Ahalya

Story/Screenplay by
Sujoy Ghosh

1.
FADE IN:
I/E. VARIOUS - VARIOUS
A series of dolls. Almost like miniature human beings.
Perfectly carved out of stone. Standing in a row.
CLOSE IN on one dolls face.. A young man.. a pleasant smile
on the young mans face.
In the background a door bell rings.
A police sub inspector stands outside the two storey house.
A very normal middle class house. The Inspectors badge read
INDRA SEN.
No answer. Indra rings the bell again. The name plate on the
door reads GOUTAM SAHDU.
Indra steps back to look.. He can see some one move behind
the curtains, on the first floor.
Indra turns and is startled to see a beautiful woman standing
in front of him. He did not even hear the door open, let
alone the woman appearing.
For a second, Indra is taken aback by the beauty of the
woman. Perhaps the most beautiful woman in the world.
Yes?

THE WOMAN

INDRA
(tongue tied)
Im here to see Mr. Sadhu
CUT TO:
Indra walks behind the beautiful woman, through the semi dark
passage.
CUT TO:
The woman brings Indra to the sitting room.
THE WOMAN
Please wait here. I will inform Mr.
Sadhu. Would you like something?
Tea....?
INDRA
Some tea, if its not a problem.
The woman smiles. The room lights up.
THE WOMAN
No not a problem at all.
FWA 286166
sujoy ghosh

2.
The SOUND of something falling in the background. Inder
turns. Couple of the dolls have fallen on the floor.
The woman walks over to pick them up.. She smiles at Inder.
THE WOMAN (CONTD)
I have never solved this mystery.
Every time some one new comes in
this room, the dolls fall down!!
Indra is dazzled by The woman. As she bends to pick up the
dolls, Indra can almost see her breasts. Indra turns his
look away..
INDRA
Maybe the fan..
The woman nods as if that could be the reason.. She places
the dolls back in their position and mockingly scolds them..
THE WOMAN
All of you are becoming very
naughty!!
The woman turns to Indra, a dazzling smile on her face..
THE WOMAN (CONTD)
Please wait.
Indra is alone in the room. He breathes a sigh of relief..
INDRA
(to himself)
Holy shit!! What was that!!
Indra looks around the room. A large room, clearly belonging
to an artiste. Lots of sculptures and paintings.. A large
painting from Ramayan which seems out of place. It is a
painting of Ram turning a stone into a woman.
A cupboard inside which there is a small stone resembling a
large pebble. Kept very carefully and in a precious manner.
Indra wonders why? Looks like any average stone from the
street.
Indra walks about looking at the room and stops near the
shelf of the doll. He notices something.. He picks up a doll
and looks closely at its face..
Brings out a photo of a man from his pocket.
Checks the photo and the doll. They are the same, as if the
doll was modelled on the person in the photo.
Indra puts the doll back on the table, thinking. Turns back
to head to the sofa when..
The doll falls again.
FWA 286166
sujoy ghosh

3.
Indra is surprised. The fan is off. The doors are shut. Only
the air conditioner is on. That too the breeze is in a
complete different direction.
Indra is about to put the doll back when a voice is heard
from the background..
GOUTAM (O.S.)
Again it has fallen!!
Indra looks. An elegant man in his late seventies walk in. It
is obvious that Indra has never met or seen the man before.
The man, very active for his age, walks up to Indra. Shakes
his hand and takes the doll..
GOUTAM (CONTD)
Goutam Sadhu.
Puts the doll back and turns to Indra, gesturing him to sit
on the sofa.
GOUTAM (CONTD)
Its the mystery you know. This
falling of the dolls..
Goutam lights a cigarette. Offers to Indra, who refuses.
INDRA
Yes. I know. Your daughter was
telling me..
Goutam is surprised. His eyebrows rise..
GOUTAM
My daughter?!
Almost, as if on cue, The woman enters the room with tea.
Yes..

INDRA

Indra gestures toward The woman. Goutam is amused and breaks

into hearty laughter.
GOUTAM
Her? Unfortunately you are wrong
Inspector. She happens to be my
better half.
Even The woman is amused. Indra is embarrassed.
Sorry..

INDRA

GOUTAM
Areh no no.. Its a common mistake.
I tried explaining to this mad girl
also.. She should move on.
(MORE)
FWA 286166
sujoy ghosh

4.
GOUTAM (CONT'D)
Find someone who has more life in
him. I dont know what she sees in
me. Its not even that I am good in
bed..
THE WOMAN
(irritated)
Uff! Will you stop talking rubbish!
Goutam smiles.
GOUTAM
Talking rubbish is also a function
of age my dear..
The woman ignoring turns to Inder..
THE WOMAN
How many sugar?
Indra gestures one.
GOUTAM
What rubbish! Why are you giving
him pansy drink like tea? Give him
some scotch.. I have some fantastic
single malt Inspector.. Will make
your blood run like a wild horse..
All this tea fee has turned us into
pansies. Look at me, I am 78.. I
drink and smoke to my hearts
content
Indra smiles.
INDRA
Not while on duty.
The woman gives Indra the cup. Their fingers touch. Its like
an electric current for Indra. Goutam does not notice.
GOUTAM
So what can I do for you Inspector?
INDRA
I am here to..
The woman gets up.
THE WOMAN
Sorry. I will leave you to talk.
(to Goutam)
Come up after you finish.
GOUTAM
At once my darling.

FWA 286166
sujoy ghosh

5.
INDRA
Thank you for the tea.
The woman smiles politely and leaves the room. Goutam watches
her leave with an admiration on his face.
GOUTAM
Beautiful isnt she?
Indra not sure how to react, nods his head.
GOUTAM (CONTD)
All my creations are only by her.
Every inch of her inspires me.
People say I am one of the worlds
greatest sculptor, but without my
wife I am nothing.
INDRA
Thats very admirable. Not many
likes sharing credit.
GOUTAM
No. Whatever I am is because of
her.
Indra brings out the photo.
INDRA
Mr. Sadhu.. This man is missing.
Last known, he had come to meet
you.
Goutam looks at the photo.
GOUTAM
Yes. He is a model. I forget his
name..
Arjun Roy.

INDRA

GOUTAM
Yes. Arjun. Beginning to forget
names now. He came to model for me
and after that I really dont know.
In fact my last doll was modelled..
INDRA
Yes I saw. But Mr. Sadhu isnt it a
little unusual?
What?

GOUTAM

INDRA
Using men as models? I mean
normally all artistes use women..
FWA 286166
sujoy ghosh

6.
Indra takes a sip of the tea. Goutam gets up to walk around
the room and show his creations..
GOUTAM
Really? If a woman, then I have the
worlds most beautiful woman in my
own house. How can I get better
than that? But jokes, aside.. I
find the male species much more
beautiful. Much more graceful. If
you dont believe me, look at the
animal kingdom. The lion, the
peacock, the tiger.. The males are
the beautiful ones.
INDRA
So he came to you to be a model?
GOUTAM
Yes. He was in desperate need for
money I remember... And then..
Goutam stops. As if he has remembered.
INDRA
Mr. Sadhu? You were saying?
GOUTAM
(muttering)
Oh no!
INDRA
Oh no what?
GOUTAM
I made a mistake. I told him about
the stone.
INDRA
What stone?
GOUTAM
Inspector.. I m afraid you wont
believe me if I tell you.
Try me.

INDRA

Goutam opens the cupboard and brings out the stone. He puts
it in the table between him and Indra. Something VIBRATES.
Goutam checks. The woman has left her mobile on the sofa.
GOUTAM
She keeps leaving her mobile
everywhere. Any minute now she will
scream..
Indra is about to pick up the stone.
FWA 286166
sujoy ghosh

7.

Careful.
Why?

GOUTAM (CONTD)
INDRA

GOUTAM
It has magic powers.
INDRA
(amused)
What magic powers does it have?
GOUTAM
Have you read the Ramayan?
INDRA
Once. When I was very young. I know
the basic story line.
Goutam bursts out laughing.
GOUTAM
I love it. Basic story line must
remember that. Okay so the basic
story line of this stone isThe god..
(pauses)
In fact your name sake.. Indra was
a very mischievous one. He had a
stone which allowed him to turn
into any person that he wanted to..
INDRA
Whoa. STOP. This stone can turn you
into anyone you want?? Are you
fucking serious?
GOUTAM
I told you.. You wont believe me.
INDRA
And how is this linked to Arjun?
GOUTAM
He was scared of some people and
begged me to allow him to use the
stone so he could hide from them.
Indra gets up flabbergasted.
INDRA
Mr. Sadhu.. You are telling me that
this stone has allowed Arjun to
change into some other person?
GOUTAM
I warned him. But he was adamant.
FWA 286166
sujoy ghosh

8.
INDRA
Rubbish. Mr. Sadhu I need you to
come to the police station. And I
suggest you inform your lawyer. Im
arresting you on suspicion of
murder.
GOUTAM
Im telling you the truth
Inspector.
The womans voice comes from upstairs..
THE WOMAN (O.S.)
Darling.. Can you please bring me
my mobile..
Try it.
What?

GOUTAM
INDRA

GOUTAM
You dont believe me. Try it. Put
it in your hand and think you are
me. Then go and give the mobile to
my wife.
Indra looks at Goutam. His eyes filled with disbelief. Goutam
places the stone in his palm.
CUT TO:
Indra goes up to the first floor.. With the mobile in his
hand. He can see the door to the bedroom. He stops to wonder
what the fuck is he doing.. When he sees inside The woman in a more casual wear.. Lying on the bed. Flicking
through television channels. Unbelievably sexy. Indra opens
the door. The woman looks at him. Stretches out her hand.
THE WOMAN
Give. How long are you going to
take with that policeman?
Indra mechanically gives the phone. Stunned. Looks at the
mirror. To his horror he sees the reflection of Goutam.
THE WOMAN (CONTD)
And why did you lie that you are
not good in bed? Get rid of him and
come up at once. I want to make
love.
CUT TO:

FWA 286166
sujoy ghosh

9.
Almost in a trance, Indra walks out of the room. But the
image of The woman is too strong. He turns back.
The woman looks up. A mesmerizing smile comes on her face.
She stretches her arms out to Indra..
THE WOMAN (CONTD)
Come. Make love to me.
Indra loses himself in The womans arm. He can smell her
fragrance. The whole world seem filled with bliss. His head
is feeling a little light. Indra in happiness, closes his
eyes.
CUT TO:
Indra wakes up. He is feeling claustrophobic. He seems to be
closed in a box. He can only move his eyes. To his left he
can see Goutam and The woman talking to another man, who
looks like a model.
Indra tries to grab their attention. He screams desperately.
INDRA
Help me, Help Me..
Indra realizes no one can hear him. He tries to break out.
Its like he is trapped in a nightmare. He tries to move. He
cannot. He tries harder and desperately and suddenly finds
himself falling.
Goutam and the woman turns as one the dolls fall. The model
also look. The woman walks over..
GOUTAM
I have never solved this mystery.
Every time some one new comes in
this room, the dolls fall down!!
The woman picks up the doll.. Shows it to Goutam.. A proud
smile comes on Goutams face.
GOUTAM (CONTD)
My latest creation, all thanks to
my wife..
Turns to the model.
GOUTAM (CONTD)
Would you like some tea?
The model nods. Goutam shouts out to his wife..
GOUTAM (CONTD)
Ahalya.. A cup of tea for our
guest.

FWA 286166
sujoy ghosh

10.
Ahalya nods hearing her husband, places the doll of Indra
back with the others. A smile comes on her face..
AHALYA
(mock anger)
Now dont you start becoming
naughty like the others!
CUT TO:
BLACK on which the title is typed..

Ahalya

FWA 286166
sujoy ghosh