FilmIndia (Jan-Nov 1942)

November 1942 FILMINDIA good story. But for India the first requirement is a huge crowd of fools and idlers to whom the screen is still a nine-day wonder. Realizing the demand our producers also oblige by making pictures for fools. K. Srinivas (Tiruppur) Producers advertise several pictures in "filmindia", pictures not worth their names. But because these advertisements appear in "filmindia", all your readers think that these pictures have some standard of quality. We are thus misled into spending money over useless pictures. Why do you give room for such advertisements in ycur worthy magazine? Now, how the hell am I to know in advance, that a certain picture which the producer is advertising is going to be rubbish? Film advertising is done much in advance of the release of the pictures and no producer in the world is gomg to call his picture bad. The first one who does so will make tons of money. A better plan for you toould be to wait for my reviews and see only those pictures of which you like the reviews. Baldham Ram (Cawnpore) Amongst the heroes working at present on the Indian screen, Ashok Kumar is the best of all in acting and singing. Do you agree with this? NO. Miss Sumitra Sharma (Patna) Why is our filmland full of eligible bachelors when there are lots of girls ready for matrimony? Now, who the devil told %ou that we are. full of bachelors? Yes, there are many unmarried, but bachelors none. S. V. Pillana (Vadigenhalli) What is your status in the Indian film industry? Just the editor of "filmindia". 1 don't know what status that means, but it seems to be enough provocation for one and all to abuse me. My father said that "filmindia ' is decorated with beautiful pictures but the reading matter is all nonsense. What do you think? My father also thinks the same way, but so long as he does not make up his mind to pay for my board and lodging, I have got to keep on writing nonsense to earn a livelihood. Do you blame me? Miss Kamal Dass (Amritsar) In these days, due to the war, prices of all thing* have gone up. I wculd like to know if the stars' salaries have also gone up? We don't need a Hitler to put up the salaries of stars. Given two youngish and wealthy producers— they must be from the Stock Exchange, old enough to father the girl — and a good-looking, worldly-wise film girl with tons of sex in her thin, pliant figure, we can reach new highs in star salaries overnight. In comparison with this, war would be a poor provocation. M. K. Ramanathan (Bangalore) Do you know anything about Sohrab Mody? Oh yes! I know Sohrab is the brother of Mr. Keki Modi, who recently outbid Shantaram and purchased the National Studios for a little over eight and half lakhs. I know that Keki Mody controls over 30 theatres in India. Beyond this I don't know much about Sohrab. Lalchand Ramdas (Karachi) Do you think "Jhankar" was worth the trouble of production? I pity poor Chandramohan, Kumar and Pramilla. Kumar and Pram lla also took the trouble or coming down to Karachi to open the picture at a local cinema. Dont you think that such irresponsible production attempts cn the part of our artistes prove a dram on the pockets of fans? You have said it but that won't stop such outrages. Mahindra Prasad Sinha (Itki) Does Motilal happen to be the brother of Snehaprabha Pradhan? Oh, no, not a brother but Motilal is a very great admirer of Snehprabha. He likes her acting, music and grace and In spare moments he dreams of her. Suvarnalata provides sex appeal in "Pratigya", a social picture of Chitra Productions. 37