FilmIndia (1945)

OQ5 ( This will be the readers' forum in future — as and irhen space permits. From the producer to the lay film-goer, every one can write to the Editor and ventilate his grievance. Fur every letter published in these columns, the publishers will pay lis. ■')',-. Letters should be signed and marled " Woes And Echoes". Photographs of the readers trill be published along with their letters, if convenient. — The Editor.) DAY-DREAMING "I hope film-industry will surely improve to a greater extent if your frank and fearless reviews about the pictures produced, are taken as a source of guide for the further development and advantages of the industry by the Producers and Directors!" HYDERABAD (Sind) M. Ishwar. SNOBBISH IGNORANCE "Why is modernised Indian music or film-music so much condemned not only by many of the ordinary classically minded but even by some of our reputed singers of classical music? I attended, recently, a competitive musical function in which the items consisted of a mixed variety:— Classical and film songs and classical and modern— instrumental music. In almost all cases the prizes went to those who gave classical tunes although some of the film songs really deserved to win but were not even given the chance of being fully heard. The selecting judge at the function happened to be one of our well-known classical singers Why this partiality? Is it merely a dislike for film-music or is it from a jealous fear that modernised Indian music is far too rapidly taking the place of classical music!" . BOMBAY. Harish Rao. INVITING TROUBLE "Why the big brains behind the Information Films of India (I.F.I.) shorts have not arranged to exhibit their shorts in this state even after such a long time since its release in Northern India and other parts?" MYSORE. S. K. Krishna Iyer MEAT FOR SLAVES "In one of the recent issues of a British film magazine I saw a letter in which one "picturegoer' complained about the quality of the British Information Films. I was surprised to know the feelings of the British public about thenown democratic war propaganda_ Why do the Information Films of India torture us by borrowing this stuff for exhibition in India as if their own brand is not sufficient to kill a man? By the way, did you happen to see a two-minute tale by I.F.I named "Money from Heaven?" This sort of stuff was started by Bayer s for advertising their "Cafiaspirin , I think. What a headache these Prize Bonds (because that is the 'money from heaven') and this propaganda are?" NEW DELHI. P. V. Nair. ASK HIM "A Shantaram film, as we know it today, is no more art than the evening paper is literature. Art makes now no appeal to this big show-boy who, we think, wants to get rich quickly. What may be the reason?" Miss Yeshoda K. Nedungadi. MALABAR. STAR GAZERS "Most of our film critics start shouting for or against a picture the moment its production work starts. Mehboob's 'HUMAYUN and New Huns' 'DRAUPADI' were severely condemned even before these pictures went on the sets. Wouldn't it be better for these good-for-nothing, self-important critics to turn into fortune tellers? That way they can earn a good deal of cheap money which seems to be the sole aim of their lives." NEW DELHI. A. Haq. OLD LEGS "In many a picture hags are thrown in to shake hips as vigorously as they possibly can and wink at either the spectators or the supporting players. Can't such dances be omitted without any danger of even the slightest part of the pictures being mutilated?'" P. M. Raja THIKA (KENYA COLONY) JUST FOOLS "How is it that our producers show 'women' like Mehtab and baldheaded •men' like Moti as college students? I have yet to see a student of their age in any of the local colleges. Even many junior professors are younger than these artistes. Are our producers gone mad? And what do they take the film-goers to be?" KARACHI. Hashu T Mansukhani. RECRUITING 'Why should not there be a film recruiting office where all the producers and others place their demands for staff. It is suggested that this should be a big office and should deal with all mattersconcerning films. How far do you agree with this?" NEW DELHI. K. R. Murthy. BLOODY BUSINESS "Nowadays, a new surgical revelation seems to have enabled our directors in solving many a triangular situation as when there are two lovers philandering with one heroine who, it is said, secures fraternal relationship with one by transfusion of her blood. Don't you think it is a fallacious concept in the light of the fact that the same blood runs in the veins of every spouse even in a matrimonial union?" B. Muthyala Rao. SECUNDERABAD (Deccan) TELL ME— WHY "Why people are mad after 'FilmIndia' Magazine? Is it due to its art paper get-up, excellent criticism, impartial reviews, good articles or best advertisements?" BOMBAY. P. Venkateswaran. AMEN "After seeing 'Kadambari' I have come to the conclusion that Pt. Shiv Kumar, the story writer, and Director Nandlal have been very successful in carrying out their malicious plan. Alas! they have murdered Mahakavi 'Ban' in broad daylight." CAWNPORE. G. Dubey. PANDERING "It is nowadays a fashion with our producers to introduce a National Song in their pictures. There is hardly any picture nowadays which does not contain such a song. While no one would object to such songs, one would like these to be introduced in appropriate situations. But what do we see? The hero and the heroine sing such a song in their romantic interludes. The net result is that their effect is practically nil. Is it not funny? Have our producers no "nmmonsense to realise this? KARACHI. Bulo T. Harisinganey. EVIDENCE OF GREATNESS "Don't you feel anything that your old friend V. Shantaram, should have resorted to cheap sex-exploitation in his pictures? In "Shakuntala" he exposed the buttocks of the extra girls while in "Parbat Pe Apna Dera" he did it with the front. Why is he so sexy? Again I fear that he will be at his worst in his "Dr. Kotnis" where he can and will show dozens of halfdressed Chinese". BOMBAY. N. R. Shenvi STORIES OR SAUSAGES "As there is a general shortage of theatres in India which could be seen from the number of pictures 32