FilmIndia (1940)

FILMINDIA February 1940 At the production end of the industry, Sohrab the elder brother began with equal modesty. His modesty, inspite of his triumphant success, is still exemplary and he doesn't even indulge in an occasional but excusable brag like the younger brother. Going through some disheartening failures, his perseverance triumphed at last in "Pukar" the picture, which in spite of several defects, has taken the box-offices by storm. g i ajj That showmanship is inherent in the family is evident from the way Sohrab takes round his artistes to share his triumph all over India after the release of his pictures. This procedure not only establishes direct contact and better understanding between the cinema goers and the producers but also creates a lucrative interest in the product. With all my differences of opinion, and they are many, I take my hat off to this successful family and wish them many more years of prosperity. "KANGAN" AND ITS MAKERS! Five years ago financial experts were sceptical about the success of a public limited film producing company in India. But the unique success of the Bombay Talkies Ltd., the first public limited company we have on a large scale, has silenced the critics and inspired more confidence in the sceptics. The successful working of the Bombay Talkies has encouraged others to open similar concerns, and we already find a couple of other public limited companies operating with every hope of success. The story of Bombay Talkies is a brilliant romance of the film trade. In five years, a year out of which they spent in building the studios and assembling equipment, they produced fifteen pictures. Seven from these became stupendous box office triumphs. Out of the remaining eight, seven did more than average business and only one fared badly. Even the much boosted Hollywood studios cannot claim this measure of success. Their recent hit "Kangan" a social picture with a soothing and suggestive love theme threatens to break all box-office records previously established by the company. Twelve copies are at this moment running in different towns as follows: Bombay, in the 15th week; Ahmedabad, 7th week; Surat, 8th week; Baroda, 5th week; Gwalior, 4th week; Indore, 5th week; Lahore, 7th week; Delhi, 6th week; Peshawar, 5th week; Lucknow, 6th week; Meerut, 5th week and Allahabad, 5th week. What a brilliant record for a social picture! Last year, the Company paid a 7 per cent dividend on preference shares— the first in the history of film making in India. Again this year, the company hopes to pay another dividend as the profits this, year, are even more than ever before. 8 7 RAI AND RAI BAHADUR! The success of Bombay Talkies, Ltd., is to be attributed to the indefatigable efforts of two persons, Himansu Rai and Rai Bahadur Chuni Lall. In the former we have I a producer who works from seven j in the morning till late in the night I and runs his affairs on red tape J system without its proverbial element of delay. Himansu Rai He keeps himself to himself, away from others, working more and ever more and only takes subjects which he feels he can handle efficiently. He gives his pictures in time to the fans and to the exhibitors, which cannot be said of some of the other producers. The business end is managed by Rai Bahadur Chuni Lall. His irresistable arguments in support of his pictures have made him the star salesman of the industry. I have yet to meet a more punc tual and competentgeneral manager with more passionate sincerity for hiswork than the irrepressible Rai Bahadur. R. B. Chuni Lall Himansu Rai at Malad can hear Rai Bahadur talking about his pictures at the Cricket club. That is the enthusiasm which has made Bombay Talkies what it is today. SOCIAL STATUS OF STARS Much has been said and written about the social status of our film stars. After 25 years of film making and constant association with our stars, the producers and others were not expected to grudge the star a social status which they richly deserve. After all, the present stability and the status which the film industry enjoys today is also largely due to the efforts of our stars, but for whose popularity the industry would have been still in its infancy. And yet, at some of the film functions recently held in the city, it was painful to observe the prudish snobbery of some toadies in this respect. When they found a well known film girl sitting next to a prominent producer, and several others at the same table, they thought that 'the mighty producer was insulted. "We make them what they are and they are like dust on our shoes" said a producer's toady to me ex-, pressing his resentment in this respect. I can't understand this disgraceful complex on the part of the so-called high born people, Film stars are