What was Pancake and what was it used for ?
Pancake was the brand name of a make-up material. Truckloads of it were brought to the Gemini Studios in Madras. It was used in the make-up of boys and girls who played various roles in films.
What has been said about Robert Clive’s stay in Madras ?
The upstairs make-up department of Gemini Studios was said to have been Robert Clive’s stables. A dozen other buildings in the city used to be places of his residence. He married a girl in St. Mary’s Church in Fort St. George in Madras.
How did the make-up room at the Gemini Studios look ?
It looked like a hair-cutting salon. It had half a dozen large mirrors. All around these mirrors, there were incandescent lights that caused terrible heat.
What does the writer mean by ‘the fiery misery’ of those subjected to make-up ?
In the make-up room, there were six large mirrors. They had incandescent lights all around. Those who went there for make-up had to bear terrible heat of these lamps. This is what the writer means by ‘fiery misery’.
What is the example of national integration that the author refers to in the make-up department ?
The make-up department had a large team of workers. They were all from different parts of India and belonged to different castes. The department was headed by a Maharashtrian. His assistants included a Kannadiga, an Andhraite, an Indian Christian, an Anglo Burmese and the local Tamils. This is what the writer calls national integration.
What does the writer say about the job of the make-up gang ?
The writer says that these make-up men could turn with their potions any decent-looking person into a hideous monster. They made them ugly so that they might look presentable in the film.
How was a strict hierarchy maintained in the make-up department ?
It was always the chief make-up man who attended to the chief actors and actresses. His senior assistant did the make-up of the ‘second’ hero and heroine. The junior assistant looked to the main comedian. And the office boy dealt with the crowd players.
What was the responsibility of the office boy in the make-up department ?
The office boy attended to the make-up of the crowd players. He would mix his paint in a huge vessel. Then he would slap it on the crowd players. His idea was to close every pore on their faces.
Why did the ‘boy’ in the make-up department come to the author ? Why was the author praying for crowd shooting all the time ?
The ‘boy’ (actually a man in early forties) kept pestering the author with descriptions of his great literary talent. Therefore, the author prayed for crowd shooting all the time. It could keep the boy away on his job of applying pancake on the crowd.
What work did the ‘office boy’ do in the Gemini Studios ? Why did he join the studios ? Why was he disappointed ?
The make-up of the crowd players was the responsibility of the ‘office boy’. He had joined the studios with the aim of becoming a star actor, a director, a top screen writer or a lyric writer. He was disappointed because he could become nothing but an office boy.
What does the author say about his own work at the studios ?
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Why did everybody in the studio think of giving the author some work to do ?
The author kept sitting in his cubicle. He appeared to be doing nothing all day. He was always seen tearing up newspapers. So everybody in the studio felt that he was idle and should be given some work to do.
Who was Subbu’s enemy ? Why ?
The ‘office boy’ of the make-up department was Subbu’s enemy. He held Subbu responsible for all his woes, neglect and ignominy. Subbu was considered Number 2 at Gemini Studios and the office boy held him responsible for all his woes.
Why was the office boy frustrated ? Who did he show his anger on ?
The office boy had desired to become a star actor, a director, a top screen writer or a lyric writer. But he could become nothing but a simple make-up man. He was called the office boy though he was around forty. That was why he was frustrated. He showed his anger on Subbu who was the Number 2 at Gemini Studios.
Subbu is described as a many-sided genius. List four of his special abilities.
Subbu had the ability to look cheerful at all times. He was very loyal to his Boss. He was tailor-made for films and was a very talented actor. He could write very good poetry but generally he chose to address his poetry to the masses.
What great work did Subbu do through his poetry ?
Subbu composed several truly original ‘story poems’. They were in folk refrain and diction. He also wrote a novel named ‘Thillana Mohanabal’. It had about a dozen deftly-created characters.
How can you say that Subbu had a genuine love for anyone he came across ?
Subbu’s house had become a permanent residence for dozens of relations and acquaintances. He willingly fed and supported all of them. He was really a very charitable person. He loved anyone he came across.
How can you say that Subbu was an amazing actor ?
Subbu was a great actor. He never aspired to any lead roles. But whatever subsidiary role he played, he performed better than the supposed main players. It shows what an amazing actor he was.
In spite of being so charitable, Subbu had enemies. Can you say why ?
Subbu was No. 2 in the studios. He was very close to The Boss. So most of the people were jealous of him. Some called him a sycophant for his sweet manners. He said nice things about everything. So he was said to have an oily tongue.
What were the positive qualities of Subbu that the writer admired ?
The writer admired Subbu for some of his really positive qualities. He had the ability to look cheerful at all times. He was very loyal to his Boss. He was tailor-made for films and was a very talented actor. He could write very good poetry but he chose to address his poetry to the masses.
Account for Subbu’s importance in Gemini Studios.
Subbu was very close to The Boss. He had a hand in almost every affair. He had some sterling qualities of his own. He was tailor-made for films. He was an amazing actor. He had winsome qualities. Thus he was a very important person in the Gemini Studios.
Why was Subbu considered number two at Gemini Studios ?
Subbu had the ability to look cheerful at all times. He was very loyal to The Boss. He was tailor-made for films and was a very talented actor. He could write very good poetry but generally he chose to address his poetry to the masses. These qualities made him number two at the Gemini Studios.
Why was the legal adviser referred to as the opposite by others ?
The legal adviser was a good-for-nothing fellow. He was a spoilsport. Once, through his folly, he finished the career of a brilliant actress. That was why he was referred to as the opposite of his official designation.
What made the lawyer stand out from the others at Gemini Studios ?
Almost all others at the studios wore a kind of uniform. They wore a khadi dhoti and a white khadi shirt. But the lawyer wore pants and a tie. Sometimes he wore a coat that looked like a coat of mail. Thus he looked very different from others.
Did the people at Gemini Studios have any particular political affiliations ?
Most of the people at the studios wore khadi. They worshipped Gandhiji. But beyond that they had no understanding of any political thought. However, they were terribly averse to the term ‘Communism’.
What view did the people at the Gemini Studios and in South India have of communism ?
They thought that a Communist was a godless person. He had no love for his children or parents. He could kill even his dearest ones. He was always ready to cause unrest and to spread violence.
Why was the Moral Re-armament Army welcomed at the Studios ?
These people were thought to be a group of international circus. They were about two-hundred strong. Entertaining them afforded the Gemini staff a good diversion from their dull routine. They were also gifted stage players.
Give one example to show that Gemini Studios was influenced by the plays staged by MRA.
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How did the people of Madras and those at the Gemini Studios respond to the plays staged by the Moral Re-armament Army ?
These plays ran several shows in Madras. They became very popular. The Gemini family consisted of six hundred people. Along with other people of the city, all of them saw the plays over and over again. It shows how influenced these people were by the MRA plays.
What caused the lack of communication between the Englishman and the people at Gemini Studios ?
The people at Gemini Studios had no idea of who this Englishman was. The listeners could make nothing of what he spoke. His accent was such that the listeners couldn’t follow him at all. That was the only cause of the lack of communication.
Why is the Englishman’s visit referred to as an unexplained mystery ?
Nobody knew exactly who this Englishman was. His speech to the audience was totally unintelligible. His accent was unknown to them. He went away after an hour without telling anything about himself. That was why his visit remained an unexplained mystery.
How does the author discover who the English visitor to the studios was ?
The Hindu had published an advertisement about a story-contest to be held by a periodical named The Encounter. The author had never heard about it. He went to the British Council Library. There he saw a few copies of it. Now he came to know who the English visitor to the studios was. He was Stephen Spender, the editor of this periodical.
Why was Kothamangalam Subbu considered No. 2 in Gemini Studios ?
Subbu was very close to The Boss. He had a hand in almost every affair during the golden days of the studios. He had some sterling qualities of his own. He was tailor-made for films. He was an amazing actor. He had winsome qualities. That was why he was considered No. 2 in the studios.
How does the author describe the incongruity of an English poet addressing the audience at Gemini Studios ?
Gemini Studios produced Tamil films for the simplest sort of people. At such a place, an English poet came to speak of his own experiences. Moreover, his manner and accent were such that nobody could follow what he said. Naturally, the whole thing appeared very incongruous.
How was the make-up room in the Gemini Studios a fine example of national integration ?
The make-up department was a fine example of national integration. It had a large team of workers who were all from different parts of India and belonged to different castes. The department was headed by a Maharashtrian. His assistants included a Kannadiga, an Andhraite, an Indian Christian, an Anglo Burmese and the local Tamils.
What work did the ‘office boy’ do in the Gemini Studios ? Why did he join the studios ? Why was he disappointed ?
The ‘office boy’ was, in fact, not a boy. He was a grown-up person. He was in his early forties. He had joined the studios with high hopes. He had expected to be a star actor, a director, a top screen writer or a lyric writer. But all that he could become was an insignificant make-up man. The make-up of those who played the crowd was his responsibility. It was a very unsatisfying job. Another man had joined the studios almost in similar difficult conditions. He was not even as literate as this office boy was. But now he had risen to be No. 2 in the studios. He was Kothamangalam Subbu. The office boy directed all his anger against Subbu. He thought him responsible for all his woes and troubles. It was, in fact, nothing else but jealousy.
Write a brief note on the make-up department of the Gemini Studios.
The make-up department of the Gemini Studios was in the upstairs of a building. It had the look of a hair-cutting salon. It had big lights around half a dozen large mirrors. They were all incandescent lights. Thus those who came there for make-up had to bear a lot of heat. The make-up department was headed by a Maharashtrian. He was assisted by men from different states and communities. Thus there was a great deal of national integration. But they followed a strict hierarchy. The chief make-up man attended to the chief actors and actresses. His senior assistant looked to the ‘second’ hero and heroine. The junior assistant dealt with the main comedian. The players who played the crowd were the responsibility of the ‘office boy’. He would mix his paint in a giant vessel and slap it on the crowd players. He wasn’t exactly a ‘boy’. He was in his early forties. He was a frustrated person.
Write a brief note on what you learn about Kothamangalam Subbu’s character.
Subbu was the No. 2 at Gemini Studios. He had the ability to look cheerful at all times. He could never do things of his own but he was very loyal to The Boss. During the golden years of the Gemini Studios, Subbu had his hand in every important affair of the Company. He had a separate identity as a poet. He could certainly write in more complex and higher forms, but he deliberately chose to write for the masses. He composed several truly original ‘story poems’ in folk diction. He also wrote a novel with deftly-created characters. He was an amazing actor. He never aspired to the lead roles. But whatever role he played, he performed better than the main players. He was tailor-made for films. Subbu had a genuine love for anyone he met. His house was a permanent residence for dozens of relations and acquaintances. He was truly a nice character, yet he had his enemies.
Subbu was ‘tailor-made for films’. How did he use his genius in various activities in the Gemini Studios ?
Subbu was truly ‘tailor-made for films’. He was an amazing actor. He never aspired to lead roles. But whatever subsidiary role he played in any of the films, he performed better than the supposed main players. The Boss had great confidence in him. He was considered No. 2 at the Gemini Studios. He never did anything of his own. But his sense of loyalty made him identify himself with the Boss. Film-making seemed so easy when he was around. The writer says, ‘‘If ever there was a man who counted in the Gemini Studios during its golden years, it was Subbu.’’ He was, in fact, a many-sided genius. He could write very good poetry. He had the ability to look cheerful at all times. He was loyal to his boss. He was a talented actor. So it can be rightly said that he was ‘tailor-made for films’.
What idea do you form of the lawyer from the author’s account of the Gemini Studios ?
The lawyer was a member of the Story Department which had some writers and poets also. He was officially known as the legal adviser, but everybody referred to him as the opposite. The studios had an extremely talented actress. She was extremely temperamental also. Once she blew over on the sets. Everyone stood stunned. But the lawyer quietly switched on the recording equipment. When the actress paused for breath, the lawyer said to her, ‘One minute, please.’ Then he played back the recording. When she heard her voice again through the sound equipment, she was struck dumb. She never quite recovered from the shock. Thus the lawyer brought about the end of a brilliant acting career. Every other member of the department wore a kind of uniform. It was a khadi dhoti with a white khadi shirt. But the legal adviser wore pants and a tie. Sometimes he wore a coat that looked like a coat of mail. Once The Boss allowed him to produce a film. But in spite of all the expenditure, not much came of the film. The Boss closed down the Story Department. Thus the lawyer lost his job along with the poets.
How was Frank Buchman’s MRA received at the Gemini Studios and how did they fare during their visit ?
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Why and how was the Moral Re-armament Army welcomed at the Gemini Studios ?
Frank Buchman’s Moral Re-armament Army was a kind of counter movement in international Communism. They visited Madras some time in 1952. They were about two hundred in number. They could not have found a warmer host in India than the Gemini Studios. Someone called the group an international circus. But they were not very good at the trapeze. However, they presented two plays in a most professional manner. These plays ran several shows in Madras. Along with the other citizens of the city, the Gemini family of six hundred saw the plays over and over again. Madras and the Tamil drama community were terribly impressed. For some years, almost all Tamil plays followed the settings of MRA plays. There was always a bare stage, a white background curtain and a tune played on the flute. The staff of Gemini Studios had a nice time hosting these two hundred people of different nationalities. It was a welcome change for them from their dull routine.
How does the writer describe the episode of the English visitor to the Gemini Studios
There was a big news that the Gemini Studios was going to have a very special visitor. All they said was that he was a poet from England. But no one exactly knew who this poet was. Someone said, ‘‘He is not a poet. He is an editor.’’ The poet (or the editor) arrived at around four in the afternoon. He was a tall Englishman. He looked very serious. He was unknown to anyone at the studios. The Boss read out a long speech. It was obvious that he too knew little about the poet (or the editor). The speech was all in the most general terms. Then the poet spoke. The audience was all dazed and silent. No one knew what he was saying. The whole thing lasted about an hour. Then the poet left. Everyone was baffled. The poet, too, looked pretty baffled. His visit remained an unexplained mystery.
Author has used gentle and subtle humour to point out human foibles and idiosyncrasies in the lesson, ‘Poets and Pancakes’. Elucidate.
The author deals with all characters in a light-hearted manner. He refers to the ‘office boy’ who used to slap pancake on the faces of players who played the crowd. The description is quite interesting. Then the whole account of Subbu is a delightful peep into the man’s character. He was the Number two in the Gemini Studios and yet he was the most misunderstood person. The visit of MRA has also been described in a delightful manner. And then there was the incomparable Stephen Spender ! In short, we can say that the only quality of the rambling piece is its humorous tone. The character of the legal adviser is the crowning glory of the piece.
