FilmIndia (Feb-Dec 1949)

ne, 1949 FILM INDIA j es who own such attractive cinema 1 ldings. Many of us can pay I 1|5| if some of these millionies dress themselves in rags and 1 . That would be for them a i less shameful act." |CKXOW. B. K. Ghosh. READ BY ALL! feel immensely glad to read t letters submitted by some of the glisters to Filmindia, supporting I Editorial article "National Suite". I had the impression that imindia was a popular magazine ly among the public. But when law March ?49 issue. I had to re ■ ? that impression and admit that tvas popular among our ministers mo. It is not enough if Filmindia iws the attention of only a few ■ listers but all the ministers of t nation should make it a habit I go through every issue and they jguld take every possible step to lirove the film industry and make i erve well the needs of the nation." P. V. Kuppusivamy. ■ ICHINOPOLY. WHY PATRONIZE? The local 'Cayathri Talkies' i\ich boasts of being the only theaI in the city to possess a plastic seen and which is the only theatre le where English pictures alone 8 shown, also seems to vie with jeer theatres in erecting twin seats tn in passages obstructing free ■tvement in the 8 ps. class, and Manorama. with the Indian made "I sha" -«'«in« machine, in a typically Indian domestic situation in "Anchal", a social story of Bhupendra Pictures. 8 ruit Mrs. W. Lancelot, c|o "filmo a" can sing very well, is good at d cine and is easier to work on the screen. also in issuing more tickets than the available accommodation on rush days and placing chairs in every possible space blockading all movement, especially during the interval when to go out and come back becomes the greatest ordeal. "The sad plight of the film fans, huddled together like mangoes in a basket of hay. can very well be imagined when it is also made known that there are no fans for the 8 as. and the lower classes. Ts this not exploitation with capital E. this theatre being: a residential house converted into a theatre and ventilation being anything but satisfactory?" MYSORE. A. N. Narayana Rao. HIGHER PRICES! "The poor man heaved a sigh of relief when the golden rays of freedom lighted up the domes and minarets of India after a long era of slaverv and he dreamt of a future when he would get sufficient to eat and to wear. Rut all his high hopes have faded away and. to add insult to the injury, the people's government have joined hands with the capitalists in the mass exploitation of our already poor people. A glaring example of this is found in Kanpur, where the (Government have permitted the cinema owners to increase the third class admission prices from -'5' to '86 per ticket. "The labourers and the lower middle-class men. who form the ma jority of the city's population, had begun taking increasing interest in films and were thus considerably saved from the influence of such vices as drinking and gambling. His budget is alreadv heavilv taxed by inflated prices, increased postal rates and enhanced railway fares and hence this increase in cinema admissions is unbearable for him. "Will the Government and the greedv capitalists explain this exploitation of the poor?" KANPUR. Vrs.Pista Devi Jaipuria. SELLING THEM! "In your March issue in reply to a question you have written that vou considered spinning as a waste of time. That indeed is a surprise ! 1 thought spinning yarns was your very profession !" NEW DELHI. Miss V. Mehta. COMPULSORY NEWS! "Only the local Elite Cinema shows the 'Indian News Review . Many other cinemas like Lighthouse. Metro, New Empire etc., are still behind and have not so far felt the desirability of moving with the times. "Indian News Review" is a worthy attempt of our Government to give news and although it is not a* trood as the foreign newsreels. it de-erves fullest co-operation. If exhibitors are not co-operating I think the Government should make it compulsory 71