Original subtitles

Dalhousie Square: Kolkata's Smile Gate

It's five, offices are closing for the day...

and staff, relieved after a tiring day at work, are going home

Several stories have been spun around

the typical middle-class Bengali

Our story has to do with one such gentleman

The name: Paresh Chandra Dutta

Hello... aren't you going to the stadium?

The big game. It's a charity match

Charity! What charity will we do?

You're right. Could I have a beedi, please?

What match at an age of 53? - But you must!

Poltu... - What is it?

Look what I've got for you. - Let me see

First recite that poem. - Which one?

The one you recited yesterday

"The yellow-green orangutan, flip flops in a brick-walled city"

"waiting for a stray miracle, advertisements for job vacancies"

Here are you. A marble for you

A marble? I have many already. - Good

But this is an atom-bomb. - Atom-bomb?

Bajori... - What do you want? Bajori's gone out

If I could have some tea...? - He's gone to fetch teapowder

Have patience. Why're you late? - The trams weren't running

And the traffic was choked because of the game...

I had to walk all the way...

what a bother!

"The yellow-green orangutan"

"flip flops in a brick-walled city"

"waiting for a stray miracle"

"advertisements for job vacancies"

What are you murmuring to yourself? - Nothing

I hope it isn't insanity

Any more developments? - On what?

At the office, where else? - I see

Something ought to materialise soon. A meeting's about to be held

Only meetings! I can sense the ominous

How did this get wet? - Not at all

The things you did to your umbrella! You better get used to staying at home

Hey Bhoja... make some tea for the master

God Almighty!

Uncle... - What's up, Poltu?

Wait... I'm coming

Wait there

Uncle, look at this. - Let me see

Nice? - No

This is what happened when I hit it against the atom-bomb you gave me

Fibbing, eh? - You want to see?

Here goes. I'll keep it here

The magic stone!

Poltu!

I'm not giving it back!

Some spicy grams for me

Now what do you have here? Give me this...

give me that and that...

if I could have that, as well as that...?

If you could tell me what you're looking for?

Poltu! Look at the goodies I've got for you!

What is it...?

A pistol? - Yes, a pistol, chocolates...

marbles, toffees. All for you...

only if you... - What?

You guess. - The magic stone?

Yes. - All right. It's a deal

Here you are. Don't lose it!

That's enough. Go away. - Pardon me...?

Gold! Gold!

What's wrong...? What happened?

Why're you crying...? What is the matter?

Speak... and what's this?

You aren't saying a word. Tell me what happened

Speak up... what happened?

Listen... what's the current price of gold?

Why? - Let's calculate... and sell all this

You want to sell all this? - Why not?

What'll we eat when you lose your job?

What if it isn't gold? - What else is it, if not gold?

Hush... quiet!

The same colour, the same glitter

Whatever you say, it can't be anything other than gold

Listen... - Yes?

Sit down. Why're you pacing up and down?

Sit down

Go on. - What's the price for 10 grams?

110 Rupees. - 110?!

How much would this fetch...? Look at me!

5000? - More

7000? - More

8000...? - Even more

Why're you panicking? We haven't stolen it

But people will still think we're thieves

They think we're bad folks

You're nuts. It's God's gift to us. There's nothing wrong with it

Don't people win money in lotteries? Are they accused of crime?

Oh, you don't understand... you just don't

This isn't a lottery. You just don't get it... this is not a lottery!

It's a gold-making stone!

Something not everyone comes across!

We have come across it. And why not? - Quiet!

Let's forget what happened. O Lord...

forgive my sins...

All right. Return the stone. But sell this gold before you do that

We'll go on a holy pilgrimage. 10,000 rupees should be enough

And I always knew that we would have the money to make the pilgrimage

My palm has been itching for the last few months

Such pure gold?

It isn't the sort of stuff made nowadays, sir

It's been passed on down the generations in my family

I mean, from my forefather's times

I mean, my great grandfather's

They were the real connoisseurs, you see

Where to?

Let's get some fresh air first

Today's a great day

Go away. - Give me a penny, sir...

Go away, I say... - Please, sir... a penny!

We have assembled here today

to perform a sacred task

To pay obeisances to the great son

of Bengal, India and the whole of

Asia... who has won fame and acclaim

The great Paresh Chandra Dutta whose great sacrifice...

whose yeoman service to mankind...

Hey, Sardarji... stop here!

What are you looking at, mister? - The ball

No ball, it's a grenade. Of the mutiny

A grenade of the mutiny...?

How much is it worth? - What quantity do you want?

Maybe one or two

Help yourself

Today, we...

we today...

our social function comes to an end at this stage

Let me now introduce our Chief Guest now

Indeed, this gentleman

needs no introduction...

for he has been part of our lives

A man who has made a contribution

in almost every field...

our chief guest...

Mr Paresh Chandra Dutta

I am delighted...

to have witnessed the performance

of the artistes today

I am very happy...

at the dazzling display of

the Bengali culture

The Bengali culture is not something to be treated casually

We must never forget it

We must never ignore it. We must forever respect and follow it!

It gives me happiness to see that you are keeping it alive

And thus, for all of you,

the children who performed

the songs and dance...

I have brought gold medals

To the organisers of this function,

I shall first present the medals

Please come here, Ratan... Come

So Biswas...? What's new?

There are some cheques to sign

I hope you're not facing any problems? - I'm doing very well, thank you

I hope you're sleeping well? - Oh yes. Sound sleep. For 7 hours

That's wonderful. - I was late last night...

catching a movie. - That's good, too

Your age is to have fun. At one time, I used to see all the plays...

I was so fond of them, I even did a bit of acting

I saw almost all the plays

Really, sir...?! - Oh yes

"Destiny! It's all destiny!"

"Born of what illusion? Male, female"

"what form that holds the world in awe?"

"Willful, ruthless, riding so carelessly roughshod over mortals and gods alike"

"Destiny! Where is it? If I can ever confront that Destiny"

"with my mace, I shall break it to pieces and rid this world of all woe"

The poet's Kalva

Gone are those days, Priyatosh

Anyway, phone Dr Barui to come and check my blood pressure

I can't get sleep in the nights

May I say something, if you don't mind, sir?

You need to reduce your activities. - How?

For instance, as I worked out,

you attended nine board meetings...

sponsored 13 charity shows, gave away prizes at 7 functions...

you were the Chief Guest at 26 functions...

and did the foundation-laying ceremony in three instances

So much strain...? - What can I do, Priyatosh?

They love me so much. - But sir...

if you keep giving so many incentives, donations, for instance...

to an obscure organisation called the Society for Bengalis...

you give them 50 rupees...? - Is it too much?

Make it 25 then. - 25...?!

10...? - Let's make it 5

All right, but do give them. Do not deny them

The elections are coming up. They'll stand up for me

I'm preparing your lecture, sir. I'll definitely give it by Monday

Sir, you are invited to a party at Kriparam's

What party? A tea-party?

No, cocktails. - What did you say?

Cocktails...? - Yes

What do you mean I'm going...? Of course I'm going!

Cocktails!

For me...? Give it to me... - No, I'm not giving it!

Please... give it to me. - I'm not giving it...

What's gotten into you...? Give it to me!

Give it to me... Go on! - I'm not giving it!

Good God!

Well...? Do you like it?

I've placed an order for a pair of anklets for you

They'll be delivered on Wednesday. - More jewelry?

Why? Don't you like it? - Yes, I like it...

but I also feel scared. Whenever I look at my jewelry box...

my heart begins to beat wildly. - What's there to be scared of?

What if...?

So...? What are you scared of?

What if someone gets to know? You're really getting very cocky

This Paresh Dutta is no longer the Paresh Dutta of yore

Did you see my photo in the newspaper? - Yes, I did

What do you think of it? - My great leader!

The one who wears the fancy cap! - It's no joke...

the elections are coming up. - What do we get out of it?

You are my wife! A blessing for the husband is also a blessing for his wife!

Where have we done anything noble? We had the money...

I badly wished to go on a pilgrimage. To Kashi, Gaya, Brindavan...

but nothing came of it. - It will, do not be hasty

We'll go to all those places. We certainly will

I wonder how they are. - Who?

The Chatterjee's, their kids, their mother...

Goodness! You still haven't gotten over that tenement we lived in?

We lived there for so long. I can never forget it

Forget it. For once and for all! Get it out of your mind

All you must now remember is the slogan, "Vote for"...

Yes, I'll get the necklace. It's beautiful

It's a lovely place dotted with parks and greenery

Not to worry. He's a nice man...

although a bit off his rocker...

He likes me very much. He has promised me a raise next month

No, no... no children at all. Really, they have no issues

Oh sure, why not?

Okay, okay...

Yes, I have your photo on my table. Of course, believe me

I keep looking at your photo. Naturally, I...

Unless I hear your voice

I feel extremely lonely

I told him exactly what you have said to me just now

If it comes to that, I'm even willing to become a Hindu

You know how serious I'm about this

Listen, how about meeting up?

The movies... no, not Indian. English film. At the New Empire

I see

Well... how about tomorrow then?

At 6? Or maybe 9?

Maybe the day after tomorrow?

So that it's then...? No, I'll keep myself free

Okay

Welcome, welcome... - Greetings

Pardon me, I'm late. - Never mind... better never than late

Please come... Dr. Mukherjee

This is Mr Paresh Chandra

I'm sure we have met somewhere. - Oh certainly

Are you all right? - Oh yes, I'm all right

And you...? - Oh yes

And then the Superintendent... - Are you well, too?

Oh yes, I'm okay. - Caught hold of me. What could I do?

Are you okay, too? - I said, please listen to me

Now that we are born, we might as well do something good...

Everything isn't noble. - It shall bear fruit

My name is N. Mukherjee. - I'm Dutta. Paresh Dutta

Hello. - Hello

Oh yes, I've seen you somewhere! - Me...?

My picture in the newspaper? - No, not that one...

Oh yes, Dalhousie! - I see. Dalhousie area

No, not the residential area. The one where the offices are

Boy!

Come, come here...

You like music, don't you?

You...

"The lilting melody of the flute"

"The lilting melodies of the flute"

"I've seen Him"

"I've seen you"

Get the hell out of here! Scoundrel! - What?

Get out! Get lost! - Listen to me...

Get out!

You know who I am? - What's going on here?

You ask me to go away...?

You dare touch me...? - Please leave!

Stay away! I'll show you what I'm capable of doing!

The name is Paresh Dutta!

Look at this! Listen... - What is it? What?

The only gold maker in the world!

He's plastered

Hey... what's he up to?

Wait... and watch

The only thing in the world

that makes gold

Good bye...

Have you sobered up yet? You didn't eat anything last night

Will you eat something now or won't you?

Don't you want to do something about the gold lying in the trunk?

Else, you'll be handcuffed

Do what you want to!

He's so old, yet he wants to drink! Disgusting!

His mouth was stinking and his clothes were all crumpled

What time was it when we found the stone!

Wants to be a big man, possess cars,

bungalows, a lot of wealth...

we'd rather have begged for a living

Do something about this! I've had enough of it

I'm leaving on the pilgrimage tomorrow!

Listen, I'm terribly worried

What can one say? You have no dearth of admirers

I said, you have no dearth of admirers

Really...? Let's see

Okay, thank you

Aren't you keeping well, sir?

Priyatosh... - Yes, sir?

Know what...?

It's about faith

Do you believe in the supernatural?

I've never thought about it

I read ghost stories as a kid... and liked them too

I see. Let me show you something today

Guess what this is?

Something supernatural...?

No. It's a stone

What's this? A paperweight? - Yes, a paperweight

What is it made of? - Iron

Iron. What could it be worth? - Maybe an anna or four

All right.

Now let me touch it with this stone

This is now worth 500 rupees

My God!

I was a clerk in a bank

I found this stone at the Curzon Park

"On the seashore, among the countless rocks"

"was found the stone of the philosopher"

So, sir... this stone is no less than a mint!

From iron to gold, from gold to money...

and the cash that brings a house and the cars...

your job...

Hello. - Hello

Come here... come

Please be seated

Now speak

You were simply incredible at the party! My guests thought you were a magician

And what did you think?

24 karats! I've checked it out!

That thing... you've got it on you?

With me? - Yes, I won't take it away

I swear, I won't take it away. I just want to hold it in my hands once

You want to see it?

Go ahead

May I come to the point, mister? - What?

Give this formula of yours to me

You're a businessman. So am I. So what do you say?

Look, Paresh-babu, I've somehow suppressed what occurred last night

No less than 20 people watched the miracle

But none of them could figure out it was pure gold!

What are you thinking about?

You know what 100 X 100 is?

You mean, you have the formula?

It's a formula of the ancient kings.

I know the Devanagari script...

I know a bit of Bangla, too. If you could explain...?

Very well. I'll tell you and you can write it down

But getting hold of everything will be your look out

Oh indeed

Write it down. - Please dictate it

"The yellow-green orangutan" - Meaning?

"The yellow-green orangutan" - But that's not Bangla, sir!

Ancient Sanskrit

So what was that...? - "The yellow-green orangutan"

"in a brick-walled city" - Will we need bricks also?

Less brick, more stone

I see. Brick and stone... - Brick and stone. That's it

Flip-flop

Thank you, Paresh-babu. Good bye. - Good bye

Not my duty, Paresh-babu. But I hope I haven't disappointed you?

Not at all. - I hope it works...

else it's going to be difficult!

We don't have any more time, Priyatosh. - Why, sir?

So much is going to happen. Won't be right for me to be here anymore

But why? What makes you scared? This is a private enterprise

Not private anymore, Priyatosh. It has become public now

At the host's party last night... you won't understand

The police, the C.I.D., the government, they'll all label me a fraud

Do you realise what times we're living in?

What might happen...? Who knows!

Here you are. Know what it is?

No one does... no one knows!

Could you tell me what you've planned?

I'll take my wife and leave for Lilua tomorrow

My brother-in-law lives there

I'll carry some cash and jewelry with me

As for the rest, the bungalows, cars, shares... they're all yours

What are you saying, sir? - That's right

I have no issue. Only a couple of idiotic nephews and nieces

A twosome of imbeciles

And you need help, too. You're about to get married

True, but... - Forget it

Now get to the point. The gold. - Gold...?

You have more, sir? - Not much. Worth 100,000 or 200,000

I wonder whether it will be safe enough

to leave it with you

I'll carry it with me and dump it somewhere on the way

And the stone...? - I think I'll throw it away

Could you give me the stone, sir? I've studied science...

I'll try and analyse what composition it is

Give it to you...? - Absolutely

I know so much about gold. I could certainly do with some right now

Very well.

You can have it then

But make sure you give it to the police if they ask. Else, there'll be trouble

Do you call this Sanskrit? Do you? - Isn't it Sanskrit?

Sanskrit!

Sensational news! Iron turns into gold!

Iron turns into gold!

Hey... what makes you call so early?

Have you read the newspapers? - No, what do they say?

Listen... let me talk

I got to know about it yesterday. Thought I'd tell you this evening

I'm speaking the truth, believe me. I had no clue!

What... what do your parents say?

So shocking!

You have an opinion, too. What do you have to say?

Now listen, let me meet you personally and explain things to you

Hey listen... I'm coming over. Indira...

Who the hell is it?

Hang on, I'm coming

Slog all day and they still won't let me have any peace

Where's your master? - He's not at home

He's left with his wife. - Where to?

I don't know. - When did he leave?

This morning

Who else is there at home? - Me

Who else...? - Priyatosh

Where's he? - In there

Who...? What on earth...?

The thing I told you about

Why's he acting like this? What's on his cheeks?

What happened to you? Tell me, Parayutosh-babu

Parayutosh-babu... - Not Parayutosh, I'm Priyatosh

Priyatosh Biswas. - And I started getting ideas

But what's happened to you? Why're you acting like this?

I've swallowed it. - What have you swallowed?

The stone. - Stone!

The magic stone. - But why did you swallow it?

I couldn't take it anymore. I couldn't figure it out

Since when have you been smuggling? And dealing in stolen stuff?

Stolen gold...? - What's this then?

I'm not a criminal, sir. - What else are you?

Is there a tree on which gold grows like fruit...?

Now look, are you really Paresh Dutta or are you someone else?

No, it's Paresh Dutta. - Very well

In 1954, you were a clerk at the Calcutta Bank

On 16th September of the same year, you were served a retrenchment notice?

You didn't go to office after that. - No, sir

On December 12, you gave a contract to New India Builders to build you a house

A contract worth 650,000!

Where did you get all the money? - Gold... from the gold, sir

Smuggled gold! - No, sir

Are you a gold trader then? - In a way, yes, sir

Is what is published in this newspaper, true?

See that...?

And you're laughing...? - No, sir

You've got a formula for this? - Formula...? No, sir

So then...? - I have a stone, sir

A stone...? - Yes, a magic stone

Now look, Mr Dutta. This is no place for jokes and fun

I know that. But please believe me sir. I'm telling you the truth

I have a magic stone. - Where is it?

I mean, I had it. I gave it to my secretary Priyatosh

You got all that gold from iron? - Yes, sir

I had bought grenades going cheap. - Grenades?

Grenades? - Yes, spent grenades

Where does your secretary live? - In my house. A very nice boy, sir

He'll give you the stone, if you ask for it, sir

Yes, sir...

Oh! Really...?

I see... very well, sir

Your secretary has eaten the stone. - What...? Eaten it?!

Why...? - Must've been hungry

Fortunately, he didn't chew it. He only swallowed it

My God! What happens now? - They'll need to take an X-ray

And probably conduct an operation. - Operation! Is it necessary?

Why? Don't you want that stone back?

Are you accepting the smuggling charges levelled against you?

Smuggling...? - Life imprisonment

God!

Hold your breath, Mr Biswas

Okay, Mr Dutta, how did you get hold of the stone?

I found it lying at the Curzon Park, sir

And you started making gold immediately?

You felt no fear or remorse...? - I did, sir

I first thought I'd throw the stone away

But then... - But then?

You couldn't suppress your greed. - No, sir

You know what consequences you now face?

Greed is sinful. And sin leads to death

I know it, sir

I thought, how many days had I to live?

I have to die someday anyway

I had known no happiness in life...

and because of the stone...

So everything you have comes from this gold?

Yes, sir

I did nothing in excess. I built a house for myself...

my wife was fond of flowers...

so I made a garden for us

I bought a car for ourselves. A second-hand one

I was fed of commuting in trams and buses, sir

The skin had come off my legs and knees, in all the pushing and jostling

I didn't make even an ounce of gold after what I made earlier, sir

I had bought some shares...

I gave away all the dividends I earned on them, sir

I gave charity to so many organisations. So many donations

I never caused any harm to anyone in my lifetime, sir

I have no children at all

I never gambled, never raced... - How about liquor?

Drinking...? - Excuse me?

Mr Dutta, you are very interested in Dramatics, aren't you?

Acting...? Yes, sir. I took part in the folk-plays

I played a number of roles in various plays...

So I guessed right

What happened? - It's an amazing case

The stone is melting! It's disappearing

This is where the stone is stuck, okay?

Is it stuck...? - Guess what it's stuck in!

I had strongly suspected it. - Hey, listen...

Please be patient, Mr Chatterjee. - To hell with patience!

I want that stone immediately. Conduct an operation on him!

An operation is just not possible.

But something needs to be done!

1366 of the Bengali Calender is a memorable day in Kolkata's history

Man's faith in gold is unshakeable

for it never loses its value

But man's faith was shaken by news

of Paresh Dutta's misadventure

There was a furor among the 3 million

populace of this great city

There was panic among the people that

gold would no longer retain its sheen

People dug out the gold they had carefully hidden away...

and rushed to the goldsmiths, to sell whatever they had

Another cause for the panic was

the sudden crash in the share market

For, the stability of the share market and the price of gold...

have a deep bearing on each other

Lights off

Amazing case! Amazing!

Well? - Amazing!

For four hours, that's the word I've been hearing!

Hey, Mister! Stop laughing! And get to the point!

Welcome, welcome

This was the position of the stone at 8

And this is how it is right now

Why's it so small? - He's digesting it!

This is a strange phenomenon!

He's digesting it!

Ten minutes more. - Will there nothing after that?

Digesting a stone...?!

Dr Nandy, can someone digest a stone? - Look, Mr Chatterjee...

according to medical science... - Let's skip the rubbish!

Digesting a stone! Keep the drivel to yourself!

Yes, sir...

Okay, sir

What news of Priyatosh...? - What sort of a guy is he?

Constable!

He digests a stone! The scoundrel!

Take him to the lock up! - Believe me, sir...

I really gave him the stone!

What's wrong with you?

Iron...?

Iron

Whom should I hire, I wonder. - What for?

I need a manager - Manager?

I need someone to manage all the iron

He has left! He's leaving!

Amazing case!

No thank you... - Take it. Don't feel shy