Goynar Baksho (গয়নার বাক্স)

The jewellery box lay safe and sound deep inside the chest

Who knew that it would tumble out & stir a hornet's nest?

Ta ra rum pum pum pum para!

In the storm it went asunder!

And lo & behold! There tumbled out some very strange events!

From the jewellery box...

...that all along lay safe inside the chest!

But what is there in the box?

Oh no! Oh no! Best not to know!

Just let the matter rest

That box is such a pest!

The jewellery box that all along lay safe inside the chest!

If it must be told, a chain of gold...

...a 100 grams or more...

...friends & foes and loves & woes...

...& secret tales of yore...

...& rugs in dreams...

...that turn to trees never seen before!

In the box there is a story!

In the box there is a story...

...bursting to be free!

So the magic cat swings wide its tail, runs up the magic tree!

The tail is quite a rocker! The old crone grabs her hookah!

In a snap, she starts a stream before you can count to three!

The magic cat swings wide its tail up in the magic tree

But that's not all, three vessels tall come floating down the stream

Their sails are all aflutter, but what is this we have here!

The sails have turned to sarees!

The sails have turned to sarees...

...stairs come down in a flurry!

Pots and pails and cats with tails come hurtling with a clatter!

Whatever is the matter?

If a sail can be a saree, why not a tail a rose?

& bloom and turn to letters lost, made up of loves and woes

Lost letters full of woes...

Oh dear! Oh dear! Oh dear!

There goes the bell, you hear?

What tumbled out must tumble in, scurrying back in fear!

Is the box just full of jewels?

So all these things we've all been seeing, nothing is for real?

Is the box just full of jewels?

Oh no! Oh no! Best not to know, just let the matter rest

That box of yarns with twists & turns were best inside the chest!

That box is such a pest!

The box had originally belonged to my Pishi-thakuma...

...that is, my father's aunt. Rasmoni!

She'd got it as part of her dowry

Rasmoni had been married at the age of 11

By 12 she was a widow

She never went back to her in-laws' home again

No! No! Don't cut my hair!

They say she had been a great beauty in her time

And vain too!

Her brothers had spoilt her...

...to make up for her early widowhood

Rasmoni! Rasu!

Come down, your food's been served!

C-o-m-i-n-g!

Hmph!

Food's been served!

Just hear them!

As though they've laid out a feast!

All they'll serve me is that awful widows' fare!

Ghastly vegetarian stuff!

I'm coming!

...coconut pattern 1 pair...

...so that's that...

...ruby studded... 1 pair...

So, 28 pairs of bangles...

...19 pairs of earrings...

One can't be too careful!

They're all waiting like vultures to get their filthy hands on my box!

She was said to have developed a terrible temper in her old age

Her brothers' wives were terrified of her moods!

How I came to own her box of jewels...

...is a long story

We'd have to go back to 1949, 2 years after India's Independence

By then Bengal had been divided up between India and Pakistan

My grandparents had left their ancestral home in Faridpur...

...to come & live in West Bengal

Soon after, my mother arrived here as a bride

Sister look! A real brick house!

A mansion!

The matchmaker was right!

You've married royalty!

Rasu!

Rasmoni!

Chandan and his bride have come for your blessings

Ugh!

That awful cat again!

Get rid of it someone!

Unlucky creature!

Chandan!

Too big for your boots after marriage, huh?

Chase the brute away at once!

It's gone...

Good!

Your husband's aunt. Go touch her feet, dear

Hey Chandu! The girl's family is penniless I believe?

There!

You're a jackass, Chandu!

Must've been your mother who made the match?

No wonder!

She too, is from this side of the border!

Her own folk are as poor as field mice!

What're you standing for?

Need an invitation to sit?

Now then, let's see your face!

Hmm! Natural or make-up?

Now for your hair!

Nothing to write home about!

Before I became a widow, my hair was long enough to sit on!

Chandu...

...fetch that photograph!

Taken when I was eleven...

...by a British lady photographer

Alright... now for the actual...

Yes! Yes! I know!

I suppose you're expecting some jewellery from me?

No, no!

Stop acting coy!

Too heavy!

Here you are!

Ever seen the likes of these at your father's?

These are Burmese rubies! Belonged to my grandma!

Keep them carefully, understand?

Now off with you!

Wasted enough time!

Ruby studded bangles-cancelled!

Just look at that!

Got him tied to her apron strings already! Shameless hussy!

Saw that?

Measly gold chain for me & Burmese rubies for her!

Let it go...

I put up lights wherever you asked!

I must at least cover costs, Sir!

- Shut up you swine! You and your false accounts!

No point shouting, Sir

Clear my dues & I'll leave. - Get out! That's all you'll get!

Bring it here!

Take this & get lost!

If I'd known I'd get a bed in lieu of payment, Sir...

...I wouldn't have accepted the contract! - Oh go on!

Don't flaunt contracts!

Have you ever seen a piece like this in your life?

A genuine antique!

Real Burma teak!

Know what that means?

The British hunt for pieces like this nowadays!

So I have to go hunting for the British now?

They left 2 years ago, Sir. For good!

Where do I find them?

Silence, you ill-mannered oaf!

Rambilas!

Rambilas! - Sir?

Listen!

That antique carpet in the hall... - The big one?

Fetch it! - Yes Sir!

Go!

Useless bunch!

Give this swine the damned carpet...

...& throw him out on his ear!

Yes! Yes! Give it all away!

All our land is in Pakistan now, with no one to look after it!

Why keep anything here either?

So many creditors still waiting in line!

Watch out for potholes!

Careful! Don't scratch it!

- It's real Burma teak! - Oh no!

Gone!

What's the din about? Who passes?

A bed, brother!

A bed? All by itself!

No brother...

...a carpet accompanies it!

I see!

Ask them to pass quietly!

Lost my catch because of them! Nuisance!

So...

...now you know all!

Get your husband in hand while there's still time...

...make a man out of him!

Let go, & he'll spend the rest of his days lazing!

M-m-me?

Who else?

You're still a novelty for him; so he'll heed your words

But he's s-so much older than me!

Supposing he g-gets angry?

Stop stammering!

What're you scared of?

Know how much older than me your father-in-law is?

At least 20 years! So?

Mustn't give so much importance to men's moods!

In any case...

...better an angry husband than a poor one!

Your t-tea!

How well you p-play!

So you like music? - Yes

Can you sing?

N-no