Stories by Rabindranath Tagore (2015): Season 1, Episode 15 - Tyaag - full transcript

Look, Kusum.

There's an article,
on our rally yesterday.

'Yesterday was a
historic day, for Kolkata.'

'When a huge group of students..'

'..started a rally against the British,
and marched towards Kali Ghat.'

'The President of
Presidency College...'

How much longer
are you going to take?

Wait here, I'll be right back.

Where would you like to go?

I guess, your rickshaw-puller
won't be back soon.

Tell me.



Straight.

Come on, I'll take you.

Are you new to Kolkata?

Well, I am new here.

My father said, I
should study further..

..so I thought,
why not do it here?

Presidency College,
Bengali Honors.

-Right.
-I see.

Stop here.

Is this where you stay?
I live here, too.

In this house.

Sumon!

So, you're Sumanto.

Yes.



Do you believe in
the Swadeshi revolution?

Yes, of course.

Nice.

Do you drink tea?

Yes.

Come on, let's have tea.

Kusum.

What's this?

Why did you serve only tea?

Kusum, take these piping
hot fritters.

Serve them to everyone.

Please, sit.
I'll get some tea for you.

By the way, Chatterjee, you've done
something that, even one's family won't do.

Who can say that, Kusum
isn't your daughter?

What? Kusum isn't your
daughter?

No. After the death
of my dear friend, Narendra..

..Chatterjee alone had the
courage to adopt his orphaned child.

Kusum is really lucky.

I am the lucky one, to
have a daughter like Kusum.

She looks after me, not like a 60 year old
man, but as if I am a 6 year old kid.

Can I say something?

At the age of 60..

..a person is old, Chatterjee.

You're absolutely right.

And Kusum supports
me, in my old age.

Now, I just want her to
get married into a good family.

"Come, O' monsoon shower of the night."

"Come, O' monsoon shower of the night."

"Come silently.."

"..into my dreams."

"Come, O' monsoon shower of the night."

"Come, O' monsoon shower of the night."

"O' treasure of the darkness.."

"..drape my mind and soul."

"O' treasure of the darkness.."

"..drape my mind and soul."

"I don't desire.."

"Neither the sun
nor stars do I desire."

"Come, O' monsoon shower of the night."

"Come, O' monsoon shower of the night."

"When the world is sleeping.."

"Swipe away.."

"Swipe away my droopiness slyly."

"When the world is sleeping.."

Father's coming here next week.

-Really?
-To meet you.

Me? But, why?

I mean, why so soon?

So, you haven't talked
to your parents yet, right?

No, I am sure they know.

They must have
understood everything.

That won't get us married.

I have even told father, that
you've spoken to your parents.

Now, you can answer
his questions.

"Come silently..

..into my dreams."

"Come, O' monsoon shower of the night."

"Come, O' monsoon shower of the night."

'Yesterday was a
historic day, for Kolkata.'

'When a huge group of students..'

'..started a rally against the British
and marched towards Kali Ghat.'

'The President of Presidency College,
Mr. Bipinchandra De said that..'

'..that this will be remembered as a
historic day, for our freedom struggle.'

Kusum!

I want to tell you something.

Go ahead.

There's something,
you don't know about me.

That's not possible.

Because, I know
everything about you.

I tried to tell you
this, before..

..but, I was scared that, it might
shatter our relationship.

Then, I don't want to hear it.

But, I can't live with
this lie any longer.

Hemanto.

Father?

Did you know this?

What?

Come inside.

Yes, father. What's wrong?

Kusum can't stay in
this house, any longer.

Throw her out. Right now!

Why?

You're acting innocent, despite
everything that has happened.

I know everything.
Stop pretending.

What's wrong, father?

What's wrong?

What's wrong?

Your sister's wedding
got cancelled..

..because of
your wife's lie.

Father said that..

..if your brother
doesn't give up his wife..

..then, our marriage..

What do you want?

Hemlata..

..I will do..

..as father says.

Your wife ruined everything!

She tarnished our honor.

How can we face
the society, now?

Didn't she think about our
reputation, before doing all this?

I don't understand,
what you're saying.

Kusum is not a Brahmin!

Father, everyone
in the society knows..

..that, Kusum is Biplavdas
Chatterjee's daughter.

She's not Biplavdas
Chatterjee's daughter!

-Then, whose daughter is she?
-Ask her.

Pyalishankar,
I don't know what to do.

Kusum, is still too young.
She's just a child.

She doesn't know
right and wrong.

I hope, she doesn't do anything
wrong, due to her immaturity.

Is that all you're worried about,
Chatterjee?

As far as I know Kusum,
she's a sensible kid.

And if the kids today..

..want to get to know each
other and then get married..

..there's nothing wrong with it.

But, I know nothing about the boy
or his family.

What does he do?
Where does he live?

How can I think about getting
them married, in that case?

-Father, your tea.
-Yes.

According to me,
what happened in Bhawanipur..

..wasn't in the
interest of the country.

What do you think?

You're absolutely right.

Pyalishankar. How can I
consider the marriage?

Kusum was very small,
when I brought her home.

I raised her like my daughter.

And anyway, I have to go
to Kashi for a few days.

How can I leave Kusum alone,
here?

I'll go and talk to him
tomorrow.

If you really think,
this is a problem..

..then, leave it to me.

Good.

Good.

He's too impulsive.

Once he gets married,
he won't study, anyway.

So I was thinking,
once, he completes his studies..

-But, will he..
-Father.

-How about we set a date 4 months later?
-Yes.

During that time, you can find
a nice bride for Hemant, as well.

Both the siblings can
get married, together.

Please, get Lord Vishwanath's
offerings, on your way back.

-Pyalishankar.
-Yes.

I am going, because
you asked me to.

But actually,
I don't want to go.

Go and pray to
Lord Vishwanath, calmly.

I will handle everything here.

Look after Kusum.

Don't worry about her.

By the time you return..

..I'll definitely find
a solution, to this problem.

I'll come here,
every morning..

..and leave only after
having dinner. Okay?

Have faith in me.

Okay.

Here's some food for
the journey, father.

-Yes.
-Eat all of it.

Take care.

-Bye.
-Bye.

"Come, O' monsoon shower of the night."

"Come, O' monsoon shower of the night."

"Come silently.."

Vande Mataram
(Hail the motherland)!

Vande Mataram!

Vande Mataram!

Vande Mataram!

Vande Mataram!

Vande Mataram!

Vande Mataram!

Vande Mataram!

Vande Mataram!

Vande Mataram!

Vande Mataram!

Vande Mataram!

Vande Mataram!

Vande Mataram!

Vande Mataram!

-Was father..
-It's true.

I tried telling you, before.

But, uncle Pyali stopped me
from doing so, before our wedding.

And after our wedding,
the circumstances stopped me.

I have lived a life of
experience.

I can see and understand,
all that is happening.

And I am not orthodox,
like Chatterjee.

You can tell me,
about your feelings.

If the two of you
really love each other..

..then, I'll talk to
them about your marriage.

I will also convince Chatterjee.

But, why would they marry
him, to a Kayast orphan?

They are Brahmins.

If a Brahmin is marrying
into a lower caste..

..you know, that's just
not done.

Do you love Hemant or not?

There's a difference
between love and marriage.

It's true, that I like Hemant.

But, this relationship
has no future or conclusion.

What if I say, that you're
Chatterjee's daughter?

Any relationship based on
lies, cannot last for long.

Love doesn't believe
in caste and creed.

And a lie that can
unite two hearts..

..is better than
a 100 truths.

You don't need to lie to Hemant.

This is wrong!
It is immoral.

I cannot tell such a big lie.

So, what will you tell Kusum?

"You cannot marry the one you love.
Forget him?"

If Hemant really loves Kusum..

..then, he'll marry her,
despite knowing the truth.

It doesn't make a difference,
whether Hemant knows or not.

I've inquired around.

His father is a devout Brahmin.

He won't let his son
marry a Kayast's daughter!

And then, what's the point
of advertising something..

..that will never be revealed?

Everyone knows that,
Kusum is your daughter.

Pyalishankar, the truth always
reveals itself in some form.

Do one thing. Tell Hemant's
father the truth.

Then, this wedding
will never be possible.

Then, so be it!

But, I can never tell
such a big lie. That's that!

You're being selfish.

What?

What did you say?

Selfish?

You said, that Kusum
supports you in your old age.

-So, you're creating obstacles..
-Pyalishankar.

Fine, I'll go and meet
Hemant's father, today.

I'll propose marriage.

Don't worry..

..I will never reveal the fact..

..that, Kusum is not my daughter.

What you're doing is wrong.

If you really love Kusum,
then you must marry her.

If not, then stop
all this, immediately.

I tried to tell you this, before.

But, Pyali uncle stopped me
from doing so before our wedding.

And after our wedding,
the circumstances stopped me.

Hemant, are you looking for me?

Come, sit.

Come.

I want to discuss
something with you.

My house is getting painted.

Bihari, another cup of tea.

Mr. Mukherjee's here.

Why did you do it?

You call yourself a Swadeshi
(patriot), don't you?

Yes, so?

Tomorrow, if someone tries
to shoot one of your comrades..

..will you ask him about
his caste, before saving his life?

Tell me something.

You were supposed to
go to London, for your PhD.

Why didn't you go?

I am a Swadeshi.

How can I go abroad and study?

It's out of the question.

You're a coward.

You're scared of your father,
more than you hate the British.

Because, according to him..

..going abroad, would
malign your religion.

Look, please stop
this useless talk..

Listen, I never say
useless things!

And what you think,
is useless..

..its importance
starts with the marriage.

My daughter's marriage.

You must have been
really small, then.

My son-in-law, Narendra, was obstinate
about going abroad, to study law.

I tried convincing him
not to do it.

But, I was helpless..

..and had to send him abroad,
with my life's savings.

He didn't return
for four years.

I thought,
he'll never come back.

But, he returned the next year.

He said, it was because,
he failed a year.

That's bound to happen,
if he doesn't study. Right?

I hid the fact, about
Narendra going abroad..

..because, I was scared
of what people would say.

Secrets are so strange,
aren't they?

The more you try to hide them,
you can't.

Our religion has been tarnished.
I had my doubts.

I beg you, forgive me.

If you want, I'll make
my son-in-law lick dirt..

..and repent for his sins.

I'll sanctify my home, with
the holy water of the Ganges.

Just don't banish us,
from the society.

What's the point of all this now,
Pyalishankar?

You should've thought
about this..

..before sending
your son-in-law abroad.

-Right?
-Yes.

Tell him.
Tell him.

Even after hiding this
from all of us, for so long..

..you expect us to pardon you!

I made a mistake, brother.

I accept any punishment,
you give me.

Pyalishankar, now you're not even
worthy of being punished.

You're left with
only two options.

Either, you must
leave your daughter..

..or leave this village,
with your entire family.

Yes, leave this village.

I couldn't bear to see, my only
daughter's life being ruined.

So, I left my ancestral home..

..my village and came here,
to Kolkata.

But, that wasn't enough
for your father.

My younger brother's daughter
was getting married, in the village.

All the preparations were done.

But, your father was
a know-it-all.

He arrived there.

Strange.

I thought,
you're sensible people.

You must have arranged this marriage,
after investigating carefully.

And you had no clue, that..

..this family's reputation
has been tarnished.

My friends, relatives and kin,
all turned against me.

But, destiny is so strange.

My own friend,
Biplavdas Chatterjee..

..took an orphan girl
into his home.

Kusum.

She's actually a Kayast.

You came to live
in the same society.

That too, in the
house opposite to hers.

I'll go talk to him, tomorrow.

If you really think,
this is a problem..

..then, leave it to me.

That day, on Chatterjee's advice,
I was on my way to tell you..

..that, you should
stay away from Kusum.

But your father, turned out
to be his omnipresent self, again.

It took me only a second,
to understand the entire situation.

And that's when I decided,
what I want to do.

Good.

I wonder, what's the conflict
between youth and patience.

Hemant, what did you think?

Like one of those love-stories..

..you saw Kusum,
Kusum saw you..

..you fell in
love and got married?

That only happens in stories.

My dear, the rally is on
the roads. It's a good deed.

-Go and give them these clothes.
-Yes, uncle.

Uncle, your tea.

Kusum, I haven't been to
Dakhineshwar, for a long time.

I want to go pray to
Goddess Kali.

Let's go there, for a day.

A single day's separation
from Kusum, made you restless.

And I knew, you were
eager to marry her.

If you two really like
each other..

..then, I'll talk
to them about your marriage.

All that was needed was one last
blow and you would've said, yes.

In that stage of love..

..a person cannot differentiate
between right or wrong..

..justice or injustice.

You're being selfish.

What?

What did you say?

Selfish?

You said, Kusum supports
you in your old age.

That's why,
you're creating obstacles..

Pyalishankar.

If you really love Kusum,
then you must marry her.

I understand, that you did..

..all this for revenge.

But, Kusum?

I expected, more dedication
and honesty from my wife.

This means, you've judged
your wife, correctly.

I cannot lie and get married.

What's the point of saying it, now?
All the preparations are done.

At least think about Hemant.

Tell him, that I am dead.

So that he can die,
after hearing this news?

When he's dead,
you can really give up your life.

I cannot take on this
burden of two deaths.

My dear..

..only a few,
fortunate love stories..

..blossom into marriage.

If there's love, things get
better by themselves.

Don't doubt your love.

By getting you married
to Kusum..

..I slandered the
reputation of a Brahmin.

I couldn't bear to see another
Brahmin, commit blasphemy.

So, I wrote a letter to your
future brother-in-law's father.

Dear, Mr. Banerjee.

I greatly regret
to inform you, that..

..the girl Hemlata, whom
your son Sumanto will marry..

..her elder brother, married a Kayast
girl, whose name is Kusum..

..and has failed in his
sacred duties.

Harihar has hidden
this fact, from the society.

Now, you decide whether
you will protect your honor..

..or, will you support
this disgraceful wedding..

..and get allied to
this tarnished family?

I request you to take a step,
against this new relationship.

Your well-wisher, Pyalishankar.

My marriage is on the rocks.

My sister's wedding may
be called off.

You did this to four people
and three families.

Did you get your revenge?

Are you happy, now?

I thought, you consider
Kusum as your daughter.

You are concerned about her.

When I leave Kusum,
what will happen to her?

-What will you do, then?
-I won't do anything.

I have already done,
what I wanted to.

Now, this is between
a husband and his wife.

Don't try to drag me into this.

Hemant. Let her go, otherwise..

..you can never call
me your father, again.

Will you tarnish your
family image, for a Kayast girl?

Yes, father.

I can forsake my religion,
and my caste..

..but, I can't give up
my wife.

Love means more to me,
than caste, father.

You can do anything you want.

Have you lost your mind?

Hemant..

..have you lost your mind?

Hemlata, look at your brother.

He has lost his mind.

He isn't concerned about you!

Before your marriage
is shattered..

..tell him, to throw his
wife out of the house.

Throw her out, now.

As soon as she leaves,
I'll go to Sumanto's house.

I will meet his father.

I'll beg him!
I'll lick dirt to atone.

I'll sanctify the house with
holy water.

-No, father.
-No!

I'll do as he says.

I'll do everything.
I'll apologize and request.

I won't let your marriage
break up.

Father, I don't want
to marry Sumanto.

I don't want to.

I can't see my father humiliate
himself..

..in front of anyone, for me.

I can't see it.

You won't get..

Father.

Hello, Mr. Mukherjee.

Do you recognize me?

There was a commotion, inside.

I hope, nothing disastrous
has happened.

I've brought it along, you know.

Holy water! Dirt!

So, do you want it?

"Come, O' monsoon shower of the night."

"Come, O' monsoon shower of the night."

"Come silently.."

"..into my dreams."