Rukmavati Ki Haveli

(1991)

A village in Rajasthan. Rukmavati;s husband has just died. She declares a five year period of mourning. She has five daughters. Savitri( from her earlier marriage), Damayanti, Chandra, Mumal and Padma. None of them are married because Rukmavati has not found any of the prospective suitors matching her own status and class. The daughters are living a restless life under their mother's domination. Nahar Singh has started courting the eldest daughter Savitri. But the youngest daughter Padma falls desperately in love with him and Nahar also responds to her. Mumal, the middle sister, is also in love with Nahar, but he does not respond to her. She feels very jealous. One night, as Padma goes out for a rendezvous with Nahar, Mumal follows her. There is a quarrel and commotion. The mother fires at Nahar. Padma commits suicide. A shaken but unbending Rukmavati declares, My daughter died a virgin ! which is a lie.