FilmIndia (1946)

( 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 "Woes And Echoes". Photographs of the readers will be published along with theit letters, if convenient. — The Editor. ) LEAVE ME ALONE! 'May I take the liberty of congratulating you on your frank and outspoken review of the much-talked-of Shantaram's "Dr. Kotnis Ki Amar Kahani." "Almost all the film journals of India have declared I some even before the release of the picture!) that "Dr. Kotnis" is one of the greatest and most wonderful productions (and advised their readers to see it till they die! I, but your bold and spirited review lias given us a timely warning about the 'unholy' tactics adopted by Mr. Shantaram and his tribe. 'When we achieve our longdeserved independence, we would force the Govt, of the day to honour you as our National Film Advisor, but. till then. Mr. Patel. you carry with you the goodwishes and confidence of thousands of admirers in your sincere efforts to promote the industry." BANGALORE. N. S. V. Chalam. SENTIMENTAL AWARD "Mr. Patel, can anybody ever dream of voting "Parbat Pe Apna Dera" as the best Hindustani picture of 194o° Yet the Bengal Film Journalists have made that award. Have the Bengalis lost their artistic instinct for which they were noted or have they stooped to satisfy their baser instinct leaving aside their cultural traditions? In my opinion, it is nothing short of a slander on our film industry. What opinion will a foreigner form of our films if he is misled by this report, into seeing that rotten and immoral picture "Parbat Pe Apna Dera?" V. K. Fazlur Rahman BANGALORE. SHOWMANSHIP, EH? "Almost all the cinema halls here at Delhi, whether with a royal hall or a third-rate dungeon have been repainted and overhauled with the exception of one and that is "Majestic." "It can brieflv be described as a "Hall of Pillars". Instead of facing the screen one faces the pillars on 1-12 seats. "Advance booking is ridiculous too. If you get a ticket three days in advance you are not guaranteed a particular seat at all because neither the seats nor the tickets are numbered. And, hence you get a seat opposite to a pillar. "I wonder why a picture house in the Capital of India and of a good repute is jeopardizing its reputation deliberately. "The authorities have already been requested, though in vain, to either remove the pillars or if this is costly to at least remove the chairs from the places where one feels uncomfortable in seeing a picture due to these pillars." NEW DELHI. S. A. Malik. WAIT A LITTLE "I think it is time that the wartime exorbitant rates of admissions to picture houses are brought down to the normal pre-war scale. A serious economic depression has overtaken our country due to large-scale unemployment and a terrible famine is on its way, if not really in our midst. A delegation of "brains" has recently left India to beg food for our people and we have yet to see how far they succeed. "Will you kindly take up the cause of the poor film-goers and urge for an immediate revision of rates?" N. S. V. Chalam BANGALORE. ONCE BITTEN TWICE SHY "Inspite of your adverse criticism of the picture 'Chand' I went to see it as my niece was very insistent but on seeing the picture I came back utterly dejected. The picture is really a hopeless affair. There is not the slightest probability in the picture from beginning to end. The humour is not civilized. An actor like Prem Adib who acted marvellously in other pictures like 'Ram Rajya' seems to have lost his talent. MEERUT. Rajendra Kumar. Shobha and Kanu Roy get a light moment together picture of Filmistan Ltd. 'Safar' 51