"ITI MRINALINI" "This is my last night." "I am ending my life of my own free will." "I have no grievances no accusations against anyone." "But wait... is that the truth?" "...or must we cling to our pretenses till the very end?" "At me tugs night's sleepless river" "At me tugs night's sleepless river" "At me tugs the secret dark" "Breaks my sleep and opens wide" "The bolted doors of sightless night." "Torn clouds in the vWind; around the moon" "Suddenly gather blue crystals of time" "I come out of doors to a deserted earth" "And roadways seemingly filled with sky..." "The first call came in primal boyhood" "On a maddening day of aches" "Bugles of battle rang through my flesh" "Then my dreams were first unchained." "At me tugs night's sleepless river" "All rules, all duties ring hollow" "Familiar roads turn labrynthine" "My beguiled eyes touch far horizons" "All barriers false have been cut down!" "At me tugs night's sleepless river" "Meenu..." "Which one?" "The one on the left." "Now look at these two..." "Nah... the earlier one." "But I feel this one's the best!" "Oh no!" "Look what you've done Imtiaz!" "Smudged it all!" "Honestly, you're the limit!" "Really?" "Let's see?" "No!" "Let go!" "Come, let me do it" "No!" "No!" "Let go!" "Please!" "I'm very ticklish!" "Now I've got to do it all over again!" "Guess what's my next film?" "Don't know." "Make a guess!" "I've even got funding!" "You tell me." "I'm not in the mood for guessing games." "You stir my soul with your call..." "Oh my waker of sorrows!" "For you I shall sing my song..." "The Red Oleander?" "Bishu, my madcap you call me your waker of sorrows?" "Of course!" "You are my messenger from unknown shores..." "When you arrived in this dark kingdom a salty ocean breeze came and buffeted my heart." "Good Lord!" "What exactly are you planning?" "Not asking me to play Nandini, are you?" "You're nuts, Imtiaz!" "What will you do if I actually say 'yes'?" "I want you to say yes!" "Impossible Imtiaz!" "Nandini?" "At my age!" "She is a metaphor for youth!" "Remember..." "Her sari's the colour of paddy she wears earrings of red oleander?" "What exactly does Tagore mean by 'colour of paddy'?" "Green of young paddy plants." "Or yellow of ripened stalks?" "I've never been able to figure that out somehow..." "Nandini..." "Like you!" "Like me?" "Why didn't you come earlier, Imtiaz?" "When I was young enough to play Nandini?" "Born at the wrong time!" "So many people will be there!" "It's a premiere after all!" "They'll all be dressed to kill!" "And you?" "Going in an ordinary cotton sari!" "What will people say?" "They'll say:" "Look!" "Her sari's the colour of paddy and she has red oleanders at her ears!" "Meenu-di" "Welcome!" "Welcome!" "You were wonderful in this film!" "Fantastic!" "Really!" "How've you been, Meenu-di" "Very well." "How lovely you look!" "You always dress differently from everyone else!" "How do you do it?" "Look at me!" "I'm getting old already!" "Nonsense!" "You look so pretty!" "Our... er director isn't here?" "Here I am!" "There!" "Here she is!" "My Kunti!" "Stop!" "Don't push!" "Excuse me!" "Excuse me!" "Let us pass please..." "Ah!" "Here's Hiyaa!" "My!" "She's all dolled up!" "Trying to compete with you!" "Do you see now?" "Why I wanted you and no one else?" "You were right." "I'm glad you insisted." "The film worked out rather well..." "We are good together!" " You've started again!" "You talk far too much!" "Supposing someone vWere to see us?" "I'll just be a minute!" "Meenu-di" "You're here?" "Everyone's looking for you outside!" "That's why I ran avWay!" "You look tired!" "Not well?" "No... er..." "There's such a crowd out there..." "Call that a crowd?" "Then vWhat vWill you do at the unit party after this?" "The whole film industry will be there!" "I'm thinking of skipping that too..." "What're you saying!" "You're the star of the evening!" "If you don't come..." "Tch!" "Your eye make-up has smudged!" "May I?" "Yes..." "I..." "I'll fix it..." "Really Meenu-di!" "How gorgeous you look still!" "Thank you!" "You're very lovely yourself!" "And you've done a great job in this film!" "My goodness!" "Sharing screen space with you was scary!" "I used to be a huge fan of yours!" "Used to be?" "Not any longer?" "Did you know Hiyaa would this good in Draupadi's role?" "The entire credit goes to Imtiaz-da!" "Not at all!" "Hiyaa vWorked very hard herself." "I knew she'd do it!" "So are we seeing Hiyaa again soon in one of your films?" "Absolutely!" "Very soon!" "This is a very joyous evening..." "Salil- babu your film 'Born Of The Sun' opens today..." "All our journalist friends are present here today..." "May I make a short announcement here?" "Of course!" "Of course!" "Please " "It gives me great pleasure to..." "It gives me great pleasure to announce our new venture from Spotlight Films!" "On the 1st day of the Bengali NevW Year!" "The name of the film:" "The Red Oleander!" "To be directed by:" "Imtiaz Chaudhury!" "And the central role of Nandini will be played by:" "Hiyaa Majumdar!" "Superb casting!" "Fabulous!" "The first lesson of an actor's life:" "Timing!" "The perfect moment of entry and exit on stage!" "The moment of entry was not in my hands but the exit can surely be?" "In this chancy life of ours let this one thing be vWithin my control." "Oh!" "It's you ma'am!" "But the party's upstairs." "In the Banquet Hall..." "I know." "I've been there." "Actually this darkness I find it soothing." "Why?" "Is there a problem?" "Not at all, ma'am!" "No problem at all." "Please sit wherever you wish..." "What can I get you?" "Would you like me to get you anything?" "No... nothing right now." "You're here!" "And we were looking for you upstairs!" "But I had gone upstairs." "It's you who was not there." "Strange!" "How come we didn't see you?" "We?" "Who's 'vwe' Imtiaz?" "You and Hiyaa?" "We meaning... all of us!" "The cast, the crew... everyone!" "Come on now!" "They're all waiting for you at the cast party..." "Cast party for which film, Imtiaz?" "The Red Oleander?" "That's what it seemed like seeing you and your heroine at the bar window!" "Am I really needed there?" "You know how it is!" "All decisions don't lie with the director!" "Probably it's true that Nandini does need a fresh face." "You said so yourself!" "That's what the producers feel too..." "And... regarding this thing about casting Hiyaa I would've told you myself sooner or later." "But but about this sudden announcement..." "I didn't have a clue!" "At me tugs night's sleepless river" "At me tugs the mysterious dark" "Breaks my sleep breaks my... sleep breaks my sleep..." "For Minu... in our City of Memories..." "Abhi" "Breaks my sleep and opens wide" "The bolted doors of sightless night..." "Torn clouds in the vWind; around the moon" "Suddenly gather blue crystals of time" "I come out of doors to a deserted earth" "And roadways seemingly filled with sky..." "You bourgeois!" "And you call yourself a revolutionary!" "Recite Mayakovsky from memory and then we'll talk!" "Yes, come on!" "Hey, pass me a fag!" "Just listen to him!" "Sounds like a Russian agent!" "Exactly!" "What does Mayakovsky know of nights in Kolkata?" "And you do?" "Remember those lines?" "They give me goose bumps!" "A naked Shiva rules the roads in baritone sings a glorious song" "Whatever you say, the images of the city are best in Shakti's poems!" "Yes, that's true!" "From head to foot a crazy swaying walls merge into walls." "Corniches into corniches footpaths change underfoot at dead of night!" "Done?" "Remember!" "Tonight!" "You know what, I've got an offer for a film!" "From Siddhartha Sarkar" "No!" "You..." "Honest!" "He sent his assistant across last night." "Apparently he'd seen me in a play..." "You're going to act in a Siddhartha Sarkar film?" "You of all people!" "Oh sorry!" "Not film!" "They call it 'picture' don't they?" "What a snob you are!" "Name another director as successful as he!" "Don't say successful!" "There can be many kinds of success!" "You mean commercially successful!" "If only he wasn't so pretentious!" "Behaves like he's churning out one masterpiece after another!" "Well, I hardly have a choice!" "I wasn't exactly wooed by the likes of Ray, Mrinal Sen  Ghatak!" "Why films anyway?" "You're a good student." "Finish college and go for higher studies!" "Actually..." "I can't stand that house any longer." "Yes." "Yes!" "It's always we who use up the water!" "It starts flowing at 5 in the morning." "Why don't you fill the tanks then?" "Indeed!" "I wake up at the crack of dawn to fill the tanks and you'll wake up leisurely to do your morning jobs!" "What!" "What did you say?" "Stop fighting, you two!" "The same routine every morning!" "Where will you go?" "Don't know even a small place would do." "I'd do it up the way I want." "There'd be plenty of light and fresh air..." "Ma won't come I'm sure." "She'll stay on in that awful hole clinging to my father's memory!" "And what'll you do?" "Become a filmstar?" "Maybe..." "I used to think..." "I'd be a novelist... or perhaps a poet... but now?" "Let's see..." "I feel bad for my brother." "Poor chap!" "No escaping us, even in Canada!" "Has to take care of all our expenses!" "Works overtime every day!" "Hardly has time for his graduate studies." "No Abhi." "I have to start earning now..." "Or else, get married!" "So get married!" "Who's stopping you?" "To whom?" "Can't depend on you!" "For one thing, you're a Naxalite besides, the police have their eye on you!" "What choice do I have except the silver screen?" "So after all those heated discussions on Bergman." "Truffaut and Godard you end up with Siddhartha Sarkar!" "What a fall!" "He's filming a reputed novel, however!" "Rajani." "A blind girl's role in my very first film!" "Who knovWs..." "Might end up winning an award!" "Your brother keeps asking you to join him in Toronto." "Why don't you do that?" "You're a bourgeois anyway you won't have any problems in a capitalist country!" "Take your mother with you and go!" "Ma'll never leave that house!" "I told you..." "Anyway, better for her not to go to Canada right now!" "Why?" "Dada... well..." "Dada's living with someone." "Not married though!" "Julia." "A German girl." "They haven't told Ma yet." "They'll tell her only after they're married." "She's so rigid about marriage and stuff like that!" "Can you blame her after her ovWn experience?" "Well, it's true Baba didn't marry her legally there vWas just a temple ceremony..." "Ma's never been able to live that down!" "She thinks he could never have left us if the marriage had been registered!" "As if that ever stopped a divorce!" "As if you don't know why I don't want to leave Kolkata!" "Swear by me!" "Shhh!" "What if someone hears us?" "The fish?" "Oh right!" "I keep forgetting!" "What luck that your Aunt went off on a pilgrimage!" "Listen!" "Weren't you supposed to feed the fish?" "Have you?" "I will." "Tomorrow." "Now will you please shut up for a bit?" "Must you always feel responsible for everything?" "What?" "Just close your eyes and try to feel a bit passionate!" "Like the heroines you see in films!" "Okay..." "Now what?" "Supposing your aunt returns and finds the fish all dead?" "What'll you say?" "Actually you see Auntie, I'd brought this girl over and..." "What?" "What's the matter Abhi?" "Are you mad at me?" "I promise I vWon't say another word!" "Hear the dogs barking?" "Let them." "Quick Meenu!" "You have to go!" "Slip out by the back door..." "Hurry!" "Are you mad?" "I'm not leaving you!" "Open the door!" "Police!" "Open up!" "Hurry Meenu!" "I'm going to try and escape from the terrace." "Go!" "Hurry Meenu!" "No one is responsible for my death except me." "I have taken a conscious decision to end my life." "I don't feel the need to explain my action to any one." "I am leaving everything I own to my employees." "Only my books of poetry and my beloved Begum should be sent to my friend Chintan Nair at his home in Auroville, Pondicheri." "His card is attached herewith." "I am donating my body to The Medical College." "If there is indeed such a thing as a soul mine would be at peace if my body were used for medical research." "Sincerely." "Mrinalini." "Didi." "Should I warm up your dinner novW?" "Oh!" "You haven't left as yet?" "Why?" "You shouldn't have waited so long!" "No..." "I don't want any dinner so late at night..." "Not feeling so good anyway..." "Well..." "I've made your bed." "Should I go now?" "But... you said you're not feeling well?" "Should I stay back tonight?" "No, it's not that serious." "And listen..." "I'd like to sleep till late tomorrow." "If there are any calls for me... or if my manager asks for me say I'm not well and shouldn't be called." "Okay." "Goodnight then..." "Moti" "Yes, madam?" "Bring me a bottle of water please." "Chilled?" "Yes... chilled." "Chintan" "Madam" "If you don't feel well at night just give me a call and I'll come up." "I'll be off then?" "Okay..." "You said nothing is within our control... now that in The Red Oleander... you've been replaced by Hiya Majumdar..." "For shame, Suresh babu!" "For shame!" "I had never dreamt that you could sink so low!" "You took advantage of your friend's illness and made this outrageous proposal." "How could you!" "Did you imagine that we Brahmo vWomen have no self-respect?" "In our community... ideas of feminine virtue are different from yours?" "Ranu-di..." "It's me, Mrinalini." "I was shooting on the next floor." "Heard you were here... and so..." "I thought I'd come and congratulate you for your Padmashree AvWard." "We're so proud of you!" "Have vwe met?" "Don't tell me you don't know her, Ranu!" "Mrinalini Mitra!" "She's a terrific actress!" "That new girl who got the Urvashi Award for Siddhartha's last picture." "Rajani!" "Oh yes." "I've heard the name." "So..." "Keshto!" "Keshto!" "Get me my paan box!" "Oh my!" "A national award for your very first picture!" "And so young too!" "Talented." "Aren't vwe?" "Give me your blessings..." "No, no!" "None of that!" "We are a sinning lot!" "Our blessings will hardly vWork, my dear!" "But I'll bless you anyway!" "May you attain worldwide fame!" "May the audience adore you!" "For us artistes the audience is the only God!" "Right." "Prasad-da?" "Of course!" "Hey PavWcha!" "PavWcha!" "Come and take a photograph for your magazine!" "Padmashree Sumitra Devi vWith National Award-winner Mrinalini Mitra!" "Caption:" "Yesterday meets Today!" "And tell them to send me a commission for the idea!" "Hey, Ranu!" "Ranu!" "Just got another idea!" "How about you as Ayesha and Meenu as Tilottama in Durgeshnandini?" "What do you think?" "We were looking for a new face." "Weren't we?" "Splendid idea!" "You sure have an eye for casting!" "Here, have a paan." "Don't say later that Ranu's miserly vWith her favours!" "Well, my girl think you'll manage?" "Won't be nervous acting with Ranu-di, will you now?" "Of course." "I'd be a little nervous but acting vWith you would be a dream come true!" "Nervous!" "A likely candidate!" "It'll be a match between equals!" "Mark my words!" "A tooth and nail fight!" "Come on, Pawcha!" "Hurry up!" "Of course I was thrilled!" "Who wouldn't be after an Urvashi?" "That too in your very first picture." "No kidding!" "Can I make a request Barun-da?" "Sure!" "Go ahead." "Don't say 'picture'." "Please!" "Not call a picture a 'picture'?" "What do I call it then?" "Call it a film... or a movie?" "It is moving images after all..." "Quite a snob." "Aren't you Meenu?" "Okay, okay." "Film!" "So tell me, which pic " "Film!" "Which films are you vWorking in novW?" "Which is the most exciting?" "Durgeshnandini!" "Sumitra Devi as Ayesha and me as Tilottama!" "Didi..." "Yes, Kamala-di?" "Are the lights ready?" "No... which sari should I press?" "The stripes or the checks?" "Why me, Kamala-di?" "Ask one of the assistants!" "You're the limit, Kamala-di!" "Don't pretend Barun-da!" "As if you hadn't heard the news!" "Are you sure, Meenu?" "What d'you mean?" "Prasad Sen offered me the role himself!" "In front of Ranu-di!" "It vWas in the papers too." "Didn't you see it?" "Wait, I had cut it out..." "Kamala-di?" "Where did I keep that cutting?" "It seems you haven't seen today's paper then..." "Here..." "MRINALINI THROWN OUT OF DURGESHNANDINI" "They say Sumitra Devi was behind it all." "Our editor wants a reaction from you..." "Post script:" "After my death, no memorial services should be held nor any obituaries about me published anywhere." "I have been a victim of media attention all my life." "I vWould like to be spared that in death." "If this last wish is respected it would be the most fitting tribute to me." "Mrinalini Mitra." "For Meenu the Madcap." "Your brother" "This too, was a commercial success!" "Abhi" "SOHINl:" "MRINALINI  SIDDHARTHA'S LOVE CHILD?" "Our first child Siddhartha!" "Born of our love..." "Could you have said this if I'd been your vWife?" "Look at me, Meenu!" "But not right now." "The first lesson in acting!" "Understand?" "Now a blind girl's timing and Mrinalini Mitra's timing can't be the same!" "Can it?" "No..." "Much more uncertainty... hesitation all that has to come in!" "Meenu..." "You've read it a number of times now this novel Rajani." "Can you tell me what the author keeps saying to Rajani?" "Well?" "'SIowly Rajani, slowly'?" "I'm saying the same to you!" "Slowly Mrinalini." "Slowly!" "Don't rush." "Okay, let's try scene no 5 where..." "Sachindra, sir where Sachindra says to Rajani " "One minute!" "Let him serve the tea first " "Put it on the table." "Good God!" "What's all this now?" "Right in the middle of our rehearsal..." "Honestly!" "All very vWell for you to talk!" "Lunch has to be cooked too!" "That's just when you'll want your tea!" "How are you Manas?" " Fine." "Ajanta?" " Very vWell." "But what's all this Boudi?" "What have you done" " We can't eat so much!" "Of course you can." "Eat it vWhile it's hot." "And is this your new heroine?" "Yes, that's Meenu." "Meenu?" "That's my pet name Boudi." "My name is Mrinalini." "Mrinalini Mitra." "What're you doing!" "What's all this nonsense?" "What exactly is going on here?" "Is this a tea party or a rehearsal?" "Come on now!" "Let's finish this scene " "Forget the tea!" "Whatever you like!" "There won't be any later remember that!" "Ready Meenu?" "Y-es... ready..." "I'll give your cue." "When you hear that look at me." "But with unseeing eyes!" "Ready?" "Rajani!" "Wrong!" "But you just asked me to look at you!" "Not at me!" "In my general direction!" "How can a blind girl look exactly 'at' someone?" "Come on!" "We must get this right!" "This is very important!" "Okay Manas." "Now you give her the full cue." "I'm going to watch from the camera angle." "Listen my girl look at me " "(Invitation to a party for the film Beesh Kanya)" "You won't get anywhere as an actress!" "Not if you are as indisciplined as this!" "Just because you've got an Urvashi Award you think you're the cat's whiskers!" "Don't think I haven't heard!" "Late nights and wild parties every day!" "Returning home in the wee hours!" "Dark circles under your eyes the next day!" "What do you think you're up to?" "Listen!" "Just talent is not enough." "Understand?" "You need dedication along with that!" "If you haven't understood this elementary principle then go!" "Don't waste your time and ours!" "Is that clear?" "Or are you rearranging your room!" "What're you doing?" "Why did you scold me in front of everyone!" "Okay, come on!" "One rehearsal and take..." "Ready Meenu?" "Yes, long ago." "But the continuity sari..." "Haven't given her the sari yet!" "We have to take the shot in exactly 15 minutes!" "Right?" "12 minutes!" "Sunrise at exactly 05.12 today!" "The dresser isn't here yet, sir." "Hey!" "Check if the sari's come!" "Told you, not yet!" "A spot boy is waiting at the gate." "He'll bring it as soon as it comes." "Get the sari out of the trunk and give it to her!" "Kamala-di had taken the sari home last night said she'd bring it vWashed and pressed before the shot." "Meenu-di's dresser, sir." "So we'll miss the shot now!" "Because of a damn sari!" "Who the hell gave her permission to take the sari home?" "Not a single continuity article must leave the studio premises!" "AnsvWer me!" "Kamala-di!" "I asked you a question!" "Do you know that vwe missed the shot because of you?" "That I let you take the sari home against the director's express orders just because I trusted you?" "Have you any idea of the loss incurred because of you?" "Sorry didi..." "No, simply saying sorry is not good enough!" "Answer my question!" "You fell asleep, right?" "What time did you wake up?" "Kamala-di, speak clearly!" "I got up at 3." "What!" "3AM!" "What were you doing up at that hour?" "Making lentil paste gets up at 3 every morning and makes lentil paste for the local confectioner." "Needs the money to supplement her income." "A dresser's wages are hardly enough for her needs!" "How much I screamed at her today!" "And it wasn't even her fault!" "There was a strike in her area this morning!" " Why?" "Don't know... something political..." "Oh yes!" "Some CPM leader was killed, right?" "Probably." " God!" "Party politics will ruin this state!" "Do you how young Kamala-di was when she became a widovW?" "How young?" "She was only twenty-five!" "She should've married again!" "Found a nice, loaded party for herself!" "Rubbish!" " Why're you moving away?" "What a vWay to talk!" "It vWasn't that easy to remarry then!" "That too in Bangladesh!" "Are you listening?" "I am!" "Listening vWhile kissing..." "She came here as a refugee..." "Brought up her daughters all by herself!" "She married her elder daughter off last year." "Next year it'll be the younger one." "And then she'll be free..." "There you are!" "A happy ending!" "Don't joke about it!" "You know what I've decided?" "What?" " I'll ask her to come livewithme afterthat." "I live here all by myself." "That vWay she'd be able to save on house rent too!" "What d'you think?" "Know vWhat your problem is Meenu?" "Now you've decided to control poor Kamala-di's life!" "Whatever for?" "Give her some money instead!" "That would come in handy." "I could give her some too." "For her daughter's wedding..." "She won't take it!" "I've offered many times." "She may be poor but she's got a lot of self-respect!" "That's what I like so much about her!" "So it won't hurt her self respect to live here as a dependant?" "What kind of talk is that?" "Why a dependant?" "You should say like a guardian!" "I've given up asking my mother so I'm asking Kamala-di." "Do as you wish." "I have to go now..." "I'm late already..." "So soon?" "How come?" "Not staying for dinner?" "Not possible." "Have to pick Mithu up." "From her parents' place." "Naturally the'll expect me to join them for dinner." "It'll get late for the boys if I go any later." "They have school tomorrow..." "Oh!" "An invitation from the in-laws!" "You could say that." "I don't understand it!" "You say you have no relationship with your wife neither emotional, nor physical!" "Yet you maintain all social niceties!" "What kind of hypocrisy is that?" "Well, we do have a social relationship!" "Stay on a little longer or do you have shooting?" "I do." "You see, because of the Emergency they got permission for the shoot with a lot of trouble!" "What happened." "Baby?" "...we'll be coming to India with her." "You'll see her then." "You can come too." "Whenever there's a gap in your work, right?" "So." "Baby... you'll be calling me Aunt?" "Not Mummy?" "Shona?" "Sohini!" "Siddhartha had called..." "Which flight is he coming by?" "Which flight?" "Listen, he's run into a bit of a problem..." "So he's not coming after all?" "I knevW it!" "It isn't exactly like that." "Maithili's father - has had a stroke and there's no one in their family who can take charge." "Bye for now." "It'll be okay..." "You'll be really well looked after by your brother in Canada." "We can't even go to a doctor here for fear of the news leaking out!" "I've been worried sick!" "Worried my foot!" "You wanted me to get an abortion, remember?" "Don't bring all that up any more." "She?" "How can you be so sure?" "I do." "Siddhartha and Mrinalini's daughter:" "Sohini" "This is a real marriage?" "Not a film shot?" "You too made the same mistake Meenu!" "I had no choice ma." "I'm four months' pregnant." "Why don't you come and live vWith me?" "Will you?" "The water's begun to come in." "I'll go and put the kettle on." "Have something to eat before you go..." "Shouldn't remain on an empty stomach too long..." "Remember how many times Mom had my head shaved?" "Used to say the hair would grow thicker!" "True!" "It will grow long and thick, wait and see!" "I hate Mamoni!" " Shona!" "She's a bad monster!" "Ugly dragon!" "Shona... where is Shona?" "Have a seat Dada..." "What's the matter?" "Meenu's had her head shaved." "Now she refuses to show her face to the world!" "What a mess!" "I feel terrible!" "Shona!" "O Shona!" "Let me see your face?" "You don't look bad at all, mamma..." "I do!" "I look awful!" "Like a vWitch!" "A witch!" "Let's see what you've got?" "Come here... come!" "Why're you angry baby?" "I'll turn you into a fairy, just see!" "Indi, Bindi  Sindi Peeping from behind a tree one Saturday heard a very nasal song!" "Frightened, Indi-Bindi turned into stone!" "What a beautiful fairy!" "Shona look!" "Look at yourself!" "Kaku!" "HovW much longer?" "You promised we'd go sea-bathing!" "Of course we will!" "As soon as Mamoni does an okay shot." "We'll jump into the sea!" "Come on, hurry up everybody!" "Mamoni!" " Hi Shona!" "Say 'Start playback!" "'" "Louder!" "Again!" "Wait, wait my dear!" "Let me fix the reflectors!" "Or your Mamoni will look ghastly!" "Fine." "That'll do!" "Okay... umbrella out!" "Say 'Cut it!" "'" "Louder!" "Maybe this is the closest we'll ever get to a marriage this time we three have together during a shoot!" "Majhe majhe... vWhat?" "For Mrinalini in admiration - Chintan. 5th June 1984" "Your Bengali handwriting is very impressive!" "I studied in Tagore's university in Shantiniketan." "Throughout." "Married a Bengali girl too!" "Mira." "Didn't you know?" "That explains it!" " What explains what?" "I used to always wonder how a Nair (South Indian)... managed to write a love story about a Muslim girl and a Baul singer of Bengal!" "That too in a remote rustic setting!" "But your Bengali pronounciation still has a touch of the South!" "Right here " "Naturally!" "He lives in the South." "Has a lovely home in Pondicheri!" "Another one here please..." "But Red Earth vWon't do as a name for a Bengali film!" "What'll the film be called?" "Why don't you suggest one?" "How about Radha?" "Because Laila is Radha in a sense..." "I mean..." " Oh hello Meenu!" "I was thinking of calling you!" "And here you are in person!" "What a co-incidence!" "Siddhartha!" "HovW're you?" "Getting by..." " Forgotten Prasad-da completely, eh?" "Famous director now!" "What're you saying!" "Join us..." " No." "No!" "Not today." "Let me introduce my new director" " Sabyasachi." "He's directing my new picture." "Witten a terrific script!" "Totally heroine oriented!" "Meenu." "You must do the role!" "Let Sabyasachi narrate it to you one of these days..." "What's the point Prasad-da?" "No free dates at all!" "See?" "Just signed a new film!" "What're you saying!" "Even if you can manage some dates early next year..." "Totally booked!" "I had a lot of free dates at one time, remember?" "You didn't want any then!" "Now that you see fit to cast me." "All my dates are taken!" "Ironic, isn't it?" "Do sit!" "Some tea?" "I see!" "So it's like that, is it?" "Very well." "I'll remember this!" "Life's a long business you know!" "Let's go Sabyasachi." "Really gave it to him!" "See." "Chintan?" "This is known as Star Power!" "Well, I'm not a saint you know!" "Sorry to put you through this!" "That's okay." "This is also an experience." "So you've read my novel?" "Naturally!" "It was shortlisted for the Booker Prize..." "Meenu's a real bookworm!" "Anyway." "Listen!" "You guys chat about the book." "I've got to go..." "I have to take this contract to the producers." "There's some ritual or other..." "Radha is a great name!" "We'll keep that." "I'll send the car right back." "Why did you want me for Laila?" "Then tell me what it is." "Which part of my face?" "Eyes?" "Nose?" "Lips?" "Eyebrows?" "It'll help my performance if I know!" "Ummm... wait, let me see..." "Never mind." "Forget it." "You're not beautiful in the conventional sense." "Thanks!" "But there's something else..." "Yeats!" "My favourite poet!" "Mine too!" "You and Chintan seem to have really hit it off!" "Been seeing him quite a bit lately!" " Well..." "There's a shared interest in literature..." "Yes, we've become good friends..." "That's become an euphemism for something else Meenu!" "It's what you say to journalists when asked:" "Mrinalini Devi, what exactly is your relationship with Siddhartha Sarkar?" "Why, vwe're just good friends!" "What exactly is my relationship vWith Siddhartha Sarkar, Sid?" "Our daughter is eight going on nine." "You've still not managed to become free..." "There!" "You've started your nagging again!" "Babul is about to sit for his school leaving exam..." "Tutul's still recovering from his appendix operation..." "At this stage how can I possibly..." "And Shona?" "Isn't she your child too?" "Apart from taking her out once in a while or buying her a few gifts..." "Mamoni!" "Kaku!" "A baby tiger!" "Come quick!" "Coming Shona..." "SIDDHARTHA  MRINALINI'S LOVE CHILD:" "SOHINI?" "Did anyone else from the media ask for me?" "Ajournalist from 'Silver Screen' wanted an intervievW." "I told him that you weren't vWell." "Then he wanted to know where Shona was!" "What!" "Damn!" "We shouldn't have brought her to the studio today!" "Should have sent her to Darjeeling with Dada and Julia!" "Ever since those pictures at the zoo there's been no end to all this!" "Where's Shona?" "Never let her out of sight!" "No, no..." "Shona..." "Thank God today's the last day of the shoot!" "Shona's fine." "I've left her with Chintan Dada..." "there they are!" "Where?" "Umm?" " May I..." "May I say something Didi?" "The pendant is not centred!" "Fix it!" "Yes... vWhat were you saying?" "I overheard the dressmen talking and I..." "Why do you always take forever to say anything Kamala-Di!" "What were they saying?" "Come on, give me the bunch of keys " "They were saying..." "Boudi's going to have a child again." "What d'you mean Boudi?" "Which Boudi?" "Say it properly!" "Maithili Boudi." "Siddhartha-da's wife..." "What?" "I don't know I'm just telling you what I heard." "Honestly!" "These people do nothing but gossip!" "A pack of lies!" "Siddhartha and his wife live in the same house... that's all!" "They've nothing betvWeen them." "I've told you already!" "Hurry up now." "Where's the nose-ring?" "What about the ears?" "Earrings or tops?" "Did you check?" "Earrings..." "Er... can I say something Didi?" "You won't get angry?" "Again?" "Hurry up then!" "Why don't you break it off with Dada?" "I mean... it's been a long time." "Hasn't it?" "Dada will never be able to leave his family..." "Besides." "All that nasty stuff about you in the papers..." "What I say is why break up someone's home?" "Yes." "Coming!" "Hurry up." "Hey Bishtu!" "Another net on the face light!" "Mahinder, can we go for a take please?" "Meenu..." "Need another rehearsal?" "Manas?" "Rehearsal?" "I'm ready." "Take!" "Take!" "Meenu..." "Oh God!" "Why more make-up now?" "Mess up her hair a bit." "That's all!" "Didi glycerin?" "No... ask them to take the shot." "Ready sir..." "Bishtu!" "Didn't I tell you to put on another net?" "Yes... order." "Lailee..." "O Lailee!" "What's the matter vWith you?" "Won't you get up today?" "The whole day went by... you didn't bathe." "Didn't cook." "Didn't eat the neighbours are all gossiping!" "Some down and out Baul singer used to be high on hash all day you're going to mourn his death like this?" "Who was he to you?" "Who was he?" "Do I myself know who he was?" "Sometimes it vWould seem he'd alvWays lived within me and yet sometimes he'd seem countless leagues away!" "Impossible to reach out to!" "Don't talk in riddles Laila!" "I can't make any sense of your words!" "You're my wife!" "Yet you pine for that vagabond!" "What did you see in him that you didn't find in me?" "Tell me Laila how have I wronged you?" "Don't say that!" "Why should you have wronged me?" "Besides, who are we to tell right from wrong?" "Maybe that's the vWay Allah has ordained it some are born as 'Ayan Ghosh' in this world some as 'Krishna' and some, like me, as 'Radha'..." "Let me check the last frame..." " Come." "Okay for you?" " All good." "Okay." "Print that!" " Another one for safety sir?" "No need." "It'll just get stale!" "Okay... wind up everyone." "Location pack-up!" "Didi?" " Later..." "let her be..." "It's Boudi!" "HovW are you?" "I'm fine." "How are you all?" "First class!" "Please come..." "Well, have you packed up?" "Let's see..." "Had to come on the last day?" "Well, someone has to look after the home!" "Didi come, let's go to your room..." "I'll explain later..." "I have to go with them today!" "You see how it is!" "Dad!" "Coming son..." "Please don't create a scene baby!" "Coming, Babul!" "See you..." "Good?" "Not so good?" "So uh-huh means good, and unh-hunh means bad, right?" "Mamoni!" "Uncle Chintan!" "What a huge ship!" "Your ice-cream." " Thanks!" "One huge ship and many tiny little boats!" "Hm... there are tiny little boats." "But that one is a launch..." "Moti!" "Didi..." "Didi, should I ask Moti to warm up your dinner?" "Didi..." "Didi." "It's late..." "I I don't know how to explain this Meenu..." "It vWas just an accident!" "Mithu and I don't even share a bedroom any more..." "Suddenly late that night she came into my room." "She was very upset about our son Tutul's post-operative complications." "And then..." "But trust me..." "My trust or lack of it is immaterial Siddhartha." "You're telling me this five months later." "You didn't tell me then!" "Maybe you would never have if your wife hadn't become accidentally pregnant!" "Anyway these discussions are meaningless novW." "Your stuff is in this bag..." "Please take it with you." "If you want to meet Shona." "Let me know." "I'll send her across." "But please don't try to meet me..." "Meenu, you really want to end a relationship of so many years like this!" "That relationship has no value for me any more." "I've been through a lot of humiliation and indignity but not any more!" "But of course!" "Naturally!" "Chintan is there novW!" "Right?" "My freedom lies in waves of light in these open skies" "My freedom lies in the dust of this earth and blades of grass" "Very good!" "You know you were adopted." "Don't you?" "Yes." "Mom and Dad told me when I was six years old." "But haven't you ever wondered who your real parents are?" "But I do know!" "You do?" "...I know you're supposed to be my aunt and Kaaku's your friend." "And we spent all our holidays with you..." "And then one night..." "I heard Mom and Dad talking in our Toronto home..." "They vWere saying. "If Shona wants to know who her real parents are should we tell her about Meenu and Sid?"" "When did this happen?" "Just before this trip." "Of course..." "Why didn't you and Kaaku marry?" "Then I could have stayed with you guys!" "Why did he marry that other Aunty?" "He'd already married Maithili Aunty Shona." "Then we met and vWanted to get married." "But legally you can't marry twice." "So we went to a mandir and got married." "A temple." "And that's illegal?" "Sort of..." "Won't Kaaku see us any more Mamoni?" "Because he'd promised me he'd take me to see King Kong... but when I called him he said..." "'I'm busy Shona." "We'll go later." "I'll call you'." "But... he didn't..." "I don't know Shona!" "Supposing Kaaku never comes back?" "Will you feel very bad mamma?" "I'm here for you Shonai... your Mamoni..." "And you'll never leave me?" "No baby!" "Why can't I live with you Mamoni?" "Would you like to?" "Won't miss Mom  Dad?" "A little..." "but I'll see them every year!" "And they'll be here on holidays!" "First let Mom  Dad return from Darjeeling..." "And you won't be able to adjust to any school here!" "Let me find out if the International School has..." "Oh my goodness!" "What d'you think you're doing!" "Just look!" "Honestly this girl!" "Ruined all my packing!" "As soon as Dada  Julia are back." "We'll have to leave for the airport!" "Why bother, Mamoni?" "After packing so neatly..." "Uncle Chintan is right!" "So you've started teasing me too!" "Wait, I'll show you!" "We are going to pack it haywire style!" "Just the way it'll get on the flight!" "Ready?" "Here goes!" "A pair of jeans!" "And now a... nightie!" "Oh?" "So novW it's my turn, huh?" "And now a t-shirt!" "Now a skirt!" "Another t-shirt!" "There!" "They're back!" "The session starts from June, but " " Good morning ma'am!" "But if it's June..." "But we'll make an exception for you, don't worry." "But will she be able to adjust?" "I'm a little worried..." "I think it'll be a smooth transition." "That's true!" "There are many kids like her, right?" "The bill please!" "All these?" "This too?" "Okay..." "Didi!" "Please let me pay for this..." "Why?" " It's my gift for Shona." "Come Didi, get some sleep now..." "There's an early flight to Delhi tomorrow!" "Almost done..." "This picture's only 16 reels long!" "Never mind the 'picture' now!" "Let's have lunch..." "Come, eat it vWhile it's hot!" "Now the phone calls have started!" "You eat." "I'll take the call." "Say I'm having lunch." "Call later." "And speak in Hindi, not Bengali!" "Oh, just a minute." "I'll hand her the phone." "Call from Canada." "Dada." "Yes, Dada?" "What happened?" "Is the flight late?" "Meenu..." "You... you haven't heard?" "Heard vWhat?" "About..." "A.I. 182?" "A. I. 182?" "You mean Shona's flight?" "At 12.44 IST." "Air India flight 182 Emperor Kanishka disintegrated over the Atlantic Ocean." "Among the 329 passengers on board... mostly Canadian nationals of Indian origin there are 84 children aged 12 years and under." "Come in Dada..." "Does Sid knovW?" "Has he been informed?" "Yes..." "I called his house." "He's gone on an outdoor shoot..." "They said they'd let him know." "How is she novW?" "She was released from the hospital this morning..." "She couldn't take too many tablets..." "Thank God!" "Police inquiries have been taken care of." "Kamala-di was a great help!" "Is she in her bedroom?" "Not opening the door." "Not even for us." "Why don't you try..." "Sir, the light is ready " "Yes..." "Let's go..." "Sir!" "Take your time sir... no hurry!" "The actors aren't here yet." "She had said..." "I don't want to fly alone Mamoni!" "You come and fetch me!" "Why on earth... didn't I let her stay vWith Dada  Julia?" "At least... at least I used to see her once a year..." "Now..." "How can I ever face Dada  Julia?" "Because I..." "I killed their daughter!" "Chintan..." "They couldn't get Shona out of the vWater..." "They..." "they couldn't even find her!" "She must have felt so cold!" "She didn't know how to swim you know!" "She must've called out for me!" "How terrified she must've been!" "I wasn't there!" "I couldn't hear I couldn't hear her cries for help!" "Mira this is Mrinalini." "I've brought her home." "You left Mira and came to Calcutta?" "Right then you needed me more." "How many times I've told you Minnie you believe in only one kind of love!" "LABANYA STARRING:" "MRINALINI MITRA" "Didi..." "One Mr. Imtiaz Chowdhury is here to see you..." "He's waiting in the study." "I went through your profile." "I've seen your first film too... er..." "Kaal Madhumaash" "Didn't have much of a run." "Did it?" "I'm afraid not!" "Even my closest friends couldn't say otherwise!" "But it got a lot of critical acclaim and some awards too, right?" "Right." "Right..." "Best Film at the Rotterdam Film Festival..." "Best Direction at the National AvWards..." "And at Karlovy Vary it got..." "What's the use of these awards if one's own people don't see the film?" "Hm?" "For whom do you make your films?" "Do you know that?" "For vWhom?" "For film-buffs all over." "They're all my own people!" "Your tea's getting cold..." "I didn't want any..." "Still, since they've brought it would you prefer coffee instead?" "Yeah, coffee'd be good." "Black please!" "Moti!" " Didi you..." "Oh Kamala-di Please ask Moti to bring us some black coffee..." "So you had an occidental upbringing!" "No, I mean... you were brought up in America, right?" "Because I asked for black coffee?" "That too!" "Besides." "You still roll your 'r'-s!" "National Awarrrds!" "Karrrlovy Varrry!" "Graduated from the NYU Film School." "You're very observant!" "I went through the treatment." "Especially the end where there's fire raging across the screen and wild animals..." " crying out on the soundtrack!" "...you could say the end of an epoch..." "But the problem is..." "I've quit acting Imtiaz!" "I know ma'am." "I'm aware of that." "I don't know how much you..." "Thank you!" "Put it here." "I don't know how much you know exactly." "Because I haven't acted even once in the last 15 years!" "I've had many good offers..." "from many eminent directors but I've said no to them all." "So I'm really sorry Imtiaz, but I'm afraid my answer has to be no!" "Ma'am." "I knew all this before I came here." "But why?" "Your acting ability, for one!" "Your personality!" "Your..." "You you don't seem to understand that I need someone who can deliver lines in English plus understand Tagore's spirit!" "Where can I get such an actor for Kunti?" "If you refuse to play Kunti..." "Is the English dialogue done?" "It vWill be." "I'm on the look-out for someone good to do it." "Yes, but who?" "It'll be done ma'am!" "You just have to say yes  everything else will fall into place!" "These are pressure tactics Imtiaz!" "Who's playing Karna?" "Talks are on with a British actor but we're still not sure of getting him!" "And if you don't?" "Plan B?" "Why not play Karna yourself?" "What?" "Sometimes you don't have a choice!" "What about costumes?" "A designer from Bombay is doing the costumes..." "I don't vWant the costumes to be of any particular place or time." "It could be contemporary..." "could be ancient..." "It's the concept of the character that's important here!" "I..." "I'll be right with you..." "Kunti is a widow..." "Many would suggest white for her." "But you know that black is the internationally accepted colour of mourning." "Tell your designer that I suggested this." "Can I... can I ask you a question ma'am?" "Yes?" "Why did you suddenly give up acting?" "Especially after your portrayal of Tagore's Labanya!" "Have you any idea of the loss to Bengali cinema?" "No Ajanta." "I can't..." "I won't go..." "Tell Rajat  Manas-da not to vWait for me." "I don't want to see Satyajit Ray like that!" "Know vWhy I gave it up?" "All my life I had waited for a phone call from him!" "After his death it seemed meaningless to continue." "I'd had enough of acting..." "My hopes of doing good work died vWith him!" "You said yes to me!" "Maybe the hunger for good work never quite dies in an actor and so I had to agree!" "Mother?" " I knovW!" "Weird!" "Exactly!" "I mean..." " Mother sounds funny here!" "I knovW!" "They did a literal translation from Tagore's poem!" "Um... my lady... no, listen Imtiaz!" "How about good woman who are you?" "Did you ever translate Tagore's poem yourself?" "No... it just struck me!" "No, really!" "As I was..." " Anyway, Meenu listen!" "Meenu!" "You correct this, okay?" " Correct this!" "Just hear me out..." " Listen to me woman!" "Just complete the basic correction." "Then obviously I'll look into it!" "I have loads of prep for this film!" "And I have to play Karna." "Damn that British actor!" "Besides." "This could be a joint work!" "Your name would appear next mine..." "No!" "No!" "Not at all!" "Then here's your script!" "I'm not touching it!" "You're so reticent!" "Why?" "You think seeing my name up there means anything any more?" "No" "It's not that..." "I thought... it'd be a nice way of us being..." "linked together?" "In art... if not in real life!" "And why not in real life?" "Don't have the courage?" "Do you?" "Your social standing... your image..." "could you risk all that for me?" "I don't know perhaps not..." "Meenu..." "Let's run away somewhere once the film is done..." "You and I will arrive separately!" "Not a soul will know!" "How about it, hm?" "And then?" "Then vwe'll rent an attic roam the streets of Paris by day visit museums..." " sit and chat at roadside cafés..." "Right!" "And then at night we'll return to our attic!" "With a bottle of red wine... some cheeses... breads..." " Foodie!" "And after that..." "No!" "After that nothing!" "You've given me loads of stuff to correct!" "When do you suppose I'll do it?" "The shoot's around the corner!" "Well?" "So novW all that's left is the fire." "When're we filming that?" "Fire!" "Fire!" "Get more water!" "Another bucket!" "Hurry!" "Call the fire brigade!" "Get a chair for her." "Someone!" "Get a bloody chair here!" "Hurry up with the water!" "Blankets!" "Sand!" "What?" "What is it?" " Kamala- di!" "Hey... hold her someone!" "Stay here with her!" "It's been three months..." "Do you... blame me?" "For Kamala-di's..." "I am coming to you..." "Tell me how many happy marriages have you seen?" "Take the case of literature any truly memorable work how many books have been written about married couples?" "Hm?" "You'd wanted to make a home with Sid..." "Sid couldn't give that to you." "He was vWeak but it doesn't mean he never loved you at all!" "Maybe he did." "In his own flawed way." "Life is so random!" "...but nothing is really vWithin our control." "Take Mira and me..." "Did vwe knovW vWhen we got married that she'd become crippled?" "That she'd never be able to bear a child?" "Sometimes you have to let go Minnie..." "Just let go and take life as it comes!" "There's yet another kind of love Minnie perhaps you never realised it..." "A love that has no expectations..." "I know." "You don't have to say any more..." "What's it Begum?" "Need to go out?" "Come!" "Oh dear me!" "Wait, wait, wait " "Just a minute!" "Wait!" "Wait!" "Come..." "Lanes and by-lanes trip my heels " "Lanes and by-lanes trip my heels " "Fragile households!" "Whose are these?" "In a profound comedy of birth and death" "Lies the essence of tears and mirth." "It's the call of night, a ghostly beckoning" "In it lie seeds of sorcery " "Such enchantment..." "all seems nothing!" "Conjuror's gold in the heart of being!" "Yet I must leave, I must go far" "A ghostly vigil waits for me" "Where yearning rocks to the rhythm of waves" "Where sounds gather to devour memory..." "At me tugs night's sleepless river" "At me tugs the secret dark" "Breaks my sleep and opens wide" "The bolted doors of sightless night." "Lanes and by-lanes trip my heels " "Fragile households!" "Whose are these?" "In a profound comedy of birth and death" "Lies the essence of tears and mirth." "It's the call of night, a ghostly beckoning" "In it lie seeds of sorcery " "Such enchantment... all seems nothing!" "Conjuror's gold in the heart of being!" "Yet I must leave, I must go far" "A ghostly vigil waits for me" "Where yearning rocks to the rhythm of waves" "Where sounds gather to devour memory..." "At me tugs night's sleepless river" "At me tugs the secret dark" "Breaks my sleep and opens wide" "The bolted doors of sightless night." "At me tugs night's sleepless river." "At me tugs..."