FilmIndia (Dec 1937 - Apr 1938)

February 1938 How do you like Leila Desai on the screen? Much better than in life. What is your opinion about her acting when compared to that of Shanta Apte? Never indulge in comparisons, especially between two girls. The fact that both are young and good looking is enough for you and me. From: A.V.S.R. (Masulipatam): Is Padma Shaligram married to Raja Pandit? No, she didn't think it worth while. Don't you find Devaki Bose a real genius and do you admit him to be the greatest director in India? One of the greatest if you don't mind and who doubted his genius? I only object to it when he doesn't make it paying. From: B.T. (Tirupur): In your December issue Judas has classified Mr. Devaki Bose as one of the best four directors of India when his pictures such as "Seeta", "After the Earthquake", "Life is a Stage" and "Sonehra Sansar" have failed consecutively in contrast with the success achieved by the other three directors. The commercial success of a picture does not necessarily define the greatness of a director. If that had been so the directors of "Toofan Mail" and "Hunterwalli" would have been called the greatest of living men. Some of the failures which you quote have been really great pictures. From: Sita G. Shahani, B.A. (Hyderabad-Sind): I consider you to be the best of all the editors of film magazines published in India and as such I expect you to answer any questions put to you by your readers. Why did you then evade answering my questions by giving an "explanation" in your December issue? My dear Sita, I wish I could reproduce your whole letter in toto as the same is very beautifully worded and well reasoned out. But I have to cry for want of space. However, I like the kick your letter gives me and would do anything to deserve the certificate you promised me as coming from a Hyderabadi Amil girl FILMINDIA graduate. I am sorry that with the small space at my disposal, I cannot argue out things with you regarding several dramatical points you have discussed in your letter. Besides I do not think it would be so much useful, for, even after getting a hoarse throat in convincing you, you being a woman will still have the last word to say. If you however permit me to reproduce your letter of the 27th December I would allow some of my other readers to reply to you in an open forum. But mind you, I must have a photograph of yours to illustrate the article. In the meanwhile I have to inform you that in your previous letters you have asked me details about birth dates, heights, and all sorts of personal information about actors and actresses in our industry. Tell me how am I ever to give these details when some of the persons concerned do not themselves know when they were born. In India, no records of such intimate details are kept by the studios. You accuse me of not printing full scale photographs of New Theatre artistes. I wish you had known some of the exact conditions under which film journalists have to work to give some sort of an illustrated magazine to their readers. I regret to express here that in the matter of photographs, the least co-operation is received from New Theatres. First thing is that they do not have sufficient number of good photographs and secondly they do not care to pass them over to the papers. The photographs that you so often see in "filmindia" are collected after an extensive tour of "begging" and if that's the case with "filmindia" the most popular paper, you can well imagine the plight of others. The fault is with the producers who have not yet realized the necessity of a fan following for their artistes. From: Azad (Aligarh): * I am very fond of reading cinema magazines such as "Dipali", "Rup Rani" and "filmindia" but from all these I have selected "filmindia" to be the best cinema magazine. I always go to the Railway stall and buy it for six annas and after all this devotion of mine I think I want to know who 2!