CHAPTER 6: POET AND PANCAKES
POETS AND PANCAKES CLASS
12 SUMMARY
-by Asokamitran
The
Make-up Department of Gemini Studios
The make-up department was in a building which was
said to be Robert Clive's erstwhile stable. In the studios, the make-up
material with the brand name 'Pancake' was used profusely. All actresses of
yesteryears were familiar with it. The author feels that modern actresses may
not be aware of its existence.
The author mocks Robert Clive by saying that during
his short life he is said to have lived in a number of residences in Madras. He
fought battles and even got married here.
A
Vivid Description of the Make-up room
The make-up room looked like a hair-cutting salon. It
was crowded with large mirrors and flooded with light. It was not a very
pleasing experience to get the make-up done because of the heat from the
dazzling lights.
The
Make-up Department and National Integration
The department was initially headed by a Bengali. He
was succeeded by a Maharashtrian who was assisted by a Dharwar Kannadiga. Then
different people belonging to different states occupied the position there. The
author points out that all this shows that the make-up department was an ideal
specimen of national integration. The author jokingly tells the readers about
the 'skills' of these make-up men. With quite a lot of Pancake and other
potions and lotions, they could mar the beauty of any person. However,
Asokamitran clarifies by saying that perhaps the hideous crimson coloured
make-up was important to look presentable on the screen.
A
Strict Hierarchy in the Make-up Department
An elaborate division of work marked the make-up
department. The chief make-up man dressed up the actors in lead roles. His
senior assistant looked after the 'second' hero and heroine while the junior
assistant took charge of the main comedian. The players who played the crowd
were looked after by the office boy of the department.
The
Office Boy
The office boy was not exactly a boy. He was in his
early forties. He joined the studio years back and aspired to be a top film
star or top screen writer, director or lyric writer. He also wrote poetry. On
the days of crowd-shooting, he mixed the make-up material on a large scale and
painted faces.
The
Narrator's Work in the Studio
The narrator worked in a cubicle. His work was to cut
newspaper clippings and store them in files. Everybody thought that his work
was next to nothing and so he was continuously lectured by other employees. The
office boy often came to his cubicle and gave vent to his feelings of
frustration and irritation. The narrator desperately wished to escape from his
continuous tirade and prayed for crowd shooting.
Kothamanglam
Subbu
He was the No. 2 at Gemini Studios. According to the
office boy, Subbu did not deserve anything because he was neither well educated
nor had any exceptional talent. His only virtue was being a Brahmin, due to
which he got opportunities readily. He was always cheerful. Even a flop film in
which he had a hand couldn't take away his cheerfulness. The narrator takes a
dig at him by saying that he always needed people to work for him. He was
ever-loyal to the Chief. Subbu could offer countless solutions to the problems
of the producer of a film. The narrator comments that film making was quite
simple with a man like Subbu around.
Subbu;
the Poet
Although he was capable of writing on intricate
topics, he wrote poetry for the masses. His success in films overshadowed his
literary genius. He composed 'story poems' in folk refrain and diction. He
recreated the mood and manner of the Devadasis of the early 20th century.
Subbu;
the Actor and the Sycophant
The narrator mocks Subbu by saying that he was an
amazing actor. Although he played minor roles, he performed them better than
the lead actors. He always said nice things about everything and everyone. His
house was crowded with acquaintances and relatives who stayed there
permanently. He was really close and intimate with the Boss and so had many
enemies.
The
Lawyer in the Story Department of Gemini Studios
The Story Department comprised of a lawyer and a group
of writers and poets besides Subbu. The lawyer was the legal adviser but
everybody referred to him as the illegal adviser! He had unintentionally
brought about a sad end to the career of a budding talented actress by
recording her outburst against the producer. The legal adviser looked different
from the other members of his department as he wore pants and tie while they
wore khadi dhotis and white khadi shirts. He was close to the Boss and was allowed
to produce a film which flopped. The lawyer lost his job when the Boss closed
the Story Department.
Gemini
Studios: The Favourite Haunt of Intelligentsia
Gemini Studios was a hot favourite among the poets of
that time. It has an excellent mess which supplied good coffee almost round the
clock. Those were the days when the Congress government had implemented
prohibition and people enjoyed their leisure time over a cup of coffee. Almost
everybody seemed to have ample leisure time at the studio.
The
Political Ideology at the Studio
Most of the people at the studio wore khadi and
greatly appreciated Gandhiji. All of them were opposed to Communism and had
many misconceptions about it. They thought Communists to be violent with no
filial or conjugal feelings.
Studio
Hosts Frank Buchman's MRA (Moral Re-armament Army)
The MRA, a counter-movement to international
Communism, visited Madras in 1952. It comprised of 200 people. The narrator had
information that the big bosses of Madras played into their hands. The group
was criticised by calling it an international circus. The MRA presented two
plays, "Jotham Valley' and 'The Forgotten Factor'. Their sets and costumes
were wonderful. The Gemini family comprising of six hundred members saw the
plays repeatedly. The Tamil and Madras drama community were really impressed by
them. The sunrise and sunset scenes of 'Jotham Valley were reproduced in almost
all Tamil plays in a similar fashion as that play. The narrator feels that
hosting the group was a welcome change from their monotonous routine at the
studio.
Another
Visitor at Gemini Studios
Another visitor was soon going to visit the Gemini
Studios. The staff did not have the faintest idea about him. He was rumoured to
be a poet or editor. The visitor was not connected with any of the famous
British publications. However, the guest arrived and the Boss read out a very
long speech that did not have much to say about the visitor. When the guest's
turn came to address the audience, his accent could not be understood by
anybody. His visit remained an "unexplained mystery."
A
Short Story Contest Organised by ‘The Encounter’
The narrator wanted to have an idea about the
periodical's credentials before participating in the contest and spending on
the postage. He checked at the British Council Library and found out that the
editor's name was Stephen Spender. He recalled that this was the same editor
who was a guest at the Gemini Studios. The writer felt that he had discovered a
long lost brother and immediately sent his entry excitedly.
The
Narrator Buys a Low-Priced book 'The God That Failed'
Some years after leaving his job at the Gemini
Studios, the narrator bought a low-priced copy of a book 'The God That Failed'
released on the 50th anniversary of the Russian Revolution. It was a
compilation of six essays by six different authors on their journey into
Communism and their disappointed return. Stephen Spender was one of the
contributors. The narrator instantly recalled Stephen Spender's visit to the
Gemini Studios. Thus, the mystery was finally solved.
Conclusion
of Poets
and Pancakes
To sum up, Poets and Pancakes summary, we learn
about the film industry in detail and the inside functioning as well as when Independent
India was in its infancy.
NCERT SOLUTIONS FOR
CLASS 12 ENGLISH CHAPTER 6
Questions (Page No. 66)
(Understanding The
Text)
Poets And Pancakes
question answers
Question
1. 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.
Answer: The
author used gentle humour in various instances, which adds to the story’s
eccentricity. For example, the author cleverly framed the make-up artists and
pancakes. Subbu’s point of view was fantastic. It’s amazing how he applies his
principal and solves problems. Similarly, the author has incorporated gentle
humour into the frustration of the office boy, the praising of Gandhi, the
episode of an illegal adviser causing the end of an actress’s career, hatred
against communism, and the mystery surrounding Stephen Spender.
Question
2. Why was Kothamangalam Subbu considered No. 2 in Gemini Studios?
Answer: Using
flattery, Kothamangalam Subbu was able to secure the position closest to The
Boss. He wasn’t brilliant, but he was a cheerful person who was fiercely loyal
to The Boss. When The Boss was in a jam, he offered solutions. As a result, the
other employees ranked him second in Gemini Studios.
Question
3. How does the author describe the incongruity of an English poet addressing
the audience at Gemini Studios?
Answer: The
English poet was speaking in English to the Tamil audience at Gemini Studios,
with a typical provincial accent. He was speaking to a dazed and silent
audience about the joys and tribulations of being an English poet. This was the
inconsistency because his audience had no idea what he was saying.
Question
4. What do you understand about the author’s literary inclinations from the
account?
Answer: The
author was often interested in prose, as evidenced by his book choices, his
admiration for Stephen Spender, and the account’s recurring theme of prose
writings.
Questions (Page No. 66)
(Talking About The
Text)
Question
1. Discuss in small groups taking off from points in the text.
1. Film-production today has come a long way from the
early days of the Gemini Studios.
2. Poetry and films.
3. Humour and criticism.
Answer: Do
it yourself.
Download
