FilmIndia (1940)

FILMINDIA ft have the desir^ to improve — and above1: all men who are selfless patriots and^not mere honour-hunters."1 Such men with a broader outlook are nbw ^required to give the industry a better' 'guidance for thr future. Even if they become more strict in the execution" of their duties,Theif strictness will be of "greater help to the industry than the senile help of a crowd of yes-men who are always puzzled at their own decisions. '• x . . . «« • >> (ir.-v. • May we suggest some institutions that* may. . be represented on the next Board? (1) The Indian Motion Picture Producers' Association, (2) The Film Journalists' Association of India, (3) The Motion Picture Society of India, (4). The Indian Merchants' Chamber (5) The University of Bombay. The institutions may be asked, to nominate' their own representatives on the Board. WITH TWO BANKS IN HIS POCKET! Lack of finance and financiers ' has been a chronic complaint of the Indian film industry. Find two producers together in any crowded or. secluded spot and you will hear them wailing over the, problem of finance. The Indian Motion Picture Congress and the'1 Silver Jubilee Celebrations certainly did give big publicity to our film industry, with the result that several new financiers have ventured to invest their money in films. A notable example is Seth Ramnath Kasturchand Daga the Bikaner multi-millionaire, who they say "can pick any two of the biggest banks in Bcmbay and buy them outScth Rarniiath Daga ' right." • ■ : • fi • " Whsn a man, of that eminence and financial resources takes an active interest in our film industry, it is certainly the best news, we have after a long time. Besides, in getting a man like Seth Ramnath, the industry secures one of the keenest industrial brains which have faced ^the multiple problems in high finance and country-wide commerce. The India Artists Ltd., is a pet child of" the Daga family and like other children in this illustrious family, I am sure this new film producing concern will soon blossom into a big beehive of industry. With the young and well-educated Dwarkadas Daga and Kishore Sahu our talented artiste being in joint execution of the job, it will not be surprising March 1940 > to expect pictures with a greater social significance coming from this new company, very soon. As an 'earnest Of the high ideals this enterprising company has set itself, "Bahurani" a provocative social picture is already well on way and I hope it "will prove a big success to -tempt many more Dagas" to our industry. For, the success of Seth Ramnath Daga Will certainly set other bankers thinking f uri BAD SALESMANSHIP? Once again another good Hollywood picture has gone off the screen quietly — as quietly as it came. I refer to "The Hollywood Cavalcade" produced by the 20th Century Fox. As a beautiful historical documentof the mv> tion picture industry in Hollywood, it had several aspects of interest to all the screen fans who would have certainly liked to know the development of the film industry and its early struggles. In addition, the picture had a good soothing romance to sustain the interest, of the romantic minded. Alice Faye and Don Amecha, two popular players, also provided one more argument to bring the picture to the notice of the cinema-goers. But, alas for some reason or other, the local distributors allowed the picture to step in quietly and step out more quietly. May we know why? Where is the sense in 20th Century Fox producing a picture on such a lavish scale and their local representatives not telling the people so. If the "Hollywood Cavalcade" shows bad returns from India, it will be due to just bad salesmanship. MAGNIFICENT, INDEED! Regal, "The Theatre Magnificent" will no longer be magnificent if its air-cooling equipment keeps on crying for repairs a little longer. During the .last three months, whenever, I visited the theatre, its "magnificence" in air-cooling was conspicuous by its absence. Relying upon these new equipments, even the fans, which now look ancient but were once perfectly reliable, have not been fitted up. Imagine the disr comfort to. the audience on a hot sultry day with the theatre packed. While seeing "All Quiet On The Western Front" I felt as miserable as some of those soldiers in the dug-out. When people pay for certain comforts in a theatre, promised by reassuring advertisements, and they don't get them for a longer time than is allowed for accidents, they have a right to feel that they are being cheated. Will the proprietors of Regal Theatre be accused of that?' 8