FilmIndia (1948)

Hi in a This section is the monopoly of ''JUDAS" and he writes what he likes and about things which he likes. The views expressed here are not necessarily ours, but still they carry weight because they are u>> itten by a man who knows his job. \W FILM PRODUCTION The Commerce Member to the Government of dia said in the course of a reply in the Dominion irliament the other day that the prospects for the tablishment of a raw film industry in India were .mpered not a little by lack of several chemicals d intermediates necessary for the purpose which •re not produced in the country at present. The Minister is reported to have cited the inmce of Gelatione of a special quality as a major pediment in fulfilling this requirement since it was oduced by only a few firms of the world. Seeing that raw film has been one of the imporbt requirements for which we have to be depennt on foreign countries manufacturing it, it is well jit the Government of India lias begun to pay its :ention in the direction of starting a raw film instry of our own. A Calcutta firm is already believed to have ported the first ''film casting" plant in the coun|r and it is encouraging to learn that plans for ■mulating the ways and means of establishing the 'nplete machinery including a large number of jxiliary industries for the purpose of manufac•ing raw film, are being contemplated. It is estimated that during April-July 1947 Lne, raw film worth over thirty-eight lakhs was Jported in India which goes to show the enormity I expenditure entailed by this basic item of the lustry. It is imperative that the scientific rel.rch department of the Government of India puld go thoroughly into the matter and include Iv film-manufacture in the much talked-of indusIil plan for the country. t'ORD OF DAMOCLES! [ Talking of raw film, with its imminent shortage iiging like a sword of Damocles over the Indian i industry, the dim prospects of gaining self|>endency in its production, must strike a note of Isimism and add to the gravity of an immediate ^is that has scared many a producer already. A section of the press went all agog last month >h the rumour that import of raw film may be tailed to about one-third its present average. |h a contingency would inevitably make way for trol on production of films as also the possibility Ithe hideous system of licensing to come in vogue le again. Since then the rumour has been denied I with the Government's fascination for control I. saving of dollars one never knows when they ly take it into their heads to cut down raw film P'orts. Unless the present authorities are merely enamoured of the idea of controlling film production just to see how far they can perpetuate the traditions and repeat the bureaucratic bungles of their predecessors during the last war, there is but little justification to aggravate the present crisis by drastically restricting the import of raw film. Isn't there already too much corruption, black' marketing and boot-legging rampant everywhere without the Government risking a fresh addition on the raw film front? The year 1948 is not, and can never be, 1943 and the Government had better count ten before taking any drastic steps to reduce the import of raw film and launch licensing inasmuch as while the stoppage of criminal waste of raw film is welcome and desirable, a rigid control on production at this juncture might well shatter all hopes of a free and healthy development of the industry bv putting a premium on old and worthless bogeys "while penalising the younger and enterprising element. Geeta Bali is cast as a Kulu girl in "Sohag Raat", an Oriental Pictures Production controlled and released by Varma Films.