FilmIndia (May-Dec 1938)

FILMINDIA September 1938 Recording: (By P. C. Subedar) : Quite nice. Direction: (By Chaturbhuj Doshit. Directed by a man who enjoys a good reputation as a journalist this picture has a particular interest for the intelligentsia. Fortified by his long experience as a scenario writer, Mr. Chaturbhuj Doshi has given an excellent account of himself as a director considering that this is his very first effort. Incidentally, in "Gorakh Aya", Mr. Doshi has given the best picture coming out during the year from the Ranjit Studio and in doing so has partly carried out the proprietor's promise to give better pictures during 1938. Particular pains have been taken over Rajkumari and Mazhar. Drastic editing will improve the picture considerably, especially if the 'drags' are removed. In conclusion, old Chaturbhuj can look upon "Gorakh Aya" as a splendid maiden effort that ought to inspire him to bigger things in future. Performances: Rajkumari has given the best performance. Her stature is rather pathetic looking to the demands of the role. She however, makes up for it by her vibrant personality. Her dialogues were beautiful to hear and the girl gave a good and sympathetic performance. Mazhar was the next best, though I could not reconcile with his gait and poise in the role he was playing. I thought the interpretation of his role rather cheap and puerile. The portrayal called for some ascetic dignity. Mazhar however, did what he was told and did it well. Trilok did not impress, though he was sincere. Ila Devi was too soft and sweet to play the part of an invading tyrant. She is however, fast improving. Sarla was good and gave the best music. Kalyani failed to impress. Ram Apte who is the living disillusionment of the innocence of child life proved boring with his precocious actions. Ram Apte should not be given child roles in future. He is no longer a child and does not appeal as such. It is better to find him pigmy and dwarfish jobs. Sitara gave a beautiful dance with pecu 3S liarly affectionate music. The other dances — one given by Yvonne Harroll and the other by Wallace Young and his wife — were apologetic and lacked school. The second one looked like a bad parody on the famous Tandav Dance of Lord Shiva. Special Effects: The absence of Charlie, Ghory, Dixit and E. Billimoria provided a welcome relief to Ranjit fans. If Ram Apte had been dropped it would have been really a new picture with every one new including the director. Mr James A. David is now with the United Artists, Bombay, in charge of publicity and sales. And now you know why U.A. pictures recently jumped into prominence and popularity. Publicity: In dedicating the opening day to the women of the city by denying admission to males, the producers compelled the world to take notice of the picture. Good paper publicity backed the release. Box-Ofnce Value: Plenty of entertainment with a popular plot makes the picture a great boxoffice possibility at every station. "DHARATI MATA" Produced by: New Theatres Ltd. Released at: Minerva Talkies, Bombay. Date of Release: 10th August 1938. Bombay Circuit Distributors: Calcutta Film Exchange. Cast: Saigal, Jagdish, Nemo, Nawab. K. C. Dey, Kamlesh Kumarl, Uma, etc. Screen Play: (By Nitin Bose): The story of this picture has a definite purpose. The writer decries the present day industrialism of our life and recommends the development of agriculture and other natural resources. The film script has become a jumble of Ideas and has gone out of hand at several places. Nevertheless the attempt is meritorious and based on high idealism. Language: (Hindi) (By Pandit Sudarshan) : The dialogues are appropriate and at places very attractive. The composition of songs Nos. 3, 4, and 5 is praiseworthy. Music: (By Pankaj Mullick): Beautiful tunes leaning slightly towards classics make the picture entertaining. The music provides a great relief in an otherwise dry subject to the city workers. Photography: (By Nitin Bose): Good throughout but negligent at places, particularly in some closeups of Saigal. The laboratory work was not very careful. Some of the storm shorts were beautiful — but some were too obv.vous and did not help the visual illusion. Recording: (By Mukul Bose): Quite good but could have been better. Some enterprise was shown in overlapping sound with effect. The sound level maintained in recording echos and mental promptings ought to teach something new to other recording engineers. Direction: (By Nitin Bose): Like the director of "Good Earth" Nitin Bose has also just failed to deliver the goods. His message has not gone ringing into the ears of the world nor will it leave an impress on its mind. Nevertheless the attempt has been great. In parts the direction is very Cleveland enterprising. The director, however, had many limitations in a story of this nature wherein he has to deliver the goods and yet maintain the romantic interest to entertain people. It was a difficult