FilmIndia (Dec 1937 - Apr 1938)

VOL. 3 No. 9 FILM INDIA Music: (By Shanker Rao and Lalloobhai): Imagine music in the mouth of Shirin Banu and you can realize what a mess the two music directors have made of the whole affair. The background music is bad even as a r.oise. Photography: (By S. L. Borker). Far from satisfactory. Some 'pam' shots are tried with a nervousness too apparent. Some of the shots were taken with a loose camera grip, giving the picture an annoying flicker. Recording: (Bv Batuk Bhatt and L. J. Bhatt): This bracket of recordists seem to have taken up great pains in recording every atmospheric noise clearly, but have somehow forgotten to register the dialogues and songs clearly. The recording is too bad. Direction: (By Balvant Bhatt): If this is what Balvant Bhatt can do he should not risk directing another picture. Not a single scene in the picture gives us even a nodding acquaintance with the art of direction. Performances: Strange as it may sound, both the dogs and the horse have given a better performance than all the artistes put together. It may be, because, they could not be 'directed' and pursued their own native intelligence. Jayant has become too fat for the screen and most of the weight which he has collected seems to have settled on his face. Shirin Banu is just awful. Her face, figure and voice all proclaim that this Banu is no good for pictures. Her attempt to sing a song with a "Shanta Apte" dance technique is perhaps the most ridiculous apology I have had the misfortune to see on the screen. Gulab had not much to do. Sardar Akhtar played merelv a complimentary role and her musical talents were not properly exploited. Jal Writer certainly has a face for the screen, but no expression or poise. He needs a little more experience. The dance by Yvonne Harroll was not well shot. The girl looked ' sexy on the screen, but this element was not well exploited. Ismail and Lalloobhai were stupid. Costumes & Settings: These have no particular school or reason. Special Effects: Two dogs and the horse. General Remarks: This picture is rare in as much as you will never find so much crass stupidity rolled together in so many reels in any other picture. It is boring beyond endurance. Publicity: Big and erratic publicity launched the picture in Bombay. Box-Office Value: If I were in the business of exhibition, I would give a picture like this a wide berth. RECKLESS ROGUES. Producers: Ranjit Film Co. Released at: West End Talkies. Date of Release: 4th Dec. 1937. Bombay Circuit Distributors: Ranjit Movietone, Dadar. Star Value: Madhuri. Other Cast: E. Billimoria. Ishwarlal. Dixit, Ghory, Bhupatrai. Ram Apte. Khatoon & Others. Screen Play: No one seems to be particularly responsible for the story of this picture, which is more or less a gangster drama with an element of kidnapping and blackmail, and with plenty of slap stick situations. The whole thing is nonsense pure and simple. The scenario is very faulty throughout, making the picture boring at several places. Lauguage: (Urdu) (By Munshi "Arzu") : There is hardly any scope for the writer, who has previously given good work in another picture. The whole affair is so slap stick that a writer like "Arzu" is wasted on a picture like this. Music: (By Jnan Dutt): There is not a single tune in the whole picture which is attractive. All the four singers Kalyani. Vahidan, Kantilal and Shajahan just His Excellency the Governor of Bombay and Lady Lumley at the premiere of "Kisan Kanya" at the Majestic Cinema, Bombay. 47