Original subtitles

On this shore where blue waves break, we've built our homes.

Dark-eyed beauties with shining black hair...

...will chase away evil spirits with their songs!

Drive away devils with a song!

Dark-eyed beauties will dance until dusk.

This is our piece of land.

It is here where fate brings us every year, ready to defy death.

Bold divers plunge beneath the waves.

They dive to fetch pearls that are hidden from sight.

Pearls! Bright pearls for us!

Here where blue waves break. Here where we've built our homes!

Dark-eyed girls will sing until dusk, their hair waving like water.

They will chase evil spirits away with their songs.

These beauties will dance until the night falls.

They will dance on and on.

They will dance until night falls!

Friends, stop your singing for a while.

It is time to choose a leader...

...who will command, protect, and defend us.

A leader we all admire, vigilant and brave.

The man we all want as our leader...

...the one we all choose.

Zurga! Zurga, it is you!

- Who, me? - Yes! We choose you!

We want you to lead us.

You've been our friend, now be our leader. We will follow you.

- You swear to obey me? - Be our leader!

- You give me absolute power? - Lead us!

Very well. if you all agree.

Be our leader. We give you the power.

Very well, I accept.

But who is approaching?

Nadir! Nadir! My childhood friend.

Is it really you?

It is Nadir, the hunter.

Yes, Nadir, your old friend.

I am happy to be with you again, friends.

In the swamps and jungles where hunters spread their nets...

...I explored the darkest reaches.

With a dagger clenched between my teeth...

...I pursued the tawny tiger with its golden eyes...

...the jaguar and panther, as well.

All I did yesterday, my friends, you will do someday.

Yes, maybe even tomorrow.

My friend, come shake my hand!

Come, let us welcome him back!

Welcome back our friend!

Stay with us, Nadir. Be one of us.

Yes, from now on, we will share everything.

Good! Join us!

Drink with me. Dance and sing with us.

Before the fishing begins, let us greet the sun.

Hail the sky and the mighty sea!

On the fiery shore where blue waves break, we've made our homes.

Dark-eyed girls, their hair floating, will dance until dusk.

Chase the evil spirits away with your songs.

Away! Chase the demons away!

They will dance until darkness falls! Dance!

They will dance until dusk, on and on!

They will dance along the golden shore...

...dance by the water's edge!

At last I see you again...

...after so many days, so many months.

We have lived apart for too long.

Brahma reunites us. What happiness!

But tell me, did you keep your promise?

Am I looking at a friend or at a traitor?

I have overcome my deep love for her.

Let's forget the past and celebrate this moment.

Let us be brothers and friends for life.

I have banished that madness from my heart.

No, you are lying!

You may seem calm, but you will never forget!

What do you mean?

Zurga, when we are both old...

...when the dreams of our youth have faded...

...you will remember our last journey together.

We stopped at the gates of Kandy.

It was evening.

There was a warm breeze.

The Brahmin girls stood in the twilight, their faces shining.

They were calling the crowd to prayer.

At the back of the holy temple, adorned with flowers and gold...

...a woman appears.

I can see her still.

The crowd grows quiet...

...and gazes at her, amazed.

There is a hushed murmur. It is the goddess!

In the shadows she rises and holds out her arms to us.

We glimpse her eyes behind her veil. What a vision, a dream!

The crowd falls to its knees.

Yes, it is she, the goddess, so beautiful...

...who comes down to us.

Her veil trembles. The crowd is kneeling.

She makes her way through the crowd.

The veil now hides her face from us.

I try in vain to see her.

She's gone!

I've lost her!

But now there's a stab of pain in my heart.

A fire is consuming me!

You push my hand away.

And you push me away.

Love seizes our hearts and turns us into rivals.

No, let nothing separate us!

- Nothing! - Let nothing part us!

Let us swear to remain friends.

Yes, let us swear to stay friends!

Yes, it is the goddess who led you to me today.

I'll be true to my promise. I will be your friend until I die!

Joined in friendship!

We will share the same fate. Now only death can part us!

What do I see? A boat is coming this way.

I've been waiting for this! Thank Brahma.

Who are you expecting?

An unknown woman, as beautiful as she is wise.

Each year, the elders of the village...

...search far and wide to find such a woman, and bring her here to us.

A veil conceals her face.

No one is allowed to see or touch her.

She will pray and sing here every day.

Her songs will float overhead...

...protecting us from evil spirits.

I can see her, my friend. Let us celebrate her arrival.

It is she!

Welcome, stranger.

They have led her here.

At last, she is here!

Welcome, mysterious friend.

Please accept our gifts.

Sing to calm the raging storm.

Sacred friend, may your gentle words...

...calm the spirits of the churning waves.

May the sound of your voice...

...calm the spirits of the waves...

...and of the fields and forests.

Mysterious priestess, accept our gifts.

We welcome you.

Protect us.

Watch over and protect us!

Watch over us all!

Now that you are here with us, purest virgin...

...do you swear to drive away the evil spirits that live in the shadows?

I swear.

Do you swear to remain true to your vow...

...to pray night and day at the edge of the deep abyss?

I swear.

Do you swear to drive away the black spirits of the night...

...to live without a friend, a husband, or a lover?

I swear.

If you remain faithful and obey my orders...

...we will keep for you the finest pearl.

Then this humble woman will be worthy of a king.

Yes, worthy of a king.

But if you betray us, if your heart gives in...

...to the wicked snares of love...

...you will be cursed.

It will be your last day.

That day your grave will open.

- And you will die! - A horrible fate!

(Ah, it is he!)

What is wrong with you? Your hands are shaking.

You seem agitated, gripped by a dark dread.

Then you should leave this place where fate has brought you.

Take back your freedom.

Speak! Decide!

I will stay.

I will stay even if I have to die.

May my fate, good or bad, be fulfilled here.

I am staying, my friends. My life is yours.

So be it. You will remain veiled to all eyes.

You will sing for us under the night skies.

You have sworn it.

I have sworn.

You have sworn it.

Yes, I have sworn it!

Divine Brahma, may your hand protect us.

Banish the deadly spirits of the night.

Holy Brahma, we humbly pray to you!

O Brahma, divine Brahma, may your arms enfold us!

Hearing that voice shook my whole being.

It is madness to hope! Could it really be her?

Alas, my foolish eyes have so often imagined seeing her!

No, no, this is just guilt... fever, insanity!

Zurga must know the truth! I should have told him.

I broke my promise... l had to find her again.

I discovered where she walks, and followed her.

Under cover of night, as I held my breath...

...I heard her sweet songs floating on the breeze.

Hidden among the palms, I could hear her...

...her voice as tender and sweet as a dove's.

Oh, enchanted night! Divine rapture!

Oh, bewitching memory! Mad intoxication, sweet dream!

It seems I still see her, under the bright stars...

...parting her veil in the warm evening air.

Enchanted night! Divine rapture!

Bewitching memory! Mad intoxication, sweet dream!

Bewitching memory!

The sky is darkening.

The sea is rising.

So dark! So menacing!

You will stay all alone here.

By the light of the shrine...

...with clouds of incense floating toward God, sing.

We will listen.

Farewell, sweet dream... farewell!

O God Brahma!

O sovereign master of the world!

O God Brahma!

Fairest Shiva!

O golden one!

Fairest Shiva!

Spirits of the air... spirits of the sea!

Spirits of the rocks and fields and forests!

(That voice!)

Hear my voice, listen to my song!

Spirits of the air... spirits of the sea!

In the clouded sky that hides the stars...

...in the depth of night, limpid and pure...

...as if in a dream, I search the shadows.

My gaze follows you through the darkness.

My voice implores you, my heart adores you.

My song, light as a bird's, flutters on the air.

Sing, sing again! Let your voice float over us.

Let your song ward off every danger!

Let your song cast its spell!

May it banish all that threatens us!

God, it is she!

Leila!

You have nothing to fear.

I am here. I am with you...

...ready to give my life to defend you!

Sing, Sing again!

(He is here! He is listening to me!)

I sing for you, whom I adore.

Ah, sing to me again, you whom I adore!

Fear no danger. I am beside you.

(He is here! He is listening to me!)

Do not be afraid. I am here with you.

Leila, fear nothing.

Leila, I am always with you!