FilmIndia (May-Dec 1938)

Howlers of the Month 6th of August 1938 promises to usher a frightful week for the whole of India. Mohan Pictures of Bombay have threatened to run their picture (Chabukwalli etc.) at 250 theatres all over India for a week from that date. It would be well for the British Indian Steam Navigation Co. to organize an outdoor trip to the Seychelles Islands during the week and they will find thousands of patrons who would like to escape. Prabhat and General Films came to grips recently in the Bombay High Court providing variety to the dull lawyers and publicity to B. Nandrekar once an unknown actor. Thanks to Prabhat, "Baghban" got dashed good free publicity and now we think the picture will run some weeks. Talking of court cases I am reminded about the way Shanta Apte is reported to have settled her own suit which one Popatlal Sakalchand Thakker of Ahmedabad filed against her for the recovery of Rs. 7,000/ They say that she caught the bull by the horn by travelling with the plaintiff to Ahmedabad, staying as his guest and returning back with a clean slate. Marvellous, how these girls manage suits. If men would only understand they would employ girls as counsels. And imagine Shanta as a modern Portia. Poor Popatlal. Director J. K. Nanda that dynamic reminder of Punjab's ever erupting ambitions in film production is reported to have returned from his foreign tour and now threatens to start a big producing company in the Punjab. When Nanda started for England we knew this was coming. And now that we have warned you. Better be on your guard. They say that Saroj's "Rifle Girl" is a masterpiece of Chowdhary. Is it of the old Chowdhary or of the new one? * * * Believe it or not, Motilal has at last left Sagar. The bosses take a pride in saying that he was dismissed. Dismissed or left, Motilal is too good a draw at the box-offices to remain unemployed for long. Chowdhary has been seeing his pictures recently and it wouldn't be a surprise to see Motilal under the Saraswati banner in his next picture. Will Sabita be the next one to be "dismissed". I am told that she won't be missed much if dismissed. Studio news of Saraswati say that 1600 girls bathe in a luxury setting in "Gopichand". That should have kept Bhal Pendharkar blushing with modesty for months. Wonder if Bhal has made their identification as girls easy. If that be so, Kevalchand might shift his lodging to the theatre. Film Corporation of India are still talking of what their Director Parry Davies had done in England. We are anxious to know what he has done here. The anxiety of an over-enthusiastic publicity manager has now started inviting suspicion. Where is "Hope" — the first to-be-born? E. Billimoria, Ranjit's one time hero, refuses to believe that he has gone old. He quotes his wife in support. We suggest his seeing "Prithvi Putra" and if he cannot afford that, look into the mirror. The mirror at home never lies though some in the town do Sabita's next at Sagar is "Service Limited". How some wish it was really so! But she needn't worry with Mummy threatening to take Sabita to Hollywood. That always brings Seth Chimanlal to his senses. People say that Sagar can run without Seth Chimanlal (perhaps the big son can manage affairs) but it can never run without Sabita. They said so in case of Motilal also. If you want to see a living example of a very successful distributor meet Mr. Chunilal Desai of Supreme. But where will you do so? He is never at his office as people come and worry him for cheques. The beggars! they shouldn't worry a big man like that. Recently I met him for 3 days continuously and five hours at a stretch every day in the High Court awaiting the verdict on "Baghban". He did a semitango after the judgment. Behram Marzban, the son-inlaw of Khan Bahadur Ardeshar M. Irani is reported to be building a film studio at Boisar, a village 52 miles from Bombay, where he has his personal property. They say that he has already "pur WANTED INDIAN ENGINEERING FIRM For Sole Agency ZEISS IKON Cine Talkie Projectors Large Territory Apply P. O. Box 581, Bombay. V 56