Original subtitles

Thank you, sir

I wish you had stayed on to take your degree

I couldn't afford to

But don't give up your writing

I remember your stories in the college magazine about village life

They were very good. You know, one can earn a living by writing

Satyajit Ray Productions presents

APUR SANSAR (The World of Apu)

Original story by Bibhutibhusan Bandyopadhyay

Apu: Soumitra Chatterji. Aparna: Sharmila Tagore

Kajal: Aloke Chakravarty. Pulu: Swapan Mukerji

Photography: Subrata Mitra

Art direction: Bansi Chandragupta

Sound recording: Durgadas Mitra

Film editing: Dulal Dutta

Production manager: Anil Chowdhury

Music: Ravi Shankar

Production, script and direction: Satyajit Ray

Good morning. Sit down

What use will that be?

It will rest your legs

I haven't come up to rest my legs

You know very well why I'm here

I'm going to ask a straight question,

and I'd like a straight answer

-What is the date? -The tenth

-How many months rent do you owe me? -Three

That makes twenty-one rupees

Will you pay me now, or shall I return this evening?

That makes three questions, not one

It's not fair

Many things are not fair

Is it fair that I should house you for nothing?

That you should use electricity all day without paying for it?

You have had education.

You have pictures of great men on the wall

Is it fair that you don't pay the rent?

It's a sign of greatness, you know

I, too, could turn a pretty phrase...

...but it would not be fit

for your young ears

Anyway, either I get my money this evening...

...or I'll look for a new lodger

This letter is for you, not me

We're both Rays

We are pleased to accept your short story "A Man of the Soil"...

...for publication in the next issue of Sahityik

Not bad news, I hope

Why do you get so few letters?

Does nobody write to you?

I'd like to open a love letter by mistake

Perhaps it's as well

I've experienced matrimonial complications

HARIMATI PRIMARY SCHOOL

You advertised for a teacher

Qualifications?

-Intermediate Science -No good, we want Matriculation

But I got that before Intermediate

What did the advertisement say?

It did specify Matriculation

Then why harp on Intermediate? What's the point?

Would you work for ten rupees a month?

Well?

I understand you want someone in your factory.

I have Matriculation

Any experience of labelling?

Labelling? No, but I can learn

Go through that door and down the passage.

Take a look first

Pulu!

You're a fine friend.

Why didn't you tell me you'd left the student hostel?

I've been searching north Calcutta for you since four o'clock

I finally got your address from the people you give private lessons to

What's so funny?

You've put on weight

I had. I lost it these last three hours

Would you like tea at the cafe around the corner?

ALL right.

But I've two tickets for us to see Sadhabar Ekadashi

Is this a hideout? Are you forging banknotes or something?

I wish I could

And you cook for yourself?

I'LL cook you a meal one day: rice and potatoes

What about the railway job?

I thought you'd got it

There was a strike on, and they wanted people as strike-breakers

So you've been unemployed?

I give some private lessons

- How much do you make? - Fifteen rupees a month

Didn't you learn to type?

Yes, I thought it might be useful

Good. I'LL get you a job as soon as we return

Where are we going?

You'll come with me to my cousin Aparna's wedding on Monday

-Where? -Just for a few days

- But where? - Khulna.

Khulna! It's a hundred miles away

You'll love it there

An old-World village, a lovely river with boats on it

Fields of grass and paddy.

Bamboo groves, mango orchards

Doesn't it tempt you?

Trees full of birds: magpies, thrushes, nightingales

And in the evening, fireflies and oil lamps aglow

No electricity

Doesn't it sound tempting?

You'll come, won't you?

Take me back to thy lap, O Mother Earth

Take back thy son and wrap him in thine ample robe

Let me be one with the soil, and spread myself

Far and wide, Like the joys of spring,

Let me burst the heart's narrow cage

break down the stonewalls of self and the cheerless prison of the mind

To rush forth in a rapture of delight

And flow to the far ends of the earth,

surging, billowing, rolling on

A policeman

Who's there?

I am Mainaak, son of the Himalayas,

hiding my wings in the sea

What's come over you?

You sound as if you've had too much to drink

I don't think I'LL take that job

Don't be absurd

Why should I become a clerk? There is no reason why I should

I'm a free man, without ties, no one to worry about

Why should I become a clerk?

But you can't keep pawning books to pay the rent

-Things will change -Not without a job

Listen, those with real talent...

Needn't eat?

Apurba Kumar Ray

Make fun of me, but just wait and see

Something up your sleeve? Some new poems?

You're too prosaic

You'll go abroad, become an engineer,

get a fat job and settle down

So I'm prosaic? That's gratitude!

Who took you in hand in Calcutta? Country bumpkin scared of the traffic

Who read your first short story, and what did he say about it?

Don't get so worked up

Do you know why I feel so elated?

I've had my first good meal for months, thanks to you

Well, are you writing anything?

A wonderful novel

Why didn't you tell me?

-Do you know a good publisher? -No problem

A boy

A village boy. Poor, but sensitive

Father, a priest. He dies

The boy doesn't want to be a priest. He wants to study, he's ambitious

He studies

In the process, I see him struggle

He sheds superstition and prejudice

He takes nothing on trust

He tries to be rational

He has imagination, he's intrigued by little things

He has greatness in him, perhaps. He has the ability to create

But he doesn't

Right, but that's not a tragedy

He remains poor, in want

But he doesn't turn from life, he doesn't want to escape

He is fulfilled, he wants to live

This is autobiography

Partly, but there are imaginary characters, plot, love...

Love? What do you know of love?

You've never been within ten paces of a girl

It's not that easy, you have no experience

-Is imagination worth nothing? -Not where love is concerned

-You're quite wrong -I'm absolutely right

How much further wilt thou lead me, O Fair One?

Tell me what shore thy golden boat will touch

Whatever I ask thee, O thou from distant lands

Thou smilest in thine own sweet way

And I can never know what is in thy mind

Silently, thou liftest a finger pointing to the trackless, wild sea

As, far to the west, the sun goes down in the sky

What lies there? What do we go to seek?

Tell me, I pray thee, O stranger fair

Where, at the edge of evening, glows the day...

Give me your hand

Wonderful. Really wonderful

Look who is here!

It's Pulu, and not alone

I hope the journey was not too unpleasant for city people

My youngest son, Murari.

He's studying at Daulatpur College

Take his luggage

My aunt

It's a pity you didn't think of him as a possible son-in-law

Where have I seen him before?

Impossible. He's never been here

But I know his face so well

Yes, I saw a picture of lord Krishna looking just like him

Lord Krishna...

... complete with his flute

Binu, my son, come out now

What's wrong? Isn't he well?

It's nothing. The sun was so hot

The long journey and the fasting must have upset him

Bring water, and a fan

This is a fine wedding

That boy is insane

Who says so? He is perfectly sane.

The journey and the heat...

If you don't stop the wedding, I will

But the auspicious hour is passing

Leave this room!

It's you who is mad

When the hour has passed, my daughter will never marry

Isn't there another auspicious hour, at ten?

Don't ask me. This means ruin for me

Have I missed the ceremony?

There's no wedding

The bridegroom is mad

Apu, everything depends on you now

Are you joking?

What is all this?

If the wedding does not take place at the auspicious times...

... the bride is cursed

But what can I do?

We have to find another husband for her and you are the obvious choice

You want me to be a substitute bridegroom?

Is this a play or a novel? What do you take me for?

Are you still living in the Dark Ages?

Calm down and listen to me

No, I won't listen to a pack of lunatics

Everything depends on you

It's no use, let's go

Come here a moment

Can you really get me that job?

You'll have to lend me a shirt, and I must have a shave

Your daughter didn't worship Shiva in vain.

A curse became a blessing

The moment I saw him,

I knew he was nearer to me than my own kin

Pulu has brought many of his friends here...

...but I've never felt so drawn to anyone

There are a few things that I must tell you

I've had no opportunity before

How much do you know about me?

Has Pulu told you anything?

Yes

What did he say?

You're an orphan

Yes.

I lost my father when I was ten

Mother died seven years later

I had a sister, too

What else did he tell you?

You write well

He told you that, did he?

Can you read?

Yes. Bengali

I'm writing my novel in Bengali

I know

What else did he say?

Nothing else

That's not very much

You know little of the man you married

I have no means, no job...

... and almost no future

What kind of home shall I take you to?

You've been brought up in these surroundings

A spacious house, servants, fine rooms

This marriage was forced on me.

I was against it, but...

Something changed my mind, I felt I would be doing a noble thing

Everything became confused

Why don't you say something?

I can't decide until I know your mind

Aparna, will you be able to endure poverty?

Can you live with a poor husband?

Yes

Can you really?

Why not?

Then I'LL take you with me.

If your father objects, I'LL ignore him

-Will you object? -I don't know

-I wonder what they'll say -Who?

My neighbours.

I went to a wedding, but I shall return with the bride

I'LL come back for the luggage

This is my room

Sit down. I won't be long

You must be very sad

Really not?

They want to see us downstairs

Make way. Let's see the bride

What a lovely bride!

Why gawp? Am I new?

Only after meals. You promised

Do you lament your decision?

What? I don't know such difficult words

Will "regret" do?

Yes

-Do you regret it? -Regret what?

-Do I have to explain that too? -Yes

You missed out on a rich husband

-You're laughing! -No, I'm crying

You must feel sorry

Of course. I could have had an easy life

-I'm going. -Where?

To look for a maid servant

Don't be silly. Come back, please

Who will pay for the servant?

I'LL get more private lessons

Then send me back to my parents

One lesson is bad enough after a hard day's work

What should I do, then?

I'LL tell you: give up the lesson you have

And then what?

Then my poor husband will come home early

Then I shall lament no more

God of Fire! Destroy his meditation!

Are you cross with me?

Yes. Why do we always take a cab?

Buses are crowded. We're alone here

But it costs much more

Does it matter?

Soon you're going to your parents, my expenses will be halved

Only for two months

Isn't that a long time?

What about the extra expenses when we come back?

Ah, yes...

I wouldn't have let's you go, but your mother was so insistent

And I felt you'd rather be with her

at such a time

A relief for you, too. No one to bother you for two months

One job will be done

I'LL have time to work on my novel. I haven't touched it since we married

Is that my fault?

No, it's your virtue. You know how much my novel means to me, don't you?

-Well, you mean much more -Really?

I shall dedicate it to you

You'll what?

I know what "wife" means

You don't. I do

I do, too

-What? -The matches

What is there in your eyes?

Kohl

We'll expect you in the holidays

I'LL do my best. Send a telegram when you arrive; letters take so long

-Promise You'll come -Haven't I given my word?

You must write twice a week

-You must write, too -Not unless you do

Write to my office address, or Mr. Ray will open your letters

I had so many things to tell you

Yes, I asked Pintu's mother to make you some cakes

There's a bill to pay at the grocer's

I've left some jewellery behind

Please take care of yourself

You'll see her in a week, so cheer up

I wish I knew your secret

How to be married and happy on forty-five rupees a month

How do you know I'm happy?

I can guess

I don't know what your wife is like, but mine...

I like them to be a little pert...

... a little saucy, a little naughty

It adds spice to a marriage,

don't you think?

My wife is just the opposite

Never quarrels, never complains, never answers back...

... always meek and obedient

Utterly bland, tasteless

PIus this

You've promised to come on the 8th

If you don't, I'll never speak to you again, never, ever

You should have sent me eight letters last month...

... and I only got seven

I should never trust you

And I feel jealous of that girl next door

She sees you morning and evening, and I don't

Do keep the window shut

What else is there to tell?

The more I write, the more you will laugh at my mistakes

But I don't care. You are the writer, not me

Please take good care of yourself

I am well, but my heart is sick. It will heal when you come

If you don't, I'll never speak to you again, never, ever

What is it?

Aparna...

In childbirth...

She said: "I'm leaving him in your care, Mrs. Ganguly

"He's so absent-minded, he forgets to eat sometimes"

Such sweet words and such gentle ways

Well, it's a good thing the baby was saved.

Fate works in strange ways

But a young fellow like you shouldn't give up

"While Krishna has his knot of hair and flute

there'll be women to serve him"

Why, you could marry ten times over if you wanted

Dear Pulu. You must have heard the news by now

I hear you're going abroad. I wish you success

I'm going away, too

I don't know where I'm going,

But I do know why: I want to be free

I'm taking my novel with me.

I'll send it to you if I finish it

You may publish it if you like it enough.

Yours, Apu

What have you thrown in my food?

I'LL teach you a lesson, my lad!

He's bitten me

Wait and see what your grandfather will do

You'll tell grandfather?

Just wait. You need a good hiding

He'll bash you if you do

Who will bash me?

My father. He lives in Calcutta

Father! That's a good one!

We haven't seen his pigtail these last five years

Do fathers have pigtails?

He's not shown up once, even to see his own son

He's sent three money orders.

Perhaps he calls that doing his duty

Where is Apu?

I was dead against the marriage

It was you and your aunt who took my daughter...

Do you know where Apu is? I'd just like to know

Somewhere in Central India, working in some coal mine, the vagabond

And the boy takes after him

Always running around and getting up to mischief

When your aunt was alive she could manage him,

but it's too much for me

Do you know Apu's address?

Whatever is on his letter

Do you think He'll come back?

Not that heartless brute

When did you get back?

I went to my uncle, looking for you

-What are you doing here? -Working

-Since when? -About a year

So far from home?

I didn't come here for a job

I arrived here in my wanderings

I had to fill my stomach

-Has it been filled now? -More or less

How is the novel getting along?

I threw it away

Why throw it away?

What's the use?

Come along

Are you going to stay here?

-I'm thinking of going away -Where?

Anywhere. Perhaps abroad. I'm saving up

Going alone?

-Who else is there? -Kajal

Your son

So that's what they called him

-Go back home -Why?

The boy needs someone to look after him

There's such a thing as a father's duty,

or did you throw duty away, too?

Who says I don't do my duty? I've sent money

-Is that all you can do? -I can't do any more

Don't you love your son?

No

How can I love him?

I've never seen him, to me he is unreal, untrue

For me he doesn't exist

You must have lost your senses

Anyway, I've done my duty. The rest is up to you

Come here for a moment

My train leaves at seven

Come here

Please do something for the boy, put him in a home or something

-Do that yourself -No, I can't

- It's not possible for me - I can't understand why not

There is something which I can't forget

Because Kajal exists...

Aparna does not

I've sent money and I'LL send more if necessary

More than that, I cannot do

I have no love for him. He is like a stranger

If you think he is not being looked after...

... make some arrangement for him

Shall I give you money now?

I've no time. I have to start a new job on Monday

Who is it?

Who do you want?

I'm Apurba

Have you come to fetch him?

I've arranged to leave him with friends in my home village

I'm going away

He's upstairs

He's been feverish, but he's better now

I'm your father

What are you doing?

You might have killed the boy

Won't you make friends with me?

I know lots of good stories

Ghost stories, stories about demons...

... kings, queens, princes and winged horses

Want to hear them?

I'LL leave this jewellery with you...

... in case you want to send him to boarding school

It seems to be the only way to be relieved of his burden

Can't you take him with you by force?

As his father you have the right to do that

No, I couldn't do that

I knew it. I knew all along that you could do nothing

What do you want to say, Kajal?

Where are you going?

Will you come with me?

Are you going to Calcutta?

If I did, would you come with me?

Would you take me to my father?

Certainly

Will he be cross with me?

Why should he be?

He'll never leave me?

Never

Who are you?

I'm your friend

Will you come with me?

Grandpa will be angry

Grandpa won't know, I won't tell him