FilmIndia (1940)

August 1940 FILMINDI A Taking his newsreel training in France, he worked as a second cameraman with Horace Ashton for the Explorers' Club of America and for three years worked on the outskirts of the Sahara Desert and in Algeria. He has been in India for five years working on news-reels for the British Paramount and has shot several events like: "The Mysore Wedding", "The Bikaner Jubilee", "The Baroda Coronation," "The Wedding of the Viceroy's Daughter" "Haripura Congress Topical" and "The Quetta Earthquake." I have seen some of his work and the least I can say about it is that it is as good as similar films coming from foreign countries. A FILM LIBRARY. What however, I liked about Pathy most, was his perseverance and his infinite enthusiasm for work in the face of a thousand obstacles. All on his own — and his resources being individual are paltry — he has collected a splendid library of stock film shots during his five years' stay in India. Shots of earthquakes, floods, gipsy dances, sunrise, sunset, camel caravans, temples, fairs, mountain peaks, landscapes, architectural grandeur, village life, rivers with their sacred associations etc., are all well filed and kept for use in his tiny little home in Sikka Nagar at Vithalbhai Patel Road. And he sells these shots to people from Rs. 2-8 a foot for their films. Producers who keep their cameramen waiting along side a sea shore six days for a tenfoot shot of a sunset may as well pay Dr. Pathy Rs. 15 for the shot and save time and money. And probably Pathy may give them a beautiful sunset that does not look like a sunrise — in our pictures we are never sure which is which. FROM 30 TO 3000 A MONTH A little over five years back Mehboob, the man who directed "Woman" was getting Rs. 30 a month for working as an extra in films. Some one told me the other day that he had signed a contract with Mr. Dwarkadas Daga, the Banker behind India Artists for a series of pictures on Rs. 3,000 a month as salary plus Rs. 15,000 a year as a special bonus and another 25% of the net profits. Mehboob will, of course, go with his faithful band of workers including Author Babubhai Mehta, Cameraman Faredoon Irani, Music Director Anil Biswas and several others who have in the past in one way or other helped Mehboob to make pictures that have been money-makers with quality. But has success — this terrific success — gone to his head? I met Mehboob the other day at the Pathe and I found him praying (reciting his "namaz") on the fountain parapet in the garden. I was closely watching for the look of triumph in his eyes— but it was not there. He is still the Mehboob I once met eight years back, taking pan for Director Chowdhary. Strangely enough, he asked me whether I would take a pan. And he ordered one and gave it to me with the same humble gesture characteristic of the man. Success has not yet spoiled him — not Mehboob. And probably because he feels that he doesn't deserve such a rich reward in life, he prays five times a day and keeps on thanking the Almighty. But we know he does deserve. In the present day capitalistic world, only those who earn for others earn themselves. And that is what Mehboob does. He makes money for the producers. Here is an intriguing situation in "Narsi Bhagat." It is between Vimala Vashishta and Aundhkar. DO NOT MISS 'Pagal'" produced by Ranjit Movietone directed by A. R. Kardar, and featuring Prithviraj, Madhuri and others. It is our first streamlined photoplay and is distinguished by the unforgettable performance of Prithviraj. 'Pagal'' will seriously contend for the Film Journalists' Award of the year. Baburao Patel 13