Welcome!
The location is India! Anywhere in India.
The time is the Present.
''And our characters... Well, let me introduce them''
Our main characters stay in this house.
''There are a few outsiders, but the majority are here.''
The name of the house is SHANTI NIWAS. (Abode of Peace)
Now don't be misled by the name.
Go inside and you'll see full-fledged war.
''The owner is a retired Postmaster, Shivnath.''
He named the house after his deceased wife.
Come! Let's meet him!
Meet Mr Shivnath Sharma.
He was an artistic young man! He even sang!
''Meet Shivnath's eldest son, Ramnath.''
He is a Head Clerk in this office.
He is a kind-hearted man but every evening...
he needs to drink some country liquor.
This is his wife Seeta Devi.
This is his daughter Meeta, B.A.
Shivnath's second son Harinath and...
his wife were killed in a car accident.
Their daughter Krishna is a very sweet girl.
Shivnath's third son is Kashinath.
He is a scholar and teaches at school.
This is his wife Shobha Devi.
As a compliment to her beauty...
Shivnath did not ask for any dowry.
''They have a son, Pintu.''
Shivnath's youngest son Vishwanath or Babloo.
He is an assistant music director in films.
He has copied innumerable English songs but...
has so far escaped discovery.
There are a few other characters. Like Mr Arun.
Apart from exercising he is studying for his M.A.
l don't know his name but everyone calls him Guruji.
Then there is one more very important character : a cook.
Let's go back to where we started: SHANTI NIWAS.
What about my job? - What's the hurry?
l gave up a bearer's job to become a cook.
Now l am neither a cook nor a bearer.
l thought a home would be better than a hotel...
but this home is worse than a hotel.
It seems as if l am working in some cheap lodging house.
There is another job. But the wages are not high.
What do you think l get here? Fifty rupees...
....food and clothes and a place to stay awake.
A place to stay awake? - What else?
Where is the time to sleep? That's why I have to go out to sleep.
The wages are forty rupees.
Also food and clothes and a place to stay in.
Then let's go at once! - Go and settle your account.
I've worked for a month and three days.
l don't mind not getting paid for three days.
l only feel bad for the old man.
He'll need tea.
Why is father calling out for me so early?
Did you hear him? You also heard him!
What happened?
l don't know when you will all learn.
I've been asking you to get up early since your schooldays.
- I'm trying my best to pick up the habit. - Nonsense!
Did you call me for that?
I've been dying for tea since morning.
Hasn't the cook given you tea as yet?
Would l have called you had he given it?
Looks like he has also run away.
What? - Is it such a big tragedy?
''In my days, the women of the house did everything.''
''Nowadays, the daughters-in-law are not like daughters.''
They are daughters only in the legal sense.
Now who will get into legal matters so early in the morning?
That is why I had to trouble you.
Push the box inside.
How often have l told you not to keep jewellery at home?
It will be stolen some day. Keep it in the bank.
Forget the jewellery and arrange for some tea.
It's seven and still no tea! l hope he hasn't run away.
Don't talk ill early in the morning.
O my God! The cook really hasn't come! Now what?
What else? Search for another cook!
Krishna! Krishna! - Coming!
What happened?
Make some tea. Quick! - Why?
Has the cook gone? - God knows!
All right! I'll make it.
Why are you strutting about? It's slippery there!
l forgot! - Can't you even see?
Look! l can't handle this everyday problem.
Now who will cook and clean for the whole house?
''There's Didi, Krishna and Meeta to help you.''
Enough! Don't talk about young nieces!
''As for Didi, she'll get gout when she hears this.''
What can l do? I'm just a school-master.
l can't rent a house and live separately.
Why not? There are just the three of us!
How much money do we need? - It's not a matter of expense.
''lf we stay separately, Brother will poison father's mind.''
I'll be disinherited from the house and estate.
Haven't you seen the box under father's bed?
Yes! I've also seen the huge lock on it.
Which is why I'm quiet.
Your younger brother's noisy music again.
What a madhouse this is!
The cook has left. - Left?
Wasn't he given a medal? - Why?
Has anyone stayed beyond a week?
He lasted an entire month. Shouldn't he get a medal?
Get me a cup if you are making tea.
A beautiful tune is stuck in between.
It will come out once hot tea goes in!
In a minute. - Yes!
Come in! Come!
Heard the news? - Yes.
Gout has been troubling me since last night.
l can't even die in peace.
Tea! Hot tea!
l knew this would happen! - What?
Everyone would sit back while you made tea.
So what? There's no shame in doing house work!
They also don't have shame! But they won't work!
Grandpa! Don't you dare criticise my aunts!
Tea! Hot tea!
Look! You've messed up a beautiful tune!
What kind of a tune was that?
Like a railway train on the tracks.
''Don't give your opinion on music, Krishna.''
What do you know about what sells in the market?
Look! The heart-beat is in two-four!
Now if we increase the pace of this beat the metre becomes six-eight
You won't understand all these technical things.
That's true. It's very exacting labour!
''First get an English record, play it, hear it...''
....record it and then fit Hindi words into it.
So many technical problems!
This is a trade secret.
''lf revealed, it will ruin my market.''
The tea is getting ruined. Drink it first!
O God! The eggs must have become stone by now!
Tea! Hot tea!
Uncle! Tea! - God bless you!
Aunty! Tea! - Also wake up Meeta.
''No, no! She slept at two o'clock last night.''
Here! Don't drink tea on an empty stomach.
Uncle! Tea! - Thank you!
Aunty! Tea!
Pintu Baba! Get up! Up!
Give me a kiss!
What about me? - Wash your face first.
''Come, Krishna! Let's wash the vessels.''
I'll die working for this house.
No servant! And now even the cook has left!
So what? We are here to work! Why else did they marry us?
Cook food... wash clothes ....clean the vessels.
It's not even a small place! As big as Sri Lanka (of the Ramayana)!
As if they are princesses from Ayodhya! Damn it!
Good!
Don't you know it is slippery there?
Why go there? - l forgot!
Are you hurt? - No! l enjoyed it!
Well! What's the score?
Aren't you ashamed? Can't you help her up?
Why should l? Who vowed to help her all her life?
I'll be late. - Won't l be late?
Don't l have office? Is this the way to rush inside?
lf a teacher is late how can he enforce discipline?
Does that mean you'll force your way in?
What can l do? You take hours!
Now it's impossible to stay here.
Ruffians have taken over.
What a zoo! Bloody idiots!
Who can work all day after eating such food?
Is this curry? Not a single grain in it!
We made whatever was available.
Do you also expect us to do the grocery shopping?
What does Bablu do all day? Can't he do it?
He is with his musical instruments all day.
You fool around the whole day long.
Can't you buy vegetables for the house?
Vegetables? l buy them?
l am an artiste! Talk of art to me!
Doesn't an artiste feel hungry?
Everyone feels hungry but not everyone is an artiste.
How can a dealer in tunes deal in vegetables?
Get lost! Artistes like you are a dime a dozen!
Now look! I'll... - All right. Now don't fight.
I'll bring something on my way back home.
''Good morning, sir. - Come! Sit!''
Krishna! Bring your books! Arun has come to teach!
Krishna! - What is it?
Help me! Heaven will not fall if you don't study for a day.
Saw that? You teach her free! Even that they can't bear!
Wash the clothes while l look after the cooking.
Here is my soap! Don't waste it.
Keep whatever is left in my room.
Also wash my clothes! Here's my soap.
Keep whatever is left in my room.
The boss has called for you twice.
Please sit down. - l am sorry! l am late again!
The most often used word in English is "sorry".
Whatever mistake the person makes he thinks...
saying sorry will solve all his problems.
That's not true! l am really very sorry!
l have a suggestion! Don't feel bad.
You've a year for retirement! Why not retire now?
Don't say that! I'll face great difficulties!
l am an officer and yet l have come 10 minutes early.
You are the Head Clerk and yet you're late every day.
This will not happen again.
We've a servant problem and so nothing gets done on time.
Forgive me! This will not happen again!
That tender... - Let me settle down!
The servant you gave us has also run away.
No! It's not his fault. Our house is like that.
''Now get me another servant quickly, or else...''
I'll lose my job at this old age.
We'll give him another five rupees.
Not a single good news! Problems everywhere!
What happened? - Look!
Two murders on the front page and...
One! Two! Three! Four!
Four murders on the second page. There's more...
There's a murder even on the playground.
Murder has become a national event.
It's an international event.
Sometime back there was a newspaper strike.
How peaceful it was then.
No murders! No wars! Nothing at all!
You always look at the dark side.
Why don't you look at the paper's good side?
Did you read the paper yesterday?
A handsome young man ran away from jail.
The police warned that he was a dangerous murderer.
Look at the newspaper today.
O God! A young man from a good family, well-educated but a "criminal brain"...
He poses as a tutor or a servant and...
....enters a house and gains the family's confidence.
Then one day he cleans out the house and vanishes.
Think about it.
Saved! Just in time! Ramu! Get the register.
Ramu! Get a servant! The house is in bad shape!
Where are you going? - College!
College! There's so much work to be done!
Just for one important class! I'll be back soon!
First give this to Meeta.
Meeta! Get up! Get up!
God! l am getting late.
Get up! It's ten o' clock!
O God! Vividh Bharati must have begun broadcast.
Of course! Would they wait for you to get up?
Drink the Ovaltine. Right?
Aunty! l am going to college! Grandpa! l am going!
How will you go? Aren't you late?
I'll run! It's not far.
l thought you must have gone! l am late!
A good news! - What?
Goverdhandas is dead! - Who is that?
The college chairman! - What's good about it?
The good news is incidental.
He's dead and so the college is closed.
You haven't missed any period.
Let's go and sit in the park for some time.
What if my aunt finds out? - Then go home!
I'll go to the funeral of Mr Goverdhandas.
You get angry very fast! - You talk like that!
You made me wait for an hour and now...
All right! Let's go.
l didn't mean that! - Then?
l want to watch when Meeta begins her dance practice.
Why? - l like it!
l wish l could also learn to dance.
Forget it! Concentrate on your studies.
What's the use of studying? You won't let me work.
How will dance help?
Why are you laughing? - No! You'll scold me.
Tell me! Go on!
Most men tend to stray after marriage.
''So you sit back and relax, while l dance for you.''
Wonderful! Really beautiful!
No one can win against you.
You'll stand first in the competition this year.
l am tired of dancing merely to the beat.
Teach me something else.
Of course! I'll teach you a new song today.
Where did you learn dance?
''No! Call it Nritya, by its traditional name!''
Who taught you Nritya? - Lambu Maharaj.
I've never heard of that name before.
Many talented artistes are unrecognised by the world.
Even l am unrecognised but for you and your mother.
My teacher always said...
A true artiste hankers not for his name but his art.
Come! Let's practice!
O Krishna! Why does Thou force me?
Let go! Let go!
Let go of my hand!
No! No! Not like that!
O Krishna! Why does Thou force me?
Let go! Let go!
Let go of my hand!
O Krishna! Why does Thou force me?
Don't call me when l am leaving? It's bad luck!
Nothing happens when children call out.
Keep quiet! No one asked you to interfere!
Where are you going? - To a birthday party.
What is that bird's nest on your head?
It's not a bird's nest. It's a bouffant!
Even my father wouldn't have heard of it.
Even my father didn't!
l got some vegetables.
Did you get a cook? - I've spread the word.
Look! Better get a cook fast.
Shobha has threatened to go to her father's house...
if we don't get a cook. - Then you can also go!
You say that because you know my parents are dead.
She gets started the moment l get home.
Wait! Wait!
Here are the papers. - Where's the change?
Change? You gave me 2 Rupees. This cost 1.95 !
Where's the remaining five paise?
Why do you lock yourself up in the house?
Go out and take some exercise.
Can anyone exercise on an empty stomach?
No one has even offered me water in the entire day.
Don't call her! Or no one will get dinner tonight.
Krishna! Everyone calls out to her!
Why can't they call out to their wives?
Henpecked husbands! Why were they all born in my house?
Pintu! Where are you hiding?
Pintu! Come here! - Father will scold me.
''No, he will not.''
This is not liquor. It's medicine.
Didn't l tell you in the evening...
Not to enter my room? - Yes!
Why? Because l drink? - Yes!
This is a house! Not a pub! Come on!
Teaching me? Is this a school and am l your student?
Aren't you ashamed to drink in front of children?
Can't you drink behind closed doors?
You must bear it if you want to stay together.
And you people should also heed us sometimes
Yes sir! What must we do?
This is a serious matter.
What will you feel if he also drinks openly...
in the presence of your daughter?
What do you mean? l drink with my own money!
He's drinking in his room! Not on the streets!
That's all that's left. - What?! How dare you?!
Go somewhere else if you don't like it.
That's what I'm going to do! Can anyone stay here?
What's going on? Idiots!
l am not dead as yet! It's my house!
What do you think it is? a marketplace?
Why are you interfering? Go! Go inside!
No! You can all go out!
The house and jewellery! As if they will go!
What's this noise? - There's the great composer.
You also get married. - Why?
The fights will become more colourful.
The fights are already very colourful.
Will you heed my advice?
Change the name of the house to ASHANTI NIWAS. (Abode of Chaos)
Worthless idiot! Son of swine!
l heard you needed a cook?
- Someone to cook food? - Yes, yes!
A man has come on his own looking for work.
Call your aunts! For them it is God himself that has come.
Go inside!
Aunt Shobha! Aunt Seeta! Come down quickly!
What is it? - Look who has come!
Who has come? - A cook!
Heard that? A cook!
Who sent you? - l came on my own!
Will any person stand guarantee for you?
Only criminals need a guarantee.
No! l didn't meant that.
This is Raghu.
- Where did you work before? - With Dr. B.C. Roy
The Chief Minister of West Bengal!
But he's dead. - Yes.
Where did you work next? - With Mr Naik.
Which Mr Naik? - V.P. Naik.
Maharashtra's Chief Minister?!
I cooked food there! I'll cook here.
The same vegetables and grains.
''Whoever eats it, the potato will always be a potato.''
''A potato is a potato, my dear! Whether I eat it or a bear!''
You seem to be very poetic.
What can you cook?
All kinds of Indian food! Chinese and Continental!
We don't like foreign food! We like simple Indian food.
True! [HINDI] "Admi pehne jhat bhata, khaye man bhata" Whatever else you do, you should eat what you like.
There is no end to Indian food.
l know how to make 300-400 kinds of chutneys.
One for every day of the year.
The point is: how long will you last?
Does anyone know you in this neighbourhood?
No! But l know everyone.
You are Mr Ramnath! Head Clerk with Rupam Pustak Company.
Mr Vishwanath is Assistant to composers Rajnikant-Nyarelal.
Mr Kashinath teaches science at the Ramratan School.
You are a great scholar! It is said... [SANSKRIT] Swadeshe poojyate raja, vidwan sarvatra poojyate
''A king is worshipped only in his country, but...''
....a scholar is worshipped in the whole world.
Where did a cook like you learn Sanskrit?
I once worked for Sanskrit scholar Rahulshanti Dayan.
I was honoured to learn Sanskrit from him.
Are you making that up?
First fix the salary? - Start with forty!
Forty! No! No! In times of such inflation!
You give me thirty rupees.
l know times are difficult.
''Come on! Show me the kitchen. Or else, you'll be late.''
Pintu! What are you eating?
Here's an Indian chocolate! - No! No!
It's good. It has gur (jaggery), besan (gram flour), sonth (powdered ginger), and castor oil.
Good for your health and helps digestion too
That's a great formula.
I'll make a formulation from harad (Terminalia chebula) herbs for you.
Your health will improve in ten days! It's said: [SANSKRIT] "Yasya grihe naasti mata, tasya mata haritake."
''Herbs are important in a house without a mother''
It is also said: [SANSKRIT] "Kadachit kupita mata, na kupita haritake." That is, herbs can never harm one's health!
Where did you study Ayurveda?
From the noted vaidyaraj Chandrashekhar Thakur.
l was with him for a few days.
What's in the bag?
''A gift from Mother Annapurna, the Goddess of Food.''
Annapurna? - Let's see!
It's a strange story.
''One day l was sleeping hungry by the river Ganga, in Kashi.''
Mother Annapurna appeared in all her glory in my dream.
She was holding a silver ladle and smiling.
''She said, My child! Eat!''
l put out my hands and was at once reminded...
of all the hungry people in the world.
''l said, I'll eat if everyone gets enough to eat.''
Mother said: There's no food scarcity in this world.
But Man has become his own enemy and is...
....snatching each other's food! What can I do?
Correct! - Quiet! Then?
l at once fell at her feet and said:
l don't know about that! Arrange food for everyone!
She said: Let go of me! l said: No!
She said: Raghu! l said: Mother!
Suddenly she hurled the ladle at me.
l fell unconscious.
When l recovered she had gone and l was holding the ladle.
l made these utensils from that ladle.
So many utensils from just one ladle?
It was no ordinary ladle! It belonged to Mother!
Come on!
It's very slippery here!
Yes! We told the sweeper so often but...
- Why tell him? I'll do it! - No! It's not your job!
It's a real pleasure to do something for someone.
Do we have coconut shells? - Yes! Yes!
Now no one will fall even if they dance the Kathak on it.
Come on! Show me the kitchen!
l think he is mad.
Someone who knows about the entire house...
....won't he know that the box under father's bed...
....has jewels worth lakhs?
Dresses like a military man or a ward boy.
Advice in Sanskrit at every stage.
Looks suspicious to me.
Yes! No one can be trusted! We must keep an eye!
I'm sure everyone eats before going to the office...
What should l cook?
What will you cook? There is some plantain (raw bananas) and sooran (elephant-foot yam).
Hmm..plantain and sooran?
- Do we have heeng (asafoetida)? - Yes!
Good! Then I'll make some kebabs with this sooran and heeng!
This plantain can be made into Dum Pukht!
- What? - Dum Pukht! What fun!
Now let's call everyone here for tea.
We'll have hot tea and gentle conversation...
- l am very afraid! - Yes!
Is he a tantrik (witchdoctor)? - He seems so!
Saw how he cut the vegetables?
Grandpa! Tea! I'll fetch tea at 5.30 every morning!
l got it only when my wife was alive.
''You get up early, so you must get your tea early.''
''You are a stranger and yet you understand, but...''
my own people don't understand this.
Of course they understand.
Aunt Seeta just told me to give you tea early.
l can't believe Seeta said it.
''In any case, whether she says it or not...''
....hot tea in the morning is really wonderful.
Of course you'll get it! l am here to serve you!
First I'll give you a mustard oil massage and then hot tea!
Krishna! Lay out the covers! Tea will be served here.
Today's tea is like the Prophet Muhammad.
If Muhammad cannot go to the mountain, the mountain must come to Muhammad!
So! Lay out the covers so that tea can be served.
- Come! Sit! - Tea! Hot tea!
Wonderful! Which tea is this?
The same tea which you always drink.
This is the first time l realised that...
....tea also has fragrance.
You talk as if you've been getting trash everyday.
l was blaming the previous cook and not you.
Your tea undoubtedly would be a heavenly experience.
Raghu! Your tea is excellent!
Careful! He may say that he worked with Mr Brooke Bond at the Lipton company!
''It's the truth! If you wish, write to Miss Denzongpa...''
of Resham Bhavan Tea Centre, Churchgate, Bombay - 1 and ask her...
....who taught me to make tea. From Darjeeling!
- The tea or Mrs. Denzongpa? - Both!
Give some tea to the aunts.
No! We'll drink it later.
Why? It's so nice when the whole family eats together.
These small things seem as if they have no meaning.
Actually they mean quite a lot.
It seems as if everyone is sharing life.
You must have been a philosopher in your past life.
Past life? Do l look very stupid in this life?
No! No! Give me another cup of tea!
No! No more tea! Have your brunch and go to school.
The eldest brother will use the bathroom first.
Heard that? Learn from it!
Shobha! We've to wash the utensils!
Why? I'll do it. - No! It's not your job.
Everyone does his own job.
The real pleasure is in doing someone else's job.
I'll get paid for my job. The matter ends there!
But doing work for someone will earn me real merit.
Such merit is invaluable.
l won't give up this merit even for a double salary.
Shobha! Will it be edible?
Tasty! Get me some more mutton kebabs!
Aunty! Give them some more mutton kebabs!
In the meantime I'll fix up grandpa's meal.
When did he go to the market to fetch mutton?
It's not mutton! They are sooran kebabs!
How is it that you cannot make out the difference?
Cooking is also an art.
It's a special cook that can make sooran taste like mutton.
- And mutton like... - Sooran!
Forget it! Don't tease!
- Who's it? - The two of us!
- Which two? - The Ovaltine and l !
Good morning! Ovaltine!
- Who are you? - The new cook, Meeta.
Who told you my name?
It's written on that certificate there.
- You dance Kathak? - Who told you?
- That picture there! - Are you a cook or a detective?
A cook! Now get ready fast! Guruji will be here.
- My respects, Guruji! - Hello!
- Will you have some tea? - Of course!
A cup of fresh tea improves the body and the mind.
Yes! Right.
And gives energy for the body to dance!
Yes!
It keeps the body in fine fettle!
- What's fine fettle? - Slim and trim.
Why do you speak such chaste Urdu?
Even you speak very chaste Hindi.
That's because Hindi is our own language.
Urdu is also our language.
Hindi and Urdu are sisters! Like you and me!
- What? We are sisters? - No! We are brothers!
Like brothers stay together can't sisters do that?
In staying together can the nation progress.
- l mean, move ahead! - Of course!
- May l leave? - Of course.
Meeta will be here soon.
- Krishna! Ovaltine! - For me?
Why not? If Meeta can have it, why not you?
Meeta has to work hard! Study! Dance!
Even you have to study so hard.
Nonsense! I've been trying to solve this for an hour.
- Let me see! - You won't understand Algebra.
Let's see! Divide both sides by (a-b) !
"a" squared minus "b" squared is equal to (a+b) times (a-b).
Divide it and take its square root. Simple!
Where did you learn Algebra?
l worked for a mathematician! He was half crazy.
He said pure mathematics gave the greatest pleasure.
l had to learn Algebra or give up my job.
Well! It proved to be of some use today.
Don't tell anyone or I'll lose my job.
- Let it be! - Give it to me!
Everyone does his own work but...
....real pleasure is in doing someone else's work.
Kashi! After many days I'll reach the office on time.
Quick! Open your mouth!
The outlook changes when food is good and given on time.
- Grandpa! Lunch is ready! - So early?
We are not like the British to have breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Come on! It will get cold.
You've reminded me of my wife once again.
Do you know how to cook neem with brinjal?
Why not? But I'll make a better dish for you.
- I'll make sukto. - What?
Sukto! Made from karela (bitter gourd), baingan (brinjal) and saijan (drumstick).
A Bengali lady taught me! Very tasty! Come on!
Heard me? Krishna! Is he still here or gone?
Who? - Raghu! Still here!
Raghu is either a saint or a big crook.
He bought so much stuff in just two rupees.
Be alert. Both don't stay at one place for too long.
The saint will bless you while the thief will cheat you.
Is he still there? - Raghu? Yes.
Wait! Wait! - What happened?
Here are some lemon pieces and some Coca Cola.
Add some lime juice and cocke. It will taste great. - It's moonshine.
Taste it and see! Plus the fried lentils.
lf you must drink then drink in style.
I'll draw the curtains or Pintu will turn up.
The real fun of drinking is to drink alone.
Where did you learn all this?
l worked for a film lyricist! Now don't ask his name.
Wasn't it fantastic? - Wonderful!
You work so hard at the office and worry about the house.
How will you handle it if you don't drink a little?
Relax and drink! I'll leave.
Can l get some tea? - Here you are!
Tea and a little surprise! Egg kachori (fried puff pastry)!
How can anyone drink only tea after working so hard?
They say: [HINDI] "Kuchh daant ke liye, kuchh aankh ke liye mile to atma shaant ho jaati hai" Something to eat and look at and the soul is calmed.
What a thought! Very poetic! Did you work for a poet?
l worked for the great poet Harindranath who often said: "It is so simple to be happy but so difficult to be simple"
The word "happy" means joy, right?
No, "happy" means joyful.
What does all of it mean? - You don't know?
Happiness comes from a simple life. But keeping life simple is a tough task.
Wonderful! How lovely!
l just quoted it without really understanding.
l must touch your feet!
Harindranath said it is the small things that matter the most.
The husband earns while the wife looks after the house.
When the husband comes home and helps his wife...
''....cleaning the utensils, how nice it will...''
''The wife will refuse to let him do it, but...''
''....in her heart, she will want him to stay with her.''
These are the small things that matter in life.
We waste all this waiting for some big happiness.
The big happinesses are not too many but...
these small happinesses are countless.
Whom am l talking to? You are yourself a scholar.
Please forgive me.
What is this? Eggs again?
Even a hen will be bored with so many eggs.
Have some kebabs today.
Normally nothing is served with tea in this house.
Eat it! Give these eggs to your elder brother.
Why? - He'll like it.
No! He'll suspect me. - Why?
I've never given him a peanut and now a whole egg.
Won't he suspect? He'll think I've a vested interest.
Then give it to Krishna.
''Look! At this moment, l want to build up a sad mood.''
But why ?
Because l want to compose a sad song.
May l help you? - What do you know of music?
l worked for some time with Pandit Omkarnath Thakur.
There l learned music through imitation.
l really like sad songs.
Happy songs are momentary like colourful sparklers.
Sad songs are like incense which burns a long time and even after burning out the fragrance lingers.
You talk just like a poet.
- ''What is it, uncle?" - Sit and eat eggs.
Think you're the hero! - l? No! No!
l know! If you could be a hero why would you be a cook?
l said just think of it! Will it cost money?
Suppose you are in love with a girl from your village.
You go to the city to study further.
When you return the girl is already married.
The girl's bridal procession crosses the returning hero.
He looked at the palanquin and their eyes met.
How do you know this?
This is what happens in films! The hero starts singing!
No! This is where the film becomes off-beat.
The song is sung by the cart-driver.
May l play this tanpura?
What is life without you?
''When flowers blossom the heart withers''
''In spite of the rain my heart burns''
What is life without you?
''Ever since you're upset with me, my beloved''
Life is silence without you
The world has become my enemy
Who will share my sorrow?
My own tears fall on my clothes
What is life without you?
Whom shall l tell...
what l have suffered
''What shall l say if the world asks''
Who broke my heart?
Who is responsible for this?
What is life without you?
''When flowers blossom the heart withers''
''In spite of the rain my heart burns''
What is life without you?
Wonderful! Forget cooking and become a playback singer.
No! No! But Manna Dey sings very well.
Get him to sing this song.
Whose song is it? - Mine! l just made it up.
Not the tune! The words!
Mine! l wrote them as l went along.
Now you'll say that you worked for Mirza Ghalib!
Even my father had not been born then.
But l was with Rabindranath Tagore at Shantiniketan.
Tagore? What's your age? - Thirty.
When did Tagore die? - 1941.
l must go now! - Wait!
Tagore passed away in 1941! That's 30 years ago.
lf you're 30 now when did you learn poetry?
What kind of a Hindu are you?
Don't you know about Abhimanyu?
The one who learned how to break a Chakravyuha...
when he was still in his mother's womb.
l was in the womb when my mother was at Shantiniketan.
The rest of the story l will tell you later.
l must give Grandpa his dinner.
Shall l get you dinner? - Yes.
Come! Wash your hands! - Who was singing?
- Your musical son. - A very sweet song.