FilmIndia (Feb-Dec 1949)

FILMINDIA March, l1 the light of our present freedom these acts of rebellion now look like just so many anti-social crimes and have the evil potency of training the mass mind in preparing for a bloody revolution in our country which the communists, the socialists, the sanghites have in their mind. Such pictures will make probably a greater contribution to the carrying out of the violent and anti-national programme than any politician can through the press or the platform. "I congratulate the Editor of the "filmindia" in boldly bringing out the salient defects of the so-called patriotic pictures to the notice of the leaders, in whose hand the destiny of the nation now rests, and hope steps may be taken to take out from such pictures the evil sting they have, in the name of 1942 revolution. Large publicity should be given to this aspect of these pictures so that the mass mind is not poisoned by them; else while the man in the cinema business will fatten on the weakness of the people, the country will go to wreck and ruin. "1 had an occasion of going through the January 1949 issue of the paper and to me it appears to portray to the readers ably the evil consequences of cinema shows. Both the cinema magnates and the country at large will profit by such portrayals and I wish the magazine a prosperous career in its pursuit." "Degrade our historic struggle" says the Hon. Mr. Nityanand Kanungo, Minister for Law, Government of Orissa. The Hon. Mr. Mtiyan;iml KanungO 44 "I cannot claim to judge artistic merits of films as 1 have seen very few of them. But it does hurt me and many others, to see the unique character of our struggle for liberation vulgarised in their presentation in some of the films that I have seen. The deep significance of our struggle was in its novel feature of nonviolence and though many of us like me could practise it very imperfectly, yet neither the country nor the individuals were ever proud of their shortcomings. Stunts and sensations degrade the portrayal of our historic STRUGGLE and I hope profit-seekers should leave alone this theme." "Exploiting prevailing popular sentiment" says the Hon. Mr. V. Kurmayya, Minister for Harijan Uplift, the Government of Madras. "I have read with deep interest your spirited editorial article in the "filmindia" for January 1949 under the caption "National Suicide' . 1 am an occasional picture-goer but keenly enjoy reading the "filmindia". easily one of the most delightful picture magazines in the country. I fear that the average picture-producer in this country like any other foreign producer is essentially a business man who seeks to exploit the prevailing popular sentiment for money-making and does not bother about the ultimate and indirect effects such as you emphasize. I heard it said that crime in America increased to sensational proportions as a result of serials which were once the vogue. But surely out of the millions who witnessed these serials only a microscopic section with criminal mind tried to fashion their methods after the manner of the stunts depicted in these early American motion pictures." "Praiseworthy attempt" says His Excellency Mr. M.S. Aney, the Governor of Bihar. "Your attempt to raise the level of the pictures and carry on a continuous propaganda in favour of it is no doubt praiseworthy." "Maintain high level of culture" says the Hon. Mr. T.S. Avinashilingam, Minister for Education, Government of Madras. The Hon. Mr. T. S. Avinashilingai "The great problem facing film industry is raising the level the pictures. The fact that many our people see the films all over province is itself a reason that should be maintained in as higr level as possible. I would like point out that entertainment can combined with higher life and it not necessary to stoop down a create lower tastes to provide good entertainment. I understa many of the producers are also ; xious to co-operate in the producti of films of better quality. But help them to produce higher fih it is the duty of the Board of G sors to see that films with low tas do not get an undue advantage. Co plaints have been made by pro< cers that want of strict action behalf of censors with regard voluptuous and low films makes difficult for them to produce higl films. "God willing, we shall create hardy and a great people in t country. Pandering to lower tas is not the best way of creating sti a people. It shall be our duty see that in all aspects of our da life, we should maintain a high le' of culture." "Inflaming their passions says the Hon. Mr. R.K. Pal Food Minister, Government Central Provinces. "I have read the editorial artii "National Suicide . I am afn nol having seen personally the fil referred to therein 1 am unable