Distant Thunder (অশনি সংকেত)

With Soumitra Chatterji, Babita and Sandhya Roy

Based on a novel by Bibhuti Bhuson Bannerji

DISTANT THUNDER

Cinematography by Soumendu Roy

Script, music and direction by Satyajit Ray

Flying boats!

How beautiful!

Like a flock of cranes.

The oil merchant's here. He's waiting.

Let him wait!

Ananga is just like me.

He loves water.

The water was so scarce where we came from.

But here, I can swim till I get bored of it.

Can you swim under water?

I'm afraid of that...

Look!

Where is she?

She's not afraid of anything.

Don't brag! And don't do it again!

It scares me.

Don't worry. I live a charmed life.

When I was little, there was a cholera outbreak in my village.

Eight people of my family died, but nothing happened to me.

Do you know in how many places I've lived since I got married?

Hariharpur, that's my husband's hometown.

Basudevpur... Bhatchala, where there was little water.

And now Natungeon. Four places in four years.

You won't leave now, will you?

We haven't even settled yet.

Everyone's happy to have you here. They're saying it's livelier now.

What do you mean?

You are so beautiful.

Your aspect attracts people.

You could use a good slap!

What about you?

No! Not me!

Who is that?

He works the forge.

He likes to watch.

He's like that...

And that face!

It gives you nightmares!

Hello, Moti.

- When did you get here? - Recently.

Don't touch me now. I would have to bathe again.

As you say...

I was talking about Bhatchaja...

And the lack of water...

Remember?

We've also talked quite a lot about you.

How is everybody?

- How are Kali and Bhanu? - Fine.

And Bhahu's baby?

She had a girl in August, almost a month since then...

About time too! When we left, she looked ready to give birth.

Now it's your turn. We shall celebrate it then!

When the time comes...

You know, Moti, we are very happy here.

I hope to stay happy.

Do you know how we lived in our first year of marriage?

He had to sell roots of arum lilies to buy rice.

You helped us, remember?

You brought us mangoes and other fruits.

I was happy too...

We liked having you in the village.

Why don't you stay a little longer?

You would be more than welcome.

Moti is here.

Welcome, Moti.

How much was the fish?

Sidhucharan caught eight.

So he thought it would be a good idea giving one to the Brahmin.

The garden is exuberant.

Moti, I'll give you some oil. Do you want to have a bath?

The river crosses the small forest.

It's late...

I'll go have a chat.

Biswas is the most important man around here.

I want to talk to him about starting a school.

He has contacts.

Didn't you want to work as a doctor?

I've done that already.

This is different.

These people are simple, ignorant. They have to be organized.

Imagine!

I'll have a school and, since I'm the only Brahmin in the village,

I shall also work as a priest.

Can you do all that?

A priest's work is not hard.

One has to follow the instructions from the Almanac.

- You know, today... - What?

Nothing.

- Tell me! - It's nothing.

You would laugh...

Is it funny?

I don't know.

I won't laugh.

Mokshada told me that I'm so beautiful...

that I make the place happier.

Why are you looking like that?

I think she is right.

Haven't you seen me before?

Hello... If you would let me pass...

Could you take my pulse?

Medicine requires a lot of ability, you know?

It's not like building a fountain.

It has to be practiced with a cool head.

How did you feel yesterday?

Heavy, like a rock... And I had high temperature.

- What did you eat? - A little bit of rice.

For God sake! Rice won't get your temperature down.

I won't eat it anymore.

Stupid peasant! No trace of common sense!

Take this with honey and basil juice.

Thanks a lot, sir.

- Do you have mustard seeds? - Yes, sir.

Very good.

Send me some. I don't buy oil. My man makes it out of the seeds.

Good day, doctor.

- Save me some palm juice. - I'll send it tomorrow, sir.

Bring a carpet for the doctor!

It's a pretty temple.

Do you offer any guidance?

Next year, we hope...

May I offer my help, sir?

Stupid question!

If the doctor may not, then who may?

You should be more respectful!

Do you want to smoke, sir?

Idiot! Don't offer the doctor this miserable pipe!

One second. I'll bring a clean pipe from the house.

You should think before you talk.

You asked me about guiding... Do you know anything about it?

He's an ignorant.

I meant the following... I've decided to open a school.

I shall speak with Biswas. I hope to see you and your sons.

A good idea.

It would be good for the children.

For children and for adults.

Here's a great pipe for you, sir!

Will you ask money for teaching?

The school can't stay open without money.

Teaching others is a reward in itself...

But I have to feed myself, so they'll pay me what they can.

Don't worry, sir. We'll take care of everything.

After all, you are the jewel in our crown.

What' the point of a crown without a head, Sr. Biswas?

You are the head here and everyone knows that.

I agree with your school.

Let me think...

How I could keep you content...

How many do you have to feed?

Two. My wife and myself.

Ten measures should be enough for a month.

Could be.

I should also suggest that you act as our priest.

It's not a bad idea. It was hard work learning Sanskrit.

- A lot of sleepless nights. - True.

Very few are able to read it, let alone speak.

How could they, without study?

Did you understand me?

I'm the last man you should ask.

I haven't even gone to highschool!

The birds are calling and singing Charming the dawn with their wings.

This is something I've learned and I still remember it.

One time five makes five. Two times five makes ten...

Give me your hand. I'll show it to you.

The skin is hardened by work. It takes six months to get softer.

Bring me some tobacco...

and coal from your aunt.

- What do you want? - I came to see you, sir.

Come closer.

What's so fun?

I came from Kamdevpur, sir, 7 miles from here.

There was an outbreak of cholera close to our village.

I came to offer my prayers, so that we could be pardoned.

This is not the place to talk about that. Come to my house.

Tell your father to come tomorrow, to shave me.

It won't be easy.

Don't let us down, sir. You are our only hope.

We must invoke kundalini; So it'll be expensive.

We shall all contribute.

There are 70 families in the village.

Just tell us what you need.

I shall make a list.

How many dresses do you have? Come on, tell me.

Three simple ones. No, four!

And elegant dresses?

Two.

- What would you like? - A pretty one, with red embroidery.

You have to have it.

Will you be able to do what they are expecting?

I? Any hygiene manual contains preventive measures for cholera.

Now, the most important...

Is there a nimtree?

In the north-east?

Are you sure it's the north-east?

If you say so, sir.

It has to be.