FilmIndia (Dec 1937 - Apr 1938)

FILMINDIA VOL. 3 No. 8 How is that with the exception of "Anath Ashram," other pictures from New Theatres are all tragedies? Don't you think the people who pay for pictures should have entertainment rather than depressing tragedies? Yes, picture production is mainly a business of catering entertainment. But Bengali producers are excused, as their traditions have been to draw happiness out of tears. Being high strung and sentimental the Bengali finds a queer joy in tears — not only in his own but also in those of his neighbours, and the same philosophy is being presented in their pictures, which procedure I think is wrong, if consistently persued. From: Behram (Aligarh). Between Gul Hameed, Najamul Husain and Motilal, whom do you think is more beautiful? I think none of them as beautiful. But Gul Hameed was certainly handsome. The other two are neither handsome nor beautiful. How did Gul Hameed die and where is he buried? He died the natural death of a man, as you would unless you choose to commit suicide, and he was buried in the same grave yard where his ancestors had gone. You can, if you like, choose the same place, if to pay homage to the dead man. From: P. V. J. M. (Vizagapatam). Other magazines give the biographies of the actors and actresses of the Indian screen. Why can't you give one every month? I don't believe in telling lies, and misleading my readers. If half the truth in the life of these people was told, the paper would be banned as obscene. I have therefore, left this job to the 'liars' of the trade. There is one thing convenient about truth, and that is, one has not to remember it, and so I am striking safe. From: K. V. S. (Bangalore). You have quoted Shanta Apte's age as 17. Don't you think you are mistaken about her age? I don't think so. Being an old man, on the wrong side of thirty, J think of every young girl at sweet seventeen. Besides I am neither her father nor her mother, nor even her family astrologer. However to satisfy you, I shall quote the correct age which is 17 years 3 months 5 days 4 hours and. 6 minutes. She is exactly that much and nov\ say "no" if you dare. From: A. H. (Ganjam). I shall be ogliged if you will kindly let me know something about Miss Zubeida? Zubeida is not working on the screen just at present, because she is a proud mother of a bonny little baby. She is staying, I am not quite sure, at Dhunraj Mahal, Apollo Bunder, Bombay, and you may write to her and enquire what she intends doing in future. From: P. A. N. R. (Cocanada). I want to know the books that teach about cinematography and other things. Write to the Motion Picture Society of India, Fort, Bombay, and they will send you a list of the books if they are supposed to be doing their job well. Is there any studio that welcomes mofussil young men for training, if the costs are paid? Not as far as I know. But you can write to the Abdulla Fazalbhoy Technical Institute, St. Xavier's College, Bombay. From: N. H. S. (Bangalore). Let me have a comparison between these two directors, Shantaram and Barua. The only difference between the two is that Barua is a couple of inches shorter of the two. As for their professional qualifications, see their pictures, and decide for yourself. Why not ask me some sensible questions? From: S. A. G. (Navsari). May I know why cinema stars so often change from one company to another? There are several reasons. The stars themselves are ambitious and kicking better reputation aside often go after big salaries. The competition between the producers themselves being very keen is often unhealthy. This problem is prevalent in all the world studios, and is not merely peculiar to India. However, it need not worry you till you get into the hot waters of the industry. Your job must be necessitating seeing a number of pictures from day to day. I wonder how your eye-sight is not getting spoilt. Knowing that health is better than wealth I request you to seek a better job than the present drudgery. A good advice and thanks for the same. My eye-sight is certainly spoilt, but it is more due to the awful sight which our screen girls present than due to the pictures themselves. I am prepared to chuck ^ ff the present job, as I am tired of seeing the same old faces of the producers and others, provided you find a new one for me. Please do. From: S. S. M. (Bombay). Is Miss Sabita Devi married? If not why not? 16