's a good one!" "We haven't seen his pigtail these last five years" "Do fathers have pigtails?" "He's not shown up once, even to see his own son" "He's sent three money orders." "Perhaps he calls that doing his duty" "Where is Apu?" "I was dead against the marriage" "It was you and your aunt who took my daughter..." "Do you know where Apu is?" "I'd just like to know" "Somewhere in Central India, working in some coal mine, the vagabond" "And the boy takes after him" "Always running around and getting up to mischief" "When your aunt was alive she could manage him, but it's too much for me" "Do you know Apu's address?" "Whatever is on his letter" "Do you think he'll come back?" "Not that heartless brute" "When did you get back?" "I went to my uncle, looking for you" " What are you doing here?" " Working" " Since when?" " About a year" "So far from home?" "I didn't come here for a job" "I arrived here in my wanderings" "I had to fill my stomach" " Has it been filled now?" " More or less" "How is the novel getting along?" "I threw it away" "Why throw it away?" "What's the use?" "Come along" "Are you going to stay here?" " I'm thinking of going away" " Where?" "Anywhere." "Perhaps abroad." "I'm saving up" "Going alone?" " Who else is there?" " Kajal" "Your son" "So that's what they called him" " Go back home" " Why?" "The boy needs someone to look after him" "There's such a thing as a father's duty, or did you throw duty away, too?" "Who says I don't do my duty?" "I've sent money" " Is that all you can do?" " I can't do any more" "Don't you love your son?" "No" "How can I love him?" "I've never seen him, to me he is unreal, untrue" "For me he doesn't exist" "You must have lost your senses" "Anyway, I've done my duty." "The rest is up to you" "Come here for a moment" "My train leaves at seven" "Come here" "Please do something for the boy, put him in a home or something" " Do that yourself" " No, I can't" " It's not possible for me" " I can't understand why not" "There is something which I can't forget" "Because Kajal exists..." "Aparna does not" "I've sent money and I'll send more if necessary" "More than that, I cannot do" "I have no love for him." "He is like a stranger" "If you think he is not being looked after make some arrangement for him" "Shall I give you money now?" "I've no time." "I have to start a new job on Monday" "Who is it?" "Who do you want?" "I'm Apurba" "Have you come to fetch him?" "I've arranged to leave him with friends in my home village" "I'm going away" "He's upstairs" "He's been feverish, but he's better now" "I'm your father" "What are you doing?" "You might have killed the boy" "Won't you make friends with me?" "I know lots of good stories" "Ghost stories, stories about demons kings, queens, princes and winged horses" "Want to hear them?" "I'll leave this jewellery with you in case you want to send him to boarding school" "It seems to be the only way to be relieved of his burden" "Can't you take him with you by force?" "As his father you have the right to do that" "No, I couldn't do that" "I knew it." "I knew all along that you could do nothing" "What do you want to say, Kajal?" "Where are you going?" "Will you come with me?" "Are you going to Calcutta?" "If I did, would you come with me?" "Would you take me to my father?" "Certainly" "Will he be cross with me?" "Why should he be?" "He'll never leave me?" "Never" "Who are you?" "I'm your friend" "Will you come with me?" "Grandpa will be angry" "Grandpa won't know, I won't tell him"