Today, India's biggest auction of arts is taking place here.
The auction of talent.
Rich people from all over the world are present here.
They will bid for the paintings of renowned Indian painters.
However, some people are objecting to it as well.
-Long live our Indian culture! -We won't tolerate pervert art!
Now for lot number 13.
This painting was recently found after it went missing for 100 years.
Menaka and Vishwamitra.
Year 1893, by the painter, Raja Ravi Varma.
The most famous and controversial painter of the 19th century.
-We won't tolerate pervert art! -We won't!
The artists and the media people were attacked many times recently.
Many incidents of attacks and violence have taken place.
Look for yourself. They are...
Ladies and gentlemen, the bid starts at 20.4 million for this beautiful painting.
Thank you, sir. Now, I want 20.6 million.
I've received a bid of 20.8 million through phone and now, I want 30 million.
40.4 million. 40.6 million.
40.8 million. Now, I want 50 million.
Thank you. I have a bid of 60.5 million.
Now, I want 70 million.
70 million once.
70 million twice.
70 million thrice.
The painter
All these colors belong to you
The orange is like the setting sun at dusk
Your dark hair is akin to the dark clouds
Swirling in your eyes
Red, yellow, green, pink, golden
You are one But you have different shades
Color me, color me
The painter
Ravi Varma.
Where is Ravi Varma?
Ravi Varma?
Yes, tell me.
How can I help you?
What is this?
This is... an old story.
She is... Menaka.
A celestial nymph.
He is the great saint, Vishwamitra.
Tormented by lust.
You guys cook up strange stories.
In these strange stories lie the soul of our nation.
But such stories create a lot of trouble.
What's happening? Why did you arrest him?
He is an artist, not a criminal.
-Who are you? -I am Raj Varma, his younger brother.
-Did you paint these dirty paintings? -No, but...
Then step back and be quiet!
Ravi Varma.
Raja Ravi Varma.
Ezhumavil Neelakanthan Bhattathiripad.
E. N. Bhattathiripad.
Uma Amba.
Brother's name is Raj Varma. My servant's name is Paachan.
Waist, 34 inches.
The size of my shoes is one and a half feet.
Kilimanoor.
I am just a background painter, his shadow.
And he has been a great painter, ever since his childhood.
The painter
Ravi...
The painter
Ravi! Ravi!
What are you doing?
If His Highness sees this, he will behead me.
-The king is here. -Let's go.
Who did this?
-This... -Who did this?
I am sorry, sire. When small kids...
I did it, Your Highness. It is my mistake.
I won't do it again.
Who else will do it, if not you?
There he comes.
Chintamani Pandit, the head of the Dharmraksha Trust.
He filed the case.
The case number 135/1896 is being tried under the IPC section 289.
Queen Victoria versus Ravi Varma.
Ravi Varma, the accused, please come to the witness stand.
Mr. Ravi Varma.
You are charged with filthy thinking, irrational thoughts
and for hurting the religious sentiments of people.
Do you... accept this crime?
No, Your Honor.
Mr. Varma, do you have a lawyer to fight your case?
I believe that I don't need a pleader.
If the need arises, I will make a plea myself.
Mr. Artist, how much do you know about the law?
As much as you know about art.
Your Honor...
and the members of the jury.
This is not an ordinary case.
Important decisions will be taken in this case
and its impact will be felt in the many decades to come.
If a man commits murder, he is given capital punishment.
But if someone tries to mock
a culture and tradition that is a thousand years old...
what punishment should be given to him?
This man...
who stands here shamelessly...
and who calls himself an artist
is a blight on humanity.
He is a threat to the civilized society, Your Honor.
This man, in the name of art...
has spread obscenity in the society.
He has hurt the morality of the society.
By painting derogatory pictures of the gods and goddesses...
this man...
has hurt the sentiments of millions and millions of people.
Mr. Ravi Varma...
please explain to the court.
Are you married?
Yes.
Is it true that after your marriage, for a very long time...
you were staying at your wife's place
and living off her wealth?
It looks like you know about me much better than I do.
But I guess, you have forgotten that I come from a place...
where the husband stays at his wife's place after marriage.
And my wife... was a princess.
No.
I want to... see you.
Completely...
Are you crazy?
What are you doing?
I am getting ready to paint.
Painting? Whose painting?
Yours.
Come on!
In our family, the husbands don't indulge in such cheap jobs.
What else do they do?
They just enjoy.
That's it.
What are you doing?
Nothing.
Don't move!
Stand still!
Did you like it?
You may leave.
Wait.
What is your name?
Kamini.
What are you doing?
I am tired.
Just give me some more time. The painting will be done. Then...
Keep your left hand close to your ear. In this manner.
With the right hand, the flower...
Hold it as if you are removing it!
Like this. In this position.
Are you only a painter?
And am I only a muse whose painting you want to make?
I find solace in you
I lost my heart to you
My dreams came true
Your eyes are mesmerizing
I am not in my senses
When you look at me My heart skips a beat a million times
It awakens my desires
Oh, Kamini!
Your skin
Is like a mirror
I dedicate the rainbow to you
Let me wrap myself around you
Just like the earth wraps itself Around the sky
Our rendezvous was decided
Even before the shine In the stars appeared
Just think what destiny has to say
Flow along with me
Oh, Kamini!
I think you should keep your hand
-like this, until... -Aren't you ashamed?
-Of what? -Of what!
Ashamed of touching the untouchables?
And of such obscene paintings!
Everyone laughs at me because of you.
You mingled with servants!
I wonder what else you do with her!
Don't you have any self-respect?
I am telling you for the last time. I won't allow all this in my house.
I don't care.
Raja Ravi Varma.
Will you tell the honorable court the name of your kingdom?
Remaining silent won't help you, Raja Ravi Varma.
-I am the King of Art. -Wow! That's great! Good!
But...
Since you call yourself a king...
you should have a kingdom, too. In reality.
Not in your imaginations.
Tell me.
Where is your kingdom?
"In the Madras Painting Competition...
where painters from all over India and Europe took part...
our royal painter...
received the most prestigious award.
Ravi Varma from Travancore
has received it for his beautiful painting called The Nair Lady
which is a fusion of the eastern and the western styles of painting.
The governor awards him with the gold coin.
Even ants have learnt to fly.
You are my brother...
but you have no right to insult an artist.
Ravi Varma.
You are the pride of Travancore.
You have brought glory to our kingdom with your art.
Please accept this award.
I, Ailyum Thirunal, the King of Travancore...
bestow you with the title of Raja.
Raja.
Henceforth, you will be known as Raja Ravi Varma.
Hereafter, no one must say
that an artist is not equal to a king.
The painter
Brother Ravi.
It's all over now for us.
-What? -The king is no more.
I am very sorry to hear the news.
What do you intend to do now?
-I haven't thought about it. -Then, think about it.
Two of a trade seldom agree.
And this kingdom... is too small for two kings, Raja Ravi Varma.
I am grateful to you.
You have relieved me of my dilemma.
From a king to a pauper. In just one moment.
It seemed like a dream.
If only we could change our lives.
Had we not come to Bombay, all this wouldn't have taken place.
Madhav Rao was the Chief Administrative Officer of Baroda state.
He asked us to come to Bombay.
I hope you will like Bombay.
Make yourself at home.
I am very grateful to you, sire.
I like your art.
I like the artist as well.
I am not sure if the artist in me is still alive.
Don't worry. I won't let that artist die so easily.
Bombay is the city of dreams.
Talented people are appreciated here.
Now, give me a smile.
Forget the past and start a new life.
Hail Lord Shiva
Brahma, Vishnu and Lord Shiva
They will rid you of your problems
Hail Lord Shiva
She bestows auspiciousness upon all of the world
I prostrate myself before Thee
take me in Your refuge
I bow to You
What is it? Why are you following me?
-I am an artist. -Artist? What art do you practice?
Is it to stare at girls and follow them?
Aren't you ashamed?
You are mistaken.
I am not. I have come across many like you.
-You deserve a slap. Shameless! -Enough!
I thought you would be able to resurrect my talent.
But I was wrong.
I don't know who you are, but you are very beautiful.
I wonder, how many are crazy about you.
But remember, your beauty won't last forever.
It will vanish along with your youth.
But my art will stay. Forever!
Bakubai. The girl is growing up.
Have you thought something for her or not?
Their mother died and now they are my responsibility.
After all, you are their aunt,
you will have to do something about it. Right?
All right. Spread the word. Let's see.
Where have you been?
He thinks I am crazy
My friends tease me
My eyes are speaking a thousand words
Listen, dear
You knew I would come?
As though descended from heaven.
You didn't tell me.
You knew I would come?
Like an inspiration.
Let's start from Saraswati.
The Goddess of knowledge and art.
Please come.
Consider yourself a Goddess.
I don't know how it feels to be a Goddess.
Absolutely. It is my job to make you feel like one.
We bow to the divine Goddess In all existence
Who resides in the form of art
We bow to Her
We bow to Her with all our heart
We bow to the divine Goddess In all existence
Who resides in the form of art
We bow to Her
We bow to Her with all our heart
The painter
All these colors belong to you
The orange is like the setting sun at dusk
Your dark hair is akin to the dark clouds
Swirling in your eyes
Red, yellow, green, pink, golden
You are one But you have different shades
Color me, color me
The blue sea is swaying Flowing and swinging
What are you? A sage or a seer? I am the color that you choose
The painter
It's very beautiful.
You are very beautiful.
What do you know about me?
Nothing at all.
Whatever I know...
is enough for me.
Where have you brought me, sire?
My dear painter, there is a world outside your paintings.
I want you to see it.
Do you know who they are?
Indian National Congress is the symbol of our nationality.
-Do you know who he is? -It's an organization
-of our country. -He's a painter. Raja Ravi Varma.
The Viceroy says
that India is not a country, nor was it in the past.
He can't believe that people from Baluchistan to Burma
and from Kashmir to Kanyakumari
can unite and gain freedom.
I say, he is wrong!
Freedom is my birthright!
And I shall have it!
Do you read Times of India?
If you have to keep up with the times...
Do you have five rupees?
Times of India will be delivered to your residence for a year.
But you don't even know my name.
I know. Raja Ravi Varma.
Paachan!
-Paa... -Yes?
Any news about Sugandha?
She should have come by now. Right?
Why is she so late?
Go and find out.
Stop. It's not needed.
Could she have fallen sick?
She was fine yesterday, wasn't she?
Paachan, tell him not to worry so much.
Ask her not to trouble me.
Do you think it's a joke?
Is it a joke?
-"Paachan. Why is she so late?" -Stop running.
"Could she have fallen sick?"
She was fine yesterday, wasn't she?
Who gave you the right to taint me?
Don't say I tainted you.
It's just a color.
Higher!
Still higher!
You might just reach heaven! What if you fall?
I am not scared.
I have to attend a party today.
Will you come with me?
How could a Goddess attend a party?
No.
Sugandha.
Many people will be there at the party. I can't come.
Then, let's go somewhere else.
Where?
We'll sail on a boat.
Far. To a far-off place...
where we can only hear waves crashing.
And only the moon... will be watching us.
What if we get lost?
We will find an island.
I...
I can't stay back after the sun sets.
Wait.
Someone or the other will find our island.
Sooner or later.
Then?
-Greetings, sire. -Greetings.
-The painter, Raja Ravi Varma. -Greetings.
I am glad you came.
Please come.
Greetings.
-Greetings. -Greetings.
Please sit.
-The painter, Raja Ravi Varma. -Greetings.
What is this Indian National Congress about?
It constitutes of a bunch of people who have learned English
and now they want to play politics.
That is Seth Hirachand. He has a mistress.
She is young.
Younger than his granddaughter. Yes.
He might be 70.
God knows what he does with her.
This is a joke. What will you do with freedom?
Will you eat it?
What do you think about it, Raja Ravi Varma?
Should we gain freedom?
I don't understand politics.
I am just an artist.
But I do know... that art knows no boundaries.
Pictures that look real.
Really?
Paachan!
Let's start our work.
Come on.
Keep your right hand up and the left one down.
Spread your fingers wide and look above.
What is this?
What?
Yesterday we decided we'd go watch a play, right?
Ravi, you always forget.
I hope, it's not too late.
No. But it will. Get ready quickly.
Take a seat. I will be ready in no time. Okay?
Sugandha!
Let's go.
Sugandha!
Go! Go away! I won't wait for you!
Welcome, sire.
Ravi... I have some good news for you.
It was the golden opportunity for us.
The King of Baroda had personally invited us.
When I was in Europe, I saw many interesting paintings.
What paintings! What painters!
I felt ashamed thinking
why the painters here couldn't paint so well.
Go to Europe and look at the paintings there.
And make some copies for my court.
I am sorry, Your Highness.
I can't do this.
-What are you saying? -I will explain.
Don't take me wrong.
There is a treasury of stories in our country too.
One story greater than the other.
These stories will surprise the world.
The Ramayana. The Mahabharata.
I want to show these stories to the world.
I want to make paintings of these stories, Your Highness.
Then, do it. Start from today.
No one must say that Indians don't understand art.
I am grateful to you.
But I can't do it now.
I will have to make preparations. I will have to tour the whole country
and understand where these stories originated from.
And for that...
it will take time.
I will wait.
Chief Officer, give him whatever he needs.
Let's see if he paints as good as he talks.
Open up the closed doors
You are present everywhere
But You are not to be seen
Open up the closed doors
How can no one
Reveal Your secret?
Who are You? Reveal Your secret!
Open up the closed doors
Open up my senses
I look for You everywhere
When I hear drums beating And see the lush green crops waving
When it is dawn I wake up and find You there
There are flowers everywhere We smiled when You bloomed
The sun is touching the ground
You are glowing like light
Your beauty is all around
I am following You blindly
Like someone is pulling me
Open up the closed doors
Open up my senses
I look for You everywhere
Open up the closed doors
Every path, every lane I look for You
You flow with every river
Every streams, river, lake I see You
I see You in deserts as well
You exist since the beginning of time And live till the end of it
I can hear Your footsteps everywhere
You are my destiny
You dwell in my heart And so do I in Yours!
I will keep looking for You
I will leave everything for You
Open up the closed doors
Raj. Send a telegram to the king.
I am ready to paint.
These days like gold And nights like silver
My beloved is so entertaining He takes me along
Your curly tresses I wonder who created you
With the sun and the moon The night is lovely
Where do you go Leaving behind your dreams?
The painter
All your paintings will be put up here.
I will make arrangements for the same, Your Highness.
Are you upset? Tell me. Don't hesitate.
Very few will be able to see these paintings.
If only we could find out...
what the normal people think about these paintings...
-Do I look abnormal to you? -No, Your Highness.
I mean, the common man.
You are not a common man in any sense.
All right.
Show the paintings to everyone.
Great!
This will be the first art exhibition for the common man.
Are the paintings ready?
No, Your Highness. It will take another week.
All right.
One week.
I can't wait any longer than this.
Why did you lie? The paintings are ready.
If the king finds out, he will hang us instead of the paintings.
Just make sure no one sees the paintings.
Hey, where are you going?
Sugandha! I need to speak to you.
You thought of me after so many days.
I thought you must have forgotten me.
I have come from afar to meet you.
Let go. People are watching us.
Come with me.
Where?
Don't ask. Just come along.
You know I can't stay back after sunset.
Just once.
For me.
Come.
Come here.
This is you, mesmerizing me.
Come.
This is when you get angry with me.
And this is you, teasing me.
And this is when you go away from me.
Even for a moment...
you weren't away from me.
I wanted you to be... the first one to see them.
Look at them.
Look all around.
-It's just you. -No.
It is you. You!
Did you like them?
Very much. A lot.
A lot.
I don't know why I met you.
The painter
Ravi.
Now, I don't fear death.
You have shown me the face of God here.
Move aside.
You are really famous now.
Chintamani has come personally to see them.
Come with me.
Greetings, sire.
Beautiful. Absolutely beautiful.
Raja Ravi Varma.
He is Chintamani Pandit.
He is a Sanskrit scholar and the secretary of the Dharmraksha Trust.
The trustee of 15,000 temples.
No. It's 18,000, sire.
I am sorry. Trustee of 18,000 temples.
You should become a member of my trust.
We do a lot for the upliftment of the society.
That's good. But I am busy.
You need to make time.
It will be good for you.
You will make new connections, rub shoulders with rich and famous.
All the influential people of the trust will support you.
Thanks a lot, but...
I don't need them.
Who gave you the permission to paint the images of the gods?
The gods themselves.
Honestly.
In my dreams.
You can't make paintings of gods in human forms.
The gods and goddesses are better off in the temples.
They are not meant to be seen by everyone.
Who made this rule?
Your trust?
I am sorry. I don't believe in such nonsense.
How egoistic! How unrighteous!
Raj, show him the door.
Remember this moment.
Move aside.
Hail Lord Rama!
One by one, the great stories of India were brought back to life.
The gods got a face, an identity.
These pictures seemed to be discoveries.
The search for the soul of India.
The painter
The scent of success. Once again!
Raja Ravi Varma became famous far and wide.
The kings, officers, the rich...
Everyone, no matter who he was...
wanted to acquire Raja Ravi Varma's paintings.
The scent of success and the power of money...
leads one to madness. Where else could it lead to?
Recognized me? I am Phalke. Dhundiraj Govind Phalke.
I was with Mr. Wilson, the photographer.
I want to work with you.
-Why? -I want to learn from you.
I am a student of J.J. School of Arts. I have learned everything.
Meet me tomorrow.
This is fake.
What nonsense?
The note that you cashed at the counter is fake.
What nonsense! How do you know if it is real or fake?
We found out.
Show it to me.
-I think it's real. -But it is not.
I will have to hand you over to the police.
Wait!
Take the money from me. This one's real.
I think so.
It must have been a misunderstanding.
Come on, my friend.
I am Fritz Schleicher from Germany.
I am Ravi Varma, a true Indian.
What do you do?
I am a painter.
And I am a printer.
Are you mad? Do you want to open a printing press now?
If he can print a fake bill
which looks so real, then just think
he can do wonders with our paintings.
Oh! Now, you want to print copies of your paintings!
This is the latest craze in Europe.
One machine can print 500 pages.
In eight hours, in 14 colors.
The perfect marriage of art and technology.
Yes. But even without its help...
I have seen his paintings.
Really exotic.
A painting and 1000 prints.
Sell it across India, Europe, America, all over the world.
It will sell like hotcakes.
But I don't like cakes, Mr. Schleicher.
Come here. Do you know what you are doing?
We will know that only after we do it, my dear brother.
How can you say that Schleicher won't cheat you?
I know, he won't.
What would be the cost of this printing press?
Two hundred thousand rupees.
Two hundred thousand rupees?
I think, we must leave.
Wait.
How much do we have in the bank?
Around 50,000.
What if we mortgage our land and everything else?
Why are you playing with fire?
It's because I can't forget the face of that old man
who was worshipping my painting.
Our painting!
-What's the status? -We're still short.
-How much do we need? -Around a hundred thousand.
Send a telegram to Mr. Madhav Rao. He will do something about it.
He can't.
He is no more.
People prefer artists who are full of life
rather than someone who walks with a pall of grief.
Your dreams require people like them.
Be happy. Be confident.
Only then will you get what you want.
Smile. When you smile, you look great.
Good. Very good.
Good idea!
Printing press.
Good idea!
What are you saying, sir? It's a wonderful idea.
You will have to finance it.
I won't finance it.
-Why? -Business. Who will run it?
I will.
Have you ever ventured into business?
This is not just business for me.
That's it. That's the reason I won't finance it.
Look, an artist can't be a businessman.
And a businessman can't be an artist.
If you don't pay us back, you will pay with your life.
Listen.
Listen, your happiness lies in art...
while my happiness lies in money alone.
How about a partnership?
You take care of the art. I will take care of the business.
Believe me.
We will make a lot of money.
Because...
nothing in this world sells like religion.
Raja Ravi Varma's prints connected the whole country.
For the first time, these colorful paintings
reached every house in the nation.
The saris that Ravi Varma's models wore
were accepted by the Indian women in such a manner
that they became the identity of the women in India.
Loads of letters.
Have you ever heard that the whole post office
is filled with letters addressed to one man?
Today, you have become a king for real!
And here are your people.
One. Two. Three. Four. Five.
Stop there.
Kamini!
I wanted to meet you.
I want to show you something.
Come with me.
We were never allowed to go inside the temple.
For ages... We were never allowed.
The gods were always inside the temples...
and we stood outside.
You brought them out for us to meet them.
This man has accepted
that he has made art and religion, a business.
Art, which used to glorify temples and palaces.
Today, it is being sold on streets.
It has become an advertisement for soaps and oil.
It is hung on the walls of the houses of prostitutes.
Your Honor, this man's art is supporting a culture...
that worships money as God.
But I don't find these pictures to be obscene.
Your Honor...
Thousands of people feel...
that maybe the Goddess appeared before them.
But later, they came to know
that the face they considered to be the Goddess's face...
was the face of an ordinary lady.
And that lady was a prostitute.
But this man didn't stop.
The face that people considered to be a Goddess...
Using the same face as a muse, this man painted these obscene pictures.
It's been long since you painted.
What's the matter?
You are famous. You are rich. You have a lover.
Everyone loves you.
Still, you are sad. Why?
I am thinking.
About whom?
About Urvashi.
Urvashi?
Who is she?
A celestial nymph. Just like you.
Urvashi. Isn't she the one...
who loved a mortal?
Hmm.
She had started to love Pururava.
Pururava.
He was a brave king. But he was a human being after all.
The gods accepted this relationship but on one condition.
What was the condition?
That they won't be able to see each other in their real form.
Naked.
If that happened
then Urvashi would have to return to heaven forever.
Then?
Then... they used to meet only at night.
She used to leave once it was dawn.
Then?
Pururava... was after all a human being.
This incomplete truth was not enough for him.
But they were so deeply in love...
that even the gods... started feeling jealous.
Then one night...
when she was draping her sari...
ready to leave,
Pururava was awake.
He caught hold of her sari.
The gods plotted a conspiracy and a flash of lightning struck suddenly.
Urvashi's sari... slid from her shoulder...
and in that light, they saw each other.
Naked.
Then?
Urvashi... had to return...
to heaven forever.
What a lovely story!
There are many such pictures
that will never be painted.
Why?
The story is true.
Who will model for this?
We are afraid to accept the truth.
Actually, afraid to be free.
Even our imaginations are confined within our fears.
Why do you trouble me, my beloved?
You don't understand my pain You trickster
Your eyes are as sharp as arrows
Your eyebrows are like bows
When you slide your hair Away from your face
It reveals your radiant beauty
All my senses are awake When I hear the sound of your anklets
My body is oozing with
Intoxicating beauty
I am brimming with desires
Even I can feel the music
Every note in my body
Today, I have only one thing in mind
I just want to lose myself in you
Every bit of me
I dedicate to you, my beloved
Why do you trouble me, my beloved?
Why do you trouble me?
Oh, beloved
You don't understand my pain You trickster
Within and beyond ourselves Every moment
Let's get lost into each other For a moment
Let us unite such that Our bodies turn into ashes
And only our hearts meet
I will drink the nectar of your youth
I will paint a picture that will leave
The Almighty astonished
Why do you trouble me, my beloved?
You don't understand my pain You trickster
You don't understand
You trickster
Do you love him?
Douse the fire!
Fritz!
My paintings!
Pick it up.
Be careful, Fritz!
Accounts. Order book. Everything was burned in the fire.
We will have to buy some parts.
How much would they cost?
Around 30,000.
Please don't look at me.
I came here... to tell you
that I want to break off this partnership.
I can't take any more risk.
Lend me some money.
What's the use?
No.
I will repay the loan.
With interest.
Don't misunderstand me. But...
what can you offer me as collateral?
Keep my paintings.
All of them? Think about it.
We have to start the press again.
All right.
Then the plague started spreading.
Death was all over.
The pain was unbearable. How long could have one endured it?
The plague isn't in our body, but in our soul!
The British Government is killing us like rats.
And we are quiet!
-Are we cowards? -No...
We must burn down all the paintings of this painter.
We should burn him too!
He has sold gods and goddesses for money!
He supports the British!
Mr. Pandit, you are in court. Think before you speak.
I am speaking only after giving it a thought.
He is part of the conspiracy.
A conspiracy to destroy the Hindu religion.
That's why the gods are angry. They have sent the plague on earth.
What do you mean?
This plague is a form of God's anger. What else can it be?
Thousands have died. Many more will die
if this sinner is not stopped!
Down with the Britishers' stooge! Down! Down!
May the unrighteous one be destroyed! May the unrighteous one...
-Order! -May the unrighteous one be destroyed!
Punish him!
Who are you to decide?
The court will decide.
-Hang him! -Hang him!
-Where is Paachan? -He must be feeding water to the horses.
What is it? What are you staring at?
Do I have horns?
-May you suffer from plague! Catch him! -Everyone has gone crazy.
Where are you running off to?
Will you hit me? Hit me!
I will report to the police.
-Hit him! Hit him! -Ravi Varma, here you go!
Beat him up!
-Do you think you can escape? -Police!
Call the police.
Police!
He is running away! Catch him!
Where are you going, you coward? Stop!
Hey... You...
You coward!
What smell is this?
Rats! The rats have contaminated them. What should we do with them?
It's simple.
Keep them between the clean prints and pack them.
They will dry up on the way.
This is not right.
I am the partner of this company.
Don't teach me what is right and wrong.
Who will bear the loss of 3000 rupees?
Listen to me, I can't cancel any more orders.
The country is hit by plague. Nobody is bothered about your art!
Go and parcel them up.
Burn them.
I have seen his dreams turning into ashes.
I saw him grew old right before my eyes.
I felt the pain he went through.
But I never saw him losing hope.
Please come.
Mr. Chintamani is here.
Please sit down.
We are ready to withdraw the case.
But for this...
you will have to apologize to God and the people.
You will have to atone for your sins.
Give alms to Brahmins.
Observe a fast for 11 days.
Take a dip in the Ganges, 21 times.
Clean the staircase of the temple for 31 days. Got it?
Thank you for your advice, but...
It would be better if the court decides my future.
Excuse me. I have lots of work.
So much pride!
The court might let you off the hook,
but God will punish you.
That will come later. First, people will punish you.
I will wait.
Ravi Varma, pack your bags.
You are done with your days in Bombay.
Yes. As you say.
You.
Don't ever come to me begging for your brother.
Gajodhar, let's go.
Find out who she is.
-What are you saying? What... -Bakubai.
Please come in, Raghu.
Tell me. What brings you here so early in the morning?
Go inside.
I keep my shop closed on this day.
I had gone to the barber.
I thought I should meet you on my way back.
Your girl is becoming very famous.
Look at this.
Is it a woman with a sari or the sari on the woman?
Is it a woman or a sari? Is it a sari or a woman?
The barber has hung it in his shop to please his customers.
I bought it for 25 paise.
-25 paise? -Yes.
-Buy all of them. -How many will you buy?
It is being sold everywhere.
The elder one has done what she had to.
Decide what you want to do with the younger one.
Or else, you will lose her, too.
It doesn't matter if she is paralyzed.
She has the head.
Aren't you ashamed? Get out!
"Ashamed?"
You wretch! Look what you have done!
You have put us to shame. Wretched woman!
Take that off.
-We can barely see the crescent. -We want to see the full moon.
I know.
You know?
I didn't even ask for your permission.
The press was running in loss,
so I mortgaged my paintings. He...
He printed them.
And you didn't do anything?
I trusted you.
You cheated me!
I loved you.
But you sold me!
I know, this shouldn't have happened. I am really... sorry.
You may make paintings of several women
but you will never understand how it feels to be a woman.
Sugandha.
If you were so scared of defamation, why did you make these paintings?
Are you a kid? Don't you know how the society and the world is?
Or are you pretending to be angry?
Govardhan Das, this is fraudulence!
This is business.
Don't forget that your press is running because of these prints.
As you are not a businessman,
you will not understand the pain of losing money.
You haven't borne any loss. You have always looted me.
You print 10,000 copies and give me an account for 5000 copies.
-Also, you take a commission. -It's nonsense.
If that's the truth, why didn't you stop me?
Why didn't you check the accounts?
Why didn't you try to understand the business?
That's because you were only concerned about your name and fame.
You never tried to find out
how much hard work is required to run business.
You are responsible for all that has happened.
You have ruined this game.
I will finish this game! It's too much now!
You haven't repaid my loan yet.
Ravi, it's my press now.
It's your press?
I will kill you!
It's my press!
I have been running this press! I won't spare you!
-I will kill you! -Down with Ravi Varma!
-Down with Ravi Varma!
Down with Ravi Varma!
-Punish the unrighteous! -Punish the unrighteous!
We won't bear the insult to religion!
-Down with Ravi Varma! -Down! Down!
We...
Madras Competition...
We sent a painting, didn't we?
Yes.
We did.
What are the results?
I won the prize.
He won.
You didn't inform me...
that you had sent your painting as well.
I never thought... I could win.
Sometimes, I feel
that you've wasted your life
staying with me.
I am happy to be your brother.
You are crazy.
Even I am crazy.
Everyone is crazy.
Times were changing fast.
Everything was changing fast.
Machines were overpowering life.
One day... I saw a wonder.
I didn't see you when the show was going on.
Where did you disappear to?
I was helping in running the projector.
Do you know how to run it?
Yes.
Then... why don't you start one of your own? This cinema...
-This cinema... -Cinematograph.
Yes. The same one.
I want to, sir.
But it will cost me a fortune. I wonder when it would be possible.
It would be possible.
And when it does... will you take me as your student or not?
That was amazing!
Pictures moving.
It's amazing!
Sugandha doesn't want to come here.
Fritz.
What makes you... very happy?
The scent of fresh prints.
Would you like to buy the press?
-What? -If I lose the case, they will anyway...
take everything from me and even the press.
Govardhan Das shouldn't get anything.
Only you can run it efficiently.
I might have... around 50,000 rupees.
The price is worth far more than that.
You can pay me as much as you can afford to.
That would be enough.
But the paintings? What will I print?
Keep those paintings, too.
Raja... why are you doing this?
It's because you like the scent of fresh print.
Good.
When do you want the money?
I don't want the money.
Pay Govardhan Das whatever I owe him.
The rest...
Give the rest to this young man, Phalke.
For his cinema.
Hey!
Use the money wisely.
For... a new world.
And for cinema.
You have always supported me.
And I didn't do anything... for you.
Here's a small gift for you.
So, is she your new inspiration?
Just a friend. She came to see me, but you didn't.
Oh!
Is that why you gave her your drawings?
You must have told her as well as to how beautiful she was.
-Sugandha, enough. -I saw the way you were looking at her.
I know, you are worried.
But it's nothing as such.
"Nothing as such!"
Will it affect you?
It won't. How will it affect me?
It will affect everything.
House, family,
friends, respect...
I am doing whatever is possible.
The court has asked me to come as a witness.
If I go, I will be insulted.
If I don't go, they will consider me to be your partner in crime.
And even this means nothing to you.
I never forced you.
You did everything willingly.
Now don't blame me.
Way to go, Painter!
You play with others' lives.
You use them and throw them away.
-And you are not at fault? -Sugandha, enough.
Your art can kill someone.
But it doesn't make any difference to you.
You never thought what would happen to me.
You don't exist outside my imaginations!
I...
I... I don't exist?
Sugandhabai...
Are you married?
Are you a widow?
What are you?
Is this you?
And this?
Even this?
Yes.
Why did you model for such paintings?
Did this artist compel you to do so?
Or did he offer you money?
Or did he persuade you to do so? What exactly happened?
What was the reason?
Please answer.
This is a court and you have vowed to speak the truth.
No woman would want to get herself insulted willingly.
Why did you do this? Answer me.
Because I believe he is a true artist.
You will die.
I will die.
But his art won't. It will live forever.
And through his art, I will live too.
Don't explain art to us.
We know the art of women like you.
This man...
made a woman like me a Goddess.
But you made her a prostitute.
I am the culprit, Your Honor.
I should be blamed for painting.
I should also be blamed for painting pictures of the gods and goddesses.
And for making an ordinary woman...
This woman...
I should also be blamed for making this woman my inspiration.
As in her eyes...
I saw the image of a Goddess.
Your Honor, can I ask you
what right do these people have
to lecture me on right and wrong?
Who are they to pass judgments on my art?
On my life?
Because... my art is my life.
I am proud of my culture and tradition.
And it's not so weak
that it will get degraded upon seeing a naked body.
Your Honor, I have traveled across this vast country.
And I have seen these amazing temples.
Ajanta Ellora.
Konark.
Khajuraho.
After looking at these statues engraved on them...
I didn't find anything obscene about them.
I didn't feel ashamed.
In fact, they were...
so beautiful that I...
I was mesmerized.
This is the country of the Kama Sutra.
It talks about... our body,
our soul,
our desires and the human form. It teaches us to celebrate all these.
I am just a human.
These are my stories.
I have grown up hearing these stories.
They are stories of the Ramayana and the Mahabharata.
They are among the best stories in the world.
These stories...
bring out one thing very clearly.
That is...
the plight of a cheated woman.
Who is cheated, sometimes, by her husband...
sometimes, by her lover.
And sometimes, by gods themselves.
We all are to be blamed.
All of us.
I know...
I am...
I am the biggest culprit.
Your Honor, the truth is...
I am a selfish and greedy artist.
Who wants to win the hearts of many.
Who wants to reach out and touch the hearts of more and more people.
Who always lives in the fear...
of not being able to express himself completely.
What if the changing times leave me behind?
I believe...
our lives should be as beautiful as art. That should be the motto of our lives.
If you set boundaries for art,
everything will be destroyed.
Everything that is beautiful and meaningful.
All of us will be shackled.
If this belief of mine is a crime...
During the course of this sensational case
some important questions were brought to notice.
Can we...
impose restrictions on our imaginations?
Can we imprison art?
Can art, technology and religion...
all three of them...
march toward one direction?
All the witnesses of this case
and keeping in mind, all the different perspectives
this court...
acquits the defendant...
Raja Ravi Varma.
This is him!
If I could live only in your imaginations!
But I am a woman, not a Goddess.
After living in the world of your paintings...
I feel that the real world is a lie.
I can't bear this thought.
You are going through a lot.
Even I am responsible for that.
I have faith that time will prove you right.
We have seen each other in our real forms.
Like Urvashi, I will have to leave, too.
Whenever you miss me, close your eyes.
I will come to you.
Ravi.
How long will you hide from the world?
I don't know.
I don't feel anything.
Nothing at all.
Why are you punishing yourself in this manner?
You think I can punish myself?
Gods are playing with me.
Then maybe you should quit making paintings of the gods and goddesses.
Make paintings of real people.
Capture their real pain, sorrow...
real laugh, happiness.
Capture real life.
-We won't tolerate pervert art! -We won't!
The painter
All these colors belong to you
The orange is like the setting sun at dusk
Your dark hair Is akin to the dark clouds
Swirling in your eyes
Red, yellow, green, pink, golden
You are one But you have different shades
Color me, color me
The blue sea is swaying Flowing and swinging
What are you? A sage or a seer? I am the color that you choose
The painter
These days like gold And nights like silver
My beloved is so entertaining He takes me along
Your curly tresses I wonder who created you
With the sun and the moon The night is lovely
Where do you go Leaving behind your dreams?
The painter
Subtitle translation by: Riddhish Patel