Naya Andaz

- Shivcharan? - Ye-es, yes, father!

Why are you skulking like a thief?

You were engrossed in thought, so l didn't think it right to disturb you.

l was writing a poem for the celebrations day after tomorrow.

- Did you finish, father? - lt's not complete yet...

- just a few verses. - Oh.

Sit; listen.

You can't understand the meaning from an incomplete nazm, father.

An intelligent mind can grasp the essence from a gist.

l'll recite the first verse.

Oh, my youthful comrades, Life is both silk and sword

lt's both a smiling flower and a prickly thorn

Like the sun and the moon, it's both hot and cold

lt's the tears in one's eyes as well as the pain in another's.

To light the torch of peace on our paths

We live to be of service to this nation.

- Er, the nazm is good, father. - What do you mean, 'lt's good'?

- Speak frankly. - What can l say?

My opinion is inconsequential.

No, no. Speak openly. l'll not be offended.

l'll get to understand your capabilities as well.

Father, there has to be a difference between a poet and a leader.

These verses only repeat what we've heard before from our leaders.

Son, if a leader is the mind of the community, then a poet is its heart.

- That's the only difference. - The heart shouldn't have to ache every moment.

What heart is this that is free of all pain?

After all, my verses are only the burning embers of my heart.

Burning fields cannot be transformed by fire.

The rains nurture them.

- lf l may recite a verse? - Sure. Do you have something to say too?

- Yes, just a few random thoughts. - That's great! Do let me hear it.

- Please sit down. - Sure.

l present...

Your beloved has come

to this gathering today, bringing...

you the gifts of his heart and soul

Drawing close to my heart, you've aimed your arrows well

- You've wounded me... - Enough! What nonsense is this?

You're going to present this verse in public?

l couldn't have imagined you would stoop to such pranks.

But, father, this is what sells today.

That's rubbish. How will this sell?

- Arre, what are father and son arguing about? - Listen to your son's poetry.

He's picked up all sorts of rubbish and insists this is what sells.

- What have you brought? - lt's a letter for you.

lt's from Shivcharan's Principal. He wants to meet me urgently.

- He'd told me too. - Okay, l'll go meet him. - Of course.

- Greetings. - Greetings. Please sit down.

- l hope you're well? - l am, by your prayers.

Mr. Sohan, you're perhaps unaware that your son...

has answered every question in this year's exams in verse.

For example...

This is the English paper and it's in six parts.

The beauty of your golden face...

has looted my gentle heart

Caught in the net of your silken tresses, l've forgotten to sleep at night

This is the History paper. Wow. What an effort.

The heart of the earth and Sanjogita's love...

this is the only date worth rembering. Everything else is useless.

This is what he's up to? And he argues with me about poetry, the idiot!

This is the Geography paper and he offers poetry for answers. Great job!

My beloved's red pigeon flies over mountains

Ask him to map the borders when he returns at dusk

- His answers are priceless. - l'm very embarrassed, Sir.

- You can punish him however you wish. - l can punish him...

but it would be better if you removed him from college yourself.

This way, his time, your money, and our college's reputation will all be saved.

But... his life will be ruined, sir.

Don't force us to take any harsh action, Mr. Sohan.

After all, this is a college, not a theater company.

Gentlemen, that which can rob you of your sleep...

that which can rob you of your sleep, that's what is called a tale.

That which burns the world to ashes, that, my lords, is named youth.

lt's a new look, a fresh youthful star...

new sets, a new story.

Come, gentlemen, be sure to come to Diamond Theater tonight.

A play for a play, and a wonder as well... a wonder named Miss Mala.

A unique figure, an intoxicating dance, and a face so innocent.

Please do come.

That which can rob you of your sleep, that's what is called a tale

That which burns the world to ashes, that, my lords, is named youth

Miss Mala? Very good!

Wow, my Lord, you seem to have made her at leisure.

- Chand! O Chand! - What's it? - Come outside quickly.

Brother, make a Poona tobacco cardamom paan.

- Have you put henna on your feet today? - Why? What's the matter?

Disaster has struck the town and you're stuck here?

- What disaster? - 'What disaster' indeed!

l swear to God, only l know how my heart suffers. Look at this ad.

That which can rob you of your sleep, that's what is called a tale

That which burns the world to ashes, that, my lords, is named youth

-This verse is very intere... - Read the second verse.

Like uncle, you, too, get distracted very quickly.

- But where is the second verse? - There! Large as life and you can't see it?

l say, write a ghazal about her.

- This girl is really attractive. - What do you mean attractive?

When the curtain rises, she'll set the stage on fire.

Friend, today we will immolate ourselves.

But it says here that it will cost us Rs2 to immolate ourselves.

- Sticks are available at the theater. - So put it in writing...

that Sheik Abdul Karim, son of Abdul Rahim Khan, sacrificed Rs2.

How's this possible? The father is a Pathan and the son, a Sheik?

Just thank the Lord that l don't have any children.

Else l would have claimed they were Syeds.

Sir, take your paan before you leave.

Listen, there's quite a crowd here.

- How will we get tickets? - Oh, we'll get tickets.

- How? - We'll have to find a solution. How else?

- Okay, find one. - Shall l? Ah, got it! The solution is beside him.

Well done! We got the tickets.

This stick... whoever owns it can take it back.

Where will you escape, my beloved?

You will find me right behind you

Where will you escape, my beloved?

The world is mine today, my darling

My aim will not miss the target

As l look suggestively at you

l will not spare you, my beloved

Where will you escape, my beloved?

You will find me right behind you

The light of love is shining in my eyes

Youthful desires arise in my heart

My veil does not cover my head anymore

l will not spare you, my beloved

Oh, where will you escape, my beloved?

You will find me right behind you

How will you turn away...

my darling, if l quarrel with you today?

The whole world will be watching

l will not spare you my beloved

Where will you escape, my beloved?

You will find me right behind you

Where will you escape, my beloved, oh...

Where will you escape?

- Where are you, my friend? - What can l say, Sheikh?

l'm in a place where l don't know myself.

lt's okay if you don't know yourself...

but please do return from wherever you are.

l don't have the courage to return now.

Then should l call four people to lift your bier?

But, how can l leave behind everything that's mine?

- So? - l've been robbed.

Robbed? She's a thief? l haven't lost anything, have l?

No. l've my cigarette pack. And the matches.

So, what do you plan to do now?

My hope is that if l sing and she dances...

then the world will celebrate.

Ah, yes, the world will celebrate...

and if uncle finds out...

there will be such a dance rehearsal, you'll forget everything.

- Yes, but now my state is... - You've made your bed here, right?

Say whatever you want. Let's do one thing.

- What? - Let's talk to the theater owner.

Why? For a bed? Or a pillow?

- For a job! - So you just won't listen?

- Not at all. - Okay. Then let's go from here.

Oh Lord, what a mess you make sitting up there. This boy is doomed.

- Ah, well. Take care from now on! - Come on, my friend.

- Ashokbabu! - Proprietor, Diamond Theater, yes?

Hello, is Ashokbabu in?

- How should l know? - The theater owner?

The owner's not here. The manager's inside.

- The manager is inside? C'mon. - C'mon. - Where are you going?

- Arre, we're his relatives. - Retalive?

- Not 'retalive'. Relative. Related to him.

l don't understand English. You're related?

- Then do go in. - Here, have a cigarette.

- Namaste, manager, sir. - Namaste. - Where are you from?

- From the same place that Ashokbabu comes from. - What?

Meaning, we come from his town, and we're his relatives as well.

- From his town? - Yes. - You're his relatives?

Do sit down.

- lf we sit down, he'll suffer great losses. - Absolutely. - What did you say?

- Great losses? - Yes. We have to meet him urgently.

- But, he's at home. - At home? Then take us there.

- What's your name? - Chand.

- Chand. And yours? - Suraj.

- Chand (Moon). Suraj (Sun). - And your name?

- Tara. - Oh, 'Tara'! (Star).

My name is Tarachand; the boss affectionately calls me 'Tara'.

Then we three 'celestial' madmen will get along well together.

Tell me... how did the two of you land up here?

We've been apart so long that we thought we should reunite.

Also, how can the sun and the moon bear their separation from the star?

We had to come down.

Moon, sun, star... and you say the boss will suffer great losses?

Yes, absolutely! - lt's a matter of life and... - Let's go quickly.

Chand, Suraj, Tara... Mr. Khan, give way!

Come in, sir. Come.

Come. l'll be right back.

- Sir? - What's it? - Sir, they have come.

- Who? - One is Chand and the other is Suraj.

- What rubbish! - They say they're your relatives.

Not the real sun and moon, sir.

- Seat them. l'll come. - Very good, sir.

- The boss will be out in a minute. Please be seated. - Okay.

- Here he comes. - Namaste. - Salaam alaikum.

- Tell me. - We come from your hometown.

Very good. You didn't have any difficulty finding this address?

Sir, who hasn't heard of you?