Suman Deb

A journey through the life of an aged Bengali poet, Shashibhushan. Shashbhushan, now blind, reflects on his past. Stimulated by sounds - songs, crows, traffic, and an electronic lighter - he recalls the now-vanished arts and literature scene of post independence Calcutta. The old man lives in a crumbling aristocratic mansion in the heart of town, which he shares with his teacher's daughter, Sarama, and her young son Shumon. During a vacation in the country another man enters their lives. Gangan was born blind and is a talented singer. Gangan and Sarama engage in a secret affair as Shashibhushan recalls his own wife, who he lost because of his uncontrollable sexual appetite.

Vadu Parab is a festival in Rarh Bengal that celebrates the paddy harvest in Bhadra month, with local stories and rituals dedicated to the goddess Vadu or Bhadreswari. The story centers around a Vadu troupe in Birbhum and a young man, Radhakanta, who has the mind of a woman in a male body. Radhakanta falls in love with his tutor, Gopal, and, in an attempt to win his affection, dresses as Vadu and participates in the festival’s dances and songs for three consecutive years to promote the worship of Vadu.