Filmindia (1941)

PICTURE PHbHCES THAT HRE R SHRHIE TO FILM FANS GET A RAW DEAL m (Film Critic of "The Bombay Sentinel") Two recent events floodlit the fact, pretty well evident before, that our showmen refuse to change with the times. They appear to stick to their pet methods with as much fervour as the most orthodox Hindu does to some out-of-date traditions. One event particularly exposes the height of follv to which our showmen are capable of rising. There is the old story of men asking for bread and getting stone instead. To our showmen goes the credit of improving on this and returning blows for money. This can happen only m India. Anywhere else that cinema house would not be there for another day. This event — a fine word to use — occurred at a cinema at Dadar a few days ago. It is interesting to note that few journals cared to take notice of this. Obviously more attention is given to advertisements than to human beings who read them. From their point of view it wasn't "news". Eye-wiiness reports show that the theatre authorities sent for the police because the crowd was somewhat more than the theatre could accommodate and that the police, on arrival, charged the crowd with lathis. VICTIMS OF ADVERTISEMENT What is one to think of the management of a theatre that has no hesitation or compunction in treating its patrons in this amazing manner? No wonder some of the patrons cursed them and decidea never again to come to that theatre? When the police charge even a crowd of rioters on mischief bent one hears a lot about it in the papers, but it does not at all seem to matter that a number of respectable men who had gone tor an evening's enjoyment should be given blows. No p'-otest is made, no howling dune. The other event is, of course, the recent disturbances in Bombay city. Don't ask me why I call it an event. It is an event as far as our showmen are concerned. Weeks passed, new pictures were held up, old pictures d "cw miserable houses and at times the Lhows had to be cancelled. There was talk of cinema houses being closed for sometime. After the lapse of several weeks some producers would not stand it any further and announced the date of the releases of new pictures. The producers said they wanted to infuse and restore confidence in the public. What did the Bombay exhibitors do? They were the people most lilt by the riots. DO NOTHING POLICY No effort was made to induce people to visit the theatres. Why? People even talked of likely disturbances inside the cinemas. Still nothing was done. If they knew their business they would not have kept quiet, waiting for the return of peace. They should have done a whirlwind campaign impressing on the people that they could obtain an evening's enjoyment at their favourite theatre as safely as in normal times. Then could not they take any measures to see that people would come to their theatres without fear of molestation or physical harm? This could well have been done by engaging a few volunteers in the theatre. It is no good saying that in case of any disturbance police help could have been summoned. That does not help a bit. When the curfew was in force and shows commenced at 6 or 6-30 some theatres arranged for special conveyances to take fans home. This fact was announced at the theatres in the slides at least two days after the new pictures were released. Did they think that people who had come to the theatre had made no arrangements for them Spot them. They are old favourites snapped together at the "Sister" preview. Mr. Baburao Patel and Miss Rita Carlyle 45