FilmIndia (May-Dec 1938)

September 1938 "Editors and writers should not condemn Indian pictures, even If they fall below their expectations," says Mr. Chimanlal Desai, Proprietor of Sagar Movietone. Why not produce good pictures, Mr. Chimanlal, once in a way for a change? * * • "No one of the cine journalists should say, even to his friends, that such and such a picture is hopeless" further advises Mr. Chimanlal Desai. We never say that the picture is hopeless, we generally say that the producer is so. Any objection to that Mr. Chimanlal? * * * Mrs. Shobhana Samarth, the heroine of "Pati Patni" is reported to have decided upon producing her own pictures. Things however, have been postponed for the present as Mr. Yusufally Fazalbhoy is touring in the South and Shobhana cannot immediately hire out his equipment for production at Film City. • * • "Delhi is gone mad after seeing "Bhedi Trishul" a Mohan picture" says a Delhi paper. Poor Delhi, its greatness died with the Moghul Emperors. • • • Publishing a photo of our Editor Mr. Baburao Patel, the "Movies" of Delhi writes, "This photograph of Mr. Baburao Patel will give our readers some idea about this man's stature and build. It is his dominating personality which infuses so much might and majesty in his writings — which have made him the terror of Indian filmdom today. His writings are dreaded and respected all over the country." Very flattering, isn't it? But "Movies" should know that the "terror" had no terrors for the beautiful Shanta Apte. Beauty has always been disarming. » • » That Huns picture "Premveer" failed miserably in Delhi. It had to be hurriedly withdrawn In a week. The next release "Brahmachari" being a similar subject, fears are entertained of a similar fate in the North. The Northern people don't seem to like sex rid FILMINDIA den comedies. They seem to want sexy realities. • * * The studio news of Mohan Pictures reads as follows: "In "Cyclewalli", the company has introduced a new type of animal for the first time to be seen in the Indian films". As the daily papers have not yet reported about a new "Loch Ness Monster", do you think that the reference to "a new type of animal" has something to do with the fat and comfy heroine of the story? • • • 13th of August, the day on which Principal P. K. Atre, writer of "Dharmaveer", "Premveer" and "Brahmachari" was born, was celebrated at a dramatic theatre. So Atre was born on the 13th. After seeing "Dharmaveer ' and "Premveer" I was wondering about the missing link. No wonder the pictures failed to be popular. The 13th. • * • The birthday celebration was a colourful event with plenty of local girls present — as if "Acharya" Atre would not have enjoyed the blessings of the day without them. Baburao Pendharkar must have attended at least to offer Shanta Apte a contract. Now that Motilal has gone away from Sagar, Surendra has become the cock of the walk. They say that even Sabita is frightened of him, and makes way when Surendra is seen approaching. Poor Surendra what a victim of "great ness thrust". Chimanlal Desai is always in bad humour, half-afraid that his intimate friend Chandulal Shah and his partner Dr. Patel might patronise Motilal. * * * Naginlal Shah, Editor of "Chitrapat" (Gujrathi), says that "Abhagin" was the right picture for the right moment". What he forgot to mention was that with Supreme Film Distributors, it was also in the right hands. If "Dharati Mata" had also gone there a greater picture would not have been produced. Bravo, Naginlal, on your "deeper" understanding of art and entertainment. You are the correct judge to sit on the Gohar Gold Medal Committee. * * * "We Three" a picture beginning with laughter but ending in tears" describes a film paper. Why make people shed tears? Why not refund the ticket money? * * • Once again Sir Pheroze Sethna, now almost an inevitable president of numerous public functions, has been elected the president of the Motion Picture Society of India, superseding the overdue claim of Rai Saheb Chuni Lai. One would like to know, how exactly and to what extent has our film industry been benefitted since Sir Pheroze's association with it? * * * One thing we, however, do know and everybody knows, that a lot of publicity which the old Sir Pheroze could not have otherwise got, he has got during the last three years of his association with the Society, not to mention a number of lunches at the Taj. * * * When the late Sir Sorabji Pochkhanawalla, the Chairman of the Central Bank of India died, film producers in India welcomed the appointment of Sir Pheroze Sethna to the exalted position of a leading city banker. They expected Sir Pheroze to stand by the Indian film industry. But has Sir Phiroze induced his bank to advance even a pie to our producers so far? Even now, it is not too late for his bank to save the industry of which he is a prominent pillar. 25 "MOONLIGHT" GEORGETTE FASHION ■ A very popular modern |L, fashion *ari highly appre elated by educated noble ■ ladies of all provinces rieh floral taxi tine border really a sari worth Hs. BO at an amazingly low price of Ks. io postage etc, free available in any size fast or light colour size '> 1 2 yds. by is indies also in any size required order early to avoid disappointment not more than :t saris will be supplied to any one. Beware of cheap rubbish saris. Price Rs. tO SWADESHI SARI STORES. "F" B.ldeo Bid. . JHANSI, U P.