Maati Maay
"Maati Maay? A Grave-keeper's Tale is based on a short story
'Baayen' by the well-known writer Mahasweta Devi. It is the heart-rending tale
of a young mother who is trapped between her instincts and needs, and the
compulsions of her ancestral duty as dictated by the social system.
Chandi Nandita Das is a beautiful young woman from a lower caste, whose family
has traditionally been in charge of a children's graveyard. When her father
dies, there being no other male in the family, Chandi inherits the job and
performs it with great pride as her sacred duty. But after she gives birth to
her son Bhagirath, things start to change. Being a nursing mother, Chandi now
begins to get deeply affected by children's deaths. Handling tiny corpses takes
a toll on her body and mind. Getting more and more distressed while performing
their funeral rites, she wishes she could be relieved of that duty. But then,
who will protect the graves from wild animals?? Won't the ancestors be angered??
Is it not wrong to give up a sacred trust??
Chandi's husband Narsu Atul Kulkarni fails to understand her turmoil. Her moral
dilemmas, her growing anxieties are simply beyond him. The community forces her
to continue with her work. And when she finally rebels, the villagers, steeped
in ignorance and superstition, become extremely hostile and punish her in the
harshest possible manner.
Twelve years later Narsu, hoping to justify his own actions, narrates Chandi's
story to their now adolescent son.
If Chandi gets justice in the end, it is only through the love and courage of
her son Bhagirath Kshitij Gawade who dares to defy the system.
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