Devi (দেবী)

SATYAJIT RAY PRODUCTIONS Presents

Based on the story by PRABHAT KUMAR MUKHOPADHYAY

THE GODDESS

"Parts of this story were given to me

by Mr. Rabindranath Tagore." - Prabhat Kumar

SHARMILA TAGORE SOUMITRA CHATTERJEE

CHHABI BISWAS KARUNA BANERJEE

PURNENDU MUKHERJEE ARPAN CHOWDHURY

ANIL CHATTERJEE MOHAMMED ISRAIL

KALI SARKAR

Cinematography SUBRATA MITRA

Art Direction BANSI CHANDRAGUPTA

Sound DURGADAS MITRA

Film Editing DULAL DUTTA

Coproducer AMINYANATH MUKHERJEE

Music USTAD ALI AKBAR KHAN

Written, Produced, and Directed by SATYAJIT RAY

To the consort of Shiva who bestows all blessings

To our refuge the Three-Eyed Beauty

I offer obeisance

Uncle!

Look!

There's another one!

Look at that!

Hail to the Goddess Durga!

Here.

One letter a day until I return at Christmas, you hear?

What if I have nothing to write?

Then write that.

What if I forget?

I'll show no mercy.

You'll punish me? How?

Forget once and you'll find out.

What's wrong?

Must you go?

Come now! Shall I just forget college and exams?

I have to graduate.

- What's the point? - What do you mean?

You're studying English to get a job.

That means earning a salary. - That's right.

- And that means money. - Right again.

Are you so hard-pressed for money?

Well, then?

Don't rich people study English?

Did Raja Rammohan Roy want for money?

No.

Do you realize your husband is a very educated man?

You know my professors all tell me that?

So people who don't learn English aren't educated?

Is your father not educated?

He is... but in the old way.

Eons and eons lie between him and me.

Understand?

No?

Ignorant girl.

You'll never understand.

Tell me...

Let's say I graduate and get a job far from here.

I'll have to go there.

Will you come with me?

Of course I will.

Wherever you go, I'll go.

You will?

But what if your father won't let me go?

He just can't do without me.

Suppose I persuade him.

What about then?

Would we leave Khoka behind?

- We'll have a Khoka there with us. - We will?

Khoka's not the only little boy in the world.

You mean...?

I'll call out to you no longer, Mother

It has caused me such pain

And still pains me now

I keep calling out to you, Mother

Have you closed your eyes and ears?

Even in your presence

This child of yours suffers

If you should die would your child not go on living?

From house to house I'll wander

Begging for food

But I won't seek your embrace

I'll call out to you no longer, Mother

Mother...

alms for the poor.

I hope all the responsibilities I've given you aren't too much...

little mother.

But what choice do you have?

You might as well indulge an old man's whims.

Om Vishnu...

The true devotee sees the abode of Lord Vishnu

As clearly as the ordinary eye sees the sun

Pure or impure, in every circumstance

He who remembers the Lotus-Eyed One

Is cleansed inside and out

Hush! I can't spend all day looking after you.

Think I have nothing else to do?

Ma!

Don't call to me when I'm busy, you hear?

"Auntie, Auntie!" You've cast a spell on him!

He won't let me feed or bathe him!

Close your eyes.

Don't open them.

Open wide.

Wait here.

Give me that.

- Who gets this? - Jairam.

Come right back.

Jairam!

To the divine force pervading the soul of the universe

To her who embodies all divine powers

To Ambika, worshipped by all gods and sages...

Enough singing.

Be a good boy and lie down.

And no bothering Auntie

by running off to her room every night.

Tonight I'll tell you a story. - Which one?

A wonderful story that not even Auntie knows.

I'll be right back.

Jairam.

O Kali...

Give it here, little mother.

The moment I call on the Mother, my little mother comes.

How many others have such a mother?

Five years ago...

when I couldn't walk without a cane...

Uma's mother passed away.

You weren't here yet.

You know what I decided?

I was restless and unhappy at home.

I thought...

I'd leave the estate in Taraprasad's hands...

and go off on a pilgrimage.

But that didn't happen.

Because you came along...

and lit up my home with your presence.

So I decided to stay.

In my old age I've found a new mother.

By the grace of the Goddess, of course.

Now where would I go without her?

What do you say?

You know who I'm worried about?

That Westernized husband of yours.

There's no understanding young men today.

Only you can control him.

Does he know your worth?

Does he?

Does he write to you regularly?

Or does he keep you waiting?

Well? Does he?

Does he write every day?

What if you'd scared me to death?

That'd be funny.

Oh really?

Then who'd tell you stories? - Mother.

And put kohl around your eyes?

Mother.

And give you candy?

Then go sleep in her bed.

Tell me a story.

What story?

What story?

About the witch.

Which one? There are lots of witches.

The one who chomps

on the bones of little children.

Once upon a time there was a witch...

Mother...

why didn't you say anything

all this time?

Father!

What are you doing?

Kneel down before her, son. I had a dream.

She's the incarnation of the goddess Kali.

All my prayers and devotion have not been in vain!

Today my life is complete!

Mother!

What's wrong?

What is it?

Mother is in a trance!

How are you feeling?

Whose room is this?

It's yours from now on.

Why?

Why? Father-in-law said so.

You won't have to run up and down the stairs.

You'll be too busy.

You're an incarnation, after all.

Where's Khoka?

He's around somewhere, but he's keeping his distance.

All the noise and fuss has gotten to him.

I'll be going. The maid will stay with you tonight.

Sister-in-law?

Yes?

Would you write to my husband?

Of course. Don't worry.

What's next, for heaven's sake!

Mother, I've sinned so much!

I'm just an ignorant woman. I never sinned knowingly!

Please forgive me!