Prem Pujari

"Devotees of love, we are beggars of pleasure.”

Where would one find such a Himalaya or such water?

This is the land which the whole world respects.

Our land is more beautiful than a beauty queen.

The Kings and the kingdoms are no more.

The world has changed.

But the life goes on.

"We are flowers of different species, but we give the same smell.”

"Check-mate, your are losing.”

"Our enemies lose, mister. I never lose.”

I might lose a turn or two.

But this uniform of the police has taught me to always win.

But your elder son Ram shows no traces of you.

Why? Whose blood does he have in his body?

Mine. A soldier's. That blood which for generations..

...has been boiling with courage and bravery.

Who says that my son cannot be like me?

The whole village says that.

"See, he is not around at this moment, too.”

He might be catching some butterflies somewhere.

Suman!

Add the youth of flowers in some style.

Add some liquor to that.

The cocktail which results..

"The cocktail, which results is love.”

That was a laughing childhood.

The atmosphere is intoxicated.

"If you play pranks with it, it will react as fire.”

"If you touch it, it is just wax."”

"In the village, in the funfair, on the roads, in loneliness.”

What you remember all the time is love.

The body is as beautiful as gold dissolved in colors.

As if a tune is played melodiously in the night.

"In the sunlight, in the shadows, in the dancing breeze.”

The one who always waits is love.

If you remember..

"If you remember your beloved one, the loneliness flies off.”

As if clarions are played in a dull village.

"Whether you live or die, or whatever era it might be.”

The pride that never fades is love.

They love me as much as I do them.

There is one on your hat. - Let it be.

"No, it is not a thing to be touched. Only to be seen.”

I'll touch very lightly.

"If it dies, who will be blamed for taking a life?"”

Non violence is the greatest religion.

Alright. How beautiful it is!

"But less than you. Look, how quietly it is sitting.”

"You enjoy watching it, don't you?”

But less than you. I enjoy watching you much more.

"Look, you have disturbed it.”

And you are disturbing me.

Look here. - What is the matter?

I sometimes wonder how did they appoint you in the army.

Why? - Because how can a butterfly lover be a gun lover?

"My dear, jolly soldier!”

You are saying this because..

...you haven't yet seen my proficiency with the gun.

Proficiency?

Go and stand far off there. At the corner of the cornfield.

"Go. Go, please.”

Would you be scared?

I don't care even if I get shot by you.

Don't move. This is a test for both of us.

What did I tell you? Are you frightened?

Have I passed the test? - Not yet.

Come with me. And take the gun with you.

At least or at the most six birds should be shot.

Either in the water or flying. The art depends on the shooter.

I haven't taken up gun to take away innocent lives.

Not even for me? Not even for your Suman?

If 1 say that I want you to prove your love? I want to test you.

That would be difficult.

"No, not difficult. It would be impossible.”

"No, I don't you to prove your love. I was just kidding to annoy you.”

"Don't ever change your attitude, Ram.”

Perhaps this is why ll love you.

"I want to leave the army, Suman.”

Because it breaks my principles and..

...is trying to turn me into such a man who believes in violence.

On the one hand my heart says that..

...to Kill someone is sin and feels guilty.

"And on the other, this military uniform of mine..”

...forces me to take hundreds of life when the situation demands.

"I cannot say, whether I'll be able to abide by the..”

...principles of non violence against my military duties.

"Mr. Das! I have two letters. One for you and one for your son, Ram."”

"Chaman, son, please read it. Tell me where is it from.”

I have kept my spectacles inside.

"Give it to me, here. Here. Yes, fast.”

"Governor, Major Durgadas!”

We are celebrating the annual day of our regiment on the 26th.

You had been one of the brave soldiers of our regiment.

"So, I am pleased to invite you to be present at the occasion.”

"Hope you will be with us, with your regiment on the 26th.”

The day will be celebrated at the battalion headquarters.

"Kernel Ajitsingh, commanding officer.”

Saw that! This invitation is not just for me.

It is to felicitate this lame person.

It is to felicitate the sacrifices made for this country.

By sending us this invitation..

"..The army has not only made me proud, but the whole village.”

Why not young man?

You must give me a prize for that! - Yes.

You better don't do that! - Why not?

Is there some bad news in that other letter?

"Whether you take it to be good or bad. We can't say, as it is your son.”

Chaman!

I sometimes feel that I am destined to travel far and wide.

Once a fortune teller also told me that.

I feel as if I have to accomplish an important task there. Like..

Will you come with me? - I'll come wherever you take me.

"But land down on this world right now, Mr. Ram. Stop dreaming.”

Why? The dreams sometimes come true.

"In fact, last night I dreamt that I am sitting just this way.”

"And a girl, whose name is Suman, is sitting beside me."”

I am holding her hand. Her head is on my knee and..

...on the other knee is a butterfly who might by playing.

And far off in the sky is an aero plane.

"Now tell me, would you call it a dream or a reality?”

Should I tell you the real feelings of my heart?

I always talk to you in my dreams.

This can't be other than that rude Sunder.

Many times I've told that shameless not to take life of innocent!

Hey Sunder! Hide somewhere. I'll teach him a lesson.

Brother! Father is calling you. There's a letter for you.

Suman! Where have you been?

Your friends were looking for you.

I was just around. - I know you very well.

Since the day that army man..

"..Has come in the village, you don't stay at home.”

"Swear on me! You go to meet him, don't you?”

ll don't go to meet him. He comes to meet me.

"If you don't go, how will he come to meet you?”

"If he doesn't go, how shall I go to meet him?”

Should I talk to him about you?

Talk what? - Nothing's wrong with him!

"The guy is handsome, is an officer in the army.”

And you have also chosen him.

It would be very good if you get married to him.

But stop this dance courses and all that. I'll talk to your dad.

Mother! Do you see that aeroplane? Do you know where it is going?

"How would I know? - Where he wants to go, too.”

"Far. To a foreign land. Says he will take me, too, with him."”

Don't talk about foreign land! No one returns after going there.

See your uncle! He also went abroad. It has been 15 years now.

He hasn't returned yet.

Your vacation is over and you are still idling in the fields.

Read this. It is from your unit.

They'll court marshal you. Will throw you out!

Good! I'll be free of army.

You want to be free not only from the army but from everything.

"What will a lame person like me, living on a small pension, feed you?”

My ancestors haven't left me a treasure!

You don't want to do farming. You haven't completed your studies.

You hate to work at any office.

"Only one family business remains now, military.”

"You forced me, and I joined.”

Why? To receive so many letters?

Because I realized only after joining..

...that this profession is also not worth me.

Then which profession is worth you? Sweeping and cleaning!

Washing utensils! Or would you prefer cleaning shoes on the road?

"If my heart agrees, 1 will do anything.”

Anything that does not suffocate me.

Where I don't find obstacles to breath fresh air.

"So, does the army suffocate you?”

Look. Don't you feel proud to see all these medals your father won?

And see this letter. A letter of invitation..

...which the military has specially sent for your father.

To felicitate his bravery and achievements.

If only my good friend could spare some time..

...out of catching butterflies and roaming around!

Who gave you the permission to interfere?

Permission? It is my right to inform the elders..

...of our village about the prestige of our sisters and daughters.

Mind your language. I might hit you!

Will you hit me!? Go. Go and catch butterflies.

Let's see whether our pleasure loving soldier knows how to aim.

Control yourself. My hands are enough to teach you a lesson.

Why you sillies want to fight out of a mischief?

"This is not a matter of mischief, uncle. I am telling the truth.”

"Go. Go and ask Suman, your daughter.”

Why don't you speak up? What were you both doing in the fields?

How dare you talk such disgraceful things about Suman?

Come on. Stand up.

"Didn't I tell you, father, that I am not worth the military.”

No. Nobody will give him a hand. He will stand up by himself.

Come. Stand up. Look whose son you are!

Never has this family learned to lose. Stand up.

Look here. Come to me. Come.

"Father, I wish I was not this type of person.”

1 wish I was not your son.

When will you return?

Can't say anything.

But remember that I am leaving my heart with you.

And I am taking you with me in my eyes.

"Whenever I'll close them, I'll find myself talking to you.”

Mother has come to know. - What has she come to know?

She told me to stop learning the dance.