Filmindia (1941)

Zabak Hleets The lllystery Girl ! Reena Reminds of moonlighf and Roses! Tender And Soft With Baby Eyes ! There's certainly something to be said for a college education. Send a girl to college and she doesn't waste her time day dreaming about films. Oh no! She jumps right up and does something about it. And pretty Neena has jumped alright to land straight into the movies. The first I heard of this college girl gate-crashing into the films was when "filmindia" announced that Mr. W. Z. Ahmed had signed up an absolutely raw girl to star in his maiden picture to be made under the banner of the newly floated Shalimar Pictures. Now raw girls are something rare in this industry and have a certain fascination about them which is about equal to the suspense with which one opens strange parcels. That is why I found myself one afternoon sitting opposite this mystery packet and coaxing her to tell me what prompted her to crash into this sanctuary of grease paint and make-believe. Kishore Sahu returns to his old battlefield once again as the hero and director oj "Kunwara Baap" (Bachelor Father) on the Great India production schedule. But, if I thought that the girl would receive me with open arms (that is speaking figuratively, of course) I was in for a rude awakening. And the awakening came witliin two minutes of my arrival NVhen I heard a female voice asking the ayah to tell me that she was not at home. To say I was surprised is to say the least. The words almost stunned me. Half-a-dozen sand bags landing on the back of my head could not have left me more befogged than the sound of that voice trying to work o,ut a dodge, which I had hitherto believed to be the sole monopoly of hardup journalists CO be used when a tailor or shoemaker called. STICKING IT, OH BOY It took me less than a minute to make up my mind. I was more ihan determined now to meet this girl. Moreover, her voice had intrigued me and the soft aroma of the dei'cate perfume that floated to my nostrils from her room had something irresistible about it which I felt no mortal could resist. Being deeply mortal, therefore, I sank into the inviting depths of the divan, and with a resoluteness that could have put the most leechlike bill collector to shame I told the alarmed ayah that I would wait for the return of her mistress. "But, I don't know what time she will return ", the ayah pleaded. "Oh! That's quite alright," I replied pulling out my pipe. "I'm in no particular hurry. In fact, I'm perfectly free till tomorrow morning." The poor ayah was completely confused by now. Alarm had given place to panic. Panic in turn was giving place to hysteria, when suddenly the telephone bell rang and saved the situation. For a second we both eyed Hio phone. Then we both made a simultaneous dash for it. Being nearer Neena, the mystery woman of "Ek Raat" a Shalimar picture. I was the first to reach it. I had won the first round. It was an urgent call from the studio. The ayan with a look that could have impaled twenty bill collectors hurriedly went to summon her mistress. With a deep sigh of satisfaction I sank into the divan and offered a silent prayer of thanks to the ghost of Edison. However, I did not have much time to completely thank the spirit of the departed Edison for the very next minute Neena herself came m. WITH BIG BABY EYES No. That is wrong. She did not just "come in". She entered the room like a tropical hurricane travelling at the rate of umpteen miles per hour. Her face was livid with rage. Her big baby eyes were like twin pieces of live coal. Her long, pointed fingers were twitching menacingly, and I felt then (and I think I am not far wrong now) that they were itching to get at my throat. In her wake followed the ayah with a rather ugly looking mosquito curtain pole firmly clenched in her hand. I felt a bit uncomfortable. "You just wait!" Neena threatened as she sped past me to the phone. For a few minutes she remained at the phone carrying on a conversation in low tones. Then banging 53