FilmIndia (1945)

October, 1945. FILMINDIA industry. How do you justify your presence in the industry ? I am the prize fool of the industry. Had I not been one, I wouldn't be scribbling for twenty years, labouring under the delusion that I could improve men and things in the industry. CH. S. GHARIAL (Somewhere in Burma) Why do young people blush more easily than the elders? The elders are like blood banks with frozen blood in them. It is only the bubbling blood that betrays itself in a blush. N. V. VATSARAJ (Santa Cruz) After "Shakuntala's" epic run, it wouldn't be surprising if the projector of Swastik Talkies keeps echoing the dialogues of "Shakuntala" even after the release of "Maharathi Kama". What do you think? So long as it keeps blaring "Produced and directed by V. Shantaram", "Produced and directed by V. Shantaram, "Produced and directed by V. Shantaram," Shantaram won't have any objection, though one would not like to hear the language of Bhal Pendharkar after this blare. BIPIN BEHARILAL MATHUR (Lucknow) What will be the effect of the world peace on our film industry ? It will start another world war of unhealthy competition. Y. R. MEHTA (Jubbulpore) The existence of great ideals and romances etc. is not restricted to Hindu and Muslim communities only. These problems are found in all communities and yet we only see Hindu or sometimes Muslim stories on the screen. What about the lives of Parsis, Sikhs and Indian Christians ? Parsis are too small a community to be a general pattern for the whole country. The Sikhs are too sensitive about their beards and turbans. The Indian Christians though a pretty large community, are a prostrate mass of humanity with no political or social aspirations. Motion pictures are made for the masses and their pattern of stories must come from the lives of the largest communities to be popular. RAM G. MIRCHANDANI (Karachi) What place will you get when the history of the film industry is written? As I shall write the history, I will be the historian. Others should worry about their places. MISS SHIRIN MOLEDINA (Poona) What have you to say about charming Devika Rani remarrying ? I have nothing to sav about it. It is for that Russian artist to do the talking. V. L. COMAR (New Delhi) What are life and death? The first is an opportunity, the second-an escape. About Shirin Farhad, Laila Majnu, Romeo and Juliet and many such lovers, it is said that their love was pure. Do you believe it? I doubt it The way Farhad, Majnu and Romeo died, it must have been poison. In modern times, we filter and distil love on scientific lines and even after several doses both the parties live to tell the story. B. YESHWANTHARAO (Vizagapatam) "Filmindia" is causing a lot of headache, back-ache and stomach-ache to journalists, film critics and producers all over the country. Can you suggest any remedy for all their 'aches'? On homeopathic lines, more and more of "filmindia" should effect a cure. B. P. SINGH (Mysore) Why are sex scandals, more popular in the film world? We have no sex scandals in the film world. At best they are only sex incidents and I wonder how these "incidents" become "scandals" when they travel to your world. You people must be adding some, cheap vulgarity to our casual episodes. CHANDRAN (Bangalore) Do you know what lovers whisper secretly so often? At such times, words are not important. Very often they hiss in the ear to tickle it and wake up new emotions. KR. RAJENDRA SINGH (Agra) Who has made this world : Man or God ? What has Old Man God to do with it? Man made this world in a hurry. And he seems to be repentant about it, the way he is destroying it quickly. What has made "filmindia" such a popular magazine ? My salesmanship and your gullibility. B. RAMACHANDRAN (Anantapur) Shobhana Samarth is seen in many pictures. Why is it so? Perhaps because her daughters are taking a long time growing and Mummy has to keep the industry going. H. S. VENKATA RAO (Mysore) If that Indo-American actor Sabu were to come to India, can he maintain the same reputation? He will remain unemployed and may have to go back to his old profession of elephant-washing. Sabu was taken overseas as an antique object from the Orient just as Yankees these days take away oriental hukkahs and miniature Taj Mahals from Indian bazaars. C. L. SETHI (Mhow) Why is love called blind? Probably because it needs darkness to be acceptable to both. S. K. PATKAR (Bessein) . What is the feminine gender of "Comrade"? 27