FilmIndia (Jan-Nov 1942)

The Rt. Hon. Dr. III. R. dayakar Condemns mythological Films ! Wants Films With Rational Approach To Life ! (By: Our Special Representative) It is often difficult to get the Rt. Hon'ble M. R. Jayakar to talk, but once you get it done, the rest is easy. You feel like taking a shower-bath on a summer fore-noon, as you listen to him. He has a musical, metrical accent that has a pleasant, soothing ring and his man-to-man conversation is as captivating as are his public utterances. The Rt. Hon. M. R. Jayakar lives in his artistically built and yet more artistically decorated bungalow at Winter Road. Malabar Hill. He modestly calls his house ' Ashram*' which means a hermitage, but it is nothing of the kind. Everything in this bungalow is so neat, tidy, precious and aesthetic that the temptation to linger there is great. As he went on explaining to me quite optimistically the prospect of some good work ahead in connection with the proposed Maharashtra University, to report on the possibility of which. Government of Bombay have appointed a Committee with him as the Chairman. I ventured somewhat abruptly. "Do you think, the film will be properly exploited for educational purposes in this new University of yours0" "That is a matter of detail. Let us have a University first, but I can quite understand your enthusiasm to advance the cause of films whenever you can as you happen to be a film journalist." So Jayakar was in a mood to oblige me by talking about films, I concluded and asked him what kind of pictures he preferred to see. "I am not much of a picture-goer, especially out here in India. I am a lonely man and unless there is kindred company, you cannot possibly think of spending an evening at a theatre. While in England, my secretary who was an educated, cultured young woman practically used to drag me to some good film after my day's work and I must acknowledge that her selection seldom went wrong. Those evenings in London have convinced me of the tremendous power of the film for popular entertainment and instruction. The film is even a more powerful agency than the press and radio put together for propaganda and adult education purposes. What The Chinese Consul In India Says: In a letter to the Editor, the Consul for China writes from Bombay: "I am glad to say that I found the short film. "Our Valiant Neighbour" a very satisfactory production. However, there is one scene in it which does not represent modern China and is now out of date. I mean the scene wherein a man wearing a pig tail is seen speaking at a mass meeting. The picture would be complete it this scene is cut oft." Why not complete the picture. Shantaram. by cutting off that pig tail? It is a courtesy we owe to our valiant neighbours. "I have not seen more than a dozen Indian pictures. Even among them I prefer to see those in Marathi so that the number I am likely to see diminishes still further. 1 like most to see on the screen correct, natural, realistic representation The Rt. Hon. Dr. M. R. Jayakar. M.A.. LL.B., LL.D., D.C.L.. Bar-atLaw. Privy Councillor. of the life about us. I can recall one such picture which I liked best It was "Savkari Pash". It was very good art. fine entertainment and had immense educative value. Another picture 1 liked was "Tukaram" minus its miracles. It was otherwise a fine biographical picture. "Dnyaneshwar" also went near it. but lacked the excellence of "Tukaram". SAINTS OR MIRACLE-MONGERS? "I must tell you. however, that the m'racles our saints perform on celluloid are a horrible torture to me. Personally. I would prefer these saints and mythological figures to be left severely alone. All these venerable old celebrities are presented to us as miracle-mongers. Miracles are the least part of their service to humanity. It is enough that we read about these exaggerated fantasies in literature. Supernatural powers attributed to them need not be immortalised on celluloid. What we need for popular education is the spread of rationalism, a faith in human endeavour to rise to its highest. This is denied to us when it is sought to impress our minds with the distance between us. mere mortals on the one hand and the saints and mythological heroes on the other. If they are represented as an ideal, the less distance you create 39