Chokher Bali (চোখের বালি)

In June, 1940, the Nobel Laureate..

..Shri Rabindranath Tagore had mentioned about his story..

..Choker Bali that he had always regretted the end of this story.

Dear friend, Lakshmi.

Knowing that the wedding ceremony of your daughter..

..Binodini has been fixed..

..gives me immense pleasure.

I take an oath of the Goddess Lakshmi..

..my dear friend, even if you take my life away..

..please do not misunderstand me.

Your daughter Binodini is very cultured and accomplished.

And she has been worthy in all respects to become my daughter-in-law.

But educated youths of today do not care for anyone.

Where do they listen to their elders?

I continue to burn in the fire of repentance..

..which has arisen due to my son Mahendra's mistake..

..of rejecting this alliance.

Although not my own progeny, Behari is no less than my own son.

I had hoped that he would listen to this unfortunate soul..

..but he refused, too.

I apologize for this behaviour of his.

Now, on Binodini's marriage to Bipin.

I send her ornaments, sweets and fifty rupees.

My heartfelt prayers..

..that she enjoys life-long wedded bliss.

Your friend Raj Lakshmi.

Binodini becomes a widow within one year of her marriage.

Are you expected to remain uncovered like this?

This place is very different from your father's house.

Do you intend to stay on here?

Now that your husband's no more, do you still wish to live here?

You have no choice.

Was he ailing?

What happened?

Something in his stomach.

We call it.. 'pleha'.

I mean, 'piley'.

You mean, spleen?

Yes, spleen.

His spleen became very large.

My dear, you must not lose touch with your books

Before l forget.

Your favorite chocolates.

You are allowed to have them still, l hope.

Thank you.

Don't worry, my dear. There's no animal fat or lard.

(Extract from a famous Bankim novel about a renegade widow)

Rohini was in the full blush of youth, her beauty over-flowing..

..as the full moon in it's glowing autumnal phase.

Widowed very young, she flouted the strictures placed on widows.

She wore black-bordered saris, bangles, chewed betel-leaf perhaps..

..her culinary skills could match the legendary Draupadi's.

And her unrivalled artistry.. She was excellent in preparing delicacies.

Who else could paint such lovely floor decorations..

..or make intricate ornaments, flowers, toys and embroidery?

She alone knew how to style coiffures and adorn brides.

These very accomplishments drove her to her death.

God will surely punish a widow who strays.

God doesn't issue the death penalty so easily, Ma. Judges do.

You're aware that Sir Bankim was a judge?

When you write a novel, some colur has to be added.

Would stories on dull widows like us, appeal to the young?

No chance. Women in Bankim's novels are dull, not one knows English.

If that's what you wanted, why did you reject Bipin's wife?

The novel is 'Rajmohan's Wife', not 'Bipin's Wife.'

Rajmohan? His name's Bipin.

You disregarded Bipin's wfe's photograph.

Ma, you'll be arrested. Do you want me to marry someone else's wife?

I told you she's accomplished.. Learnt English from a white tutor.

She also went to an English studio to get herself photographed.

Such friendship that both of you turned her down.

Widow in a year, poor girl.

Contact her again. Such arguments in college today.

Mahendra ranting that if at all he marries, it should be to a widow.

I had to turn back, madam, couldn't reach the market place.

Such crowds on the streets.

Naren Dutta passed away.

Who?

The monk of Belur Math the ashram full of tonsured monks.

Not a single vehicle can pass.

Swamiji!

I had seen him recently. Not even 40, gone so young!

With your mentor gone, will you shave your head too, Behari?

I'm going home.

Shall l send the vessels back?

Will the demise of your ascetic guru end your celibacy?

Respected gurudev, l touch your feet in reverence.

You are aware of the ups and downs of my troubled life.

It's my good fortune that you remember this lowly disciple.

You are omniscient.

You know everything by the virtue of your yogic powers.

Whatever happens is by God's and your will.

My orphaned niece, Ashalata lives with..

..her paternal uncle, the local guardian.

He comes to me with her marriage proposal for Behari.

He feared that she would remain a life-long spinster.

I was stupid to have sent my son like Behari to choose the girl.

Mahendra, being a close friend, escorted Behari to Ashalata's home.

On seeing Ashalata, Mahendra decided to marry her instead.

On Mahendra's pleas, l requested Behari to give her up.

Behari stepped aside graciously.

Mahendra's wedding to Ashalata was duly concluded.

I know that a life partner is predestined.

The Almighty and yourself would be the only ones..

..to know the ties these newly weds had in the previous birth.

I berate myself for the hurt l have caused Behari.

You're all seeing of the future and the past.

I beg you to shower blessings on Behari that he may find peace.

I seek pardon for my sins and shelter beneath your feet.

I remain your humble disciple, Annapurna.

You didn't go to college today as well

Can't you drop that mincing manner either?

People will say l'm bad. That l keep you away from your books.

What people?

Tell me!

Will you take me to the Kali temple next Saturday?

To offset people calling you bad?

While drawing water from the well, my gold chain fell in.

I tied a knot in my sari in the Lord's name..

..promising to offer prayers at the temple if the chain was found.

Yesterday it was retrieved.

Why should you draw the water? Where's the maid?

Let her be. Must l sit idle all day?

Won't people say l'm bad?

Tell me, who are they? You haven't told me yet.

My uncle, for instance.

He trained me well to manage my husband's home.

If he hears that l am not doing so, won't he feel insulted?

That's an insult? Tricking somebody to marry a girl isn't an insult?

What trick?

I was told that you could sing. That day when l asked..

Behari asked me not to.

Ok. Then go to Behari.

If people label you bad, do not blame me.

What shall l sing?

Just singing won't do. L'll inspect your heels..

..your teeth..

..hair, in steps.

I first saw you on someone else's behalf.

Or would l have let you off so easily?

If you take your feet away..

..people will say you're bad.

All these are excuses to skip college.

In college..

..do you know what l do?

What?

I examine women's heels..

..their hips..

..their chests.

Then don't go!

From where did you bring this witch into my family?

She's made a meek lamb of my son.

Asha, open the door.

Where's Asha?

She's resting, slight stomachache. Make her some barley, aunt.

Tell him that barley is all they'll get day and night.

In a house where deities are worshipped daily..

..l won't tolerate fish bones strewn around bedrooms.

Witch!

Madam Lakshmi, please don't get angry and leave.

Where did she go, aunty?

To her country home.

Rajlakshmi goes back to her native village.

Binodini who stays there supports her.

What a sinful habit you have taught me!

I now crave for tea every afternoon.

Take it as a remedy for headache. You'll not feel guilty.

That's no excuse.

Can a Brahmin widow have tea? That which the English consume!?

Tea is not made by the white.

Close the windows. The light burns my eyes.

Don't misunderstand me.

Having servants has lead to my giving orders.

I don't like stirring an inch.

Why should you when l'm here? Order and l'll obey.

That's not correct. You have your own household.

Neglecting all that to tend to an old woman.

My household is in two rooms, which l attend to in the morning.

What do you do the rest of the day?

Have your tea or else it'll get cold.

Who's there to chat with at home?

You have a new daughter-in-law. Is she a quiet sort?

Only in my presence.

She's locked in the bedroom all day, casting spells on my son.

Turned him into a sheep.

Then she must be beautiful.

Thin as a stick. Brides tend to get plump after getting married.

This one sold her flesh to the butcher in her previous birth.

Next to her, my son looks like Lord Kartikeya!

Won't he visit here? I would see him then.

I also thought that they'd come.

Earlier he wouldn't eat until l served food.

From that day till date..

..he's not asked once, if l'm dead or alive.

I have a letter from Calcutta from Mahendra.

I met the postman on my way.

You should have told me earlier. I blamed him for no reason.

Where is it?

It's not addressed to you.

Who then?