Filmindia (1941)

PILMINDI A April 1941 of an efficient personnel on the executive body which will sincerely try to reorganize the Society and further the interests of our film industry. Failing to secure the support of Sir Homi, we would suggest Rai Bahadur Chuni Lall's name for the presidentship rather than a repetition of the Hon. Sir Rahimtoola. Sir Rahimtoola has done enough for the Indian film industry and he should, if necessary, be given a luncheon at the Taj and thanked publicly and requested to retire. Tell Us Another Mr. Pai Mr. V. N. Pal the Secretary of the Bombay Board of Film Censors writes to us saying that our last reference to the censorship of crime pictures was considered by the Board with a view to find ways and means of doing something about the crime pictures. The Board seems to agree with our contention that crime pictures should be given "restricted certificates" but according to Mr. Pai, "the question is not an easy one to solve as there seem to be too many difficulties in the way," which for want of space are summarized as "legal administrative and financial." According to Mr. Pai the Indian Cinematograph Act of 1918 makes no provision for the issue of "restricted certificates" and the Act can only be amended by the Central Government at Delhi. Which all means that nothing can be or need be done either by the Secretary or by the Members of the Boa-rd at present — the usual red-tape excuse for lack of initiative and laziness. But the Indian Cinematograph Act of 1918, which Mr. Pai quotes as his apology, is not so prohibitive in content. Section 7 of the said Act empowers the Local Provincial Government fully and gives it complete executive authority to frame all rules, regulations or restrictions with regard to the certification of films and it is not necessary to modify the entire Act as such. Further, Section 8 gives further powers in the following words, "The Local Government may make rules for the purposes of carrying into effect the provisions of this Act."' These are wide powers, which the Board of Censors can well utilise with the approval of the Home Department of the Government of Bombay and there is really no necessity of amending the original Act of 1918 on this ground, and waiting years for the Central Government to do so. Under the advice of the Secretary, the Board, with the sanction of the Home Department, can introduce the "restricted certificates" with regard to crime pictures and thus prevent further corruption of our youth through the agency of such irresponsible pictures. If Mr. Pai is not convinced of the extensive powers vested in the original Act of 1918, inspite of his long experience, he may make a reference to the Advocate General and get expert legal opinion on the matter. But he should not bluff us out of it. We hope to hear something definite about this in the near future from Mr. Pai, before we write again. Hullo ! Mr. Billimoria I On the 27th March, Mr. M. B. Billimoria. film distributor, otherwise President of the Indian Motion Picture Distributors' Association, invited all and sundry to a luncheon at the Taj to meet Mr. G. F. Rcardon. Chief of the British Distributors (India) Ltd.. who had represented the Government of India to settle the film dispute between India and Iraq. The lunch was in the nature of a small "bakshish" to the Englishman who had done "so much" for us (Indians) inspite of his being a "burra b. BiHimoria saheeb." When an Englishman does something he must be honoured, according to Mr. Billimoria. simply Vanmala and Avinash create some rare comedy in "Charnoki Dasi" OTi Atre production. We reproduce below important extracts from Mr. BUlimoria's introductory speech: 10