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Dalhousie Square: Kolkata's Smile Gate
It's five, offices are closing for the day...
and staff, relieved after a tiring day at work, are going home
Several stories have been spun around
the typical middle-class Bengali
Our story has to do with one such gentleman
The name: Paresh Chandra Dutta
Hello... aren't you going to the stadium?
The big game. It's a charity match
Charity! What charity will we do?
You're right. Could I have a beedi, please?
What match at an age of 53? - But you must!
Poltu... - What is it?
Look what I've got for you. - Let me see
First recite that poem. - Which one?
The one you recited yesterday
"The yellow-green orangutan, flip flops in a brick-walled city"
"waiting for a stray miracle, advertisements for job vacancies"
Here are you. A marble for you
A marble? I have many already. - Good
But this is an atom-bomb. - Atom-bomb?
Bajori... - What do you want? Bajori's gone out
If I could have some tea...? - He's gone to fetch teapowder
Have patience. Why're you late? - The trams weren't running
And the traffic was choked because of the game...
I had to walk all the way...
what a bother!
"The yellow-green orangutan"
"flip flops in a brick-walled city"
"waiting for a stray miracle"
"advertisements for job vacancies"
What are you murmuring to yourself? - Nothing
I hope it isn't insanity
Any more developments? - On what?
At the office, where else? - I see
Something ought to materialise soon. A meeting's about to be held
Only meetings! I can sense the ominous
How did this get wet? - Not at all
The things you did to your umbrella! You better get used to staying at home
Hey Bhoja... make some tea for the master
God Almighty!
Uncle... - What's up, Poltu?
Wait... I'm coming
Wait there
Uncle, look at this. - Let me see
Nice? - No
This is what happened when I hit it against the atom-bomb you gave me
Fibbing, eh? - You want to see?
Here goes. I'll keep it here
The magic stone!
Poltu!
I'm not giving it back!
Some spicy grams for me
Now what do you have here? Give me this...
give me that and that...
if I could have that, as well as that...?
If you could tell me what you're looking for?
Poltu! Look at the goodies I've got for you!
What is it...?
A pistol? - Yes, a pistol, chocolates...
marbles, toffees. All for you...
only if you... - What?
You guess. - The magic stone?
Yes. - All right. It's a deal
Here you are. Don't lose it!
That's enough. Go away. - Pardon me...?
Gold! Gold!
What's wrong...? What happened?
Why're you crying...? What is the matter?
Speak... and what's this?
You aren't saying a word. Tell me what happened
Speak up... what happened?
Listen... what's the current price of gold?
Why? - Let's calculate... and sell all this
You want to sell all this? - Why not?
What'll we eat when you lose your job?
What if it isn't gold? - What else is it, if not gold?
Hush... quiet!
The same colour, the same glitter
Whatever you say, it can't be anything other than gold
Listen... - Yes?
Sit down. Why're you pacing up and down?
Sit down
Go on. - What's the price for 10 grams?
110 Rupees. - 110?!
How much would this fetch...? Look at me!
5000? - More
7000? - More
8000...? - Even more
Why're you panicking? We haven't stolen it
But people will still think we're thieves
They think we're bad folks
You're nuts. It's God's gift to us. There's nothing wrong with it
Don't people win money in lotteries? Are they accused of crime?
Oh, you don't understand... you just don't
This isn't a lottery. You just don't get it... this is not a lottery!
It's a gold-making stone!
Something not everyone comes across!
We have come across it. And why not? - Quiet!
Let's forget what happened. O Lord...
forgive my sins...
All right. Return the stone. But sell this gold before you do that
We'll go on a holy pilgrimage. 10,000 rupees should be enough
And I always knew that we would have the money to make the pilgrimage
My palm has been itching for the last few months
Such pure gold?
It isn't the sort of stuff made nowadays, sir
It's been passed on down the generations in my family
I mean, from my forefather's times
I mean, my great grandfather's
They were the real connoisseurs, you see
Where to?
Let's get some fresh air first
Today's a great day
Go away. - Give me a penny, sir...
Go away, I say... - Please, sir... a penny!
We have assembled here today
to perform a sacred task
To pay obeisances to the great son
of Bengal, India and the whole of
Asia... who has won fame and acclaim
The great Paresh Chandra Dutta whose great sacrifice...
whose yeoman service to mankind...
Hey, Sardarji... stop here!
What are you looking at, mister? - The ball
No ball, it's a grenade. Of the mutiny
A grenade of the mutiny...?
How much is it worth? - What quantity do you want?
Maybe one or two
Help yourself
Today, we...
we today...
our social function comes to an end at this stage
Let me now introduce our Chief Guest now
Indeed, this gentleman
needs no introduction...
for he has been part of our lives
A man who has made a contribution
in almost every field...
our chief guest...
Mr Paresh Chandra Dutta
I am delighted...
to have witnessed the performance
of the artistes today
I am very happy...
at the dazzling display of
the Bengali culture
The Bengali culture is not something to be treated casually
We must never forget it
We must never ignore it. We must forever respect and follow it!
It gives me happiness to see that you are keeping it alive
And thus, for all of you,
the children who performed
the songs and dance...
I have brought gold medals
To the organisers of this function,
I shall first present the medals
Please come here, Ratan... Come
So Biswas...? What's new?
There are some cheques to sign
I hope you're not facing any problems? - I'm doing very well, thank you
I hope you're sleeping well? - Oh yes. Sound sleep. For 7 hours
That's wonderful. - I was late last night...
catching a movie. - That's good, too
Your age is to have fun. At one time, I used to see all the plays...
I was so fond of them, I even did a bit of acting
I saw almost all the plays
Really, sir...?! - Oh yes
"Destiny! It's all destiny!"
"Born of what illusion? Male, female"
"what form that holds the world in awe?"
"Willful, ruthless, riding so carelessly roughshod over mortals and gods alike"
"Destiny! Where is it? If I can ever confront that Destiny"
"with my mace, I shall break it to pieces and rid this world of all woe"
The poet's Kalva
Gone are those days, Priyatosh
Anyway, phone Dr Barui to come and check my blood pressure
I can't get sleep in the nights
May I say something, if you don't mind, sir?
You need to reduce your activities. - How?
For instance, as I worked out,
you attended nine board meetings...
sponsored 13 charity shows, gave away prizes at 7 functions...
you were the Chief Guest at 26 functions...
and did the foundation-laying ceremony in three instances
So much strain...? - What can I do, Priyatosh?
They love me so much. - But sir...
if you keep giving so many incentives, donations, for instance...
to an obscure organisation called the Society for Bengalis...
you give them 50 rupees...? - Is it too much?
Make it 25 then. - 25...?!
10...? - Let's make it 5
All right, but do give them. Do not deny them
The elections are coming up. They'll stand up for me
I'm preparing your lecture, sir. I'll definitely give it by Monday
Sir, you are invited to a party at Kriparam's
What party? A tea-party?
No, cocktails. - What did you say?
Cocktails...? - Yes
What do you mean I'm going...? Of course I'm going!
Cocktails!
For me...? Give it to me... - No, I'm not giving it!
Please... give it to me. - I'm not giving it...
What's gotten into you...? Give it to me!
Give it to me... Go on! - I'm not giving it!
Good God!
Well...? Do you like it?
I've placed an order for a pair of anklets for you
They'll be delivered on Wednesday. - More jewelry?
Why? Don't you like it? - Yes, I like it...
but I also feel scared. Whenever I look at my jewelry box...
my heart begins to beat wildly. - What's there to be scared of?
What if...?
So...? What are you scared of?
What if someone gets to know? You're really getting very cocky
This Paresh Dutta is no longer the Paresh Dutta of yore
Did you see my photo in the newspaper? - Yes, I did
What do you think of it? - My great leader!
The one who wears the fancy cap! - It's no joke...
the elections are coming up. - What do we get out of it?
You are my wife! A blessing for the husband is also a blessing for his wife!
Where have we done anything noble? We had the money...
I badly wished to go on a pilgrimage. To Kashi, Gaya, Brindavan...
but nothing came of it. - It will, do not be hasty
We'll go to all those places. We certainly will
I wonder how they are. - Who?
The Chatterjee's, their kids, their mother...
Goodness! You still haven't gotten over that tenement we lived in?
We lived there for so long. I can never forget it
Forget it. For once and for all! Get it out of your mind
All you must now remember is the slogan, "Vote for"...
Yes, I'll get the necklace. It's beautiful
It's a lovely place dotted with parks and greenery
Not to worry. He's a nice man...
although a bit off his rocker...
He likes me very much. He has promised me a raise next month
No, no... no children at all. Really, they have no issues
Oh sure, why not?
Okay, okay...
Yes, I have your photo on my table. Of course, believe me
I keep looking at your photo. Naturally, I...
Unless I hear your voice
I feel extremely lonely
I told him exactly what you have said to me just now
If it comes to that, I'm even willing to become a Hindu
You know how serious I'm about this
Listen, how about meeting up?
The movies... no, not Indian. English film. At the New Empire
I see
Well... how about tomorrow then?
At 6? Or maybe 9?
Maybe the day after tomorrow?
So that it's then...? No, I'll keep myself free
Okay
Welcome, welcome... - Greetings
Pardon me, I'm late. - Never mind... better never than late
Please come... Dr. Mukherjee
This is Mr Paresh Chandra
I'm sure we have met somewhere. - Oh certainly
Are you all right? - Oh yes, I'm all right
And you...? - Oh yes
And then the Superintendent... - Are you well, too?
Oh yes, I'm okay. - Caught hold of me. What could I do?
Are you okay, too? - I said, please listen to me
Now that we are born, we might as well do something good...
Everything isn't noble. - It shall bear fruit
My name is N. Mukherjee. - I'm Dutta. Paresh Dutta
Hello. - Hello
Oh yes, I've seen you somewhere! - Me...?
My picture in the newspaper? - No, not that one...
Oh yes, Dalhousie! - I see. Dalhousie area
No, not the residential area. The one where the offices are
Boy!
Come, come here...
You like music, don't you?
You...
"The lilting melody of the flute"
"The lilting melodies of the flute"
"I've seen Him"
"I've seen you"
Get the hell out of here! Scoundrel! - What?
Get out! Get lost! - Listen to me...
Get out!
You know who I am? - What's going on here?
You ask me to go away...?
You dare touch me...? - Please leave!
Stay away! I'll show you what I'm capable of doing!
The name is Paresh Dutta!
Look at this! Listen... - What is it? What?
The only gold maker in the world!
He's plastered
Hey... what's he up to?
Wait... and watch
The only thing in the world
that makes gold
Good bye...
Have you sobered up yet? You didn't eat anything last night
Will you eat something now or won't you?
Don't you want to do something about the gold lying in the trunk?
Else, you'll be handcuffed
Do what you want to!
He's so old, yet he wants to drink! Disgusting!
His mouth was stinking and his clothes were all crumpled
What time was it when we found the stone!
Wants to be a big man, possess cars,
bungalows, a lot of wealth...
we'd rather have begged for a living
Do something about this! I've had enough of it
I'm leaving on the pilgrimage tomorrow!
Listen, I'm terribly worried
What can one say? You have no dearth of admirers
I said, you have no dearth of admirers
Really...? Let's see
Okay, thank you
Aren't you keeping well, sir?
Priyatosh... - Yes, sir?
Know what...?
It's about faith
Do you believe in the supernatural?
I've never thought about it
I read ghost stories as a kid... and liked them too
I see. Let me show you something today
Guess what this is?
Something supernatural...?
No. It's a stone
What's this? A paperweight? - Yes, a paperweight
What is it made of? - Iron
Iron. What could it be worth? - Maybe an anna or four
All right.
Now let me touch it with this stone
This is now worth 500 rupees
My God!
I was a clerk in a bank
I found this stone at the Curzon Park
"On the seashore, among the countless rocks"
"was found the stone of the philosopher"
So, sir... this stone is no less than a mint!
From iron to gold, from gold to money...
and the cash that brings a house and the cars...
your job...
Hello. - Hello
Come here... come
Please be seated
Now speak
You were simply incredible at the party! My guests thought you were a magician
And what did you think?
24 karats! I've checked it out!
That thing... you've got it on you?
With me? - Yes, I won't take it away
I swear, I won't take it away. I just want to hold it in my hands once
You want to see it?
Go ahead
May I come to the point, mister? - What?
Give this formula of yours to me
You're a businessman. So am I. So what do you say?
Look, Paresh-babu, I've somehow suppressed what occurred last night
No less than 20 people watched the miracle
But none of them could figure out it was pure gold!
What are you thinking about?
You know what 100 X 100 is?
You mean, you have the formula?
It's a formula of the ancient kings.
I know the Devanagari script...
I know a bit of Bangla, too. If you could explain...?
Very well. I'll tell you and you can write it down
But getting hold of everything will be your look out
Oh indeed
Write it down. - Please dictate it
"The yellow-green orangutan" - Meaning?
"The yellow-green orangutan" - But that's not Bangla, sir!
Ancient Sanskrit
So what was that...? - "The yellow-green orangutan"
"in a brick-walled city" - Will we need bricks also?
Less brick, more stone
I see. Brick and stone... - Brick and stone. That's it
Flip-flop
Thank you, Paresh-babu. Good bye. - Good bye
Not my duty, Paresh-babu. But I hope I haven't disappointed you?
Not at all. - I hope it works...
else it's going to be difficult!
We don't have any more time, Priyatosh. - Why, sir?
So much is going to happen. Won't be right for me to be here anymore
But why? What makes you scared? This is a private enterprise
Not private anymore, Priyatosh. It has become public now
At the host's party last night... you won't understand
The police, the C.I.D., the government, they'll all label me a fraud
Do you realise what times we're living in?
What might happen...? Who knows!
Here you are. Know what it is?
No one does... no one knows!
Could you tell me what you've planned?
I'll take my wife and leave for Lilua tomorrow
My brother-in-law lives there
I'll carry some cash and jewelry with me
As for the rest, the bungalows, cars, shares... they're all yours
What are you saying, sir? - That's right
I have no issue. Only a couple of idiotic nephews and nieces
A twosome of imbeciles
And you need help, too. You're about to get married
True, but... - Forget it
Now get to the point. The gold. - Gold...?
You have more, sir? - Not much. Worth 100,000 or 200,000
I wonder whether it will be safe enough
to leave it with you
I'll carry it with me and dump it somewhere on the way
And the stone...? - I think I'll throw it away
Could you give me the stone, sir? I've studied science...
I'll try and analyse what composition it is
Give it to you...? - Absolutely
I know so much about gold. I could certainly do with some right now
Very well.
You can have it then
But make sure you give it to the police if they ask. Else, there'll be trouble
Do you call this Sanskrit? Do you? - Isn't it Sanskrit?
Sanskrit!
Sensational news! Iron turns into gold!
Iron turns into gold!
Hey... what makes you call so early?
Have you read the newspapers? - No, what do they say?
Listen... let me talk
I got to know about it yesterday. Thought I'd tell you this evening
I'm speaking the truth, believe me. I had no clue!
What... what do your parents say?
So shocking!
You have an opinion, too. What do you have to say?
Now listen, let me meet you personally and explain things to you
Hey listen... I'm coming over. Indira...
Who the hell is it?
Hang on, I'm coming
Slog all day and they still won't let me have any peace
Where's your master? - He's not at home
He's left with his wife. - Where to?
I don't know. - When did he leave?
This morning
Who else is there at home? - Me
Who else...? - Priyatosh
Where's he? - In there
Who...? What on earth...?
The thing I told you about
Why's he acting like this? What's on his cheeks?
What happened to you? Tell me, Parayutosh-babu
Parayutosh-babu... - Not Parayutosh, I'm Priyatosh
Priyatosh Biswas. - And I started getting ideas
But what's happened to you? Why're you acting like this?
I've swallowed it. - What have you swallowed?
The stone. - Stone!
The magic stone. - But why did you swallow it?
I couldn't take it anymore. I couldn't figure it out
Since when have you been smuggling? And dealing in stolen stuff?
Stolen gold...? - What's this then?
I'm not a criminal, sir. - What else are you?
Is there a tree on which gold grows like fruit...?
Now look, are you really Paresh Dutta or are you someone else?
No, it's Paresh Dutta. - Very well
In 1954, you were a clerk at the Calcutta Bank
On 16th September of the same year, you were served a retrenchment notice?
You didn't go to office after that. - No, sir
On December 12, you gave a contract to New India Builders to build you a house
A contract worth 650,000!
Where did you get all the money? - Gold... from the gold, sir
Smuggled gold! - No, sir
Are you a gold trader then? - In a way, yes, sir
Is what is published in this newspaper, true?
See that...?
And you're laughing...? - No, sir
You've got a formula for this? - Formula...? No, sir
So then...? - I have a stone, sir
A stone...? - Yes, a magic stone
Now look, Mr Dutta. This is no place for jokes and fun
I know that. But please believe me sir. I'm telling you the truth
I have a magic stone. - Where is it?
I mean, I had it. I gave it to my secretary Priyatosh
You got all that gold from iron? - Yes, sir
I had bought grenades going cheap. - Grenades?
Grenades? - Yes, spent grenades
Where does your secretary live? - In my house. A very nice boy, sir
He'll give you the stone, if you ask for it, sir
Yes, sir...
Oh! Really...?
I see... very well, sir
Your secretary has eaten the stone. - What...? Eaten it?!
Why...? - Must've been hungry
Fortunately, he didn't chew it. He only swallowed it
My God! What happens now? - They'll need to take an X-ray
And probably conduct an operation. - Operation! Is it necessary?
Why? Don't you want that stone back?
Are you accepting the smuggling charges levelled against you?
Smuggling...? - Life imprisonment
God!
Hold your breath, Mr Biswas
Okay, Mr Dutta, how did you get hold of the stone?
I found it lying at the Curzon Park, sir
And you started making gold immediately?
You felt no fear or remorse...? - I did, sir
I first thought I'd throw the stone away
But then... - But then?
You couldn't suppress your greed. - No, sir
You know what consequences you now face?
Greed is sinful. And sin leads to death
I know it, sir
I thought, how many days had I to live?
I have to die someday anyway
I had known no happiness in life...
and because of the stone...
So everything you have comes from this gold?
Yes, sir
I did nothing in excess. I built a house for myself...
my wife was fond of flowers...
so I made a garden for us
I bought a car for ourselves. A second-hand one
I was fed of commuting in trams and buses, sir
The skin had come off my legs and knees, in all the pushing and jostling
I didn't make even an ounce of gold after what I made earlier, sir
I had bought some shares...
I gave away all the dividends I earned on them, sir
I gave charity to so many organisations. So many donations
I never caused any harm to anyone in my lifetime, sir
I have no children at all
I never gambled, never raced... - How about liquor?
Drinking...? - Excuse me?
Mr Dutta, you are very interested in Dramatics, aren't you?
Acting...? Yes, sir. I took part in the folk-plays
I played a number of roles in various plays...
So I guessed right
What happened? - It's an amazing case
The stone is melting! It's disappearing
This is where the stone is stuck, okay?
Is it stuck...? - Guess what it's stuck in!
I had strongly suspected it. - Hey, listen...
Please be patient, Mr Chatterjee. - To hell with patience!
I want that stone immediately. Conduct an operation on him!
An operation is just not possible.
But something needs to be done!
1366 of the Bengali Calender is a memorable day in Kolkata's history
Man's faith in gold is unshakeable
for it never loses its value
But man's faith was shaken by news
of Paresh Dutta's misadventure
There was a furor among the 3 million
populace of this great city
There was panic among the people that
gold would no longer retain its sheen
People dug out the gold they had carefully hidden away...
and rushed to the goldsmiths, to sell whatever they had
Another cause for the panic was
the sudden crash in the share market
For, the stability of the share market and the price of gold...
have a deep bearing on each other
Lights off
Amazing case! Amazing!
Well? - Amazing!
For four hours, that's the word I've been hearing!
Hey, Mister! Stop laughing! And get to the point!
Welcome, welcome
This was the position of the stone at 8
And this is how it is right now
Why's it so small? - He's digesting it!
This is a strange phenomenon!
He's digesting it!
Ten minutes more. - Will there nothing after that?
Digesting a stone...?!
Dr Nandy, can someone digest a stone? - Look, Mr Chatterjee...
according to medical science... - Let's skip the rubbish!
Digesting a stone! Keep the drivel to yourself!
Yes, sir...
Okay, sir
What news of Priyatosh...? - What sort of a guy is he?
Constable!
He digests a stone! The scoundrel!
Take him to the lock up! - Believe me, sir...
I really gave him the stone!
What's wrong with you?
Iron...?
Iron
Whom should I hire, I wonder. - What for?
I need a manager - Manager?
I need someone to manage all the iron
He has left! He's leaving!
Amazing case!
No thank you... - Take it. Don't feel shy