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REALLY A GALLANT EFFORT
At last after two years of struggle to produce something sensible, the Film Advisory Board has produced its first really worth-the-trouble short film called "Our Gallant Effort".
In the hands of any other man except Shantaram, this clever assemblage of historical shots would have become just one more vehicle for further imperialist propaganda. In a documentary picture like "Our Gallant Effort" the commentary is of vital importance. An unsympathetic commentary will change the story and twist the purpose.
Strangely enough, for the first time in India, a Government short film is carrying a commentary which the Nationalist element in the country would gladly endorse.
The credit for the popularity of this short film must therefore be given to Shantaram, because the work of getting a suitable commentary written, using and editing the necessary material and in other ways giving a popular and sympathetic colour to a film, is all done by Shantaram.
Director Ezra Mir, who collected the topical material has, no doubt, done a good job of it, seeing the variety of shots obtained by him. But in a documentary like "Our Gallant Effort", the story is built in the editing rooms and expression given to it in the commentary. And that is exactly where we need a man of nationalist ideals to look after the traditions of our country.
"Our Gallant Effort" is quite a unique film and though it frames in celluloid the failure of Sir Stafford Cripps' mission in India, the film will prove a great document of historical importance in years to come. Almost every public leader of importance from Mahatma Gandhi down to Fazlul Huq of Calcutta takes his turn before the camera and the film, inspite of its apologetic message, claims the personal interest of almost every person in the audience, whatever the colour and shade of his politics.
Again for the first time for F.A.B., the commentary work was suitably handled. Not only was the commentary well written but it was also spoken in a sympathetic way and in a tone which Indians are used to understand. It was a job well done by Professor N. S. Phadke.
In short, "Our Gallant Effort" is perhaps the first F.A.B. film worth paying to see.
INEFFICIENT DISTRIBUTION
Writing of the Film Advisory Board, we are reminded of a lot of things which could well be reorganized in the light of present times.
While the production department under Shantaram seems to be gradually organizing itself for a total effort, we cannot say the same of the distribution side.
The distribution department is controlled by one Mr. L. T. Shivdasani who, as is usual with Government post holders, had no previous experience of film distribution, nor had he any personal contacts with the exhibitors.
And though the F.A.B. films are given free to exhibitors, we do not find them at several cinemas in the city and the suburbs.
During our recent visit to Poona, we saw "Our Gallant Effort" being shown at two obscure cinemas
She is coming on fast. Nalini Jay want in "Ankh Michowli", an Amar picture.
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