Filmindia (1941)

March 1941 FILMINDIA too poor, that the technique was primitive and that the recording was awful. Add to all this the Tamil language with its harsh phonetics and remember what Baburao Patel had said only a little while ago. "They make good pictures in these parts." Even the great Subbulaxmi, reputed for her singing, sounded less melodious; The only thing good about this programme was the clean and scrupulously well kept theatre and we were both pleased to get away from the picture. The picture had taken us into the next date but late though it was, it was still early enough for the next day's programme. "Mr. Jayantilal is arriving to-day from Bangalore, Rita. He will be here in the morning at eight with Mr. Subrahmanyam. So better be ready before that." THE "HOLIDAY" BEGINS IN RIGHT EARNEST On the 21st long before the hour of eight had struck, Mr. Patel was at the telephone for half an hour talking to friends and making engagements for the next two days. At eight came Mr. Jayantilal Thakore (of Famous Pictures, Bangalore), Mr. Subrahmanyam, Mr. Sarathy, Mr. Rama Rao (of South Indian Film Chamber of Commerce) and several others and one by one the hours for the next two days were ticked off for work and the "grand holiday" that was promised gradually receded into obscurity. An informal visit to the South Indian Film Chamber of Commerce involved a close perusal of several files of the numerous activities of the Chamber. Mr. Rama Rao, perhaps the most efficient man for the job, has regulated the working of the Chamber so marvellously that Baburao Patel could not help but compliment him loudly to the utter embarrassment of the man concerned. Mr. Subrahmanyam's runnmg commentary explaining the Chamber's numerous activities, spoken in soothing soft and precise words, was the only item in the whole affair that interested me personally. I liked this man immensely. He is so kind and considerate and there is nothing harsh and jarring about him. What a complete contrast he provided to the irresistible go-getter that Mr. Patel is — rushing, furious, dynamic, quick, blunt, rough, efficient, in fact, every thing in sharp and in speed. SOUTH INDIAN GOOD LOOKERS The next item began with a visit to the Newtone Studios, This is per haps the only studio that is busy In the South. There are several independent producers working in this place and the picture that was on the sets when we went is called "Thalli Prema" (Mother's Love). It has two good looking girls working in it, Kannamba and Hemlata, and they are good natured too. Baburao Patel, as is usual with him when he sees new faces particularly of the fair sex, was all smiles and sweet looks and the girls did look flattered when the well known journalist talked to them so sweetly and with such different concern. He even said that Telugu sounded more beautiful than Tamil and that seemed to please Kannamba. Baburao has patented his methods of approach through long practice and they rarely fail. Very soon, he had both the girls interested and giggling and an enterprising cameraman shot them that way. I developed a little weakness for Hemlata. She was educated and sweet and she has taken to the screen not so much for money as for her devotion to art. Between Jiten Bannerjee and Dinshaw Irani they have quite and expert technical guidance and I am sure, "Thalli Prema" will be a picture worth seeing and we shall certainly see a bit of Kannamba's own direction in it, for, Kannamba, being a third partner in the show, seemed mighty worried about things being done the right way. But did I forget Director Nandlal who chaperoned us through the studios? Only we couldn't always understand what he spoke but as his intentions were always good and his heart of gold, we didn't mind the words which rushed out too fast for us to hold in our ears. A NEW MEMBER OF THE FAMILY Back at the Connemara for lunch, we had K. R. Narayan of the "Sunday Times" waiting to interview our editor. Narayan's approach was that of a devotee and Baburao who likes "puja" except when he has to give it, immediately found a corner in his heart for the honest, sincere Narayan, the journalist. Narayan took a straight, eye-full look at me and finding everything 27