poets and pancakes Flashcards
What does the writer mean by ‘the fiery misery’ of those subjected to make-up?
The make-up room had incandescent lights at all angles. These lights gave fiery heat.Sitting in the make-up room with these lights was sitting near furnace. It was a fiery misery that the boys and girls had to endure.
What is the example of national integration that the author refers to?
The make-up department included people from all parts of India. Initially, a Bengali headed it. He was succeeded by a Maharashtrian who was assisted by a Dharwar Kannadiga, an Andhra, Madras Indian Christian, an Anglo-Burmese and the local Tamils. So it presented a picture of national integration.
What work did the ‘office boy’ do in the Gemini Studios? Why did he join the studios?
Why was he disappointed?
The office boy painted the faces of the actors who acted as the crowd. He had joined the studios years ago with the hope of becoming a star actor or a top screenplay writer,
being wasted.
director or lyricist. However, he was disappointed as he felt his great literary talent was
Why did the author appear to be doing nothing at the studios?
The writer used to sit at his desk and cut newspaper clippings. So everyone thought that he was doing nothing.
Why was the office boy frustrated? Who did he show his anger on?
The office boy had the belief that he possessed a great literary talent. He was frustrated
as his talent had not been recognised and he was given work fit only for barbers and perverts. He showed his anger on Kothamangalam Subbu who was No. 2 at Gemini Studios. The office boy thought that Subbu was responsible for this neglect.
Who was Subbu’s principal?
The boss of the Gemini Studios was Subbu’s principal.
Subbu is described as a many-sided genius. List four of his special abilities.
a Subbu had the ability to keep cheerful every time.
b He was tailor-made for films,
(0) He could completely identify himself with his principal.
(d) He possessed a great poetic talent.
Why was the legal adviser referred to as the opposite by others?
Others referred to him as ‘illegal adviser’ as he did not help others. On the contrary, he created legal hurdles for others.
. What made the lawyer stand out from the others at Gemini Studios?
Every member of the story department where the lawyer worked wore khadi dhoti and an oversized khadi kurta. However, the lawyer wore pants and a tie. Sometimes, he even wore a coat. Thus, he looked different from others.
Did the people at Gemini Studios have any particular political affiliations?
They did not have any particular political affiliations. However, they were averse to communism.
Why was the Moral Rearmament Army welcomed at the Studios?
The Moral Rearmament Army was welcomed as they presented two plays in the most professional manner. The staff of the Gemini Studios used to have a nice time hosting two hundred people of at least twenty nationalities.
Give one example to show that Gemini Studios was influenced by the plays staged by MRA.
The MRA depicted beautiful scenes of sunrise and sunset in their play, “Jotham Valley”.
The studios were greatly impressed by these scenes, and imitated it for years to come.
Who was the boss of Gemini Studios?
, Mr Vasan was the boss of Gemini Studios.
. What caused the lack of communication between the Englishman and the people at
Gemini Studios?
The audience at Gemini Studios did not understand what the Englishman talked about
as his accent was different.
Why is the Englishman’s visit referred to as unexplained mystery?
The Englishman had been a poet. It became quite difficult to understand as to why he had come in a film studio that made Tamil films for simple people. They could have no taste for English poetry. The author even thinks that the Englishman too was baffled by this incongruity,
. Who wus the English visitor to the studios?
The English visitor to the studios was a poet called Stephen Spender.
How did the author discover who the English visitor to the studios was?
A notice came out in the Hindu announcing a short story contest organised by a British periodical named The Encounter. The writer wanted to join the contest. As he had no idea of the periodical, he went to the British Council Library. There he located The Encounter: Its editor was Stephen Spender: Immediately, he realised that Stephen Spender was the poet who had visited Gemini Studios.
What does ‘The God that Failed’ refer to?
“The God that Failed” is a collection of six essays by separate men of letters. They portray about the writers’ visits into Communism and their disillusioned return.
The author has used gentle humour to point out human foibles. Pick out instances of this to show how this serves to make the piece interesting.
The office boy depicts an example of a man who had been in the studios for years, but did not rise. However, all the time he dreamt of becoming a star actor or director or lyrics writer. This was not a mere dream. His talent seemed to be all rolled in one. He thought himself to be a poet who could write long poems and pestered the author by reciting his boring poems to him. He often used to complain that his talent went waste in the make-up department as it was fit for only barbers and perverts. The author only prayed that shooting went on all the time, so the office boy was busy and did not have time to recite his poems to him. Oddly enough, he held Subbu responsible for his neglect. In reality, he was frustrated and required someone to direct his anger to.
Why was Kothamangalam Subbu considered No. 2 in Gemini Studios?
Though Kothamangalam Subbu had been a member of the story department, he had always been seen with the boss. The boss gave him prominence as he was a talented person. Subbu’s opinion was taken on every problem. Subbu was always ready with suitable suggestions and with him film making was not a problem.
How does the author describe the incongruity of an English poet addressing the Refer
audience at Gemini Studios?
The Gemini Studios’ films were for simple folks in Tamil. These movie-goers were not Read 1
expected to develop a taste for English poetry. The author did not understand what an English poet was doing in Gemini Studios. Further surprise was that even the boss knew very little about the Englishman as his speech was mostly in general terms. Englishman’s speech baffled everybody as his accent made it difficult for them to understand what he said. Even the Englishman perhaps felt baffled by the incongruity of his presence among an unexplained mystery.
What do you understand about the author’s literary inclinations from the account?
This story tells that the author had the capability of writing in gentle satire. His job had been to cut newspaper clippings on wide variety of subjects. It gave him an opportunity to read a lot and know a lot. He had been a prose writer and sent his articles and stories to several newspapers. He even sent a short story to The Encounter to take part in the contest. Being a good reader, he did not give up his habit even after he had retired. He saw a low-priced book ‘The God that Failed’ and purchased a copy to read immediately.
Film-production today has come a long way from the early days of the Gemini Studios.
Nowadays, film production is more technical than before. Earlier, only five per cent of the shooting was done outdoors, but nowadays outdoor shooting is no more limited to such a negligible percentage. The cameras and other equipment are more advanced.
This makes the presentation more varied and accurate. Even the quality of make-up has improved a lot from the days of the Gemini Studios, where only pancake was used.
Nowadays, the people involved in various departments are experts in their specialised work, be it the director, producer, scriptwriter, lyricist or the actors.
1 Poetry and filmsIn India, poetry and films are intricately linked. The people at Gemini Studios claimed to have the talents of a poet because it was part of their monotonous and leisurely life at the studios. However, they were not knowledgeable or educated to be poets. Films can be enjoyed by people with little resources, unlike poetry.
2 Humour and criticism
