FilmIndia (Feb-Dec 1949)

FILM INDIA February, 19 Innocent youngsters who do not understand the technical side of motion picture making but who are yet aware of the familiar story behind a prominently pregnant abdomen, are; likely to accept Sita as a pregnant woman during her exile, seeing Shobhana's domestic achievement. If seeing is believing, this tragic misconception of Sita's character, while conflicting with actual history, must perforce bring into contempt the sanctity attached to the name of Sita by millions through ages. Apart from this problem of pregnancy. Shobhana, as the mother of several children, looks too old and emaciated a woman, with sunken cheeks, bulging anaemic eyes, shapeless arms and sagging hips to portrav Sita who though married had no child of her own during the period of the story and who was considered the most beautiful woman for whose hand the kings of all lands had vied and failed. And here is Vijoo Bhatt asking us to accept Shobhana Samarth. with her eight-month old baby inside her, as Sita the godaVl which millions of Hindus hau learned to worship through ages. Our censors should have realiz at least one basic fact that a pron nently pregnant woman could n possibly portray the role of a goddel who didn't have her own childnl till years after the period of tr.l particular picture. Does this ugly portrayal contribul to our reverence and devotion f<| Sita? If the answer is in the negj tive. why are the censors a party I this outrage on the religious susceptl bilities of millions of Hindus? Have the Hindus no voice in th secular state? Have the Hindus b come such an impotent race of in' beciles for the state to refuse to pr< tect their time-hallowed altars froi such vandalic onslaughts of 01 movie Ghuznavis? If a similar outrage had been pei petrated against the Muslims, th Muslims would have invoked the ai of Allah, Himself, to punish th| movie-moghuls and the censor would have had to revise their dec sion with double haste. CARICATURE OF RAVAN In an epic like the Ramayan which has become a religious scrip ture for millions by virtue of it spiritual grandeur, every characte has some traditional importance am spiritual significance for the mas mind. Ravan. the King of Lanka, become, therefore a character as important a: that of Ram. The Valmiki Ramayar describes Ravan as the most learnec Brahmin of his times, a peerles scientist, a scholar of unequalle( merit, a commentator of the \ eda: and a staunch devotee of Lord Shiva It is with such a unique and grea personality that Ram had to go t< war and win. The spiritual signifi cance of the conflict between Ran and Ravan can never be property realized unless the intellectual and spiritual stature of Ravan is maintained and emphasized in any interpretation of Ramayana. \almiki devotes pages and pages to describe] the glory and greatness of Ravan1 perhaps to lift his conflict with Ram from an earthly plane to a loftyl spiritual level. It is at that leveB that this immortal conflict becomes symbolic of the higher values of life. A high-precision instrument this Mitchell Studio Camera (BNC) was developed to meet every requirement -for perfect photographic repreducton. Typically Mitchell hi design and construction, it incorporate* feature* found in no other camera. The, Studio Camera's silent operation is due to perfect *ound-insulation of the moving partem Mitchell Studio Model Camera? are used on Sound Stagec throughout the world. it MM PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPING & PRINTING MACHINES, STUDIO LIGHTS AND OTHER ACCESSORIES tES MILL, iv IUICI0UN0 PIOJtCTOI RADIO & APrLli\NCE: LTD. (Formerly F4ZAL«HOY LIMIT D) MOTION PICTURE SOUND ENGINEERS. 16, NEW QUEEN'S ROAD, BOMBAY. 1/18, MOUNT RO»D, MADRAS. 10, OLD COURT HOUSE STREET. CALCUTTA. Distributors for the EAST PUNJAB, U. P. & DELHI. RADIO CINE CORPORATION 72, Queensway, NEW DELnl. 42