FilmIndia (Feb-Dec 1949)

'Stop Selling Patriotism" Say India's Ministers! (We reproduce below some of the letters which we have received from our popular leaders in response to our editorial article, "National Suicide", which appeared in the January 1949 issue of "filmindia". These opinions carry \weight because they are from people in office and film pro\ducers would do well to read them carefully and revise \their production schedules.) "Commercialising Nationasm," says the Hon. Sardar waran Singh, Home & Revenue linister of the East Punjah fovernment. The Hon. Sardar Swaran Singh I "I am at one with you in calling lit to the undignified practice of pmmercialising nationalism through lie agency of the screen. The mighty niggle involving deathless sacrifices t a whole nation to achieve political mancipation is too sacred a theme |' be exploited on a profit and loss psis. "The screen versions with scarcely ji exception present a grotesquely nbled picture of how India wrought M freedom. In the first instance no >unt is taken of the intellectual and nritual contribution made by our aders. Then undue emphasis is id on the so-called underground tivities of certain workers. It is 1 in bad taste and even dangerous i its appeal to the susceptible youth. >et us hope that such pictures are ut a passing phase and will be "ally replaced by films informed by high purpose, inspired by a noble ideal and revivified by a truly artistic and aesthetic sense. "I wish you and your excellent magazine every success." "Inculcate spirit of lawlessness", says the Hon. Capt. Ranjit Singh, Minister of Public Works, East Punjah. " I have carefully gone through the editorial article "National Suicide" in the January issue of "filmindia"' and find myself in entire agreement with the views given expression to therein. Although personally I am not by temperament fond of visiting cinema houses yet I greatly acknowledge the colossal value and importance of motion pictures in the field of education and propaganda. "The right sort of pictures. I believe, go a long way in elevating a nation but those which abound in themes of arson, loot, robbery, shooting, dislocation of communications and underground plotting, are nothing but revolting to a citizen of a free State as they inculcate in the mass mind the spirit of lawlessness. They may have some value in a slave country struggling to be free by violent means but surely they can have no place in a free and independent country pledged to 'Ahimsa'." "Contribution to violent and anti-national programme" says the Hon. Mr. Jaglal Choudhry, Minister of Public Health and Scheduled Class Welfare, the Government of Bihar. "Cinema, like intoxicating drugs, is a business which prospers on the weaknesses of the mass mind. They say intoxicants in medical doses are good for a man's health. It may or mav not be a fact. It is for the The Hon. Capt. Itanjit Singh The Hon. Mr. Jaglal Choudhury doctors to say which way the truth lies. But to all laymen it is evident that the mass mind grasps at the baser sentiment produced in a cinema show. ;Sant Tulsidas' is a religious depiction of a great saint's devotion to God incarnate as Shri Ham Chandra. Even in such an ennobling show the mass mind is attracted more to the great saint's approaches to 'Ratna'. What to say of other films where love affairs reflect all through! "The same is the case in some of the so-called patriotic productions. The mass mind has greater appeal for the romantic aspect of the show, the detailed technique of train thefts, revolver shootings, blowing up bridges, wrecking communications and general sabotage, rather than to the motive behind these bold acts of rebellion against a foreign ruler. In 43