Original subtitles

I've knocked on the doors of every high-ranking officer,

but nobody wants to help us.

Ammijaan, are you listening to me?

Jannat-e-Firdaus.

Alam and I love this perfume.

But it's not fragrant anymore.

Show me a different one.

There is no need. You may leave.

Alam has been in Cartwright's custody for the last 17 hours.

-Won't you help her? -Her lover will help her.

Tajdar.

I knew it.

A man remembers only the body he enjoyed in bed, not the relationship.

-She is your daughter, Ammijaan. -I gave her time.

I never thought she would be done before her time was up.

How can you be so heartless, Ammijaan?

I am not heartless, Bibbo. Love is heartless.

And if you choose to fall in love,

then you must learn to swim against the tide.

You are wrong.

You are wrong, Ammijaan.

Here's the food, eat it.

Some water...

Hello, Madam, where are you going?

Tell Cartwright that Mallikajaan is here.

Whoever she is, she'll have to wait. Sahab is out on duty. Wait here.

You want her to wait? She is the Madam of Shahi Mahal.

All of Lahore waits for her.

What kind of people are you? You have no respect for an artiste.

-Madam, this is an outrage. -Exactly!

Never thought such times would fall upon...

How do I look?

I'm at a loss for words. You look like a true memsahab.

But memsahab doesn't wear a dupatta.

So, what calls for such a gift?

The clue you gave enabled Alam's arrest. That's what this gift is for.

What does that girl have to do with all this?

She will lead us to the real culprits. The real criminals.

-And what about my criminal? -What do you mean?

The gift I want is to see you break Mallikajaan's pride.

You arrest Mallikajaan instead of Alam.

I don't think Mallikajaan has any relation with the rebels.

-Then build one. -But the evidence?

Create it.

It's child's play for this government to declare an innocent person a criminal.

I know what kind of duty Cartwright is doing. Fareedan's.

Her sahab is Wali, but she is flirting with that white man.

Here he comes.

Good evening, sir.

Cartwright sahab, greetings!

I've been waiting for you for four hours.

-Something... -Wait a bit more.

Alastair, you're back. How was your day?

I'm exhausted. I was riding in Heeramandi.

Maybe I'll take all of you boys next week...

Madam, listen to me.

Call Zulfikar sahab.

Or else, these people will make you wait and humiliate you.

I can wait till the end of time to have my child released.

Madam, she's Zulfikar sahab's child as well.

You have been called in, Mallikajaan.

-Cartwright sahab, I have a request. -What is it?

-I want to talk about Alamzeb. -Name her price.

I will buy her.

I am not here to sell...

but to get her released.

Is that it?

The British government has already looted India.

This is what is left.

That's why I like you. Your attitude.

I was just telling these wonderful gentlemen

what a great nautch girl you are.

-Thanks. -Entertain them.

Sing.

I am an artiste, Cartwright sahab.

I don't sing just anywhere.

Come to our gathering in the evening, I'll sing.

Okay.

After you leave, your daughter will sing and dance too.

I shine bright like the moon Why would you get another wife, my love?

Not like this. Come on. You are a nautch girl.

Perform a little.

Pull this chair.

I shine like the necklace around your neck

Why would you get another wife, my love?

I shine bright like the moon Why would you get another wife, my love?

I shine like the necklace around your neck

Why would you get another wife, my love?

Now perform naked.

Cartwright sahab, do you know who you are talking to?

To the queen of Lahore.

My reach goes right to the top.

And my reach is till the very bottom.

-Fellas! -Yes, sir.

Let me go! Let me go!

-Let me go! -Who asked you to get up? Sit over there.

Let me go now!

-Let me go! -Leave her.

Do you want to rape me?

Life hasn't spared me,

and you four weaklings want to rape me?

I will suffer this for the sake of my child.

Is this where you want to do it?

Cartwright, release Alamzeb from the handcuffs.

After this I want to take my daughter home.

As you wish.

Why did you release Alam so easily?

It was a great opportunity to ruin Mallikajaan.

And who said, Mallikajaan was not ruined?

She was our prey.

The lions didn't hunt her down,

the dogs did.

Don't you fear God?

I did what you wanted.

I wanted to take away her pride,

not her honor.

A woman would never want this for another woman.

Forget about her.

What's the matter?

Nothing.

Aren't you late for duty, Inspector?

Madam, medicine.

Where did she go?

-Where is... -Bibbojaan, Phatto!

Bibbojaan! Where are all of you?

What's happened?

Come see what Madam is doing at the chowk.

Why would she be at the chowk...

It's the truth. Waheedan bi, come quickly!

In the middle of the night, at the chowk! Lord, have mercy.

-Ammijaan! -Madam!

-Ammijaan! -What are you doing?

Ammijaan!

-Stop, Madam! -Ammijaan!

Aapa! What are you doing?

Get out of there, come home.

I cannot purify my soul.

So I am trying to clean this garb.

Lord, have mercy. Have mercy.

This is all that wretched Fareedan's doing.

Since the day she arrived, she has ruined everyone's life.

Fareedan, you bitch!

I curse you to be damned!

You'll burn in hell.

You wretched woman! May you be forever cursed.

Satto bi, stop it!

Cartwright is the culprit, no one else.

He thinks we have no honor.

We are tawaifs. We sing, we entertain, whatever we do, we do of our free will.

Not by force.

He has broken my ammijaan.

Mallikajaan is made of metal.

She won't break so easily.

Forget about all that.

Call the doctor right now.

-Go, Satto bi. -Don't, Satto.

The pain is so much

that the doctor will write a death certificate instead of a prescription.

Oh, God.

Alamzeb.

-Yes? -I had warned you,

this is the consequence for a tawaif's love.

The funny thing is...

she received the love...

and I suffered its consequences.

Enough with the tears.

I know you all hate me.

I am not a good ammi, sister, lover or person.

But you will all agree

that Mallikajaan is an amazing tawaif.

What do you say?

-Yes, Madam. -Yes, Madam.

Yes, Madam.

Mallikajaan is an amazing tawaif.

Amazing.

Alam, it's almost morning, you should sleep.

What happened to ammijaan shouldn't happen to anyone.

But this is Cartwright's fault, not yours, Alam.

No matter whose fault it is, it's still on me.

Because ammijaan has paid the price for my love.

Now I'll fulfill the duty of being her daughter.

Can you call the doctor?

Why, Alam?

Dear Lord! Two heartbeats.

Does Tajdar know?

It is important to tell him, Alam. He has the right to know.

Don't worry, I will tell him.

What good will that do?

Will we get married? Will there be a baarat?

Will my child bear his name?

I have given up on those dreams, Aapa.

Are you angry with Tajdar?

No. I am proud of him.

He sacrificed his love for the sake of his country.

But I cannot be selfish.

Neither me, nor his child will come in the way of his passion.

Aapa.

I want to talk to you about Alam.

Come in.

Hello.

How is Alam?

She is a traitor. She is an infamous tawaif of Heeramandi.

That is how Alam is.

What would you have done in my place?

I wouldn't have lied.

I wouldn't let an innocent suffer for my crimes.

For the sake of the country's independence,

I wouldn't have thrown Alam in jail

and returned to my mansion in my abbu's car.

Please understand my plight.

Hamid sahab didn't want the mission to be compromised.

Did you ask Hamid sahab before falling in love?

Did you ask Hamid sahab before promising marriage?

Did you ask Hamid sahab before sleeping with Alam?

Alam is pregnant with your child.

But don't worry.

Heeramandi is home to the children of many nawabs.

One more will fit in.

By the way, Nawab sahab,

it's never the children that are illegitimate,

but the fathers who seed them.

Abbujaan.

Are you here to apologize

or to thank me for your freedom?

I am here to inform you.

I'm getting married.

Fair enough.

Munira, daughter of the nawab of Sialkot, Syed Ashraf,

returned from London after completing her studies.

-I'll talk to him about... -To Alamzeb.

You know me.

I won't let this happen.

And you know me well.

I'll do this anyway.

Taj.

I am going to Shahi Mahal to propose marriage.

As the elder of the family,

will you come with me?

No. The elders will stay at home,

the youngsters will go to Shahi Mahal.

Thank you.

Aapa!

Aapa, you won't believe who is here to meet you.

Aapa, Qudsia Begum is here

with that bastard... Tajdar.

It's not Qudsia, it's a camel.

-What? -With a broken back.

It's already evening, Qudsia. How much longer should we wait?

Let's leave.

I've come to Heeramandi for the first time.

Let me at least watch a performance.

Please.

I am here with your marriage proposal and I won't return without their approval.

-Greetings, Mallikajaan. -Sorry to keep you waiting.

You're forgiven.

Are you all right?

I fell and hurt myself.

I am on the mend now.

-What is all this? -Gifts.

I have come to ask for the hand of Alamzeb for my Tajdar.

This union is impossible.

Enjoy the sherbet and head home.

Mallikajaan, I have come to Heeramandi for the first time.

I will not go empty handed.

Besides, my Tajdar is noble, capable and handsome.

He is ill-mannered, unruly and unfaithful.

I know that my child has made a mistake.

Well, I apologize to you for his mistake.

This is no way to apologize.

Bow down and put your head at my feet and ask for forgiveness.

Mallikajaan, please.

You are insulting my dadi.

-Sit down, Tajdar. -No.

She cannot insult you like this.

Sit down, Tajdar!

I'm not here to bow my head and beg for alms.

I'm here to propose marriage with my head held high.

You feel insulted because I asked you to bow your head.

And what about my insult when I was brought down to my knees?

Mallikajaan, these children love each other very much.

Just think about their happiness.

Forget the past.

How can I forget, Qudsia Begum?

The one who suffers can never forget.

I give you my word. You trust me, don't you?

I trust you, but I don't trust him.

In front of the police, he declared my daughter a mistress.

He had no answer to their questions.

When the Qazi asks him if he...

accepts his marriage with tawaif Alamzeb, then what will he say?

Speak, Taj.

I have already accepted in the presence of God.

I will accept in the presence of the Qazi too.

Okay, then.

Bring the baarat at 10:00 p.m. on the night of the full moon.

If not, Alam will perform.

Praise the Almighty! Thank you, Mallikajaan. Thanks.

There is no need to thank me.

I am not giving you this opportunity,

but to my daughter, Alam, and our future generations.

And before I change my mind, may God be with you.

May God be with you.

Waheeda, bring the gifts inside.

Yes, Aapa.

Iqbal, how's the daal?

Very delicious.

-Take one more roti. -Satto bi.

-Hey, Phatto. -Oh, no. The wretch is here.

Why aren't you ever happy to see me?

How can we be happy? Whenever you come, you bring bad news.

I have brought good news today, about our Saima.

-Saima? -Begum Mirza.

Look!

Look at the play of fate.

The maid is now a famous singer.

Saima is living the life that Mallikajaan dreamt for Alam.

-Let me see her too. -Look.

She lives in Calcutta, and her voice echoes in every home.

Is this my Saima?

QUEEN OF GHAZALS BEGUM MIRZA

Isn't she beautiful?

As pretty as the moon.

-Ustaadji. -Yes?

Where is my Saima? Take me to her.

What's the point going to her now?

She is surrounded by fame and wealth. She sings in big gatherings.

And her husband is such a rich man...

What did you say?

She got married?

Actually...

Are you out of your mind, Ustaad?

My Saima can never betray me.

Dear boy, your Saima hasn't betrayed you.

-Mallikajaan has betrayed you. -Ustaadji!

He has the right to know the truth!

Keep your mouth shut, you fool!

Let him speak!

Will you be able to handle the truth, Iqbal Singh?

Then, listen, this Mallikajaan whose feet you grovel at like a faithful dog

is the same bitch of a woman who tore you away from your love.

Sent you to jail.

To stop you from buying Saima's freedom.

She let you rot in there,

when she could have easily bailed you out.

But no, that vile woman...

traded her in your absence.

She sold Saima to two men.

Your Saima... did not betray you.

Greetings, Fareedan.

Oh... Bibbojaan! Greetings.

-Are you well? -Yes, I am. Come in.

Shouldn't you be preparing for the wedding? What are you doing here?

I am here to invite you for the wedding.

Alam wants you to receive the first invitation.

Whatever the intention, you helped this love blossom.

I hope you will join us as family, not as an enemy.

I will definitely be there.

Alamzeb won't leave without my blessings.

Have something sweet to celebrate this joy. Here.

This is Heeramandi's first marriage, I will also celebrate.

Begum, should I keep this one or this one?

-Both. Keep both. -Okay.

Where are Anjum and Farzana? Call them.

-What are you doing, Ammijaan? -Making a sehra for Taj's wedding.

This is not a wedding, but the beginning of his ruin.

Ashfaq! It is a matter of pride for every father to attend his son's wedding.

Stop being stubborn and be happy because Taj is happy.

Because whether you like it or not, this marriage will happen.

Good evening. How may I direct your call?

Operator, this is Nawab Ashfaq Baloch speaking.

Connect me to Superintendent Cartwright.

Oh, my God! Mashallah! God bless you!

Qudsia.

You had so many dreams for my wedding.

The entire family will participate. All of Lahore will be invited.

But who is here? Only you and I.

"Only you and I"? Together we are more than a hundred!

And you are not just an "only." You are my world.

-Come, it's time for the baarat to arrive. -Let's go.

Come on, come on.

-Sir! Begum sahiba. Just wait, sir. -Move. Move!

Wait, sir! Just listen.

Begum sahiba.

What is this? What is all this?

So abbujaan has invited the wedding guests.

On charges of rebellion against the British Raj,

you are under arrest.

What evidence do you have that he is a rebel?

Evidence?

Abbujaan has already delivered the evidence.

Ashfaq!

You are sacrificing your child's happiness for your pride?

Abbujaan! I have never asked you for anything.

Today I'm asking for one small favor.

Give me time till 10:30.

"Time"? You remember what I said to you?

I will not let this happen.

-Take him. -Ashfaq!

Abbujaan, please.

Alamzeb's life will be ruined. Let me marry her.

You want to turn the filth of Heeramandi

into the daughter-in-law of the Baloch family.

All of Heeramandi will pay the price of your audacity.

I promise you this. I will shut Heeramandi down.

Abbujaan, the streets of Heeramandi are filled

with illegitimate daughters of nobles like yourself.

The day you people bring them home,

Heeramandi will shut down on its own.

Let's go.

It is customary to send the groom from home wearing a sehra,

but you have sent him away in handcuffs.

You should be ashamed of yourself. Shame on you!

I need to talk to Alam alone. The rest of you please leave.

It is past 10:00 p.m., Alam.

The baarat didn't come.

Today, for the first time, I regret my victory.

As your ammi, I have given you everything.

I gave you freedom. I gave you love.

But you've never given me my abbu's name.

Heeramandi's children don't have abbus,

they only have ammis.

This is the fate of your unborn child too.

The abbu of my unborn child is Tajdar Baloch.

And I will never hide this truth from my child.

Change your clothes, and get ready to perform.

People are waiting.

-Greetings. -Come, Ustaadji, come.

What is this? You are empty-handed?

It's Heeramandi's first wedding, where's the gift?

Bibi, you should ask where is the groom?

Cartwright has arrested Tajdar.

Allegations of murder and rebellion are leveled against him.

The baarat coming into these streets was a dream, and it will remain a dream.

Humaira, get the buggy ready.

Bibi, where are you going? Bibi!

You look beautiful today.

Often the tawaif sings and the nawab listens.

Let's do something different today?

Baldev! Make him sing.

The bastard hasn't said a word yet.

Why are you ruining your night?

Let him go. You come to Khwabgah with me.

The women of Heeramandi are serpents.

Since when did this serpent start dancing to the tune of the rebels?

And you think you can come here and distract me?

It's nothing like that, Cartwright sahab. Today is his wedding.

He would have become a groom at his wedding.

I am making an example of him.

But he is your friend's son.

Nawabs are not friends, they are the slaves of the British.

Stop your people, sir.

Let me try to make him talk.

Tajdar, look who is here to meet you.

Alam!

Not Alam. It's me. Fareedan.

Please give them what they want and get out of here.

Alam is waiting for you.

I know I have broken your trust. But today I want to help you.

Give them the names of your accomplices.

Wake up, Tajdar! These people will kill you.

Your intention, your camp, tell them everything.

-Revolution... -Tajdar!

Revolution!

Revolution!

Revolution!

On a moonlit night

The moon does not set

On a moonlit night

The moon does not set

Oh, in water...

Who burns in water

On a moonlit night

The moon does not set

On a moonlit night

The moon does not set

-Long live! -Revolution!

-Long live! -Revolution!

-Long live! -Revolution!

-Long live! -Revolution!

-Long live! -Revolution!

-Long live! -Revolution!

I've lost this game of love I thought I'd won

And broke my heart

The way I've wrung my hands in despair

The way I've wrung my hands in despair

Have you seen anyone do the same?

Oh, in water...

Oh, who burns in water

On a moonlit night The moon does not set

On a moonlit night The moon does not set

Alam, this gathering is dismissed.

Tajdar is dead.

Alam!

Subtitle translation by Inderpal Singh