[mantra chanting]
Mahadeva,
Kaikeyi was granted wish fulfilment.
What happened next in Shri Rama's story?
Just like Nemi's valour,
the name Dasharatha garnered fame in the world.
But, Goddess,
fame gives birth to over-confidence.
'One's confidence determines'
'one's sins and virtues.'
- Hey! - [arrow swishing]
[horses neighing]
'One crosses the thin line between the two'
'before one realises it.'
[horses whinnying]
[arrow swishing]
[melancholic music playing]
[devotional music playing]
[devotional song playing]
[devotional music playing]
[Shravan sighing]
Shravan,
did we reach Kashi?
Not yet, Father.
We still have to cover a long distance.
Gyanvanti, look.
Your Shravan is lying to us.
He is wandering here and there with us instead of taking us to Kashi
because he doesn't want to be estranged from us.
He is aware that we'd be distanced
from him once we reach Kashi.
That's true.
I don't want to be estranged from you two.
What's wrong with it?
Why do you two want me to leave you?
Am I distressing you two?
No, son.
You didn't ever let us experience distress.
We are blind and can't walk
but you are helping us experience the world.
Our son is acting like our legs and helping us travel.
We are old
and now, you must plan for your future.
If you keep taking care of us,
how will you explore the world?
How can I leave you two in Kashi
and start a family?
I don't want to explore such a world.
You two are my life.
No.
I won't take you two to Kashi.
- I'll serve you two until my last breath. - Quiet!
How could you utter such words during the evening?
Do you intend to kill us
by saying such words?
No, Father.
I didn't intend to hurt you.
Actually,
I blurted it out
after you talked about estrangement.
That's enough. Come here.
We won't leave you.
[vocalising]
Please go and bring some water. We are thirsty.
[suspenseful music playing]
[deer bleating]
[water flowing]
[suspenseful music playing]
[deer grunting]
I have never returned empty-handed from a hunting spree.
It won't be any different today.
[suspenseful music playing]
[water gurgling]
[water splashing]
[water gurgling]
[water splashing]
I feel as if
an elephant is drinking water.
If I confront it, it will run away.
[stretching the bowstring]
[Dasharatha chanting mantra]
Follow the sound!
[arrow swishing]
[arrow continues swishing]
[pitcher shattering]
[temple bell clanging]
[theme song playing]
Why is Shravan taking so long?
He went to bring water.
He must be searching
for the source of water.
Please stop worrying
and trust God.
[dramatic music playing]
[wind whooshing]
Shravan, are you back?
Son, did you bring water?
Please help us drink water.
You took a long time.
[suspenseful music playing]
[dramatic music playing]
You aren't Shravan. Who are you?
[gloomy music playing]
I'm a sinner.
Shravan's father, where is my son?
Shravan!
Please tell us. Who are you?
Where is our Shravan?
Mother,
I'm the unfortunate Dasharatha.
Huh?
I'm Ayodhya's king.
I mistakenly
shot
your son
and he died!
Mother, please punish me.
Please punish me!
[Shantanu crying]
I deserve condemnation
- to atone for my sins, Mother. - Shravan's father.
What is he saying?
Gyanvanti, Ayodhya's king never lies.
Our Shravan!
[Shantanu crying]
Shravan!
Mother! Mother!
Gyanvanti...
Gyanvanti.
Gyanvanti!
[Shantanu wailing]
You are
Ayodhya's king
who must protect everyone.
Is this the way to protect your subjects?
I made a mistake.
Please punish me!
I must die to repent.
Is death enough
to atone for this sin?
You can't get rid of your karma.
Dasharatha, as you sow, so shall you reap.
You snatched the life support of two blind people.
You will also be estranged from your loved one.
You will experience hell in your life.
You will pine
for your righteous son just like Shravan and die.
This is an aged, grieving father's curse to you!
[vocalising]
Father!
[mantra chanting]
Isn't it an amazing story?
Dasharatha's over-confidence compelled him to sin.
His sin led to a curse
which formed the foundation of Shri Rama's birth.
Yes, Goddess.
[conch-shell playing]
Though Shri Rama's birth
wasn't just the result of the curse given to Dasharatha.
In fact, it was also the result of granting somebody's wish.
- "A wish?" - Yes.
The wish was granted to a devotee
who earned power through his devotion
and became unrighteous.
Lord Vishnu was compelled
to incarnate as Shri Rama
to destroy him.
The wish was granted
to Sage Vishrava's son Dashanan.
[adventurous music playing]
[thunder rumbling]
'He would soon be known as'
'Ravana in the whole world.'
[thunder cracking]
Dashanan, please come here.
Why are you getting drenched?
Mother, I want to watch the golden Lanka.
I'm watching my step-brother Kubera
living comfortably in Lanka
while we are miserable here.
I have explained it umpteen times. Don't compare yourself to others
and be patient.
Everything will be fine.
Once your father Vishrava...
Mother, please don't take his name!
I loathe everything
I inherited from my father.
I loathe my name,
this leaky hut, this miserable life
and this injustice!
[thunder rumbling]
We are his children just like Kubera
but he inherited the golden Lanka.
Just because he is a Yaksha and the deities support him.
But we were given
hunger
and this leaky hut.
Why?
Just because we are demons!
[song playing]
[adventurous music playing]
Son, please calm down.
Patience is a virtue.
"Patience?"
Patience brings frustration.
We can achieve things only by trying!
[thunder rumbling]
We must attack!
- [thunder rumbling] - [earthquake]
Dashanan, what have you done?
We had the shelter of a dilapidated hut but you destroyed it.
I'll terrorise people
to change my luck!
I have ten heads, right?
I'll win ten realms for each head.
The ten directions
will shudder at Dashanan's name!
[dramatic music playing]
Son.
Mother, just for a few days...
Please live off our step-brother Kubera's charity for some more days.
I'll return only after getting my wish fulfilled.
[thunder rumbling]
If anyone wishes to accompany me, they can come.
Vibhishana!
Mother, I must also leave
to help my brother mend his ways.
I promise you
that I'll keep trying to make my brothers follow righteousness.
Kumbhakarna...
[dramatic music playing]
[thunder rumbling]
[dramatic music playing]
[vocalising]
Mother, please don't be scared.
When my brothers come back after getting power,
we'll avenge ourselves on everyone.
We'll exact revenge on deities, sages
and Yakshas.
[melancholic music playing]
'He braved hunger, thirst and all kinds of adversities'
'to meditate.'
[Dashanan chanting mantra]
Brother!
[Dashanan chanting mantra]
'Dashanan continued meditating for months'
'which soon turned into years.'
'Kumbhakarna and Vibhishana didn't leave his side.'
'But Lord Brahma wasn't pleased.'
'Undeterred by nature's vagaries'
'like sun, heat, cold and rain, '
'Dashanan kept meditating.'
'After centuries, '
'Dashanan lost his patience.'
'So he picked up a sword'
'to fulfil his wish and forsook meditation.'
[song playing]
[suspenseful music playing]
I performed severe austerities for millennia,
but that did not melt you, Lord Brahma.
You turned out just like my father.
He, too, differentiated between his children,
and you...
You are doing the same thing.
The gods got everything without having to ask,
whereas we got nothing
despite performing severe austerities.
Why so?
Just because we are Rakshasas! [echoing]
[ominous music playing]
I will not allow this.
I agree that everything is in your hands,
but, I, Dashanan,
am not helpless either.
[ominous music playing]
[explosion]
If you cannot grant me a boon commensurate with my actions,
then I will return to you what you gave me.
My life!
[thunder rumbling]
[ominous music playing]
Are you toying with me?
You are toying with me!
Will you not allow me to embrace death, Lord Brahma?
You gave me ten heads without having to ask you,
but you refuse to grant me a boon in return for my hard work.
Just watch!
Now, watch me cut off all ten of my heads
and offer them to you.
[thudding]
"Ravana..."
This is my last head.
If my penance does not conclude,
it will be proved
that Brahma is prejudiced.
It will be proved
that there is no such thing as the fruit of one's actions.
"Ravana..."
[grunts]
[devotional chant playing]
The fruit of one's actions does exist, Dashanan.
That is why I am here.
You renounced nine heads
and are willing to renounce even the tenth.
Your austerities have culminated in you earning a boon.
Go on.
What boon do you want?
An extraordinary power
so that I am not compelled to sacrifice all ten heads again.
Make me invincible.
I do not have the right to grant you invincibility.
Ask me for something I can give you.
[thunder rumbling]
Then make me formidable.
May no one be able to kill me.
You could give me your blessing.
Neither the gods, demons,
rakshasas, yakshas,
celestial beings, kinnaras,
animals, birds, reptiles, insects,
ghosts, spirits or spectres harm me!
May no one be able to kill me.
[thunder rumbling]
Granted.
[Sanskrit song playing]
You are avaricious, Lord Brahma.
My brothers underwent austerities too.
They also want boons.
Kumbhakarna!
- [footsteps approaching] - [ominous music playing]
Greetings, Lord Brahma.
Go on.
Ask a boon in return for your penance.
Ask for Indra's throne, Kumbhakarna.
[intense music playing]
[wind whooshing]
Indra... Indra's...
Grant me the urge to sleep, Lord Brahma.
Granted.
[conch blowing]
Imbecile!
Pardon him, Lord Brahma.
Kumbhakarna meant to ask for Indra's throne!
A boon, whether in the form of a curse,
cannot be revoked, Dashanan.
Kumbhakarna will sleep for six months
and stay awake for the remaining six.
He will be immortal and invincible for the six months that he is awake.
After that, he will go back to sleep.
Keep in mind.
If he is awakened before the six months come to an end,
he will lose his powers of immortality and invincibility.
'Goddess Saraswati overwhelmed Kumbhakarna at that very moment'
'which is why he asked for the wrong boon.'
'Had that not happened, Goddess, '
'no one in the world would have been able'
'to destroy Kumbhakarna and Dashanan.'
Vibhishana, what boon do you want?
[conch blowing]
[Aum chanting]
To tread the path of righteousness, Lord.
So that I may lead my brothers
and my family on the part of righteousness.
Lord, please grant me the boon to be an ardent devotee of Lord Vishnu.
[dramatic music playing]
Granted.
[conch blowing]
'After receiving his boon from Lord Brahma, '
'Dashanan took his first step towards his goal.'
[music playing]
'His goal was'
'to acquire the land owned by Kubera, '
'Dashanan's half-brother, located on the Trikuta Mountains,
'the golden abode of Lanka.'
[ominous music playing]
[footsteps approaching]
'Dashanan!' [echoing]
Dashanan...
What was the boon that you asked for, brother?
[unsettling music playing]
That I should... I...
That I am able to guide my elder brother
on the path of righteousness, Dashanan.
"Ravana..."
[sombre music playing]
[whimpering]
So, now, Vibhishana will lead me on to the path of righteousness!
What if I were to lead you on the path to death?
Do you think Vishnu will come to your rescue?
It is the duty of an elder brother to protect his younger siblings.
Please let him go.
Fine, I will let him go.
[Vibhishana screams]
"Ravana..."
Renounce Vishnu
and face the reality of your life.
This is the reality of your life
and this is where you belong!
At my feet!
[sinister music playing]
Dashanan.
[sentimental music playing]
[vocalisation]
Shurpanakha!
[sentimental music playing]
[poignant music playing]
Dashanan.
[tense music playing]
After waiting all these years,
this is what you got, Mother.
Let me show you
what I attained through my efforts.
[Sanskrit song playing]
[bugle blowing]
[unsettling music playing]
[ominous chanting]
'I'll terrorise people to change my luck.'
'The ten directions will shudder at the mention of Dashanan's name!'
[gripping music playing]
We will exact our revenge, Dashanan.
[thunder rumbling]
[intense music playing]
Father, I am blessed that you have come to visit me.
Your wishes will be honoured.
[joyous music playing]
I am glad you are indulging in the sheer opulence of Lanka.
Tell me. Have you fulfilled your obligations, Kubera?
Although not your blood,
Kaikasi's sons are still your brothers,
and Shurpanakha, your sister.
Is this not your obligation as my, Sage Vishrava's son?
Father...
I am sorry, Father.
I made a mistake but I am going to make amends.
Mother Kaikasi's sons are surely my brothers.
I will appoint them to my council of ministers.
I shall find the ideal prospective groom for Shurpanakha
and get her married.
- Then... - 'He is coming!'
He is coming.
Your son Dashanan is coming!
This is such good news.
I was just talking to Kubera about him.
Now, both my sons Kubera and Dashanan,
with their might and prowess,
shall bring about the prosperity of the entire world.
Dashanan is not what you think he is!
Go! Kubera, run for your life!
Yes!
[suspenseful music playing]
Inform everyone that I am leaving Lanka.
Load the Pushpakavimana with valuable jewels.
Make haste!
[Sanskrit song playing]
"Ravana..."
[Sanskrit song continues playing]
[music fades]
[unsettling music playing]
[Sanskrit chant playing]
So, the great saint,
Sage Vishrava,
has returned from his penance.
Greetings.
What boon did you acquire?
Modesty.
Which you lack.
I lack many other things, sage.
I lack a roof over my head,
food on my plate...
[poignant vocalisation]
My mother lacks the respect due to her.
[poignant vocalisation]
I lack a father's love.
- You must never have noticed... - Dashanan!
He is your father, show some respect.
Forgive me, Mother.
My father was never there
to teach me about respect.
Ask your husband
why he is still seated on the throne
that belongs to me!
[tense music playing]
Father, why...
- Please reason with Dashanan. - No, Kubera.
He is a rakshasas
and is overcome by his thirst for power!
Talking to him is futile.
Did you hear that, yaksha?
Follow the sage's order.
Leave Lanka.
Otherwise,
Dashanan will snatch
Lanka
as well as your life.
This is unfair.
It is injustice!
[sinister laugh]
Injustice!
This is just.
Lanka has always been the kingdom of the Rakshasas.
It was snatched from us.
Today, a rakshasas will take it back.
[dramatic music playing]
I cannot be any more modest than this.
Dashanan! [echoing]
You humiliated your father!
I am letting your husband live, Mother.
[sinister music playing]
I do not show mercy
to such sages.
Begone!
[poignant music playing]
Today, not only have you lost your father, Dashanan,
but I also have lost a son.
[sinister music playing]
I am leaving with my husband.
Which one of my children is coming with me?
[ominous music playing]
[poignant vocalisation]
Mother!
My daughter!
Now,
we will exact our revenge.
[intense music playing]
Mother...
I must stay too.
[poignant music playing]
I must guide my brothers on the right path.
Shall we go then?
Let us get down to work.
I, Dashanan...
[ominous music playing]
Declare myself as the King of Lanka.
I do not need any mantras or priest to anoint me king.
I am a great scholar myself!
Dashanan!
You are hereby anointed the new King of Lanka.
[sinister music playing]
- Long live King Dashanan of Lanka! - Glory to him!
The powerful army of the Rakshasas is ready
and so is their king.
We will seize what was once ours.
[cheering]
We shall hold
undisputed sovereignty even on what does not belong to us!
[cheering and clamouring]
Nobody can defeat me now.
Neither the gods, demons,
rakshasas, yakshas,
celestial beings, kinnaras,
animals, birds,
reptiles, insects,
ghosts, spirits or spectres!
I am invincible!
Invincible! [echoing]
[music fades]