Filmindia (1941)

FILMINDIA March 1941 alright decided to be friends. And I liked the careful young man, who doesn't mind even if his wife locks him out. He is so good natured. I can't say that of Baburao. He just refuses to stay where others would like to have him. He goes where he likes and pulls others with him. Between Narayan and the boss, the South Indian Film Industry was once again on the anvil. Baburao Patel's strong he-man talk thrilled the passive interviewer. He remembered the roar but forgot the words. And like an ivy clinging to an oak, the younger man threw in his lot with the other. They became friends. But few know, friendship with Baburao Patel means pulling on one side only. It is just like lighting a candle in a room flooded with sunlight. I have met almost all friends of Baburao and though Baburao loves them deeply and respects them yet they all lean on him through good and bad times and he likes it that way. OH! WHAT A THEATRE The evening was devoted to K. Subrahmanyam's picture "Kacha Devyani." The picture. which, though, it had no stars in it, still seemed to be better produced than "Shakuntalai." There was a deft touch of experience in the shots and the man who did it seemed to know the laws of harmony and presentation. Ofcourse, the ear splitting Tamil was there, but as the eye was pleased the language sat easier on the ear. But the theatre, alas. It is called the Gaiety but never have I seen su much purposeful design in destroying all possible gaiety. It is a shame to a progressive city like Madras. What are the diamond-studded Chettiars of the South doing for their province? Why don't they use a part of their huge wealth to build some decent theatres? Baburao Patel thought that "Kacha Devyani" was not getting a chance to succeed and be popular. Even a good picture in bad environments will prove a flop. For. can entertainment ever be complete without good surroundings? However, one thing I still remember of the picture is the attractive little face of Rajkumari, the heroine of the story. She is chic and under good direction, her future is certainly rosy. At the theatre, I met the charming S. D. Subbulaxmi. Sweet to a fault, she wins you with the very first smile. What an appropriate partner to the chivalrous Subrahmanyam! There are in business together and for their own sake, I wish them all success. A HIT AND MUSS SCRAP That night we cast the anchor at 1 a.m. of the 22nd February. At nine on this day, we had a date with Mr. S. S. Vasan otherwise known as "Gemini", once a journalist, for sometime a sportsman and now a film magnate. To the minute, we called at his studios, but he was not there. He was still making his plans for the day at home. We, however, met his Irish manager Mr. Moylan who with a lofty institutional "we" took us to his room and introduced us to his charming wife who also works for the studios as a stewardess or something, I didn't quite get. One wonders how a nationalist like Vasan could not get any competent Indian to manage his studios. Moylan was, ofcourse, very polite. They are all polite to Baburao wishing all the while that they shouldn't be. Moylan even suggested a mug of beer, but coffee being the national drink of the South, Baburao Patel did not like to outrage the convention. There was not much to learn from Moylan about the film industry. He seemed to be good at furnishing and when the telephone bell rang with Vasan at the other end calling us home, we were a little more than relieved, though I would At the Broadway Talkies, Madras. Sitting from left to right: Director Nandlal, Mr. Jayantilal Thq.korc, Mi?S H. Carlyle, Mr. Babuxrag patel, Mr. M. T. Rajen, Mr. Sarathy. 88