Mardara Qawl Ast (Men Keep Their Promises)
Director: Saed Orokzai
Duration: 01:37:25; Aspect Ratio: 1.366:1; Hue: 316.061; Saturation: 0.004; Lightness: 0.449; Volume: 0.203; Cuts per Minute: 16.987; Words per Minute: 32.814
Summary: Date (Afghan Calendar): 1365
Story of a poor kite-maker and his cousin, who live in the old city of Kabul and love each other, but another man comes between them.
Footage Source: Afghan Films editing dept tape
Translated by Rajni Prakash.
AFGHAN FILM PRESENTS
Sher jaan,
What is wrong? Why are you so upset today?
How nice it is to be like a mountain, strong and rooted.
It seems you were not aware of what I asked you.
Forgive me if I was not aware, for I have a lot on my mind!
No problem, it is the time for you to go into deep thought.
Congratulations on your new job. Seems like you have become a fortune teller!
I have seen your fate. You daydream a lot, you become sleepless and you eat less; your face turns yellow.
Open your mouth to speak of good things. You have nothing else to say?
Dear Sher, isn't it like this?
I do not know what to say. It seems you are right.
Now you see, you have confessed in your own words.
What are you thinking about?
About you.
About me?
Yes, about you. How nice it would have been if the kites had eyes as beautiful as yours.
What is the use of it?
It is that I would have flown them over the streets so that all the people of the alleys, all people of Reka khana, Ali Reza Khan Alley, and Bagh-e-Ali Mardan would have been stunned by the eyes of my kite.
Then, how much would you have sold your kite for, in that case?
One hundred thousand
How less!
Okay, one million.
Now, it is fine. You would have been quite rich. I am wondering what you would have done with that much money!
That much of money? That much of money, I would have bought paper and reed again to make kites.
How strange!
Why strange? I would have drawn your eyes on all of them and flown them so that people could see what beautiful eyes you have.
What would you do then?
Again I would do the same! For the rest of my life. Till the end of the world.
Dear Sher, if someone has an eye on me what would you do?
I would pluck out his eye! I will make him blind. Cousin, your neighbor, Fazlo, is looking at you hiding behind the flags?
Yes, but I do not care about him.
MEN KEEP THEIR PROMISE
See cousin, I have stretched the threads.
Sher jaan, let me see if I can spin it or not?
Here
Hey, cousin! You have entangled all of it. See what you have done with the entire thread!
TV_AF
It was like that.
Take from this side of the thread, move it a little bit.
Enough
No, put a little more.
Leave it.
Leave it, otherwise it will break.
Let it break.
No, the thread will be spoiled.
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Aslam o Aleikum
Khuja, come and have tea.
May God be with you
Sher! Nowadays your wings are sleeping; you are not seen on the roof.
Brother, I am making something you have never seen even in your dreams.
What are you making? Balloon or airplane?
Better than them. I am making a bride! A bride!
A bride?
She has beaten her daughter-in-law because she doesn't know how to wash cloths.
Oh, for washing the clothes?
Yes.
Tahera,
Yes!
My poor mother is sweeping the courtyard. Leave the clothes for her to wash and go down.
Okay.
You leave it, I will sweep it.
I know you Fazlo, you are lying!
Throughout the alley they all tell the same story. The word is going around. I am informing you to have followed the norms of how to treat neighbors. It is now up to you! I just do not want you to say Fazlo was not good enough to act as a responsible neighbor.
If this is a lie and a rumor, you would pay for it Fazlo.
It is ok; you are your mother's life. There is no scarcity of girls for you!
Don't come down to these places.
Get out Sher! You should never set foot in this house!
Mahmood, for God sake, leave him. He is your cousin.
My name will not be Mahmood if I let you go alive from here.
Mother's sweetheart, for God sake. I don't have anyone else in this world except for one sister and a nephew.
If he goes to sky or the ground, I would never give my daughter's hand in marriage to a man who plays with pigeons and runs kites! There is no scarcity of men in this worked to give my daughter to a penniless, poor nephew of yours!
Little Haider Jailani, you force the winds,
Hey, bring your kite.
Hey, you entangled my thread. Which direction is the wind blowing? Hey, that side. Give my kite. Let's run it.
I have not seen her in months and I have no news from her! Tahera! My lost Tahera, fortune-teller Tahera. What hands she used to have!
Her hands were whiter than a dove's chest.
Tomorrow is Eid. Tomorrow, Tahera wears a new dress! And she will kiss the girls tomorrow. Tomorrow she gets gifts of Eid from her father and mother. And you Kite! What would you do tomorrow? Would you open your wings? Would you fly? Would you fly over her house or not? If you go, fine and good. If you do not, I would burn you. I would tear you up into two pieces.
TV_AF
Great is His glory (God's glory). Your name is right, oh you prophet!
God, you are great! Swear you to Oldest of the old, swear you to the Four Followers, swear you to Imam Azam and holy shrines, make me reach my goal (beloved)
Market
Lovers, lovers, happy Eid to you
Happy eid to lovers
Happy eid to lovers
Lovers, happy eid to you
Eid has arrived so that spirits become clean
Exclusive songs are auspicious
Lovers, happy eid to you
Happy eid to lovers
To you, the moon of sky and ground
Happy eid up to seventh sky
Lovers, happy eid to you
Happy eid to lovers
Which one will be the winner?
Once more! Once more! Once more!
I bet for two that this one will win.
Take my bet also.
This one will win
Oh, it hits
Hit, on its head.
Bring your money, come here.
Hold from its' ear
Come on!
Uncle, give me a cup of tea.
Sher, happy Eid to you! What happened to your airplane, your balloon? When are we eating the Nuqul (Sweet almonds) of your wedding?
Salam, mother. Happy Eid to you. May God accept all your prayers and promises.
Happy Eid to you too. May you keep your head high.
May you live long, may you live a long life.
Come my dear son, have a cup of tea.
Enjoy your tea, mother. I do not drink tea.
Ali, draw your kite in, as Sher is flying his.
Punishment for Qurut (a dairy product) is hot water i.e. mashing it in to pieces
Happy ... Eid to you
Happy Eid to you too.
Great is God's name, great is God's name. Eat this, eat this. Great is God's name.
Allah-o-Akbar (God is great)
Dad, see I caught the running kite.
Idiot, what have you got?
I caught the running kite.
You did a bad thing. Come close to me.
Happy Eid to you.
Oh, no, he tore off my kite. Look at him.
Keep your mouth shut! May you die young!
Who has let you come here? Come down!
I wish you die young. Get lost. May you die young! Go, get lost.
Oh God, what have I done?
I am going.
Go, let lost.
Al salam o aleikum (peace be upon you!)
And to you too.
Sher,
What happened to your airplane? What happened to your balloon? When do we get to eat the Nuqul (sweet almonds) of your wedding?
Keep away
House for rent (to let)
I have seen your fate. You daydream even more, you become sleepless and you eat less; your face turns yellow.
My whole world has been totally destroyed. If the whole world becomes a labyrinth, if the gates of heaven and earth are closed and the seven seas and seven mountains are set before me, I will again go after her to find her wherever she is. I will melt the hard heart of her father. If it is melted, fair and well. If not, it will not be safe (it should be aware)!
If the world becomes a labyrinth
I will come and follow you through thousands of labyrinths
How can I remain without you
And if the world becomes a street, a street very lengthy and distant
I will spread my wings and follow you
How can I remain without you?
I am roaming from one house to another, meandering from one lane to the other
I am looking for you; I am putting the dust of your feet in my eyes
Time has tied my wings, life without you - has made me tired
Otherwise I would have flown and come to you
I would have opened my heart's knots
Otherwise I would have flown and come...
I would have opened my heart's knots
Without you the sun of the world has no light
Without you, the peace of the heart is taken away from the heart.
Without you, the sun of the world has no light
Without you, the peace of the heart is taken away from the heart.
Oh, brother! Brother! Has anybody been shifted here?
Yes, some time ago, the movers brought someone here. From here, when you go (that way), it is to your right.
Right?
Yes, it is a blue door. To the right.
Mahmood! Mohsen!
Beat him, don't let him go. Break his limbs.
Mahmood, don't go. Hold your father. What shall I do God?
Who has informed him that we have come here?
Hey, I am telling you.
Hey mouse, what are you doing here?
Cousin, I am Sher (lion)! You do not know me?
Who does not know you kite runner, dove seller? You have got a reputation on the roads!
Wait, long haired boy, you will know how tough life is.
Leave him, wait. Leave.
Now you are free, it is up to you whether you will approach the authorities or file a complaint against us. Whatever you are doing, you go.
Go, complain about us.
I am not a boy to complain. I am not a bad man! Men's broth takes time to be prepared!
Assalam o aleikum, Dear Khalifah jaan (peace be upon you). How are you?
Salam o aleikum. Salam o aleikum.
Sher jaan, see.
Asslam o aleikum, uncle Nabi.
Look dear Khalifah, I had told you about Sher jan, I brought him to come and kiss your hands (pay his respect to you).
Very well! Come ahead, son.
Pray for him!
How are you, son. Welcome my son!
Salam o aleikum, dear Ghafar.
How are you doing?
Thank you.
Please sit.
Let's raise our hands to pray for this young boy. May God keep him proud and successful.
Amen! (May this will be accepted by the God of the whole world)
Work hard, do exercise, hopefully you will become a good athlete.
That is the reason why I came.
Sweeten your mouth.
Here, keep these sweets.
Get up son, Fazlo. Fazlo is wrestling with Kabir.
No.
Well, then he is wrestling with Razaq.
Razaq, get up son.
Get up.
He is wrestling with Razaq.
I do.
Do you also do, son, Fazlo?
Yes, I do.
He wrestles with Razaq.
Ghafar, get up my son.
Khalifah Asad, get another student of yours.
Fatah, stand up son.
Right.
Khalifah!
Do you want to wrestle with Mahmood?
I have already told you I wanted to wrestle with Mahmood.
Get up.
Khalifah Hasan.
Sher wrestles with Mahmood. Do you let Mahmood wrestle with him?
Do you want to wrestle with Sher?
Stand up.
That is okay. He wrestles with Sher.
Oh, you people. Be informed, tomorrow is the first day of celebrations in Ghazi garden, a competition for Wrestling. Tomorrow evening is the first day of celebrations in Ghazi Garden and it is wrestling.
Tomorrow is the first day of celebration in Ghazi garden - wrestling.
Why are you laughing? Come forward and I will wrestle with you again! Anyone who wants, I will wrestle with him!
Sher, wow, Sher.
Sher!
Sher, you are indeed a lion. I was at fault. Forget about the past and from this point onwards we are brothers by oath (to Quran).
May God bless you Mahmood.
Bless you, Mahmood, my son.
Zulaikha! Zulaikha! Do you know I am so very happy today, so very happy today that I cannot even begin to tell you. Do you know Zulaikha, Mahmoud and my dad have patched up with Sher. From now on, he comes to our house. I can see him, I can talk to him again.
I am really happy to see you happy, Tahera jaan.
Sher jaan, ShEr, you are indeed a lion. I was at fault. Forget about the past and from this point onwards we are brothers by oath (to Quran).
I am carrying the burden of two stones: stone of love and stone of brotherhood. Tahera is Mahmood's sister and Mahmood - he is my brother by oath (to Quran). What do I have to do? Tahera or Mahmood?
Men keep their promise. Her love is unlawful for me. I will never go to her house. I will never talk to her.
Assalam o aleikum
And to you too.
And at the end of it is death. This shall also pass. Life is not worth the sadness. This life is too short.
Oh, moon, you the 14th night moon! You are all alone. Do you see me? Can you see Sher crying?
Damn this disloyal life!
Sher jaan, Sher jaan. Where are you going?
Sher jaan, what are you doing here?
Nothing.
Why nothing?
God, I beg you to let these two be together as they desire.
What are you doing here?
Tying up threads.
Hope all is good. For whom?
For my heart!
For your heart?
Yes, for my heart! For you! For you not to be forlorn! For you, may God keep you safe. May god keep you close. For you.
Tahera jaan, you read my fate earlier. Now sleep has left my eyes, I cannot eat much and I have turned yellow. What else do you want?
You, yourself. Your health and well being. That talk was due to friendship, and now also.
Now what?
You understand well, do not tease me.
What?
The truth! The truth between our hearts!
There is nothing between us anymore. Many rumors have come out of our story. Those years are gone with the wind now.
Yes, ... Mahmood and I
Sher, indeed you were a lion. I have been at fault. Let's forget about the past; from this point onwards we are brothers by oath (on Quran).
Sher jaan. You have taken an oath, you promised, but I have not made any promise. I love you. I love you. I really love you.
Tahera jaan, We will meet on Judgment Day.
Sher jaan, Sher jaan. If you do not bother for me my blood will be on your hands! Sher jaan!
Let's go, Tahera jaan, let's go.
Sher jaan, Sher jaan!
Respected Ruler, long live. You are full of interesting stories.
Please help yourself, there is nothing much.
Hakim Sahib, please help yourself. Please eat something.
Well, Mirza (clerk). We are waiting for your response! So that we can prepare the arrangements (of marriage) and sweeten our mouths with happiness.
I swear to God. I do not know what I have to say! I don't know at all.
Mirza Sahib, if you accepted me as your servant (son-in-law), you would make me a proud man in the eyes of friends and foes.
Respected Ruler, we have been known to each other for years. I have been your clerk and I have been at your service. I cannot say anything more. To be honest who better than you to have as my son-in-law!
Very well! Then it is settled now! Congratulations, respected ruler!
Do not cry like this! Keep quiet, it is not good! My daughter! Do you think anyone could utter a word against your father? This must be your destiny! Had it supposed to happen, it would have happened. This is your destiny! Now, keep quiet, it is not good! Quiet! Go inside the room.
Respected clerk, God willing, we will be ready within this week.
Whatever is God's will.
May God protect you. Bye.
May God protect you.
May God protect you! Welcome!
What happened to you my life! Tahera jaan, I would sacrifice myself for you! Why are you like this? My God!
For God's sake, run over here! See what she has done to herself!
My life! But why? I sacrifice my life for you! Why my child?
For God's sake run over here! Run and see what has happened to Tahera. Run, all of you.
What is going on mother!
Tahera! Tahera! I do not know what has happened to Tahera. Sweet heart! Tahera, sweetheart!
Mother, what happened to my sister?
I have no idea what has happened? Call the others! For God sake.
Hold her! Hold her!
What has happened?
She has taken this medicine! Look here.
She has consumed poison. Let her die!
Had it not been for my dignity, I would have let you die here.
Hold her for God's sake, as she is dying.
Take her.
What do I have to do, my God? My daughter! Taherra jaan! Sweetheart!
Mother! What happened? Is Tahera alive or...?
Yes, my son. Thank God, with his grace it is okay now! Her condition is not all that bad!
Had it not been because of my promise to Mahmood, I would have ruined the whole world!
You killed yourself by crying. Mother's darling, what will you gain out of these tears?
Enough my child, why are you crying?
Quiet now! Wipe your tears.
Quiet now, it is enough. Why are you crying?
Little Haider Jailani, you force the winds
For whom? For what?
Sher, where is your balloon? Where is your airplane? When are we finally going to eat your wedding sweets?
Hey you deaf man, hey you yelper. What are you thinking about?
Thinking about a less-than-a man! Thinking about weak elements; thinking about you!
Go away, Fazlo! I will have nothing to do with you!
I still have something to do with you! Those years when I could not stand up to you are gone! Now, this is Fazlo's turn! My time! Now you have to pay it back!
Seems like you are looking for a rival!
Me? I don't have a rival.
I turned to no one but God! Look me in the eye!
Go away you mouse! In this cave of yours! You can just talk.
I turned to no one but God! Fazlo! Here we are and here is the field! And the bet is your entire life! If you are a man, show up tomorrow and run your kite on the hill.
Don't talk much, It is ok, we will prove ourselves there!
Look at the way he is coming.
For years, I have severed his kite. I will severe it this time, too.
Give me the thread.
Don't worry at all.
Salamo aleikum
Salam o aleikum
How are you Qayoum jaan? How is your father? Live long!
Esmat, you fly the kite, and then I will entangle it later.
Ghulam, you take the kite to the side, take it away!
Go farther!
Go fast.
Let Sher cut this.
Let Fazlo cut it.
Doubtless
Is it alright?
It is alright.
Leave the string loose.
Look at it, donkey.
Cut, cut, cut.
Fazlo will be the winner.
Cut, cut it.
Gather the string, Yousuf. I am pulling it.
Wow. No doubt.
Well done, Sher jaan.
I am the winner.
Look at Fazlo and the flying kite.
You didn't hold the string properly.
You have shamed us.
Give me the money!
Take it brother, you are in a hurry.
As if we are running away.
Don't do anything, it's okay.
Leave me! I will not spare him.
Now everything is finished. Now it's ok, be patient.
You did not let me!
Take it from me.
Tahera, you were right. You told the truth. Indeed, love brings even the mountain to its knees!
Sher jaan, you have made a promise. You have taken a pledge. I have not made any promises; I have not taken a pledge! I love you. I am really in love with you! If you do not bother for me, my blood would be on your hands! Sher jaan, Sher!
Men keep their promises! I do not break my promise.
Without you the sun in the sky is dark
Without you, the peace of the heart is taken away from the heart.
Without you the sun in the sky is dark
Without you, the peace of the heart is taken away from the heart.
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