FilmIndia (1940)

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February 1940 PILMINDIA as good devotees of art as others and just because they are artistes, it does not give others a right to scoff at them. Our stars have been unreasonably condemned on grounds of personal morality. Very often these allegations are unfounded. What, however, tickles me to death is that the fault finders think themselves secure in their own glass houses. How many amongst the producers and the technicians, who claim to make the stars what they are today, can prove their own spotless character from a moral point of view? Don't I know some producers and several technicians who brag of morality during the day and spend the nights in immoral pursuits? What right have these people to sit in judgment over the poor stars who work for their living as hard as others. This snobbery of the so-called well born classes must end soon and sooner it does, the better for our industry. In this regard I recommend the noble sentiments expressed by Mr. B. N. Sircar when journalists interviewed him in Bombay recently. Asked a question about the social status of film artistes, Mr. Sircar condemned the snobbery which attached a social stigma to the profession of film acting. The film artistes he said deserved the same position and respect which is commanded by people in other professions. Even if others were prejudiced against them, the producers ought to treat them well as colleagues and as artistes. Here is a real aristocrat speaking and he knows what he means. INDIAN MOTION PICTURE CONGRESS The organisers of the Indian Motion Picture Congress hope to convene the second session of the Congress during the Easter holidays at Calcutta. It is said that one of the two secretaries both resident in Bombay, will be going to Calcut'.c. to make the preliminary arrangements. We have doubts whether this Calcutta session will be as great a success as the first one held in Bombay for several reasons. One of the principal reasons being the studied non-co-operation of Sardar Chandulal Sh?h who washed his hands of the Congress after taking all the glory of the success of the first session. We cannot say what is in his mind now, but it is evident that the second session will not be such a great success unless it is convened with the immense driving force of this veteran. On the other hand we do not think it advisable to convene the Congress every year inflicting upon the enthusiasts the necessity of spending a good bit of money on travelling expenses. This procedure becomes all the more painful when we notice that since the last Congress session nothing practical has been done by the Executives to enforce the several resolutions passed. The industry has remained in the same muddle as before and the resolutions have become mere pious hopes. A lot of the blame for this pitiful state of affairs goes to the two honorary secretaries, who seem to have taken the word 'honorary' rather too seriously. Under the circumstances why not convene the Congress once every three years and in the meantime direct all energies to give practical expression to the numerous resolutions? OLD PATEL AND NEW "PREVOST" With the outbreak of war the exhibition trade in India has been for a couple of months thrown out of gear. The ever increasing film-mindedness of the people, encouraged by the papers and film magazines, created a demand for more theatres and naturally enough several new theatres cropped up on an economic plan in the smaller towns. Previous to the war, the "Bauer" projectors which were distinguished by their quality and economy in price would have been installed in these theatres. But with the war coming on suddenly the supply of "Bauer" machines was abruptly stopped. On the other hand, previously made budgets did not allow expensive projectors to be installed in these new theatres. Besides, the local agents of these highly priced equipments further inflated their prices making vicious profiteering an ambition and war their main excuse. Mr. Jagannath Patel who had given India 400 new theatres in smaller towns in the last three years by supplying the economic "Bauer" projectors, once -again volunteered to save the exhibition trade from* the chaos that would have inevitably resulted. Going out of his way he secured the agency of "Prevost" projectors, which are manufactured in Italy, which is not a belligerent nation, and by cutting down his own profits to the minimum is now offering a perfectly reliable theatre equipment at a considerable sacrifice. J. J. Patel The "Prevost" is the national projector of Italy and we find the same installed in all cinemas in Italy, whether big or small. In fact with "Prevost" giving perfect service, Italians have not found it necessary to import any other equipment into their country. Such a fine projector, we are sure, is bound to be quickly popular in India with discriminating exhibitors who believe in getting full value for their money. 9