FilmIndia (1946)

FILM INDIA November, 1946 Bose, Phani Mazumdjar, Sushil Mazumdar, Pahari Sanyal, K. C. Dcy and others have unwittingly committed themselves to be commercialised by coming over to this Bombay where Art is controlled by Mammon, and have successfully managed to tar their gifts of Art which shone so well in their mother province? Perhaps this lure of Gold is a sure bait to expose one's innate grossness. Well, if you hold the same opinion as I do, will you please take the trouble to bring to their notice that they will show at least some sense of art and sobriety if they 'Quit' Film India without further exhibitions of their degeneration?" Manoranjan Dutta. BOMBAY. HELP YOURSELVES "The management of Moti Talkies where Jayant Desai's "Maharana Pratap" is being exhibited has been good enough to remove some of the portions of this film to which objection was being taken. It is necessary that these features are removed altogether from the picture prior to its despatch to other places for exhibition in order to avoid unpleasantness. Will you please help?" Ved Parkash Varma. NEW DELHI. CADS NOT SHOWMEN "A few lines in your esteemed magazine will ventilate my grievance about a local cinema; better call it 'Prostitute's Corner'. The proprietors of this theatre are generally seen sipping tea with local prostitutes in first class. This is not objectionable, I admit. But objectionable is the abusive and filthy conversation passing between them from the very beginning of the film up to the end. I have often been embarrassed by these incidents in the presence of the young members of my family. Is it not an awful experience for the ladies sitting there? Besides, as soon as some ladies enter, they begin all sorts of queer whistling sounds, thundering laughter, hungry looks and filthy language. When the lights are off and the picture is started, ripe bananas and burnt cigarettes are thrown over them. Don't you think Mr. Patel, if these unhealthy practices continue, one day we shall have to clamour for separate theatres for the ladies?" (For the present, I have dropped the name of the theatre to give the showman a chance. Let me know if the same behaviour continues in future and I shall print his name in bold letters. — The Editor.) Miss Shnhzadi Firdosi. PATNA CITY. YOUR SAY ''With great pain I am writing my feelings to you, that "Marvvaries" have been used as a target of humour in every story of the film world. They are being shown in a manner very insulting and disgraceful to a community. The community is a leading link between India's commerce and her people. Why don't you help to stop this through •filmindia"? Satyanarain Singhania. BIRATNAGAB, SEX IN MUSIC "Play-back in films has become 60 prevalent these days that I wonder if there are any stars who "sing" their own songs barring rare exceptions like Sushila Rani and Kanan Devi. The result is that we prefer to hear the songs from a gramophone record or a radio instead of from the pictures because we know that the singer on the screen is not really singing. "But even the comfort of hearing the songs is spoiled to a great extent by these play-back singers appearing on the screen. Take, for instance, Amirbai Karnataki. Her voice is quite good but whenever I hear her songs in the radio, her bulky, unfeminine figure comes to my mind and I cease to appreciate her music. If she had stayed away from the screen, like Juthika Ray, I would have liked her singing better. Is there no method to prevent such figures coming to the screen?" R. N. Prasad. MALLESWARAM. WELL, MOBED! "Some time back the District Magistrate of Karachi promulgated an ordinance warning the public to form queues at the Cinemas otherwise severe action would be taken against them. "But I am surprised to say that the rule is observed in the breach than in adherence. For one Wednesday, the 9th instant, in the first show, at Second-class ticket window side, some Makrani employees of the Paradise Cinema allowed their brethren Makrani Badagirs to get into the line thereby breaking the queue. We protested to one member of the staff wlio came there to issue Coupons (the system is: those holding Coupons get the tickets) hut he did not pay any heed to the complaints; probably he was also in league with Padagirs. Thus the padagirs got a number of tickets and immediately started black-marketing. "Why can't the management >top this? Do they realize that they themselves are breaking the law and abetting black-market? "One more thing please! During the war the management of Paradise cut out three rows of Second class accommodation and incorporated them with the First-class. The plea given was that they wanted to accommodate U. S. Military personnel. Now those conditions do not prevail and it is high time that they should restore those three rows of seats to Mie film going public. "I hope Khan Sahib Mobed will do the needful." KARACHI 3. M. K. Mani. WAIT A LITTLE "Is it not a shame, Mr. Patel, that almost all Indian Theatres end their shows with the British National Anthem? When the show is over, either the English King appears or the Union Jack flies and the tune comes piercing the Indian ears. It is high time that our exhibitors realize the ridiculous farce of this wounding custom and put a stop to it as early as they can. The Indian prefers to have his own National Anthem ringing in his ears as he slowlv leaves the theatre." BOMBAY 4. T. J. Thomas. WHY BOTHER? "Your review of "Shah Jehan" has aroused much discussion 74