Filmindia (1941)

March 1941 FILMINDIA few? Have you ever cared to find out what happens to these unsung heroes and heroines of the screen, who perhaps lend more colour and life to the picture than the beautiful but expressionless faces of manv of your stars? Do they ever attract your envy or attention? Do they not come and go unwept? Then my friend, what makes you so sure that you will at once reacn the top and not become just one of these? And now when you look at this picture, do you like it? No? Why not, may I ask? Oh, I know your answer. Is it not because you find no glamour and fun in this picture? I am sorry for you but this is the true, matter-of-fact sketch of the average artiste's fate. Yes, It will be in your interests to realize that while there is only one percent '"liance of your reaching the top there are 99%, yes, ninety-nine percent chances of your not reaching even half way. A bitter pill to swallow, isn't it? But you must, if vou want to know facts. MAINTAINING A SHOW Oh, you still insist that you will reach the top? Very well then, let us go to the top. And here is your cheque of four figures. And now that you are at the top and, therefore, a twinkling star that you wanted to be you must not touch the ground that the common creatures of the earth do. So, you must have a car. Also you must have other luxuries befitting your status. That means you must have a cosy and sunny bungalow, a telephone, a cook to prepare tempting and delicious dishes for you and yours, a servant or two to look after your comforts, a motor driver. Will you tell me, now, how much is left from the four figure cheque? You look rather sad and dejected for a person who is at the top. Don't you? So you see, that not much is left from the fat amount you had in your hands but that you have gained much in responsibility which you had mistaken for glamour. You must now keep up the show even if in between contracts you sit at home killing flies. You ask me why should a person at the top have to kill flies at all? Because a person at the top receiving a fat salary cannot accept less and must wait till he or she gets an offer at least similar to the previous one. And so even in the days of unemployment you must maintain all the luxuries of the lucky times. How much can you save then? THEY KICK THE STARS DOWN And now that you are at the top you look at me as though you will never climb down. You are right, for you will never climb down but you will he thrown down. Believe it or not. No, don't feel offended or don't look at me as though you would like to wring my neck or roast me alive. Even if you roast me, facts will remain facts. If you are very beautiful you will remain at the top perhaps for a dozen years and on the strength of your beauty H. H. the Maharaja of Travancore accompanied by his mother visited the Prabhat Talkies, Madras, to see Travancore Educational films produced by Mr. K. Suhrahmanyam (extreme right). His Highness has recently become the patron oj the South Indian Film Chamber of Commerce. 51