FilmIndia (1940)

October 1940 FILMINDI A speed and vigour so necessary to become a successful producer. The only thing that worries me is the day and the date of the marriage. But some people are lucky on the 13th. I know my friend Ahmad Abbas gets all his luck on the 13th though he doesn't realize it then. THANKS KODAK! There is a little more slump in the film market this month. Producers were a bit inconvenienced in their supplies of raw films because foreign shipments did not arrive in time. The entire burden of supplying the Indian film industry with raw films is now the responsibility of Kodak Limited and to give them their due, we must admit that they have been acquitting their responsibility admirably not only by keeping pace with the demand but also by maintaining the system of long credits as before the war. Only a firm of the financial stability of Kodaks can do this. Indian producers should also admire their business morality because Kodaks are not profiteerng in this war period having the virtual monopoly and the temptation to do so. This is indeed a service which producers must remember in times of peace when mushroom suppliers crop up in competition. In striking contrast to the exemplary behaviour of Kodaks one Indian supplier of raw films with a professed view to ease the supplies, talked some Indian producers into advancing huge amounts and is now reported to have decamped with his loot. The men who paid that money are still waiting for the goods. The producers who advanced that money deserve their fate for their fishy and underhand conspiracy. CUT DOWN THE STARS Money has always been the main obstacle in our film industry. Producers have always needed more and more money. In the good old days they even paid 24% interest on short loans with equitable security. That was too much and producers paid the price of their stupidity in not applying themselves during the last 25 years in making the industry stable. But now with the war in its second year, even the Share and Stock markets are feeling the depression and financial conditions in general are not very rosy even in stable industries. The film industry is therefore badly hit because producers are not able to raise money on the films which are considered a flimsy security by the tin-gods of the city. The short-loan Hundi market usually operating within a range of 12 to 24 per cent interest is entirely closed for the film producers with the result that huge outstandings in publicity bills and staff salaries have piled up in less established studios. If the war goes on a little longer, and we are assured every day that this will be a long war, we wonder whether our film industry will ever come out of it unscathed. One way the producers can balance their budgets a lot in these troublesome times, is by cutting down the stupidly inflated salaries of our stars some of whom get as much as Rs. 3,000 a month without their being able to pay back even one-tenth of What they get. India hasn't a single star worth his or her salary. Not one of them can guarantee success to a film only because of the star-pull. Salaries of stars have gone up either because of the sex-obsession of the producers or because of the desire to indulge in unhealthy competition amongst themselves. No star has ever been given a well deserved rise, because of his or her pulling power at the box-offices. Our stars have no pulling power — none whatsoever and the sooner the producers realize this, the earlier will they get out of their difficulties. KHAN BAHADUR GOES BANKRUPT With the extension of protection in insolvency to Khan Bahadur Ardeshar M. Irani, a glorious career has come to a sad end. The failure of the old Khan Bahadur was not a surprise. Almost every one who had eyes and a little foresight knew that it was coming for a long time. The question was how long the dominating personality of the grand old man would be able to stay the ultimate crisis. With the failure of the Khan Bahadur goes down his inseparable partner Abdulally Eusufally and for no fault of his. My full sympathy goes to him for Abdulally has been a pioneer in many a branch of the film industry. In his old age poor Abdulally has now to look out for new work k. 8 a. m. irani to support his big family. It would be interesting to know how many peonle lost money in the venture of the Khan Bahadur known as the Imperial Film Company. Ishwarlal, one of the best all round artistes Ranjit have, is this time teamed with Nur Jehan in "Ummid'\ 9