User:Kuaichik/Pettipettietc
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This page is called "Pettipettietc." It is named after a Malayalam riddle:
peTTi, peTTi, SimgaarappeTTi... (Box, box, pretty little box...)
peTTi thurrannaal kaayam maNakkum. (When you open the box, it smells of asafoetida.)
The (conventional) answer is chakka (jackfruit). (If you weren't a Malayalee born and bred in Kerala like my parents, you wouldn't have known.)
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[edit] Roma and crime
Professor Ian Hancock notes that Romanies are usually arrested for relatively petty crimes, e.g. pickpocketing and trespassing (rather than e.g. embezzlement or murder). Trespassing has been a common offense among Romanies, partly because most Romanies are illiterate and cannot read signs and partly because many businesses in Europe refuse, to serve Romanies.
Romanies do form a significant portion of those imprisoned, but this is mainly due to racial profiling: many prisoners have been arrested simply for being Romani. The idea of Romanies kidnapping children is not well-supported, though there have been cases of non-Romanies stealing Romani children. It is logically unlikely as well, since Romanies have enough trouble providing for their own children. However, there have been cases in which non-Romanies who had a child out of wedlock abandoned the child by leaving it with a Romani family.[1]
[edit] Plot
The film begins with a quick motion picture of Dalhousie Square in Calcutta (now B.B.D. Bagh in Kolkata) with a background voice (presumably Ray's) noting that many middle-class Bengalis pass through this square. From here, Ray transitions into the beginning of the story, saying that the story that is to follow is about one member of the middle class. The middle-class Bengali gentleman in question is a bank clerk named Paresh Dutt.
One rainy day, Dutt finds what he first mistakes for a marble in Curzon Park (now Surendranath Park). He decides to give it to his son who likes to play with marbles. The child, though, soon discovers that it turns iron into gold (i.e. it is the Philosopher's Stone). When Dutt asks for the stone, the child refuses at first. Dutt buys all the sweets he can and swaps them for the stone.
Dutt tests the stone on various iron objects; he is so incredulous at what he sees that he bursts into tears, but he soon tells his wife. He decides to buy some old cannonballs (which were plentiful at the time due to the struggle for Indian independence), convert them to gold, make sure they have turned into gold (they have), and sell them. While being driven by a chauffeur, he imagines a colonial statue being replaced by a statue of himself, as well as a cultural ceremony in his honor proclaiming him a patron of Bengali culture.
When he arrives in his new home (now a mansion instead of an "old tenement"), we see that he now has a young secretary named Priyatosh Henry Biswas. Priyatosh informs Paresh Dutt about his daily schedule; among other things, he mentions that Dutt is invited to a cocktail party (his first). Dutt is initially excited about the opportunity and is also eagerly anticipating the coming elections for which he is a candidate.
However, when he arrives at the cocktail party, he begins to realize that he has little idea of how to behave in the circumstances. Soon, he engages in drunken revelry. When one outraged, sober guest orders him to leave, Dutt reveals the secret of his success: the Parash Paathhar or Philosopher's (lit. "magic") Stone.
The next day, the host, who is a native speaker of Hindustani and has a limited knowledge of Bangla, asks Dutt for the "secret formula" that allowed Dutt to find the stone. Dutt recites a nonsensical Bengali children's poem about a red-green orangutang posting job advertisements in Kolkata, claiming that it is a mantra in Sanskrit. When the host finds out the truth, he decides to expose Dutt.
By this time, however, Dutt has already been preparing to flee his residence. He leaves the stone, office, and valuables with his unwary secretary Priyatosh, cautioning him to hand over the stone if the police ask for it. While fleeing, he finds out that the papers include the headline "Iron Turns Into Gold." Priyatosh also finds out about it when he calls Indira, who divorces him now that his boss's reputation is ruined. Soon, the police enter the house, only to find that the desperate Priyatosh has swallowed the stone. Paresh and Giribala Dutt (his wife) are caught and brought to a police station for interrogation. During their interrogation, a medical specialist tries to remove the stone. Instead of removing it, he simply repeats the words (in English): "Amazing case! Amazing!" without explanation, much to the frustration of the police inspector.
The news sensation results in a panic in Bengal; once again, a rapid motion picture is shown with narration by the same voice as before, this time showing people digging up what little gold they have and desperately trying to sell it to the local goldsmiths.
The doctor finally explains that Priyatosh is digesting the stone. The outraged constable phones the police station where Mr. and Mrs. Dutt are being held; soon afterwards, all the gold turns back into iron, and Paresh Dutt returns to a life of peace with his wife, servant, and secretary.
[edit] Characterization
- Paresh Dutt:
- Giribala Dutt:
- Priyatosh: Priyatosh is not nearly as strategic as his boss. He tries to entice a girl named Indira with his well-paid job, apparently believing that money can buy love. He succeeds initially but does not realize that people can run out of money very easily...until the scandal leaks and Indira breaks up with him.
- Brajahari (The Servant):
- Police Inspector Chatterjee:
- The Interrogator:
[edit] Trivia
- The credits for Parash Pathar are presented not in Bengali (the language used for credits in almost all of Satyajit Ray's films), not even in English, but in French. (This is probably due to the fact that Ray's films began to be quite popular in France.) For this reason, some DVD's call the film "Parash Pathar (la pierre philosophale)," i.e. the title in Bengali and French, respectively.
- This is the first Satyajit Ray film in which Chhabi Biswas was an actor. In this film, he is merely one of the several guests at the cocktail party. However, in Ray's next film (Jalsaghar), he has the lead role.
[edit] Correct Citations II
Alla, "aLLaa"vum "alla" enna Griikbhaashayile vaakkum malayaaLaththilninnalla vannath~. Pakshe sTiivan kOLbarTTinte varththamaanam "orraili phaakTar" enna shOviinnaa eTuththath~.[2]
[edit] Fake Works Cited
- ^ <ref></li> <li id="_note-1">'''[[#_ref-1|^]]''' <ref name></li></ol></ref> Steinberg, Jacques. "The News Is Funny, as a Correspondent Gets His Own Show", The New York Times, October 12, 2005. Retrieved on 2006-07-13.
[edit] Correct citations
Ee Steven Colbert enn parranya cherruppakkaaran OrraiLi phaakTarriinnaa shOvinte kOmaNTri eTukkunnath~.[3]Steinberg, Jacques. "The News Is Funny, as a Correspondent Gets His Own Show", The New York Times, October 12, 2005. Retrieved on 2006-07-13.
Example: Steinberg, Jacques. "The News Is Funny, as a Correspondent Gets His Own Show", The New York Times, October 12, 2005. Retrieved on 2006-07-13.
[edit] Original Ankur Text
Lakshmi (Shabana Azmi) lives in a village with her husband Kishtayya (Sadhu Meher), a deaf-mute Dalit alcoholic potter who communicates using gestures. At the beginning of the film, during a village festival (apparently called Damdamdora), she claims (in a prayer to the village goddess) that her only desire is to have a child.
Surya (Anant Nag), the son of the village landlord, has just finished his undergraduate education in the nearby city of Hyderabad, barely managing to pass. Surya's father has a mistress named Kaushalya to whom he has given the best land in the village. Their illegitimate son, Pratap, has also finished his undergraduate studies but with First-Class Honours. Surya's father forces Surya into a child marriage with Saru (Priya Tendulkar) and schedules Pratap's wedding to take place around the same time. Because Surya must wait until Saru "comes of age," he begins to feel sexually frustrated.
He is then forced to administer the village, though he prefers to spend time with his friends in the city under the excuse of pursuing "higher studies." At the village, he meets the overseer, Police Patel Sheikh Chand, before moving on to the old house where he is to stay. The house is maintained by Lakshmi, and as soon as Surya arrives, she and Kishtayya take his luggage inside. After making enquiries from Lakshmi, Surya asks to be taken to his house's water well, where he finds village women filling their pots. He immediately forbids them to take water from his well, and Lakshmi (now Surya's servant) passes on the message to the village women.
The next day, Surya hires Kishtayya to ride his bullock cart and go on errands. He also begins introducing a number of measures (often controversial), such as monopolizing the village's toddy trade, having Lakshmi cook his meals and make tea (instead of ordering meals and tea from the village priest in accordance to the local custom), and cutting off the distribution of water to Kaushalya's fields. He claims that he will cut off water only temporarily unless Kaushalya provokes him.
While Kishtayya gives schoolchildren rides after school, the priest visits Surya to ask for a donation since a festival in honor of Lord Krishna is approaching. He expresses his disappointment at the fact that Surya did not order meals from the temple and mentions that Surya's father was fond of meals cooked by the priest. Though he pretends to chuckle as he says so, he stops smiling when he sees Lakshmi in the background grinding spices.
After the priest leaves, Lakshmi goes into the kitchen with the spices and steals three handfuls of rice. In the evening, she buys a few vegetables and returns home to make dinner (supper). On the way home, she sees Kishtayya in his bullock cart and discerns that he is drunk. She makes dinner, but when Kishtayya arrives, she scolds him and tries to convince him to give up drinking. His only response is to engage in sexual intercourse, which Lakshmi initially resists.
The next morning, Surya discovers that cattle have wandered into his yard and are feeding on the grass. While Lakshmi and Kishtayya drive them away, Pratap asks Surya to restore the water to his fields. When Surya refuses, Pratap announces his intention to report to their father, a warning that Surya dismisses.
Lakshmi tells Surya that the cattle belong to the priest. Surya gives Lakshmi a note that he wants Kishtayya to deliver to the landlord in order to bring back some fertilizer. While Kishtayya is gone, Lakshmi pounds spices, occasionally wiping her eyes. Surya, who is attracted to Lakshmi (and possibly sent Kishtayya away merely as an excuse), slowly approaches her and asks whether she is crying. She responds in the negative and asks whether he needs something, after which he slowly walks away.
He suddenly hears the sound of pots from the well and finds village women disobeying his previous orders to stop taking water from him. He calls for Lakshmi, then suddenly sees a cobra approach him. He stands still and calls again, this time in an alarmed tone. Lakshmi chases the snake away by prodding it with a stick, but Surya shows no sign of gratitude.
[edit] New Old-Style Text
[edit] New Text
Lakshmi (Shabana Azmi) lives in a village with her husband Kishtayya (Sadhu Meher), a deaf-mute Dalit alcoholic potter who communicates using gestures. At the beginning of the film, during a village festival (apparently called Damdamdora), she claims (in a prayer to the village goddess) that her only desire is to have a child.
Surya (Anant Nag), the son of the village landlord, has just finished his undergraduate education in the nearby city of Hyderabad. Surya's father has a mistress named Kaushalya to whom he has given the best land in the village. They have an illegitimate son named Pratap. The landlord forces his legitimate son into a child marriage with Saru (Priya Tendulkar). Because Surya must wait until Saru "comes of age," he begins to feel sexually frustrated.
He is then forced to administer the village. He is to stay in an old house, and Lakshmi and Kishtayya are to act as his servants. Not long after his arrival, he begins introducing a number of measures (often controversial). For example, on his second day in the village, Surya (who already finds Lakshmi attractive) has Lakshmi cook his meals and make tea. This disappoints the village priest, who is accustomed to delivering food to the landowner, though at a higher price than Lakshmi asks.
On the same day, Surya also hires Kishtayya to ride his bullock cart and go on errands. The following day, he has Kishtayya collect fertilizer from the landlord's house. Surya uses Kishtayya's absence to try and flirt with Lakshmi but fails. In the meantime, the villagers gossip, and many (most notably the overseer, Police Patel Sheikh Chand) believe that Surya has already slept with Lakshmi and will treat her the same way the landlord treated Kishtayya: try to conceal the scandal by giving the mistress a plot of land.
Kishtayya is caught stealing toddy, after which he is publicly humiliated. He then leaves the village one night. In his absence, Surya and Lakshmi sleep together. A few days later, Saru arrives at the village. Saru does not approve of Lakshmi's presence, partly because Lakshmi is a Dalit and partly because Saru has heard the villagers' rumors. The next morning, Lakshmi begins suffering from morning sickness. Saru sacks her, claiming that she is too sick to work.
Many days later, Kishtayya returns, having cured himself of his alcoholism and made some money. Lakshmi is overwhelmed with a feeling of guilt, because she believes that she has betrayed her husband. On discovering Lakshmi's pregnancy, he salutes the village goddess at her temple. He then decides to try to ride the bullock cart again but carries a stick as he approaches Surya. Surya sees Kishtayya and mistakenly believes that Kishtayya is seeking revenge from him.
Surya has three men hold Kishtayya and then proceeds to whip him with a rope used for lynching. The commotion attracts others (including Sheikh Chand and Pratap) to the scene, and Lakshmi rushes to defend her husband. She angrily curses Surya, then slowly returns home with Kishtayya. In the final scene, after the others have left, a child throws a stone at Surya's glass window and runs away.
[edit] New Text With Refs I
Ankur ("Seedling," 1974) is a colour film in Hindustani.[4] It was the first feature film directed by Shyam Benegal[5] and the debut of multiple Indian actors (in fact, Sadhu Meher was the only actor who had previously acted in a film).[6] Like many of Benegal's other films, it belongs to the genre of Indian art films.[7] The plot is based on a true story that occurred in Hyderabad district (India),[8] apparently in the 1950s.[9] It was filmed almost entirely on location.[10]
Ankur has won three national awards and 43 other prizes, both in India and abroad. It was India's Academy Awards nomination for 1974. It is approximately 125 minutes long.
This film includes one whipping scene and more profanity than is usually found in Indian films.[4]
[edit] Plot[4]
Ankur is a film that analyzes human behavior in general and heavily stresses characterization (though the story is not fictional). The story revolves around two characters, Lakshmi and Surya.
Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.Lakshmi (Shabana Azmi) lives in a village with her husband Kishtayya (Sadhu Meher), a deaf-mute Dalit alcoholic potter who communicates using gestures. At the beginning of the film, during a village festival (apparently called Damdamdora), she claims (in a prayer to the village goddess) that her only desire is to have a child.
Surya (Anant Nag), the son of the village landlord, has just finished his studies in the nearby city of Hyderabad. Surya's father (Kader Ali Beg) has a mistress named Kaushalya to whom, he claims, he "gave the best land in the village." They have an illegitimate son named Pratap. The landlord forces his legitimate son into a child marriage with Saru (Priya Tendulkar). Because Surya must wait until Saru "comes of age," he begins to feel sexually frustrated.
He is then forced to administer his share of land in the village. He is to stay in an old house, and Lakshmi and Kishtayya are to act as his servants. Not long after his arrival, he begins introducing a number of measures (often controversial). For example, on his second day in the village, Surya (who already finds Lakshmi attractive) has Lakshmi cook his meals and make tea. This disappoints the village priest, who is accustomed to delivering food to the landowner, though at a higher price than Lakshmi asks.
On the same day, Surya also hires Kishtayya to ride his bullock cart and go on errands. The following day, he has Kishtayya collect fertilizer from the landlord's house. Surya uses Kishtayya's absence to try and flirt with Lakshmi but fails. In the meantime, the villagers gossip, and many (most notably the overseer, Police Patel Sheikh Chand) believe that Surya has already slept with Lakshmi and will treat her the same way the landlord treated Kishtayya: try to conceal the scandal by giving the mistress a plot of land.
Kishtayya is caught stealing toddy, after which he is publicly humiliated. He then leaves the village one night. In his absence, Surya and Lakshmi sleep together. A few days later, Saru arrives at the village. Saru does not approve of Lakshmi's presence, partly because Lakshmi is a Dalit and partly because Saru has heard the villagers' rumors. The next morning, Lakshmi begins suffering from morning sickness. Saru sacks her, claiming that she is too sick to work.
Many days later, Kishtayya returns, having cured himself of his alcoholism and made some money. Lakshmi is overwhelmed with a feeling of guilt, because she believes that she has betrayed her husband. On discovering Lakshmi's pregnancy, he salutes the village goddess at her temple. He then decides to try to ride the bullock cart again but carries a stick as he approaches Surya. Surya sees Kishtayya and mistakenly believes that Kishtayya is seeking revenge from him.
Surya has three men hold Kishtayya and then proceeds to whip him with a rope used for lynching. The commotion attracts others (including Sheikh Chand and Pratap) to the scene, and Lakshmi rushes to defend her husband. She angrily curses Surya, then slowly returns home with Kishtayya. In the final scene, after the others have left, a child throws a stone at Surya's glass window and runs away.
Spoilers end here.[edit] Etymology (Planned Edit)
According to Keralaapaanineeyam, the word Malayalam was originally used to refer to the land that is now known as Kerala. In Malayalam, mala means "mountain," and aazhi means "sea."
[edit] References
[11]Blah.
[4]Blah blah by Blah Blah Et Cetera.
4th source = http://www.webmallindia.com/shop/filmography.php?cat=0&na=ANKUR&PHPSESSID=1dc2724d4c456edebf6e2864760368e4
5th = http://www.redhotcurry.com/entertainment/films/bollywood/ankur.htm
