FilmIndia (May-Dec 1938)

OMBAY CALLING Ihis section is tl/e monopoly of " JUDAS " and he writes what lie likes and about things which he likes. The views expressed here are not necessarily oars, but still they carry weight because they are written l>y a man who knows his job. ANOTHER FOREIGN FILM AND A FRIENDLY WARNING India seems to be a popular subject for the foreign producers as we hear that still another firm of London producers is going to produce a picture on India very shortly. Pictures like "The Charge of the Light Brigade", "India Speaks" and "The Drum" have done enough damage to the national prestige of the Indian people by painting them in the darkest colours possible which the foreign mind can imagine. We are all aware of the storm which the latest picture "The Drum" created in the city. This picture is likely to be banned all over India. And the banning of this picture should provide an object iesson to foreign producers who revel in defaming India. We hope that the new firm of producers do not follow in these footsteps, but produce a picture, if they really want to do so, with Indian colour, in full sympathy with the customs and traditions of this great land. Thereby the producer will not only make the picture popular with the Indians but at the same time, present to the world true facts about India, which the world so badly needs, at the present juncture. British National Films Ltd., of London, of which Lady Yule is the largest shareholder, will be shortly producing a picture called the "Daughter of India" with a story thrown in the times of the Moghul Emperor Akbar. Mr. John Corfield, the Managing Director and producer of the picture is already in Bombay for the peliminary reconnoitring. Mr. Corfield will be in India for sometime, and will return to England in October to return again with his unit in January to shoot the scenes of the above picture on the Indian locations. For his own sake we hope that Mr. Corfield does not commit the same mistake which Alexander Korda committed in producing "The Drum". India is at all times, a hospitable country of gentlemen who are prepared to extend their sympathy and co-operation to all foreigners provided, the foreigners reciprocate the same sentiment and warmth. If this fact is remembered then we hope there will be no trouble in future. * MARCH OF TIME By producing "Brahmachari", the Huns Pictures stepped into the lime light of the world as an enterprising firm who are bent on giving novelty in entertainment even at the risk of financi al success. As things actually turned out, perhaps to reward the daring enterprise, "Brahmachari" has become a roaring success. It is high time that the present day producers in India should come to this inevitable conclusion that production of mythological pictures is sheer prostitution of human intelligence. The stories written by Vyas and Valmiki during the ancient times, were only good enough for those times. To repeat them and tell them again in celluloid, in the present fast moving times is to admit an intellectual defeat from the old masters. The present day civilization is a complicated affair and needs higher minds to interpret its spirit, and provide a beacon light of guidance to society. Life in the present times is entirely different from the life in the olden times. And for producers to give mythological tales to provide as sermons to the present day generation, is something like putting an oil lamp in a modern ball-room. The present day social picture should have been the only pursuit of all Indian producers. It is pleasant to note that a majority of the producers are meeting this present demand but very few have been trying to add any spice to entertainment. In "Brahmachari" the producers have added that much needed spice to entertainment, which makes it an enjoyable comedy. And let us tell you that producing a successful comedy is infinitely more difficult and requires more brains than the best of social pictures in the market. Our producers will do well to follow the example of Huns and march on their tracks to give India those light comedies which are so badly required at the present time. VITAL TIP TO ADVERTISING PRODUCERS: In advertising trade, it is a vital principle of success, that a firm of advertising consultants that buy space and write copy for clients should not take up another competitive product to advertise when a similar product belonging to their own client is already 7