CBSE Class 12 English HOTs Poets And Pancakes Set 02

Think as you Read 

Question. What does the writer mean by ‘the fiery misery’ of those subjected to make-up?
Answer: By ‘the fiery misery’ of those subjected to make-up, the narrator/writer refers to the suffering faced by those who got their make-up done in Gemini Studios. This suffering, in the form of heat and flashy light, was a result of the design of the make-up room which was crowded with bright lights at all angles.

Question. What is the example of national integration that the author refers to? Or How was the make-up room in the Gemini Studios a fine example of national integration? CBSE 2020 Or How was there a great deal of national integration in the make-up department? CBSE 2024
Answer: The make-up room of the Gemini Studios was an example of national integration. According to the author, this is so because people from different regions and religious groups worked together in the same department. The department was headed by a Bengali who was succeeded by a Maharashtrian. The other helpers included Dharwar Kannadiga, an Audura, a Madras Indian Christian, an Anglo-Burmese and the local Tamils.

Question. What work did the ‘office boy’ do in the Gemini Studios? Why did he join the studios? Why was he disappointed?
Answer: The ‘office boy’ was responsible for the make-up of the players who played the crowd. On the days of crowd-shooting, one could see him mixing his paint in a giant vessel and “slapping it” on the crowd players. The office boy had joined the studio years ago in the hope of becoming a star actor or a top screen writer, director or lyric writer. The ‘office boy’ was disappointed because he had not achieved any of his dreams. He was also a poet and felt that his talent was not being recognised. He was doing a job which was much below his actual calibre.

Question. Why did the author appear to be doing nothing at the studios?
Answer: The author’s job involved scanning the various news items and articles that appeared in different newspapers and keeping a record of them in files. So, he was always seen at this desk tearing up newspapers. This gave the impression that he was doing next to nothing at the studios.

Think as you Read 

Question. Why was the office boy frustrated? Who did he show his anger on?
Answer: The office boy was highly frustrated because he was not able to achieve any of his dreams of becoming an actor or a top screen writer, director of lyric writer and he directed all his anger on Kothamangalam Subbu, the number 2 at the Gemini Studios. He thought of Subbu as his enemy. He was thoroughly convinced that all his woes, ignominy and neglect were due to Subbu.

Question. Who was Subbu’s Principal?
Answer: SS Vasan, the founder of the Gemini Studios, was Subbu’s Boss and Principal.

Question. Subbu is described as a many-sided genius. List four of his special abilities.
Answer: Four of Subbu’s special abilities were
(i) Looking cheerful at all times,
(ii) A sense of intense loyalty to the Boss which made him focus his entire creativity towards benefiting the Boss. Thus, film-making was quite easy as long as Subbu was available to give his ideas,
(iii) He was literally inclined as he was a good poet, novelist and actor,
(iv) Charitable and of loving nature.

Question. Why was the legal Advisor referred to as the opposite by others?
Answer: The legal Advisor was referred to as an illegal advisor because he was a man of cold logic. He never put his legal knowledge to use and even destroyed the career of a budding talented actress.

Question. What made the lawyer stand out from the others at Gemini Studios?
Answer: The lawyer stood out from the others at Gemini Studios because in a ‘crowd of dreamers’, he was a man of cold logic. He took a politically neutral ideology whereas everyone else in the Gemini Studios were mostly Gandhiites and Khadiites. Moreover, he wore tie and pants and sometimes a coat which made him stand out in the midst of khadi wearers.

Think as you Read 

Question. Did the people at Gemini Studios have any particular political affiliations?
Answer: The majority of people at Gemini Studios wore khadi and venerated Gandhi. Beyond that they did not have “the faintest affectation” for political thought of any kind. They were vehemently against Communism and called themselves Gandhiites.

Question. Why was the Moral Rearmament Army welcomed at the Studios?
Answer: The Moral Rearmament Army was a kind of counter movement to international Communism. Because of this they were welcomed at the Gemini Studios. The Boss, Mr. Vasan, simply played into their hands because they opposed those who spread unrest and violence among the innocent and the ignorant.

Question. Name one example to show that Gemini Studios was influenced by the plays staged by MRA.
Answer: ‘Jotham Valley’ and ‘The Forgotten Factor’, the two plays put up by the MRA, were so impressive that the Gemini family consisting of six hundred people saw them over and over again. They liked the play so much that the scene of sunrise and sunset enacted in the play ‘Jotham Valley’ with a bare stage, a white background curtain and a tune played on the flute was reproduced by Madras and Tamil drama community.

Question. Who was the Boss of Gemini Studios?
Answer: Mr. SS Vasan, the founder of Gemini Studios was called ‘The Boss’. He was also the editor of the popular Tamil weekly ‘Ananda Vikatan’.

Question. What caused the lack of communication between the Englishman and the people at Gemini Studios?
Answer: The lack of communication between the Englishman and the people at Gemini Studios was a result of two things. First, nobody knew anything about the antecedents of the visitor. Mr. Vasan, the Boss made a welcome speech in his honour but that did not dispel any doubts or gave clarifications about the visitor. Secondly, when the visitor spoke, nobody could comprehend what he talked about. His accent could not be understood by the ‘dazed’ audience.

Question. Why is the Englishman’s visit referred to as unexplained mystery? 
Answer: The Englishman’s visit baffled everybody in the Gemini Studios. They neither knew anything about the credentials of the visitor nor could they comprehend anything from his speech due to his accent. All of them were ‘dazed and silent’. They could not understand what an English poet was doing in a film studio which made Tamil films for the masses who had no taste for English poetry. So, his visit is termed as an unexplained mystery.

Think as you Read 

Question. Who was the English visitor to the studios?
Answer: The English visitor to the Gemini Studios was found to be Stephen Spender—the editor of ‘The Encounter’.

Question. How did the author discover who the English visitor to the studios was?
Answer: The identity of the English visitor was revealed to the author only when he read the editor’s name in ‘The Encounter’.

Question. What does ‘The God that Failed’ refer to?
Answer: ‘The God that Failed’ refers to a book that was a compilation of essays by six eminent essayists. It dealt with the author’s disillusionment with Communism.

Understanding the Text 

Question. 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? Or After reading this story, you are impressed by the author’s use of gentle humour to point out human foibles. Evaluate. , Modified
Answer: ‘Poets and Pancakes’ has instances of gentle humour interspersed in it. They highlight human foibles without pointing fingers or having malice against anyone. Some of the various instance are as follows:

• The description of the make-up department and its transformation of decent-looking individuals into hideous monsters with truck-loads of pancake and other potions and lotions.
• The portrayal of the ‘office boy’ in the make-up department who harboured dreams of becoming a star actor or a top screenwriter, director or lyrics writer despite being in his early forties. This adds a touch of irony to his character. The narrator’s work itself point to some of the useless roles prevalent in the Studio.
• Asokamitran’s humour reaches its peak in depiction of Subbu. Subbu’s inefficiency and dependence on others is highlighted by the author’s comment, “He always had work for somebody-he could never do things on his own”. Further, Subbu’s demeanour and his ability to always look cheerful, even after facing difficulties, contrasts with the frustrations of the make-up department employee.
• Further, the fact that the lawyer inadvertently ends a brilliant acting career by recording an actress’s tirade, makes us laugh.
• The ‘Boss’, Mr. Vasan’s weakness for being seen amongst erudite and scholarly people and the resultant invitations to unknown poets and editors is hilarious.
• The author’s comment on himself that anything at a reduced price attracted his attention makes us laugh at the apparent idiosyncrasies of human nature.

Thus, the author showcases humour in every situation and almost every character, but this is only meant to make the piece a gripping one.

Question. Why was Kothamangalam Subbu considered number 2 in Gemini Studios? Or Account for Subbu’s importance in Gemini studios.
Answer: Kothamangalam Subbu has many positive qualities that made him number 2 in Gemini Studios. Although he was neither brilliant nor out-of-the-ordinary, he had an inherent smartness in him that led him to outwit everybody. He was a sycophant and always close and intimate with the Boss. He always had ready and instant solutions for problems and had the knack of getting the work done from others.

Question. How does the author describe the incongruity of an English poet addressing the audience at Gemini Studios?
Answer: The author describes the incongruity of an English poet addressing the audience at Gemini Studios by highlighting the stark differences in cultural context and audience interests. The Gemini Studios primarily produced Tamil films for a simple audience whose lives didn’t afford them the luxury of cultivating a taste for English poetry. The author and others at the studio were still trying to understand the presence of the English poet, reflecting the sheer mismatch between the audience’s expectations and the poet’s speech. This mismatch highlights the situation’s absurdity and adds a layer of irony to the narrative.

Question. What do you understand about the author’s literary inclinations from the account?
Answer: From the account, it’s evident that the author has literary inclinations and a keen interest in exploring the intersection of literature, cinema and human experiences. The author’s engagement with literature is reflected in his curiosity about British publications, recognition of Stephen Spender’s significance and his own desire to send his entries to short story writing contests. The author’s observations on the dynamics within Gemini Studios, including the roles of individuals like Subbu and the encounters with visiting poets and editors, highlight his interest in exploring the complexities of human interactions and creative endeavours.

Extract Based Questions

Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow.

Those were the days of mainly indoor shooting, and only five percent of the film was shot outdoors. I suppose the sets and studio lights needed the girls and boys to be made to look ugly in order to look presentable in the movie. A strict hierarchy was maintained in the make-up department. The chief make-up man made the chief actors and actresses ugly, his senior assistant ‘second’ hero and heroine, the junior assistant the main comedian and so forth. The players who played the crowd were the responsibility of the office boy. (Even the make-up department of the Gemini Studio had an ‘office boy’). On the days when there was crowd-shooting, you could see him mixing his paint in a giant vessel and slapping it on the crowd players. The idea was to close every pore on the surface of the face in the process of applying make-up. 

Question. What does the writer mean by the phrase ‘indoor shooting’ in the first line of the extract?
Answer: The phrase ‘indoor shooting’ refers to filming inside a studio using artificial sets and lights instead of shooting in natural outdoor locations.

Question. Pick up one sentence from the extract that reflects the sarcastic tone of the writer.
Answer: “I suppose the sets and studio lights needed the girls and boys to be made to look ugly in order to look presentable in the movie.”

Question. The hierarchy in the make-up department puts the ‘office boy’ in the ......... (lowest/top) rung of the ladder.
Answer: lowest

Question. Complete the following suitably. On the days when there was a ‘crowd-shooting’. By the phrase crowd-shooting, the author refers to _________ .
Answer: the scenes in the film that required a large number of extras or background actors

Question. Choose the correct option. “...mix his paint in a giant vessel and slapping it on the crowd players.” The choice of words like ‘paint’ and ‘slapping’ by the author reflects
(a) author’s intention to degrade the office boy’s role in the make-up department,
(b) the office boy’s lack of seriousness,
(c) author’s sarcastic and humorous writing style,
(d) author’s dislike of the office boy.
Answer: (c) author’s sarcastic and humorous writing style

Question. Choose the correct option. What does the following line from the extract showcase? “A strict hierarchy was maintained in the make-up department.”
(a) The office boy took all the decisions in the make-up department,
(b) A system of ranks according to importance of work was followed,
(c) Everyone was given an equal share of work in the department,
(d) Nepotism was prevalent in the make-up department.
Answer: (b) A system of ranks according to importance of work was followed.

Film-making must have been and was so easy with a man like Subbu around and if ever there was a man who gave direction and definition to Gemini Studios during its golden years, it was Subbu. Subbu had a separate identity as a poet and though he was certainly capable of more complex and higher forms, he deliberately chose to address his poetry to the masses.

Question. What was Subbu’s contribution to Gemini Studios?
Answer: Subbu’s contribution was that he gave ‘a new direction and definition’ to the Gemini Studios during its golden years. Subbu directed all his energies and creativity to his boss, Mr. Vasan’s advantage. If his boss was dissatisfied with one scene, Subbu would offer him many alternatives.

Question. Select the correct option from those given in bracket to fill in the blank. The expression ‘he deliberately chose to address his poetry to the masses’ indicates that Subbu’s poetry was ___________ (nonsensical/genius).
Answer: nonsensical

Question. Complete the sentence suitably. By ‘during its golden years’, the writer means _________ .
Answer: when the studios was the most successful

Question. On the basis of the given extract do you think that the narrator is appreciative of Subbu?
Answer: No, I do not think that the narrator is appreciative of Subbu. The narrator is sarcastically highlighting the qualities of Subbu to show how vain he is.

Question. What is Subbu likely to say when a film director faces a problem?
(a) Hold on, call Asokamitran.
(b) Let me think of it.
(c) You should have thought about it earlier,
(d) Waste of time it is.
Answer: (b) Let me think of it.

Question. What is the author’s tone when talking about Subbu?
(a) Pleasing
(b) Praising
(c) Sarcastic
(d) Insulting
Answer: (c) Sarcastic

His success in films overshadowed and dwarfed his literary achievements—or so his critics felt. He composed several truly original ‘story poems’ in folk refrain and diction and also wrote a sprawling novel Thillana Mohanambal with dozens of very deftly etched characters. He quite successfully recreated the mood and manner of the Devadasis of the early 20th century. He was an amazing actor—he never aspired to the lead roles—but whatever subsidiary role he played in any of the films, he performed better than the supposed main players. He had a genuine love for anyone he came across and his house was a permanent residence for dozens of near and far relations and acquaintances.

Question. With what tone does the narrator talk about Subbu’s literary genius?
Answer: The narrator talk about Subbu’s literary genius in a sarcastic tone.

Question. Select the correct option from those given in bracket to fill in the blank. The extract highlights that Subbu was ___________ (a pushover/vain) in nature.
Answer: vain

Question. Complete the sentence suitably. The phrase ‘deftly etched’ shows that Subbu _________ .
Answer: was skillful in creating the characters.

Question. Why does the narrator say that Subbu never aspire to be a lead actor even though he was an amazing actor?
Answer: The narrator says that Subbu never aspired to be a lead actor because he was not an amazing actor. By calling him an amazing actor, the narrator is actually mocking Subbu.

Question. Which of these statements is not true about Subbu?
(a) His literary accomplishments stole the limelight from his films,
(b) He was a gifted poet and writer and his literary works were noteworthy,
(c) He was selfless in nature and was empathetic towards others,
(d) He never hankered after lead roles and performed minor roles in films.
Answer: (a) His literary accomplishments stole the limelight from his films.

Question. Pick the option that best describes Subbu according to the extract.
1. benevolent | 2. powerful | 3. accomplished | 4. witty | 5. generous | 6. temperamental
(a) 4, 5 and 6
(b) 2, 3 and 4
(c) 1, 3 and 5
(d) 3, 4 and 6
Answer: (c) 1, 3 and 5