FilmIndia (Jan-Nov 1942)

FILMINDIA April 1942 We hope the other producers realize the sincerity of their worthy President and support him in his untiring efforts. OVERCROWDING IN THEATRES There is a police regulation in Bombay to prevent overcrowding in theatres. When the theatre-owner permits his theatre to be overcrowded, which is usually the case on Sundays and holidays, the authorities are supposed to pull up the man and impose a fine. Any member of the audience can report overcrowding to the nearest police station and the officer on duty is bound to take immediate notice and check up the complaint. That is as far as the provision in law goes. In actual practice, however, this commendable police regulation, is more often observed in breach than otherwise. The reason is simple: the theatre-owners are generally cheeky devils who know all the tricks of the trade including the weaknesses of the police. Add to this the lack of enthusiasm on the part of the police authorities to trace and punish such offences and you will know why our theatres become overcrowded spots of entertainment. Recently, as a test case, our editor, Baburao Patel, has reported an offence of overcrowding in a certain Bombay cinema. To avoid prejudicing the case, no names are being mentioned at this stage. The police authorities are, of course, making the necessary inquiries and going about it with the look of a pain in the neck. We await the decision of the police in this particular case before we publish the entire facts. In the meanwhile, it is good for every cinema-goer to know that he has the right to report against overcrowding to the nearest police-station and the police officer on duty is bound to take notice of the offence. FILM REVIEWS ON AIR We do not know what the exact arrangements at other stations of the All India Radio are in regard to reviewing current Indian films but for some time past, we have noticed that at the Bombay station a talk in Hindustani is given once a month. About over a year ago, Mr. Ahmed Abbas used to give these talks. We understand that some producers felt offended at his frank criticism of their films and the A.I.R. yielded to their protests. Since Mr. Abbas was suspended, two different voices were heard so far, within our recollection, and both failed to do justice to some films in Marathi. Films like books are quite a fit subject for balanced and fair comments and producers cannot complain about this, if people, who can lay claims to understand the films and their functions in our national life, offer their comments in the interest of the industry and the public. We would suggest to the A.I.R. that at a station like Bombay it would be quite proper to find room for comments on films in Gujarati, Marathi, and Hindustani programmes, once a month, from competent critics, who can be easily recruited from the city's press. Critics might usefully tell the story of a film in brief and proceed to offer their remarks from whatever angle of vision, they like. In this matter, their freedom must not be restricted in any way whatsoever, whether our producers complain or not. Arent we fighting for freedom of speech among other things? PLEA FOR NEWSREELS One of the reasons why Indian films are lengthy is that, having nothing to show side by side, with the feature films, the exhibitors are said to insist on films that last about two and a half hours. In the theatres which show English or American films nearly half the time is generally taken by some short film, some travelogue, a news-reel and often some educational feature in addition. The principal film scarcely exceeds a maximum footage of 10000. An Indian film is by plan and design made lengthy, with repeated scenes, unnecessary songs and dances and not unusually you have a feeling of exhaustion when you leave the theatre. Mr. Y. A. Fazalbhoy, head of one of the best film studios in this city appears to be alive to this state of things. He has recently published a pamphlet entitled "Plea for Indian newsreels" in which he makes a suggestion that is worthy of earnest consideration. Mr. Fazalbhoy suggests a Quota Act "to make it compulsory on all exhibitors to devote a certain period of time — say ten minutes to news-reels or documentary or educational films or a certain footage, say 1000 and leave the film industry to satisfy the demand for pictures that will arise". But even this may not be enough as the producers may satisfy the legal quota by some non-topical shorts. A newsreel mr Y A fazalbhoy ™ust necess^ily be newsy and ' topical. The Quota Act must not empower the Central or provincial governments to interfere with the production of newsreels. Newsreels must be free from any control from anywhere as newspapers are supposed to be. For, if there is government control, we will constantly be in danger of getting newsreels like "Our Valiant Neighbour" in which Chiang-Kai Shek is shown to have seen only the Viceroy, the Governor of the Punjab and the Premier of the Punjab. Can this short ever be called a newsy, topical and an informative newsreel?