FilmIndia (1940)

%e EDITOR'S mniii .XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXVS«V\ [In this section, the editor himself replies to queries from the readers. As thou % ^ sands of letters are received every month — some anxious and several frivolous — it $ y $ 4 is neither possible nor convenient to attend to all. Selected letters are usually t x — • v treated in an informative and humorous strain and no offence is meant to anyone.] .vXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX.XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXV D. V. Sanghvi (Poona) Has Chandramohan gained in any way in his film career by leaving Prabhat? He doesn't seem to have lost much. Perhaps the best performance of his career, he gave in "Pukar". He has followed it up with another good one in "Bharosa." And now he earns four times more than he used to at Prabhat. Chandramohan is a born actor and should stand out any where. V. M. Asher (Calcutta) Why does Mahatma Gandhi condemn the cinema? Can't you prevail upon him to change his attitude and encourage the film industry? The Mahatma is too old to improve now. And I don't want to waste his and my time in trying to prevail upon him. The film industry doesn't need the blessings of Mahatmas but the patronage of the masses to do its part in nation building. Let us all apply to getting more people to see our pictures and we shall have done our bit. That is the substance of the problem. The blessing is the mere shadoiu. Madhava Rao (Chicacole) To perpetuate the glorious memory of the late Mr. Himansu Rai I have a plan: (1) A biography of Mr. Rai by K. A. Abbas to be published at the expense of Bombay Talkies Ltd. (2) The net profits of the sale proceeds of the book, subsidized further by voluntary contributions from the public and the people in the industry, to be utilized for establishing an annual award called "Himansu Rai Memorial Award" to be given to the picture which has in the best way tried to spread the ideals of the late Mr. Rai. The Award should be a gold medal. (3) The Committee should be constituted as follows: Mrs. Rai, (President), Mr. Shantaram (VicePresident), Rai Bahadur Chuni Lall (Treasurer), Mr. Ahmad Abbas (Secretary and Organizer) and representatives of the different trade and technical and professional associations in the industry. Don't you think that we can perpetuate the memory of a great artist in this way? Sure, we can. Now, it is for the Secretary to move further in the matter. My stipport will always be there, whole-hearted and sincere. B. K. R. Rao (Mysore) It is a pity that Prabhat and N.T. pictures are released in Mysore at a small, rotten theatre with a single projector and bad accoustics. And this while there are good theatres in the City. In doing so, the charm of the pictures is lost. If these pictures are shown at better theatres, the producers will get better returns and people won't complain. You have appealed to the conscience of the producers by showing them how to make more money. Producers have their conscience in their pocket. I hope, the producers concerned look into this matter carefully. V. V. Karantha (Voderhobly) Why are you so reluctant in publishing the photos of New Theatres' pictures and colour plates of their stars? Don't you think it is unjust? It would be unjust if I was reluctant. But where are the photos to publish? Surely you don't expect me to run after B. N. Sircar and his provincial minions asking for photographs. I have no patience with people who do not know how to That is Sarojini in "Deepak Mahal" a Mohan picture. 13