Original subtitles

''DUVIDHA'' (INDECISION) A Rashtani Folk Tale

Based on the story by Vijayadan Detha

cast: Ravi Menon, Raisa Padamsee, Hardan & Shambhudan

and the villagers of Baraunda

folk musicians: Ramjan Hammu, Latif, Saki Khan

cinematography: Navroze Contractor

Produced and directed by: MANI KAUL

It is believed that for many years a ghost lived in this banyan tree

The ghost saw the beautiful bride and was bewitched by her radiance

Suddenly he was overcome by a strong desire to enter the bride's body

The thought threw him into a confusion such as he had never felt before

Hardly had the cart moved on when the ghost fainted

Meanwhile, sitting in the bullock cart, the bridegroom too was troubled and confused

His wedding accounts did not tally!

For a merchant, correct accounts are vital

Nature will allow no error in her books

How, then, can a merchant?

I said to my husband:

"Please take a look over there...

"Look at the lovely fruit growing on that bush

"Won't you climb down and fetch me some?"

He replied: "Only peasants eat this fruit!

"What an add idea!

"If you want fruit, eat what we have here instead"

"If you won't." I said. "I'll get them myself!"

"Don't tell them about the fruit at home."

I said to her "Everyone will mock us!"

"Let them!"

So said the bride...

...and stepped out of the cart

Now I know what it is

He's so scared of his father, he can think of nothing but his books!

The wedding is over and done with...

But the accounts are not!

Once the wedding accounts are done...

...I must leave for Disawar, tomorrow morning!

You may not realize it...

...but there may never again be such an auspicious time for our business

The bride was upset to hear of her husband leaving her so soon

Even the fruit seemed tasteless now

She felt lost and abandoned

What terrible news this was!

The bride could not believe her ears

Didn't I tell you not to eat it?

This fruit is only fit for peasants!

People like us cannot like it

There, you see?

You threw it away, after all!

After picking it in the midday sun!

The bride did not utter a word

Sitting silently in the cart...

...her thoughts wandered back to her parents' home

She remembered her mother and father...

The companionship of her friends...

Her brothers...

The pond where she used to play...

The songs they sang...

Her dolls and her toys...

And the games they played

There, take it and go, quickly... Next one!

There, take it and go, quickly... Next one!

Be diligent and tend to your chores

Take care of your parents-in-law

Remember, our honour lies in our hands

Let us not give in to temptation

We will only have to suffer the consequences

Five years is no time at all

Time flies by. I'll be back before you know it

You have all you need here...

The house, the lamps, the comfort

Do not let any temptation sway you...

...while I am gone

Five years will be gone in a flash!

The bridegroom left his father's village and set out for Disawar

He planned to make a fortune there

He carried one small bag...

...containing all his belongings

The horizon beyond held great visions...

...of wealth and prosperity

Hidden in the banyan tree, the ghost looked out

And recognized the bridegroom at once

Putting on a human shape he appeared the bridegroom

"Brother," he said, "it's barely daybreak

"Where are you going at this early hour?"

"It's not too early in Disawar." said the bridegroom

"I am going to live and work there for five years

I must not let my chance slip by. I may never be so blessed again"

The ghost carefully observed the bridegroom's each and every gesture

And he thought to himself:

"What if I took on his shape and form...

"And appeared in his village tomorrow?

"No one will question me for five years

"Even the bride won't be able to tell the difference"

Father, may I speak to you?

I met a sage this morning, on my journey

His body was covered in a rash

I removed all trace of it. I bathed him and fed him

The great sage granted me a boon.

He said that every morning...

...I shall find five gold coins when I awake

But I must not go to Disawar

What shall I do, Father? I await your decision

I knew in my heart that you would return

Who knows where your heart was right or wrong?

But make sure first. I could be someone else in disguise

Perhaps I'm not your husband

I could be deceiving you

You are exactly as I remember you

The same face...

The same eyes...

The same way of speaking...

You are the same in every way

Then the ghost told the young bride the true story

He told her how he saw her under the banyan tree

How, for love of her. He had deceived her husband

And came to the village in her husband's form and shape

And how he invented the story about the sage

He told her the whole truth, hiding nothing

His family cares only for gold...

And the money from the family shop

If I hadn't told you the truth...

No one would have suspected me

You would have received me as your husband

But I couldn't deceive you

I shall do whatever you tell me

Now you know the truth. I have hidden nothing

I don't know

Perhaps it would have been better had you remained silent

What is best? The false or the truth?

I cannot decide

To parents, a daughter is like a weed that must be uprooted

It's not the same with a son

As soon as I was sixteen years old...

...they married me off and sent me away

The comfort and security of my mother's womb...

...is a distant memory here in my husband's home

When my money-mad husband left me...

...I could not hold him back

Yet I have asked the ghost to stay

If I could not stop the man who was leaving...

...how am I to send away the one who is here?

If we had not stopped under the banyan tree that day...

...God knows how these four years would have passed

It would have been impossible to bear

No, for you, the years would have gone by somehow

But think how I would have suffered...

...wandering from tree to tree, restless and hungry

Here you are, come and take some

Here you are, come and take some

Here you are, come and take some

Here you are, come and take some

Here you are, come and take some

Here you are, come and take some

Here you are, come and take some

One day, some villagers came to Disawar...

...and were amazed to see the bridegroom there

"When did you leave home?" they asked him

"Years ago!" answered the bridegroom, astounded by their question

"But we saw you in the village only a few days ago." The merchants said

He did not believe them And said to himself:

"They are jealous of my success...

"...and want to destroy my happiness"

One morning a trusted neighbor Came to give him news of home

He told him that the bride was with child...

Or had perhaps already given birth

No, this cannot be true. My family would have written

I have sent them many letters but received no reply

You are a strange one!

Why should they write to you?

The bridegroom's blood ran cold...

...as he listened to the man:

Their son never went to Disawar

He came back after few days and was recognized by everyone!

Now I see that you are an imposter!

How can I be an imposter?

This fruit may only be fit for peasants, but my wife likes it

And it won't cost me money

With this thought in mind...

the husband gathered some fruit to take home

What sort of magic is this?

Two men, each looking like one another

Two husbands who look the same

Which one is true, which one is false?

I don't understand

The midwives explained again and again...

...but the wife still refused...

...to give birth to her child by operation

Who are you? My son returned long ago

Go away! Don't make mischief here

I have been in Disawar for four years

How could I have been here with my wife?

I made a lot of money in Disawar. I've brought my earnings home

Was that wrong of me?

It was you who sent me away to make my fortune

Mother...

Will you too deny the son to whom you gave birth?

These four years were but a dream...

A lost dream

How can one expect dreams to last?

They are built on quicksand

Why don't you ask my wife about the fruit?

She will tell you the truth

You fool!

My daughter-in-law lies near death, and you talk of fruit!

If you value your honour, leave at once...

...or else I shall have you thrashed

I do not want your money

So don't try to tempt me with it

Go back to where you came from, or I shall have you beaten

"Sethji," said the villagers, "What's done cannot be undone

"If this young man is willing...

"...why not let him take the test?

"Please give him a chance!

"Ask your daughter-in-law to tell you the story of the fruit"

This is a family matter

We will sort it out by ourselves

I say that the man who has come here with the fruit is an imposter

I shall ask my servants to throw him out

Father, what is this madness?

Decide what you will... but this is unjust

Brothers, why must you insult my honour?

We must all help one another in times of need

Solve this problem in whichever way you will

But I tell you this man is an imposter and a fraud

The villagers were pleased to be The ones to settle matters...

And they insisted on doing just that

"This matter must be decided," they declared

"The guilty must pay!"

"We cannot permit the presence of two husbands," they said

"Life will become impossible if this persists"

Had a man asked me to resolve this dilemma

...I would have evaded the question

But when a woman asked me...

...I had to respond

"How can you expect her to tell the truth?"

"We cannot sort this out," Announced the village council

"There will be an uproar"

"We shall send the two men to the King" they decided

"Let the King decide what must be done"

"The ghost, who had once escaped from the tree...

...and had come to live in the house...

...was now to be brought to justice

He was to be trapped yet again...

...to be hidden away deep in a well

Brother, whatever the King may decide...

...you know that I am the Seth's real son

I am her husband

But tell me, who are you?

I am he who lives beneath the skin of women

I lay claim to their love

I crave love and affection above all riches

Don't talk such nonsense

Just tell me, did you take the marriage vows?

What does marriage mean?

Life's mysteries cannot be solved by simple answers

Where are you all going?

The story was explained to the shepherd

He could see then what all the fuss was about

Why trouble the King with such a trifling matter?

Sit down and drink some water

You've tied these men up as if they were criminals

Where could they escape to?

Listen, brothers

One of them must be lying

So why is it so difficult?

You could have questioned them at once

I see

I understand

They have learnt to lie and to do it well

That doesn't matter

I will know the truth in just a minute

Whoever opens his mouth first to admit this blade, speaks the truth

Well done, my son

You have spoken the truth. These fools have ill-treated you

But I must test you further

I need a little help

I will clap my hands seven times

Whoever gathers all the sheep in that time is the true son

How amazing...

Who but true husband could have such courage?

Let me set you one last test

I'll snap my fingers seven times. Whoever gets into this first...

...is the real husband

Today he will be punished And taught a lesson

Let me out! Let me out!

I want to live in freedom

Let me out! Let me out!

Let me out! Let me be free!

I want to live in freedom

Let me be free!

"When the bridegroom went home...

...he went straight to his wife

Every word he uttered...

...pierced her heart like a dagger

But she remained silent

She lay there as if made of stone

Why are you so sad?

Even my parents couldn't tell who was their real son

How were you to know who it was?

You're not to blame

The ghost was taught a lesson

He deserved no better

When he was trapped in the water-bag, he screamed for help

But who will listen to him now?

We will never be fooled again

We had to throw him in the well

And finally he stopped screaming

The deceitful devil

He won't forget this in a hurry

From that moment, Whatever the family said...

...the bride obeyed without question

She never protested, never complained

Her mother-in-law...

...made many special sweets for her

She ate these without uttering a word

When she was asked to wash her hair, she did so

She prayed

She served the priest...

...and sang with the women

She prepared many fine dishes

She covered her face with a yellow veil at her mother-in-law's bidding

She rocked her child to sleep

...and put henna on her hands

She did all she was asked

It is rare to find such a dutiful daughter-in-law

And on the auspicious night...

...she slowly mounted the stairs

Her breast were heavy with milk, her child lay in her arms

Her head was bowed...

Her heart heavy with sorrow

There, her husband waited in sweet anticipation