FilmIndia (1948)

(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. 5/Letters should be signed and marked " Woes And Echoes". Photographs of the readers will be published along with their letters, if convenient. — The Editor.) WELL, LALAJI? "During the playing of "Wasiyatama" at Kitz, Delhi, the arc was Cry dim and the sound quite inaudile. No word could he grasped and tie songs of Bharati sounded like the roaking of frogs in the rainy seaon. JEW DELHI. Wazir Chand Chopra. IDIOTS ALL ! "Here is an incident thai will puse you for a moment. At the oral Jagat Talkies when "Khidki ^as running, it started raining heaily and water started coming in tirough the open ventilators. \l nee the spectators shouted "Khidki {and Karo", "Khidki Band Karo" ind to our utter surprise the operaor stopped the picture "Khidki ", intead of closing the ventilators. "The show was delayed for several Enutes. Can you heat the hrains of hese cinemawallas?" I VNPUR. Kumari Sushila Khanna. IGREED ! 'Until recently I had no chance to ce "Katan" — a very popular picure. I formed a very good idea ibout it as 1 used to hear its sweet ■ants from various sources. But I was totally disappointed when my idea clashed with reality on the screen of the local Ashoka Talkies. With songs almost at every step some being repeated even and anomalies the picture simply annoyed me. In trj ins: to find out the cause of my inability to enjoy such a popular piclure I had to blame "filmindia" which has opened my eyes to Cinedom and has taught me how to take milk only out of a milk-water mixture. But for "filmindia" I could have enjoyed the picture with the same zesl like the masses. POONA. //. Bannerjee. DRY CENSORS "Some time back I went to a local cinema. In addition to the main picture, the trailer of "Hawai Insan", a stunt picture was shown. The trailer -tailed with the sentence "Based on Mahatma Gandhi and Netaji's principles" and immediately Mahatma Gandhi's bust appeared on the screen. As the head faded out a fist appeared and smashed a man in the usual stunt manner. So slow was the fade-oul thai Mahatmaji's head still persisted in vision and it appeared, al the moment, thai the blow was aimed at Mahatmaji's head. I was It a l<>\< tcene \> i ill a tree in between Sliyani and \aseem in "Chandni Raul' produced by Tuj Muhal Pictures. at a loss to understand if there could be any relationship between Mahatmaji's principles and a cheap stunt picture. "This is just one instance of how the Indian film industry is glorifying the Father of the Nation. Such examples, unfortunately, are not rare. In "Khidki", for instance, about a dozen good-time-girls are shown singing "Mohe la de chunaria khadi ki, Jai bolo Mahatma Gandhi ki". To put life into the song the Director has chosen the movement of their breasts which is sometimes faster than the Mow of words from their lips. To nationalise the scene, the National Flag fans the glamour parade! "1 have nothing to say to our producers and directors. They have their own conception of art and entertainment. They have always looked at the world from a box-office window and have seen art through a loafer's eyes, gazing at the screen from the 1 anna benches. But what about our censors? I understand that their function is lo see the defects and foresee the effects and objections that may crop up. "I am sure that if this state of affairs continues, a prostitute may be shown singing the National Anthem in a "Mujra" and the censor people will just dip their pens in Scotch \\ hiskv and sign the film "Passed". "In case the censor and the film producers are members of the same family. I have to knock at Sardar Patel's door. \\ hv this mass degradation ?" DKHKA DUN. Kedar Mandira. SURPRISED ? "Kapurchand released "Sajan". a Filmistan picture, recently in this town. You must be aware that the picture contains some footage wherein our National Flag is shown and while the Hag is shown there is a mass song and in that song there is a line that 'We shall go and capture Delhi". This picture was released on the eve of the Hyderabad police action and two local Urdu dailies here warned the distributor and exhibitor that the complete song and National Flag should be cut from this picture 67