FilmIndia (1940)

June 1940 FILMINDIA lose this enterprising and princely house of finance, we won't have another for a long time to come." Reverting to film criticism, Mr. Patel pointed out that the words of Sir Rahimtoola as the Chairman of National Studios while calling for the co-operation of the journalists and inviting them to criticise, have a great significance. "I want the National Studios and for that matter all the other sudios" continued Mr. Patel, "to write Sir Rahimtoola's opinion about film criticism on their gates and read it every time they find their pictures reviewed in the papers. Doing so will save a lot of misunderstandings. I am going to frame Sir Rahimtoola's speech in my office, and whenever opportunity demands I shall not fail to remind the National Studios of what their own Chairman said. I shall see that big people do not use their words lightly." Describing the riding accident to Mr. Surendra on the previous day, Mr. Patel struck a deep note of sympathy in the following words: "While we are all here in a spirit of entertainment, the hero of this picture lies unconscious in the J.J. Hospital having met with a serious accident in his attempt to give us all an entertainment. "As an honest worker in our studios, he takes all my sympathy and whenever in this picture, he thrills you with pleasure, remember that the man himself lies in pain." In wishing "WOMAN"' and National Studios success Mr. Patel hoped that he was voicing the sentiments of his other comrades. SQUARE DEAL TO OUR THEATRE WORKERS Since 1936 "filmindia" has been carrying on a ceaseless agitation through its columns asking for a square deal for our theatre workers. Numerous representations were made to the Government in this matter and at last the Bombay Act No. XXV of 1939, popularly known as the Shop Assistants' Act was passed. The provisions of the said Act in so far as they apply to our theatres are mentioned below : — F,eela Chitnis and Ashok Kumar in "Azad". Mr. Baburao Patel, President of the Film Journalists' Association of India, addressing the guests at the premiere of "Woman" at Pathe Cinema, Bombay, Standing beside him are Sir Rahimtoola Chinoy, Mr. Yusufally Fazalbhoy and Mr. Chimanlal Desai. "Children who have not completed the 12th year shall not be employed. It seems there are boys and young persons employed in the hotel restaurant who may be under 12. It should be made clear to the authorities that the restaurant is a lease operated by others, that the theatre has no control over the persons employed in the restaurant and that the responsibility of employing the restaurant staff is that of the lessee. The name and address of the lessee should be given." "The 24 hours of the day in cinema theatre shall commence with the hour at which the employees are to begin their employment. For, example: if the employees are called upon to attend at 3 P.M. the theatre day will begin at 3 P.M. However, since under the Police Regulations all theatres must close at 12-30 a,m. the theatre day whatever the hour of commencement must be over at 12-30 a.m. for the purposes of the Shop Assistants' Act." "The employees to whom the Act applies are operator, clerk, door-keeper, usher or others employed in similar other capacity. As a matter of fact the Act aplies to all those working in the theatre except the employer or a member of his family dependent on him, or any person or persons occupying positions of management or employed in a confidential capacity. A list of persons with designations to whom the Act does not apply has to be submitted to the authorities." "The maximum hours of employment must not exceed 10 hours per day. If the hours of employment per day exceed 6 but do not exceed 8 hours the employee must have at least half an hour's interval for rest. If the hours of employment exceed 8 but do not exceed ID" hours per day, the employee must have at least an hour's interval for rest. The hours of work can. for the convenience of the employer, be so spread out that, with the interval for rest, the same do not exceed 14 hours in any one day." II