Nuggets of Sholay: Thirteen - Munh Chadha

Why do people snitch? In Hindi, there's a nasty word for it - चुगली खोरी  - that sounds a bit adolescent, but that's beside the point. Really, what motivates a person to give someone away? Is it a flaw in a character, or is it a compulsion? The word, snitch and other synonyms like 'ratted on someone' indicate that it's not a very nice thing to do. But the act can always be explained or justified. Isn't it? But the topic of this blog is not chugli khori, but a scene that depicts this act where a proverb from Sholay is used.

Muhavra: Munh Chadha (मुँह चढ़ा) 

In the 29th minute of the film, new jail inmates Jai and Veeru are left wondering who the jailor's jasoos is. That's when the late actor Raj Kishore (unnamed in the film) steps in and says, "Main bataaun? Woh hai na apna Hariram Nai. Jailor ka bada munh chadha hai mua. Haan" Here Hariram Nai is referred to as the munh chadha or the blue-eyed/favourite/laadla fellow of the Jailor. But in the same breath, Mr. Kishore calls him 'apna' (our own) as well as gives him away. 

Jailor Ka Bada Munh Chadha Hai Mua. Haan

The question remains, what enmity did Mr. Kishore have against Hariram Nai that he ratted on him? What was the motivation? Here's a frivolous figment of my imagination. 

Let's first give Mr. Raj Kishore character's a name. Munna.

Story: Why Munna ratted on Hariram Nai

So Munna, as you know, or guessed, is a eunuch, and probably gay. He's a good-natured person, but given his leanings, jail inmates and staff generally stay away from him. One person who finds it impossible to stay away from Munna is our Hariram Nai, the jail barber. See the deal is that unless Hariram doesn't shave at least 10 inmates in a day, he wouldn't be eligible for his annual parole. And Munna's turn would come once a week, at least. The issue was that whenever Hariram would shave Munna, the eunuch would use the opportunity to fondle the barber. Hariram's hands were occupied and hence could only request Munna to stop, although such requests would be ignored.

Hariram was quite disturbed. Moreover, since the inmates' uniform was shorts, Munna had begun to get more adventurous. With no other way to make this stop, Hariram went and complained to the jailor, and offered his services of being the jailor's spy, if he somehow solved the issue. The jailor, a wicked and sadist person, saw the opportunity and immediately transferred Munna to the women's wing. Poor Munna had to endure the lascivious and licentious tendencies of the women there for a week. 

When Munna returned, he had nothing but hatred and ill intentions towards Hariram. Therefore, to take revenge, Munna used Jai and Veeru to wreak havoc on Hariram Nai. And that is why Munna ratted on Hariram Nai. 

That was the nugget. Samjhe ke nahin? Agar achha laga to comment kijiye. Agar achha nahin laga to lament kijiye.

Goodbye, aadab and namaste.