Filmindia (1941)

November 1941 FILMINDIA "We are born as slaves, hut let us not die as slaves" says Mr. Satyamurthi at the reception given in his honour. From lejt to right: Mr. Dhirajlal B. Desai (President B.P.C.C.), Sardar Chandulal Shah, Mr. Satyamurthi and Miss Gohar, twice a year and Baburao I am sure will give him two parties every year. Even then I am afraid there will be the same excuses from us. "We must now think over the matter with a little more seriousness. Take for instance this rationing of petrol. What have we done to tackle this one minor question? Nothing! I cannot give a better account of myself than by pleading guilty. But still you can do something by meeting at various places, in smaller groups if not bigger, and produce successful results. Our film industry is exacting in labour, sweat and toil from its devotees and gives them no leisure. It is in our own interest to meet often, to engage in building up a united front that we may get a fair treatment from the Government of India and everybody else. Mr. Satyamurthi had suggested that a select body of the film industry may proceed to Madras during X'mas to confer with our Madras Colleagues and I endorse the suggestion heartily. If only Mr. Satyamurthi can persuade us to go to Madras in a small group we shall be starting again in Madras the work which we had left unfinished in Bombay. I thank Mr. Baburao Patel once again for giving us all an opportvmity to meet together." FOLLOWING THROUGH "FILMINDIA" Rising amidst deafening cheers Mr. Satyamurthi said "One of the few journals that were allowed to be read by me in jail was the 'filmindia' and through it I have been following the fortunes of this industry with great leisure. I have come out a few weeks ago. I have many other things to attend to. I am always fighting somebody or other. But, busy as I am, let me tell you that my interest in this indus try and its future grows as the years go by. I am very happy to learn from Mr. Chandulal Shah a fact which I know otherwise also that the industry despite the war is doing very weU and that more and better pictures are being produced. I can testify to that as an average member of cinema audiences. "I am glad to note that the themes of our stories pertain more and more to the day-to-day life in the various strata of Indian Society. It is also pleasing to learn that our producersare slowly coming down from mythological and romantic themes nearer to real life problems. NOT BREAD ALONE "I am very grateful to my friend Mr. Baburao Patel for having given me this opportunity of meeting you all in Bombay. I see some old faces, and some new faces. I am glad to be here. Mr. Chandulal Shah anticipated me by pleading guilty that I might spare him the accusation thereby hoping to escape a sentence. A plea of guilt may mitigate the sentence but not avoid it. There is a saying in the Bible that "man does not live by bread alone." Mr. Chandulal Shah cannot live by cotton alone; he must also produce films with the help of the numerous artists, directors and technicians and develop and bring the industry to a very strong position. First loves are always much better than second loves. I appeal to Mr. Chandulal "I plead guilty" says Sardar Chandulal Shah at Baburao Patel's tea party to Mr. Satyamurthi. 25