LTL Written Update
Episode 6
January 4th 2010
Hotel Garden View
The episode opens as the manager ushers Naku into the dressing room. All present girls part of the planned New year act, look up bewildered at the manager.. Maria the reception asks her? and the manager says yes, get her fixed up in , you know which dress, and he watches. Maria tells Naku, get your face done up first then I'll show your outfit. The girls wink at each other and tongue in cheek advise the makeup man, first you need to white wash her face only then can her makeup be seen!! to which tip the make man smiles cruelly and the girls laugh. Maria tells them to stop! and get ready! for the show.
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Police Station
Sethji tiffin in hand stirs the half asleep night watch police man.. he says Saab! what do you want? replies the snoozing on duty constable.Sethji in all childlike desperation says food. The police says go put it inside I'll eat it later!. But Sethji urges Saab its for my aye.. the police says scram from here and nods off..
Sethji sneaks in and his mother spots him and exclaims in delight, you have come my son. He rushes to her, says caringly, I have brought you food and sits outside her cell. Both mother and son are overcome with emotion.. and through the bars he feeds her. A weeping Babi eats her morsel and Sethji , consoles her ,don't cry!. She as his caring mother, pauses midway and asks if he had eaten? and he replies how could he if she is here.. Babi tearfully says, let me feed you by my hand.. she asks where is Naku?. Sethji, covers up for her, oh she's working at home.. and she weeps bitterly and says , leave it, I'll eat my self!. She weeps and caresses her saddened sons' face and asks affection, how do you manage with out me?. Sethjiputs on a brave front and says, who says, don't take tension I'll get you out of this place! and Babi cries when she sees how tough her son was trying to be.. [it suddenly seems Sethji has admirably assumed the duty of being the man of the house]
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Hotel Garden View
A shot of make up is shown against Naku's dusky face and a red lipstick is wound up before her caky lips. The manager barges in the dressing room, calling out hurry up and get her ready the crowd outside is waiting to see her!.. Naku's
lips get smeared by lip rouge.. she hears and her dead jet black stare blankly..
Outside the party fever is on.. the stage is set with the back drop saying in bold letters. Happy New Year !music is blaring! guests seated on a scattering of round tables drinking , cat calling at cabaret dancers writhing their bodies to the beat of the music! dharti hila de!lak lash kare!mein tera! dharkan teri ab baacha kiya!.. in full party mood! with glasses in hands revellers break into dance around the tables.. while the dancers hyped them up with their squirming, wriggling moves.
The host suddenly shows up on the stage welcomes all, and calls out for the music to be turned off. He says, friends the night you have been all waiting for is finally here! 31st deecember 2009..and to welcome the new year in! we have prepared a special show for you so enjoy! guests ask the waiter, who is distributing stones to them at the tables.. what is this about?. He replies you'll find out soon enough!
Against a blue backdrop of tall buildings from the right side of the stage a silhouette of a girls profile with a head spiked up with a crown of branch like wavy pig tails with bows.. slowly emerges but pauses.. amid the cat calls, why the darkness !put the lights on!.. Naku clasps the stage wing door as the manager chivvies her to get on the stage ! and the host calls out, so now the time has arrived to say goodbye to the passing year sooo before you for the last time comes 2009!!
Naku falters in the wings unwilling to go on stage before the waiting crowd and the manager angrily literally pushes her on to the stage!
Naku comes before the crowd, dressed in ragged black outfit with bold labels! Swine flu', terrorist attack! inflation! Recession! ..Naku with her branched up braids of ,red ,blue yellow green orange bows! shields her face petrified of the hollering crowd, who call, get her off! this ugly thing!. Finally she moves her palms from her face revealing the digits 2009 painted in white on her dark forehead... and the word "bye" painted in white lower down her cheek!.
With big bold black eyes she stares at the yelling crowd! Who is she? get her off the stage! she's ruined all the fun! She looks helplessly at he manager in the wings who orders her to, smile!.. Naku nods and joins her hands in namaste before the crowd. The host continues, this is the year 2009, look at it carefully! this is the same year that gave us inflation! terrorist act! and swine flu! such a horrible and repulsive face it has! so come friends lets remove this year from our lives forever! so what are you all waiting for.. pick up the stone before you on your table! and hit her![ a horrified Naku looks.. but is reminded of Morey words , bring 250000.. if you wants your aye released].. the host continues .. why are you surprised? all the pent up anger you have taken it out on her!..one man says with a stone in his hand, it would be more fun if this stone was for real! The host hypes up every one go on then hit her! hit her! and the hysterical crowd begins to chuck stones at Naku!
Men, women all aim at Naku and hit her to their hearts delight.. the hosts shouts only two minutes left for the dawn of the new year so hit her and release your boxed up rage! kick her out of your life right now! the host yells.
Naku stands and weeps on the stage surrounded with stones around her feet. The host shouts, so now friends lets say good bye to this horrible year 2009! and Maria comes on the stage grabs Naku by the arm and pushes her to one edge of the stage! Every one cheers! and whistles while the host draws the attention of the crowd to the seconds ticking away.. and then announces, friends lets welcome year 2010! and a beautiful girl dressed in a tiara ,a pink gown wearing a white sash saying 2010.. comes on the stage .. there is a burst of fireworks across the skies! Great cheers and clapping sounds resound.. and the stunning girls does a cat walk, waves and gives flying kisses to the crowd.. whilst Naku in her black and white labelled shift stands on her feet weeping, crestfallen.. the beautiful/ the unsightly.. both on stage.
One drunk man says to his friends burn this year .. he says to 2009.. and throws a liquor bottle towards the edge of the stage where Naku is and throws a burning match to it!
The stage sets a light and all pandemonium breaks lose!
The manager shouts at a terrified Naku to get off the stage! But she feels trapped and cries for.. while the manager yells at her to move!
The celebrations end in a fiasco and staff clears up the place.. The manager comes to Naku , you turned out to be more then I thought here's your earning.. and he gives her 15000 ..she said but 20000 was agreed.. and he says, yes! but I have suffered losses due to the fire, so I have slashed every ones wages, the same amount was given to 2010 as well! Naku argues but I never started the fire .. and says, fine if you don't want the money than give it back!. Naku says , no this is fine.. and he says, ok now go!
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Basti
Back in the basti. Celebrations are in full swing, burning an effigy symbolises the passing of the year gone by.. men, boys are dancing in the street against the cadence of the drum beats..
Ganpat sits drinking to one side of the street unmoved by the rowdy celebratory throngs of basti dwellers. Sethji sullenly sits at the veranda of his door step.. his friends saunter over and ask him why he is on his own.. they invite him over to join them, come lets do some fireworks.. preoccupied and down, he refuses, no don't feel like it, you go ahead..
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Police Station
News years eve and Morey too, maintaining his cash flow.. is on the phone to some person who paid him to be allowed to play loud music.. he grumbled you only paid me for the hour, there is limit .. so now don't waste my time.. he presses in his temples with his thumbs and complain, this news years'eve has done my head in! and orders his constable to get him some black tea.
Naku enters the police station and asks to see Morey. She approaches his desk and stands to the side in silence. One look at her and he gasps in mock horror. Babi looks on through her cell perturbed, Naku? wondering what her daughter was doing here again..
Naku from behind her chunni pulls out the bundle of notes and gently places the money on his table, Saab paisa she says simply. Babi holds the bars of her cell stunned! while Morey pops out his eyes with a smile and says, Mogambo kush hoya.. new year ko happy bune ke liya thank you!
He instructs his constable to give it a count. Babi wonders where did she get so much money from?. Naku turns her head towards her mother who yells ,what did you do Naku? to get this money? answer me? she demands. Morey stands up and says, go on tell your Aye, who whistled ! who showered flowers! who blew money at you!. he walks towards Babi , oyee walkie talkie! lots of booze! lots of beauty! enjoyment and loads of money coming!
Babi stands in the cell and weeps.. Morey says, oyeee Mother India why are you crying? Very very selfish! your daughter fulfilled her obligation of being a daughter so admirably, you should say thank you to her.. go on say thank you he urges on cruelly.
Babi distressed starts to suffer from shortness of breath. Naku looks at her worried, and turns to Morey please let my mother go now! you said bring money, I have.. Morey snaps at her , so you done me no favour !! besides its short of 10000, who going to pay that? your father? he wont! then? Naku says I'll bring the rest of the money Saab, she not well, let her go have mercy Saab!, she begs and he says, Morey's heart is as soft as wax... and he yells at his woman constable let this mother and daughter go!. But the constable says but Saab.. and he looks at Naku and says nicely whose going to give this Mona lisa 10000 every day.. just let them go! make their new year happy! he says to the lady constable, who opens Babi's cell door.
But he turns to Naku with his palm... five days you have! if you don't get me the rest of the money, I'll have all your family in there behind bars! then he says to both Naku and a released Babi five days.. then full family package in jail! Got it! and Naku and Babi leave Morey in a hurry..
Outside the police station, Babi confronts Naku, wait! what was Morey saying? Naku calms her mother, lets go home and I'll explain. Babi fumes , no! tell me now! otherwise I'll drop dead here!. Naku replies calmly, your Naku has done nothing to bring shame to you... promise!. , all I did was stand on the stage.. she gives a terribly upset Babi the complete recount of events! But adds clearly upset, he said he would pay me 20,000. But only gave me 15,000. Babi too on hearing every thing cries out, today I am hugely indebted to you Naku! you got stoned for my sake! forgive me my child!
Naku says aye lets go home! look I've forgotten every thing ! cant you see I am so happy you have been released!. Naku takes her mother home..
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Basti
Back in the basti the flames of the past years effigy die down, as Babi and Naku make their way back home. Greetings of, look Daku Babi Singh returns! the goondi /thug of the locality returns! tell us did you beat Morey ? or did he beat you! one shouts , as the rest of the locals still street partying laugh and jeer! Babi reacts by wanting to physically attack them! but Naku persuades her to come home.
Once home, all is still Ganpat is fast asleep. Naku sits her mother down, and offers to heat water for her to have a bath, but Babi cries Deva re Deva! such bad luck that I am your mother. Naku seeing her breathing is unstable, offers her mother medication with a glass of water.. Babi cries out , how much you do for me Naku! and Ganpat stirs from his sleep and looks down at his released wife..
Babi looks in bewilderment , at the pill lying in Naku's palm and notices her burnt fingers!. In horror she asks how they got burnt? Naku replies they got burnt while making roti! She accepts that, and gulps down her pill ,while Ganpat takes another swig of his booze!.
Babi suddenly recalls, its that fire that burnt your hand? and Naku nods yes and weeping, she hugs her mother..both women weep as Ganpat looks on from the top..
Babi sobs bitterly its your ill fated destiny Naku, that you have been born in my house...this is the time when I should be getting you married off.. applying nuptial haldi on your palms! and I get you burnt my child! Babi cries and Ganpat mouths his booze!..episode ends... Hamlet53~3.9.13
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Precap:
"here stands your drunkard husband before you!, says Ganpat . Babi says, tell
you what I'll have a well of booze at
home! shall I? and he says sure I'll drink all night. Babi says , have you no
shame?, he says yes! that's why I never came to get you released! .Babi tells him did you know that all night ,Naku had people poking fun at her! abusing her! and pelting stones at her! and
she spits and screams and you!!
My personal view about this particular episode was sheer amazement at the channel to present the complete macabre setting.. where a person of seemingly dark skin tone, symbolizes the negative year that has gone by..Such an extent is covered to denounce a skin tone..there are clear connotations that a dark skin tone , is something to be ashamed of, it defines some form of breach of nature , whereby making it a butt of ridicule before all. To be treated like a pariah by society and be stoned.. I found the episode racially abusive of a peoples, race, their roots...
Where I live the difference of my skin tone
is celebrated, has social inclusion.. in
fact I take pride in my skin tone. When Naku
cries, I wonder what the reason is? Her ugliness so to speak? The abuse she
receives for being an ugly duckling?.. if that is the case than, that is a lie!
for underneath she is a fair damsel! Living a lie! So what is the channel
making fun of? dark skin tone.. our obsession with fairness.. hammie.
...We all are eagerly waiting for the update.....Please Update soon dear
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