FilmIndia (Jan-Jul 1943)

June 1943 FILMINDIA LIKES INDIAN PICTURES He had seen Uday Shanker too, casting spelis ^f oriental charm over crowds of Westerners by his exquisite dances. He hoped some day to visit Sharker's Culture Centre at Almora . The lover of art that he is, Mr. Nichols has lose no time in visiting Indian picture houses. In spite of his troublesome foot, his pressing duties and his daily round of engagements, he has managed to see quite a few Indian pictures. "Oh, I like them very much," he told me. One of the pictures that impressed him most was Minerva's "Sikanrlar". "In its spectacular effect, its acting and its dramatic intensity", he said, "it compared very favourably with the best Western pictures of the type. India has a weaith of historical material which could go to the making of more such pictures." Another picture that impressed him deeply was Wadia's 'Raj Narta Mr. Fateh Din, proprietor of Din Pictures, who is now producing "Koshish". ki'. Sadhona Bose's dances and her restrained and dignified acting and Prithviraj's performance seemed to have attracted him specially. Seeing that picture, he said, was like living in India's dim past, when she was a model of progress and culture to less fortunate countries. Mr. Nichols could not understand why actors and actresses of the calibre of Prithviraj, Sadhona Bose and Sohrab Modi should not go to Hollywood and win world recognition. I told him that one of them at least seemed to have that ambition, but the war had come in his way. He replied that as soon as normal conditions returned, artistes from India should go out of their land and broadcast their cultural message, for that was one of the most effective ways to make their country known outside. And then about music. Though accustomed to Western music, he could react most favourably to Indian songs. Mr. Nichols has himself composed some songs and light music. But he is sad that he has A glimpse from "Shakuntala": King Dushyanta forgets to recognise her though once he loved Shakuntala 39