FilmIndia (1939)

Bo C MBAY CALLING Ihis section is the monopoly of "JUDAS" and he writes what he likes and about things which he likes. Tfie views expressed here are not necessarily ours, but still they carry weight because they are written by a man who knows his job. |EZ" & ISLAM Americans don't care whether Hassan is a donor a human being. But Indians do. Hassan is idian name and in American pictures if the name ven to a donkey, Americans perhaps get a kick bf it, as they get one more chance of laughing at Indians. But Hassan has a greater significance than being tly an Indian name. Hassan and Hussein were Mahomedan martyrs in whose memory the whole slam mourns for 10 days. Hassan and Hussein the brave sons of Hazrat Ali and Fatimah. Fatiwas the only daughter of the Prophet Mahomed e Hazrat Ali was the fourth Caliph, a great ruler self. Mahomedans all over the world revere these es and to think that one of these sacred names :ld be given to a donkey, is the height of foolishon the part of the producers. And that is exacthat has been done in "Suez" a 20th Century Fox ire which is coming to the Regal Cinema, Bomon the 4th March. Annabella. one of the heroines of the said piccalls her donkey by the name of Hassan and it me so many times that one cannot miss its hidsignificance. In fact, one even feels that the tition and the hero's inquiry "whom are you calland her reply "Hassan, my donkey", are intendinsult our people. Till the time of writing this, we understand that Bombay Board of Film Censors has passed the without any changes. Anything better cannot be cted from the present Board, managed as it is at nt. There is hardly anyone on the Board who ffs enough about anything, religious or otherwise, xpect them to know something; about the hallownartyrs of Islam is ridiculous. But now they Id know. We demand that the Censors should cut out those es from the film where the donkey is called Has"Suez" may be a very good picture, but let it be so at the expense of Islam and one of its halmartyrs. Let Hassan remain a sacred name to all Indians, hey Hindus or Mahomedans. Christ's martyrdom have been great, but Hassan's was no less. To call a donkey, Hassan, is not only insulting Islam, but all Indians. If producers in India, Egypt and Turkey were to portray Christ or Luther in the same insulting way, the entire Christendom wo aid rise in revolt. If an untouchable in India was to be called Hitler or Mussolini, Germans and Italians would move heaven and earth to wipe the insult off. Does it not therefore occur to these foreigners that India feels the same way about her heroes? Would not Americans be insulted if a sweeper in the streets is named Roosevelt? Well, why not think the same way about Indians? IN MEMORY OF A PIONEER On the eve of the Silver Jubilee Celebrations of the Indian film industry, it will be proper to recall the services of the late Mr. Abdulla Fazalbhoy, who took a very significant part in the fast progress of the industry during the last ten years. The genial but dynamic personality of the late Mr. Abdulla Fazalbhoy appeared on the horizon of film industry at a crucial period of transition when those already in the industry were toying with the present and trembling for the future. With the arrival of Talkies from America, our producers of 'silents' became panicky and for months on end wondered about the production of talking pictures. They did not know where to go and what to do. They badly wanted guidance. And it was at this time, that Mr. Abdulla Fazalbhoy stepped with his rich experience in radiology and broadcasting and founded the Sound Equipment Co., Ltd., to make up for enterprise and supply the needs of the hour. In a few months, producers became as intimate with the new order of things as with the old. Thanks to the pioneering spirit of Mr. Fazalbhoy, everything that the industry needed from a bulb to a recording machine, was at the command of the producers. And then from one good thing to another the late Mr. Fazalbhoy went on till to-day, even after his premature death, Fazalbhoy Ltd.as the different enterprises are collectively known — comprises different activities such as: selling recording and reproducing machines, radios, and other accessories, producing Indian talkies and even financing them etc., etc. 9