Original subtitles

Tasneem.

I don't want him anywhere near that house.

I think he might be just the boy for Lata.

May I write to Lata, Mrs Mehra?

Of course, Haresh.

Dagh Sahib.

She's sent for me.

I think you are a lipstick girl.

Go away!

SHOUTING

Pran!

Bhaskar!

SCREAMING AND CRYING

SHE SOBS

Bhaskar.

Sister.

Bhaskar Tandon!

We find him.

Bhaska-a-a-a-r!

Bhaskar Tandon.

B-H-A-S-K-A-R.

Bhaskar Tandon.

Professor Kapoor?

Oh, my God.

Bhaskar?

Is he all right?

You knew my name?

I'm a student at the university.

I know Lata.

Kabir Durrani.

Oh, thank you.

My Bhaskar.

Thank you so much.

Ma!

Thank you.

Daddy.

Your Bhaskar was one of the lucky ones.

And Kabir,

the hero of the hour.

So, is it all over

between you and Kabir?

He wrote to me in Calcutta, you know.

Did he? He seemed to be blaming me,

as if he was the one whose feelings had been hurt.

I suppose it was very melodramatic of me

asking him to run away with me.

Very adventurous, rather.

You're always telling me how bold I am,

but I think you have outdone me.

I don't know any more.

Did anything else happen...

Yes.

I was called a lipstick girl.

But I don't want to talk about it.

All right.

Oh, oh, oh.

Firoz!

Maan!

It's good to see you.

How wild and brown you look.

Try shitting in the fields, chotay Nawab.

I'm exhausted.

Come on.

You're in danger of dissolving.

Not bad.

This must be the biggest Kurta you own.

You do realise Saeeda Bai closes shop for Manu?

Does she?

The Raja of Marh will be annoyed.

She won't sing for him...

..or you.

Don't tell me you're jealous.

Well...

..as you once said,

I never tell you anything.

Then I can go visit Saeeda.

If I go home, Baoji will be furious.

I think you should go home first.

It's disrespectful to your parents.

You think I've planned all this.

Perhaps you have.

But I don't mind.

On second thoughts, why not?

Points to remember.

One, keep up with news and world affairs.

100...

Three, make 1951

the deciding year of my life.

Four,

pay off debts.

Six,

perhaps shave off my moustache.

Or not.

Seven...

..make Lata love me.

and the nice time we spent together.

You must have brought me luck,

because the moment you left,

I won a big order for the company

and I fully anticipate

an early promotion.

TELEPHONE RINGS

Where is Jagat Ram?

That lazy bastard?

Gone.

Dismissed.

He left his shift before time.

His daughter is in the hospital.

I gave him leave to go home early.

You had no business dismissing him.

I want him reinstated instantly.

You give men time off for sick children,

then what happens?

You have no workforce at all.

I said, I want him reinstated instantly!

Since when have you started giving orders?

I say what happens round here,

not you.

What is done is done.

Am I to be overruled in favour of this...

..clock-watching mediocrity?

Mr Khanna,

that is no way to speak about a colleague.

I will not have it.

In fact, I think it will would best

if Mr Sengupta took over the HSH contract from now on.

What?

I slogged my guts for that order.

This has changed the fortunes of this factory.

If you give it to Sengupta, he will butcher the job.

We'll find out, but as of now,

my decision is final.

In that case...

..I can see no point in my carrying on here.

So...

..I'm tendering my resignation.

You cannot leave.

You are under contract.

I refuse to work at this benighted place,

whatever the consequences.

Mr...

TELEPHONE RINGS

Just like that.

MAN LAUGHS

MAN: Are you a lipstick girl, Lata?

What's wrong, Lata? You're not yourself.

You know, what you need is something different

to occupy your thoughts.

Lata...

..I have an idea.

Twelfth Night.

Just what you need.

Why not try out for it?

I will if you will.

Come on, Lata.

A play is just the thing for you.

Come.

I'm nervous.

Come in, come in, come in.

Introduce yourselves to each other.

This first reading will just be a run-through

of the text.

You set this up.

What are you doing here?

The same as you, I suppose.

You never told me you were interested in amateur dramatics.

Nor did you tell me.

Well, I wasn't, till Malati dragged me to the auditions.

And I hear you did very well.

Is that why you auditioned?

Possibly.

It's good to see you again, Lata.

So, who are you playing?

Malvolio.

MALATI SNIGGERS

I auditioned for the Duke, but...

Anything that brings us closer together.

You're mad.

Shall we begin?

If music be the food of love...

ALL: Play on!

And commands shall be executed.

I think we do know the sweet Roman hand.

Olivia?

Wilt thou go to bed, Malvolio?

To bed?

Aye, sweetheart, and I'll come to thee.

Ladies and gentlemen!

Lata?

Yes?

My father heard he has a gift for mathematics

and thought it might interest him.

I hope it's not too much trouble.

No, not at all.

We owe you so much for what you did.

It was lucky I was there.

I'm sorry I embarrassed you in the rehearsal.

Not your fault.

Shakespeare laid a trap for us.

Yes.

I must go now. Goodbye.

So, you see, I don't know what to write to Lata.

What will she think?

What will her mother think...

..if I have to tell her that now I am a workless man?

Not workless,

but between jobs.

You know you will soon find a good post.

I'm going to try with Praha.

The Czech firm?

They're first class,

I don't know.

Perhaps they won't see me at all.

Of course they will.

But first, you must write to Lata, and tell her the truth.

Then write to me and tell me how it goes.

I'm going to stay at my place in Delhi.

After my success with Lata,

Ma is sending her youngest son Varun

to stay with me while he interviews for the IAS.

I haven't seen him since he was a little boy.

I wonder how he's turned out.

As you can see,

I am on my way somewhere.

The cause of the Pul Mela disaster.

What conclusions have you reached?

Many possible explanations have been put forward.

It is possible

that we may never know.

Agarwal,

as Home Minister, surely you must be exploring

all urgent enquiries.

And may I remind you, Mr Kapoor,

that with an election imminent,

this may not be the best moment

Best to move forward, don't you agree?

Weren't you yourself responsible for security at the Pul Mela?

Hundreds were injured,

12 people died,

I almost lost my grandson.

I'm thinking of leaving the Congress party.

What? You mean leave politics altogether?

Perhaps.

With the Zamindari Bill being written into law,

and upheld by the courts,

maybe it's the right time.

Nobody is going to take blame for the Pul Mela disaster.

And the Home Minister knows exactly what will happen

between Hindus and Muslims

if Ramlila and Muharram clash next month.

I'm sick of the face-saving and the corruption in Assembly.

But that's why the country needs people like you...

..to fight corruption.

In fact, the countryside needs you.

Look, come to my constituency,

stand in Rudhia, where you can make such a real difference.

Will you consider it?

I'm touched by your trust in me.

Come and stay at Baitar Fort and see how things are.

You might bring your son.

Maan?

Won't he be a liability?

My people tell me he is greatly respected

by the villagers of Rudhia and Salimpur.

And Maan has spoken to me

of his interest in the lives of the village people.

And when did he tell you this?

Didn't you know he's staying here at Baitar House?

Hmm.

Maan Mamu!

Bhaskar? How are you?

Are you recovered? Yes, Maan Mamu.

You must watch me or I'll kutti with you.

You can't kutti with your mamu!

Huh?

Now, little monkey, 17 times 369?

Maan.

Namaste, Baoji.

How did you know Bhaskar has been recovering?

We did not write to you.

How long have you been back in Brahmpur -

hiding from your family?

I'm here now.

You bring shame to us with your behaviour.

You only come back home now

because Saeeda Bai shuts her house to Hindus for Moharram.

It's my life, Baoji.

Unfortunately, you're part of our lives.

You won't be going back to her again.

I'm taking you back to the countryside.

I'm standing for Congress in Rudhia.

In Rasheed's village?

Yes. Rhudia is in the Nawab's constituency.

And you are coming with me.

Suniye?

The doctor will be here very soon.

No hurry. First births take a long time in general.

12 hours is quite normal.

Oh, don't I know it!

With my first, it went on so long, and the pain,

it was so terrible, I wanted to die.

Ma-ji. Shall we talk about something else?

I am trying to prepare her! Otherwise, what is a mother for?

SHE GASPS

Is it really that painful?

Yes. It's truly terrible.

But when the baby is born, it is a joy to behold.

If everything is all right, that is.

What do you mean? What? Well... Ma, please.

Breathe. I'm right here.

"I feel so sorry to burden you with the news I have given above.

"You will have to decide whether you could care for me

"as a man without employment.

"My feelings for you have not changed.

"Indeed, the more I think of you, the stronger they grow.

"But if you wish to stop corresponding, I will understand."

BABY CRIES IN DISTANCE

SHE COOS

Ma!

Thank you for waiting.

PHONE RINGS

Hello?

Mr Novak and Mr Havel will see you now.

Take the stairs, it's the third office along.

Why are you here?

Because I want to work here.

And I think I could be an asset to your firm, sir.

When you wrote to us, we offered you a job and you turned it down.

As a workman, at 28 rupees a week.

I was in management at CLFC.

Something clearly went wrong with that,

or you would not be here begging us for a job.

Havel? What do you think of this man?

HAVEL EXHALES

Show me your hands.

You're not a shoemaker.

I am, sir. No, you are not.

Some other line would be better for you.

I can make a first-class pair of shoes from

the design pattern to the finished product. Out of the question.

Suppose...

..you choose the most difficult design on your production line

and I make a first-class shoe to that design...

..will you consider it then?

Brogues, Blake Welted.

For the foreman's job.

You make a shoe to our satisfaction,

and you can start as a foreman on 80 a week.

How's that?

I accept.

Havel.

Relax, Novak.

He will fail.

He doesn't have the thumbs for it.

"Dear Haresh, I'm sorry to hear you had to resign from your job.

"Their loss will inevitably be someone else's gain.

"Don't forget that the unkindness of people only

"hurts as long as we remember it.

Which bed for Mrs Savita Kapoor?

Bed number four. OK, thank you.

Kuku. Yes!

# Baby, baby, sweet as mangoes

# See your aunties twirl and tango! #

What a lovely surprise. Oh, we couldn't leave you

to struggle on without help.

Baby.

Oh, this is very pretty.

"A Lady Baby came today, what words are quite so nice to say?

"They make one smile, they make one pray for Lady Baby's happiness.

"Hush...

"Lady Baby's fast asleep, the friendly fire-flames dance and leap.

"And burning her to ash, they sweep across the Lady Baby's dress...

BABY WAILS

Meenakshi, control your sister.

She is most certainly not.

It's just a college play.

Twelfth Night.

MEENAKSHI GASPS

Shakespeare.

Oh, I wonder what it would have been like to be married to him

and have him whisper sweet words in my ear.

Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?

Amit sends his love.

But we were introduced to a very fine young man in Lucknow,

weren't we, Lata?

A shoemaker.

BOTH: A shoemaker?

A shoemaker.

HE SIGHS

This is first-class work.

Admit it, Novak, this is better than you or I could do.

So I get the job?

You do.

Foreman, 80 rupees a week. Do you accept?

I agree the salary, though it's low.

I need to live in the Praha accommodation

and be able to use the Officers' Club.

It is important to me.

THEY SPEAK CZECH

Welcome to Praha, Mr Khanna.

Madam, you have done me wrong.

No, no, no! Madam, you have done ME wrong.

Try it again.

Is that the handsome Muslim?

Madam... That's the one.

Hm... Very nice. Mm-hm.

I am mad...

Thick, dark hair and luscious lips...

Madam, you have done ME wrong.

Our brother had better look sharp

if he wants to stand a chance. Madam, you have done ME wrong.

Is Amit interested in Lata?

More than he has been in any other girl.

THEY LAUGH

Pray you...

Would you young ladies please keep quiet?

Thank you, Professor. Thank you.

Excuse me...

HE CHANTS HAPPILY IN HINDI

O-o-o-o-oh!

"Dear Haresh.

"Good news about Praha.

"Meenakshi and her sister Kakoli just left for Calcutta.

"Our home is in chaos at the moment,

"and my afternoons are taken up with rehearsals."

Let me see your face.

Look you, sir...

SHE CHUCKLES

Such a one I was this present.

"I don't know if I'm myself or one of Shakespeare's creatures."

"Please keep me informed about everything that happens.

"No-one here has lost faith in you.

"Affectionately, Lata."

Yeah.

It's nice to be back home.

Oh, did I tell you? Kuku and I saw Lata's new student flame.

Very handsome, flashing eyes.

That Muslim? Forget it.

What about the other one that writes to her?

Your mother seems to favour him.

And she could have Amit.

Let's invite him to us.

Who? The cobbler.

You can sound him out, and if he's not quite the thing,

as I suspect, send him packing.

Bloody hell.

For once I wish my damned brother was here.

He could speak to the cobbler, so I don't have to.

Darling...

HE SIGHS

Gosh, I don't know how to do this.

Never say, "I don't know."

Always say...

.."I'm afraid I have no idea."

I'm afraid I have no idea.

SHE LAUGHS

You look very presentable.

If you start to feel anxious during the interview...

..think of last night.

Tell yourself...

.."I am the Iron Frame of India."

I...am the Iron Frame of India.

"I am the Iron Frame of India."

SHAKILY: I...am the Iron Frame of India.

So you're originally from Delhi, is that right, Mr Khanna?

Yes, indeed. I went to St Stephen's College there.

Ah, very good college.

And then you went to England? Was that to Oxford or to Cambridge?

Northampton College of Technology.

Really?

It is one of the best places to study shoe manufacture, you know?

Yes, I dare say it is.

When I go to London, I always stay at Claridge's.

And I say, "It is all to my satisfaction."

THEY LAUGH

He never takes me.

And do you like London, Mr Khanna?

Yes! I like the pubs.

Pubs? You can find a pub on almost every corner.

Very friendly places.

IN ENGLISH ACCENT: "Gentlemen, time, please." Hm?

That is what they say at closing time, you know?

Oh...!

I expect you saw quite a lot of plays in the West End?

The Deep Blue Sea? The Lady's Not for Burning?

I was in Northampton.

There was the local repertory theatre,

but mostly I went to the cinema.

Dick Barton. Red River.

Easter Parade.

All very excellent.

Where do you buy toys for your little girl, Mr Mehra?

I am always telling Mr Khandelwal to buy toys from England.

Well, of course,

there's nowhere to compare with Hamleys on Regent Street.

Ah, Hamleys!

Five floors of nothing but toys on every floor!

When were you last in England, Mr Mehra?

HE COUGHS

Darling. Dekho tou.

HE CONTINUES COUGHING

I do beg your pardon.

So maybe...? Sorry.

You were telling us when you were most recently in England.

Well...

HE CLEARS THROAT

..as it happens...

..it might surprise you to learn,

but I have never actually had the opportunity to...go there.

Drinks, anyone? Oh, my darling.

Anyone for another drink?

GLASS SHATTERS

SHE PLAYS PIANO

SHE PLAYS OUT OF TUNE

SHE SUCKS TEETH

Amit.

Yes?

What do you think of Lata?

I like her very much.

Enough to marry her?

Perhaps.

You know, you have rivals.

I scorn to compete.

But you must let her know how you feel, or you will lose her.

Leave me alone, Kuku.

# Luscious Lata, born to be

# Lady Lata Chatterji

# Kuku-clock chimes out her name... #

You are the stupidest girl I know.

Cuddles.

Go and bite Amit.

Come on, Cuddles.

DOG WHIMPERS

Rou Sakeena! Haye haye. Rou Sakeena! Haye haye.

Rou Sakeena! Haye haye.

Rou Sakeena! Haye haye. Rou Sakeena! Haye haye.

Rou Sakeena! Haye haye.

Rou Sakeena! Haye haye. Rou Sakeena! Haye haye.

Rou Sakeena! Haye haye.

Saeeda?

You know you can't speak to her today.

Just to see her was enough.

It means something, what she's doing, giving out sherbet.

It is the holiest time for our Shia community.

It commemorates the terrible thirst of the Shia martyrs at Karbala.

You must respect the gesture.

Do you think she will forgive me?

Moharram is almost over.

I'm sure Dagh Sahib will find his way back to her soon.

I have to go and see Bhaskar now. He's in the Ramlila procession.

Come and watch?

Yes, after I have led the Tazia procession with my father.

I'll meet you here.

# Peeto mohibbo

# Hind se

# Aaqa ka kooch hai

# Rou ke aaj Sayyed-e

Shah ast Hussain,

badshah ast Hussain,

deen ast Hussain,

dar dast-e-yazid,

haqaa key bin-aey la ila ast Hussain.

Ya Hussain.

CROWD CHANTING: Ya Hussain. Ya Hussain. Ya Hussain.

LAUGHTER

Bhaskar, haath upar karo achey se.

Look, there's Bhaskar. Bhaskar, Maan Mamu.

Bhaskar!

Bhaskar!

I'm mighty and I'm powerful! Hey, my mighty boy!

CHANTING

We should move. Come, Bhaskar.

CHANTING CONTINUES

CHILD SCREAMS

Stay close to me.

BABY FUSSES

Sh, sh...

Maan hasn't reached home yet.

No, Lata, don't, please.

BABY FUSSES

Sh, sh, sh...

ANGRY SHOUTING

Maan mamu.

BABY CRIES, THEY PANT

Sh!

Don't worry, the blood's not from us.

I must call my father.

What happened?

DOGS BARK, FLAMES CRACKLE

DISTANT SHOUTING

Kya naam hai tumhara? Paper dikhao apnay.

Pura naam kya hai?

How has Ammi been today?

Not so good.

I hope she didn't know about the riots last night.

How are you, Ammi?

Close the door, it's cold.

It's all right, I closed it.

What day is it?

It's Thursday.

Tonight's the opening of Twelfth Night.

Remember? I am playing Malvolio.

Yeah. That's right.

How is your father?

Still asking if two and two makes four?

Yes.

When I was married to him...

You still are, Ammi.

You're not listening to me.

When I...

You've made me forget!

We don't have much time.

They're trying to get me married to someone else.

They've put guards outside my door at night.

And my doctor, did he go to Karachi, or did they kill him?

They lit his beard - I saw him go up in smoke.

Ammi, I am Kabir.

I found the girl I want to marry.

Ammi...

I came to you for your blessing.

You look beautiful, my dear.

Really, Lata, they are going to love you.

Beginners, please!

Orsino, Curio, musicians. Olivia, you look beautiful.

And where is Mr Durrani? Has somebody seen him? Sir.

Oh, hurry, hurry, hurry.

Will you be at the cast party?

I'd like to speak with you.

All right.

Break a leg.

Thank you, I will.

Some are born mad, some achieve madness.

And some have madness thrust upon them.

The play is directed by Professor Mishra.

Also known as The Great White Whale.

CLATTERING, HURRIED CHATTER

TRUMPETS SOUND

If music be the food of love, play on.

INDISTINCT

God bless thee, Lady.

Take the fool away.

There she is. Lata! Look. Lata.

Do you not hear, fellows? Take away the lady.

What think you of this fool, Malvolio?

Doth he not mend?

Yes, and shall do till the pangs of death shake him.

Not black in my mind, though yellow in my leg.

LAUGHTER

Wilt thou go to bed, Malvolio? To bed?

Who is that boy?

LAUGHTER

TRUMPETS SOUND

You shall from this time be your master's mistress.

Ahoy! Hey!

Madam.

Is this the madman?

Ay, my lord, the same.

Why have you suffer'd me to be imprison'd, kept in a dark place,

visited by a priest?

Alas, Malvolio, this is not my writing.

Poor fool, how they have baffled thee.

I'll be revenged on the whole pack of you!

# But that's all one Our play is done

TRUMPET SOUNDS

# O gore gore

# O banke chore

# Kabhi meri gali aaya karo

# Gori gori

# O banki chori

# Chahe roz bulaya karo

# Roz roz mulaqat achchhi nahin

# Pyaar mein aisi baat achchhi nahin

# Thora thora milna

# Thodi si judaai

# Sada chandni raat... #

You were so good! And I am so proud of you.

If only your father could have seen you.

No, Ma.

We've worked on this play for months and we want to celebrate.

Come on, Lata.

Professor Mishra will see I get home safely.

Dazzling, Lata.

# Gori gori

# O banki chori

# Chahe roz bulaya karo

# Gore gore

# O banke chore

# Gori gori O banki chori

# Chahe roz bulaya karo! #

LAUGHTER AND WHOOPING

You were so good tonight.

So were you.

You're not still angry with me?

No.

I don't know.

I've thought so much about things.

I let you down, didn't I?

No, you were being sensible.

Why didn't I just say, "Yes, let's run away together"?

It's just not possible for us, Kabir.

Who says?

I know it's difficult for us, but where is your spirit?

Don't you care for me?

I do.

I do, I've never stopped loving you.

Oh, Lata.

But I can't give up my family. I can't give up my mother.

If you stand firm, as you did tonight,

your mother would have to accept it.

Kabir,

do you know of any mixed marriages that have worked out?

Do you know of any that haven't?

I don't know of any at all in our family!

Your family is not going to be there for ever.

Are you going to sacrifice yourself for them?

SHE SIGHS

You don't understand, Kabir.

My family is not like yours.

You're right, Lata,

your family is nothing like mine.

Lata?

Lata?

SHE SOBS

for Christmas lunch at the Czech cobblers' club.

I don't want you to ruin Lata's chances.

She doesn't have to stoop as low as that.

Do you know how happy you make me?

But now you are going to leave me again.

We Muslims are in a minority.

Who can protect us and our culture?

CROWD CHANTING

It's Amit's book of poetry!

It's very nice to see you again.

Why do you love her?

Because she's Lata.

# Gore gore

# O banke chore

# Kabhi meri gali aaya karo

# Gori gori

# O banki chori

# Chahe roz bulaya karo

# Gore gore O banke chore

# Kabhi meri gali aaya karo

# Gori gori o banki chori

# Chahe roz bulaya karo! #