FilmIndia (1940)

Our Review Creator of 'Tulsidas' makes "India To-day" Prithviraj Gives A Brilliant Performance Interesting Story Sustains Audience Interest This picture of Director Jayant Desai has come to the screen ten months after "Sant Tulsidas", his previous picture, which proved a tremendous box-office success.. "India Today'' is a social story in which an attempt has been made to incorporate too many things— to be exact "punches'' for the box-office. The picture has therefore become slightly mixed up at places with a number of oft seen and familiar situations. Several situations call into play the imagination of the audience to make up for the jumping logic in the continuity. The numerous incidents pieced together in a familiar strain also demand patience from the spectators. VILLAGE VS. TOWN Dhiraj and Umang belong to the village. So do Shashi and Urmi. The main drama moves between these two families with Unmad an interloper thrown in for grace. Evidently, the families are well off in worldly goods, for we find Umang returning to the scene of the drama as an educated man from Calcutta. On the other hand Urmi goes one better and returns with some overseas training. Strangely enough, the other brother Dhiraj and the other sister Shashi remain in the village and become simple rustics. The dramatic contrast being thus made ready, Shashi and Dhiraj are in love with each other till Umang comes on the scene. The scene where Umang appears has been given a national colour by making Shashi a Khadi seller. Shashi is soon attracted by the glamorous Umang. Dhiraj is surprised, shocked but ultimately submits. He goes out of the village with a characteristic prodigal son gesture and allows Umang to marry Shashi, but not without threatening that he would break Umang's head if Shashi was ever made unhappy. MISS "INTRIGUE" ENTERS Urmi, the complication in reserve, now turns up and provides intrigue and entertainment with a wild abandon that makes the drama interesting. She begins work by seducing Umang. A crisis is soon reached and Umang mortgaging his ancestral property to Unmad elopes with Urmi to the city leaving his wife and family. Unmad soon throws the family into the streets. while Umang is throwing money into the streets in the city. INDIA TO-DAY Producers: Ranjit Movietone Story: Gunvantrai Acharya Dialogues & Songs D. JV. Madhok Direction: Jayant Desai Cinematography: G. G. Gogte Audiography: C. K. Trivedi Music: Khemchand Prakash Cast: Prithviraj, Ishwarlal, Charlie, Rose, Sitara, Etc. Released At: Royal Opera House. Bombay. Date of Release: 27th April, 1940. Grim tragedy, which waited so long, is now released. Dhiraj is now in charge of the family — the father having died of shock. He tries to maintain his mother and the pregnant wife of his brother. Somehow the child is born. To get it milk he robs Unmad and is arrested and sent to jail. Umang has also by now spent all his money and rather too suddenly turns over a new leaf only to throw Urmi into an accidental death. A fugitive from law, he disguises himself and becomes "Emile Zola" by writing books under the name of Kaviraj. There is a dramatic meeting between the two brothers — in fact a complete family gathering. Parts of these sequences are very pathetic and are worth seeing. PRITHVI TAKES THE VOTE Prithviraj has given a brilliant performance as Dhiraj. His work in this picture is in sharp contrast with his performance in his previous picture. In the last four reels of this picture. Prithvi gives a heartrending portrayal of a man of ideals badly kicked about and disillusioned. Ishwarlal is as usual consistent and loyal in his portrayal of Umang. Charlie's slapstick does not fit in well with the serious design of the drama. At a couple of places Rose has also done good work. The songs and dialogues are poor. The picture however, is very well taken by the director. Had he attended to its logical development, "India Today'' would have become a very popular social theme. Photography is surprisingly soothing, the sound, however, is not so happy. In places, there is of course plenty of entertainment and the picture is likely to appeal to people who are not very anxious to find the why's and wherefore's of things. The names of the characters: Dhiraj. Umang, Urmi, Shashi and even Unmad are very cleverly given but their symbolic significance, while being appropriate, is likely to go over the heads of ordinary folks. Mr. Jayantilal Thakore of Famous Pictures. Bangalore and Mr. Jashbhai Patel of General Films of Madras, received serious injuries when the premises of General Films caught fire on the 26th May 1940. Both of them were removed to the hospital where are progressing steadily. Mr. Jayantilal Thatore they 51