Kaberi Dutta ChatterjeeDirector, KAA Media · Narrative Architect | Director, KAA Media Inc.

Secret to Kolkata magic

23 Jan 2021 · 2 min

Watch on YouTube

2:14

The video presents a short, informal exchange between two street vendors or shoppers in Kolkata, captured as a spoken dialogue. Speakers A and B negotiate the price of an item, repeatedly mentioning amounts such as 30, 25, and 40 taka, and trying to settle on a lower price (e.g., "5 rupees less"). The conversation is heavily code‑switched, mixing Bengali, Hindi, and occasional English phrases, with repetitive and rhythmic phrasing typical of market haggling. The speakers use colloquial expressions, humor, and filler sounds, illustrating the linguistic fluidity and cultural norms of bargaining in Kolkata’s street markets. No explicit narrative or exposition is provided; the content serves as a raw example of everyday market interaction, highlighting price negotiation tactics, multilingual speech patterns, and the informal, lively atmosphere of Kolkata’s bazaars.

Chapters

30 tk debo chalo 30 tk
sekane 40 tk bala nahi
25 tk yela nahi jato chalbuli se konda chalbuli kon gore jabona just dhuke hi ba dikhe chalbuli de dhuke hi ba dikhe dhuke hi
haa se se dikhe
se dikhe nahi re baba ekandi giye dhuke hi ba dikhe betore nahi chalbuli r mukhe puchurecho
ye pari ye mukta haa haa haa si deke mukta
mukta ekdom
पूर्टीस्टेक?
ना, ना तीरीस्डेक, आमी घेला पूर्टीस्टेक। अपनी बड़ा जाई,
दिदी, अकता परवाल ना। समवे बाया करे जाओ, वोई दे।
पूर्टिस्टेक, तीरिस्डेका देबे, आग्दम जाल।
ना,
ती
I
like doing the bargaining, 5 rupees less
I
just wanted to go, because he was charging more than what I came तुम्हार तुलची गास तो तुमार?
हाँ
तुल्ची गास तो तुमार? हाँ तुन्हार तुलछी गास ते तुमार? हाँ तुलछी गास ते तूमार? हाँ तुल्छी घास ते तोमार? तुंहार टूलछी गास टो तूमार? � मास्टर पड़ो पड़ो पुरो पढ़ो ना कब दी