Kadambari

Madam, open the door.

Open the door!

That's surprising.

Madam, open the door!

- What's the matter? - Open the door, Kadambari!

-Open the door, Kadambari! -Let me see.

Kadambari?

She never does that. I don't understand.

Kadambari, open the door.

Since early morning...

-I first thought... -I wonder what...

Kadambari, listen to me.

What should I do?

-Break it open. - Break the door!

Break it open.

Kadambari!

What's the matter?

What...

Call the doctor.

Quick.

Sister-in-law!

The women of our family don't end up in morgues.

Father, newspapers--

No paper is to carry this news.

The coroner's court is to be held right here

whatever the cost.

Forensics must testify this to be a natural death.

Brief all the servants accordingly.

1868, 5th July, Sunday.

My wedding day.

It was like being swept off from a tiny pond

right into the ocean waves.

That was how I felt when I came to Thakurbari as a newlywed.

My husband Jyotirindranath was more than just handsome.

Bright intelligent eyes.

Taste and culture written all over his tall frame.

I was awestruck.

I was too young to feel anything else.

Father-in-law blessed me with gold coins.

The bride however was sitting coyly

and yet he didn't escape her eyes among all that crowd.

A little boy peeking from behind a pillar.

He was staring with wonder at the new bride.

I used to sit and wonder

as to how the sound of the cotton shredder's twangs

blended with the wrestlers' humps.

While others took a nap in the afternoon

I had a lovely time chatting with

the house tailor Niyamat Khan.

What is muslin... where is zari-work done.

I had a thousand questions that amused Niyamat.

He loved to rile me.

I too pretended to be miffed.

I would yearn to talk to someone freely in that mansion

ultimately I found a friend.

Robi.

Mango preserve.

Hey, you went to the terrace to eat it.

I was scaring off the crows.

Scaring crows indeed. Take it.

One will do? Come on, take more.

'Thus the Ten-Headed one did weep.'

'Streams of tears his face did steep.'

'The father's grief saddens the son.'

'Rishis flaunt their power over Ravan.'

'Holding Indra, Yama, Varuna in disregard.'

'For a man to prevail is a deed unheard.'

Where have you hidden it? Give it to me.

What?

You know what I mean. Give it back quick.

Am I your watchman, here to guard your things?

Leave it. Come on.

Huh!

No need to be my watchman.

Just keep your hands to yourself.

Elder sister-in-law. Gyanodanandini.

My elder brother-in-law Satyen Thakur's wife

was a real beauty with wonderful taste

in the way she spoke and dressed.

She was different from the rest.

She wore her sarees like no one else I had ever seen.

Come on.

She said aristocratic women in west India wore sarees this way.

She felt that alongside education

Bengali women would do well to adopt

the dressing style to let their personalities flourish.

What is it?

Sis-in-law, will you teach me?

Teach what?

Never seen anyone wear a saree that way.

I also want to learn.

Of course, you will.

You and everyone else in this house,

every Bengali woman will.

'And on it said a century of prayers'

'such as I can, twice o'er. I'll weep and sigh.'

'Leaving so his service, follow you.'

'So please, you entertain me.'

Wonder why Shakespeare named this play 'Cymbeline'?

Should have called it 'Imogen' you think?

Of course.

It's Imogen who marries Posthumous

against her father's wishes. She is the real heroine.

On the other hand, when Posthumous goes into exile...

You see what Shakespeare experts have said is...

You really love sister-in-law a lot, don't you?

Yes, I do, but I love you much more.

A hundred times more.

You are sad today, aren't you?

Why? How can you tell?

Because Madhusudan Dutta is dead.

Yes, Kadambari.

You never saw him.

Such a genius!

How could he get greedy and blow away all his money!

I feel so bad for his wife Henrietta.

Actually, can't you stand by her?

By her?

You're not afraid of sending me

to such a beautiful French widow?

What if I fall in love with her?

Then I will poison myself to death.

Shush!

Why do you say that? Never ever say that again.

Kadambari...

Or I will be really angry with you.

So many times I pleaded with father

not to get them married.

Jyoti has to groom himself now,

go abroad, have diverse exposures,

enrich himself instead...

Father's orders... How could Jyoti go against that?

Besides, I have grave doubts about this girl's lineage.

She is accountant Shyam's daughter.

Moreover Shyam is not from a very good background.

Father knew all this.

Even if we are considered an inferior caste of Brahmins,

couldn't we find any other girl?

Have we not found more suitable brides before?

Well, in that case, if you think of me for instance.

At least, your family is well-known.

Shyam, your daughter is now our daughter-in-law.

I have served this household for so long.

How's it possible for me not to enter?

In our opinion, that is not desirable.

After all, Jyoti is your son-in-law

so, in your son-in-law's presence--

So where do you think I should live from now on?

If you please, give me a little place in this house.

I have informed them.

They will take care of your expenses.

Everything has been sorted.

I could sense very well

that I would never be a part of the family.

A daughter-in-law, but still an outsider.

Amidst such heartaches

Robi's presence felt like a breath of fresh air.

You have not eaten anything since you came back from school.

-Come on eat... -No, I won't.

I said, come here.

-Eat this... -I told you, I won't.

I will be very angry.

You haven't eaten anything since you came back from school.

Keep the food here. I will make him eat.

Fine. As you say.

Here's our seasoned housewife, eh?

Want to?

Not that way!

Impossible! I can't do this.

Where did you learn it?

-What? -All this?

Come on, can I be a good housewife otherwise?

Cut betel nuts, fruits, vegetables,

if I don't know all this,

will I be able to look after your elder brother?

You don't want to read books?

Don't you wish to go to school?

Do wishes matter? I have to look after my family, right?

I will read to you.

My school books, all books, everything.

'The cowboy takes his herd to grass.'

'Children get busy with daily tasks.'

'Malati flowers spring to bloom'

'drawn by their scent honeybees roam.'

'The sun rises in the horizon'

'with a reddish haze.'

It was Robi who first showed me

how the darkness slowly gives way

to the reddish glow in the east.

My first sunrise.

What are you writing?

Robi?

-I will take your notebook away. -What are you doing?

You sit mum all day, I don't like it one bit.

I will cross it all out.

Want to hear what I have written?

Read it. Then go bathe and change.

We are going up to the terrace after that.