My name is Man

[TRUE INCIDENT]

A middle aged woman is talking to her car washman [Camera POV from woman to man]. Car washman is staring at her with big eyes and a gullible smile almost like a loyal pet dog.

Woman: “300 rupiya har mahina. Roz gaari aur bike dono ka dhulai chahiye." [Bengali translation] "300 taka proti mashe. Roj gaari ar bike dutoi dhute hobe.” She looks at him up and down with slightly crooked eyebrows and continues after a pause, "Naam kya hai?" [Bengali translation]“Tomar naam ki?”

Excited by the question, the man’s eyes grow bigger and with an increased enthusiasm he says,

Man: “Mera naam MAN.” [Bengali translation] "Amar naam MAN."

Woman: "Haan? Kya? [Bengali translation]“Hyaan? Ki?”

Man: “MAN.”

Woman: “Man???” Totally surprised, she asks him after a pause, "Baap maa ne naam rakha hai?" [Bengali translation]“Baba maa naam diyeche?”

The smile on the man’s face disappears as he looks down and says,

Man: "Baap maa ko dekha nahi kabhi bhi" [Bengali translation]“Baba maa ke dekhi ni kokhono...”

Woman: "Oh... phir?" [Bengali translation]“Oh... tahole?”

The man slowly lifts up his face slightly staring into a void and says, "Mera koi naam nahi tha. Bachpan se jisko jo marzi kuch bhi naam bulate the" [Bengali translation]“Amar kono naam chilo na. Choto belaye je jar khushi ultopalta naam diye dakto...”

[Quick flashback shots of him as a kid at different ages]

Different people in different situations calling a street boy with different slang names like,

[0 to 5 years age] “Ei baccha!”

[5 to 10 years age] “Chhotu” “Chhotka” “Puchke” “Phochka”(joking tones)

[10 to 15 years age] “Kelaney” “Bolda” “Gadha” “Paatha” (taunting tones)

[15 to 20 years age] “Bokachoda” “Gandu” ”Shuorer baccha” (violent tones)

[cut to]

Man: "Par main toh yeh sab kuch bhi nahi hoon... mein toh insaan hoon... Iss liye bada hoke maine hi apna naam diya MAN" [Bengali translation] "Kintu ami toh shey shob konotai noi... ami toh manush... Tai boro hoye ami e amar naam dilam MAN”, the enthusiastic smile comes back on his face as he stares straight into the eyes of the woman. [Camera POV from woman to man][fade out]

 

~ TITLES ~