Filmindia (1941)

June 1941 F ILMINDI A There are half-a-dozen pedestal fans, or perhaps more, but they are so lazy and placed in such distant corners that they are of no use to the people sitting in the best centre seats. And when I complained to the management about the heat, I was told that the theatre was not air-conditioned. Imagine that in 1941, and in a theatre with marble steps, uniformed ushers and an ambitious, world-travelled owner. Well, I still prefer the "Metro" where, at least, you don't sweat as in a stable. What use are the marble steps of the Eros, if within, one has to bathe himself in his own perspiration? THANKS, NEW THEATRES Good news comes from Calcutta that the New Theatres have decided to continue their Hindi productions. As an earnest of this decision, they announce the Hindi version of the Mod'hu Bose production which was originally, perhaps, intended to be produced only in Bengali. New Theatres who have been always slow in taking notice of press reports, have this time shown commendable speed in announcing their decision about producing Hindi productions. If this speed is going to be the watchword of future activities, we are sure that N. T. will be able to give us some worth while pictures for which the country has been clamouring for a long time. In the meanwhile, we welcome "Lagan" which ttiough a poor show for Nitin Bose, is still an improvement on the recent flops produced by New Theatres. DO YOUR BIT, READERS The Bombay War Publicity Committee, with Bobby Talyarkhan as an important cog in the machinery, has published two delightful little books. "Under Your Tin Hat" Vols. 1 & 2 priced at Rs. 1-8-0 each. The first book opens with those now immortal words of Mr. Winston Churchill when he spoke to his colleagues in the Parliament, "I have nothing to ojfer but blood, toil, tears and sweat" and immediately in the wake of these words we find, "Come, then let us to the task, to the battle and the toil. There is not a week, nor a day nor an hou,r to be lost." Words which should be printed on Alexander Shaw's (Film Advisory Board) pay envelope. The other volume contains the story of Dunkirk, all told in vivid pictures. Both the volumes are profusely illustrated with some rare war pictures and besides being fully informative, become splendid souvenirs of the present war torn times. And the small money which you will pay in buying these books, besides returning you its value ten-fold, goes to the aid of the Red Cross. And Red Cross is a greater cause than the present day democracy. COME ON GIRLS AND BOYS Once again, there is a scramble among the producers to secure film artistes. Whenever one of them spots a new one — a girl or a boy — they all rush together in an unholy hurry to secure the services of the artiste. Which all shows that there is a real scarcity of new faces in our film industry. Yes, we do want some new faces. We are all tired of the old ones which now look like white blobs. Some of them have been disfiguring the screen for fifteen years now and waxing, like sunflowers in May, they have become a hideous sight to thousands of film fans. Which all again means that there is a scope for new talent in the industry. Of course, as usual, we want more girls than boys and it will be really worthwhile for some of our college 'cuties to look towards our film industry for a career. Will they do it? Now is the chance. "Filmindia" will help them to get into the right studios. In "Kanchan", Leela Chitnis gives this charming Radha Krishna dance with all "those" milk maids. 9