FilmIndia (May-Dec 1938)

FILMINDIA ment have now instructed the Board that hereafter it should submit to Government its report and opinion on every foreign film depicting Indian life or dealing with Indian subject matter, wholly or in part, with a synopsis before it is certified. (e) This film is not being exhibited in Bombay City. (f) Government have asked the President of the Bombay Board of Film Censors that in the event of this film (which is believed to be of German origin), being tendered to the Board for certification, particular attention may be paid to it and the Board's report on it forwarded to Government together with a synopsis of the film and the Board's opinion whether the film should or should not be cert'fied for public exhibition. Government have not asked the Board to require the distributor to submit the version of the film as originally produced for examination. (g) No. (h) and (i) As the film has not been tendered for certification, Government are unable to say whether it is anti-Indian in character. They had, however, in March last seen a report somewhat to that effect in the press, and had therefore taken the action stated in the answer to clause (f). (j) Government have not as yet considered the advisability of framing a rule to this effect. The Film "Drum" *1202. Mr. S. H. Jhabwalla (Railway Unions): Will the Honourable Minister for Home Department (and Legal) be pleased to state — (a) Whether the attention of Government has been drawn to the letter of Sir Francis Younghusband, published in the "London Times" and reproduced in the October issue of the "Filmindia" regarding the film "Drum". (b) whether the Honourable Minister has personally seen the film "Drum" as was reported in the press; (c) if so, whether he has been convinced that the film is objectionable from the Indian point of view; (d) if not, what are his reasons for the same; (e) whether it is a fact that the Government of Madras has requested the Government of Bombay to communicate to them their opinion about this film for final action; (f) if so, what recommendations has this Government made to the Government of Madras for taking action about this film; (g) whether the attention of the Honourable Minister has been drawn to the incidents in the December 1938 ' films "Paris Honeymoon" and "The Devilish ! Woman" produced by the Paramount Pictures of Hollywood and described in the October { issue of the "filmindia" and to the attitude i of the Bulgarian and Spanish Governments respectively, towards these incidents; (h) if the reply to (g) is in the affirmative, do Government propose to take some suitable i action against the films like the "Drum", "Charge of the Light Brigade", "Bengal Lancers", "Clive of India" etc. which are offensive to the Indian sentiments and feelings? The Honourable Mr. K. M. Munshi (The Home Minister): (a) Yes. (b), (c) and (d) I invite the at j tention of the honourable member to the answer I I have given to clauses (b) to (d) of his question headed "Alleged Exhibition of anti-Indian Films." (e) and (f) The Government of Madras asked to i be informed of the action taken by the Government of Bombay in respect of this film. They were informed on the 15th October 1938 that this Government had declared the film in the form certified by the Bombay Board of Film Censors to be an uncertified : film in the Province under section 7(7) of the Cinematograph Act, and that instructions had been issued to the Board to grant a fresh certificate for the j film in its revised form. (g) I have seen the article referred to. (h) Suitable action, as indicated above, has been taken against "The Drum". As regards "The Charge of the Light Brigade", the original version measuring 10.017 feet was refused a certificate by the Bombay Board on the 20th April 1937; but a certificate was subsequently granted by the Board in May 1937 after drastic cuts measuring 3,340 feet had been made. The film as revised was seen on the 14th May 1937 by certain officials of this Government and was considered to contain nothing to which serious objection could be taken by Indians or by Afghanistan. No complaints were received against the film as passed. The film entitled "The Lives of a Bengal Lancer" was passed by the Bengal Board of Film Censore during the first half of 1935. with an endorsement excising parts of two scenes. When the film came to Bombay, the Bombay Board made a further small excision. No obiection against its exhibition was received at that time. The film "Cl've of India" was also passed by the Bengal Board of Film Censors in May 1935.. with some excisions. It was shown in this Province under that Board's certificate, no objection to its exhibition being raised at that time. I do not think that the last three films named are now being shown in this Province. 54