Filmindia (1941)

September 1941 flLMINDIA wherever one goes . . whatever one eats whatsoever one does . . and alas, to-day I have discovered it rearing its fangs in our film industry. . . .the last place where I expected to meet it. FILM JOURNALISTS TO BLAME Hatred and entertainment cannot go together. They are like two poles apart which can never have a common meeting point. Further, I am of the belief that entertainment nurtured in an environment of hate does not remain entertainment but becomes something viscid, unwholesome and absolutely degenerate. When I say that the curse of communalism has entered our film industry I do not wish by any means to alarm you. I intend merely to lay before you a few facts, which though horrifying in themselves are liable to become still more gruesome if not checked immediately and full precautions are not taken straightaway to keep this fearful monster away from the precincts of our studios. Of all places we must keep our film studios clean from this curse. Our industry is still in its infancy ....I can see a great future ahead of it, ... . the slightest thing can throw the whole machinery ' out of gear and put the clock back by three decades. Let us not allow a few malcontents and dis-interested persons to sow the seeds of discord, which will ring the knell of this little babe, we have so laboriously and tenderly nourished for the past so many years. The real culprits, who are out to murder this industry, I am ashamed to admit, are many so-called film journalists who, out to feather their own miserable nests and to grind their own axes, take pains to foment trouble and discontent among the various studios by insisting on harping on the never-ending theme that such-and-such producer is anti-Muslim and so-and-so director takes infinite pains to cast aspersions on Hindu sentiments. DIRTY RACKETEERS A recent instance of this irresponsible journalism was evident in the Punjab when a certain section djt; the cheap press raised and conducted a fierce agitation against Director Kardar, by stating that his film "Puja" was anti-Hindu in theme. The film was produced by the National Studios and passed by the Bombay Board of Film Censors and yet the rascally element up North considered themselves worthy enough to condemn it. It was a terrific stink they created. . . .merely because a Muslim had directed the film and had made an attempt to serve the Hindus. Then again the Urdu press up North started a similar agitation calling upon the Muslims to boycott Kikubhai B. Desai's productions alleging that he had sacked all his Muslim staff. The man, who was responsible for this mischievous and libellous statement, however, never cared to check up the facts for himself. At that time Kikubhai had on his staff Mazhar Khan and Bibbo .... both Muslims and both drawing the highest salaries ever paid by the Paramount and Great India Pictures outfit to any member of the staff. Still, to-day, with no fresh production in hand Kikubhai has on his pay roll a large number of Muslims. Why then was this agitation started? Was it by any chance an attempt to undermine the popularity of this perfect gentleman of the Indian film world? It was the Muslim press that issued a stern reproof to Sardar Akhtar for performing the Radha Krishna dance in Minerva's "Bha rosa". They had the audacity to state that she as a Muslim had committed a sacrilege by doing a Hindu religious dance. This is downright nonsense. Such a ridiculous criticism could never occur anywhere else in the world except in India, where we have people so narrow-minded, so biased and so hypocritical who cannot understand and never make an attempt to learn ever, that art is something noble, something sublime ....far above any religion, any caste, any creed, any colour. THE HINDU-MUSLIM TUG And now in front of me is a copy of some "Resolutions" passed by some pseudo-bogus League of Ellore, which has the temerity to warn Film Producers "against forcing Muslim artistes to worship Kali Devi, Saraswati etc. on the screen." Why should I waste my time remarking on the idiocy of the whole pamphlet when to a sane man its idiocy is so apparent— but I still aver in saying that lesser things have caused untold misery and have been instrumental in setting the tinder box of communal discord which needs but just a spark to get it smouldering. There is no doubt at all that this "Resolution" is the work of mischief makers. It should be condemned fully. Consider, just for a while what would happen were our producers to take this "warning" to heart. Charlie, Shamin and Khurshid— all Muslims would have to leave Sardar Chandulal Shah— a Hindu; Surendra, 59