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lhis section is the monopoly of "JUDAS" and he tvrites ivhat he likes and about things which he likes. Tlie views expressed here are not necessarily ours, but still they carry weight because they are written by a man who knows his job.
"KANGAN " RAPS PERSONAL TRIUMPH
Spectacular successes of pictures like "Achhut Kanya", "Bhabi" and "Kangan" endorse the correct judgment of Mr. Himansu Rai in the selection of proper subjects and their suitable treatment. The country wide popularity of these pictures also provides an overwhelming evidence of what the public wants.
Good business, however, means the faculty of judging this public demand in advance and keeping pace with the ever changing taste of the said demand.
In his hermitage at Malad, away from the noise and bustle of the city, unaware of trade intri. gues and politics, sits Himansu Rai thinking and doing things and at re. gular intervals the film fans all ever India are given screen classics stamped with one man's cultural outlook and individuality.
Mr. Himansu Rai
His great success is complete proof of the public demand. To take a recent example: "Kangan" which celebrated its Silver Jubilee Week of exhibition at the Roxy in Bombay, collected over Rs. 1,20,000 within 25 weeks. At a single city, in a single stretch over half the cost of the picture is refunded. The picture has become a rage all over India. In Calcutta it is breaking old records and making new ones. And the same story is told in every city and town in the country.
The unique success of "Kangan" is another personal triumph of Himansu Rai. It is not a fluke success, as critics and trade people presume it to be. Himansu Rai knew before hand that it would succeed.
A promising successor to "Kangan' is the new Bombay Talkies' picture "Azad" which is now running at the Roxy Cinema in Bombay. In the midst of frightening competition on all sides, this picture is drawing too well for Rai and Rai Bahadur to complain.
FIGURES TELL THE STORY
Coming to the organizing side of the Bombay Talkies' business they have just announced a profit of Rs. 70,659-9-4 for the year ending 31st October 1939 and declared another dividend of 7% on the Prefer
ence Shares. This is an extremely good state of affairs for a public limited film producing concern which began their actual work only five years back with a little over five lakhs of rupees cash in hand.
During the year under review they paid Rs. 2,51,483 in staff salaries, Rs. 1,46,894 for purchase of raw fims, Rs. 13,746 for electric energy. Rs. 32,063 in departmental expenses, Rs. 51,905 in sundry production expenses and over heads and Rs. 91,316 in publicity and advertising.
These figures ought to give us a fair idea of what a full fledged and well managed studio needs in finance to meet satisfactorily the demand of the public for good entertainment.
With its present management and ideals, Bombay Talkies have certainly many more years of a progressive career in store for them.
JAMUNA appears in "Hindusthan Hamara", a Krishin Production.
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