FilmIndia (1948)

Film FN in a straightforward way. and stop playing rotten studio-prepared records and furnish us with the latest melodious music? Rajaballi P. L. Motani. KAMPALA. OUTRAGED? "Mr. Atib Usmani's remarks against me in April's "filmindia" have come as a complete surprise to me. He seems to have completely misunderstood my point of view. He says that I was evidently offended when a couple of Hindus walked out during the show of "Elan" a Muslim picture. I was certainly hurt over this incident, because I have always admired a cultured Hindu who understands the other man's point of view better than any other person. So. when these two educated and cultured Hindu gentlemen walked out of the theatre abusing, when the name of Quran was mentioned, my heart almost broke. I realized how deep this poison of communalism had been drunk by these sister communities. Any person in the world will feel hurt if his religion is made the target of abuse. No man who defends his religion can be dubbed a communalist. " 'It is sheer hypocrisy', continues Mr. Usmani, "on the part of a Muslim to say that he 'loved' pictures Nirupa Roy, a Ran jit starlet in their latei-l mythological »tory, "Jai Haiuiinan". like "Tukaram" and "Dnyaneshwar", because hero worship and idolatory are positively forbidden in Islam". I agree completely with the latter part of his statement, but may I ask Mr. Usmani whether those Muslims who visit the mausoleums of "pirs" and "wallis" are not followers of Islam? Idolatory is forbidden when one worships the idol or the grave but Tukaram was a saint who in an idol, as in everything else, saw the srlimpse of God. Can such a person *be called an idol worshipper? To a pure heart, the presence of God is felt even in dust but to a foul one even a mosque will not house the Almighty. "Just because "Elan"' was a sensible Muslim picture and I happened to like it. Mr. I smani found his opportunity to criticize me. that being the fashion in India after the unfortunate division of our country. Any Muslim, whether he be a Nationalist or a Leaguer comes under a barrage of criticism these days, thanks to the Congress which failed to protect those who had full faith in its democracy. "Another fantastic mental masturbation of Mr. Usmani is that religion is mere fiction. Does Islam, a great religion, permit its followers to treat it as mere fiction? Are the founders of great religions mere fictitious characters? If Mr. Usmani feels ashamed to call himself a Muslim, let him keep quiet. There might be reasons for it, but let him not indulge in such idiotic philosophies. If he is an atheist, he has no right to attack those who are more sensible. To be proud of one's religion is no isolationist ideology but to drag in the fair name of religion for ulterior motives is definitely communalism as was the policy of the Muslim League. "Over ninety per cent of my friends are of other religions. I respect their religion and only by doing so have I come to respect them individually and not as Mr. I smani thinks. How can a Hindu be friendly with a Muslim or vice versa when in his heart of hearts he has a hatred towards the other s religion? It ceases to be genuine friendship or understanding." V . K. Farlur Rahman. BANGALORE. I WILL "W hy don't you save us from such actors like Motilal and Suren Devika Rani, as she looked once, ,,| "Anyaya", produced and directed I J. S. Casshyap. dra. the pre-historic finds of our fifl n industry? If they can't walk out I the industry they must at least tant roles that suit them. Can t you, mm\ the interests of filmgoers. do sonMsl i thing to chase such actors out of n i precincts ol a -tudio? Imagine, Aflniir tilal making love to sweet Xargis. al p the squint-eyed Surendra with jjj African forest on his chest nestlirl : by the side of beautiful Meena. | there is nothing you can do to pil'fc vent such actors taking roles that mm: not suit them, stop editing n'|» india" and take to spinning."" ANANTAPUR. A. Ruphm-ti WHY NOT? "Is it not very singular that not II single "social" with a Christian stojl has been produced in Hindi till novjl The themes are invariably Hindu tin Muslim. Why should not some im our producers explore fresh pa>turB». and give us some stories with Chris tian background and Christians im principal characters in the drama 1 Don't you think it worthwhile to e]M ploit a "social" on some such ne II lines, for a change? We have hal enough of Hindu and Muslim sJl cials. So why. not some producfll 74