FilmIndia (1939)

FILM INDIA January 1939 again we have to write on the same subject which is very painful to us, — painful because some people in the industry, mainly those interested, choose to take the wrong view of our criticism, which, we may assure our readers is always well meant and delivered with an idea to help. We refer to the present position of the Motion Picture Society of India. At best it is precarious. Its very existence is threatened by the menacing shadow of an economical death. Only two years back the Motion Picture Society was doing very useful work. It had a glorious tradition of solid achievements to back it up and assure it a permanent life. But, alas, to-day, it is gasping for breath. The recent balance sheet issued to the members shows a liability of nearly Rs. 7,000 against some dubious assets of Rs. 2,000. In the past the expenses of maintaining the office and the staff were always met from the collection of the fees. The Journal of the Society has been a paying proposition, right from the beginning. In fact, a part of the profits of the Journal have been used to defray other expenses. Till this stage the Society was a prosperous institution which at the same time proved a valuable asset to the film industry. But when they took the fateful Indian Cinematograph Year Book into hand for publication, all assets very soon became liabilities. The publication of the book was mismanaged right from the beginning. Pages were printed, cancelled and reprinted, thereby increasing the cost of printing abnormally. Unreasonable optimism ruled during the period ot preparations and a riot of disappointment took place on publication. All this was due to gross mismanagement— mismanagement which entails a loss of over Rs. 5,000, money which the Society hasn't got to-day and in consequence its very existence is being threatened. Members of the Executive Committee seem to be in a panic and are reported to be thinking of closing down the independent offices and hitching them on to the charity of one of the members who is only too anxious to extend his courtesy for reasons of his own. And all this when several good and sound businessmen are on the Executive Committee. What a pity it is that the Society which was the first and premier organised body till recently representing all the different interests in our film industry had to abandon all its ideas of celebrating the Silver Jubilee of our film industry, probably on grounds of finance and internal squabbles. The Society must be saved. Our film industry needs it more to-day than ever before. If the present members in power cannot save the Society by correctly organizing it, they can at least do so by resigning in a body and allowing others to do so. One can understand the human weakness to wield and enjoy power, but the machinery that is to generate the power must have the vital energy of life. If the Society lives and flourishes the present members can always enjoy the glow of its success but if it dies out we lose an useful institution and they lose their excuse for greatness. Will some of the present executive committee members make the supreme sacrifice of by stepping out for a while and allow better men to step in so that the Society may live? Let us wait and see! But in the meanwhile we recommend this matter to the urgent attention of Sir Rahimtullah Chinoy, the new president of the Society, who cannot begin his new duties better than by putting his new house into order. A shot from the Lunch given in honour of Mr. S. Satyamurti, M.L.A., Deputy Leader of the Congress Party at the Green's. From left to right: 1. Mr. D. K. Parker (Director: Filmindia), 2. Mr. K. S. Hirlekar (Visual Education Society), 3. Rai Saheb Chuni Lall (Vice President, Motion Picture Society), 4. Mr. Baburao Patel (Editor: Filmindia), 5. Mr. S. Satyamurti, M.L.A., 6. Mr. Bhulabhai Desai M.L.A., (Leader of the Congress Party), 7. Mr. Francis Low (Editor: "Times of India"), 8. Mr. J. Wielde, (Manager, Agfa Photo Co.), 9. Mr. D. F. Karaka. 12