Original subtitles

Meghe Dhaka Tara Cloud-Capped Star

Production, Screenplay, Direction: Ritwik Ghatak

Story: Shaktipada Rajguru

Cinematography: Dinen Gupta

Art Direction: Rabi Chattopadhyay

Editing: Ramesh Joshi

Cast: Supriya Choudhury

Anil Chatterjee

Bijon Bhattacharya

Gita De

Gita Ghatak

Dwiju Bhawal

Niranjan Roy

Gyanesh Mukherjee

Ranen Roy Choudhury

Music: Jyotirindra Moitra

A film by Ritwik Ghatak

Yes! - Come here

Go tell your father, at month end, it'll be two months

I will

Just this time Banshi'da. I can't do without a shave

So, you and your father will give me a clean shave!

Any idea how much it adds up to?

Dark girl

Dark complexion, that's what?

Now don't start a tangle go to school

Her tuitions would be over, what if she suddenly turns up?

She will be hurt if she hears us!

Such a responsible girl!

Doing M.A. Classes - and not one but two tuitions

brings home forty rupees every month

What is more -

Heard at the meeting evictions are on the rise again

They might even stop the school grants

Do I get you a mat to sit down and gossip

Your slipper's torn, Khuki?

I've had it fixed

Teacher, Sir, your subscription for the colony

Hey! Listen. I've to talk to you

Into the room came the bumblebee humming

You're late for college go bathe

A love letter - so late in life?

At first sight I didn't recognise you

I thought you just one of the many

But now I see you in the cloud... perhaps a star,

cast over with clouds of circumstances,

Your aura dulled and scratched over

Stop it! Let's have a look at the name

Sanat - that idiot!

Hey, where did you find him? Haven't seen him for ages

Poking your nose in a woman's personal affairs

If you're a person, some day someone will find me a genius!

You know that very well, and that's what makes you so proud

If only Banshi Dutt would understand

if only he'd understand what a genius I am!

Can you spare some money, dear? The beard's itching!

For the time being, two annas, or may be four -

Or may be eight_ I'd like to buy a good 7arda

Or why not a whole rupee

You seem to have got your tuition money

Why don't you take up a job, brother?

It's beneath an artist to take a job

In just two years, money will come raining through the roof

Know how much Amir Khan Sahib makes per concert?

D'you know, Ma, Manashi of our college, the dark girl,

Her sari had a cowgirl motif

Ma, don't listen to her! Tomorrow's the college football final

I can't wear these gunny saris daily

This heiress has been three years in one class, why more?

I've just got to get spiked boots by tomorrow!

Can't get two square meals, he makes demands like a prince

It's hard to feed you the last 15 days of a month

The first of the month! Sister must have got paid

You didn't buy your sandals, did you?

The money went in buying clothes for Brother

I'll buy them later. - I've seen someone

After all these years! Still recognised him

Isn't he Father's pupil Sanat babu?

Can't you recognise me! - Aren't you Montu?

Why gape!

You've changed so much over the years

Why don't you visit us? You write all those letters

Haven't forgotten the handwriting

I give those letters to Neeta

With her tuition and college, when is she ever home?

Let's go home. Ma will scold us

Geeta's grown truly lovely

But she can't ever afford decent clothes

Need some cash to print the diagrams this month

It's spent this month, Sanat

Can't even buy my kid brother and sister what little they ask

See, knowing everything, I still sing you my woes

One feels so powerless. - This is your struggle!

Won't I share it with you?

Next month I'll find a way I'll contribute

But do drop in sometime Father speaks so much of you

Yes I'll come, but only when I've money

Your spoilt darling will spend money by the fistful

It's her earning she spends

The bird-faced hussy! She must have spent it all...

my entire month's shopping money

I ought to give - I don't. So how can I obstruct?

No sympathy in the whole world!

And no one who'll understand!

Ungrateful!

Khuki, won't you eat?

Not feeling well

Don't be angry with Ma -

Sheer want... it's destroyed her mind

I'm not angry

Khuki, remember that poem by Yeats?

Seeing on, somewhere At some new moon

We shall learn that sleep is not death

Hearing the whole world change its tune

I've got a headache

Here's another precious prodigy!

A god in a devil's clothes don't wear such hair - cut it off!

Nice cloth you've bought, Khuki

Going to bed already? Won't you eat? - No

Mother must have said something!

Let people say what they like. You do what you think best

That's life's motto. Get up -

What! Your eyes are brimming with tears -

They'll descend if invited

Okay. I'll utter a spell. Shall I?

I'm not feeling well. - Okay, so I'm uttering it

Mother, your baby's such a child! She wants to catch the moon!

Can't ever utter the words

She can't make out anything,

She's such a child, mother!

But one rupee, tomorrow, please

There's nothing left

Spent it all? Okay, next month then

From next month, all of it goes straight to Ma

Whoever gives up money is a full scale idiot!

I can't wait till the morning

Slightly bovine!

There's pleasure in practising

Sold nothing yet - new month, very busy right now

Just send last month's bill

Going to settle it?

What was it you wanted?

Just the bill

Not going to college?

Botching your tests, for novels and films

In this house, it's scarcity always

You don't have this, you don't have that

So make a paradise, and all dress up like fairy's

I'll rest and twirl my big toe

and smell heavenly fragrance

You're needed desperately. - Why?

This year you and Shankar just've to sing in the function

I've given up singing

And brother's maestro won't let him. Why not ask Geetu?

But who will be the invitees we need to talk it over

We'll discuss this when we meet at the library

Hello Shanti. I hear your rehearsals are going on fine?

Oh no, we're in a fix. We can't get a good prompter

The way you all shout. Enough! Forget the prompting

The tuition money

All of it?

I've asked Banshi to come. He's so insulting everyday

Keep five rupees - pocket money

Have you no shame? Dining off your old father

And the little girl works the day long to foot your bills

And you spend your time in singing

I'll be earning too

Ever since the radio audition I get so many calls

It's got my maestro furious

He'll let me perform after two years' solid practice, see?

Hasn't your maestro a hennaed beard?

Why notjust grab it and hang like a midget. Why do you come here?

Does any young man sit at home?

My bread doesn't come so cheap

When women say things I can't lift up my eyes

No food for you here from now. Pay cash and eat

Won't you have something to eat before you go?

Have you told Ma I'm imposing on the family relations?

He can't make out anything, he's such a child, mother!

Why do you listen to nonsense? Destroy the future for a day's words?

Just grit your teeth for two years

Look Khuki, only you know my worth

If you'd gone you'd have missed out on tomorrow

Tomorrow's Jagatdhatri Puja

Oh, tomorrow's your birthday!

Father's going to take me on an outing, like before

Father... where?

Not decided - anywhere?

Okay, count me in, I'll come too

Brother, you're such a child!

Father'd refuse if I told him

Sunrise!

Didn't Keats have a poem

Poetry of the earth is never dead

This crop field! To perceive its beauty costs no money

And there is no money

But this is here. Very much here

You know the real truth?

Living is an art

You'll have stomach trouble

Will you remain a glutton all your life!

Ignorant lad, you shouldn't say things like that

Won't you give us too

Could we get a drink of water near by

Sir, you're three months subscription overdue

Please give me at least something

Okay, come tomorrow, I'll see what I can do

Hey, I don't hear your voice...

at the rehearsals. What are you doing nowadays?

They aren't giving me a proper role lately

Proper roles, acting, actor!

Sir

Who are you?

I'm Sanat

You the one who's got a high second class in pure physics?

Someone said so. Yes, Khuki did

Yes. We do get to meet

You've gone so sickly and dark, auntie

What do you plan to do now?

I'm looking for a scholarship to do a doctoral research

Monkey!

For a D.S. C? - D. Phil's are all too common

Swine!

What is your thesis about? - The Reynold Number...

of the Supersonic Vibration of the Lower Gangetic Plain

Ape! - Yes

Not you, it's about Shankar. I was comparing the two

He's done nothing all his life

Come son, have a bite to eat

So you're immersed in studies?

No other way out in life

What a lovely place

I won't be able to do any sort of work. - Go and serve this tea to Sanat

Oh mother! Sanat has come?

What the -

What're you staring at? Hold this! I'm late

How come you sit indoors all evening

Bye

You've come so I'll go late for tuition

Let's go out for a walk. What happened?

Let's go

Where's the one inside?

Get out!

Are you all right! - Yes

You know this is the guru I was telling you about

And when was that?

Bring home all the vagabonds Can't feed oneself

Beginning's a bit troublesome

What a lovely voice! You'd be spellbound if you heard it

If you bring such a nuisance home again...

Just wait. I'm coming

Quick, bring some money

Ma, we're going out. I'll do the tuition on the way back

It's hard to get the scholarship

Just a few month more

And then

And then just get a job

And with your earning's I'll

You're free to tear down the distance

Your genius is so large

That picture you've seen in my room... - Those two kids?

Me and Brother

You know Sanat, we once went walking on the hills there

Waking up while it's still dark to see the sunrise from a peak

What suffering!

But when the sun came out...

I just can't explain to you...

As kids, brother'd tease me. She wants to catch the moon!

He still does

Neeta, you're just not cut out for this

So much to suffer -

Well then make glass case

and inside it, keep me like a wax doll

I'll be late for tuition. Bye

No need to panic, just a bone fracture

Neetu, come out

An injury in old age, it'll be hard to cure

Now she'll have to run the whole household

Neeta! What brings you here?

Weren't you sitting for M. A this year?

I couldn't go on studying. I work now. Bye

You'd better spin a new yarn on your dues

Didn't tell you yesterday...

You'll get it as soon as I do? That's a stale one

D'you take us to be your community father...

and feel free to rest on us?

Why not get a job. Get settled in life

You'll never understand something called an ideal

Your friend Sarojbabu came I asked him the answers

What did he say? - National Chemical

Joy Engineering

Jagat Hosiery

Three jobs just waiting for you, and you're researching the air?

Sir, the lady's here... - Bring her here

Your ideal is here...

A really hectic time I've had, luckily I got a job

The way things are after Father's accident

I can't say I like it. Why did you give up studies?

What can I do?

There are so many at home...

And they are all waiting, looking up to me...

Let's go

Praise be to the goddess of learning bestower of perseverance

Give us prosperity...

Four annas for me to buy a shave...

Goddess of learning

Mother of the Universe

It's quite unbearable

I'll work, and you do the studying

I can easily get a job

Then our wedding...

Can't happen now

Why not?

How can it? If I leave that household...

My old Father, younger brother and sister...

Shankar's a rascal, why should you bear his load?

You can't read him at all!

He'll be big one day, as you will too

I pin my hopes on you two

After that I may have time

That means, till then...

We'll have to wait. - Why should we wait?

Don't be crazy

I'll drop by in a day or two

I have a question

Come...

For a singer you certainly can afford a shave

Shorn all shame as well? - What shame?

The whole clan eating off the labours of one sister. Destroying her future

Any idea how the whole colony's talking about it?

Aren't you the older brother? - Look here Banshi-da...

Your giving me blades on credit has nothing to do with my family affairs

Oh, come off it!

I call Neeta Sindbad the sailor

They're all on her shoulder like the old man of the sea

That'll be her fate till she drop dead

Wasting my time all these days

I've now come to the river at the wrong time

I don't know your name, O boatman!

Who shall I call for?

Who'll row me across?

The boat is here, but there's no boatman

There's no man on the banks

Sir, I've finished the lesson

It's quite late. You'd better go home

Montu's skipped college a month now

Heard today, he's failed

His name has been struck off the rolls because...

he couldn't pay the fees

What good would college do him any way?

Good that girl has a job

Just as well, isn't it?

Father, you know about Montu?

You don't need to bring bad news, everyone knows

Everyone also knows you're the happiest to see us harmed

And you, and your young man! - Wife!

Montu's got a job in a factory as a sportsman

He was too scared to tell you

He's brought his first pay

Everything kept secret! As if I were an enemy

Like father, like children

I won't touch this money

Now on, run the household and face the music yourself

Job in a factory? Labour!

So what? These jobs have better prospects nowadays

Just see where middle class life descends!

Take me to the other room

You all think I just quarrel, you see me quarrelling all the time,

you think me a harridan

How different I've become during the last 10 years

I'm growing so strange

You don't have to explain, Ma

Really, I can't take the load of this household any more

Please set me free

If Shankar had been a man...

you wouldn't have to take all the burden

Brother's really very good

Don't count on your father any more, dear

May be he'll stand up again, walk again

But something seems to be going wrong right in the head

He won't be able to earn again

After all, I've known him from the age of seven

Don't worry, Ma, I'm here

You have your own wishes too, may be a lot else

Any way, you're all I have

You know, one can't seem to calm the mind

The truth is, you are my sole support

But even you scare me

My own daughter and still, a distant being

What if you too go away

I still don't know you, after all these years

Will you say something?

Sorry, I've interrupted you

Come and eat, it's late. - You've still not eaten!

No. - Why?

Because you haven't eaten

I really impose on you all, don't I?

Sentimental slob! - No, really

Your whole future your marriage

People are getting nasty

It hurts your male ego?

Don't you have a male ego? - Something much bigger - my training

Right now, of course, I'm exploiting you

Really disturbs me deep down

Are you serious? - Yes

I love you all like crazy

You all do too, but you're too shy to say so

If anyone else loves me...

he'll surely wait for me

It doesn't worry me

Right now I just won't marry

When you become a star, then I'll marry

Don't I exist till then?

Then all my suffering will vanish

Don't you vanish as well?

Will you take me to the hills then?

In the open hill side I'll play around merrily

I will. You're such a child

Drive away sadness and poverty

Give happiness to all

Adarang makes plea

Listen O Being

I'll take your name you Suzerain Being

I spoke like Father... don't fall!

You haven't come for so long. Why?

Can't seem to make it

What about...

that question you were going to ask? - Probably won't be necessary

I'll just do a tuition and come

Ma, shall I give him the tea?

Yes

Ma! He's sitting all alone. Shall we talk?

Or shall we go out? - Don't know, anything you like

Let's stroll around the pond

Sister won't be coming you know

Let's go

Fire-fly!

Man doesn't have pity for you!

Your voice is lovely

Don't be stupid. Since it's a good job, take it

Leave the mess, take a nice flat

And find yourself a nice match

Let's see

The way you stare, your life will pass in staring

Don't wake me, my kind, I'll chide you

Here are my slippers!

Quick, take them off!

Look Montu, mine can't be worn any longer

You see, I'd gone with my maestro to a concert...

So you can earn and wear what you like

Dear Montu! Give me some money

What? - About eight annas, may be four!

How much can one scrounge off Neeta!

Yet my hair's grown so long...

If you're a beggar, you should look like one

Brother, you go to your room

Are you hurt?

Well, you've all grown up in my arms

Oh, Let him talk!

Get some clothes made

Get a haircut and look decent

Buy a pair of slippers. - No

You certainly have a dark future ahead

Look, those who suffer at the plight of others are doomed to suffer forever

You're a complete idiot!

In Banshi Dutt's words, you...

Our Sindbad the sailor!

Or else how'd a fool like me make a fool of you?

What sort of boy is Sanat?

That boy has no principles

Sister, here's the money

Only fifty!

Yes, had to put on a month's deposit at the Mess -

He's decided to stay in the factory Mess this month on

Leaving home? - Yes, I mean...

going to work from here is tough, you know

Also, one needs good food to keep the body fit for sports

If you'd said so, something could've been done right here!

No sister, that couldn't be

But whatever I can spare I'll come and give to you

Young chap - he also has wants of his own

And his elders at home just sit and eat

Saw Sanat'da at our Head Office today

He's in the Stores Department. Imagine! A science student ends up

At what salary? - Three hundred at least

The boss is his pal, you see

Sanat babu isn't here. He left only last month

Oh, it's you. You want his address, I suppose?

I took a job

Have you thought about getting Geetu married?

I shall in continuation of Neeta's marriage

One should think serially

You've educated her, that's why she can run the household

Finding a groom for a working girl is less difficult

Get her married fast, you'll have all the time to suck your big fat toe

If she leaves, what will happen to this household?

But for that, to exploit this innocent daughter all her life

Without her what will you eat?

Where have you been? - For a stroll

You've your exams now. - Exam's not for me

Then what?

I'm getting married

Does Ma know to whom? - Sanat'babu

Rushing out in the heat all at once won't help

Everyone doesn't have the patience to wait

There's something you should know

Did you ask about Montu?

He's gone to Delhi

Geeta was talking about your ear-rings and bangles -

You know what she is like!

Let her have them. She needs them more

What I mean is, this isn't how I wanted it

How much curd we should get?

At one time, they married off their daughter to the dying

They were barbarians!

And now we're educated, civilised!

We educate the girl...

to wring her dry and destroy her future

There's all the difference

It's tea time. I'll get your tea

Who all want sweets?

They haven't given you any sweets?

Childhood seems so far away!

And those hills...

Don't seem to be of this earth

No one climbs hills any more - They go to the whether regions

I've got a job on a singing school. Don't tell Ma

Do your M.A. Too. I'll organise it

Will you teach me one of Tagore's songs?

I used to sing well before

It's soft-hearted idiots like you that get hurt most

Good - make a glass case, and inside it

keep me like a wax doll

I'm leaving this household

Even though I'm a nobody

I can't bear this any more

I'm leaving with a protest

You go on suffering silently, and get crushed to death

Want to learn singing?

I'll have to sing at the wedding

I didn't know you'd come in

Everything went black

The lamp went out

For whom did I reach out on high?

I didn't know you'd come in

In darkness I lay dreaming

How could I know the storm was the pennant of your triumph?

Only in the morning did I see

There you were, standing

There where emptiness had filled my room

Haven't you gone to office?

Not feeling well. Feverish

Don't you go to the library nowadays?

Letter from Montu's factory

What about?

On last night shift. Montu... not dead!

Hurt badly!

The machine didn't devour him

It was expected

I'm going to the hospital. Don't worry about me

This was expected. This is the rule

The house surgeon has said he'll need blood transfusion

Will it need a lot of money? - Yes, by tomorrow

The crisis isn't over yet

Hey - your skin's very warm!

Moving about with such a fever?

I get it quite often. - Does it come on every evening?

Have an x-ray taken

Khuki is bit shy she won't say anything

But I apprehend some trouble...

I hear she get's fever

And she's taking care of Montu who's in the hospital

And we have no money

If you can, please check her once

I haven't had anything the whole day. Please give me some water

Where's Geetu? - She's taking her nap

You didn't go to the office?

No. I don't go quite often

Doesn't feel like going

Montu had an accident. He's in a hospital

For the last two days I'm not feeling all right

I'll have to arrange blood

I couldn't even inform you

Neeta has come

How long!

I'm getting late. Bye

You let her go. - She hasn't come to see me

You could've asked her to stay

Without knowing her reason how can you assume

I don't feel it is necessary

Montu is admitted to a hospital

I couldn't even ask Neeta why she came to see us

What is your name, young bride?

You could've done your X-Ray

If you come here I can organise it

What if I'm really ill?

I'm the only earning member

Any way, the blood is needed immediately

How's Montu? - Well

Can you help me get some money? For blood, for medicines

Can't get anything anywhere. That's why I went to Geetu

How much? - About 150 will do

Try to get a little rest. For your own benefit

Benefit - for me? Looking like one of hell's ravens

I do a hard day's work for my bread

Where?

Come

I'll give it to you at the hospital tomorrow

150 rupees... where've they gone? - I gave them to Ma

You mean Neeta

Yes, I did. It's my money

Can an old flame really be forgotten? - Will you stop it!

Getting nasty won't help at all. I'm warning you

Come, my daughter Uma, to me

Let me garland you with flowers

You're the soul of my sad self, Mother deliverer!

Let me bid you farewell now, My daughter!

You're leaving my home desolate, for your husband's place

How do I endure your leaving, my daughter?

Have you heard about Shankar?

They're saying he's made quite a name in Bombay

What's happened to you?

Making your bed out here so late, in the outer room?

In this friendless house...

what do inner and outer rooms mean?

Will you hide it even from me, tell nothing at all?

When there was time, Ma, you didn't listen!

There's such a void between us now...

This tongue of mine...

has gone out of control

The world has been cut off by a great wall...

Spare me a sob story so late at night. I've work tomorrow

What can you do about it? - Can I go on acting a part?

Not acting

Probably it's penance

Penance?

Have you sinned?

Of course, I have. I've made no protest against any injustice

And that's my sin

I shouldn't have been so ordinary

You go home

Have you nothing else to say?

What should I say?

Come to think of it now, I've come very far from it all

Now there's only work

Neeta, you're completely cleansed

I'll leave my job, go back to a life of struggle

Whatever obstacles come up I shouldn't back away

However rotten I might be, but still I'm something

I can't go on banging my head against a wall, Neeta

What's happened? - Just tripped up a little

I can get the Office Super to grant you leave

Don't. He won't grant it

A poor Brahman in Mathura...

who knew no happiness ever

Begging for a whole day once...

returned without a grain

He sat depressed under a tree...

and wept by himself...

till the sage Satyanarayana...

approached in the guise of a fakir...

God doesn't hit you from all sides

If by the Guru's grace one bears up to it, one stands up again

The boss himself reached him home

My Montu still has his job

And they'll pay good

Compensation. Over a thousand rupees, isn't it?

On this auspicious day...

you're happy with your lord and friends!

Shankar! Isn't it you?

The papers carry your pictures. Made it big in Bombay! Have you?

You certainly are the pride of Bengal. Let me see Bengal has tigers, too

Do you really get 500 per concert?

No, not less than 1200

Your body scented with perfume, forehead marked with sandal-paste!

Doe-eyed, breeze-swept lashes

May your wisdom be for your people

And be happy with your lord and friends

I told you so many time. But you came so late...

Made quite a name!

A lot of people talk about you

If it's a boy, you must give me a necklace!

Will you never live at home?

If this house is so bad, change it

We're never going to be rid of the problem of eviction

Yet even here people do take heart, and build home. Forget their troubles

Please, tell him

I've always wanted a two-storey house

Demolish the house and build two storeys

The clay-wall room can stay. It can be easily fixed

But can you cure my mind?

So that I can read Wordsworth again, and enjoy him

Remember? Swan and Shadows float double!

Where's Khuki?

In that room

Goes to work, then back to that room. Eats there too

Communicates with nobody. Keeps everything hid

Falls ill, runs a fever - tells nobody

Even washes her own dishes

Love letters in old age?

Brother please -

I was just watching you all

How well you've all established yourselves!

Now again, as in childhood...

I have no burdens

Khuki has T. B. A very bad stage

Poor thing!

I accuse

Whom?

Nobody at all

I'll see about her treatment and then get back

I'll stay here tonight

I've packed your clothes...

You go away

They're dreaming of two storeys

You're successful!

Why stay on now

They pity you today!

You weren't up to carrying the burden

But you were the one who carried it

Now you're the burden yourself

There's poison in your breath

This room is for the new born

Go away, dear

Come, my daughter Uma, to me

Let me garland you with flowers

You are the soul of my sad self...

Mother deliverer!

Let me bid you farewell now, my daughter!

You are leaving my home desolate

For your husband's peace

How do I endure your leaving...

my daughter?

Where're you off to?

I just made arrangements. A sanatorium at Shillong

At last you'll see the hills

She likes the hills?

Very much. Right from childhood

But remember, don't excite her. She may have a relapse

"The Cloud-Covered Star"...

Sanat's letter

I wonder why I kept it so long

D'you know, the house has a second storey now

Geeta's son is walking. - Naughty, is he?

He's made life hell for Father

The way he climbs straight up the stairs by himself...

The kid's so full of life...

gets such a thrill just climbing up the stairs

Brother, you know I really wanted to live

I love so much to be alive

Brother, tell me once that I'll live

Brother, I want to go home

Khuki! Have you gone crazy!

Shankar - have you got back from visiting your sister!

How is she now?

Why don't you speak?

No one remembers her anymore -

Going in and out daily, slippers flapping...

such a quiet girl, why should she have to suffer so much!

Come, my daughter Uma, to me

Let me garland you with flowers

You are the soul of my sad self, Mother deliverer!

Let me bid you farewell now, my daughter!

You're leaving my home desolate...

For your husband's place

How do I endure your leaving, my daughter

Translation: Probir Ghosh