Filmindia (1941)

This section is the monopoly of "JUDAS" and he writes what he likes and about things which he likes. The views expressed here are not necessarily ours, hut still they carry weight because they are written by a man who knows his job. Leela Desai Insulted Little justification can be found for the disgraceful behaviour of the college students of Poona when Leela Desai, the Calcutta film star, was invited to lecture at the Poona Law College on 13th January. It is reported that when Leela Desai arrived at the College premises the students created an unbearable clamour and confusion and sabotaged her speech byshouts and whistles when she stood up to speak. The unruly behaviour is reported to have reached such a pitch of mob fury that the lady had to escape through a window. To say the least this is a very unbecoming behaviour towards an invited guest and outrages all canons of hospitality. And in addition the whole affair is cowardly and does not speak much for the moral fibre of the Poona students. I have always held a very high opinion of the intellectual attainments of the Poona College Students but this shabby exhibition towards a lady guest invites a question about their sense of chivalry and decency. Almost a similar reception, entire in its rowdiness and unmannerly behaviour, was given last year to K. L. Saigal when he accepted the invitation of the Bombay students. The students demanded a song from him but the poor man had a sore throat and could not oblige. His reluctant refusal became a signal for the students to break out into an unholy demonstration. While one can understand the warm enthusiasm of the students to meet our film stars, one can hardly find an excuse for such ungentlemanly rowdiness towards a guest. It is no use telling the students to behave but our film stars should learn a lesson from these incidents and remember it before accepting the next invitation from our students. 'v' '. Censoring Crime Pictures It seems certain that the Bombay Board of Film Censors has decided to take no notice of the public protests with regard to its reactionary methods of censor ing our entertainment fare and the Board seems to be completely satisfied with its present unenterprising career of least resistance in matters that demand overhaul and silly opposition in matters of no moment. Three months have passed since the All-India Women's Conference under the presidentship of Miss Sulabha Panandikar passed a resolution that boys and girls under sixteen should not be allowed to see any and every picture that comes to the screen unless the same is certified by the Censor Board as suitable for children under sixteen. And yet, Mr. Pai, the Secretary of the Censor Board has not moved in the matter. Surely, a man with the educational qualifications and experience of Mr. Pai can understand the gravity of the social problem involved in this question of giving the right entertainment fare to our growing minds. Or does the problem not appeal to Mr. Pai personally because he himself is not blessed with any children? A case in instance is "Qaidi" the recent picture of the Film Corporation of India. Never before on the Indian screen has crime been more glorified than in this picture. And the hero who overindulges himself in the popular Robin-Hood type of crimes does not even meet with a punishment but stumbles across an accidental death on the steps of a Masjid. "Qaidi" is a terribly suggestive picture for children under sixteen and sufficiently poisonous to warp their minds. And yet it has been allowed to run without hindrance to spread its anti-social theme of crime. The Bombay Board of Film Censors must look In to this matter immediately and if there is a technical flaw in the present legislation, is it too much to request Mr. Pai, the Secretary, to stretch his imagination a bit and ask the Government for a revision of the law? SlavC'Driving At Bombay Talkies I was surprised to find Mrs. Snehaprabha Sahu complaining bitterly about the working hours observed in the studios of the Bombay Talkies in their rush for quick pictures. It seems that Mrs. Snehaprabha who was taken on a single-picture contract for "Punar Milan" had to attend the studios at Malad at 7-30 in the morn 9