FilmIndia (1939)

%e EDITOR'S mmii \ Readers "when you are worried " write to vie. I will do my best t \ in serving you. Serious matters will be treated seriously, wliile ^ \ -flippant letters will receive like replies. — The Editor. j 'rom: A. R. Khan (Kharagpur) "Who is the best singer and songstress in Indian ilms?" Hear Pankaj Mullick in "Kapal Kundala" and Shanta Hublikar in "Admi" and decide for yourself. 7rom: P. V. Naidu (Nagpur) Have Sadhona Bose, Padma Devi and Anuradha oined Sagar for good? For good or for bad — but they have joined Sagar! From: J. N. Sharma (Simla) Devika Rani is talked of as a prodigious smoker. What kind of cigarettes does she smoke? Sorry. Can't oblige you. She has not offered me a cigarette yet. So how am I to know? From: Miss Leela Ryan (Johannesburg) What is the nationality of the following actors and actresses and are thev married? — D. Billimoria, Kumar, E. Billimoria, Motilal, Ashok Kumar, Saigal, Rama Shukul, Najmul Husain, Pagnis, Baburao Pendharkar, Sulochana, Meenakshi, Madhuri, Vasantee, Renuka Devi, Indu Rani, Padma Devi, Rose, Kananbala, Ratanbai, Devika Rani, Shobhana Samarth and Leela Chitnis. They are all Indians by nationality (even AngloIndians have now condescended to call themselves Indians!). Married? I suppose most of thsm are though I can't swear as none of them ever invited me to his or her marriage. But, my dear girl, what's the idea in being interested in a dozen men simultaneously? From: I. V. Swamy (Pennada) Define film technic. Spell film technique! From: Govindram D. (Adoni) In which of the following pictures has Motilal acted his best? "We Three", "300 Days & After" and "It's True". "We Three"— but wait for "As You Please". From: Hansmukhi Devi (Cawnpore) I am suitable in all respects for film stardom. My husband dislikes the idea and calls this career as a wretched one. What is your suggestion? Why not persuade your husband to become a film star? Possibly he will not dislike the idea. From: B. K. Gupta (Mt. Abu) How old is Vasantee? And what is her father? She has just entered her teens and her father is a lawyer in Bombay. So beware. From: Miss Kusum Thakorc (Bombay) Don't you think the following pictures would have improved if the following changes had been made in their Castings? 1. PUKAR — Pramilla instead of Naseem as Nur Jehan? 2. ADMI — Motilal instead of Shahu Modak as the Hero? 3. TULSIDAS — Kumar instead of Pagnis in the title role? 4. KAPAL KUNDLA— Uma Shashi instead of Leela Desai? 1. No, Emphatically not. 2. Yes, it would have added star value to an already great film. 3. Yes, Kumar would have looked a more appropriate Tulsidas if by 'play back' arrangement Pagnis had loaned his voice for the Songs. 4. No, Uma Shashi can't look a child of nature like Leela. From A. B. Varma (Nagpur) In which of the following pictures of New Theatres was Prithviraj most successful: Vidyapati, Abhagin, Anath Ashram, Daku Mansur and Seeta. In "Seeta" — but it was not a New Theatres but an East India Film Co. production. From: S. L. Nawani (Karachi) If our national leaders like Mahatmaji, Jajvabarlal Nehru and Subhas Bose happen to work in films, would our film industry gain thereby? Yes. But the nation would lose. From: K. K. Vittal (Mangalore) How far has your Filmindia toured now and when will the tour end? By the time you read this it must have reached Hollywood. The tour will end on the 30th November. From: S. K. Sethi (Lahore) There are many prominent Indian st?«rs who do not reply to their fans. What is the reason? What measures should be taken so that they may respond? Sponsor a literacy campaign. What do you think will be 1939's best picture? "ADMI" — and I am sure! What should one do who is very fond of joining the film industry? Persuade a relation to become a producer. 13