Filmindia (1941)

April ld4i t'lLMINDlA "You are aware that a few months ago the Indian press had carried on some sort of an agitation about the disabilities of Indian films in Iraq." Mark the words "some sort of an agitation" and admire the condescension of Mr. Billimoria in noticing even that. This "some sort of an agitation" originally launched in November by "filmindia" was taken up by the editors of over a hundred newspapers and periodicals in the country at the personal request of Mr. Baburao Patel (correspondence to the effect can be inspected, if necessary) and the very same "some sort of an agitation" succeeded in releasing, immediately from a ban, several pictures of Mr. M. B. Billimoria. These are facts. Let Mr. Billimoria deny them. Mr. Billimoria continued, "In the past a number of deputations have waited on Government, but the spontaneity of the response that this deputation met has no parallel in the history of our film industry." Mr. Billimoria conveniently forgot to trace the reasons for the " spo7itaneity of response that has no parallel." But we shall. (1) The country wide agitation launched by "filmindia" threatened to become a major political issue unless the Government chose to take immediate measures. (2) The present war times necessitated maintenance of good relations with an useful ally like Iraq. (3) Mr. K. S. Hirlekar, who so kindly returned to the field of his old battles, at the request of Mr. Baburao Patel, leaving his own work and went to Delhi, persuaded Sir Homi Mody to lead a deputation to Mr. Caroe, the Secretary of the Foreign Department and pressed home the points of the agitation ultimately resulting in the authorization of Mr. Reardon who was already in Iraq on his own business, to interfere and settle affairs amicably. (4) This trip of Mr. Hirlekar cost the Distributors' Association approximately Rs. 150| (money paid under severe personal persuasion) which trip and its result benefitted all the distributors to the tune of several thousands per year. Mr. Reardon's lunch should have cost over Rs. 300 1and did not require any persuasion. It was a part of the slavish offerings Indians have been giving to their white rulers for 150 years. Immediately Mr. Reardon "flew" to Baghdad, one Indian film "was released to crowded houses" and Mr. Billimoria was "glad to learn" that after a "stalemate of two years." Mr. Billimoria particularly liked the news as the first film released was his own film, "Punjab Mail." Referring to Mr. Reardon, Mr. Billimoria said, "I therefore request the Press in India to give due prominence to these facts (facts of settlement) which are due in a large measure to the sweet reasonableness and the Uncommon powers of persuasion that Mr. Reardon possesses." We do not wish to deny the magical powers which Mr. Reardon "possesses" and one almost wonders why Mr. Billimoria or anyone else who knew about these powers, never thought of Mr. Reardon before. That would have saved us a lot of trouble and the Government a lot of heart burning. So according to Mr. Billimoria only the magical powers of Mr. Reardon could settle the dispute. The press merely carried "some sort of an agitation." And then Mr. Billimoria thanked in the following words "In conclusion, I wish to thank the Government of India for having acted so promptly in this matter and Mr. Reardon once again for having done so much for iLs." Thanks to Government of India and thanks to Reardon! What about the press of the country which went all out and gave their time and columns so that Indian films and Indian prestige may be established in Iraq. Didn't ihe Indian press even deserve a word of thanks? Has the Fourth Estate also become a slavish accessory to Mr. Billimoria's capitalist designs? Mr. Billimoria should not ride the high horse with the press because one day the lash will fall, biting and merciless, and all his money can't save Mr. Billimoria! The press did not work because incidentally Billimoria and his kind receive monetary benefits, the press did not work because some of their poor paid workers would get a lunch at the Taj, the press did not work to earn the thanks of some poor-minded amateur capitalists, the press worked because the prestige of our country was at stake, because of the ultimate good and progress of our film industry and because one of their own comrades had started the fight. Next time when Mr. Billimoria lets his tongue loose let him remember these facts. Typically Foreign Self 'Complacency The second instalment of the Taj lunch is remarkable for the self complacency of Mr. Reardon, the guest of the afternoon. He was "very glad" for what he had been able to "accomplish" to "help" the Indian distributors. He gave seme patronising advice to Ihe Indian press in the following words "The press — I may say both in Baghdad and Basra — are very sympathetic in their criticism of Indian films. Here in India, judging from certain articles that oippeored recently, a reciprocation of this sympathy did not appear to exist." Poor Reardon, he wants even the slaves to be sympathetic. It is not enough that they have to sympathise with the fettered existence of their own countrymen. U