FilmIndia (Dec 1937 - Apr 1938)

FILMINDIA February 1938 is the best singer from amongst K. C. Dey, Saigal and Pahari Sanyal. Saigal is more melodious, but not a big musician, but owing to the sweet melody in his voice he is the most popular. K. C. Dey is certainly a better singer with a voice that is suitable for thrilling songs. Pahari Sanyal has talent for music but not big enough to be great. Why did Mr. Himansurai allow his wife to act with Ash ok Kumar? Probably because he does not like to act with her himself. From: S.L.N. (Karachi): Is Kumar the real name of the man who is playing the hero in "Watan"? No, that's his screen name. I think his name is Mijjan. Where is Raja Sandow who was with Ranjit? He is directing a Tamil picture called "Vishnu Leela" in Madras. From: P.K.S. (Allahabad): Which of the following actors should be best suitable to play opposite Devika Rani: Saigal, Barua, Jal Merchant, Ishwarlal, Motilal and Ashok Kumar. None. Though Barua might give a better performance than hitherto playing opposite the sweetest girl of our screen. What are the qualities of a star, probably you don't know them yourself as you have considered only one quality, i.e. from the view point of the commercial success of a picture. If this is the only quality of a star, I would like to know whether Miss Nadia is a star. The first essential for a star is to know acting to the point of living her part in the picture. The second essential is that she should be a box-office draw. These two things can define a star. Who told you that Nadia is a star? Why do you call "Kisan Kanya" to be the first Indian colour picture when Prabhat "Sairandhri" and Ranjit's "Soldier's Sweetheart were released first? "Sairandhri" though it was shot in India was processed in Germany and all its copies were also printed overseas. So to that extent it was not an all Indian enterprise. "Soldier's Sweetheart" was a hand coloured picture. "Kisan Kanya" is the only picture which has been produced and processed entirely in India with the Cinecolour process. From: S. N. (Patna): Do you think "Seeta" and "Savitri" to be failures? The first one was a commercial failure. The second one did not prove a great success as was expected. Who is the greatest character actor of India? Mr. Baburao Pendharkar. Very few people can reach the heights of this man in a costume role. Whom do you think to be the most beautiful actress of India? If the word "beautiful" is to embrace 'personality' in addition to physical charms, then Devika Rani is easily the best. From: G.R. (Cuddapah): Is Leila Desai an educated girl? Yes, if reports are to be believed. But remember that girls are educated only as far as they can be. From: B.M.P. (Nandurbar): For seven years I have been working as the manager of a cinema but now I want to better my prospects by joining a firm of distributors. Can you suggest something? I approve of your ambition. Your experience as an exhibitor will be useful to some clever distributor who is anxious to know some secrets of upcountry exhibition. I suggest your writing to Seth Chunilal Desai, Proprietor of Supreme Film Distributors, Lamington Road, Bombay, and I am sure he will straightway give you a traveller's job to go with his films. Seth Chunilal happens to be one of the foremost distributors who have shown rare acumen of business in piloting successful ventures. Being soft hearted, he doesn't refuse anyone anything— even money. 22