FilmIndia (1940)

iviblan 'films Qn £abeta(jed Countryman K anga's Uehement Protest Cock-Eyed Ideas Of India Rnd Indians By: E. P. KANGA During the last war Indian soldiers fought shoulder to shoulder with the people of Iraq to save Iraq from the invading Turks. In the battlefields of Mesopotamia, freedom was once sown with the blood of Indians so that the people of Iraq may enjoy the fruits of freedom. To-day, according to Countryman Kanga, the Iraqis have forgoten the debt of honour they owe us. Not only are the Indians chased out of jobs, not only are their films not allowed to be shown there, but they are called "Hindi As vat " (Black Indians). And yet the Iraqis are Muslims whom Indians look upon as brothers. The Editor. I am in Baghdad for the past four months looking after the film affairs of Messrs. M. B. Billimoria and my experience has been rather bitter. In three years only nine pictures Have been passed by the Censor Authorities in this country. It was after the success of "Hurricane Hansa," that the opposition became the strongest, as "Hansa" ran for four weeks continuous. I arrived here in May and in the beginning of June when I received two films from Mr. Billimoria I applied to Amin Ul Asmat (Lord Mayor) who was the Chairman of the Board of Film Censors. I wrote and requested him to give me an interview and as I received no reply to my request for a week. I called at his office and saw his secretary. The secretary inquired about my business and when I informed him that I was connected with Indian film business, he went into Amin Ul Asma's office and came out and told me that ai Amin Ul Aima wai too busy with war work, he could not spare any time and that I should state my business in writing. I did so the very next day and since then wrote to him six reminders for over a month and a half, all Registered A. D., but to none of which I received a reply. After continuously calling at his office for two months I was asked to submit an application through the Cinema house where the picture was to be shown. This was done in July and Countryman E. P. Kanga is making the best of a bad job in Baghdad. upto the time of writing the films have not been censored. HELPLESS BRITISH EMBASSY! In the meantime I have been seeing Mr. J. Walker, Commercial Secretary attached to the British Embassy but he could render no assistance. He said that he had in the past seen Amin Ul Asma regarding the Indian films and was told that the Indian films had no art and that they were no good for the Iraqis, And that India produce! The lording Lord Mayor, Syed Arshad Al Umri, Amin Ul Asma, (Lord Mayor) of Baghdad— the bitterest enemy of Indian films. pictures that take people one hundred years back. Mr. Walker declined to take the matter up unless he was asked by the Government of India to seek for an explanation officially. But in my case they have not even viewed the pictures, and that is the one method they use in making people stop importing Indian films to Iraq. If a cinema owner applies for censoring of an Indian film I am told, he is sent for immediately and warned that the next time he applies for Censor of an Indian film his cinema license would be cancelled. Practically all cinema owners are Jews and when the Over-Lord Mahomedan orders him such a thing he has to obey. At present the following films are lying uncensored in Iraq: — 'Punjab Mail', 'Rangila Mazdoor', 'State Express," 'Passing Show', 'Challenge*, 'Black Hearty 'Anarbala', 'Pukka Bud mash', 'Fashionable India', 'Tarzan-ki-Bety'. Some of these pictures have been produced as far back as five years. Not one of these has been viewed by the Censor authorities in Baghdad as yet. Even if they were to see the pictures at least and then tell the party concerned their objections either in respect of some portions or in respect of the whole picture one would at least understand what they object to. But, just not to take any notice of application for censor for 45