by Ashokamitran
An insight into the functioning of one of the most influential film studios of the mid-20th century.
“This gang of nationally integrated make-up men could turn any decent-looking person into a hideous crimson hued monster.”
Answer the following questions:
1) What does the writer mean by ‘the fiery misery’ of those subjected to make-up’?
The make-up room was full of lights and half a dozen mirrors that would reflect the lights. The lights were incandescent, the ones which emit light while heating. Therefore, the temperature in the make-up room would be too hot due to all these factors, and the author humorously describes the experience of actors as 'fiery misery'.
2) What is the example of national integration that the author refers to?
The make-up department of Gemini Studios was a perfect example of national integration according to the author. It was first headed by a Bengali, but after he left, a Maharashtrian person became the head. He was assisted by a Dharwar Kannadiga, an Andhra, a Madras Indian Christian, an Anglo-Burmese and the usual local Tamils. Because of the diversity of people working in the department, he called it a perfect example of national integration.
3) What work did the ‘office boy’ do in the Gemini Studios? Why did he join the studios? Why was he disappointed?
The office boy applied make-up to the actors who played as the crowd. On the days of crowd shooting, he would mix his paint in big vessels, and apply them hurriedly on the faces of the actors.
He had joined the studio with the hope of becoming a star actor, a screen writer, a director or a lyrics writer.
He was disappointed because he could not become any of them, did not progress and remained only an office boy.
4) Why did the author appear to be doing nothing at the studios?
The author's job at the Gemini Studios was to cut newspaper clippings related to various subjects and store them in files. Many of them had to be written out in hand. The other people working at the studio just noticed him tearing up newspapers and filing them. Therefore, it seemed that he was doing nothing worthwhile at the studio.
5) Why was the office boy frustrated? Who did he show his anger on?
The office boy was frustrated because despite having a good beginning, he remained only an office boy at the studio. He could not fulfill his ambitions. He had a good formal education and wrote poetry too. He believed that his literary talent was allowed to go waste. He showed his anger on Kothamangalam Subbu, who was No. 2 at the studio.
6) Who was Subbu’s principal?
The founder of Gemini Studios, Mr. S. S. Vasan was Subbu's principal.
7) Subbu is described as a many-sided genius. List four of his special abilities.
Subbu had a jolly personality, and possessed a unique ability to look cheerful all the time.
He was highly imaginative. He would instantly come up with many solutions when the producers were stuck on how to do a scene. His creativity and loyalty to his boss worked wonders for S. S. Vasan and for the studio. Film-making was easy when Subbu was around.
Apart from being a great actor, he possessed literary brilliance too. He wrote novels and poetry.
He welcomed everyone with a huge heart. He was charitable, and of loving nature.
8) Why was the legal adviser referred to as the opposite by others?
The lawyer was in the story department. He was known as the 'legal adviser'. However, rather than advise anyone for the betterment, his actions rarely did anyone any good. He had unwittingly brought an end to the career of a young actress. Therefore, everyone referred to him as the opposite.
9) What made the lawyer stand out from the others at Gemini Studios?
The lawyer's attire made him stand out from the others. He was listed under the story department. While other writers and poets wore khadi dhoti with a slightly oversized and clumsily tailored white khadi shirt, the lawyer wore pants, a tie over a shirt, and sometimes even a coat which seemed like a coat of mail. He was a man of cold logic in a crowd of dreamers, often alone and helpless, a neutral man in an assembly of Gandhiites and Khadiites.
10) Did the people at Gemini Studios have any particular political affiliations?
Most people at Gemini Studios wore khadi, and were the followers of Gandhiji. Beyond wearing khadi, they did not have any particular political affiliations. However, all of them were strongly against communism. They believed that communists were godless men, having no filial or conjugal love. They had no regrets for their wrongdoings, and they were always out to cause unrest and violence among innocent and ignorant people.
11) Why was the Moral Rearmament Army welcomed at the Studios?
The Moral Rearmament Army was going to perform two plays 'Jotham Valley' and 'The Forgotten Factor'. The people at the Gemini Studios were looking forward to such highly first-rate professional performances. That is why they were welcomed at the Studios. However, it was later revealed that the Moral Rearmament Army was a counter movement against communism, and the big bosses like Mr. Vasan had simply played into their hands.
12) Name one example to show that Gemini studios was influenced by the plays staged by MRA.
There were several shows of the two plays by the Moral Rearmament Army in Madras. Many citizens and the people at Gemini Studios watched the plays many times. Madras and the Tamil drama community were deeply impressed by these plays. For some years, almost all Tamil plays had a scene of sunrise and sunset in the manner of 'Jotham Valley' with a bare stage, a white background curtain and a tune played on the flute.
13) Who was The Boss of Gemini Studios?
The founder of Gemini Studios, Mr. S. S. Vasan was The Boss.
14) What caused the lack of communication between the Englishman and the people at Gemini Studios?
All the listeners at the Gemini Studios were Tamil speakers. The Englishman gave his speech in English with his own British accent. The listeners could not follow what he was saying. This caused the lack of communication between the Englishman and the people at Gemini Studios.
15) Why is the Englishman’s visit referred to as unexplained mystery?
The people of Gemini studios did not know the name of the visitor who was a poet and also an editor. They tried but could not figure out his identity. Nor could they understand what he spoke. Further, they could also not comprehend the fact that why an English poet was invited to speak to the people who mainly wrote Tamil poetry for the masses. Hence, the visit is referred to as unexplained mystery.
16) Who was the English visitor to the Studios?
The English visitor to the Gemini Studios was Stephen Spender. He was editor of the magazine The Encounter, and a famous English poet, essayist and novelist.
17) How did the author discover who the English visitor to the studios was?
There was a short story competition organized by the British periodical The Encounter. Before participating and investing money in it, the author wanted to do some research about the magazine. He went to the British Council Library for the purpose. While going through an issue of that periodical, he read the name of the editor - Stephen Spender. This rang a bell in his mind, and he realized that he was the English poet who had visited the Gemini Studios.
18) What does 'The God that Failed' refer to?
'The God that Failed' refers to the book which is a collection of six essays by six prominent writers - Andre Gide, Richard Wright, Ignazio Silone, Arthur Koestler, Louis Fischer and Stephen Spender. The essays describe their experience of journeys into Communism, and their disillusioned return. The 'God' mentioned in the title may refer to the promises and ambitions that following communism would offer.
19) 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 author brings out humour through description of characters in his own way. Each and every character possesses a unique ability or peculiarity, and the author uses sarcasm, exaggeration and irony to create humour surrounding the behavior of these characters.
For example, first of all, he paints quite a funny and interesting picture of the make-up department that used the pancake make-up material. Using the description of their functioning, the author criticizes the use of too much make-up and the artificiality of it.
Another instance is where he describes the character of Subbu, who offers many quick solutions. Although there would be an effective alternative he would come up at last, some of these discussions would be pointless, and others would be utterly unacceptable and lame. The author creates humour here through exaggeration and presenting the ridiculous nature of the rejected alternatives.
The lawyer who seems to be a misfit among the storytellers and poets, the office boy who is frustrated and blames it all on Subbu, the innocent hosting of the MRA and the unintended political involvement, and the mystery surrounding the visit of a popular person whose name should have been known - all these incidents have been presented through gentle humour without rude or personally insulting remarks to anyone.
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