FilmIndia (Feb-Dec 1949)

FILMINDlA The comment in "filmindia" is absolutely well-meant and does not in any way bring the whole Jewish race into contempt. It is always the few who compromise the fair name of any community and I think it is the duty of institutions, like yours, to improve these few in the general interest of the community. I do not propose to answer your letter paragraph by paragraph as a lot can be said on both sides but doing so will only lend bitterness to the whole affair. In fairness to your community I am quite willing to publish your letter and my reply to it in the next issue if you let me do so before the 17th instant. After that it can go in the August issue. Personally, however, I do not advise this procedure as other readers are likely to take up the subject and turn it into an unpleasant controversy which, with filmindia's countrywide circulation, won't be a good advertisement to us all, as Indian people, irrespective of our different religious and racial creeds. If the explanation given above does not satisfy you, you are at perfect liberty to take whatever steps you deem fit. In the meantime permit me to lodge a protest against the offensive tone of your letter which, I am sorry to observe, does not do justice to the proverbial wisdom of the Jews. Permit me to quote here your own proverb: "When the wise is angry he is wise no longer" (Talmud)". Baburao Patel (No further correspondence about this affair will be entertained from the readers. Editor.) DIRTY WORK! "In spite of so many protests published in "filmindia" against the exploitation of Gandhiji's name in the show business, some film folks have not yet stopped this unholy practice. "The other day I saw in Madras, at all prominent places, big film posters displaying the picture of Gandhiji raising both his hands and calling on the people to go to see a Tamil film named "Nalla Thambi", in which our Madras buffoons, Krishnan and Mathuram, are featuring. The picture is being shown simultaneously in three theatres in the city. Thus the picture of Gandhiji is ex 70 ploited to induce the people to see this comic film; consequently the three theatres are running to packed houses and reaping a bumper harvest. "What do you say to this?" A. Najmunnisa Begum. MELVISHARAM. SOLDIER'S PROTEST! "I have read your article an 'Appeal to General Cariappa' with great interest. I have also had occasion to see the picture which provoked you to write this article. "I do not know what the General has to say about it. Nevertheless please accept our best wishes in your campaign. "Soldiers are the greatest asset of a free country. Such scandal as portrayed in these films will make no difference to us. We shall go on doing our duty. But remember ridiculing true men is a risky game. Let them take a warning in time. "For not only is there a possibility of the foreigners laughing at us, there is a probability of our own men being misled. "I hope your appeal succeeds". 2/Lt. R. N. Sahgal, R.I.A. JHANSI. "MELA! MELA!" "The other day my misfortune took me to see 'Mela' and I was greatly shocked to see the distorted portrayal of the chivalrous qualities of our Fighting Forces through the characterization of Maiku (played by Jeevan). His lean and lanky figure, his tottering gait, his round about references to the starvation meals supplied to our recruits in the military and other monkey antics devoid of all etiquette, discipline and decency are a very bad and serious reflection upon the glorious name and traditions of our worldfamous men-at-arms. "The depth of demoralization to which he sinks and the deceitful part played by him in striving for the separation of the two lovers are simply abhorring and are a blot on the fair, noble and dignified status of our soldiers. "Mr. Patel, how harmful this painting of character of our military Jawans can be to our 'Join the Forces' campaign and what impressions such portrayal creates on the minds of our younger generation and future warriors, can only imagined rather than describe DELHI. Prakash Sha< ANOTHER SOLDIER' PROTEJ "In May issue when I read ] article, under the heading "Api to General Cariappa", I was re wondering as to how you got time to write something in def of your own soldiers, because th the first time, since I started rea< "filmindia", that you have wn something for soldiers. Well, Patel, I thank you whole hearti for this favour. "At the same time I would likj say that one article will not at our producers. They need a g hammering. Our producers caw go on slandering and disgracing1 Jawans, who play with death smil ly for their country and for the sa of millions. But who is to be bl ed for all this? Well I can loudly, the Censors. They are I people who allow this slandering soldiers by passing such pictures! Jem. V. Sagar Walters Aw] JAMMU. DAMN DIRTY "In old times filmgoers usedl retain a counterpart of the athj sion ticket whilst entering the a torium. "But nowadays so many ciii' hall proprietors of Andhra II (especially Guntur and Bezwa! have been adopting a different thod. They take the entire ticket I out giving us a counterpart and a collecting a number of such ticl they sell the same for the secj show. In this manner the gov] ment lose the tax and the distrl tors lose much of their daily coB tions. "What do you think of this d| business?" GUNTUR. P. R. Moh TAKE IT, PANDIT INDRA! , "In Gemini's 'Chandralekha', tl are songs which smack of rank I giary on the part of your fria Pandit Indra, whom you regard one of the best writers of the 1 industry. "His 'Saanjha ki bela. jiya ak is an imitation of 'Saanjha ki b panchhi akela' of Bombay Tain 'Jwar Bhata' and his 'man bhawan sawan ava re' is the same a$l "Bandhan",