FALTU:  SYNOPSIS

“SABER OPORE MANUSH SATYO

TAHAR OPORE KICHU NAI’.

• Story is based on a place known as “Ranir Ghat”.  Period: Approximately late 70s.
• The “Ghat” had a boat jetty on the River bank.  Besides, there was a Tea shop, which was looked after by “Moira-bou”, a widow and her son “Jaga”.  The boat ticket collector “Chaubeji” was a friend of her Late husband.  In this capacity, Chaubeji was a combination of “Friend, Philosopher and Guide” of “Moira-bou”, who was, apparently, a very tough lady but with a golden heart, who looked after one young, good looking girl but totally insane “Surikhepi”.  This attractive young girl was, unfortunately, a source of attention of many local residents and travellers, who took advantage of this mentally-unbalanced girl, who could only utter one word “Baba” (Father).
• In spite of the protection given by “Moira-bou” and “Chaubeji”, more often than not, “Surikhepi” was regularly violated by a number of people, who forced their attention on “Surikhepi”.  “Jaga” was one of the violators.  “Surikhepi” got pregnant and was looked after by “Moira-bou” directly, who was more of a mother to her.  Chaubeji was also involved to protect, to the extent possible, this young woman.  Overtime, Surikhepi gave birth to a healthy and good looking son, whose name was given by the local residents as “Faltu” – since no appropriate name could be found for him.  Faltu was loved by all local people and he too could use only one word “Baba”, to all people around him, when he was a child.
• “Moura-bou’s”  only son “Jaga” married Lakshmi, a local young girl identified by Ismail, a bus driver, who had  very good relation with Lakshmi’s father.  Unfortunately, however, partly due to the impotency of “Jaga”, Ismail, the saviour turned lover had an affair with Lakshmi – although kept as a well protected secret.  This union ensured Lakshmi giving birth to “Tuki”.
• Faltu learnt about his birth and the fact that any local male could be his father!!  This unfortunate finding, overtime, made him very angry and often violent.  However, to mitigate his anger and frustration, professionally, Ismail trained Faltu to be an expert bus driver to stabilize his economic status.  Simultaneously, the young girl “Tuki” and “Faltu” fell in love – although completely unaccepted by “Jaga”, who thought that Faltu and Tuki are brother and sister!!
• Supported by the local Police Daroga (Police Officer) Sri Ashwini, a good friend of Chaubeji, and other local people like Laxman, Madan etc., Jaga was forced to accept the fact that this young couple can marry and lead a normal married life inspite of the illegitimacy of “Faltu” and his unknown father.
• Faltu and Tuki was given the blessings to enter into socially accepted “Holly matrimony”, thereby proving the eternal truth “Sabar Opore Manush Satyo”.   Nothing else matters where there is true love and genuine compassion.