FilmIndia (1945)

OQ5 ( This is the reader's forum— as and when space permits. .From the producer to the lay film-goer, every one can write to the Editor and ventilate his grievance. For every letter published in these columns, the publishers will pay Rs. SiLetters should be signed and marked "Woes And Echoes". Photographs of the readers will be published along with their letters, if convenient. — The Editor. ) YOUR FUNERAL "In this city there are only five cinemas. One is reserved for stunt pictures, one for English. Bengali and some rotten Hindi stuff; the remaining three are intended to give us some good pictures. But the management — sound, seats, selling "pan-bidi-cigarette" in the midst of the shows — all contribute to ruin any entertainment we may get. If you hapnen to visit these theatres, you will leave the hall without enjoying the picture." BENARES. M. Pandey. WHY DON'T YOU? "Can the march of our film industry be reaPy called Drogress? That is the quest:on haunting everv sincere filmeo^r and honest critic. If we examine the stuff thrust down our throats for the past two or three years, we come to the inevitable conclusion that tbe standard of our pictures is fast deteriorating. It is indeed difficuH to ascertain as to who is responsible fo~ this. "The produce* whose onlv obiect seems to be to fill his pocket to the brim, doesn't want to miss f.Vie present boom. Every Tom, P'ck an-} Ha'-rv has b°gun to don the producer's mantle and to wield the mee-a phone. Tf any picture clicks at the box-ofncp a train of nr^totvpes follow it. Thus we have had several seasons, as the bov-mpets-eirl story season, the mythological season, the historical season etc. If a particular star catches t^e fancv of the masses in a particular picture, he or shp Is at one-1 booked fo umpteen other productions, no matter whether he or she is fit for the role assigned. We are evnect°d to recreate ourselves by s~eing the same old faces in evprv pi'-tu-e. No wonder many nnit the theatre in the middle of the show. "What is the press doin<?? Is it performing its dutv honestly? My answer is no. Most of the critics are partial. You, I dare say, are no exception. "Then what 's the way out? Who is to check the greedy producers? T-'ose who pay the p'oer should necessarily call the tune — I mean the film-fans. But are they represented in the fTm industry In any wav? No. So I implore someone to take the lead and consolidate all the fans under an united and powerful organization — an organization which should determine the destinies of an industry which is an educative and recreative medium in itself." MADRAS. S. Aurames. HULLO, SOUTH INDIANS ! "It has now become dear as broad day-light that freedom cannot be achieved without national unity. And who but a fool can deny the use and importance of a common language in creating unity among our people? "To promote the blessed cause of national unity, our film producers "Panihari" seems to be having quite a strong heroine in Shanta Apte. can do nothing better than producing all pictures in Hindustani, leaving the provincial languages for daily use at home. Now that the A. I. R. has given them the lead in this matter, they have only to follow suit. Is it much to expect even this from them?" JAIPUR. Bal Krishna Mathur. AN D3EA "The other day, I visited the much boosted "Humayun", directed by Mehboob. After the Picture, one of my friends (who did not know Hindi) asked me whether, "Humayun was the son of Babur, or Babur, the son of Humayun" Though the question looked ridiculous at first to me, it appeared ouite reasonable after deep thought and It. was this . question that .served me as an impulse to. write to you. "Producers spend lakhs of rupees over each picture, forgetting that India is still for a mafor plrt an uneducated country, if only they make it a point to give a commentary of the summary of their picture on the screen before the actual picture commences, in the language of each province in which the picture is shown, they will not only make their picture a cent per cent success, but also help the illiterate masses to understand them better, and cherish in their minds the achievements of great makers of India like. Akbar, Humayun and Chandragupta." MYSORE. H. S. Rajagopal Rao WILL THEY? "Producers of "Phool" have given us nothing new but have followed the proverbial beaten track by manufacturing a hotch-potch of everything. The theme relating to loss of memorv and its revival has been exh'^w ^numerab'e times on the Indian Screen. Emotional phenomena and dramatic touches pr-* conspicuous bv their absence. Music is simply absu-d. Veena at regular intervals sings <?hazals wit'-> hopeless tunes and those too at moments when they are uncalled for. "Reference to the oft-repeated Hindu-Mus'im unitv is ouit° irrelevant. Failure of the picture despite its galaxv of stars establishes the max'm that too many cooks spoil the br-<th especially when they are at the mercy of an amateurish director. The latter's attempt to impart a political colour to the n:cture is disastrously unsuccessful. Will our producers ana directors kindly make it a point to cater to the refined taste of the 7nH1{,n nublic ">nd refrain from squandering millions on meaningless stuff like "Phool"? DELHI. Ram Naraln GALA DUPING? "Misled by the advertisement "The Gala Opening of 'Andhera', a Ran.lit's Musical Social Hit," In Madras, i nad" the misfortune to see this picture wasting 2 hours' sleep and 13 honest annas, and got a good headache in return. 61