FilmIndia (1940)

This section is the monopoly of " JUDAS" and he icrites ichat he likes and about things which he likes. Hie l ieics expressed here are not necessarily ours, but still they carry weight because they are icritten by a man icho knoics his job. MIR GENGE AND T A L Y A R K H A X ! The war has brought out two documentary films "He is in The Navy Now" and "A Day With The Indian Army". The first is produced by Wadia Movie_ tone and as a pictorial record of the life of a naval recruit showing its different phases, it is better than the second one about the army which is shot with lack of imagination at every stage. To the onlookers "A Day With the Indian Army" seemed like a week in the theatre — the affair being so boring. The English commentaries with both the films were dull and disappointing. If Radcliffe Genge and Bobby Talyarkhan think that they have done a good job, let them get rid of the notion as soon as possible. While the former talked too much and often unnecessarily the latter was found unreasonably silent at places. I think Genge and Talyarkhan contributed a lot to the unpopularity of these documentary films which to say the least had a very luke-warm reception. In refreshing contrast to the commentaries of Rad. cliffe Genge and Bobby Talyarkhan, the effort of Ezra Mir in synthesizing Universal news-reel shots and making a film called 'The Road To Victor}"' is most admirable. His English commentary, is a very thrilling piece of work ever executed on the screen and kicks up the instructional value of the film. " The Road To Victory" opens with the world at peace "with smil_ ing faces and happy hearts" as Mir says. "Then one day the sunshine of life and happiness grew dim. .as a shadow — an evil shadow spread its unhealthy mocking spell over the Earth" '•Dictatorship proclaimed, that might is right and the very ethics of civilized society binding the most sacred principles of human codes of honour lay crumpled in the dust " "Law and order became a mockery and the rights of man expressing freedom of speech, thought and action— a crime " EZRA MIR "History shall one day record that fateful day of September 1st when the Nazi demons of war and destruction were let loose upon the Earth and the foundations of civilization were torn from its very roots . . For, it was war — grim, cruel, ghastly." Yes, never since the war began were we told in such thrilling and unmistakable words the horrors of war as Mir tells them on the screen with a world of feeling and emotion that does not miss its mark. Yes, Mir has done it ten times better than Bobby Talyarkhan and a hundred times better than Radcliffe Genge and in doing so, given India perhaps its best commentator. And we certainly want some more of his work in future. XOT 5000 MILES AWAY ! War is still 5000 miles away — seems to be the thought of all the different propaganda committees ap_ pointed by the Government for carrying on war propaganda in our country. It is an open secret that most of the members on the different committees are old fossils whose one game has been to hunt for honours and are therefore entirely useless for the job they are selected. The Government has taken up over-burdened men on these committees — men who have big industries to run and numerous directors' meetings to attend. I doubt, whether half of them even know how to spell the word "Propaganda". Though the war is 5000 miles away to-day, its effect is acutely felt in India in the day-to-day economic life of the country. With the present day highly mechanized and speedy warfare, 5000 miles is not a big distance to bridge and any day an escaped enemy submarine may lead an assault on our ships or a stray bomber may drop a few bombs on our peace.loving population. There is no wisdom in lulling ourselves into a false sense of security. Something must be done to wake up India and done quick}-. To this end, all the different propaganda committees have failed miserably so far. With their slow-moving personnels and lack of imagination, they have not been able to do any substantial propaganda work Bar shouting about intentions.