FilmIndia (1948)

m Lau Call! in s This section is the monopoly of ''JUDAS" and he writes what he likes and about things which he likes. The views expressed here are not necessarily ours, but still they carry weight because they are written by a man who knows his job. >10KE ABOUT SMOKING! The Municipality of Bombay is contemplating prohibit smoking in picture houses by enacting a sv\ Originally smoking in picture houses and other aces of public amusement was prohibited in Bom,y but some 20 years ago the authorities having jnd no objection to this harmless indulgence lifted ? ban and no one so far has ever seriously comi lined against smoking being allowed in picture juses. | We think smoking in picture houses showing Elian pictures should not only be allowed but even ibouraged, for the poor spectator needs something le a cigarette to relieve his nerves of the strain \ is usually made to suffer through an Indian picl'e. We have observed persons not usually addicted t smoking often borrowing cigarettes from their i:hbours to get some relief from the boredom injted on them by the rotten show on the screen. The Municipality has requested the Commisner of Police to consider the desirability of enly prohibiting smoking in cinemas "so as to obte the nuisance and also danger to public health safety." While appreciating the Municipality's anxiety public health and safety one cannot help wonhig why it has never so far cared to look into most insanitary, filthy and disease-breedconditions of the city's picture houses which a much greater menace to public health and t-'ty than smoking. Laws already existing on the tute books have never been enforced and powers ».ed in Municipal and government authorities ||e never been exercised in these matters and no i is ever paid to the crying voices of the city's ions of picturegoers. And the only interest the Hgress dominated Municipality is now showing, ttlie eve of its retirement from office after nine long 1*8 of its much criticised regime, is its move to ban 3 king in cinemas! There are many other inconveniences one has )»ut up with in picture houses and the most une-ablc of them are the cries that conic from little Is brought by their parents to a show which they l neither see nor understand. These little ones jld surely be happier in their cradles than in the ncating darkness of a cinema theatre and we i' always been wondering why their fond parents lect them to the three hours' torture of such il confinement. We want a law prohibiting ad>ion into cinema theatres to all children below 1 ige at which they can see and enjoy a picture, or at least sit silent without crying, talking or disturbing their neighbours. We also want a law enabling the theatre management to drive out immediately the parent of a troublesome brat with his objectionable goods as soon as it begins crying or talking. Why not as well enact a law prohibiting talking in a cinema? Numerous spectators, particularly young couples and ladies give a headache to their neighbours by talking loudly enough to get on their nerves. Strictest silence must be enforced within the auditorium by law in places like our city where the picturegoing public is ignorant of the most primary civic manners and belnaviour. If the Municipality is really anxious to redress the grievances of the public there are so many of them to which its attention has been long overdue but never so far directed. "Filmindia" has time and again pointed out all these grievances during the lot many years and they are too well known both to the public and the authorities concerned to need repetition. One wonders whether the Municipality Akhtari plays the lead in Kuldip Pictures' first production "Papiha-Ra". 7