FilmIndia (Jan-Nov 1942)

FILMINDIA July 1942 In the February-March 1942 issue of the Cine Technician of London, Alex Shaw has contributed an article on his work in India. "Most of the Indian films are extremely bad from every possible point of view" writes Shaw. And yet several Indian pictures run so much as sixty consecutive weeks whilst the best Hollywood product has not yet gone beyond the six weeks mark. "The Indian technicians work for people who have neither decency nor commonsense. They provide the few bright spots in thousands of feet of incompetence." That's Shaw's opinion about our employers. As if all the decency and commonsense are monopolised by the white-skinned employers of the world! "Lack of ability to make shorts", proceeds Alex Shaw, "created a situation where the Indian film industry plus the European representatives of the big American companies were unable to supply the Government with any films which could be even called adequate. Yet they were in a state of fury that any body else should have been asked to do so. This position held good all the time I was in India and provided, as you can imagine, a very exciting, if rather sordid, background to the job." And the position cleared immediately the Government shipped back Alex Shaw the "expert" who could not produce one decent film though India paid him thousands in one year. Now with Mr. V. Shantaram in place of Alex Shaw we are at least seeing more and better short films than Alex Shaw could ever produce. Yes, the position has cleared and there is no "exciting and sordid" background with the white man safely away. Here is another typical example of the traditional English ingratitude. In trying to justify his utter failure in India and in attempting to establish himself in the esteem of his own people, Alex Shaw finds fault with the very members of the Film Advisory Board, who protected him against the vehement attack of the press and backed him up in all actions — good and bad. Writes Shaw: "The snag was that the unit had to function under the control of the Film Advisory Board who were determined that it should fail because all the bitterest and most interested parties sat on the Board. Think of all the bosses in the film trade you most dislike and then imagine yourself doing your job under a committee composed of those very people." With one sweeping statement this cheeky Englishman has condemned all the members of the Board and questioned their very honesty of purpose by saying that they were determined to cause the failure of the production unit. But the very same Englishman had to wait till he reached England to say all this. He couldn't do that in India and get away. Are cowards differently built? We hope that the loyai members of the Board like Producer Wadia, will realise new at least, the folly of tbeir ways in being kind to a white man. HOW CAN YOU BE ? One thrilling question six short words— but they come only to those whose skin is petal-smooth. How important it is that you should protect the fine texture of your skin with Icilma Beauty Aids. First pat a little Icilma Vanishing Cream gently into the skin. This will protect your skin and make an ideal base for your powder. Then a dusting of delicious Icilma Face Powder to give sheer chic to your make-up. Finally, massage Icilma Cold Cream gently into the skin every night It cleanses your skin of every speck of dirt and guards it against roughness. Let Icilma Beauty Aids guide you to even greater glamour and loveliness. vanishing cream Cold cream Rouge cream Face powder 8 11). 5-483.100 THE K.II.MA CO., LTD., LONDON