FilmIndia (1945)

November, 1945 FILM INDIA proached him, to which I replied that about eight times my man called at his place and on all these occasions if he could not meet Mr. Motwane, how would it have been possible for me to contact him. He replied that in any case the film he has taken is entirely at my disposal. I expressed my thankfulness to this offer, but I didn't need it. Talking further about his loudspeaker system and its failure I mentioned that I think the reason for this failure is the use of a very old system, for, they are undoubtedly out of date models. For this he had no reply. But I stil think that the model of loudspeakers he installed is of a veryv very old type and the failure is mainly due to that. The B. P. C. C. may try and give explanations to the public to prove otherwise, but I should believe that they are the people to be blamed for giving such monopolies on which really speaking there is no systematic control, for even after Mr. S. K. Patil's giving monopoly to Mr. Motwane, Mr. Hutheesingh gave permission to the Indian News Parade to film the occasion in other capacity. The above are all facts and if you want any further information please let me know. Sincerely yours, Sd| A. J. Patel." We publish below the letter Mr. Ambalal Patel wrote to Mr. Nanik Motwane on the 19th September seeking permission for filming the A.I.C.C. session in Bombay: "Dear Mr. Motwane, As I wish to send my cameraman and his assistants to the AllIndia Congress Committee meeting, I shall be very much thankful to you if you will kindly arrange to issue the necessary passes per bearer for four persons as under: — 2 Cameramen 1 Sound Recordist 1 Assistant Thanking you once again, Sincerely yours, Sd| A. I. Patel." The Indian News Parade who filmed the A.I.C.C. session have also something to say about this affair. Writes Maior Movlan, the genial Chief of the Indian News Parade, on the 1 2th October: — "My dear Baburao, I have for acknowledgment your letter of 27th September 1945 on the subject of Ambalal's letter in the "Bombay Sentinel". Whilst I fully endorse Ambalal's views I have no personal complaint against B.P.C.C.'s attitude towards Newsparade in this instance. Surendra looks as if he has never seen a woman before, least of all one with a flute on the lower lip— and all this in "Chand Chakoti", a social story of Ranjit Every pot on the head is not a water pot Kamla Chatterjee is probably carrying cooked vegetable in "Dhanna Bhagat," a Ranjit picture. It is true that the monopoly had been given to Chicago Radio Company but when we drew Mr. Hutheesing's attention to our difficulty he very kindly granted us, after consulting Mr. Motwane, the necessary permission to cover the event. Yours sincerely, Sd| William J. Moylan." What has the Bombay Provincial Congress Committee to say about all this? Here is its hefty Secretary S. K. Patil's letter dated the 10th October "Dear Mr. Patel, I thank you for your letter dated the 27th September. Mr. Ambalal Patel has made unfair and untenable allegations. The very fact that more than five film companies were allowed to film the A.I.C.C. Session, including the Government organization— the News Parade— should convince anybody that Mr. Patel's allegations are wrong. As regards the allegation made by Mr. Patel about large amounts having been paid as transport charges, it is absolu'ely unfounded and mischievous. You will be interested to know that even Mr. Patel was never refused permission to film the A.I.C.C. Session. Trusting this clears the position, Yours sincerely, Sd| S. K. Patil General Secretary." 57