FilmIndia (May-Dec 1938)

The Editors Mail © Readers " when you are worried " write to me. I will do my best in serving you. Serious matters will be treated seriously, while flippant letters will receive like replies— The Editor. e'rom: M. S. K. Muraree (Bangalore). I am an admirer of Prabha. Can you give me ome particulars about her? To an admirer, the following particulars ought to be interesting. Prabha has recently worked in "Gramaphone Singer" and "Ladies Only", both Sagar pictures. She is a respectable married woman, with two children. Her husband's name is Mr. Satyakam. The rest, ask her. I learn that Devika Rani is in love with Ashok kumar? Where did you learn that? Surely, not in a school. "rom: Jyotindranath (Benares). How is that non-Hindi provinces like Bengal, iombay, and Madras produce Hindi pictures, while (indi provinces like the Punjab, U.P., Behar abd •P. don't produce any pictures at all? Aping is a human instinct and those who don't know things try to ape them. Bengal, Bombay and Madras provinces try to ape the Hindi provinces in speaking Hindi. Punjab, U.P., etc. try to ape Bombay, Bengal and Madras in commercial enterprises. Both fail in their mistaken pursuits. The world has been mismanaged this way since it began and you and I cannot helo it. Raimohan of "Himalaya-ki-Beti" seems to be a romising star. They all promise, but very few keep the promises. What happened to Sarla of "Zambo" fame'' Is ie alive? Her fame is still alive? But she is dead. rom: Kantilal D. Kora (Khar). The question of provincialism is raised in some the cinema magazines. Do you consider it healy and justifiable? Looking at it from a broad national view point provincialism is to be condemned. Art, especially should be international in outlook. But cinematic art is wedded to commerce and commerce admits a bit of provincial patriotism of the right type. To allow provincialism to become a fanatic bogey is to deny progress its full scope. This type of provincialism should not be encouraged by the paper. But those who pay J the pipers to call the tune are to be blamed and these people are to be found in the community of the producers. Why is there a dearth of male stars in Bombay? Don't you think that people are fed up with the same old faces? Fed up? Why not go round the hospitals and count the persons who have actually become ill seeing the same boys and girls for years. I am sick of seeing the same old producers year in and year out. We badly need an earthquake. Why not pay for one? How is that Maya Bannerjee's performance in pictures is getting stale? Is it bad direction? I like that "in pictures". You have taken a load off my mind. Yes, I think it is due to bad direction plus bad acting. How is that Bombay though called the Hollywood of India, has not produced directors like Barua and Devaki Bose or actresses like Kanan and Uma or actors like Saigal and Sanyal? Well, it is a relief that we have not the exact kind mentioned by you. However what is wrong with Shantaram and Winayak or with Devika and Padma or with Motilal and Baburao Pendharkar. Any way, your question is provocative and Bombay producers who assemble at the Producers' Association premises ought to find an answer for you. Frcm: S. R. S. Belur (Bolar). May I know what New Theatres mean by Ramneck and Circo productions? Ramneek and Circo productions are independent companies which produce pictures in cooperation with New Theatres. Ramneek and Circo finance the pictures, New Theatres produces them and both of them share the profits. Is Surendra related to Seth Chimanlal Desai of Sagar? If you mean Surendra, the actor, then, no, but if you mean Surendra Desai, who manages the studio, then he is the son of the boss. From: P. V. M. (Hyderabad). Where is Miss Almas the heroine of Jung" a picture of Prince Movietone? 'Nishan-E She has now become Ila Devi in Ran jit and her latest picture is "The Cat". 17