Mother India (मदर इण्डिया)

The water canal has reached our village, Mother.

The villagers want you to inaugurate it.

She refuses! You are our mother, the mother of the whole village!

Either you inaugurate it or it will remain untouched!

Mother, please...

l speak the truth.

The wedding was so grand that everybody is talking about it.

Of course. God has blessed me with just one son.

Nobody in our village holds a torch to the bride in beauty.

Of what use is mere beauty? She should be talented, too.

lf God desires, she will be.

l've heard something... The villagers would say...

Why have you stopped? Go on.

Aunt, please don't feel offended.

People say that you have mortgaged your land for the wedding.

Mortgaged my land!

Let them say that in front of me! l'll knock their teeth out!

What hasn't God given me? Don't l possess land?

Plow? Bullocks?

l've mortgaged land!

Why are the villagers jealous?!

My foot!

l have mortgaged the land.

lf l wouldn't, how could l celebrate the marriage?

Who doesn't do it?

lf the bride is fortunate enough, we'll get it released, too.

She does look lucky.

Let me do something.

Fine. You do it.

What have you done? A new bride and you've removed yourjewellery!

Think of me, if not yourself.

l haven't yet seen you properly.

- Wear them. - Sell them.

- Are you mad? - lt will lighten the burden.

What burden?

Mother has mortgaged the land.

That's a pack of lies! The villagers make up stories!

And even if she has, l'll throw the money in the lender's face very soon!

Somebody will see! Mother might come. Let go.

- So what? - Won't you feel shy?

Dump the shame in your basket!

- l wish mother comes. - Let her.

l swear... they look good on you.

l pray that they always remain in my hands for you to see.

Why won't they when l'm around?

Then l'll take them off everyday.

So you can put them on.

Shameless man!

Are you the only man in the village to have got married?

Anybody who sees this will spit at you!

And you too, daughter-in-law! What can l say...

Why should l blame you? His father too was like him.

Look at this! Light the fire first.

What are you cooking? Your head?

Don't drop it.

Listen ...

Don't let him come too close.

Stop it.

He'll become worthless.

Dear Kamla, walk carefully lest your foot slips.

- This is a woman's foot not a man's. - Let's go.

You are offended. l meant the pot.

lt's an earthen pot. Might break.

With you alive, who can have a copper pot on their heads?

l want you to have pots made of gold on your heads.

But nobody cares. What times!

Why are you arguing with him? Let's go.

Go and rinse your mouth. lt stinks!

- Who is he? - The village grocer.

But he has a wicked heart. We'll go together with lunch.

You've come. Shamu's Radha has come

You really take very long!

Sit down.

l think you should come here with me in the morning itself.

- And lunch? - Don't worry about food.

You are all l need.

Delicious!

- You cook very well. - ls the salt okay?

Don't talk about salt.

You must only touch food.

Everything will turn salty. You don't know how salty your hands are!

Where? See...

The salt of the entire village is in your hands!

l swear. Let me see... ln two days your henna has faded.

- So what? - Nothing? You don't understand.

A new bride shouldn't work so hard. l feel hurt.

New bride? lt's 2 days since we got married.

lt's not a few years! Remain spruced for 2 months.

This time won't return. Let the other brides be jealous.

Keep away. Somebody might watch us.

- Nobody will see us. - Let me go.

This is a big problem!

At home, you're scared of mother; And here, the world! Are we sinning?

Then the kids will come by!

You're already counting the kids?

- When God gives us the day... - Gives? Of course He will.

When we have children...

A couple won't do. l need 4 healthy sons for the plow.

One for each corner.

Shambhu? Just wait!

What's the matter?

Shameless!

Come and take some grains. l'm very happy today.

You also come and take some.

What are you doing?

You also take some.

Be a little patient.

You're not the only one to become a father. Hold back.

What do you know of the joy of the birth of a son?

You also take some.

Aunt!

Your voice sounds as it were coming from a torn drum!

- First congratulate us. - You're worried about wishes?

And your son is ruining me! He's destroying the crop!

lf he must, let him distribute his own share.

Why is he touching my share?

- Three fourths is our share. - You keep forgetting.

- Three parts are mine. - What? - Of course.

- Three are mine! - No, mine.

This is cheating.

Get us to put our thumb-impression on anything!

l'll complain to the Panchayat!

Think and decide, brothers.

l help you in times of need.

Till the principal amount of rupees 500 is not paid...

..3 parts of my crop ofjowar and pulses will go to...

- ...the moneylender as interest. - Hear that?

And here is her thumb impression.

Now tell the Village Council that this is not your thumb-impression!

God knows what nonsense you write!

Talk of what we spoke. l believe in spoken words.

Didn't you say that one part of the crop will be yours and 3 ours?

Giving her due respect for her age, l was being lenient.

l gave her the money. l couldn't even lift the bag.

lf you'll hang me for this, l'll go straight to court!

Who is afraid of courts?

The courts are fair. You'll be jailed instead!

Listen to him! He'll have me jailed!

lf l don't get the police and claim the land, l'm not man enough!

No, the police should never enter our village!

- Decide the issue here and now. - What do you say?

The police mustn't come here.

Then you decide this.

What do you decide?

lf it's the written word, then you have to give it.

Make Shamu also put his thumb impression on this.

One can't trust this old lady. She's alive today. She may die soon.

You'll die with your family!

l'll go only after you're dead!

You bullied the Council into deciding in your favour!

You're cheating my kids! l pray to God to punish you!

As long as l live, my son won't put his thumb impression! Let's go.

- Don't give him. - Why?

- He hasn't made me a catapult. - l'll make it. Don't be angry.

What is going on?

Whom did you think this belongs to? Beggars!

- Put it back! - He won't.

The son is one step ahead of his father!

Now, my boy... This has my share, too.

You didn't plow the field.

l've plowed 500 bucks in your father's life.

- Come here. - What is it?

You're a thief!

- A thief? - Yes.

- Yes. You are a thief! - Stay away!

lf l get angry, you've had it!

Go and stop him.

Doesn't matter. Let him be.

My umbrella costing 5.50!

l swear l'll add this money also to your account! Remember that!

He's ruined my umbrella!

- Give it to him. - My umbrella!

Return it.

Throwing it away? l've added 5.50 to your account!

Your son would have thrashed that man today.

Grandma is a liar!

- l was going to beat Ramu. - But why?

- He asked me to steal jaggery. - He stole it, not me!

- Why... - Sit down!

He's a devil!

Don't call me a devil. l'll fight back.

- Mother, l'll eat with you. - Me, too.

Tell us a story!

All right. Once upon a time, there used to be a mouse.

- He had four tails. - Don't tell lies!

A mouse does not have 4 tails. lt has just one.

l'll tell you a story about a lion.

l strangled its neck...

He started limping. Then l sat astride the horse.

And l escaped...

And l find a lion. l pick it up and carry it home.

And l pet it gently.

Then he dies.

Then l bring another lion and keep it in another house.

Then a mouse comes slowly...

And l kill it.

Don't stop. Learn it fast.

- Sir. - Greetings.

You've brought the younger one too.

That's very nice.