Original subtitles

REVENGE OF THE THUGS (UK: DAWN OF THE PIRATES)

"100 years ago, at the mouth of the Ganges, on the island of Raimangal,"

"there echoed the terrifying sound of the ramsinga."

"It was the call of the Thugs,"

"a mysterious, bloodthirsty sect of stranglers."

"In a hut, on the margin of the jungle, there lived..."

"the great hunter, Tremal Naik, and his 3 faithful servants."

"With them, most faithful of all, was the tiger Dharma."

"One day, one of the men returned, limping and injured."

"With his companion, he had been tracking a wild beast,"

"when someone attacked them."

"He alone was able to flee."

"Tremal Naik realised it must be the Thugs!"

"And, with his inseparable Kammamuri, he left..."

"in search of the missing man."

"They found him - bloody and dead,"

"lashed to a pole, close by a great tree..."

"the Banyan, sacred to all Thugs."

"A wide split in the tree,"

"concealed the entrance..."

"to the mysterious underground kingdom of the bloody cult."

"Tremal Naik had discovered the secret of the Thugs."

"But another mystery was soon revealed."

"The beautiful white girl he had met one day in the forest,"

"was being held prisoner, and forced to serve as a priestess"

"of the terrible Goddess Kali."

"She had to be saved. Tremal Naik, who burned with love for the girl,"

"did not hesitate in the face of danger."

"His resolve was absolute."

"Without seeking the assistance of even Kammamuri,"

"alone, apart from his courage..."

"he confronted the mysteries and dangers of the Thugs' den."

"And so, in the great underground Temple,"

"he found, finally, the girl."

I have come to take you away.

But you shouldn't have...

they will kill you.

Flee, flee before you are seen! - Not without you.

You don't know what you are asking...

This is the Temple of Kali. - They are keeping you prisoner?

I am their Priestess.

But your skin is white,

you are not of their race.

I was kidnapped as a child, because...

because Kali wanted a White Virgin.

Suyodhana, chief of the Thugs, had me kidnapped.

I have grown up with them, in the midst of terror and death...

Tremal Naik...

I can't take anymore...

I...

"Suyodhana, the cruel chief of the Thugs, discovered them."

Stop this sacrilege!

On your knees!

This is the fitting end for all enemies of Kali!

Throw him into the jungle, as food for the beasts!

"But Tremal Naik was only wounded,"

"Kammamuri carried him to their hut and tended him."

"But the Goddess Kali had not been avenged,"

"and the desecration of her Temple demanded,"

"under the merciless Law of the Thugs,"

"that the Sacred Virgin should now die - burned alive,"

"in front of the Statue of the terrible Goddess,"

"Mistress of Blood and Death."

"The rite was about to begin, when..."

"Tremal Naik and his men, again violating the Temple,"

"attempted a desperate resue."

"But it was futile."

"Once more, Tremal Naik, the generous one,"

"fell into the hands of Suyodhana, the cruel one."

I admire courage, even in an enemy.

Especially if, after all, he can become one's friend.

A friend?

Then, let's say... an ally.

An ally... how?

The Divine Kali offers you a means of salvation.

A foreigner, who dismisses the Power of the Thugs,

has dared to offend us. Only a man of great courage,

could get close to him...

You want me to become an assassin?

Listen, I can give back your life - in exchange for his.

And I say, no!

A pity...

A great pity she should be killed as well, don't you agree?

But, if you accept my proposal, I will let her leave with you.

What of my companions, Aghur and Kammamuri?

No-one will harm them.

Naturally they will remain here as hostages,

but, once you've completed your mission, they will be freed.

Who is this man? This foreigner?

An English officer, called Captain McPherson.

He is Commander of the Garrison at Ballapur.

"And so, Tremal Naik had to accept this vile blackmail."

"Disguised as an army messenger,"

"he contacted the Commander of the English Garrison."

""I will bring you the Captain," he had said to Suyodhana."

""but alive.". And, in the night, together with a Thug,"

"he managed to penetrate the room of the officer."

"But the English soldiers maintained a vigilant guard."

"Tremal Naik was imprisoned."

"A magic infusion of herbs, forced him to reveal..."

"the exact location of the refuge of the Thugs."

"But one thing interested the Captain particularly..."

Is there a white woman with them?

English?

A young woman...

Yes...

Have you seen her?

Yes, I have seen her...

The White Virgin of the Goddess Kali.

Ada. - Ada...

How far is it to Raimangal? - 2 days, if the weather is fine.

Good. Prepare the boat, and ready the men to embark,

with enough provisions for a month; arms and ammunition.

We will leave for Raimangal.

"The Captain would have preferred the boat to fly..."

"The prisoner, whom he took along as guide and hostage,"

"had given him a name..."

"and one name only. Ada. The officer thought about Ada..."

"the name of his daughter whom the Thugs kidnapped years before."

"But, alas... He himself fell into the cruel hands of the Thugs"

"and was brought to the Temple of blood and death."

"He saw his daughter again, but only for a moment,"

"before his horrendous end."

Father! - Ada!

"Fortunately, Tremal Naik, had escaped from the boat"

"and, with his faithful men, arrived in time to help him."

"The captain, thus, found himself with the most unexpected allies."

"When the Sergeant in charge of the men rushed to his aid,"

"and saw the Captain in the company of Tremal Naik,"

"he couldn't conceal his astonishment."

Tremal Naik!? Why is this assassin with you?

No, no, he has just saved my life, I'll tell you about it later.

"The Thugs disappeared, the battle seemed to be over,"

"everything, finally, seemed to be peace and happiness,"

"by leaving that treacherous black jungle, kingdom of the beasts..."

"and of things more savage than the beasts."

"For the Thugs did not understand the meaning of defeat."

"In front of Kali, they swore their revenge."

How are you, Berkeley? - Welcome, Major Kennedy.

Thank you.

I am returning to Headquarters, so I thought...

I'd drop in to see Captain McPherson.

The Captain isn't here, Major,

He left on an expedition to the North, seven days ago.

We expected he would be back by now,

and we've started worrying about him.

A reconnaissance of Raimangal, the country of the Thugs?

And perhaps something more.

We captured a hunter called Tremal Naik,

he was from Raimangal, and he said he had news of Ada,

the Captain's daughter, who was kidnapped years ago.

He said he knew the hideout of the head of the Thugs, Suyodhana.

My word, a fine piece of work!

McPherson aimed to settle this matter in less than a month?

Yes, but there has been no news from him for seven days.

Please come inside, Major, it is cooler within.

Thank you. How did McPherson leave?

By boat, with Sergeant Claridge and twenty soldiers...

plus several native rowers.

< The boat! Here comes the boat!

- Hey! Come on! - The boat! - Let's go and see!

Run, Sanitu, run!

< Watch the bow!

Take this rope! Here!

Tremal Naik! - Sulima. - A prisoner? But why?

Don't worry; it will all be cleared up.

Kammamuri! Why don't you speak? What is it, Kammamuri?

Move along! No-one is to speak to the prisoners!

Greetings, Lieutenant.

Where is Captain McPherson?

Here are his personal things.

The Captain was murdered.

You! Remain on guard with the prisoners!

Kammamuri! Why won't you look at me? What's happened?

Murdered... Poor Captain McPherson!

When I laid him to his rest, I swore to avenge him.

Bring in the prisoners.

I feel responsible for all this.

I put to Captain McPherson the idea of this expedition.

But I never thought...

Move along! You too! The comedy is over! Speak up!

I've already told you, Sergeant! He is not able to speak!

Why not? Let's hear it!

He cannot, not since he was bitten by the giant scorpion.

The giant scorpion!

Its bite can surely kill; but this story is unbelievable!

They are imposters! I know them! - Believe me, it is the truth!

We need something more before we believe your fantasies!

Captain McPherson was barbarously killed!

Who is the murderer?

Suyodhana!

The head of the Thugs? How did the Captain fall into his hands?

That is what we would all like to know!

< I won't be leaving Ballapur until I know the truth!

Tell me everything, Claridge. Sit down, please.

Seven days ago, in this bungalow, this treacherous individual,

made an attempt on the life of the Captain.

We restrained him.

And, using a truth drug, we got him to speak,

and he confessed to knowing where to find Suyodhana

and to having recognised the Priestess of the Thugs as

the daughter of Captain McPherson, Ada.

That same day, we left for Raimangal.

In the temple we found the girl, and managed to free her,

and together we escaped into the jungle.

We were far from the Temple, the Thugs had disappeared,

and peace, if one can speak of peace in a jungle,

seemed to reign around us.

Then, in the distance, we heard the sound of the ramsinga.

We wanted to run, but fatigue weighed heavily on us.

Each of us felt anxious, but tried to keep it to ourselves

so as not to dishearten our companions.

Is it still a long way to the river? - Not much farther, my dear.

Be strong; safety is in our grasp.

And we will be together forever?

If your father consents...

Keep going, lads, have courage!

Claridge, do you think we'll make it?

If the Thugs do not attack us afresh.

We couldn't resist much with the men we have left.

Keep the men together, and avoid the trail.

We have to reach the boat!

If we fall into the hands of Suyodhana, it'll be the end of us!

Stop! Don't shoot!

It's Dharma! - Where is Aghur, your master?

I am here! The Thugs attacked us, but Dharma got rid of them!

Captain, this is a tiger we hand-reared.

And she has saved us from the Thugs!

Let's go now. We need to arrive at the boat before sunset.

God willing,

you won't again need think of Suyodhana, or the Goddess Kali!

Dharma will protect our backs, so you can relax!

Lead the way, Kammamuri.

Hold on, Ada! We are near the river, we are saved!

I will carry her. < The Thugs!

They have found us! Let's split into two groups, Captain.

We'll head for the clearing with Ada, she needs to be carried to the boat.

The Sergeant with the men must hold the Thugs at bay. It's the only way!

Do you think it wise to separate, Captain?

Yes, these three will be with me.

You and the others try and make time for us!

Then we will catch up with you! - Let's do it!

Ready! Attack! - Let's go!

Come on, Aghur! - No! Dharma and I will stay with these men!

Take cover, lads!

Fire!

Finally, Major, we managed to push them back,

but the conflict was hard.

We picked up our wounded, and set off for the river.

When we arrived, it was night.

At the boat there was no sign of the Captain, nor Ada & the others.

How is your head? - Better...

Sentry! < Yes, sir.

What's happening? - Just arrived, Finney and Taylor.

Finney! Taylor! Finally!

You've been a very long time! We were worried about you!

We are all there is! - Didn't you stay together?

No, Sergeant!

Where, then, are the Captain and his daughter?

Aren't they already here? < No!

They were with you. Why did you separate?

When the Thugs attacked, the Captain was wounded,

so Tremal Naik took off with both him and Miss Ada!

< Tremal Naik! I knew he wasn't to be trusted!

We thought we were the first to get here!

< So, they are again in the hands of Suyodhana!

What can we do, Sergeant?

If it's as I fear, we won't be seeing the Captain again!

But, let's wait for the dawn.

If they aren't here by then, we'll go to Ballapur for reinforcements.

Suyodhana and Tremal Naik will pay dearly this time!

We didn't see any more of Miss Ada or of Captain McPherson.

This is all that was returned!

It was thrown aboard the boat by a Thug, along with his head.

Tell me, when did you see Capt. McPherson for the last time?

In the Temple of Kali, when they killed him.

How did you found yourself back in the Temple after the attack?

We had just separated from Sergeant Claridge and the others.

The Thugs fell upon us.

We could still hear our gunfire, and the screams of Thugs.

I tried to go as fast as I could, there was not a minute to lose!

How far are we from the river? - We are very close!

Father! - Aghur! Release Dharma!

Save yourselves!

Father! - Don't be frightened, dear!

They are attacking again! Make haste!

Tremal Naik, take Ada to the boat! Save her!

Be strong! Stay with me!

A trap for a tiger! - Do you feel very bad?

Easy!

What do we do?

Even Dharma wouldn't be able to jump out of here!

Look at this!

A secret entrance to the Underworld!

We don't have any choice! Come on!

Surrender, Tremal Naik!

You are now in my hands!

Captain McPherson - Ada -

it's a great pleasure to have you back with us!

Bring them to the Temple! Kali will be happy to see them!

Oh Divine Kali,

your sons, the Thugs, bring you these sacrilegious ones

to appease your wrath,

to offer them as a sacrifice to your revenge.

< The White Virgin will again be your slave.

< And Tremal Naik, who dared to abduct her,

< and the English Captain, who dared wage war with his rifles

will receive just punishment!

Accept these offerings, oh Divine Kali,

in reparation for the insults that have been made to you.

No! My Father, no! Suyodhana, I beg you!

Assassins! The same end will be yours to face in time!

You think so, cowardly one? Remember your end is near!

Untie me; and we'll just see how courageous you are!

You will pay dearly for these heinous crimes!

The English will destroy you!

No-one can harm the Followers of Kali!

As for the English, you've just seen the end fated for them!

Remember it, Tremal Naik!

I have reserved a different demise for you!

An ending best suited to a traitor such as yourself!

There. Do you recognise it?

It's the giant scorpion.

His bite will cause you to lose every memory.

You will remember nothing, not even your name.

It is the death of the spirit. You'll be body without a soul.

You'll be despised even more than a Pariah.

Guard all the exits! Don't let them get away!

Don't think about me! Run!

Get yourself to safety!

Quickly! Follow me!

"We ran all night through the jungle,"

"avoiding the trails, stopping at times..."

"to hide all sign of our tracks from those Thugs..."

"who were hunting us."

"Finally, as dawn broke, we arrived at the bank of the river."

Alarm! Sergeant, alarm!

To your posts, men! - Shoot at that Thug!

"I slipped into the water with Kammamuri,"

"and swam across to the boat."

"I saw a large sheet being unwrapped,"

"and I realised they were unfurling the sails."

"I had almost arrived too late."

"I was very tired, and I had to drag my companion behind me."

"But I had to reach the Sergeant and his men,"

"because I needed their help to rescue Ada."

"I never once imagined I'd be accused of aiding my enemies!"

I told this story to the Sergeant, but he did not believe me.

But you, Major, you must believe me!

We tried everything to save McPherson!

The fact remains you made an attempt on his life!

Yes. Here in the bungalow; but I stopped him!

He confessed he'd been sent by Suyodhana.

There was a pact between us! - What pact?

To save Ada, I agreed to deliver McPherson to Suyodhana!

Hardly the act of a saint!

To get the girl, he agreed to hand the father to his killers!

I didn't then know McPherson was the father of Ada.

When did you find it out?

When we arrived at Raimangal and were captured!

It's why I helped him to escape! - Yes, to be slain in the jungle!

That's a lie! - Silence!

Sgt. Claridge's assertions have been confirmed by the soldiers!

Nobody believes your stories!

You must believe me! Ada is in danger!

We will take care of that! Call out the soldiers!

< I repeat to you, Major! < I am innocent!

You will be placed into forced labour while you await judgment!

Take them away!

And double the guards on the prison!

Assassins! If they're not Thugs, they are surely their accomplices!

We must smash them all like the cobra!

I will ask the Governor for reinforcements.

Not a single one must be left alive on the island of Raimangal!

Where are they sending you? - To the labour camp!

But why? - They accused us of murder!

How? Who? - Major Kennedy!

What's happened? Kammamuri! Why don't you speak?

To the Camp at Auren? - Move along! Move along!

On your feet! Up!

Don't turn around! Drink!

I promised you I would come! I can help you get away!

Find a prisoner called Vindia, and say "I have seen the Ganges."

Understand? "I have seen the Ganges".

"I have seen the Ganges."

Careful!

No! No! No!

Keep working! Anyone else need a drink?

There is water for everyone! Just ask for it!

< Hurry up!

< Lazy dogs! Keep at it! < I'll give you a taste of the whip!

< On with your work!

I am Vindia! - Vindia?

I have seen the Ganges. - And you want to see it again?

Certainly! - I have many friends at the river!

Do you recognise? - Yes!

If you want to get away, you must join us once outside!

And Kammamuri? - Sulima will take care of him.

Very well, then!

Shift!

Pretend nothing has happened!

Keep working!

Look out for the guard!

That should do it!

Pick it up! Up!

< Harder!

Work, you slackers! Get on with it!

Everything's arranged! The clothes are in the forest!

Here comes the guard!

You again! - Have a drink!

Ah, you dog!

- Tremal Naik! - Follow me to the river! - Tremal Naik!

The clothes!

- And Kammamuri? - We must leave him. He can't think now.

When we return from Raimangal, we will free him!

- Ada will prove we are innocent! - Ada?

- The daughter of McPherson! - And where is she?

- In the Temple at Raimangal. - But they will recognise you!

Vindia is one of their leaders!

The alarm! We must run! The boat is waiting for us!

Tremal Naik is pardoned by Suyodhana

for having saved our leader!

Sulima, this bracelet consecrates you into the faith of Kali.

Now you are in the service of Kali. Come with me. - Where?

To the women of the Thugs. They must teach you the rites.

But I belong to Kammamuri! - Now you belong to Kali!

- Come! - She does not want to join your women!

It is the will of Kali! Come.

No, it's you who want it! She stays here!

You don't understand the Thugs, Tremal Naik! Do not interfere!

She will do as I say!

Is this the way to thank me for setting you free?

I didn't understand your motives!

The cells are this way. Come!

Where is the white woman?

Speak, or I will kill you!

Ada!

Ada!

Tremal Naik! Is it you?

I have come to take you away!

How did you manage to get here?

With the help of Sulima! But now there is no time to lose!

I'll tell you all later!

Now we must get away from here!

The Thugs!

Follow me!

Quickly!

Through here! Quick as you can!

Climb in, and cross the river!

- Not without you! - I'll come later!

No!

Sulima!

- They've taken him! - What will they do?

Torture him to death, Sulima! We must save him!

Let's go to Ballapur, to Major Kennedy!

Major Kennedy, a dispatch!

Greetings, Corporal! I hope you bring good news!

Arrange some rest and food, for him and the horse. Go.

Orders!

Good news, Berkeley. Take a look.

Good news? It says you are posted!

If I'm posted to Kandahar, we must find a place to rest the horses.

At most, it's a half-day from here!

So, tomorrow we will be ready.

What's going on out there?

Major, the daughter of Captain McPherson has fled from Raimangal.

Ada!

Sit here.

Ada McPherson! I haven't seen you since you were a baby

and I was afraid that I'd not see you again.

Some water.

Have a drink.

Tell me what happened?

Some natives found them about a mile from their village;

they were lying helplessly on the ground, by the path.

Tremal Naik freed her from the Thugs, and I brought her here.

Tremal Naik?

Yes, he and Kammamuri are both innocent!

It's true, Major. He tried to save my father,

and now he has saved me!

- And where is he now? - In the hands of the Thugs!

He lured them away, to allow us to escape!

We must save him, Major!

Well then, what he told us was the truth.

I'm not sure; that story about the giant scorpion didn't convince me!

But it is true! Kammamuri was bitten by the scorpion! He is sick!

It's true! Suyodhana did kill my father,

then he meant Tremal Naik be bitten by the scorpion,

but Kammamuri received the bite instead!

They are both innocent!

I'll have the troops leave for Raimangal tomorrow morning.

No, tomorrow is no good! They will kill him before then!

- I'm sorry, Major! - There is no time to lose!

It might already be too late! We must start today!

They are eager to prepare the Temple for the sacrifice.

Major, let's go without delay! I beg of you!

But you aren't fit enough to leave! - Don't think of me, I beseech you!

I'll rest on the boat!

But I am thinking only of him! That man saved my life!

And he tried to save my father!

I will not let them kill him! I will not!

Lieutenant, organise a patrol. And set Kammamuri free!

You, Claridge, gather your men.

You can catch up with us. We'll take the boat to Raimangal.

We will meet up on the island and make our attack!

You wanted reinforcements, but there is no time to lose!

It's a matter of life or death.

Here they come, Sulima! Kammamuri is with them!

Kammamuri! Finally you are free!

Kammamuri, do you hear me! How are you?

Berkeley, let's leave at once. We have to make haste!

Ready to sail!

When we get to Raimangal, everyone goes below.

Only the natives stay on deck. The Thugs must suspect nothing!

My dear...

No, thank you.

Sulima...

Kammamuri!

He has recovered!

- Kammamuri! - Major, come!

Your medicine has cured him!

God be praised! He can help guide us now!

Tremal Naik is in danger! He is a prisoner of Suyodhana!

Tremal Naik... in danger...

< Yes, we must help him, or they will kill him!

< Kammamuri, can you help Tremal Naik?

If Tremal Naik is in danger... we must help him!

< Raimangal! We have arrived!

Kammamuri! Oh, my dear!

Raimangal! We have an account to settle on this island of evil!

The moon will be of help, d'you think?

It's as clear as day!

I hope that favours us!

Do you see that cove? We'll drop anchor there.

And then we'll wait for the arrival of Claridge.

What's that?

- Ada, what was that? - The call of the Thugs!

- Already! The full moon! - What does that mean?

The full moon in September is the Holy Day of Goddess Kali.

At midnight, they begin making their human sacrifices!

That is the signal to begin, Major!

Change course! Head straight for the island!

Lads, come on! Step lively!

We will go and reconnoitre. You wait for the reinforcements.

Then we will attack together. - How will we find you, Major?

Claridge knows the island, tell him to head for the Temple.

Drop the rowboat in the water as quickly as possible!

Over there!

What happened? - The Thugs... I tried to escape...

They kidnapped us! They will start killing shortly!

Hurry to the Temple!

Have you seen a hunter in the Temple? A certain Tremal Naik?

Tremal Naik... Tremal...

We will try it on our own!

Reinforcements or no, these killers have to be dealt with!

Behind the columns! Quickly!

Major, where is Tremal Naik?

Sergeant, what do those signals mean?

A bad sign! It was unwise to start without us!

Let go of me!

The way out is over there!

Lively now! Ready your weapons! Everyone onto the land!

Quickly, let's go! Go!

Smartly, men!

We are trapped! Is there another way out?

Let's try over there!

Let's go!

Watch out!

Forward!

Try other door!

Heave! Heave!

It's no use! We are finished! - No, don't give up yet!

They are coming! They will save us! - It's too late!

Forward! Let's get inside!

Major Kennedy!

We are here! Behind this door!

We must save them!

You! Use that!

Claridge! Be quick! We are burning alive, Claridge!

Come on!

Use your muscles, men! We have to be quick!

More power! Give it more!

Again! Ah! Finally!

Major!

How are you? - You came in the nick of time!

What's the situation?

We have killed a lot of them, but they still keep coming!

The Thugs!

Attack!

Suyodhana! Leave him to me!

We were anxious about you! Claridge & his men await us!

This way!

Drink up.

Ada! Where is Major Kennedy and Tremal Naik?

What? Aren't they with you?

Come on, men, we need to find them!

Ada!

Tremal Naik!

Major!

English subtitles: David Blake (2013)