FilmIndia (1948)

SUBSCRIPTION RATES The annual subscription, for 12 issues of "filmindia", from any month is : INLAND FOREIGN: Rs. 24/Shillings 50/ Subscription is accepted only for a collective period of 12 months and not for a smaller period. Subscription money should be remitted only by Money Order or by Postal Order but not by cheques. V. P. P.s will not be sent. filmindia PROPRIETORS FILMINDIA PUBLICATIONS LTD. 65, SIR PHIROZESHAH MEHTA ROAD, FORT. BOMBAY. Telephone : 26752 Editor: BABURAO PATEL Vol. XIV. MAY 1948 No. 5. ADVERTISEMENT RATES: The advertisement rates are as follows : Per Insertion Full Page inside Rs. Half Page inside Rs. i Page inside Rs. J Page inside Rs. 2nd & 3rd Cover Rs. 4th Cover Rs. 1st Cover Rs. 400 210 120 150 500 600 1,000 The cost of the advertisement should be submitted in advance with the order. The advertisement will be subject to the terms and conditions of our usual contract. Wanted (?en5ot5klp--A/ot fteuecution / 'filmindia". from the beginning, lias been vigoy demanding intelligent, discriminating and, e necessary, ruthless censorship with a view to ng our films of objectionable elements which ikely to have an unhealthy effect on the morals tastes of the public, specially of the younger ation n particular, we have raised our voice — which, ire to presume, is the voice of the more intelliresponsible and socially-conscious section of hn industry and picturegoers — against those which, wholly or in part, disseminate knowof criminal rackets or encourage and glorify lal tendencies, which exploit the vulgar side of pander to the lowest emotions of the sex<ed among the audiences, which give currency ?ap and vulgar expressions and language, di questionable songs, and degrade the beauty human body through semi-nude exhibitionist niridia", again, was the first to demand the lation of a "Production Code" to regulate, connd govern the socio-ethical aspects of films, nonths after the campaign carried out by this 1 that the Government has come out with a r suggestion and the industry's representative* expressed their somewhat half-hearted intenf drawing up such a "Code" for the guidance members. e believe tha.t "freedom of expression*' is an jable right of a democracy. (And undoubtedly, jiema is one of the most important media of ion). We also believe that freedom of the ual necessarily must be conditioned by the rations of the well-being of society in general greatest good of the greatest number". So we support any restrictions which may be irrifj-»n the freedom of film producers for the sake i lie good— which includes ethical as well as lie considerations. It just as unrestricted freedom can degenerate [■ence and anarchy, and thereby be a source luption and evil, similarly controls and res trictions, when applied without imagination, intelligence and sympathy, can just as easily constitute tyranny and persecution of the individual. CENSOR'S VAGARIES Our censorship machinery and censorship methods are far from satisfactory. The "moral" craze of the censors and the current "purity drive" seem to have assumed the proportions of a fascistic clean-up To be anti-vulgarity is one thing: but authoritarian Puritanism is quite another. To ban cheap and vultrar • lances is one thing, to suppress all scenes suggestive of love and romance is entirely different. The strange anomaly is that, despite the wholesale and almost indiscriminate scissoring that is going on in the censor's office, still manv objectionable scenes are being spared. To give but one example, a popular film is running now with an indecent reference to feminine breasts prominentlv mentioned and displayed, during a song. Many objectionable foreign films are being passed— objectionable politically and ethically. We gave the example of "Unconquered" last month other examples can be provided. ^ As some of our readers havc pointed out in the '■Woes and Echoes" columns, some objectionable foreign newsreels have been allowed to be screened The censors have not yet shown that they are jealous guardians of the honour of their motherland. On the other hand, even after August 15, the hang-over of imperialism persists in the policy and conduct of censorship. Producers of patriotic and progressive pictures still fear the censors' decision, and recently there have bcen several cases of undue harassment having been caused to producers of pictures on patriotic themes. Not yet do we feel tha.t the advent of freedom has made a difference, that no longer is patriotism a crime. \\Q know of several producers who are thinking of taking up subjects like the life of that patriotic martyr. Sardar Bhagat Singh, but hesitate because of the fear of the censor. Surelv anv government which puts a ban or even restrictions on such national themes is not worth being called "national". h