Radio age research, manufacturing, communications, broadcasting, television (1941)

Radio and Films In India Fazalbhoij. of Bombay. Reports Great Prospects for Extension of Broad- castinq and Motion Pictures — Sees Vast Opportunities for Education. INDIA'S film industry has plans for a great step-by-step expan- sion after the war to help educate the country's illiterate masses, ac- cording to M. Akbar Fazalbhoy, managing director of RCA Photo- phone Equipments, Ltd., of Bom- bay, who recently came to the United States in the interest of Indian motion picture producers, distributors and manufacturers. Mr. Fazalbhoy, who was a mem- ber of the Indian delegation at the International Business Conference, held at Rye, N. Y., in January, re- ported that RCA equipment will play an important part in the proj- ect, which envisages the building and operation of 1,000 additional film houses in India during the next four years. Eventually, he disclosed, the Indian film industry hopes to have 10.000 motion picture theatres and touring units to bring films to all urban and rural sectors of the country. At the present time, Mr. Fazal- bhoy declared, India's 400,000,000 men and women are served by less than 2,000 film houses, as compared with 17.000 in this country of a third that population. The plan calls, first, for an expansion to 3,000 cinemas; then an increase to 5,000 in another four- or five-year period, and a further boost of 5,000 possibly within fifteen years after the war. Also incorporated in the expan- sion, he revealed, are plans for the increase of motion picture produc- tion to service these show places. It would require the annual produc- tion of 300 feature films, 104 in- structional shorts and 52 weekly newsreels. Each film house pro- gram, as now outlined, would con- sist of a feature film, a short, and a newsreel. In carrying out this program, India needs the help of the Ameri- can motion picture industry, Mr. Fazalbhoy said. In addition to training Indian technicians, skilled American experts could assist in setting up factories in India for the manufacture of everything required for the production and projection of motion pictures. Task of the Film Industry The Indian film industry, accord- ing to the visitor, recognizes that it has a task to perform in bringing Indian art, learning, and culture not only to its own people but to people in other countries throughout the world. There exists a need to offset inaccurate and perhaps strange no- tions of India harbored by people in other countries. For this reason, it is planned to produce films in the English language for international trade. The progress of visual education in this country, Mr. Fazalbhoy de- clared, illustrates the vast opportu- nities for the education of the In- dian masses by use of motion pic- tures in school systems throughout that country. Though the Indian film industry is planning for greater post-war ex- pansion, it was pointed out that India is now the second largest pro- ducer of films in the world, second architect's drawing of new RCA HEADQUARTERS IN BOMBAY, INDIA. M. A. FAZALBHOY (CENTER) AND A FRIEND ARE SHOWN THROUGH NBC'S TELEVISION STUDIO BY FRED BATE, MAN- AGER OF NBC's INTERNATIONAL DIVISION. only to the United States. Produc- tion amounts to about 150 films a year, compared to 400 produced in America and 60 in Great Britain. Service men of the U. S., who are stationed in India are showing much interest in the India of today, Mr. Fazalbhoy reported, describing it as an interest that will be com- municated to their families at home. In this connection he disclosed, a film is now in production at the Temple of Art in Bombay which he feels will be a contribution to Indo- American understanding. This film is "The Story of Dr. Kotnis," a saga of a young man who left his obscure little Indian town to serve human- ity in war-torn China. American Films Featured The popularity of American films in India is growing, and some are playing to turn-away crowds. Mr. Fazalbhoy said that Indian pro- ducers are looking forward particu- larly to the making of technicolor films. But he described the theater equipment situation as deplorable in India, asserting that only a scant amount has been available for civil- ian trade. One of his missions to this country was to set up with American governmental agencies new theater equipment quotas for export to India. [RADIO AGE 15]