Original subtitles

Satyajit RAY presents

based on a story by Rabindranath TAGORE

from the trilogy "THREE DAUGHTERS"

Camera: Soumendu RAY

Sound: Durga DAS MITRA

Editing: Dulal DUTTA

Associate producer: Aminyanath MUKHERJEE

Distribution: Chayabani Private Ltd.

Production, adaptation, music, direction: Satyajit RAY

THE POSTMASTER

With: Anil CHATTERJEE Chandana BANNERJEE

Nripati CHATTERJEE Khagen PATHAK

Gopal SEN Krishnakamal BHATTACHARYA

Haridhan NAG Narayan GHOSH

Okay,

So you start from tomorrow. It's your kingdom.

- Ratan... Ratan... - Coming, grandpa.

After life in the city you will feel lonely in the beginning.

- Have you ever lived in a village? - No. - Never?

Within a few days you will get to know everyone.

But one thing,

Don't ignore this.

Bomkesh's tablets (quinine). Your best friend.

If you don't take them, this is what will happen to you.

Come here.

Come quickly.

Hold this.

Hold it properly. Don't drop it.

She is very naughty.

Have you seen the new postmaster?

Do you know how strong he is?

If you are naughty, he will catch you by your hair and fling you far away.

Durga... Durga... come on.

What are you staring at?

Listen.

Clean up my room.

Hold on.

Let me leave the room.

Ratan...

Get me water from the well.

I won't bathe in that pond.

Ratan.

Who is that?

He won't do anything. He is Bishu the madman.

I know... I know... I know...

Shall I go? - Okay-

Who comes there?

Hey you madman.

Hey! Do you know where he is from?

I know... know... I know everything.

Shut up.

Go from here.

Dear mom. Hope you've received the news

Of my arrival here.

Ulapore is very small and quite unlike Calcutta.

I will start work from tomorrow.

Have you finished writing?

- Can you read and write? - No.

Why are your clothes so dirty? Doesn't your mother wash them?

I don't have a mother.

You don't have your mother?

She died.

When?

I don't remember. When I was small.

Your father?

He's dead too.

Then who do you have? No one? - That's right.

You stay alone? - Yes.

And work for the postmaster?

How was the previous postmaster?

Would he shout at you?

Beat you?

Go to sleep, it's late

Who comes there?

Ratan... Ratan...

Left, right...

What are you watching?

We enjoy your talks about Calcutta.

We've never been so far.

Harihar, didn't you go to

Ranaghat once for a wedding?

I come to understand that as Ranaghat is

To Ulapore, so is Calcutta to Ranaghat.

I think it is difficult for you to adjust

In a small village like ours.

I try my hand in a bit of poetry,

So the peace and quiet here is not too bad.

Poetry. Eh? Wow... poetry... wow... good.

Do you sing too?

My sister does. She's learning.

I heard a lot of good talent. After all,

There is no shortage in Calcutta.

Huzur Mia here sings very well.

He is eager to sing for you.

After hearing the Calcutta songs, will he like mine?

Who sings well, you say? - This old man

At my house, in the evenings,

He sings and he plays the violin.

Why don't you come?

In the evenings I dabble in a little English.

I am reading a book by Scott. Let's see.

Dear son, why did it take you so long to write?

Hope you are settled in your work.

Look after your health.

You are not used to staying alone, hence my anxiety.

Do you have a servant or do you have

To do everything by yourself?

- Sir. - Yes.

Whose letter was it?

My mother's

You're laughing?

Oh! So you know?

- And who's that? - Who?

On the side.

That's my sister Rani.

Can she read and write?

She can read and write. She can sing.

She's not like you.

I can also sing.

Really?

- Shall I sing? - Okay.

I don't know any more.

Wow! You are good.

Now learn to read and write. Then you will be like my sister, Rani.

Will you teach me?

See what's in my coat pocket.

- This? - Yes.

Here, take this. Buy a slate and chalk.

That will only cost two annas.

The rest is your reward.

Take your studies seriously,

I will reward you more. Go.

Sir. - What is it?

See this.

Oh, you bought yourself new clothes?

The former postmaster would eat rice.

Take it. - Done?

Wow! Very good. We'll start

Forming words on Monday.

Forming words?

Yes, forming words.

What's that?

Okay, what's my name?

Nan... Nanda babu.

Ok, spell Nanda.

N... n... d

Pass me the book... and the pencil.

Okay, let's see... n...

Nanda babu... Nanda babu...

How astonishing! He was fine

When he came to hear us last evening.

That is how this disease works (malaria).

Ratan, tonight you stay here. Keep him

Well covered with blankets, okay?

Sir... sir... why don't you take a tablet? Quinine.

Bomkesh's tablet. This disease is

Like a pilgrimage you have to make.

Sir... sir... get up. Take a tablet.

Ratan, get a glass of water.

Who are you?

Who are you?

Ratan.

I am Ratan, sir. I work for you.

Writing to your mother?

To my father-in-law

- My clothes? - You were sick, I couldn't wash them.

I'll wash them today.

Read this. Let's see

Ratan, my Ratan.

She is a very committed worker.

She is like my sister.

You like it?

What happened?

Now won't you teach me to form words?

Ratan, if I go away, will you miss me?

I don't think you like to work anymore.

Does anyone like to work? It becomes a habit.

- You work for me. Do you like it? - Yes.

Stupid girl!

Did I ever say I don't like to work?

You are pulling my leg. Your work

Is not yet over. You can't go anywhere.

I am getting over it. So what's to be done?

Take your tablet -No -

Come on, take your tablet -No -

You won't take it? - No -

Why? - It's bitter... It's not bitter

If it's not bitter eat it... eat... eat it.

Here

- Namaste. Are you... - My name is Bibas Chakraborty

You've resigned?

I had applied for leave. It was rejected.

I had no option.

What happened?

Nothing happened. It's difficult

To adjust in a village after city life...

And then, malaria. One attack and it finished me.

What are you saying? - That's right-

I am warning you to take the tablet.

I know... I know everything... quiet.

What happened?

Here, take these. It's in your custody now

One work remains unfinished.

That girl Ratan. I was teaching her Bengali.

She has yet to learn to form words.

If you could perhaps...

Sure. No problem

There's... one more thing...

Give this money... to the girl... let it be... I'll give it...

Ratan... Ratan...

Ratan... Ratan...

Moreover Bilasbabu too is fond of singing.

He will join you -That's right -

Bring your instrument and come here.

They don't believe me. There he is.

That's a clarinet! - That's right -

Ratan...

New sir, I have brought water for you.

The end