FilmIndia (1946)

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 they carry weight because they are written by a man who knows his job. WHY BLAME MR. MORARJI? Backed by the State, American films in future will not only popularize Yankee slang but also sell [Yankee products and glamourize the Yankee way of llife all over the world. Top-line statesmen like President Truman, Secretary James Byrnes, Assistant Secretary Will JClayton and even the Ex-secretary Henry Wallace f have all assured Hollywood's film industry the State's official support and as a result motion pictures are expected to play a major role in the forth1 1 coming international trade conferences. Films, ostensibly produced for entertainment, will carry subtle sales talk to widen the markets for American products and luxuries. Large scale plans have already been made, of course in consultation with President Truman, to "sell America" overseas as effectively as possible till the Yankee dream of engulfing the world is finally achieved. Whether through the 16 mm channel or through the normal 35 mm films, American pictures in future will be selling something to the world, be it chewing gum or the way of moving the jaws whilst chewing it. If all this stops the dirty tobacco chewing and spitting habit prevalent in India, Yankee pictures will have done us some good at least. While this leading "democratic'' state is thus forging large-scale plans for trade domination, accepting the film as the most powerful medium of propaganda, Rai Bahadur Chuni Lall, the Ex-president of the Indian Motion Picture Producers' Association, after his first visit to the Home Minister of the Bombay Government had some reasons to tell his colleagues: "In view of the general attitude of the Ministry towards the industry, it was not likely that personal representations would be of much avail." What the genial Rai Bahadur, however, has failed to realize is the most important fact that there is a world of difference between the Hollywood productions and the Indian ones, between the Hollywood producers and the Indian ones and between the Hollywood film industry and the Indian film industry. The Rai Bahadur cannot expect a responsible popular minister, like Mr. Morarji Desai, to give a willing ear to the selfish and one-sided demands of irresponsible, uneducated and uncultured producers who have not produced a single picture worthy of our national traditions during the last 30 years. If there had been one picture to show as a milestone of some ideals, we are sure Mr. Morarji would have listened patiently to all the grievances of the Indian producers. On the other hand, every decent filmgoer in the country has a million reasons to wish the worst to our present day film producers, seeing the way they have consistently distorted and abused our cultural, historical and social traditions in their productions during the last 30 years. Where we need state help is in framing and enforcing a production code which will describe as exactly as possible what the people expect from the Indian film industry. Our popular ministers have to begin overhauling our film industry right from the very base and there will be plenty of time to go before film producers qualify themselves to ask for special privileges from the state. People have to deserve first before they desire. WE NEED MORE THEATRES! Talking of films and the State, we are reminded of the recent deputation of our film people which waited upon Home Minister Morarji Desai. The deputation wanted the Government to sanction the building of new theatres in the city and other places Mumtaz Shanti is looking more attractive these days than ever before. Here she is in "Padmini", the second social story of Producer Walli Saheb. 9