(birds chirping)
(doorbell rings)
Coming…
Sir? You? Hasn’t the house-help come?
Everything is fine.
Give it to me.
-The milkman.
Ah, please.
(clock ticking)
Give me.
-Thank you.
-The Colonel is in the other room.
-Which one?
(eerie ticking of clock continues)
Though, it’s inappropriate so early in the morning.
But do you have single malt?
The General prefers it too.
-Which class? -4th standard.
-Do you read the kalma? -Yes.
-Good.
Mr. Ali, come, please sit.
Oh, great.
Thank you.
And… sorry for the bother.
I guess the General has told you
we’ll have to wait here for a few days.
-Hmm?
Any news from that side?
-Hmm.
The army is in control.
But as usual, the political scene is a mess.
These people are spreading rumours against the government.
The Awami League is hurling attacks on the army, imagine!
That’s big news.
Are any newspapers in Lahore or Karachi covering it?
-Hmm!
Diplomats like to go to the root of the matter.
Good.
Very good.
You should’ve joined the army!
With us!
Hmm?
How could I have done that?
The westerners always looked down upon us.
Dark, short, weak…
Like the Americans saw the Vietnamese.
Bengalis are the poorest of the poor.
Please, sir, it’s not like that.
It’s just that when it comes to the army,
you need taller, stronger men.
Hmm?
Look at the young man there.
He’s got a good height.
He can join the army.
-Hmm? -Abbas wants to... play cricket.
-What!
Cricket?
What, as the 12th man?
Bengalis have only contributed a substitute fielder so far.
Must join the army, young man.
Be useful to your nation.
Drop the bat, pick up the gun.
Right?
I don’t want to join your army.
-My army?
Why?
Aren’t you a Pakistani?
(phone ringing)
Tell me?
Are you a Bengali?
Or a Muslim?
-Sir, call for you…
Sir. -Listen carefully.
When that woman ran towards you, she had a film camera with her.
Those fools didn’t go through her things.
Those reels could become a problem for us.
-What’s in those reels? -Lies, of course!
(suspenseful music)
(Phone ringing)
(Phone ringings continue)
(Phone ringing)
Jimmy!
Jimmy, where are you?
They took Ram last night!
They found a knife, but…
something tells me it’s got to be planted!
Where is he?
I don’t know!
I think he might be…
Listen, Pam, I’ll talk you later.
Uh, is there anyone in Jazz City right now?
Arijit, D’Souza, Michael? Anyone?
-I am here, sir.
And Pamela, I’ll take this. Please.
-Jimmy, wait, can you-- -Pamela, pelase.
-Pam. -Yeah.
Are you coming in, sir?
No.
Come to Basusree Cinema with Alvarez right away.
Swinhoe Street, 24.
-Alvarez?
-No one should know. Not even Pamela.
-Why? -Do as I say.
Just bring him here.
Okay.
(tense music)
Let’s go.
Swinhoe Street.
(phone rings)
Hello?
-Is your father home? -No.
I’m Jimmy uncle, can I talk your mother?
-Ma, it’s Jimmy uncle.
-Hello? -Hi.
-How are you? -I'm okay. Is Mr. Sinha there?
-No, he’s gone to Delhi. Maybe he’ll return day after.
Okay, I’m sure he will call you.
You need to pass on a very urgent message.
Tell him, a very important film has been found.
It is with me.
-What will you say? -Film.
-Yes. -And, the stars?
-Just tell him this. That’ll be enough.
Fetch some water!
-Get him here -Come here, near the tap
(sounds of water splashing)
-Please freshen up. I’ll get your first aid.
Did you walk all night?
-Where are you coming from?
-I managed to save my life somehow.
Inshallah!
-Not a single word.
An ordinary statement based on the testimony of Pakistani PR.
-Saying?
-“Intensive search operation to flush out troublemakers
who had seriously disturbed the nation’s peace and stability
by creating a law-and-order problem in our eastern province”.
-Flushing out troublemakers, huh?
-Flushing out markets, universities.
Kali temple too.
No news of Mujib.
We have to send help.
And find out about Mujib as soon as possible.
Mujib had asked for help from Pandit ji in 58.
But… he was not sure what to make of it then.
Even Shastri Ji wanted his own ‘Mukti Bahini’.
We can’t be inactive anymore.
Often, that’s the reason
that every generation loses the Messiah
it has failed to deserve.
-Don’t worry about the border, Majumdar sir.
It’s peaceful for now.
The Khan army is on guard.
They won’t let a single Bengali escape, they’ll kill everyone.
That’s their agenda.
A meeting with madam P.M seems imperative, sir.
We are arranging that.
Please eat something now.
You know, Mrs. Bose…
I had gone to Italy in 1957.
I travelled all over Pompeii.
The 2000-year-old Vesuvius washed the place with a sea of lava.
Old people,
children,
the youth of the city,
all turned to stone within moments. As if a witch had cursed them.
I got the same feeling when I was in Dhaka this time.
Our hope, aspirations, the light of our future…
that witch has destroyed it all forever.
Now I realise, it’s either do or die.
Either we get back our identity forever.
Or we lose it forever.
No middle path.
Gauri…
Gauri!
-I was very disappointment with this tunnel issue. But...
-Yes sir, I take full responsibility of it, sir.
-But if they haven’t found out about the tunnel yet…
We can’t be sure, sir.
They could be waiting at the tunnel’s entrance.
How can we take the risk of sending our agents?
-You’re going back today? -Yes, sir.
But I need to make a call first.
-Hmm.
-Thank you, sir.
-Any update from Majumdar? -Um…
Could you connect me to 4750478, Calcutta?
This Jimmy… He’s so secretive, I tell you!
But… us, journalists are also suckers.
An exclusive is sure to lure us in.
You must have some idea?
Why did he call us to a cinema hall?
No, sir.
I have no idea.
If he has called other editors there too, I’ll walk out.
What if he’s holding a goddamned press conference!
No, sir.
It’s only you.
I hope there will be breakfast.
This one.
-Sanjay da, your family is from this side, right?
-Not all my family.
My mother’s family is from Chittagong.
-Oh? -Hmm
-Ever been there?
-Yes, many times as a kid.
My primary education happened there.
-I see. -My education, music classes...
We were little kids.
But we knew Tagore by heart!
My aunt & her daughters still live there.
One of my cousins got married there two years ago.
Uh, you’re from Calcutta, isn’t it?
Bagerhat. Khulna.
-Hello. -Sinha here.
Jimmy probably has a film that a footage from there.
He’s not home, neither at Jazz City.
-He didn’t inform where he will be?
-I don’t know, we haven’t spoken.
He left a message at my place.
We need that reel! Anyhow!
-Hello, are you the station director?
-Can we please talk-- -Gauri.
I’ve been calling you. Why didn’t you respond?
Please go inside
Sit, Sheela di.
Go with her
My brothers & sisters from Bengal,
my name is Sakina Begum.
If my voice reaches your ears surpassing this commotion
then remember…
no matter how long the night is
the dawn shall come.
A new day shall come.
(emotional music)
No nightmare can keep that from happening.
Dreams don’t die.
No sleep is forever.
You always awaken.
When you awaken from long sleep, you get hungry.
You get angry.
I want… music to be your companion.
I hope my voice finds you.
Your victory, loss, scars and bloodshed
gives meaning to my music.
My music will break your fast with you,
it’ll warm your blood…
My music will tend to… your injuries.
My music belongs to the rivers & language of Bangladesh.
It’s the music of our blood, our hoisted flag!
Wherever you are…
my music will surely reach you.
It will resonate through your struggle.
-So, what is it?
-Um, it’s footage about what’s going on in your country.
-Okay…
Riot footage?
Why don’t you see it for yourself?
Salim…
(patriotic song plays) O my native soil, I bow my head to you in deep obeisance.
O my native soil, I bow my head to you in deep obeisance.
In you rests the universe,
On you rests the love of the universal mother.
O my native soil, I bow my head to you in deep obeisance.
You have blended with my body,
You have united with my heart and soul,
You have blended with my body,
You have united with my heart and soul,
That verdant, tender form of yours is imprinted forever in my heart of hearts.
O my native soil, I bow my head to you in deep obeisance.
(Sword slashing through skin)
O Mother, my birth is on your lap, on your breast my death.
On you, all my play of sorrow and happiness.
You have put succour in my mouth,
You have comforted me with cool waters,
You have put succour in my mouth,
You have comforted me with cool waters,
You have always been the all enduring, all suffering mother's Mother.
O my native soil, I bow my head to you in deep obeisance.
My life has gone by in futile pursuits,
I have spent my days hemmed in within my room—
My life has gone by in futile pursuits,
I have spent my days hemmed in within my room—
My life has gone by in futile pursuits,
I have spent my days hemmed in within my room—
For naught have you given me vigour, O Almighty.
O my native soil, I bow my head to you in deep obeisance.
(gunshots)
(fire crackling)
Hey, what happened?
Why’s it burning out?
-Salim…
-What going on there? -Salim!
-Can you hear me? -Oh, no!
What a pity!
Good stuff!
Right?
I… I like the camera work.
Handheld shots, slow pull-outs.
Cinema!
It’s very much like, uh…
Potemkin!
Have you seen it?
Haven’t you?
Jimmy sir, you forgot to thank me.
You should be a bit grateful.
I saved your beloved and brought her out of hell.
Sadly, the plan failed because of the man with you.
Who was he?
It’s okay.
I have a deal for you.
Save your own life.
Just tell me who that a**hole was.
(mysterious music plays)
What’s wrong with you today, sir?
You seem to have lost your pretty voice.
Look.
It’s useless trying to save him.
Because I already have his queen.
We had been looking for that bitch.
Sakina madam had the courage to go, sing on the radio today!
We found the wife. We’ll find the husband too.
Look, sir, for the old time’s sake,
I’m giving you an excuse to not kill you.
Well, I don’t know, man!
I think he was from the army. He was in uniform…
-He was tall and… -You’re lying.
-Why would I lie to you, darling? -I’ve known you closely, Jimmy sir.
That innocent smile of yours…
You use it when you lie.
But I…
Damn it!
Enough wasting time!
First, your friend!
(gunfire)
Jimmy…
Oh, my God! Jimmy!
No, I’m okay! Listen!
(gunshots firing)
You crawl down to the exit
(gun firing continues)
One gun, six bullets, Michael!
(music swells)
(intense music building)
-Hey!
You don’t have enough bullets, Michael.
Come out.
I have enough bullets for you, for your wife, for RAW.
Rambahadur, Please!
I don’t care who I shoot!
Okay?
You will be saved if he comes out! As*hole!
(music builds)
(dramatic music swells)
(gunshot)
And now…
I have more bullets than you.
You’ll never get me to surrender.
Shoot, bas*ard!
Faizal, come on, shoot!
Hello, police station!
I won’t tell you to surrender.
Tell Pamela that I… I loved her.
No, no.
She deserves better.
(Rambahadur screaming in pain)
(gunshot)
(screaming continues)
Think about it, what will you gain from killing me?
The army is going to be ever more horrifying than this film.
You will have no respect to lose, no language to speak.
And all your Sakinas
will only be used will reproduce for our community!
-Some kind of agitation flows through the blood in my veins.
It keeps me awake at nights.
It won’t let me stay awake in the day.
Its pain doesn’t vent out through tears.
Doesn’t expel through screams.
(dramatic music builds)
Trapped within, it eats away at my soul.
Today,
I plan to rid myself from some of that pain.
(fan blades slicing through flesh)
(music swells)
(intense music playing)
(music reaches crescendo)
(slow jazz playing)
You both are bleeding!
I called the police!
They are coming!
Run! Run away!
-Please take care of him. -I will.
-Go… -Okay.
Go!
Mr. Jimmy, come, easy.
I've thought about it, how do you say it
But then I laughed it off
So easy to fall in love they said,
And then come to a hard stop.
The words, the gifts, the downers, the lifts
The fragrance of memories,
the heart double shifts
I smile to myself
And I laugh on the rocks
The soul's fled, unwed
I can't reverse the clock.
Lace and luck, cluckity cluck Shimery shim, Nip and tuck
Giggly bubbly, risky mess
Fun times got over in my nest
What's his name left me a diamond
At the so and so place
It was a 'you know what I mean'
I put a smile on his face.
(typewriter clicking)
(slow music builds)
(emotional music)
-Dear Miss Bose,
most people like me go through life
using up half their energy
trying to protect a sense of pride
they never really had.
And this wouldn’t have been possible
without one man.
He knew that the words of a Pakistani
will shake up the world much more than any of you.
-Yeah. I read.
-Jimmy, took a bullet for the truth.
-You crawl down to the exit!
And as long as you’re in India don’t talk to anyone--
No one! Okay? You haven’t seen anything!
-Jimmy, my family is in Lahore! -Manoj, at Sky Travels.
He runs my account.
He knows everything.
He will get them tickets too.
And when you go to London…
When you reach London…
-After a long time
I have remembered
why I became a newsman.
News can show the world a mirror.
For a change,
let this angry world be angry
for the right reasons.
Let the world recognize itself
in the twisted festering thing
we have made of the truth.
I don’t think I have atoned
for my stubborn refusal to believe the truth.
But I hope
I have helped take the first step towards peace and justice.
-I thought he’s a zero. But he’s a 007!
-Sir, James Bond is an international gangster.
His espionage, mission, etc.
has nothing to do with the joys or sorrows of real world.
Nothing but a sparkling advert for the British secret services.
But, Jimmy, on the other hand
is the real hero.
Common man.
Full of mistakes and contradictions.
But ends up doing uncommon things.
As we have seen in history,
common men have shown uncommon courage
under extraordinary circumstances.
Maybe the most important quality lies in the common man.
You know what it is?
To be able to reform oneself completely.
He can be the best man in his own world.
And a good enough man for any world.
(music swells)
-My patience is really being tried.
We know enough. Do we not?
I am afraid, enough is not enough.
We have to do something.
Even if it is to shake the impunity of Yahya.
I agree.
But is the time right?
Are you scared of failure?
Neither failure, nor that son of a nick.
We need to wait.
Assess just a little bit more.
As it is not only my job to fight,
my job is to fight
and to win.
Hi, Pam.
Hi, darling.
-It’s been…
-…ages.
I’m…
I’m sorry about…
Four days of moonlight, sugar.
That’s what they say in Hindi.
We write a song about it.
Then, go back humming the same old tune.
But your tunes have…
turned sadder.
Where’s Jimmy?
No idea.
He explained things to Jag and then vanished.
Haven’t seen him since.
-Hmm.
Thanks.
Do drop by.
It’s been good to see you.
(melancholy piano music)
-They say this Operation Searchlight is just the beginning.
There are no signs of stopping.
We have no news, nothing.
-But… -Mr. Neotia…
-How are you, Miss Bose?
Been a while.
Yes, well…
Just, you know… how things have been.
And we've gathered the courage to travel across the border.
Thanks to the front page that shoot the whole world up.
Mr. Neotia, any news of Jimmy?
No.
Now, ladies and gentlemen, we have a message from one of our sponsors.
But it's not a live presentation. It's something a little different.
It's a public broadcast from MW 71.
Remember it. 71.
Here we go!
-Hello, dear friends.
Today, I request you all
to pray for our revolutionary brothers & sisters across border.
Those who are struggling to fight for freedom
just a few miles away from this city.
From today, I'll be reading out the letters & poems they send.
Those of you who are fighting for the Bengal language, its sentiment,
and Bengalis,
give them your blessings, pray for them.
And if possible, send help on this address.
We are waiting for your prayers and help.
Thank you
-This is unofficial. If there's an emergency, I'll look into it.
Here you go
What you're planning is very dangerous, Jimmy.
-Hmm... light it for me. Please.
You mean...
if I get in trouble no one's coming to save me, definitely not you.
Right?
You can't hold me back, Mr. Sinha.
What do you need?
Oh, I need a drink.
A vacation in London, a lac worth of insurance.
Yeah.
But before that, we need batteries.
transistor sets, non-perishable foods, medicines, cans of petrol…
Oh! And guns.
Should’ve also gotten your mind treated at the hospital.
Well, that wasn’t possible.
-How will I get that kind of a budget approved?
-Have you lost your common sense?
-Common sense for grocery accounts, sir.
In the debit-credit math.
I’ll do something Jimmyish.
What Jimmyish will you do? Tell me!
-Plain & simple. Listen.
Shut up!
Are you nuts?
Come on, it’s no big deal.
-Hmm, give me the keys -I forbid you, Jimmy!
Don’t worry!
-Give me the key. -I’m supposed to drive.
You’ll break the steering. Come on, give me.
Sir, the lighter?
Thank you!
(music swells)
(car starts)
(slow jazz plays)
(soft, piano music)
-28, Bentinck Street.
Tomorrow, at dawn, go up straight to the roof.
And look East.
And Happy Birthday.
(patriotic song starts playing)
My glittering golden Bengal, I love you.
Forever your sky and your air
play the flute in my heart.
O Mother, it plays the flute in my heart.
My glittering golden Bengal, I love you.
O Mother, in spring the scent
from your mango groves drives me mad with joy
I could die for it, O Mother!
O Mother, in spring the scent
from your mango groves drives me mad with joy
O Mother, in the month of Aghrān,
in your fields heavy with harvest,
how sweet a smile I see.
My glittering golden Bengal, I love you.