FilmIndia (May-Dec 1938)

"The Drum" and "filmindia" in the Bombay Legislative Assembly (The Indian film industry is deeply indebted to Mr. S. H. Jhabwalla, M.L.A., the popular labour leader whose sincere efforts in the promot on of the interests of our film industry command the respect of all those who desire to give the Indian film industry a square deal. Mr. Jhabwalla, at the instance of "filmindia", played a prominent part in "The Drum" agitation by asking the Government some pertinent questions which we reproduce below. — THE EDITOR.) (Reproduced from Bombay. Legislative Assembly Reports — Third Session — 1938) Mr. S. H. Jhabvalla, Member of the Bombay Legislative Assembly. ALLEGED EXHIBITION OF ANTI-INDIAN FILMS *1048. Mr. S. H. Jhabwalla (Railway Unions): Will the Honourable Minister for Home Department (and Legal) be pleased to state — (a) whether it is a fact that a portion of about 24 feet length of the film "Drum" was censored by the Bombay Board of Film Censors; (b) whether Government are aware that such censoring has not changed the original antiIndian character of the film; (c) whether Government are aware that in the said film the people of the North West Frontier Province are depicted as being treacherous; (d) if so, do Government propose to stop its exhibition in this province; (e) whether Government are aware that the film "Tiger of Eschnapur" is being exhibited in Bombay City; (f) whether Government have ever asked the Bombay Board of Film Censors to require the film distributor to exhibit the original version of the said film as produced in the foreign countries; (g) if not do they propose to do so now; (h) whether Government are aware that the said film is also anti-Indian in its character; (i> if so what step do they propose to take to stop its exhibition in this province; (j) whether Government have considered the advisability of establishing a rule in this province requiring that the original versions of foreign films should be seen and examined by the Bombay Board of Film Censors? The Honourable Mr. K. M. MUNSHI: (The Home Minister): (a) A certificate for the exhibition of this film was granted by the Board on the 15th July 1938, subject to the deletion of 24 feet in the film. (b), (c) and (d). In view of the widespread agitation against the exhibition of this film, I personally examined it on more than one occasion. As a result of that examination action was taken on the lines shown in the Press Note dated the 15th October 1938, which I reproduce below: — "In view of the widespread agitation against the exhibition in Bombay of the film entitled "The Drum", Government decided that the film should be reexamined and that in the meanwhile it should not be exhibited again in this Province. The film in the original form has been uncertified under section 7, sub-section (7) of the Cinematograph Act, 1920. Government have now re-examined the film and have ordered the exclusion of all such portions as in their opinion offended Indian national self-respect. Government have directed that the films as now revised may now be certified by the Bombay Board of Film Censors if presented for such certificates. Government take this opportunity to warn the importers of foreign made films that films, parts of which offend the Indian sentiment or national selfrespect may not receive in future the indulgence which the film "The Drum" has received. In this case the film had been passed by the Bombay Board of Film Censors and exhibited to the public for some days before the attention of Government was drawn to the objectionable features of the film. Govern 53