"A RIVER CALLED TITAS" "Music theme, script and direction Ritwik Ghatak" "Story by Advaita Mulya Barman" "I fear to see the Ganga waters rise to fill the blue sky" "I fear to see the boats aground on the dry river bed" "Singer:" "Dheeraj Uddin Fakir" "Ab Hayat, the water of life, follow its story" "Cast" "Basanti." "Rosy Samad." "Rajar Jhi." "Kabari Choudhury" "Mother." "Roushan Jamil." "Mungli." "Rani Sarkar" "Udaytara.Sufia Rustam." "Kishore." "Probir Mitra" "Ramprasad and Kader Mian." "Golam Mustafa" "Tilakchand." "Ritwik Ghatak." "Nibaran." "Fakrul Hasan Bairagi" "Flowers bloom by its waters, fruits ripen in mysterious ways" "They mingle to create such splendour" "The cosmic fish resides in the river, adding its shimmer to the splendour" "But as the poet Lalan says." "When the water turns to air, the fish will dissolve in the wind" "I fear to see the Ganga waters rise to fill the blue sky" "Photographed by Baby Islam" "Edited by Basheer Hussain" "Music by Ustad Bahadur Khan" "A film by Ritwik Kumar Ghatak" "Dedicated to the myriad toilers of perennial Bengal" " I caught it first, Subol" " Kishore, I'll be left with nothing" "Must you keep bickering?" "Shame on you" "Keep turning, Basanti." "We're ushering in the winter." "Maghmandal ritual" "You've worn a new sari" "Kishore and Subol will make a leaf boat for you to sail" "Bathe in the Titas first then paint the courtyard with auspicious designs" "I hear they're going to Ujaninagar with uncle Tilakchand" "God knows when they'll be back." "I can't bear it" "Keep turning" "Look at them, as soon as I set the leaf boat on the water they fought over it like kids" "Each of them says he wants it." "I asked them to share it" "I said: "You both made it, so why don't you share it?"" "Kishore left it, like a good boy." "Subol grabbed it and ran" "You're hurt because Subol took it, and not Kishore" "Kishore could have taken it." "Why didn't he take it?" "But he's heartbroken, isn't he?" "Don't worry, he'll be back soon, with money in his purse from Ujaninagar" "What a way of showing friendship" "Kishore or Subol, which of them are you waiting for?" "Go away, Mungli" "What have you painted on your lips?" "Stop it!" "For Kishore you don't have to paint your lips red" "But for Subol, it's all right" "Isn't it, Basanti?" "See how Mungli is teasing me, uncle Ramprased" "Teasing?" "She can't wait to marry, she broods over who'll marry her" "They've both gone fishing" "Who will it be, Kishore or Subol?" "You're grown up now" " I miss my daughter" " Who?" "Durga?" "She left yesterday" "My last dear one." "She was all I had" "That's the way it happens, dear" "The spark of life, then suddenly all is quiet" "And myriad hues afresh" "You a child yesterday, a woman today" "The River Titas flows on, but tomorrow it may be bone dry" "It may not even have the last drop without which our soul cannot depart" "Yet these flocks of sails move on and on and on" "Enough for today, Kishore." "Let's turn back, Subol" "The headman of Ujaninagar himself" "Let's see your catch." "You're doing well, lad" "Finish your business quickly and go" "There will be a fight with the Kalipur folk across the river" "We hear, sir, that your spring festival is colourful" "We'd like to see it before we go." "We can fight at your side" "We, too, are fishermen" "The Kalipur toughs are here" "Some water, quick." "Your girl has fainted" "Here's your daughter" "Who is that?" "I couldn't see his face" "Is it true that your village is ideal, with decent, caring folk?" "We'd like to have closer ties" "What could we do?" "We're poor folk" "So are we" "What sort of ties?" "Ties of friendship" "Fine" "Not merely with works." "With song and dance, and binding gifts" "What does that mean?" "Come, change your clothes." "The headman calls" "My wife would like a word with you" "Beloved bride, how shall I adorn you?" " Should they exchange garlands now?" " Yes" "I am so unfortunate, the bridegroom will be leaving soon" "You can have a formal wedding when you get home." "Exchange garlands for now" "Son, embark on your journey in peace." "Don't forget us" "I bequeath you this treasure" "Awake, Radha!" "The Suk Sari bird sings" "How long will you sleep on this shore?" "Your father-in-law." "Touch his feet" "Formalize your wedding in your village" "She is your companion in your life, in your work, in this world and the next" "Never ill-treat her" "Your dried fish has been sold and you've got the cash" "Set your sails homeward" "Perhaps we will never see each other again" "What is your name?" "Kishore Chan Mulya Varman" "My father is Ramkeshab Muly Varman" "Gokannaghat village, Tripura district" "You've found your mate here." "Tell me, what about Basanti now?" "She's all yours" "I'll set course through troubled waters" "Bandits everywhere" "Prepare the bride's bed under the deck" "Don't attract attention" "Listen to an old man:" "don't let her be seen" "Subla, unroll the beds, see to the cooking" "You've found the girl of your dreams?" "How do I know?" "I've hardly seen her, hardly know her" "I can't picture what she looks like" "If she's mysteriously replaced I wouldn't be able to tell" "After dinner, we'll all sleep under the awning" "Traversing the Meghna, crossing Bhairab Bandar" "A deft course, and then the Titas" "Shameless wretch!" "Kishore, deep in slumber, open your eyes" "Subol, she's gone" "We're robbed, all is lost" "Let go of me!" "We've found her, there in the darkness" "Kishore has gone mad" "Something's floating, come quick" "Basanti, you star-crossed girl, you're driving me crazy" "Why do you move about in the thick undergrowth?" "What magic is there in Titas, to make you admire your reflection?" "And who will clean the pots?" "Your childhood love was blighted" "You married Subol and he died the day after the wedding" "Who do you wait for?" "Remember how as a girl you prayed for a husband?" "Sailing your leaf boat on the Titas during the winter festival" "Go on, don't look like that" "You both grew up together, Mungli" "You've a happy family, and she?" "Your husband loves you dearly" "And look at her fortune" "You know how she yearns for a child" "This village is plagued with want." "What misery we face" "I can't take it any more" "Mother, mine... you're the goddess Bhagawati" "I'm escorting you to the Pagla Shiva shore" "May I ask you something?" "It's ten years since we rescued you and you've never talked of returning to your father's house" "I was with child... and kidnapped by bandits." "Who would believe me?" "You haven't looked for your husband all these years." "Why so?" "I do not know his name, or the name of his friend" "I scarcely saw his face" "All I know is the name of his village" "What made you set out today?" "What makes you restless today?" "This boy is growing up." "Who shall I say is his father?" "Might your husband accuse you of using your misfortune for your own purposes?" "It's for him to decide." "What can I say?" "Ma, why does uncle Gour call you Bhagawati?" "Well, Bhagawati is everybody's mother, yours and mine" "Everybody's mother?" "Yours, mine, his and hers?" "Just arrived?" "Where will you live?" "I don't know" " Who's this, Basanti?" " She's just arrived" "Fisherfolk" "We're escorting her." "She's here to stay" "Kalo's mother is the richest here" "She'll take you in" " I'm Basanti." "What's your name?" " Rajar Jhi" "Kalo's mother will give you shelter and make you slave without wages" "Oh God, what have you done?" "This punishment is too much" "I thought I'd make him master of the house and live on his earnings" "I'd rock grandchildren on my knees." "Oh, my fate!" "I've given them something to eat." "They want to leave in the morning" "I've made arrangements" "My husband left a lot of money and property" "My son is also earning" "Every year we harvest lots of hemp" "We make big fishing nets" "Here, give me some of that" "What's so amazing?" "I only chew betel leaf" "My late husband smoked tobacco." "My father-in-law chewed leaves" "She can't say pan-leaves, because she'd be uttering her father-in-law's name" "He had long, curly hair, and eyes like the devil" "We were scared of him" "He'd smoke and play the harinda" "Are you a widow, like me?" "Well..." "Is he living?" "I don't know" "There are stories about my husband, too" "He knew the game of Tungri" "The two players stood at each end of the courtyard" "One of them threw a snake, after muttering a charm" "The other, with another charm, killed that snake" "Once a master snake-charmer came from Kamrup-Kamakshya to play Tungri with my husband" "He challenged: "If you're your father's son, save yourself from my hornet"" "My husband raised a dust-storm, blinded the hornet" "And shot another arrow to make his challenger's waist-cloth fly upwards" "The more he tried to pull it down, the more it would flutter up" "To hide his shame, the snake-charmer had to run for shelter in a boat" "You can leave, I'll take over" " Where's the boy's father?" " I don't know" " I hope he's not dead" " I don't know" " In which village were you married?" " I don't know" " I suppose there was a wedding" " I don't know" "What luck!" "The child is from the marriage, I hope" " How are you?" " Well" " Tell me all about it" " I don't know" "You don't know very much, do you, sister?" "I suppose it dropped from the skies" "Here's the spindle for the coarse thread, and this is for the fine" "Take this board to the riverbank, wash and beat the hemp on it" "Then dry it in the sun" "You'll have to make 14 reels of thread a week: 7 coarse and 7 fine" "The coarse will sell at one rupee a kilo, the fine at two which the fishermen will buy" "Have you heard the rumours?" "What rumours?" "Her case will be taken up by the village council" "Whose case?" "The boy's mother" "Why a council meeting about her?" "That's what I would like to know" "I can't say anything until I'm sure of things" "I'll ask the elders who could decide her fate" "With whom will she stay?" "You, me or Kalo's mother?" "Is everyone at home to hear an announcement?" "There will be a meeting at Bharat's house tonight" "You are expected to lend an ear as you chew tobacco and betel leaf" "We all know about the newcomer" "We must decide how to accept her in our society" "We must locate her kith and kin" "She says:" "Sister, I know nothing about my relatives" "Ask her who is the father of the child" "Keshtachandra!" "Uncle, in this meeting there are some who've become fat on bribes" "They have no sense of dignity" "When they sit in judgement, the vigilant wish to know which bride sleeps with her father-in-law which groom with his mother-in-law" "Such perverse thoughts have deprived them of decency" "We all have a world of our own" "Mine consists of three homes" " And who are the others?" " Subol's widow and Kishore's father" "This is the last word on this woman's case" "Let there be no more discussion" "Take her along, Mungli." "Now your world is made up of these four" "Agreed, uncle" "Frightened of me?" "I haven't come to sit in judgement" "I just came to see you" "I'm from another village" "There's no one like your mother in my home, and no grandsons, either" "Had my daughter been alive, she'd be your mother's age" "So early, uncle Ram Prasad." "Didn't you go home after yesterday's meeting?" "No, I just went round the village" "A thought: what if she comes over to our village?" "She could be accommodated with pleasure" " Who's that, mother?" " Bhagwati" "Your contribution towards the festivities, uncle" "The elders have exempted your crazy son" "Mungli, didn't you want to buy my net?" "Here it is" "Don't sell it, uncle." "Even if you don't contribute, the festival will be held" "It'll take time to weave another." "I'll persuade the elders" " Don't you agree, Mohan?" " Fine, sister" "I won't contribute, but enjoy yourselves" "Fear not." "Catch fish with the net and sell them" "Give a feast for us during the winter festival" "Right, it's just the festival for my crazy boy" "It'll be open house everywhere;" "who'll come to your place?" "There's no shortage of people looking for food" "We'll throng to you" "I know what gluttons you are." "These old hands must cook for you" "Auntie, I'm here, and Basanti and Ananta's mother will help you" "Take the ground rice to uncle Ramkeshab's house" "We'll make rice cakes" " Where?" " There, where the mad boy lives" "Oh no, sister, they're strangers to me" "I've never been there, I can't go" "Sister, I was a stranger once" "Humans know each other by meeting." "With cattle, of course, it's different" "Don't refuse to go" "They are so old." "It's their cherished wish to entertain" "On this festive day, who'll go to their house?" "We've got one person from the temple" "The other is my father, and another the headman" "And, of course, your son Ananta" "We're only going to serve rice cakes" "I'm sleepy." "Tell us a story, sister" "You are from another world" "You must know new stories" ""Oh, dearest, who has stolen your heart with his magic flute?"" "If you know any, speak up" "I know of a man who went mad over a woman and wanted to marry her" "Did he?" "Yes" "Then?" "I don't know" "Good God, is that all?" "Every man goes crazy over a woman and finally marries her" "But the real story is what happens afterwards" "Sister, you're holding something back" "Believe me I'm not, I'd have told you if I..." "I know how a man went mad because of a woman" "Really went mad" "And how his friend died" "But I won't tell" "Spare us your mysteries" "Let me sleep" "The madman and his friend, when they were children made a leaf boat for a girl during the Maghmandal festival" "She was betrothed to the man who is mad now" "When he returned deranged her parents changed their minds" "She was married off elsewhere" "I know who she married, but I won't tell" "After the wedding the friend went fishing" "Put in danger by his boss he died in a boat accident" "I know the boat-owner but I won't tell" "Why won't you tell?" "I can't" "It's too painful, sister" "And the one you mentioned, who was that girl?" "Her name was Basanti" "She's dead" "Listen, here's the tale" "The man went mad, because bandits kidnapped his wife from his boat" "Let's see if Ananta is asleep" "O beloved bride, how shall I adorn you?" "Sister, you worry me." "Stop joking with the crazy man" "Don't you know why he's crazy?" "Because he lost his soulmate" "Can you get him back his soulmate?" "I can't but I can try to become his soulmate" "You're restless, sister." "You need a man" " What's that you're taking?" " A little rice" "What about the stuff you're hiding?" "Vegetables, salt, oil..." "All for that wretched woman?" "Ananta hasn't eaten for two days" "Stop seeing your friend" "You're living off your parents and you want to support your friend" "Go on, finish your housework" "You're forbidden to go to that house" "Pick up the pots and wash them by the river" "Moina dear, off on a bird-hunt?" "Can I come with you?" "Yes." "When?" "Right away." "I'll get some clothes" "I'll go anywhere with you" "I'll be back soon, don't run away" "I saw her fooling about with Moina" "What's this?" "Wretched girl!" "I'll go off with Moina" "Since you won't feed or clothe me, I'll leave" "I've nothing to lose but my body" "I'll squander it" "You married me off so long ago" "I was too young to understand" "He died, anyway" "Now I wander about, cursing my fate" "Will you ever understand my pain?" "Can't I have my dreams' desires?" "How dare you, you slut!" "Please go away for a minute." "I'll deal with my daughter" "Must you humiliate your father when others can hear?" "What about his dignity?" "He can keep it" "I thought maybe with a friend like Ananta's mother and a son like him I'd forget my sorrows" "If you won't let me see them, I'll fling myself at the first man" "How long can you keep me imprisoned?" "Go to Ananta's mother, you wretch!" "For God's sake keep away from a man" "Mother dear, they haven't eaten for two days" "Take whatever is needed" "Take whatever you like for them." "Go on" "Mother, Ananta's mother's sari is in shreds" "May I give her one of yours?" "Let me ask your father" "Oh no!" "All right, give her one" "I'm hungry, Ma" "When is aunt coming?" "I'm famished" "Here I am." "Food will be ready soon" "Here's a sari" "Sister, you told me I needed a man" "Yes" "A woman's life is barren without a man" " Get hold of a man" " Who?" "Catch the crazy man" "I tried, but he slipped away" "Stop joking" "I'm not joking;" "I'm telling the truth" "Yes." "If only he'd ask me I'd look after his house" "Tell me, why are you drawn to this madman?" "If the need's so pressing, drop a hint to anyone you fancy" "There are more needs than one." "Look at every home" "It's run by a man." "The woman is his mate" "That mad fellow will ruin you one day" "Tell me the truth" "Are you the one the madman lost?" "How do I know?" "Living alone is unbearable" "If only I had the mad fellow, I'd live with him always" "I, too, feel a yearning sometimes" "I resolved to live like this" "Mother, today's the spring festival." "I'll bathe him in the River Titas" "I'm too old to go" "I'll manage him." "Fetch soap and towel" "The brazen hussy, touches a stranger!" "What's wrong with caring for a madman?" "It's a virtuous act" "Indeed!" "Funny sort of virtue, I say" "Is there blood?" "See if he's dead" "Water" "Wife!" "Auntie!" "Basanti, doesn't your mother scold you?" "What for?" "This orphan... he isn't related to you yet you cook for him, make toys..." "It's not mother's concern" "Father goes out every night to catch fish which we sell" "Go and bathe, Ananta" " Mother visits you?" " Yes" "She doesn't touch the food you offer?" "Why doesn't she?" "Because Ananta would try to talk to her" "The dead never talk to the living" "They just feel their presence" "He who hasn't a mother has nothing" "True." "Ananta can't forget his mother." "It's been some time now" "She was a real goddess" "Very unfortunate, those three:" "Ananta, his mother and Basanti" "Banamali, hurry!" "A merchant boat is sinking" "Allah be praised!" "You've saved me" "Banamali, let's stop here" "Let the boat drift with the wind" "Why don't you rest over there, Mian?" "What a downpour." "What village is it?" "Dry yourself, friend merchant" "Merchant?" "We aren't merchants" "I grow potatoes and sell in the market" "Never to haggling merchants, always asking for credit difficult to get payment from" "Like the fishmongers" "Buy cheaply, sell dearly" "You remind me of our uncle Ramprasad of Jatrabari" "He recites from the Ramayana" "No, I'm not Ramprasad of Jatrabari, I'm Kader Mian, from Birampur" "Aren't you Banamali the fisherman?" "Yes, I remember." "Last Muharram you told me about Karbala" "Yes, Karbala" "Don't drink that water, it's polluted" "I've relatives in your village" " Relatives?" "Are you married?" " No, my sister is married there" "Why are you staring?" "I couldn't earn a penny with the first lot" "No takers for potatoes, so I gave them away" "First charity to an orphan, let him pray to God" "He who is an orphan is truly unfortunate" "Without mother or father, always kicked around" " What is your name?" " Ananta" "Who died, mother or father?" " Mother" " Where do you live?" "We are fishermen by caste." "Aren't you?" "Will you take me home?" "Yes" "The market is warming up." "Let me take you around" "Come to my village some day." "Even the cattle know where I live" "It's late, I won't go to your sister's place this time" "Do you want to come on the boat with me?" "We'll row around creeks and swamps, catch fish and make a meal" "Care to join us?" "No, not today; your folks might be upset" "Go home now" "He used to have one meal a day, now he has three" "How can we manage?" "It was difficult enough for the three of us, without one more" "Yes, I'll have to drown him one of these days" "Why not now?" "First I must teach him to fish" "Ananta, get ready" "He's a motherless child" "Don't take him fishing" "Let him grow up a bit" "Flickers like the dying lamp, but doesn't die" "After lying low, he's reappeared." "I feel like driving him away for good" "Stop talking rot" "He has lost his mother." "Even sworn enemies don't talk like that" "Of course he's my enemy." "I want him to drop dead" "Why should he die?" "Let me die first" "I won't say anything more now, but one day I'm sure to drive him out" "When are you going to serve rice, sister?" "He's hungry" "Couldn't even shear off a bunch of green plantains" "Please don't abuse him today" "I'm Udaitara, Banamali's sister." "He's come to take me to my parents" "Shut up!" "This isn't your parents' home" "Let me feed him for the last time" "You were her friend, sister." "Don't go." "I'll take him" "This is where your mother died, Ananta" "Take it." "Choose a place neither dry nor wet" "Put it there." "Don't turn back" "What's the matter?" " Come." "You'll sleep by my side" " Why?" "The funeral's just over." "Tonight is inauspicious" "After death, the mother becomes an enemy" "She tries to take her child with her" "Her spirit wanders everywhere" "If she catches the child alone in the dark or on the riverbank she whisks it away and kills it" "Mother!" "Ma's different." "She comes to see me" "I see her on the riverbank" "Where?" "On the bank that bears her name?" "She looks terribly sad" "And she sobs and sobs" "Mother is dressed as Goddess Bhagvati" "Aunt, there was a terrible storm yesterday" "You haven't eaten" "The hut fell down because of him" "And this foul-mouthed daughter of mine cooks for him" "Get out!" "Because of you I hit my mother" "You're not related to me, so why should I bother?" "Be off!" "Go where your mother has gone!" "Why should I be responsible for him, sister?" "He's neither my son nor my brother" "I took him in because his mother died" "Let him seek his own destiny, now that the funeral is over" "They've seen him selling fish in the market" "My son saw him at the betel-leaf shop" "Standing silently" "Who?" "Ananta?" "Here's the whole story:" "he came last night" "I fed him, prepared his bed" "But no." "He vanished like a ghost" "I sent my husband in search of him" "Your husband, he's a..." "Whatever he may be, he's my husband" "He looked for the lad, but no luck" "They say he lives in a temple at the cremation grounds" "I hope the boy doesn't turn crazy now" "Basanti, come and have a look" "Where did you vanish to last night?" "Near the riverbank" "Mungli, shall I give him a hiding?" "Who's come?" "Udaitara's brother came to take her to her parents" "I've got news." "He lives there, hiding like an animal" "Get out." "I don't need your help" "Where have you been?" "So, husband-baiter" "Are you the person who married me two years ago?" "Let me marry you again" "I don't like all this" "How can one woman marry another?" "You looked after him, brought him up" "Now others are taking him away" "Take a last look" "Who knows when..." "Let me leave for the new river, let my mind wander" "I drift along without a care" "After the heat and the monsoon, after autumn puja festival..." "I'll be back" "Ungrateful cur!" "By your own mistakes, you lost all" "Who will you blame for this pain?" "O dear one, weep no more" "What do you want?" "I am Manik Kundu village co-operative credit society manager here on urgent business" "With me?" "Not exactly, but still..." "No, but I must see Ramkeshab" "There, a few huts away" "But he isn't there now" "The men are away fishing" "I've come to reclaim some loans" "Do you weave?" "No, but it seems I'll have to" "I'd better get going" "Will you be at home?" "Yes" " By the way, what's your name?" " Basanti" " A child widow?" " My bad luck, sir" "I'll sit awhile" " You're full of youth" " Don't sit on the ground" "I like it here" "No, I can't allow a respectable man to do that" "I'll get some tobacco and..." "Come in, babu" "Ensnared by the beauty of the fisherwoman, eh?" "Spare me, mothers, I beg you!" "Only avenging mothers here!" "Strip him!" "Drown him in the Titas!" "Please don't do that" "Humiliating such a rich man?" "Hey you!" "You're a fisherman, too." "I'll finish all of you" "Go ahead, I can't stand the sight of them" "Because I move around with you, they shun me" "We'll sink their boats at night" "No matter what it costs, get men to steal their nets and burn them" "Why let them off so lightly?" "That bitch who took you to her house..." "go and drag her here" "Buy some pints of liquor and take it to the old abandoned Kali temple" "That bitch?" "Nothing doing!" "Masters, think of something else" "As long as the fishermen are united, all this won't work" "Find another way" "What other way?" "Get them hooked in theatre" "Give them parts in a play" "With drums, flutes and clarinets it'll be like the city theatre" "Divert their attention, break them from within" "They're up to their necks in debt" "We'll see them off and reclaim our loans" "Finish them both ways." "Burn their homes" "Seize their property legally" "Before that, I'll go and get the court clerk on my side" "That will be taken care of, be patient" "I've gone for Kader Mian and framed him" "Once he's fixed I'll do in the others" "Our lads want fun and the villagers won't give their women" "What cheek" "Yes, father" "Come in" "Yes, I'll come in." "I've come with a purpose" "I'm prepared for anything." "Isn't it insulting?" "Because I didn't pay all your dowry, you think your father's a thief?" " Where's your husband, Khushi?" " Gone to the market" "Father-in-law, you've come" "Yes, here I am" "I've come to take Khushi home" "I'm a court clerk, with a gift for cheating" "Let her rest in my house" "What about me?" "I slog all year and get nothing" "Magan Sardar has filed a false case against me" "Yes." "I cultivate my own land and feed myself." "What a surprise" "What is the case about?" "Three years ago I borrowed 200 rupees from him" "The next year I paid back his money with interest" "He promised to tear up the agreement" "But he's used it to lodge an action against me" "You're very careless, father" "I can fix that" " Who are you?" " I'm Nizamat" "I thought you were a chameleon" "Well, if you think so." "At this age I've made so many chameleons dance" "What?" "You've never handled legal matters" "Judges and barristers are trifles for me" "I fly a kite in the sky but hold the strings in my hand" "Don't be scared." "You're up on a false charge" "I'll take care of that case" "And I'll file counter-claims of cattle stealing, etc." "Let's go to the court tomorrow" "No, not with you." "I'll go and see him" "I'll go and question Magan asking whether he remembers me returning his money without taking any receipt" "What if he's forgotten?" "Let him dare" "Allah will strike him dead" "Father, you are naive" "Advising you is like talking to a field" "Your intelligence is like a cow's" "Many come to me for legal advice" "Have you ever come?" "You'd see me finish off Magan Sardar" "I can't stand this court clerk" "Hold your tongue, I'm a respectable man" "Have I ever revealed that my daughter married into this wretched family?" "We don't want our abode to be trampled by an elephant" "Why have you come to be insulted like this?" "I made a mistake." "I'll be off now" "I'll never come to this farmer's house again" "How dare you leave without eating?" "Some money for a chicken to feed your father-in-law" "I'm going to find Magan Sardar" "Father, the sun's scorching." "Take this" "Please Kader Mian let me ruin you just once" "I've ruined many people in my life." "I'll never do it again" "You will be the last person I ruin" "Don't impede me" "Just bear it" "You'll see that afterwards I'll never ruin anyone ever again" "One last time..." "let me ruin you" "I'll continue to bear it" "Don't hesitate to pursue your legal action;" "I'll not defend myself" "After the verdict, I'll sell my land and pay up" "But become a good man after that" "Give Nizamat a hookah" "Nizamat" "Take your daughter at the time of the big Hindu festival and be back when it's over" "Magan Sardar has committed suicide." "He jumped off a huge tree near Titas" "My boat will win the race" "I'll get a prize" "Here, throw it in the river, whatever you want" "What will you do with this boat?" "If we win the race, it will be the pride of the village" "What else can the boat be used for?" "Rainy season, I can row it to the waterlogged fields and collect fodder" "Any boat can do that" "Yes, but only this boat can race, too" "What about the dry season?" "Sink it in the river, let fish gather in it then we can catch them easily" "A very good idea" "Father, I want to send my son to school" "No, let him be a cowherd" "He'll remain unlettered like us" "Send him to school and he'll become a court clerk" "Always abusing my father, saying he takes bribes, he's a thief..." "If my father's so bad, why did you bring a thief's daughter to your home?" "If I'd thrown you out, would you have been happy?" "How happy I am here!" "Vile woman, will you stop?" "I'm vile, my father's a thief" "Whatever he may be, I'm his daughter, he brought me up with motherly care" "If I die, it's my father who'll weep" "A thief's daughter, and so much chatter" "What about your daughter Jamila?" "She's also a motherless girl" "Don't mention my daughter's name." "Because of her I never remarried" "Even if you had, she would not forget her mother" "Will you stop, witch?" "If the thief's daughter hadn't stolen my heart do you think Kadir would have stayed with you?" "Fine, send your son to school" "If he becomes a cheat I won't do anything to him" "I'll break your skull" "This is for the racing boat" "Where have you been all these days?" "Who looked after you?" "Who fed you, who put you to bed?" "Oh dear, she drives him out and then enquires after his health" "Leave me alone, auntie" "You'll desert me, too" "Was I ever your own?" "Your love for me died with my mother" " How can you be so sure?" " I am." "I know" "Ungrateful boy!" "Some witch must have taught you all this" "Mind what you say, boy" "Watch your words." "Go away and don't talk too much" "See what happens when you give?" "He isn't your own flesh and blood" "There's only one real thing in the world: motherhood" "There is nothing else" "Serves her right" "Just as you say; now we'll mock her" "Basanti, beware" "There's a rumour in the village" "People in the bazaar are talking, like the man who plays the tabla" "Do you know what the educated upper caste folk are saying?" "That you, a widow, are hiding out of shame" "That you are with child" "That's why you stay indoors" "Good God!" "I was born here, married here, too" "The rabble don't scare me" "You're just a woman, what can you do?" "Nothing?" "I can set the village ablaze" "I'll ask these men" "Has the blood of our men turned to water?" "Are there no men of courage?" "Don't ask me, Basanti" "They've become a flock of sheep" "Uncle, why are you quiet?" "You've never accepted any wrong" "He has sold himself" "The rich have turned him into an actor, given him medals" "Let me be, brother." "My daughter is ill" "The unity of the fisherfolk is broken." "We are lost" "And I'm too tired" "Sister, we'll take action whenever you give the sign" "Hold it." "There must be a way out" "We must find a way" "Beware, Basanti, there's danger ahead" " Where?" " Aswini... acts in the theatre" "Basanti, how do you like this song?" "A breeze revealed her breasts." "It was paradise for her friend" "Or this one" "She pretends to cook and hides her tears." "Her oven is unlit" "She can't talk to her lover, she only weeps" "Scared of mother and sister-in-law" "Husband or in-laws I have none." "I live without fear" "Come, misbegotten one, I'll teach you a lesson" "If you have the guts, take me on" "I'm not afraid, there's not a man who can scare me" "Forget about me" "Tell me, what's happening in our village?" "Change into dry clothes, sister" "Daring to beat us!" "What cheek, those debtors!" "They're all in debt to your company." "Now's the time to squeeze them" "Take along armed men..." "but what about that shrew?" "Forget her" "They swore by the waters of the Titas to repay the loans" "Now we'll wring their necks with the swirling waters of Titas" "The river's behaving strangely" "The waves move in circles" "Tired of rowing, I dreamt that the Titas had dried up" "Like the desert" "The river is drying up" "Let the fishermen act or fight among themselves" "What are you talking about?" " How much have you?" " A rupee and twelve annas" "What about your worldly goods, then?" "Pots and pans, bags of rice" "Come, old fogey" "Leave me alone" "I drag this old body about to catch fish." "Let go" "Bidhupal has a bad temper, but a kind soul" "At least he has left you your boats" "Dry-eyed after all this beating?" "What good are tears now?" "The auspicious moment" "Set fire" "Basanti, I want a word with you" "As a child I sailed leaf boats." "I was called Basanti then" "I became a wife, soon a widow" "I also became Ananta's aunt" "Now I'm Basanti once again" "You're the same old Basanti for me" "Remember how we used to fight?" "A thrashing from you would have given me peace of mind" "The anguish of beating you has still not left me" "Truly, I want you to beat me" "I'll strike not you, but your enemies" "Go jump in a puddle" "Don't you want to hear about Ananta?" "Yes, where is he?" "Fled to the city." "Lives with gentlefolk" "With gentlefolk, eh?" "I miss him, too, but then he's neither your son nor mine" "I keep thinking of our Titas" "Soon it will be a faint memory, like Ananta." "The name alone will remain" "Look." "The river... it's gone" "What shall I do now?" "I have nothing left" "I won't lie:" "I'm a beggar now" "Mungli the fisherwoman begs nowadays in distant villages" "Will you take me along?" "Will you come?" "You'll get a lot of alms, an old woman like you" "But for us the path is tricky" "A young girl can stumble, you know" "You know that tea garden." "That's where I'll go" "I won't stumble, I'll slip" "I'm still young, I'll make money" "Puffs away on the dry hookah" "Who knows where the next meal will come from?" "This will do." "Wherever I fall..." "Not feeling well, sister?" "Sort of... where are you going?" "The farmers claim a share of the dry riverbed." "It was ours when under water" "The fishermen say we'll be finished when the river goes" "But all the communities are with us" "If we don't fight, there will never be a pinch of earth for us" "Only those who possess shall have more, they shall wield power over the land" "I'll be back soon" "The River Titas flows on, but tomorrow it may be bone dry" "It may not even have the last drop without which our soul cannot depart"