FilmIndia (1945)

[In this section, the editor himself replies to queries from the letters. As thousands of letters are received every month— some anxious and several frivolous — it is neither possible nor convenient to attend to all. Selected letters are usually treated in an informative and humorous strain and no offence is meant to anyone.] B. K SINGH (Lahore) Have you ever given any good reviews to any Ranjit picture in the last two years? Has Ranjit produced any good pictures in the last two years? My reviews are not prompted by trade labels. They are provoked by quality. The last goody-goody stuff Ranjit put out was "Tansen". Thereafter — well! MISS SAVITRI D. M. (Karachi) Should a woman worship her husband as a god, even it he is a drunkard and quick-tempered man? In that age-old idea, India sowed its first seeds of slavery. When mothers lost freedom in their own homes, they gave birth to slaves and we have today a nation of 400 million slaves. Homes are no longer temples with husbands as gods. They are rest-houses on a common journey in which one leans upon the other. A drunkard's place is in the gutters and gods are not found in gutters. SAYED RAHAT ALI KHAN (Meerut) Don't you think it silly to secure an autograph of an actress on a currency note? To those who care they are goddesses. To those who don't get the autographs, they become actresses. Whether this is silly or wise depends on the way one looks at it. Collecting stamps is considered a silly hobby by many, yet the King of England is a world-known philatelist. S. B. JAISINGHANI (Karachi) Who is the better music director between Anil Biswas and Ghulam Haider? There is not much to choose between the two as both are good exponents of stolen rhythm. One takes his inspiration from the Hawaiian islands while the other goes into the arid deserts of Arabia with the oasis and the moon on the horizon. What both give is the music of other nations — at times of several nations. P. KRISHNA NAYAK (Mangalore) Why does a producer like Chandulal Shah produce cheap pictures like "Shankar Parvati", "Bansari", "Pagli Duniya", etc. Does he think that good people like these pictures? Chandulal Shah, an highly intellectual man, does not yet seem to have realised the fact that people look up to him for something better than he is doing today. I agree with you that a producer like Chandulal, with almost unlimited resources behind him and an excellent experience, should give to his people better and more purposeful entertainment. The choice before him, however, is either to direct the pictures himself or to find intelligent people who can do the work for him. And let me tell you that pay what you like you just can't find enough intelligent and reliable people in this industry. P. L. MEHRA (New Delhi) Can't we stop parents, with lap babies who are liable to cry in the midst of a picture, from being permitted into our picture-houses. When the little pipers burst out they ruin all entertainment. Can't there be any legislation about this? In this country where people pray and practise severe penance to get children, the child remains the prize-pet of the family and mothers become travelling Kangaroos carrying their burden of life from place to place. In the West, the child, whatever his age, is left behind with the Nanny. In India there is not enough to go round for the parents and the question of employing a nanny does not arise. So the piping progeny has to be taken around and exhibited with sound effects. With face, lips and hands folded, Mumtaz Shanti begs to be excused if she comes to the screen in "Bhartruhari", a Ranjit picture. 15