About the author

Asokamitran (1931), a Tamil writer, recounts his years at Gemini Studios in his book My Years with Boss which talks of the influence of movies on every aspect of life in India. The Gemini Studios, located in Chennai, was set up in 1940. It was one of the most influential filmproducing organisations of India in the early days of Indian film-making. Its founder was S.S. Vasan. The duty of Asokamitran in Gemini Studios was to cut out newspaper clippings on a wide variety of subjects and store them in files. Many of these had to be written out by hand. Although he performed an insignificant function he was the most well-informed of all the members of the Gemini family. Poets and Pancakes is an excerpt from his book My Years with Boss.

Summary in English Poets and Pancakes

The essay entitled "Poets and Pancakes" is taken from Asokamitran's book "My Years with Boss," which chronicles his experiences at Gemini Studios. The Boss referred to in the essay is S.S. Vasan, the founder of Gemini Studios, a renowned film production company that had a significant impact on various aspects of Indian society.

Poets and Pancakes (Summary in English and Hindi)

Asokamitran, known for his wit and subtle satire, shares insights about a particular make-up material used at Gemini Studios, called Pancake. He mentions the names of several actresses who used this make-up material. Additionally, he mentions that the make-up department was housed in a building that was believed to have been Robert Clive's stable. However, Asokamitran clarifies that this claim is not accurate, as Clive's stay in India was relatively brief and there are several buildings associated with his residence.

In addition, Asokamitran describes the make-up department at Gemini Studios as a symbol of national integration, where actors would undergo transformations using Pancake and other lotions to make them appear presentable on screen, despite the fact that these products often made them look unattractive in real life. He also mentions a forty-year-old office boy in the department who harbored dreams of becoming a star-actor, director, or lyrics writer, but whose aspirations remained unfulfilled, leading to frustration. The office boy blamed Subbu, who held the position of No. 2 and was a favorite of the boss, for his unfulfilled dreams.

Asokamitran also shares anecdotes about the poets at Gemini Studios who wore khadi (homespun cloth) and held anti-Communist beliefs. He mentions a legal adviser who used to be a member of the story department but fell out of favor and lost his job when the department closed down. This legal adviser once ended the promising career of a talented actress abruptly, highlighting the politics and dynamics within the studio.

Gemini Studios once hosted a Moral Rearmament Army (MRA) consisting of around two hundred members who performed two plays in a highly professional manner. These plays were well-received and had a significant impact on Tamil drama. However, the writer later discovered that the MRA was actually a counter-Communist movement, revealing the complexities of the political landscape at the time. Asokamitran also introduces Subbu, a multi-talented and kind-hearted individual, who was viewed with jealousy by the office boys who cursed him.

The writer shares a humorous anecdote about the visit of an English poet to the studios. Despite elaborate preparations made for his arrival, the purpose of his visit remained a mystery for a long time. The poet's name was unfamiliar to the studio staff, and they struggled to understand his language. The poet, too, seemed perplexed by the situation, adding a touch of comedic irony to the story.

Asokamitran's role at the studios involved cutting and organizing newspaper clippings on various topics, but many people misunderstood his work as merely tearing newspapers, leading them to assign additional tasks to him.

One day, the author noticed a notice in The Hindu about a short story contest organized by a British periodical called The Encounter. Intrigued, he wanted to learn more about the periodical and its status, so he visited the British Council Library where he found a copy. To his surprise, he discovered that the editor of The Encounter was Stephen Spender, the same poet who had visited Gemini Studios.

Years later, after Asokamitran's retirement, he came across a book titled The God That Failed, which contained six essays discussing the failure of Communism. One of the essays was written by Spender. This revelation cleared the mystery of Spender's visit to Gemini Studios, suggesting that it may have been related to his anti-communist perspective.

Poets and Pancakes Solution

Summary in Hindi Poets and Pancakes

कहानी जेमिनी स्टूडियोज के गौरव के वर्षों के दौरान उसके कामकाज पर आधारित है। शीर्षक 'Poets and Pancakes' उन कवियों के विषय मे बात करता है जो स्टूडियो में पटकथा लेखक थे और मेकअप 'पैनकेक' के एक ब्रांड को उदारतापूर्वक इस्तेमाल किया गया था। स्टूडियो में लेखक का काम विभिन्न विषयों पर समाचार पत्रों की कतरनों को काटना और उसी की एक फाइल को बनाए रखना था।

लेखक पहले मेकअप विभाग और इस विभाग के भीतर मौजूद पदानुक्रम के बारे में बात करता है। जबकि मुख्य मेकअप मैन मुख्य अभिनेताओं के साथ काम करता था, उसके अधीनस्थों को सभी पक्ष अभिनेताओं को सौंपा गया था। वह उस परेशानी का मज़ाक उड़ाता है जो कलाकारों को बदसूरत लगने लगी थी और बड़े-बड़े बल्बों की चकाचौंध के नीचे उन्होंने जो दर्द झेला था। वह ऑफिस बॉय के बारे में बात करता है जो वास्तव में चालीस साल का एक वयस्क व्यक्ति है, जो एक बार निर्देशक बनने की इच्छा रखता था, लेकिन अपनी वर्तमान स्थिति के लिए सुब्बू को दोषी ठहराता है। लेखक जेमिनी स्टूडियो में दूसरे नंबर पर रहने वाले कोठामंगलम सुब्बू की प्रशंसा करता है। वह एक ऑलराउंडर है और बॉस के प्रति बहुत वफादार है। उन्हें जेमिनी स्टूडियोज की सफलता का श्रेय दिया जाता है।

एक अन्य चरित्र जो स्टूडियो में ध्यान में आता है वह कानूनी सलाहकार है, जो खादी पहनता है। वह बताता है कि किस तरह कानूनी सलाहकार अनजाने में एक प्रतिभाशाली अभिनेत्री के करियर को बर्बाद कर देता है। लेखक उस महत्व के बारे में बात करता है जो उन दिनों जेमिनी स्टूडियोज का आनंद लेता था क्योंकि देश के कुछ सबसे प्रमुख कवियों ने वहां काम किया था। इसके अलावा, वह जेमिनी स्टूडियोज के कला निर्देशकों पर विदेशी नाटक के प्रभाव के बारे में बात करते हैं।

जब फ्रैंक बुचमैन की "मोरल री-आर्ममेंट आर्मी" ने जेमिनी स्टूडियो में प्रदर्शन किया, तो इसने तमिल नाटक समुदाय को बहुत प्रभावित किया, जिन्होंने कई फिल्मों में उनकी नाटक शैली का अनुकरण किया। जेमिनी स्टूडियो मद्रास में विदेशी आगंतुकों की मेजबानी के लिए कुछ में से एक था और स्टीफन स्पेंडर जैसे कवियों ने वहां व्याख्यान दिया। उस समय भारत में, शिक्षित लोग साम्यवाद के लिए अपना समर्थन दिखाने में गर्व महसूस करते थे और जेमिनी स्टूडियो कोई अपवाद नहीं था।