FilmIndia (1946)

M/oe5 & Echoes ( 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 "Hoes And Echoes". Photographs of the readers will be published along with theit letters, if convenient. — The Editor.) JUST TAMASHA 'The picture 'Lakharani' has some splendid settings, attractive costumes and eyefilling dances. But what a horing theme it is! "Bhagwan, Bhagwan and Bhagwan they harp on until at last Lord and Lady Bhagwan come out of the temple, give a demonstration of their dancing and put an end to the tamasha. "And what does it teach us? — fanaticism, superstition, starvation and lamentation, as if India is not already sufficiently imbued with all these maudlin tomfooleries — as if the 194" cine-goers are all ninnies and nitwits. "And what a nonsensical story it is! When the king— who by the way looks like a bumpkin orders Lakha to be tied to horse-back, the prince, her ardent lover, does no: at all make any protest or attempt to prevent this outrage on his beloved. And then he goes laughing to her place and plays with her as if nothing wrong was done to her. And the intoxicated horse, instead of going astray, runs straight to the temple. And when the crowd at the temple see their beloved young Rani tied to horse-back, thev all simply laugh and rejoice. Not a single person in the crowd, not even her "mother Rani Ma, appears surprised or perturbed at her pitiable plight on the horseback; nor does anyone inquire as to why she was so tied and who did it etc. And when Lakha is married .0 the prince, the atheist king offers to bestow 'Ash;rvad' (benediction) on the bride! Howcan an atheist ever think o! 'Ashirvad' which is a solemn prayer for divine blessing "What do you think of this crude and preposterous story?" A. Najmunnisa Bellini. MELVISHARAM RACKETEERING "Recently at the local 'Minerva Talkies', we find a regular nuisance of uoondas. During the run of "Pannadai" goondas entered the Reserve Class and pulled out members of the audience and maltreated them. We had no course except to leave the theatre in the midst of the show. The representative of the Distributor had to shut himself in a room. The same incident has been again repeated during the run of "Rattan." tin c ar rent attraction at the theatre. People are coerced and maltreated for purchasing tickets from the booking office. Yesterday a free fight ensued. All these things are happening under the very eyes of the management. The manager, for reasons best known to him, does not come out of his room. We fervently believe that you will lend your kind advice in this matter." NAGPUR. Yogishchandra Kamara UNFORTUNATE WE "A few days back, with a great ileal of ballyhoo a film was ushered in at our town with the improbable title: "Chal Chal re Naujawan." I request you to let me know whether we, the hhngoers, whose guide, philosopher and friend you are, cannot seek the Government's protection against this kind of infliction. The Government seem to be ready enough to obs.ruct honest enterprise and discourage ge-i nuine service; why then do they feel diffident to prevent ruch crimes. in. celluloid? Or is it the deliberate policy of the Government to encourage the worst type of Indian enterprise so as to discredit us? I shouldn't wonder. 1 Put what I cannot understand is j why our producers, some of them undoubtedly of lair intelligence, purvey us this stuff and deliberately throw us into the arms of foreign producers, j Was there no actor born in India since Motilal grew bald nor music ! director after Pankaj Mallick? Mus; I we for ever watch the Motilal grimace and for ever listen to the banalities of | Ghulam Haider? Must we for e\Ter bemoan "the glory that was Saigal and the grandeur that was Pankaj"? MANGALORE. S. R. Kunjoor. OUR MUSIC "It is with regret, sorrow and] remorse that one has sometimes to , hear and listen to unbearable music on the Indian screen. Music as de-i lined by Brougham is 'an art which streng.hens the bonds o! civilized so Here is a rather humorous situation from "Gvalan", a social story written, produced and directed by Mr. Baburao Patel and starring Sushila Rani. Si