MovieChat Forums > Before the Rains (2008) Discussion > After Sajani's Husband Had Thrown Her Ou...

After Sajani's Husband Had Thrown Her Out

posted 16 years ago by Bhakti-4
5 replies | jump to latest

When Sajani’s husband had thrown her out of the marital home after giving her a thrashing when he had learnt of her sexual liaison with “some man” in the forest, why didn’t Moores and T.K. simply come to the conclusion in allowing her to then come and live on his premises in the same way that T.K. did as his foreman ?

Would this not appear to people of the village that at least Sajani would continue in earning a living as “he and his wife’s live-in housekeeper” while not having anything more “socially” to do with the village as an outcaste with the exception of her having to go to the village on a few occasions on errands as an employee of THE SAHIB ?

This would have meant that Moores could have continued with his love affair with her discreetly on his premises when his wife and child were not around ……. and thus eventually making Sajani his wife (if you see what I'm getting at).

[–] pandoraborrego 16 years ago

He didn't throw her out - she left her angry husband, thinking that her lover would save her. However, a married woman in a traditional village could not have left her husband and lived elsewhere nearby. His honor and rights as a married man would not have let the insult - or his unfaithful wife - go. Sajani's husband expected her to stay and take whatever punishment was normal in the village for such behavior.

[–] Bhakti-4 16 years ago

My question just goes to show that I wasn't paying proper attention to the film !

Thanks for clearing that up and because I see what you mean I now don't blame Sajani for shooting herself.

Even though Henry Moores turned out to be a dislikeable character, I also knew where he was coming from - a colonialist oppressor who was first and foremost a businessman.

Given the choice between coming clean about their affair or covering it up, he has to do the dishonourable thing or lose his business ambitions, his family and maybe his life.

Anyway, did you feel that Moores had any real love for Sajani or was she merely a "warm" sexual substitute for him while his wife was away in England on an extended stay with their son ?

I have my own answer to this but it would be interesting to hear other people's.

[–] pandoraborrego 16 years ago

Aah, but that is the problem... the "dishonorable" thing is just the opposite in Moores' culture. Honor is denying the "native" woman, giving her up without a whimper, trying to save his marriage or business and position, and to save face for the British! Henry may have actually loved Sajani more than he did his English wife, but he does the proper thing by English colonial standards.

Henry certainly adored Sajani, lusted after her, delighted in her, and possibly more. But it was an impossible relationship for him to maintain except in secret. This movie is good on several levels, one of which is trying to understand all of the primary characters' reasons for doing what they did.

[–] Bhakti-4 16 years ago

Your first paragraph was quite interesting and so I reluctantly agree with you on your second.

Please excuse me for posting my initial query to this board. I now realise that I did not give this film my FULL mental attention simply because my mind was partially occupied in lusting after Henry Moores in it. Moores was a slime - but hey, breathtakingly handsome all the same !

I intend on seeing this film on DVD and will most definitely give my full mental attention to the special feature of the director's/producer's audio commentary if it has it which I hope it will.

[–] jacowium 16 years ago

Bhakti-4,

I do not think you need to apologize or be excused for anything! It is often impossible to 'catch' all the cultural nuances and 'subtexts' in a movie at the first watch, and that is why these forums are so useful - in getting answers for all the question marks inside our heads when we leave the cinema. And I often find useful information here as I know other viewers have insights that may help me understand a movie better.

Besides, you asked a very valid question, and I myself wanted to know more about that, and I'm sure others thought along the same lines as well. And thanks too to the person who responded to your question.

Enjoy your next viewing of the movie!
Jaco