Filmindia (1941)

Bombay Callixg This section is the monopoly of " JUDAS " and he writes what he likes and about things which he likes. The views expressed here are not necessarily ours, hut still they carry weight because they are written by a man who knows his job. FIRST SENSIBLE PREMIER As the Prabhat film "Padosi" advocates HinduMuslim unity in addition to its theme of loving neighbourhood the Government of Sind has directed that all its future showings in the province of Sind shall be exempt from payment of the usual entertainment tax. This, indeed, is a high tribute that has ever been paid to a film while recognising fully its educational content. Truly, Khan Bahadur Allah Bux, the Premier of Sind, surprises people in many ways by doing and saying several sensible things, which premiers usually don't do. But this is about the last thing we ever expected from a provincial premier. We heartily congratulate him, for, in a single act of sympathy he has not only raised the status of films but has also admitted its educational influence on the masses. This action of Khan Bahadur Allah Bux places a further responsibility on our producers. It is upto the producers now to produce pictures with high and elevating themes not only to entertain but also to instruct. As regards "Padosi", now that its theme of HinduMuslim unity has received official recognition, Prabhat or some other company ought to reduce the film to the 16 mm size, make several copies and show them in every nook and corner of Sind till the message of Padosi" is brought home to every one. That way, not only will Hindu-Muslim unity be achieved but the Congress and the Muslim League will also be convinced of the effective use of a film. HEAL THYSELF While every one else in the world is praising and admiring the "Love-Thy-Neighbour" theme of "Padosi" and even a Provincial Government is paying an official compliment by foregoing its legitimate tax, it seems to me that the men who made "Padosi" (Messrs. V. Shanta;am, Baburao Pai, Damle, Fatehlal and Kulkarni — all partners of Prabhat) have themselves forgotten to take :he teaching of the film to heart. For a year now we have been hearing rumours and eports of quarrels between the different partners of Prabhat and we are told that some of the partners do I not even speak to one another and one does not even see the others. The fact that Shantaram has been inactive for nearly a year after completing "Padosi" lends belief to these reports. If this is the case, it is a shameful state of affairs for a brave band of five persons who once began a business as brothers and comrades. I suggest that Khan Bahadur Allah Bux should take a copy of "Padosi" and screen it in the midst of the five bungalows of the five partners and bring home to these partners its message: "Love Thy Neighbour". Either these Prabhat partners are all hypocrites who only want to make money by preaching big things to others or if they believe in what they preach, it is necessary that they should practise what they preach. For the present I am just touching this subject to show the partners how I feel about the whole affair. But one day I may dynamite the dam of silence. Before that, I would like to see peace and love restored in the Prabhat family, of which I have also been a member for years. Back again with Ashok Kumar and back to back, Leela Chitnis faces her old fans in "Jhoola" a social picture of Bombay Talkies. I