FilmIndia (Jan-Nov 1942)

May 1942 FILMINDIA Jaswant Singh (Agra) What regular exercise does Prithviraj take? Reciting Shakespeare at odd hours and in odd company. . . How many times do you see a picture to write its review for "filmindia"? I somehow live to tell the story after the very first experience. What are the duties of the producers in general? Watching the heroines grow fat and their own purses going thin. What is your present weight? 15 stones without brains and influence. A. Y. Loonat (Johannesburg) Is Director Mehboob one of the best directors in India? | f f So they say in the National Studios. I wonder whether they believe it or not. I want the address of Ratan Bai. "The Shamrock", Club Road, Byculla, Bombay. Gopi Krishna Prasad (Gaya) What made Nalini Jaywant choose the film as a career? I don't know the exact reason. But she seems to have done well. She has earned more in two years than her father during a life time job in the Customs. R. N. Murthy (Bangalore) What is the next picture of Surendra after "Garib"? After "Garib" who would be interested? Poor Surendra! Who is the best story writer for the screen? Pandit Indra says he is the best. Pandit Sudarshan says he is the best. Pandit Anand Kumar says he is the best. Pandit Narottam Vyas says he is the best. Mohanlal Dave knows that he has earned the most. These writers are a funny community. They like themselves the best and the rest just don't exist. What is the idea of producing mythological pictures? To provide an apology for our present day impotency by showing the manly deeds of our ancestors. 9 i ft B. P. Jamuar (Gaya) Why is there a scarcity of new faces on the screen? The old faces seem to have understood their several functions pretty well and the producers, most of whom are old now, don't like to venture. Syed N. Raza (Fyzabad) I wish to become an actor. Will you help me? No. Nizamuddin Ahmed (Raigarh) A girl friend of mine is in love with Shahu Modak. She has lovely curves and a melodious voice. Can you help her in any way? How can I help her when she is already in love with Shahu Modak? I help only those who love me and luckily there are none. Some, however, make a pretence for their own sake. Aziz Ahmed (Khurja) Can I become an assistant to some story-writer? I am afraid you cannot be that. Story writers don't usually like others to know where they copy their stories from. Bhagwati Lai (Jodhpur) What precautions do the film actors take when they act in a romantic scene with an actress? They wear the company's costumes. S. N. Sahni (Lahore) Why didn't you write a review of National's "Garib"? "Garib" was too poor to deserve any review. Who is your favourite actor, actress, director and producer? I am a very unreliable person and I have no favourites. Narendra Kumar (Meerut) I have not heard about Motilal for a long time? Nor have I. The last time I saw him was at the Race Course, clinging to Sardar Chandulal Shah for a race tip. The horse was named "Wonderful" and it won and then I saw Motilal clinging to a pseudo film actress. I guess, he must be working somewhere to pay his C.C.I, bills. Pantulu L. M. E. (Bangalore) My proprietor is very fond of Khursheed. He dreams of her during the day and dies over her beauty. He also reads "filmindia". He is the first dead man reading "filmindia". Avtar Singh (Lahore) Do you think that the character of a society girl is affected in any way by joining films? No, her head is affected and often her health. A. K. Shukla (New Delhi) In your February issue your photographs appear in three places in the same suit. Have you run short of suits or are you practising war economy? Shall I send you a quarter dozen of mine? Please do. I require 4\ yards double width or 9 yards single width. I shall be very obliged to you in addition. If you can remit the tailoring charges i.e. Rs. 30/ per suit^ it will be considered an additional favour. It is high time that my readers start sending me some useful presents after all these years of faithful service. 21