"Harendra Nath Bhattacharya Presents" "Based on the story of Sharadindu Bandopadhyay" "THE ZOO" "Uttam Kumar" " Byomkesh, The truth seeker?" "Yes, Byomkesh Baksi speaking." "Tell me what number you want." "No, no wrong number." "In other roles- Kanika Majumdar Shubhendu Chatterjee" "Sailen Mukherjee Sushil Majumdar" "Jahar Gounguli Shyamal Ghosal Geetali Roy" "Subrata Chatterjee Bankim Roy Prasad Mukherjee Chinmoy Roy" "Nripati Chatterjee Kalipada Chakraborty" "Guest artist Shekhar Chatterjee Rupak Mujamdar" "Camera" " Soumendu Roy" "Art Direction" " Bangshi Chandregupta Editing" " Dulal Dutta" "Song" " What do you know of love Lyricist" " Satyajit Ray" "Playback" " Sm Namita Ghosal Sitar" " Ms Kalyani Roy" "Producer" " Star Productions World Distribution" " Balaka Pictures" "Script, Music  Direction" " Satyajit Ray" "Could you tell what name can be given it?" "After it... once again..." "either send it out..." "Or I will have to arrange for some other place." "Otherwise a murder may take place here." "The serpent is a strange creature." "Whom so ever you may name back-boneless... you can't blame serpent as one." "The Basuki" "A tea party." "The speed at which you are getting cases now makes me think that..." "I will give up writing the diary of Byomkesh and start writing a romantic novel." "It will not do..." " Meaning..." "It will not sell..." "You'll have to know the sales trick." "And then pure love is a myth." "You are talking very cynically..." "Think deeply, analyse... you will find impurities..." "Jealousy, suspicion, small bits of lies, deception..." "Those will be there... one can't have it without these..." "Maybe not in every case.." "But occasionally it happens..." "No brother, it doesn't happen, not in today's world... maybe it may happen on Mars... and even then it will be pale in literary works ...look at Shakespeare... no play without murder... how many murders in Hamlet?" "At least four..." "Now go through Rabindranath, start from Chokher Bali." "There is no novel without illicit love..." "What, Ajit... is there?" "I was thinking of a beautiful love story... but you..." "The illegal affair may be illegal in our society but it's very necessary in literature." "But why only in literature, brother, that also on your..." "Amen!" "Aman!" "Let a client come!" "Mr Bakshi?" " Ya." "Please come in." "Hello..." "Let me introduce to my friend, Ajit Chakraborty." "Watson!" "Give it to me." "Like to have some coffee?" "Coffee... well... ya... but him..." "O!" "That we do ourselves." "Then it is black without sugar." " Ok..." "Please sit." " Ya." "Please sit." "Plastic?" "Ya." "Wonderful... thank you." "Rose Colony... haven't you got a stall in New Market?" "Not one... two... one is for flowers... and the other is for dairy products." "Ok." "That's your colony?" "Yeah!" "The bungalow you are seeing here is my bungalow..." "And the other houses... the inmates." "Is it something like a hermitage?" "Ya, it's something like that but can not exactly be called the abode of hermits." "I see..." "Except for the gardener all others are gentlemen... but special types." "What types?" "Either they are physically handicapped..." "some of them... or have perfomed such illegal acts that they can not be placed anywhere else." "Criminals?" "And social outcasts." "Well..." "Come... but isn't it slightly risky for you?" "Frankly speaking, Mr Byomkesh you can take it as a part of my atonement." "Atonement!" "See... in my 12 year tenure as a judge I have sent 22 persons to the gallows..." "Now I am 57 yrs old..." "I had a mild stroke at the age of 47..." "then I retired... after retirement... repentance..." "a feeling of doubt..." "I started having doubts about the fundamental rules of law." "After all I am a human being..." "Being human, what right have I got to extinguish the life of another human being?" "But you may term it as my mental weakness... but even then..." "I understand... you are rehabilitating them whom once you wiped out..." "Isn't it?" "Yeah!" "If there is some redemption, if somehow they can be re-established." "After all, the environment is beautiful... a garden of roses... what there can be more beautiful in the world than roses?" "Ya... but roses have thorns..." "And probably you have come about the thorns." "Not quite!" "Mr Byomkesh would you like to pay a visit to our place?" "I don't think you are very busy." "Ya!" "That's right." "Then pay a visit..." "Would like it... after all, a new experiment" "Ajit, what do you say?" "I am ever ready..." "But not always..." "At present his wife is in Ghatshila..." "In Ghatshila?" "And you are a bachelor?" "Oh!" "Yes." "Then I suggest... you come tomorrow... at 8.35... there's a convenient train at 8.35 in the morning from Sealdah... my driver Mushkil Miyan will be at the station with a van, you'll have no problem." "Have you come only to invite us?" "Do you see Bengali films?" "Normally, no." "You must be interested in music?" "Yeah!" "But not in modern Bengali songs." "No I was not talking about modern Bengali songs..." "'What do you know of love' have you ever heard this song?" "'What do you know of love'..." "About 7 years back... in a certain Bengali film I heard it first..." "What was the name of the film... who produced it, when it was produced... and who sang..." "I have got to know these details." "Have you rang up the office of any film magazine?" "No... because I want... that the work be done..." "By me..." "Yes." "Ok." "Good." "Well, have you ever been in Lucknow?" "Oh!" "I see." "Come." "Thank you." "What is it?" "You could understand so much... but couldn't understand this?" "Oh!" "I see!" "Advance." "Ok." "Dr. Watson, good bye..." "Bye." "By the way, you are habituated in disguising yourself?" "Your inmates could recognize me?" "Ok... nobody will recognize me." "Eh!" " What happened?" "1... 2... 3... 4... 5... 6..." "10 rupees excess" "How do you know it is excess?" "Nobody gives 60, brother." "It is either 50 or 40... and if more that would be 75... not 60" "Oh!" "Keep it under wraps... a rich man won't have much difference with 10 or 20..." "How do you feel?" "Listen, your friend that script writer..." "Indu?" " Ya." "Give him a call and ask to make an appointment with Ramen Mallick." "Ramen Mallick of Beliaghata?" "The Encylopedia of Cinema?" "Welcome." "My name is Ramen Mallick... you are the well known truth seeker..." "And he tags along with you." "My friend, Ajit Chakraborty..." "It is all the same." "Come..." "Don't be ashamed." "All great men have their followers, here is mine." "Is he..." "Yes he is... now you may go..." "I have an appointment with him." "Please sit..." "Mr Ajit please sit..." "Quonium aquinitum 30, do you remember?" "Yes I have written it down." "Go straight to King Company." "You practise homeopathy?" "Do I submit a list of what I do?" "Giridhari..." "Sir..." "It will take the entire night..." "I came to you on a work..." "Before that, please tell me what you will have... what will do?" "Whatever you prefer will do..." "Any discrimination!" "I don't have... but..." "Buttermilk?" "Giridhari, two whisky sodas... and for the gentleman a big glass of butter milk." "Are you a detective?" "A private eye..." " Ya" "How do you detect?" "Like Bartion, F. B.I., Scotland Yard?" "No..." "I myself have made a..." "From where exactly do you start from:" "fingerprints or cranium convexity?" "Some psychology and certain observations." "That means cigar smoke and nicotine stains on the fingers" "You should have been a detective." "Tell me." "In what matter and how can I help you?" "I want some certain information about a song." "Gun?" " No music..." "Ok, tell me, what song." "I will definitely help if I know." "The song 'What do you know about love'?" "In 1958 the song was on the lips of Kamalmani in the picture 'Poison Tree' produced by GK Productions." "Not playback, but sung by the artist herself... any more?" "The name of the artist was" "Sunetra..." "Sunayana." "That's right, that's right." "The first and her last picture." "That was... there was some controversy." "Dutta Das and Company." "Jewellers." "Murari was the son of that Dutta family, was murdered..." " Stabbed..." "Yes stabbed, stabbed..." "There was a warrant on the name of the girl." "But zero." "Ya, I remember." "Even if you remember, you can't recall totally... because you are not aware of the episode." "That Murari was my personal friend." "Oh!" "Quite a good boy... had some reputation of drink... and women too... but that is the case of many a one." "One day Murari went to the studio to see the shooting of 'The Poison Tree'... there he saw her... and on seeing her..." "triple somersault." "Then..." "What then... as it happens... he would not listen to any objection..." "Started only saying..." "Ramen, Ramen..." "Pendant, Armlet, Bracelet... complete..." "Means he didn't spare anything as a present.." "And ultimately... there was a decorated room behind the shop... a room for gossiping... meaning some tinkling of glasses and occasionally some music..." "I used to go... one day I saw Murari had brought her there." "After that I have never gone there." "And he was murdered in that room." "What was the motive?" "Money Rs. 20,000 vanished." "From where?" "From a safe in that room." "But why was a warrant was issued in the name of Ms Sunayana?" "Because that night she was present in that room." "The police knew about this?" "You supplied the information?" "Thought I should help a dead friend..." "Be some help to him..." "But nothing came out..." "Melted in thin air." "Well what was your impression about the girl?" "A fantastic actress and had a terrible sex appeal... but I didn't know her pedigree..." "Meaning whose daughter, her background or foreground... that's why it didn't proceed." "You too... meaning..." "Yeah me too..." "Would have understood the meaning of being duped." "Ok Mr Ramen... let's take your leave..." "Many thanks." "May I ask a question?" "O sure." "What is the matter?" "The matter... er... is... due to professional reasons... will tell you later..." "Ok." " Bye." "Hello... no... please hold on I will get him." "Byomkesh, Byomkesh." "What?" " Telephone..." "Who?" " Mr Sen." "Hello Mr Sen... good morning..." "Yes, we'll start within half an hour..." "What..." "Japanese..." "A horticulturist... name Okakura, almost doesn't know English... will have an interpretor... a Bangalee." "Well is he Japanese..." " Ya!" "I had business in Yokohama..." "I was in Japan for 7 years." "His ears got blocked." "I see." "He's come by plane... during landing his ears got shocked." "Meaning your country is very nice." "Ya... ya." "You have come to visit the colony." "Yes." "Hey Muskil." "You?" "My name is Rashiklal..." "A worker." "Photo, photo?" " He would like to take a photo of you!" "Photo, well... yes..." "Come, let's go." "Salute sir... just a moment..." "Will the sirs go to the zoo?" "No we'll go to the Rose Colony." "Er... it is all the same..." "What you call as Rose Colony..." "We say the zoo..." "Like to have some tea, sirs?" " No" "Won't you?" "No." "Is he a Chinaman?" " Eh?" "Is he a Chinaman?" " No, he is Japanese." "It's all the same... come, come." "Why the sirs wished to see the zoo?" "Is there nothing to see?" "There are... but what's that to me?" "I eat, sleep and drive the carriage." "I asked the boss, the horse has become old, let's sell the carriage and purchase a motor car." "Do you know what he said?" "No money." "Why?" "Isn't the colony running well?" "Why not?" "It's run well but you know there's a saying that the profit of your toil is eaten up." "Welcome to Rose Colony, Mr Okakura..." "Welcome... welcome... let's take some rest in my cottage..." "after that we walk around." "The atmosphere here is very nice." "Thank you." "I think you will like it... and when it is rose season..." "you would like the ambiance" "He is saying it's very nice." "Oh!" "Thank you." "He is my nephew Bijoy." "Ah!" "Bijoy..." "Photo?" " All right." "Do I stay..." "Ya..." "You wait..." "you will accompany them." "One moment..." "Listen..." "Wonderful." "The song was in the 1958 picture" "'The Poison Tree' sung by a new actress named Sunayana." "The lady was a suspect in a murder case... there was a warrant against her..." "She was not caught..." "How much did you give me that day?" " What?" "How much?" " 50" "It was 10 more." "Oh!" "I see... my wife..." "Dr. Okakura..." "Mr Chatterjee." "Photo... photo." "The sarbet." "It's better to have the sarbet after we look around." "Come... come." "That's my kitchen and the pantry is attached..." "My wife is in charge of the place." "Who is that lady?" "Najar Bibi... 2nd wife of Mushkil... in charge of poultry." "These are our cows." "Ya lady cow." "Shall we go?" "Brajadas was my clerk... was jailed for stealing my money... he's come back to me as a vaisnaba..." "Veterinary doctor." "Photo." "Come..." "Panu how are you?" "Probably he is interested in having his picture taken." "Come..." "Panu has some problem with hearing and speech..." "looks after our cows." "That is the place of Muskil and his wife..." "You met the person at the station who lives here..." "One handed Rashik..." "looks after our stall of dairy production." "Nepal are you there?" "Nepal?" " What's up?" "A visitor has come from Japan." "What is that to me?" "You are an expert... he is also an expert... so..." "he likes to meet you." "Well... he may come in but I am not going to wear a shirt..." "He is Profesor Nepal Gupta..." "Soil expert." "Ha!" "Soil expert." "Mr. Okakura, horticulturist." "Much better... thought you have brought a crime expert to solve the mystery of the motor parts." "That's not a mystery at all, Nepal." "Photo... photo." "No, sir, no photo." "I am no inmate of a zoo." "Tell him Nishanath." "They are greatly pleased with your behaviour, Nepal." "Nepal's daughter, Mukul." "What's the back ground of Nepal?" "He was my classmate in school." "After that he became a chemistry professor." "He lost his face and job while preparing a bomb." "Dr. Das..." "Dr. Das is our resident physician." "Doctor." "Mr Okakura from Japan, I presume" "Have you been to Japan?" "No, I haven't seen that country..." "Well, you come inside..." "Come in." "This is also my dispensary" "That's a sitar." "Musician... physician..." "Photo... photo..." "Thank you." "Illegal abortion..." "Was efficient in surgery..." "earned a reputation too..." "Next one is Banalaxmi... a village woman... was seduced and brought to the city." "Usual story... in charge of sewing here." "Here are some good orchids and there is the hot house." "We have rare cactuses..." "That's all." "You can speak Bengali now but in a low voice..." "Sit..." "I'll bring your sarbet." "You?" "Sit sit." "His too is a second marriage... is it?" "A second marriage is always quite romantic." "How do you know, brother?" "You haven't have a first." "Your trip is then not a total failure..." "Not altogether unsuccessful." "Thank you." "The pleasure is entirely mine." "Well, do you think that Sunayana is here?" "Someone is here who knows that song..." "but the voice..." "But you have seen her in the picture?" "Ya, that's a long time ago..." "And under makeup." "You know I have read about the murder case and then thought after hearing the song..." "Among the three ladies present here Najarbibi is Mushkil's 2nd wife." "And Mushkil was a driver... he lost his licence after an accident and then came here." "And Mukul is a daughter of Nepal Gupta?" "That's right." "Mr. Nepal's wife is still alive?" "I met Nepal after about 40 years." "I brought him here after the incident." "Yes... the lady who was sewing..." "Banalaxmi..." " Yes." "My nephew Bijoy is in charge of my flower stall at New Market." "Well." "One day the girl was crying in a restaurant near New Market." "Seeing that my nephew... probably she asked for some help... that's why he brought her here." "Well, who has come here most recently?" "Dr Das." "he came here of his own... a big scandal." "But he is a good doctor." "He's well settled here and plays sitar..." "Plays well." "By the way..." "what was that about motor parts?" "Oh!" "That... come... come..." "Look at these... these were thrown through a window by someone around midnight." "Every day?" "No... after a gap about 15 or 20 days... and this is the latest... it was thrown last night after 12 'o' clock." "Isn't it a handiwork of some youngster?" "Youngster will not go on doing it at regular intervals" "Even if it is not by a youngster, it's only monkeying around..." "I've no doubt about it." "Well... do you think that there is some motive behind it?" "Motive?" "Ya, something like blackmail?" "Blackmail!" "Ya..." "To me..." "Blackmail." "You know, I think there must be some mystery in Mr Nishanath's life..." "Kshudiram..." "Yes?" "Don't you think so?" "Don't trouble yourself so much..." "Your brain may explode" "Kshudiram... from Nidhu's shop..." "Cutlet?" "Fine... go..." "Hello... is Mr Mallick there?" "There are 5 Mr Mallicks here..." "Which do you want?" "I was asking for you?" "Oh!" "The truth seeker... tell me." "What's the news?" "Does the print of 'Poison Tree' still exist?" "Even it exists... brother..." "that will be with the distributor." "Could we have a look at the portion of the song?" "Why not?" "But do one thing..." "Sri Ganash films." "54/1 Dharamtala Street..." "Look there." "Ganesh films. 54/1 Dharamtala Street." "You will get there probably..." "Right." "It's late in the night... go to bed." "Hello." "Mr. Bakshi?" "Hello... is it Mr. Sen speaking?" "I think you'll have to come here once more... but not in disguise." "But why?" "Everything can't be told over the telephone... and that is also not right..." "but I feel that..." "Hello... hello..." "Speak out." "Hello." "What happened... got disconnected." "Probably someone has entered the room..." "Listen..." "listen" "Listen carefully..." "Could you hear anything?" "Yes." "What?" "Music..." "Sitar..." "I can hear it clearly..." "Give it..." "'Malkosh'" "Hello..." "Could you recognize it?" "Please repeat once more." "Could you recognize it?" "Inspector Barat." "You have a wonderful memory." "Tell me what's the matter?" "Are you very busy?" " No, nothing just like that..." "Then come along..." " Where?" "The way you helped me in the case of Bhadreswar..." "I can't help without telling you about this... you will be glad to come here." "Another case?" " Murder." "...you don't be needed to use your brain much... but due to certain aspects I believe you would like the place." "Where?" " Mohanpur..." "From Sealdah you'll get a train at 8.35 in the morning..." "It's a one hour journey..." "my jeep will be waiting at the station..." "Who has been murdered?" "The owner of the colony, Mr. Sen..." "Come along... you'll be amused to see the inmates over here." "Welcome..." "Good morning." "A peculiar place..." "I've never seen a collection of such odd persons." "When did you get the information?" "Around 7 in the morning..." "A nephew of this person rang me up and I informed you as soon as I came." "A medical report hasn't been made yet and I have asked Dr Paul to come." "There's a doctor here but unregistered nothing can be done by him." "You, sir." "When you finish over there..." "I will be happy if you come to my place..." "Because I have got something to say." "Ok... ok..." "I will go" "He is another..." "Come... the dead body was kept lying there... a blunt instrument." "Got it?" " No..." "When was it known?" "Er... tell him." "A girl stays here..." "Name?" "Mukul..." "She went out to the garden in the morning... hearing aunty's shout..." "she came in the room and saw..." "The lady is still unconscious." "The lady means..." " Mrs Sen." "Where is she?" "She is in my room..." "Dr. Das is also there." "Come..." "My belief is the murder has been done in this room... and was dragged from here to that place." "There are certain marks on the floor... you may see..." "Ya... that telephone was hanging just like this... it seems either he was lifting the phone or was talking with somebody and at that moment was murdered." "Right..." "Now..." "Come outside... but the case is not very complicated... my purpose is to show you the site and get you acquainted with people here..." "Who knows..." "a novel may be written about it." "What do you say, Mr. Ajit?" "And here is the rear window..." "And this is hard land..." "I won't get much of a footprint... on the other side of the wall is soft land where footprints have been found..." "Have you seen them?" "Yes I have seen... running and walking both... really the field on the other side is farm land." "I think it's a simply case of burglary... he came to steal..." "The owner of the house was present... was intercepted... hit on the head... he escaped." "No..." "That means you don't agree with me!" "Hitting him on the head... murdering, then removing the dead body..." "Covered it up... and escaped." "Oh!" "Yes... yes... that's true of course." "How did you find her?" "Slightly better... but it is better not to disturb her now..." "Ah!" "You are a doctor..." "Seeing the dead body what do you think?" "Would it be justifiable of me to speak about it?" "I don't think I haven't the right anymore." "Do you play sitar?" "The mark on your finger must not be from the surgical knife..." "You are very observant." "Couldn't you recognize him?" "He is Mr. Byomkesh Bakshi." "Oh!" "I see." "That means you don't see." "You don't know me..." "Well, weren't you playing Malkosh last night?" "I will move around the colony." "Well, sir... were you really playing?" "Do the gardeners that work here stay over?" "No... they come... work, and go." "Mr Bijoy, how long you are with your uncle?" "That would be about 14 years." "Was there anything that would have been kept secret in your uncle's life?" "I never heard any such things happening here." "In the past?" "That time I was really very young." "Who smokes bidi here?" "Driver Mushkil smokes, there's a boy Panu, he too." "When did your uncle get married?" "1954, in Lucknow." "Oh!" "Married at a late age." " Yes." "Who will inherit his property?" "Property?" " Ya." "There's no will?" " Might be." "Don't you know?" "Ya." "Who will get it?" "Aunty and me." "Equally?" "Ya, equally." "How long you were with Mr Nishanath?" "Sir..." "In Lucknow." "6 years." "After that you made this blunder." "I know your story well." "How I repented for that... what to tell you?" "May I know what were you doing at 10 pm last night?" "I had rice at 9.30, then came and lay down on the bed..." "The doctor was playing sitar... he strums so sweetly..." "hearing the music" "I fell asleep..." "I don't know when..." "Honestly speaking... after coming out of jail, I never lied." "But did you hide any truth?" "I am sorry..." "I cannot tell you anymore..." "I can't..." "You know me?" "Saw my photograph?" "What happened?" "Why are you afraid?" "Want to say something?" "Last night sitting beside the pond, were you smoking bidi?" "Salute sirs..." "He was a straight man." "Muskil Main when do you go to sleep at night?" "Me sir?" "I don't look at the time..." "just go to sleep... but once I put my head on the pillow, I fall into a deep slumber." "Don't the mosquitoes bite?" "Mosquitoes bite?" "Me... how could they?" "There's no blood in my body." "Salute sirs." "Muskil's wife..." "That is the house of Rasik... missing from last night." "Uncle was having some problem with him the last few days." "About what?" " Money." "Was he misappropriating money?" "Perhaps." " I see." "Come, sirs, come..." "Chairs are put out for you." "Sit." " Thank you." "Half the time, half the expense." "You are Professor Nepal Gupta?" "Ex-professor... the professor is dead." "Murdered and 'ex' marks the spot." "You are Byomkesh, the truth seeker, how great a detective you may be..." "It would not be easy to find the truth of the zoo." "That's why I have come to you." "This place is a hot bed of scandals... camouflaged by a show of flowers." "Are you too camouflaged?" "Look, sir, the day I came here..." "From that time I have spoken only truth about myself and the inmates... even everything is written in print." "Last night's incident is being written too?" "Take this..." "I'm asking whether last night's incident is being written too." "That was predicted before..." "I would have told you... but can't in the presence of someone..." "And that you wanted to be the ruler of this colony..." "Won't you tell them?" "You used to criticise uncle for everything." "You think your uncle was beyond criticism... was spotless!" "These words don't suit you Nepal uncle... and then when..." "Don't say... will be arrested." "Ok... ok..." "let it go..." "Won't you look at this?" "Afterwards..." "Come..." "You know for a long time I was abroad." "This is your dispensary?" "Sit." "Your sitar!" "How did you come to know about Malkosh?" "Well, you had a foreign degree..." "Still have it even after scratching off the name..." "Letters remain... though I find them meaningless..." "A person is not judged by his I. Q. and merit... but by the virtue of whether he is following the rules and norms." "It means you want to say that if any gifted person does anything illicit as per the norms of society... is it not considered low?" "Low!" "Never..." "But he is culpable... but that is as per law." "And there are so many loopholes in the law." "Very interesting." "If a girl gets pregnant illegitimately and society will cast her out if she gives birth to a child... if a doctor wants to save her is that a crime?" "And where is the girl's fault?" "Can a human being suppress the natural instincts always?" "Music and medicine..." "a very rare combination." "Do you know Einstein used to play violin!" "I know..." " But I almost stopped playing..." "I will listen to your music one day." "What's your combination, music and criminology?" "Sherlock Holmes used to play violin." "I too play... gramophone." "Hello." "I am Byomkesh Bakshi..." "I have a bad habit of questioning... but not unnecessarily." "Will you ask me something?" "Where did you learn this?" "But it's not difficult work." "You work at night too?" "Yes." " For how long?" "Till 10-11 pm." " Worked last night too?" "Ya..." "Didn't you listen to your neighbour's sitar?" "Why do you say so?" "If you won't say, we don't have any other way." "I will be happy if you don't question me." "Can I ask you why?" "I can't tell you..." "I am sorry." "Mr Bijoy... could you throw light on this lady's peculiar behaviour?" "She once wanted to learn sitar." "She went to Dr. Das then?" "Ya." " Then..." "Dr. Das... must have asked for some undue favour?" "Seemed so..." "Dr. Das doesn't seem so." "What were you doing last night at 10 pm?" "Me?" " Yes." "Sleeping." "At 10 pm?" "Ya... there's nothing to do here." "Don't you have the habit of reading?" "No." "Here lights don't have much power..." "that's a problem." "Death was instaneous." "His blood pressure was too high." "A hard hit on the right spot." "Could you guess about the time?" "Between 10 and 11 pm, to be accurate... 10.10 pm." "Meaning..." "No... the murder took place at 10 past 10..." "Who is he?" " Oh!" "I am sorry... he is well known truth speaker Byomkesh Bakshi." "Maybe so." "But it's not possible to be so definite." "Ok." "Bye." "Well... are you telepathic?" "Or just guessing..." "How is the lady?" "Oh!" "She is better." "You'd like to see her?" "Come..." "Aunty." "Mr. Baskhi has come." "He would tell you something." "Come..." "I convey my heartfelt sympathy to you..." "I got acquainted with Mr Sen..." "And the investigation of the case is given to me..." "If you don't object, I would like to ask you questions about this." "Please sit." "You came to know about this incident this morning... isn't it?" "He normally gets up... very early in the morning..." "But didn't... today... so..." "Alright..." "Could you tell what you were doing around 10 last night?" "Do you remember?" "Arranging the utensils in the kitchen..." "Ya..." "Well, was your husband very particular about money?" "Not at all." "Could you say something about this accident... anything?" "Everything is dark." "So..." "Mr Ajit... how do you find it?" "A peculiar case." "Well now you have become accustomed..." "Sometime ago you would have said horrible." "It's certainly horrible..." "Only a couple of days ago with the person..." "What did you say?" "No... he was alive a couple of days ago..." "Why a couple of days ago?" "He was alive till last night." "Ya..." "Mr. Binode... is your pressure high or low?" "Low..." " Yours?" "Mine is on the higher side... well, have to check... think there are some brain exercises ahead." "Do you think so?" "I believe I will be able to bring the culprit before you in handcuffs within 2 days." "You think so?" "See what leg space is there in my car?" "And in modern cars your knees will jostle... and in case of accident nothing will remain" "Which model is your car?" " 1935." "Truly speaking, nowadays people's minds have become narrow." "Is not it?" "Ya..." "And with that their pockets too." "He is Mr Pulak Chakraborty, director of 'The Poison Tree' that means in bad books with the producers." "Would we hear the song?" "Whatever is wanted, he would show that..." "Reel number what?" " Number 7." "Then start that..." "Hey!" "Is there any flop picture of Bankin other than 'The Poison Tree'" "Do we advance a little more?" "Ya... a little further." "Are the fans moving?" "Ok..." "Then I..." " Ok." "Hey there... arrange for some tea." "Ya..." "You are known in every hall in Calcutta." "It opens doors... but I never take any advantage of it..." "Purchasing tickets in the Royal circle you have seen pictures..." "You know, Mr Ajit, good song..." "Good picture... good wine and good..." "And I have never been miserly in these four things." "You know, Mr Ajit, good song..." "Good picture... good wine and good..." "And I have never been miserly in these four things." "How is it?" "Recorded." "What..." "What's the matter?" "No sir... but the print of the film is seven years old." "That's all right." "Can the song be recognized as a song?" "And the girl as a girl?" "Well, you have worked with Sunayana?" "Oh!" "Yes..." "So I take my son along." "You would go?" "Was giving advice required..." "What would be the benefit of your going?" "It's not the advice about money..." "it's about feeling." "O!" "Feeling..." "Do you understand about feeling more than me!" "Ya!" "What do you know about love" "What do you know about love" "What do you know about love" "Throwing one leg over other and opening the account book" "Throwing one leg over other and opening the account book" "You remain unmindful" "How much I say it's enough" "Don't listen to it" "How much I say it's enough" "Don't listen to it" "What do you know about love" "What do you know of love, you sir" "Haven't you seen in the garden" "The bees whisper in the ears of roses" "Haven't you seen in the garden" "The bees whisper in the ears of roses" "Haven't you heard" "Cuckoos cooing on the branch of Bakul" "Carrying a full pitcher, why does she become inattentive" "Why her heart became impatient" "What do you know about love" "Eh!" "Rotten director and rotten picture." "No worry... my work is done." "The stills for you, sir." "O!" "Thank you." "The song is quite lovely." "Well... you understand." "Where did the lady used to stay?" "During the shooting?" "Oh!" "Ask me..." "A car was offered but she refused." "Either by train or bus and rarely by taxi she used to come to the studio." "Was she married?" "Ya... married." "She hinted she had differences with her husband." "I see... that's all." "Byomkesh, your picture gallery is quite attractive." "Only attractive will not do..." "I'll have to sit for examination..." "be prepared." "Examination!" "Tell me first among these four ladies who is the most beautiful one." "It's not a question of examination." "It's a question of personal choice." "Even then tell me..." "Damayanti, Banalaxmi, Mukul, Najar Bibi... among these four whom you are remembering the most?" "Whom is haunting you most?" "No, laughing will not let you out." "Say of whom you have dreamt last night!" "Hah!" "Am I still at the age of dreaming?" "What nonsense..." "Can't you just tell me who is the most beautiful?" "Say!" "Wait... wait..." "I am saying." "Among those, perhaps Damayanti is the most beautiful." "Instantly your eyes went towards the other wife." "But you asked, brother." "Ok, any other special thing?" "I looked for only about three minutes." "Even then any impression?" "She's very disturbed about her husband's death." "That means... she loved her husband very much." " Isn't it?" "Possibly... unless the grief is no acting." "Do you think so?" "Well... the name Damayanti..." "Is very uncommon in Bengalees." "And... she?" "She is... interesting." "That is evading the question." "Speak truly." "There's a touch of rural beauty... but experiences have marred it slightly." "What experiences?" "The incident of being seduced away from the village." "Is there any proof of that being true..." "And she?" "That she is his daughter..." "And she is his second wife..." "Is there any reason to believe these?" "You are making the affair most mysterious." "Brother..." "I have done nothing..." "This affair is somewhat like that..." "Understand... murder and blackmail..." "The murder was in '58 and the other was in '66." "Do you think there are links between..." "Mr. Nishanath had an idea that probably Sunayana..." "No..." "Are you convinced about the blackmail?" "In the affair of the motor parts the smell of blackmail is very clear..." "If there was any problem in Nishanath's past... then it is very natural to be blackmailed." "Who will blackmail him?" "Eh!" "Who will blackmail him?" "Number one is Damayanti..." "Number 2 is Bijoy..." "Number 3 is Nepal Gupta." "Don't forgot that he was a classmate." "And number 4 is Brajadas, his clerk." "Najar Bibi has a habit of listening surreptitiously..." "If she heard something, it's not impossible that Mushkil will also learn about it." "And if they have revealed this to anyone in the colony." "Nothing could be guessed." "Even if the motive is blackmail..." "Then why murder?" "That's exactly I am thinking, Ajit..." "Come..." "Come." "I got your address from the telephone book." "What's the matter?" "If I could have some water to drink." "I was in great pain, Mr Byomkesh." "While in prison I promised I would never lie... never do any mischief... so I adopted Baisnabism." "After much effort I became devoted but then... hiding truth is also a sin..." "The one to whom I am indebted lost his life.." "but hiding the truth is also a crime." "It's all right." "Be calm." "How can I be calm, Mr Byomkesh... such a person, a judge... he is also a truth seeker, isn't it?" "If you take a lady whose husband is alive and treat the lady as your wife..." "Aren't Nishanath and Damayanti married?" "How could that be..." "he was not hanged." "Who was not hanged?" "The husband of Damayanti..." "Our judge gave the order of hanging... an appeal was made in high court and he was sentenced to 14 years." "Oh!" "Then the culprit was Damayanti's husband?" "Ya..." "Lal Singh..." "Punjabee." " She too." "Is Damayanti a Punjabee?" " Ya." "Mr. Sen taught her Bengali..." "I won't be able to forget the incident of that day, Mr Byomkesh..." "Please tell me in more detail." "Standing at the desk..." "and that look of his..." "As if it will burn..." "The judge was pronouncing the sentence at that time..." "And then Lal Singh... took a shoe from his foot and threw it at the judge." "After a few days... the judge was not well at that time... was doing his work at home... a peon came and informed him a lady wants to meet him." "Just see who's there." "If it's not urgent tell her that I can't meet now." "Ok..." "There I found a Punjabee lady..." "Lal Singh's wife, a striking appearance... said she wouldn't move without meeting the judge." "What was to be done?" "I called her inside." "I have to say only one thing, Mr. Judge..." "I married him, falling in love... who knew he was such a bad person?" "Judge, you have judged him and now who is going to judge me?" "I am innocent." "What have you thought about me?" "I have no money, wealth and no issue..." "Seeing the expression on the judge's face I couldn't remain in the room... you know, Mr Byomkesh, I was feeling somehow uneasy..." "I have never seen such a look in his eyes..." "After that, Mr Byomkesh, I found her coming very frequently..." "Then one day I saw the judge's car coming but the driver was not there." "He himself was driving... my heart suddenly beat faster." "Then found what I doubted was right..." "He had brought along the wife of Lal Singh... and thereafter she remained forever." "Seeing this I had a jolt." "The person whom I obeyed and respected so much..." "If he can behave in this way, then why should I, a petty clerk, suffer so much from poverty?" "Why shouldn't I arrange something for me?" "Stealing is a crime, but is it a bigger crime than... what the judge has done?" "So..." "So you stole, having lost your conscience?" "Ya... nothing more than that." "But I repented." "While in prison I thought why should I look at only one facet of a human being?" "The relation that I had with Mr Nishanath is the relation between a man and a man... there had been no change in that relation." "What right have I got to judge his other side?" "What I did oh!" "What I did?" "Ok." "Mr Brajadas... you have done a great service by telling this..." "Many thanks to you." "For these three nights I couldn't sleep even for a moment." "Well then sleep from now on." "Is that person Lal Singh still alive?" "I know that he has not died by hanging..." "and in prison 14 years." "That too is almost over." "What did that person used to do?" "He was the owner of a motor garage." "He murdered his partner for the spare parts of cars." "Respected Mr Byomkesh," "I convey my respect through this letter." "That day I couldn't tell you." "That's why I'm writing today." "Who is there?" "The night Mr Sen was murdered..." "I couldn't understand what news I can omit and what should I tell you over telephone!" "As if a season have started..." "Well, have you anticipated the second murder?" "I should have, Mr Promode." "I should have understood that day that the person had seen something." "Seeing is evidence..." "And that means his life was in danger." "What a shame!" "What a dangerous desperate person." "And in the same way." "The same person struck him on the head." "Then you won't be able to get the culprit within two days." "But how do I know there's a bearded blackmailer involved here..." "There are wheels within wheels." "Has he confessed everything?" "Everything..." "And fantastic..." "From a 14 year sentence, he was released from jail after 12 years for good conduct." "Since getting out, he has searched for the judge... and he has already learned that his wife is staying with the judge." "Then he came to Mohanpur... gathered all the information and went back to Calcutta... and from Calcutta he wrote a letter to Mrs. Sen informing her about the blackmail..." "Every month he will throw motor parts through the window." "And the next night around 10 500 rupees will have to be kept in a flower pot in the hot house." "Does Dayamanti know that her husband has been arrested?" "No, sir, I have kept this work for you." "Today I will question everybody." "You continue over here." "Dr. Paul has come." "Let me finish there and then I shall come." "Please come..." "I will disturb you a bit." "I can't help it." "It's ok." " Sit." "Do you know your husband was arrested last night..." "Lal Singh?" "For whom you kept 500 rupees on that day..." "He has confessed everything." "Probably you had no other choice than give him the money right?" "How could it be?" "Otherwise coming here would have vilified him..." "I can't let it happen..." "The treatment I got from him." "He was my real husband, not this one." "Not this one." "Ok." "Mrs Damayanti, you are now released" "Nepal Gupta." "Present sir." "How long your exhibition of total inefficiency will run?" "Not for long." "Well, Mr Nepal." " Please tell." "Why have you such an adverse opinion of Mr. Bijoy?" "That's because... laxity of character and prevarication of promise..." "I can't tolerate these two things." "That's why..." "Proposing marriage to a simple, pure girl and getting her consent..." "The person who runs after a characterless and unchaste woman... it is not at all impossible for him to commit murder for mayhem..." "And may I guess that this simple and pure girl is your daughter!" "Certainly..." "And won't you ask about the other girl?" "No..." "Thank you..." "Now I want to talk with your simple daughter." "Thank you." "Mukul... you go." "You will question me?" "I wish to..." "If I don't answer some of your questions..." "Don't." "Do sit." "Can you sing?" "A bit..." "Have you learnt?" "No." "You don't have the habit of humming?" "That depends on the condition of the mind..." "I can in a good mood." "Yeah..." "Do you remember the night of Mr Nishanath's death?" "Yes." "What were you doing at that time?" "Keeping the lights off I was standing at the window." "Didn't hear any sound..." "Ya... the chirping of the crickets... the howling of jackals and the sound of the doctor's sitar." "The sewing machine?" "It was stopped." "Bijoy proposed to you?" "Ya." "Why didn't it come out?" "I don't want to talk about that" "Well, you may go now." "Mrs. Banalaxmi." "Like master like servant." "Hit on the head and instantaneous death... slightly after 10' clock in the night." "What happened Mr..." "What did you think about these?" "Did you get anything?" "Interesting." "I would have been happier if that was arresting." "Please sit." "May I know the name of the village?" " Village?" "You were brought up in a village and then came to the city... isn't it?" "Oh!" "Yes..." "Chanberia." "District?" " Hooghly." "How did you come to the city?" "To me..." "Where were you living in Calcutta?" "I had no home..." "I lived in a slum." "Why were you interested in learning sitar?" "I love music." "Can you sing?" "How long are you married?" "Long ago." "Where did you learn to sing?" "Song..." "Don't you know?" " Yes." "Where?" "Radio, gramophone, cinema..." "Where were you eavesdropping last night?" "Were you near Panu's house when the murder was commited?" "You got me in trouble sir..." "Didn't I say that I am not in my senses in the evening?" "Intoxication." "Intoxication... meaning... habituated from younger days..." "Can't stop." "Oh!" "Then you were not asleep... inebriated." "Either you call it sleep or unconsciousness." "Both are the same..." "When conscious... not sleeping and while sleeping... unconscious." "Is it being recorded?" "Any objection?" " Not at all..." "You were married on the continent, isn't it?" "Fine... you have made enquiries." "Where is she now?" "Probably on the continent..." "She didn't come with you?" "No... she suddenly got conscious about the colour of my skin." "She didn't come with me." "Well... may I know what foreign degree you got?" "What!" "You know about my marriage but not my degree." "Probably I know... but I would like to hear it from you." "Fellow of the Royal College of Science." "Thank you." "You are released." "Bijoy..." " Me?" "Ya..." "Now it is your turn." "Did you know the background of Damayanti?" "Yes..." "I knew" " Why didn't you tell?" "You may misunderstand." "That's why..." "I adore Aunty very much..." "And your uncle?" "Him too..." "You brought Banalaxmi... isn't it?" "Ya..." "Felt pity hearing her story?" "Everybody would have." "Do you love her?" "That's why you didn't keep your promise to Mukul..." "Right?" "That's my personal matter." "Look..." "We have much interest in your person." "It's clear that you are likely to gain at the death of Mr Nishanath..." "What are you saying?" "Particularly while you are in love... then the thought of marriage is not unnatural... and money is needed for marriage." "What I knew of your uncle he might not have agreed to a marriage with Banalaxmi..." "Are you denying your weakness for Banalaxmi?" "No." " Not denying..." "Had a habit of going to the city?" "Who?" " Banalaxmi." "Not at all." "In love... isn't it necessary to meet privately?" "Whatever used to happen was within the colony... not outside." "You still want to say that you fall asleep by 10 at night?" "But please believe me, we don't know anything about murder." "We?" "That night from 10 to 11.30 I was in Banalaxmi's room..." "Mukul knows about it... you may ask her." "We'll have to keep watch over the colony... if anybody goes out..." "I should get the information immediately." "Promising to marry and getting consent..." "If one runs after a characterless woman..." "On hearing his words the man seems to be a person of extreme moral ethics." "He was having a mental struggle with Nishanath." "Bijoy thinks of removing Nishanath." "He wanted to be proprietor of the colony." "Maybe... but the murder..." "You are saying his motive is not strong enough." "Well, look at this way... being a proprietor means earning more money... but in this type of business not much profit is expected." "Then again you see... quarrelling with a person openly... murdering him and taking his place that's impossible." "That cannot be unless he is mad." "Supposing he has madness." "Then he has not murdered in full brain." "Showing this attitude of madness is an eye wash." "That's a camouflage." "In reality, the man is very clever otherwise he wouldn't play chess." "If he has got any grudge that is..." "And that's because of..." "But Nishanath Sen was murdered." "No." "Couldn't hear any noise?" "Ya..." "Chirping of crickets, howling of jackals and Doctor's sitar." "Sewing machine?" " It was stopped." "Did she speak the truth?" "The sewing machine was not really running at that time." "I think so." " Me too..." "At that time Banalaxmi had stopped the sewing machine." "But why?" "To have a love chat with Bijoy." "Byomkesh, the motive of Bijoy is very strong." "He wanted to marry Banalaxmi..." "But uncle didn't agree..." "So by murdering him and taking possession of the entire money he could elope with Banalaxmi." "Yeah still now... the doubt is more on him." "But..." "Bijoy said he talked with Banalaxmi till 11.30 at night." "Mukul is his witness." "Well, did Mr Bijoy propose to you?" "Yes." " Why didn't it happen?" "I don't want to say." "Don't want to say... don't want to say... meaning even if he has disappointed me I don't want to demean him..." "That means Mukul is still in love with Bijoy... there's no value of Mukul's evidence..." "Out..." "Out..." "Out and out." "Don't you suspect Muskil?" "By his appearance..." "But he doesn't drink only in the evening." "I have smelled him even at 9.30 in the morning." "Can't a person murder while being drunk?" "Ya... he can." "But the state which normally he is in at night... murdering... dragging the body... covering it up... those cannot be..." "And then what is his motive... happily eating, drinking, sleeping and making merry with his second wife." "This not acting, brother." "Or of a high calibre." "Where were you staying at Calcutta?" "Had no home..." "Had no home..." "Home..." "Home..." "Ya..." "Chanberia." "District?" " Hooghly." "Hooghly." "The people of Hooghly district would say home?" "So Ajit what does your literary experience say?" "No." " What?" "They will say house but not home." "East Bengalees will say home." "Then why did the lady lie?" "Then the entire story will be false." "So she is not a person to be pitied... but made up the story to have pity." "Therefore to get a job in the colony..." "Or to stay away from the locality." "Meaning to hide." "Right..." "But..." "How did you come to the city?" "Where did you live?" "Had no home." "Why were you interested to learn sitar..." "I love music." "Can you sing?" "Stop it." "This is a very wonderful thing." "You are not in the room but your voice is there on the tape." "Supposing you are not in the room too, and the recorder is playing." "Someone heard your voice and reported that Mr Byomkesh is in the house." "Ajit?" " Alibi." "Bravo... bravo... what a fool I am..." "what a fool." "If you are a fool then me..." "Yes you are a fool too." "Otherwise you would have understood my excitement." "By jove..." "But motive?" "What is the motive..." "Eh!" "What a fool!" "Hello..." "Thank you..." "Big break, Byomkesh." "Oh!" "Sorry... sorry." "Hello." "Hello." "Hey stop..." "Stop." "Turn the car..." "Rosy..." "Rosy..." "Rosy..." "Rosy..." "Rosy..." "This is your house?" "Dr. Das's house?" "You pay him rent?" "Thank you... good bye!" "Are you aware of Master Lane no 9?" "First room on the right hand side after entering... the house of Dr. Das..." "Full of incriminating documents..." "Some of them I want tomorrow..." "send a person..." "Make a list... hello!" "Wait..." "You may go now... and continue giving money to Banalaxmi like before." "Give?" "And another thing... think of her to whom you have been doing injustice... the girl is not bad... rather good." "Hey Ajit" " What?" "I need a scissor, a big scissor." "I am going now." "Scissor!" " Sorry Mr Barat." "Please write down..." "Good morning sir..." "First I will tell you... about a motion picture." "In 1958 a company named G. K. Production produced a film of Bankim Chandra named 'The Poison Tree'" "According to those who have seen the picture the acting of Sunayana in the role of Kamalmani was especially mentionable." "This was her picture." "Not only that... a song sung by her own voice has also been remembered by many." "What do you know of love..." "This Sunayana was married with her husband alive..." "Who she is, where she used to stay, who was her husband, what was her past, nobody knew or none care to know." "During the production of this picture 'The Poison Tree' a gentleman named Murari Dutta of Dutta Das Jewelry Co." "got acquainted with Sunayana and fell in love with her." "Presenting the lady some ornaments of his company the man performed the duty of a lover." "One night after falling in love, someone murdered Mr Murari in an adjacent room behind the jewellery shop," "by stabbing him from behind, and on the same night about 20,000 rupees was stolen from a safe there." "That Sunayana was supposed to be in Mr Murari's room on the night of the murder we heard from Mr Ramen Mallik a close friend of Mr Murari Dutta... as per the version of Mr Ramen a warrant was issued against Sunayana a few days after the murder... but the lady was totally absconding..." "This is my preface..." "Eight years after this incident..." "just seven days ago... sitting in my room, I heard about Sunayana from the proprietor of your colony the late Nishanath..." "Nishanath had an idea that this Sunayana is staying in the colony in disguise and under a different name..." "Actually he wanted to say that one among Banalaxmi, Mukul and Najar Bibi is really Sunayana." "As soon as the idea took root... someone from this colony murdered Mr. Nishanath very cruelly..." "Seeing the method of murder, the murderer seems to be a male..." "The time of murder was 10 pm." "When I asked each individual of the colony separately what they were doing that night and at that very time many a one lied to me." "However, many of those statements have been proved as lies... some of them have confessed about lying." "There's only one person to whom I want to put the same question once again..." "I hope that the person would not take umbrage of lying once again..." "Dr Das..." "Tell me." " You tell." "What do I tell?" "On the night of the murder of Mr Sen what were you doing, but not playing your sitar?" "Not playing the sitar!" " Ya." "How did you get the idea that I didn't play sitar..." "Did everybody lie who vouched for it or you have a dearth of witnesses?" "The house no. 9, Master Lane is yours." "Isn't it?" "Last evening around 5 you put the tape recorder in the attaché and kept it there..." "That attaché is now in our custody." "I must praise your promptness Mr Bakshi." "May I know why suddenly you took it there?" "Certainly." "It needed repair There was some defect..." "So... it became defective!" "Strange, but it's playing all right..." "Could you recognize the music?" "Should I not recognize my own music?" "Isn't it the 'Malkosh' played on the night of the murder?" "Mr Bakshi, probably you don't know... sometimes instrument players record their own music... it's a part of their practise" "And if I say that you didn't play sitar that night... your tape recorder was running around 10 at night when Mr Nishanath rang me up... then wearing a pair of gloves you commited murder by hiting him with a blunt instrument on his head... and on the next night in the same way you killed Panugopal." "Then I will say that you have become mad..." "Need treatment... because I have not turned so mad to murder without motive." "And if I say that you have motive?" " What motive?" "Mr Nishanath had doubts that Sunayana was present there... knowing that you murdered him." "What nonsense you are talking, Mr Bakshi... who is Sunayana?" "That I would commit murder for her?" "You better tell me who is Sunayana." "Here are her ornaments found from your almira... and here is her contract." "I have never said that I was unknown to Sunayana... she was my patient..." "my first abortion case..." "Then?" " What about then... after that I had to bear her maintenance..." "Otherwise there would have been a scandal..." "She could sing, was interested in acting and asked me to help her for a chance in film... that's all" "Then?" " After that I don't know." "Mr Byomkesh..." "Would you play that song once again?" "What do you know about love" "Throwing one leg over other and opening the account book" "Throwing one leg over other and opening the account book" "You remain unmindful" "How much I say it's enough" "Don't listen to it" "Was the song sung badly?" "How much I say it's enough" "Really good." "Don't listen to it." "But I never got another chance." "Why exactly?" "You better ask him... he is my husband." "What does she say?" "Has she too become mad?" "You have turned me mad..." "Pretending love..." "And tempting me with money." "He has made me perform heinous work... you... you..." "Chirakali, from what condition I have rescued you know..." "What he compelled me to do... he has commited murders, all the murders..." "What are you doing..." "What are you doing?" "You acted so nicely." "Won't you take your prize?" "Oh!" "My god." "Mrs Das come..." "Now understand why I couldn't recognize Sunayana?" "Plastic flowers on my table." "Then cutting the nose out of Kamalmani's photo and pasting it on Banalaxmi's..." "I got confirmation." "How peculiar these characters are!" "Something outside and different inside." "That's why I say you can never be certain of a person, but of my Basuki..." "Basuki!" "I have full faith in Basuki..." "I will not rely on Ajit... but will on Basuki... baby python..." "Baby..." "Is it plastic?" "No... real... hold it." "THE END"