Original subtitles

With Soumitra Chatterji, Babita and Sandhya Roy

Based on a novel by Bibhuti Bhuson Bannerji

DISTANT THUNDER

Cinematography by Soumendu Roy

Film editing by Dulal Dutt

Script, music and direction by Satyajit Ray

Flying boats!

How beautiful!

Like a flock of cranes.

The oil merchant's here. He's waiting.

Let him wait!

Ananga is just like me.

He loves water.

The water was so scarce where we came from.

But here, I can swim till I get bored of it.

Can you swim under water?

I'm afraid of that...

Look!

Where is she?

She's not afraid of anything.

Don't brag! And don't do it again!

It scares me.

Don't worry. I live a charmed life.

When I was little, there was a cholera outbreak in my village.

Eight people of my family died, but nothing happened to me.

Do you know in how many places I've lived since I got married?

Hariharpur, that's my husband's hometown.

Basudevpur... Bhatchala, where there was little water.

And now Natungeon. Four places in four years.

You won't leave now, will you?

We haven't even settled yet.

Everyone's happy to have you here. They're saying it's livelier now.

What do you mean?

You are so beautiful.

Your aspect attracts people.

You could use a good slap!

What about you?

No! Not me!

Who is that?

He works the forge.

He likes to watch.

He's like that...

And that face!

It gives you nightmares!

Hello, Moti.

- When did you get here? - Recently.

Don't touch me now. I would have to bathe again.

As you say...

I was talking about Bhatchaja...

And the lack of water...

Remember?

We've also talked quite a lot about you.

How is everybody?

- How are Kali and Bhanu? - Fine.

And Bhahu's baby?

She had a girl in August, almost a month since then...

About time too! When we left, she looked ready to give birth.

Now it's your turn. We shall celebrate it then!

When the time comes...

You know, Moti, we are very happy here.

I hope to stay happy.

Do you know how we lived in our first year of marriage?

He had to sell roots of arum lilies to buy rice.

You helped us, remember?

You brought us mangoes and other fruits.

I was happy too...

We liked having you in the village.

Why don't you stay a little longer?

You would be more than welcome.

Moti is here.

Welcome, Moti.

How much was the fish?

Sidhucharan caught eight.

So he thought it would be a good idea giving one to the Brahmin.

The garden is exuberant.

Moti, I'll give you some oil. Do you want to have a bath?

The river crosses the small forest.

It's late...

I'll go have a chat.

Biswas is the most important man around here.

I want to talk to him about starting a school.

He has contacts.

Didn't you want to work as a doctor?

I've done that already.

This is different.

These people are simple, ignorant. They have to be organized.

Imagine!

I'll have a school and, since I'm the only Brahmin in the village,

I shall also work as a priest.

Can you do all that?

A priest's work is not hard.

One has to follow the instructions from the Almanac.

- You know, today... - What?

Nothing.

- Tell me! - It's nothing.

You would laugh...

Is it funny?

I don't know.

I won't laugh.

Mokshada told me that I'm so beautiful...

that I make the place happier.

Why are you looking like that?

I think she is right.

Haven't you seen me before?

Hello... If you would let me pass...

Could you take my pulse?

Medicine requires a lot of ability, you know?

It's not like building a fountain.

It has to be practiced with a cool head.

How did you feel yesterday?

Heavy, like a rock... And I had high temperature.

- What did you eat? - A little bit of rice.

For God sake! Rice won't get your temperature down.

I won't eat it anymore.

Stupid peasant! No trace of common sense!

Take this with honey and basil juice.

Thanks a lot, sir.

- Do you have mustard seeds? - Yes, sir.

Very good.

Send me some. I don't buy oil. My man makes it out of the seeds.

Good day, doctor.

- Save me some palm juice. - I'll send it tomorrow, sir.

Bring a carpet for the doctor!

It's a pretty temple.

Do you offer any guidance?

Next year, we hope...

May I offer my help, sir?

Stupid question!

If the doctor may not, then who may?

You should be more respectful!

Do you want to smoke, sir?

Idiot! Don't offer the doctor this miserable pipe!

One second. I'll bring a clean pipe from the house.

You should think before you talk.

You asked me about guiding... Do you know anything about it?

He's an ignorant.

I meant the following... I've decided to open a school.

I shall speak with Biswas. I hope to see you and your sons.

A good idea.

It would be good for the children.

For children and for adults.

Here's a great pipe for you, sir!

Will you ask money for teaching?

The school can't stay open without money.

Teaching others is a reward in itself...

But I have to feed myself, so they'll pay me what they can.

Don't worry, sir. We'll take care of everything.

After all, you are the jewel in our crown.

What' the point of a crown without a head, Sr. Biswas?

You are the head here and everyone knows that.

I agree with your school.

Let me think...

How I could keep you content...

How many do you have to feed?

Two. My wife and myself.

Ten measures should be enough for a month.

Could be.

I should also suggest that you act as our priest.

It's not a bad idea. It was hard work learning Sanskrit.

- A lot of sleepless nights. - True.

Very few are able to read it, let alone speak.

How could they, without study?

Did you understand me?

I'm the last man you should ask.

I haven't even gone to highschool!

The birds are calling and singing Charming the dawn with their wings.

This is something I've learned and I still remember it.

One time five makes five. Two times five makes ten...

Give me your hand. I'll show it to you.

The skin is hardened by work. It takes six months to get softer.

Bring me some tobacco...

and coal from your aunt.

- What do you want? - I came to see you, sir.

Come closer.

What's so fun?

I came from Kamdevpur, sir, 7 miles from here.

There was an outbreak of cholera close to our village.

I came to offer my prayers, so that we could be pardoned.

This is not the place to talk about that. Come to my house.

Tell your father to come tomorrow, to shave me.

It won't be easy.

Don't let us down, sir. You are our only hope.

We must invoke kundalini; So it'll be expensive.

We shall all contribute.

There are 70 families in the village.

Just tell us what you need.

I shall make a list.

How many dresses do you have? Come on, tell me.

Three simple ones. No, four!

And elegant dresses?

Two.

- What would you like? - A pretty one, with red embroidery.

You have to have it.

Will you be able to do what they are expecting?

I? Any hygiene manual contains preventive measures for cholera.

Now, the most important...

Is there a nimtree?

In the north-east?

Are you sure it's the north-east?

If you say so, sir.

It has to be.

We have to tie this ribbon to it.

And remember! Don't drink water from the river for a month.

Don't eat rancid food. Throw the food with flies.

Have you finished the ceremony? My name is Bhattacharji.

That one is my village.

I'm dying of hunger, sir.

The price of rice has gone up from four to six rupees.

I can't work with my bad eyesight. I'm 69 years old.

What do you want from me?

If you could give me...

something from what you've earned today... Some lentil...

The rice doesn't cost as much in my village.

They say it's because of the war...

Because the Japanese have taken Singapore.

They say the prices will go up even more.

Maybe a little bit of this...

You have no idea what you have done for me!

May I ask your name?

Ganga Charan Chakravarty.

I shall come see you some day.

I want to see you cook someday.

Do you want to learn cooking as well?

What makes your food so delicious?

This curry, for example. What did you put in it?

Why should I tell you?

You know so much already. Can't you leave me the cooking?

If the price of rice rises more we'll have to forget the good food.

Didn't you say that the old man was exaggerating?

Well, there is a war going on. That's no exaggeration.

Who's fighting whom?

Our king is fighting the Japanese and the Germans.

Haven't you seen the airplanes?

Yes. I love watching them.

Well, all those planes are going to war.

How can they fly?

It has to do with mechanics.

The currents are strong in the sky. The higher, the stronger.

Haven't you seen the comets?

How are you, Yaseen?

Fine, sir, except... I don't have kerosene.

There's no more kerosene in the market.

You don't have at all?

It seems I shall have to petition the district magistrate.

It's unheard of! I have money, yet nothing to buy.

Is that because of the war?

That's what they say.

I'll make provisions of rice and salt.

Will they disappear as well?

If there's nothing else, one can live with rice and salt.

We, as business men, must think ahead.

Now that this thing has started, no one knows when it'll pass.

Now I'm really worried.

Is this Mr. Chakravarty's house?

He's out.

Who are you? His wife?

Will you give me some water? I'm a Brahmin.

I was thinking of eating here today.

This is delicious.

Can I have some more?

Fried pepper?

And chile?

Would you like some chile, birdie?

Give me the pipe.

I always light my own pipe.

This war of which we've heard...

How long will it last?

How could we know?

Wars are made by the kings. We are commoners.

I've heard that the Germans took prisoners in Singapore.

Singapore.

Not the Germans, the Japanese.

Where is that, sir?

In Midnapur.

Is that close to Puri?

Not very far... A little further west.

So the war is out there... And that made the rice price soar?

It's logical.

Don't think about it.

My barn is full. It'll be enough.

He asked for you.

- Who is he? - I don't know. He asked for you.

I know. It's that old man.

- When did he come? - Not long ago. He ate here.

Have you given your food?

Wasn't he a guest?

There's no more kerosene, the rice costs 8 rupees.

Be careful whom you feed!

So he has come back...

I slept very well, after a delicious lunch.

I came to ask your advice. There's no rice where I come from.

The little rice we find...

it's sold with 10 rupees.

We are not rich.

You don't have sons, do you?

You would see them, if we had.

I'm an old man, with a lot of mouths to feed.

I can ask Biswas to give you some rice.

He's the village headman.

Will I have to pay for it?

Of course.

I didn't bring any money.

Then what can we do?

There's nothing we can do about it.

So my end has come. I shall die of hunger.

We have our own problems, you know?

Thank you, good lady.

How could you let him leave empty handed?

He didn't bring money. He came to beg. He's a smart old man.

Please, call him back.

I can't go fetch rice for him now.

Try tomorrow. He could spend the night here.

Come! Call him back!

The price of rice rises with each day.

Do you know the true reason for such high prices?

The Japanese have taken Burma.

- And Singapore? - That too.

But now, they also have Burma.

Do you remember the long-grain rice that came from Burma?

You can't find it anymore.

And the worst is...

The authorities are confiscating our rice.

What for?

For the army. The army's strength comes from a full belly, right?

It doesn't matter...

if useless people like me die of hunger.

Of course, you have your work...

The school, your religious tasks...

Yes, I'm very busy

What can I do at my age? And do many depend on me...

You are the only Brahmin in this village, right?

The only...

Can you see the future?

My work is very exhausting.

What's with that look?

I'm trying to see if it's true.

I think it is.

In Chhutki's house, they rinse the rice.

They are paying one part of rice for nine rinsed parts.

And so what?

Can't I do it as well?

Not now. Only if things get worse.

You are Brahmin. How could you work with an inferior caste?

Does it matter?

What do you know of this work?

It's not that hard. I could learn.

When the bean goes up, you push the grains under;

When the bean goes down, you withdraw your hand.

Easy, right? Show me your hands.

Do you know how much they respect us?

We can't lower ourselves in front of them.

Don't worry.

I shall find rice.

And if the price keeps rising?

How much could it rise, after all?

Once the war is over,

everything will go back to normal.

It can't last too long.

Even the battle of Kurukshetra ended in 18 days.

God's willing, it'll end soon enough.

Yes, but you shouldn't feel sorry for any old man...

Move, will you?!

There's a little for everyone.

How much is it?

18 rupees. It was 16, ten days ago.

I can't even go close enough.

He paid for his rice!

Mind your own business!

What are you doing sitting here?

He's been attacked at the grain market in Kundu.

We are living horrible times.

These last three days, we've only eaten rice found on field.

The young ones are the most difficult.

We can endure with less, but they refuse to do so.

What's in your baskets? Rice?

They are asking 20 rupees for it.

How much did you pay for rice?

- What rice? - That rice that you brought.

The bag is empty.

What is this?

I worked with the others.

If we have to be humiliated,

we'd better be humiliated together.

The price of rice keeps rising.

21... 22... 24... 26... 28...

There's no rice in the market.

What about rice water?

Who are these people, Chhutki?

They're from the other district.

There's no food there, so they come here to beg.

It's terrible. We don't have rice either.

What can we do?

Do you want some Shushni leaves?

Are you eating those?

If there's nothing else...

Don't you have rice?

My husband sold our rice when the price rose.

Now, we are eating whatever we find.

Shushni leaves...

Snails from the pond..

Aren't those for the ducks?

How do you cook the snails from the pond?

People like you can't eat that.

Tell me, anyway!

You make curry with them.

How can you say such things?

They've seen how much rice I've got.

So little rice won't be of any use.

If you don't help us, we'll die of hunger.

How can I give you more than I have?

You've seen with your own eyes how much rice I've got.

Have you thought about what will happen to us?

How is the barn?

We can only see what he shows us.

He has given us so little. How can it be empty?

What about the rice harvested in July?

Anyone who eats that rice will get cholera.

It'll only be good for eating when the winter dries it.

You are a Brahmin, sir. I don't dare refuse you.

Have five portions.

What are you doing here?

I was waiting for you.

Come to the forge. I'll be there.

Get out of my way!

I'll make it worth your while...

Let me go or I'll scream.

- For whom is this? - Don't you know it?

It's for you.

Then give it to me.

Come with me...

to the old shack

No one goes there, no one will know.

I'll give you rice every time we go there.

How dare you say that? Get out of my way!

If Biswas acts like this what can we do?

They threw themselves at his feet...

Yet he swears he has no more rice.

Where is everything?

What will happen?

Do you know what's the problem?

The peasants are doing all the work.

We only take advantage.

This is wrong.

If we could only have our own land...

Can't we find rice elsewhere? There must be somewhere!

I've heard that, some 12 miles from there...

In the village Sankanpore, there's a man who has rice.

His name is Ghosh.

Will you go?

The rice costs 30 rupees I only make 13 rupees a month.

How much can I buy?

But we have money.

Wouldn't that be enough?

We'll use it, if you promise not to starve yourself.

It doesn't help to eat too much.

Lately I don't have much of an appetite.

Why didn't you tell me?

Everything will be fine.

If you don't get better, I'll give you some medicine.

Are you sure that there are wild potatoes here?

It looks like a jungle of tigers!

Don't worry. We'll find something.

There are a lot of thorns here.

They caught me twice.

Who told you about the wild potatoes and about the pond snails, Chhutki?

Your fiancée?

Where does Mr. Ghosh live?

I wouldn't lie to a Brahmin. I have rice, but not for sale.

- You don't sell it? - No, sir.

I've already refused ten people this morning.

But I walked 12 miles to get here.

I'm sorry, but the rice is not for sale.

I can give you money for it

I can't eat your money. If I sell my rice, what can I buy?

Well.. I suppose I'll have to go.

You are a Brahmin, sir. Please, eat before you leave.

I'll give you rice for diner.

If you can give me rice,

can't you give me a little more for my family?

I'm sorry, but I can only give you enough for one diner.

Have a bath, first, sir.

We shall catch a fish for you and we'll give you fresh milk.

You will eat well before you start your journey back.

My daughter will look after you.

There are a lot of thorns.

I'm sorry. I'm coming.

You shouldn't have come.

I told you we would give you a part of what we find.

It's not very amusing to be sad inside your house.

Don't you rub the fish with salt and turmeric?

I forgot.

You don't usually cook, do you?

In fact, I don't...

May I help you?

Let me tell you how to do it.

Why don't you eat?

Are you sick?

Is it for someone in your house?

She only thinks about me.

Never about herself...

Please, eat your food.

When you leave, hide amongst those bamboo trees.

I'll give you some rice for her.

If you need rice again, come to me. I'll give you what I can.

Give me the lever.

I'm caught by the thorns again. Go ahead! I'll follow you.

Flying boats!

I can't see them because of the trees.

Let's leave this place!

Bring the potato.

Get some rest. We'll be back.

Don't tell anybody.

Nobody talks about these things.

Chhutki talks sometimes.

True. I like to gossip.

But never about you!

Have you had a bath?

What happens?

What happened?

I brought rice.

32...34...36...38...40...

Please, give us rice for our families.

If you don't have rice, where should we go?

There's nothing in the barn.

See for yourselves!

For two days now, we haven't eaten a thing...

Take half of mine, then! We shall starve together.

What are you saying, sir?

Here are the keys. Open the barn for them!

We know that there's no rice in there.

Where is it, then?

You hid it.

Why would I hide my own rice?

Devil take me if I'm lying! Believe me! I have no rice.

I've been thinking...

- Where is the rice? - I have it.

I shall show you.

Wait here.

It cost me a great deal to get it. Only for you!

Don't start with that again!

I swear it's true!

How did you burn your face?

Not just my face... Look!

It was during the Festival of Kali.

Fireworks exploded in my face.

You have a happy life, don't you?

What is it?

What are you doing?

The lamp shall burn until it'll be put out.

Then, I shall live in darkness.

Do you want some rice?

Where did you get it?

Where have you been?

You know.

I don't. Tell me.

At the forge.

Don't you have a husband?

I'm so hungry that I can't think of anything else.

That disfigured man has been after me since we came here.

You know that you'll have to pay for this..

Do you want rice?

You eat it! I shan't touch that.

Then starve!

Thieves!

Everything is gone.

Did they take everything?

Did they find the sacks that we had hidden?

No, father. They are all there!

The birds are singing and chirping and you are still in bed.

I can't live here any longer.

They've almost killed me...

For a handful of rice...

Please, examine my father.

I see you've been hit in the head.

The thieves tried to kill me.

Don't yell!

- How is he? - He is too weak.

Please! Cure me quickly!

I must run away!

This time, I got away, but tomorrow they'll catch me.

How can I heal you quickly?

You can do it, if you wish. I'll pay you!

Ten portions of rice.

Shall I bring it?

Not now. Too risky. At nightfall.

Lack of food, national catastrophe, famine...

Someone fell on the roadside.

By the banyan tree; There's someone you know.

Moti! How dreadful you look!

Come home! It's not far.

Don't touch me. You would have to bathe.

Can't you get up?

I don't have the strength.

Did you walk all the way here?

There's no one left in the house.

How long since your last meal?

I'll bring you something.

Rice, curry fish...

I'll bring you food.

Where is the cart?

I'll come back quickly.

Don't be late.

Here's water and food.

Fish and curry...

No one has seen fish in months.

Here's some arum root.

Arum root...

Eat this. I'll be back!

You are a good woman.

Bless me, so that I shall never go hungry, not even in hell.

- Where are you going? - To town.

Why?

To eat.

Untouchable, even in death...

The jackals will come...

I have to do something...

I have to do something to have her cremated.

You don't care, do you?

Come here.

I think that is the old man...

And his relatives

I think they're coming this way.

What will we do?

Well... We shall be ten instead of two.

Eleven.

Eleven?

More than 5 million people died of starvation and illness in Bengal...

in what came to be known as...

the Bengal famine of 1943.