FilmIndia (Feb-Dec 1949)

OQ5 (This is the readers' forum — as and when space permits. From the producer to the lay film-goer, every one can write to the Editor and ventilate his grievance. For every letter published in these columns, the I'ublishers will pay Rs. 5|Letters should he signed and marked "W oes And Echoes". Photographs of the readers will be published along with their fetters, if convenient. — The Editor.) "TRASH" AGAIiN "Recently I had the sad misfortune of seeing Shantaram's masterpiece "Apna Desh". Masterpiece, my foot! 1 was shocked to see the way in which a Punjabi girl was shown helping those very people who had outraged her modesty. I challenge Shantaram to show me a case where an Indian woman has thus betrayed her country. Is Shantaram ignorant of the fact thai our women were once and still are the glory of our nation and shall remain as long as history is in the making? Has he chosen to trample and molest their glory and our nation's for the sake of money? It is a disgrace to Shantaram. There can be no difference of opinion about this picture and the only opinion it leaves behind is that it is a dirty rotten picture, produced for the greed of gold." P. Lakshmana Rao. MASULIPATAM. therapeutic: value "I was a regular reader of "filmindia" since my childhood. To my misfortune. I was attacked with tuberculosis and was advised by medical authorities not to read magazines. "Luckily, one new young Medical Officer was posted to our hospital. When he saw one of the patients worrying himself about his domestic affairs and brooding over his terrible disease, the Medical Officer brought one copy of "filmindia" I August 1949) and gave it to him. On going through it, the patient has commenced commenting over the news therein and appreciating your magazine, having forgotten his agony and worries. "The following day. while enquirling about his condition, the Medical Officer asked with a smile: 'How I did you like yesterday's prescription?' and since then we are being supplied with one copy of "filmindia", monthly. "This is how, Sir, your "filmindia" has served us to allay our sufferings and to sleep by its sweet and subtle humour." MADRAS. K. Venkateswara Rmo. right: "I have greatly admired your article "Homes on Fire". I hope this will knock some sense into the brains of young girls who are crazy about lilm acting and ruin their lives in such pursuits. "Although you ha\e only treated the subject of girls being film crazv the same is true about the bovs also. Many boys have given up their -tudies and ruined careers in trying to become film heroes. " There i> another aspect of this problem a> well. There are many bogus people posing as producers and directors to take undue advantage of young boys and girls. Thev give false promises to make them heroes and heroines and end by making fools of them. Even if the young people want to join the films ihey should do so intelligently and not fall into the hands of such racketeers." SIMLA. B. N. Tikkoo. HOME FIRST! "The storv of the war bride in vour editorial of 'filmindia ol September 1949 deserves sympathy and truly speaking that is the real picture of an average Indian woman after marriage, as depicted by her. I congratulate you not only on the manner in which you have dealt with all the points arising these days between weary and hungry husbands and wives but also on the right advice that you have given to both so as to contribute to^ the building of a happy and harmonious home." DELHI. Naunihal Singh Rawat. ALL FOR A HOME! "'Your signed editorial in the September issue of "filmindia" was a remarkable masterpiece of healthy journalism. I have yet to come across in any other film journal, English or Vernacular, such a sound, creative and constructive advice as you have tendered argumentatively to those cine-crazy women, who desert their homes to adorn the screen. '"Happy families make a happy nation. If your advice is given the worth and value it deserves, many Rajaji is between the female versions of two republi) the French and the Chinese. That is a good training for a leader of a future republic. Thi9 is at the 38th anniversary of the Chinese Republic and our Governor-General is talking between Madame Levy (wife of the French Ambassador) and Madame Lo (wife of the Chinese Ambassador). Rajaji is good at such in between talks. 63