Chants.
Why did father leave home?
Why doesn't anyone tell me?
I don't know, brother.
I was too young when uncle left this village.
- Do we have any mango pickles? - Yes, we do.
Yes.
Take it all down.
Stop it.
The wedding is postponed.
My eldest son is dead.
The wedding is postponed.
Stop it.
Did he ask us before dying?
Did he tell us before he died?
Sit...
Did he tell us before he died? Quiet.
Did he tell us before he died?
This Nirmal...
He secretly brought the ashes in an urn,
tucked under his arm.
- No one's going to take anything down. - Aatish.
The wedding continues as scheduled.
No one's going to take anything down!
- Papa... - What papa?
- Uncle is... - I'll break your face!
Get lost.
You're welcome to attend the wedding if you like,
otherwise, you don't have to.
Please don't mourn here. I beg you.
Okay.
The gifting ceremony is today.
The gifting ceremony is today!
I won't tolerate any drama.
Where is the DJ?
Play some music.
Where is the DJ?
Play it!
There's going to be loud music.
Everyone's going to dance.
Postponing the wedding...
What could have compelled a person,
who desired his ashes be returned to his hometown to leave the village,
the question is starting to haunt me.
Seems like the reason is somewhere around me.
But no one is ready to acknowledge it.
What are you doing?
Don't do it.
It's inauspicious.
Genda
Genda dont
Sister-in-law
Brother Mohan is no more.
Sister-in-law
Grandpa,
let the wedding continue.
Papa won't like it.
How did Mohan die?
Cancer.
Third stage.
He never mentioned you,
but I know that he missed you.
He also mentioned in his story that,
I was afraid of my father.
He was a simple man to the villagers.
I saw him hugging his friends and kin,
but he never embraced me.
In fact, we never had this tradition.
A father-son relationship is that of a bus driver and his passengers.
They tread together,
but never speak more than required.
I suddenly jumped off this bus...
The driver saw me leap, but...
He never stopped the bus.
Grandpa.
The ritual will begin shortly, and you haven't showered yet.
- I'll get some henna... - Why are you behaving like this, aunty?
Uncle is no more,
but doesn't seem to make a difference to you!
Stop bugging me.
Nothing is wrong with him.
He's only making excuses because he doesn't want to speak to me.
Don't I know?
Everyone wants me to stop waiting for him.
But I never did.
It took 24-years,
but my flesh and blood returned to me.
Someday he'll come back too.
Even if it takes decades.
Mother...
talk to mom.
Hello.
How are you?
My name is Tara.
I'll call you Yasodha.
You raised my son.
You are so beautiful.
Nirmal's taken a liking to the place.
Says he doesn't want to come back.
He's writing a book on your village.
He writes such beautiful things about you.
Is it?
Okay, mom. I'll call you back, mom. Bye.
It's all destiny.
Everyone has to die someday.
Mohan didn't chew tobacco,
Pass me the limestone...
Nor did he smoke.
Yet he died of cancer.
Brain cancer is the result of overthinking.
Nonsense.
Honestly.
I read it on the internet.
This is why I never stress my mind.
I keep it empty. Total free.
Nonsense.
Uncle.
What happened, child?
Brother Nirmal is writing a story on the laptop.
Everyone's name is in it.
Like Engineer babu, Darogaji...
Brother Aatish's name is written several times.
Is my name in it too?
This is huge.
When this story is published, Salman Khan will read it too.
Why won't he?
People are also making films on stories these days.
You never know someone decides to make a film on the story.
No uncle, the current trend is web series.
If someone makes a web series,
then Engineer babu, Daroga, everyone will be famous.
Child, how many times has he written my name?
Well...your name isn't written anywhere.
Want a slap. Tell me properly.
Do you want me to lie even if it's not there?
Imagine...
MLA sir couldn't make it to the story either.
- Listen... - Leave me.
A writer only mentions names he's impressed with.
You have no personality, so what is he going to write about you.
He's furious.
What else do you want to see in the village?
The fields?
Cow dung.
And shit.
One can't write an essay on these things,
and you want to write a novel.
Brother.
What happened?
Why are you crying?
Due to the demise of the principal,
the school will be closed today.
Is the principal your uncle,
that you're crying for him?
We won't get any midday meal today.
See, brother.
Little rats only come for the food,
and not gain knowledge.
What will you write about them?
The menu's fixed, see.
Bread and lentils on Mondays.
But no one shows up.
On Tuesdays, it's bread and eggs.
They will all charge down here for it.
Rugrats.
I'm going to eat sweetmeats tonight.
It's brother Aatish's wedding in
My father is cleaning the gutters.
What is your name?
My name is Ajay.
This is my brother Amar.
My father has said,
he'll get sweetmeats for cleaning the gutters.
I won't share it with you.
Shut up. "Won't share it with you."
Let's go, brother. It's them.
Them who?
If we're "them' then you're no different.
You're one of us as well.
How dare you back answer?
- I'll punch the living daylights out of you! - Lablabiya, what are you doing?
Hey...
You children haven't left yet.
I told you school is closed.
Come on, go home.
You too.
Hello, madam.
- He's my brother. - Hi.
He's from Delhi.
He's a writer.
- Wanted to check out the school. - It's okay.
I just wanted to take a look at the school.
Of course, take a look around.
Before it turns into a heap of debris,
you can also take a couple of selfies.
Are you from the media?
Are you from Bengal?
Gitanjali Ray.
Nice meeting you. Nirmal.
I saw you at the salon.
Do you know Reena...
Yes, my brother is getting married to her.
Aatish.
Ohh, I see.
See what?
Sorry, madam. The cavalcade has arrived, brother.
The ritual is about to begin.
- Sorry, madam. - Nice meeting you.
You guys, I'll clean this spot.
Son.
Why do you interrupt like this?
Wait a second.
My name is Dukhu.
He doesn't know Bhojpuri. Only English.
- Wait a minute. - Let's go brother.
It was terrible to find out about Mohan.
Master adored me.
He offered me water with his own hands.
You were pretty young when I last saw you.
- Hello. - Hey...
- What are you doing? - What happened?
You can't just touch anyone.
Come here.
Why did you interrupt him?
What?
Shall I show you know?
Wait. This is not the way to talk to someone.
Come, brother. Let's go.
The ritual is about to start...
Come on, brother. This is not done.
"Everyone's staring at,"
"who's offering what gift."
"Everyone's staring at,"
"who's offering what gift."
"Making her father,"
"feel embarrassed."
- Hi. - "Making her father,"
"feel embarrassed."
"Coming in the courtyard,"
"and making faces."
"Coming in the courtyard,"
"and making faces."
"Brother-in-law has no shame,"
"shows us nothing."
"Brother-in-law has no shame,"
"shows us nothing."
"Brother is watching,"
"what gifts are being offered."
"AC, cooler, gold, silver,"
"are being offered."
"Brother is watching,"
Do you know, brother, we have a saying.
The value of the groom is directly proportional,
to the number of gifts received.
Gifts.
Brother Aatish is getting so many gifts,
imagine what you will get.
You mean this is dowry!
He's the groom's older brother.
From Delhi.
Vikram Bajpayee is his best friend.
Why didn't you tell me this earlier,
I would've fixed the marriage with him.
Continue singing.
"Everyone's staring at,"
"who's offering what gift."
"Everyone's staring at,"
"who's offering what gift."
"Making her father,"
"feel embarrassed."
Come.
Take everyone's blessings.
Namaste.
Aatish...
You must give your best in the elections.
Minister sir will not tolerate defeat.
With his blessings, I never will.
My father used to say,
one needs religion, wealth, and blessings to win the elections.
You have religion.
I'll make sure you don't run out of wealth or blessings.
Why?
Did I say anything wrong?
Yes. You're wrong, sir.
Religion, wealth, and blessings are toxic.
A person never lives for his country after consuming them.
Are you from JNU?
Where is brother Nirmal?
Listen, they are calling you downstairs.
- Go on. - I've a question.
Vikram Bajpayee is your best friend.
Yes.
Do you speak like this in front of his father too?
Friendship has no connection with ideologies, sir.
My ideologies don't match with Aatish's party either.
But he's my brother.
Go downstairs. They are calling you. Go on.
Father is a communist. So...
He's been raised like this.
Trying to start a revolution at every opportunity.
Wait.
Let him stay.
This is fun.
Nirmal, you've no lack of courage.
But you're wasting it in the wrong direction.
Even I have several friends,
who walk on the left side of the road.
And call gifts dowry.
But they serve me black tea.
What is it called, Pandey?
There's a saying, sir...
If you're not a communist before you turn 40,
You have no heart.
And if you're a communist even after 40,
You have no brains.
I've never done this in my life before this.
It's a milch cow.
And there's always a first time for everything.
Brother, forgive me.
Please don't feel offended by what they said.
Minister sir is a man of his principles,
that's why he...
If minister sir sees his soldier throwing down his weapons,
he'll fire you from the party.
I can offer you my head.
It was amazing what you said.
"Doesn't matter if our ideologies don't meet,"
"I am still your brother."
You're my Ram.
Grandpa, he really is the incarnation of Ram.
Come on.
Just let this love prosper.
Don't let this family be divided again.
He's mentioned every cat and dog in the village,
wonder why he has a problem with me.
MLA sir.
He's been pacing around since morning.
His name isn't in the book.
Make some extra flatbreads.
People are relishing the food a lot.
There's curry, pickles...
Who took the lentil?
Nirmal, don't I impress you?
Sorry?
You haven't mentioned my name in your book.
Am I not a part of this village.
When someone makes a web series on your book,
how will people know who the MLA was?
- MLA sir... - Out of the way.
Talking rubbish.
Come back later.
- Shall we start from here? - Yes.
Do you see? Do you see?
Namaste.
You don't have to throw the plates, brother.
Leave it.
Why wouldn't I? This is my brother's function.
Hey...sweetmeat.
Come on.
Don't you want to eat sweetmeats?
Come on.
The sweetmeats are piping hot. Come on. Come.
Come on.
Come.
Come on.
Where's the bucket of sweetmeats?
Uncle, give me some sweetmeats.
Here you go. They are piping hot.
There you.
Rascals! Swine!
Who allowed you to sit here.
Stand up.
Stand up you fools!
Run away!
I'll break your bones!
What are you doing?
They are just kids.
Kids?
- Who let them sit here? - I did.
Have you lost your mind? Are you crazy?
You made them sit here, now who's going to eat here?
- Them? - Them? They are children?
You just ruined everything.
Do you understand? Ruined.
This place has become impure. It will have to be purified.
I was telling them not to allow you in here.
Stupid. Oaf.
Where is my stick?
Wait a minute. Impure?
What impure?
What age are you living in?
Listen...don't try to lecture me.
It's the blood running through your veins.
Your father left proudly.
And finally, he returned to the village.
He had to return in the end. Sent his ashes, didn't he?
- I will break your jaw! - Makhan.
You won't touch him!
What happened?
You can pamper him as much as you like.
Remember the FIR, the case.
He's a serpent. Poisonous snake.
Lethal.
You'll lower your eyes when you talk to me.
You don't know me, understand.
Let it be, father. He isn't from around here.
He will apologise. He will apologise.
Everyone's leaving, brother. This can be terrible.
Please apologise. Apologise. Apologise.
He's apologising.
You see, Nirmal, in villages we don't eat together like this.
You did make a mistake.
Take a dip in the Ganga and sanctify yourself,
until then I'll clean the place up with holy water.
- Come on, Nirmal, apologise. - This is not done, brother.
There are some rules and regulations.
Come on, apologies.
- Apologise. I said apologies. - Come on.
Nirmal.
What happened?
Why are you packing your bags?
Mother, everything that I saw, and witnessed, was okay.
But now it's starting to prick me.
If I stay any longer,
it will corrupt my love.
I am sorry.
Nirmal...
Can I ask you a question?
Why didn't you come with us when papa was leaving?
I am...
the daughter-in-law of this family.
If I had left them,
this family would've fallen apart.
I will not let my family fall apart.
Nirmal.
It's easy to leave,
but staying back and bringing a change is tough.
Dad, How far is the home?
We are almost there son
It was the month of May.
That Dukhu fainted in front of the house.
He belonged to a lower caste,
yet uncle fetched water from our well and offered him.
He was an untouchable.
It created a stir in the entire village.
My father threw your father out of the house.
Uncle started living with Dukhu's community.
He took off his scared thread.
Filed an FIR against my father, grandpa, everyone.
The entire village opposed him.
In a fit of rage, my father aimed his gun at uncle.
It was all over then.
Uncle said
I don't want to live here anymore.
You guys can keep your caste, your religion, your lands and rot.
He said
he will never return to the village.
He picked you up and left.
I couldn't stop him because I was pretty young.
But I've come to stop you now.
If you leave now,
then no Nirmal will ever return home.
I beg you, brother, please don't leave this village.
I am begging you, brother. Please don't leave us.
We need you.
Sister-in-law...
Your son is back.
How could you leave?
Leave it.
Nibha, call everyone. Call everyone out to sing.
Your son is back, sister-in-law.
Will you sing now?
Shankar...
What was that song that brother and sister-in-law liked to hear?
Fine, I'll play it.
Nibha.
Kanya..today will listen again that song
"Life is a confusing puzzle of love."
"Alone yet a companion of her own."
"Homes and courtyards brimming with people."
"Why in my house is life so lonely?"
"Alone yet a companion of her own."
"Happiness and sorrow are an illusion, no one could fathom."
"Even your own shadow deceives you."
"Happiness and sorrow are an illusion, no one could fathom."
"Even your own shadow deceives you."
"These little things between you and me, and your name on my lips."
"I wonder where the dusk disappears with my shadow."
"Why in my house is life so lonely?"
"Alone yet a companion of her own."
"Life is a confusing puzzle of love."
"Alone yet a companion of her own."