FilmIndia (May-Dec 1938)

September 1938 FILMINDIA job, but Nitin has tried it in a great way. Drastic editing of some of the paddings of paddy will improve the entertainment value of the picture considerably. Performances: Uma gives a beautiful performance with good music. But the really difficult role was that of Kamlesh and she has given very good work. Kamlesh has improved so much that it is pleasant to know her as she is now. Her dialogues however need more attention. Saigal sang beautifully. When he opens his mouth to sing the world becomes all melody, but when Saigal starts acting with one eye-ball on the camera, the world looks cock-eyed. K. C. Dey is good. Jagdish spoke the best as usual and his performance was sincere though not up to his usual standard. He didn't seem to like the role he was playing. Nemo was not bad. Nawab was quite impressive. The rest of them were like good furniture in a good house. Special Effects: The storm scene (generally a much abused and obliging safety valve) is an attraction. General Remarks: It needs vision to see light in the dark and therefore a picture like this will not appeal to the non-thinking in the way it is intended to. It has however, enough material to recommend itself to the intelligent man who has brains to receive a provocative thought. Publicity: Too poor and entirely inappropriate. The English drafts excited ridicule and misled the people. Subjects like this require special publicity. Box-Office Value: "New Theatres" stands for quality and there is certainly enough quality in this picture. In addition there is a problem with romance and music thrown in for grace. This picture ought to run well with intelligent audiences. To the masses, the music will appeal. "KAMBAR" Produced by: Vel Pictures and Kandan Films, Madras. Released at: Broadway Talkies, Madras. Date of Release: 2nd July, 1938. Cast: S. V. Subbiah Bhagavathar, Miss Swarnambal, Comedian Na rayan Rao and others. Screen Play: (Tamil): This Is the story of a court poet whose name is Kambar and who was expelled from the court for an Indiscretion to wander aimlessly for days and then to be found out and restored. The incidents selected in the story are weak and make the screen play unappealing. The dialogues as they are do not grace the lips of one of the greatest poets of Tamilnad being too common and cheap. Music: Music is excellent in as much as it is pure, and without any mixture of the Hindusthani blend. Subbiah Bhagavathar sings well and makes the songs worth hearing twice. Photography: The out-doors are tolerable, but the indoors are not. The close-ups are disheartening. Recording: Barring some songs of Subbiah Bhagavathar, the recording is not at all encouraging. Direction: The direction of this picture is entirely unimaginative and in places illogical. Slapstick humour has been introduced which makes the picture common and cheap. The situations between the barber and his wife are ridiculous, while the Iyengar girl pouring water on her husband's head is a shocking sight. If this is comedy, it should not be, in our pictures. Performances: Subbiah Bhagavathar is a miscast in the story. His huge body is not meant for film acting. The effort to build him in films on his reputation of gramaphone records is suicidal and will never pay any producer. Performances by the others are too poor to deserve any mention. Box-Office Value: For the music lovers and Bhagavathar fans this picture will be a treat. For the others we doubt whether it will even prove entertaining. An interesting situation from "The Secretary" a Ranjit social picture directed by Mr. Chaturbhuj Doshi. 39