FilmIndia (1940)

FILM INDIA June 1340 THRICE WELCOME— NATIONAL STUDIOS! National Studios under the joint captainship of Seth Chimanlal Desai and Yusufally Fazalbhoy deserve our congratulations for the superb production of their maiden picture "Woman". "Woman" is a glorious beginning for any studio in India. The combined experience of Seth Chimanlal in Sagar and Mr. Fazalbhoy in General Films seems to have provided the necessary Chimanlal Desai background for the success of "Woman"' in which we find a marvellous degree of co-ordination of the different elements that contribute to the completion of a good picture. All that we now expect of National Studios is to maintain the same high standard of production with which tbey launched their first picture. SIR RAHIMTOOLA— BABURAO PATEL— AND "WOMAN" "We want your co-operation and friendly guidance. We want our journalist friends to offer responsible and constructive criticism; we want them to point out our defects, drawbacks and shortcomings; that is the way you can help us; it is this assistance from the press that will lead the film industry to healthy progress" said Sir Rahimtoola Chinoy, Chairman of the Board of Directors of National Studios Ltd., while welcoming a gathering of over a thousand guests for the preview of "WOMAN" at the Pathe Cinema in Bombay, on the 9th May, 1940. Invited by Sir Rahimtoola to speak on the occasion, Mr. Baburao Patel, President of the Film Journalists' Association of India said: "It has become the fashion for our producer;, to invite film journalists on such ceremonial occasions and by bringing them into the limelight, remind them once again of their duties to the film industry. Yusufally Fazalbhoy "Strangely enough, these people who remind us of our duty conveniently forget their own obligations to the press. While they constantly harp on the old and tiresome theme of wanting constructive criticism from the journalists, they themselves fail to cultivate the correct spirit of approach which will help them to understand the real significance of good criticism. "To say the least our producers do not appreciate the importance of the press in the development of the film industry. They do not even extend the courtesy of good seats to the journalists at previews and premieres. In refreshing contrast to this procedure of Rahimtoola Chinoy our people, the foreign producers often treat the journalists with an extra measure of courtesy by giving them the best seats in the theatre. "A recent example, where this consideration paid big dividends was at the premiere of "Gone With The Wind" at the Metro in Bombay. The paper men gave a huge spontaneous break to the picture. "I do not think that the relations between the journalists and the producers will ever improve unless the feeling of mutual distrust is gone. The producers are still very sensitive to the newspaper criticism however well meant it be and at the least provocation only too willingly they put the old and rusty brake of gagging independent views by stopping paid advertisements. "In newspapers, where the film critic is at best just one more poorly paid employee working under an employer with an over developed advertisement revenue complex, this procedure of the producers assumes a complexion of blackmail, leaving the poor worker with no defence." Referring to the necessity of producing pictures with a specific social significance, Mr. Patel said, "It is rather an impotent way of making money by producing pictures for "mere and sheer'' entertainment. We want pictures with a particular design which will elevate our life socially, culturally and intellectually. In these days of national struggle, the producers must realise their grave responsibility in providing the right type of fare to the millions who see our pictures from day to day. If they harness the immense potentialities of the film to give our people an entertainment with a higher purpose, then the film will have contributed its all to the building of a new nation. Dwelling upon the chronic complaint of want of finance and financiers in our film industry, Mr. Patel continued, "It is a welcome news to all in this industry that the Investment Corporation of India Ltd., a financing concern of the Tatas has associated itself with the National Studios. The illustrious traditions of the Tatas in our other national industries and their success give me hopes of a brilliant future for our film industry. I want the executives of the National Studios to remember that on their future activities will depend the continuance of this splendid contribution. They must all work hard and on the Baburao Patel right lines the Tatas in our film industry. For, to keep once we 10