Madhumati

Belief in Re-Birth is ingrained in the Hindu. This is a story of re-birth and of two lovers who, having met in their previous birth, had, through evil circumstances, lost each other. Anand, the hero of the picture, accompained by a doctor friend, is on his way to the station to receive his wife Radha. The way is blocked and the two friends are forced to spend a while in a hoary mansion obviously heavy with a brooding past. Anand notices a portrait which he recognizes somehow-he does not quite know how – but he is absolutely convinced that it is Urga Narayan, the Zamindar, whom he had served in his past birth. He is also certain that it was painted by himself, but how did he know? The old caretaker of the mansion says that what Anand Babu has said is quite true. This is the portrait of the last of the Zamindars of the estate and his name was Ugra Narayan. “It all comes back to me”. Anand thinks aloud. Here a flashback to the past birth starts the story: ANAND is appointed new Manager of the estate. Among the servants there is Virsingh, who not only looks like but it is a villain. He revels in extorting money from the poor and exerting his power over the weak and helpless. Anand is stern with him, which makes Virsingh his sworn enemy. Urga Narayan comes to the estate to take charge of it. Once, while riding recklessly through the narrow streets, he nearly crushes a little boy to death. Anand rescues him. This wins pretext, is taken to the Zamindar’s mansion. A few days later Anand comes across Madhumati’s double – whose name is Madhavi, related to a Officer. Anand wonders why she avoids him so. Soon he realises his mistake. Madhavi takes pity on his state and promises to help him to have the Zamindar arrested. Anand gets an assignment from the Zamindar to paint a portrait of him. It is pre-arranged that the be present without being seen while Madhavi posing as Madhumati comes back to life to enter the mansion and corner the Zamindar into open admission of his crimes. It is a stormy night. Anand is busy painting the portrait when suddenly there appears Madhumati’s spirit which Anand, of course, mistakes for Madhavi in disguise. Towards the end, it is shown vividly how Madhumati in order to save her honour and protect the chastity of her love for Anand, was forced into suicide. The arrest the Zamindar. Madhavi arrives late on the scene. It is only then that Anand realises it was Madhumati herself who had come to help him to avenge her murder. In the end Anand leaps to his death so that he might unite once more with her whom he had loved with deathless love… HERE AGAIN is Anand in this life on his way to the station to receive his wife Radha, obviously Madhumati come back to him.

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