The Curse

FADE IN: 

EXT.VILLAGE - DAY

Tall palm trees with barren hills in the backdrop. Clusters

of wooden huts with thatched roofs. 

A group of elders play cards and smoke alternatively from a 

hookah. Some children chase a fallen kite. A few cows and 

chickens loiter around casually. 

DAMAN,32,a dark, frail man, wearing an old, sleeveless grey 

jacket and an off white lower, negotiates a muddy, narrow 

village lane. 

He treads hesitantly as if afraid of something. Despite his 

poor appearance, there is a kind of grace about him. 

A wealthy landlord emerges from the opposite direction, 

sporting a shiny white attire and a yellow turban. The 

moment he notices Daman, his recoils with disgust. 

                         WEALTHY LANDLORD 

                    You idiot, I've told you so many

                     times not to cross my path. But you 

                     are a thick nut. Now my whole day 

                     will be spoiled. Before I loose my 

                     temper, just vanish from here. 

                           DAMAN 

                       My mistake sir, I'll be more careful 

                       in future. 

With folded hands, he steps aside. The landlord passes by him 

quickly, making sure not to touch him even accidentally. 

                                                                    DISSOLVE TO: 

EXT.VILLAGE TEMPLE - DAY 

An old, red stone temple. An orange flag flutters at the top. 

Daman approaches the temple and stops at the steps leading

to the main prayer hall. PANDE,45,a fat priest, dressed in a 

saffron robe, YELLS from the top. 

                           PANDE 

                      I told you last time also to stay 

                      away from the temple. 

                            DAMAN 

                        That's why I always stand outside. 

                            PANDE 

                        But what's the need? Go now. It's 

                        time for the evening prayers. 

Daman bows before the temple and leaves. 

                                                            DISSOLVE TO: 

EXT.VILLAGE - CENTRAL WELL - DAY 

Daman ambles towards a worn out brick well, carrying an iron 

bucket. Two haughty men stop him. 

                            MAN#1 

                        Where're you going? 

                            DAMAN

                        I am thirsty. I need some water. 

                            MAN#2 

                        You can't use this well. 

                            DAMAN 

                        Then where do I go? 

                            MAN#2 

                        There is a well outside the village also. 

                            DAMAN 

                        But that is six kilometers from here and it's water is brackish. 

A few other villagers gather around them. 

                            MAN#1 

                        That's none of our problems. Move on now. 

                            DAMAN 

                        Allow me today at least. 

                            MAN#1

                        I think you need a kick.

The man dashes forward and pushes him hard. Daman hits the 

ground with a LOUD THUD. 

His bucket rolls over the ground, making a HOLLOW SOUND. He 

stares helplessly at his tormentors. 

                                                                                    DISSOLVE TO: 

EXT.ROCKY HILL - DAY 

A rock-strewn hill feature, flat at the top, overlooking the 

village. 

Splendid statues of Indian Gods and Goddesses carved out of 

rocks. Ganesha with his massive trunk, Rama with his enormous 

bow and Kali with her menacing trident. 

Daman works with a chisel and hammer on an awe inspiring

idol of Lord Krishna. 

A tall and fair female tourist,30, carrying a rucksack

arrives at his open air workshop. 

She takes off her load and wanders around the place. 

He watches her silently. She throws up her hands in the air with 

wonder and GIGGLES like a young girl. 

                            FEMALE TOURIST 

                         Hi! I am MITCHEL. 

She extends her hand. He simply folds his hands and smiles 

feebly. She waves at the statues. 

                            MITCHEL 

                         You made them? 

He strolls up to an elevated platform. A mild wind plays with 

his hairs. 

                            DAMAN 

                        These rocks talk to me. They convey 

                        what shape they wish to assume. I 

                        just help them with my tools.

Mitchel CLICKS a few pictures. She laps up a baby Hanuman. 

                            MITCHEL 

                        Can I take this? 

He nods. She takes out a paper note from her purse and holds 

out her hand. 

                            DAMAN 

                        Keep it down. I will pick it up 

later. 

                            MITCHEL 

                        Why can't you take it from me? 

                            DAMAN 

                         Because I am an untouchable. 

                            MITCHEL 

                        Untouchable? 

He tosses a small stone into the air. 

                            DAMAN 

                        Our society is divided into four 

                        classes. I belong to the lowest. 

                            MITCHEL 

                         So? 

                            DAMAN 

                        Guys like me are declared 

                        untouchables the moment they are 

                        born. And we carry the burden of 

                        this curse throughout our lives. 

                            MITCHEL 

                        Really? 

                            DAMAN 

                        It is believed that we bring bad 

                        luck. People avoid even our 

                        shadows. If we touch somebody, he 

                        fears he would become dirty, unclean. 

                            MITCHEL 

                         Everyone's blood is red. I don't 

                         believe in such nonsense. 

She steps forward and slips the money into his hands. 

                            MITCHEL 

                        You are a great sculptor. There is 

                        magic in your hands.

She lifts her rucksack, salutes him jovially and leaves. He 

stares at the money in his hands. 

The sun gradually sinks behind the hills. A strong wind 

begins to blow, raising dust. 

                                                                           CUT TO: 

EXT.VILLAGE - NIGHT 

Lightening, THUNDER and rain. A ferocious tempest breaks out

and continues unabated. 

                                                                           CUT TO: 

EXT.VILLAGE - DAY 

Streets clogged with water. Broken walls and roofs. Uprooted 

trees. Chaos. 

                                                                            CUT TO: 

INT.VILLAGE TEMPLE - DAY 

Pande stands in front of the deity's statue along with few 

others. Dents and scratches mark the Goddess's face and body. 

                            PANDE 

                        I feel something ominous is about

                        to happen. Yesterday's storm has 

                        damaged the Mother's statue. It is 

                        so precious, at least a century old. 

He turns towards YADAV,52,a lean, authoritative man, with deep 

furrows on his forehead. 

                            PANDE(CONT'D) 

                        You are the village head. We need 

                        your guidance. 

Yadav's eyes remain fixed on the idol. 

                            YADAV 

                        There is only one man who can do 

                        this task - Daman. 

                            PANDE 

                        What're you talking? 

He touches his ears in disbelief. 

                            PANDE(CONT'D) 

                        How can we allow that low cast 

                        untouchable to enter this sacred 

                         temple? 

                            YADAV 

                        I have a plan. We will shift the 

                        statue out of the temple. 

                            PANDE 

                        And? 

                            YADAV 

                        We will engage some good craftsmen. 

                        Daman will guide them from a 

                        distance. He won't be allowed to 

                        touch or come near the statue. 

                            PANDE 

                        But can he manage so much? 

                             YADAV 

                        He must. We have no choice. 

Yadav folds his hands in front of the Goddess and bolts out. 

Others follow him. 

                                                                                CUT TO: 

EXT.VILLAGE TEMPLE - DAY 

MONTAGE -DAMAN OVERSEES THE RENOVATION WORK

 --The statue stands on a round brick platform outside the 

temple, beneath a peepul tree, surrounded by a circular 

fence. 

--A group of craftsmen work on the idol, their tools making 

SOFT CLANKING SOUNDS. 

--Daman remains outside the fence, gesticulating with his 

hands, passing instructions. 

--The craftsmen listen to him, trying to understand, 

attempting. 

--Daman throws up his hands in despair, squats on the 

ground, brooding. 

BACK TO THE SCENE 

A fellow craftsman approaches him. 

                            CRAFTSMAN#1 

                        Brother, it's very difficult to work 

                        like this. You are a master

                        craftsman. Your hands speak better 

                        than your tongue. How can you run 

                        this show, shouting from here? 

Daman listens to him quietly, his eyes glued to the bust. 

                                                                      CUT TO: 

EXT.VILLAGE TEMPLE - NIGHT 

MONTAGE - FINAL WORK ON THE STATUE

--A full moon illuminates the surroundings brightly. 

--Shadow of a man approaches the statue cautiously.

--He tip toes, removes the cover, takes out his tools and 

starts working. 

--The moon, the hands, WAILING of a dog. 

END MONTAGE 

                                                                        CUT TO: 

EXT.VILLAGE TEMPLE - DAY 

Excited faces. Glowing eyes. Happiness. A crowd gapes at the 

statue in wonder. 

                            PANDE 

                        With God's grace, this task is 

                        finally over. If you ask me, the 

                        Goddess appears more beautiful now. 

 A general MURMUR of agreement. A craftsman steps out. 

                            CRAFTAMAN#1 

                        But we haven't done this job. 

                            YADAV 

                        What do you mean? 

                            CRAFTSMAN#1

                        I mean such great work can be 

                        done only by Daman. The credit must 

                        go to him. 

A beat. 

No one moves. Yadav paces up to the craftsman, some dry leaves 

get crushed under his feet, making a CRACKLING SOUND. 

                            YADAV 

                        Certainly... 

His features distort with anger. 

                            YADAV(CONT'D)

                         … he will get his due. 

                                                                         CUT TO: 

EXT.VILLAGE - OPEN GROUND - DAY 

Two men drag Daman with the help of ropes tied to his 

arms. They bring him to the center of a hostile crowd which 

SHOUTS and ABUSES him constantly. 

Someone chucks a stone at him. A thick line of blood oozes 

out from his right temple. His face convulses with pain. 

At one corner, Yadav sits along with some village elders. He 

raises his hand. The crowd calms down. 

                            YADAV 

                        As you are all aware, an awful crime 

                        has been carried out in our 

                        village. And the criminal is in 

                        front of you. 

The crowd WOOS loudly. 

                            YADAV(CONT'D) 

                         By touching the statue of Goddess, 

                        this untouchable has committed an 

                        unforgivable offense. 

Daman bites his lips. 

                            YADAV(CONT'D) 

                        All members of the village 

                        committee have jointly decided that 

                        this man should be given an 

                        exemplary punishment so that no one 

                        dares to pull off such a mistake in 

                        future. 

                            DAMAN 

                        Please forgive me. I never meant to 

                        hurt anybody. I just wanted to fix 

                        the idol, to make it beautiful 

                        again.

                            YADAV 

                        You did what was forbidden. Your act 

                        is unpardonable. 

He scans the crowd sternly.

                            YADAV(CONT'D) 

                        Now, we will cut the hands that 

                        dared to cross their limit.

He nods at his men. They shove and force Daman to lie on his 

stomach. 

                            DAMAN 

                         (pleading) 

                        For God's sake, let me go. I haven't 

                        done anything wrong. 

They tie him up firmly, making sure that that he cannot

move. Next, a bullock cart runs towards him at full throttle. 

As it's heavy wooden wheels with thick iron rims pass over 

his hands, the crowd CHEERS loudly. He HOWLS with pain, lying

there in a pool of blood and dust. 

Yadav rambles forward. 

                            YADAV 

                        Throw him away. We now expel him 

                        from our society. 

The two men untie his body, hold him from the shoulders and 

drag him on the ground. A small procession of children and 

youngsters HOOT and move behind him. 

They fling him outside the village boundary. He slithers on 

the ground and tries to get up but crashes. His eyes close 

as he loses consciousness. 

A heavy shower begins, drenching him completely. 

                                                                   CUT TO: 

INT.VILLAGE TEMPLE - DAY 

The renovated statue of Ma Durga now stands at its original 

location. Pande bathes and purifies the idol with fresh milk 

amidst CHANTING of sacred mantras. 

Yadav offers flowers at the deity's feet. The crowd PRAYS in 

unison. Th e temple bells RING loudly.

                                                                  CUT TO: 

EXT.ROCKY HILL - DAY 

A strong wind brushes against the grand busts of Gods and 

Goddesses, raising dust. 

Daman leans against a rock. Both his hands are wrapped in 

dirty rags. He tries to pick up a chisel but it slips down 

and hits the ground with a BANG. 

Tears roll down his cheeks as he looks up towards the 

heavens. The feeble SOUND of temple bells reaches the hill. 

He folds his hands and bows down reverently in the direction

of the temple. 

A white eagle hovers above the majestic statues. 

                                                             FADE OUT: 

Credits roll

***

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