CBSE Class 12 English Poets And Pancakes Notes Set 04

Poets and Pancakes

About the Author

Asokamitran (1931-2017) was the pen name of Jagadisa Thyagarajan, an Indian writer regarded one of the most influential figures in post-independence Tamil literature. Born in Secunderabad in 1931, Asokamitran moved to Chennai in 1952 following an invitation from his father's friend, the film director SS Vasan, to work at Gemini Studios. After working at the Studios for more than a decade, he began writing about his experiences of working in the film industry in a set of columns for the Illustrated Weekly of India; these columns later became his book, 'My Years with Boss'.

Chapter Sketch

‘Poets and Pancakes’, an excerpt from Asokamitran’s book ‘My Years with Boss’, is a humourous and interesting account of his experiences while working at Gemini Studios in Madras. The chapter comprises the descriptions of personalities popular in the early days of Indian cinema. The focus of the chapter is on the various eccentric personalities and the vain behaviour of people in the industry.

About the Characters

• Boss: He is Mr. SS Vasan, the founder of Gemini Studios. He had a liking for erudite and scholarly people.
• Subbu: He is the no. 2 at Gemini Studios. He always looked cheerful and was highly resourceful, charitable and of a loving nature. He was also an amazing actor, poet and novelist.
• Legal Advisor: He was a lawyer working in the Story Department of Gemini Studios.
• Office Boy: He is in the make-up Department of Gemini Studios and does the make up of the players in the crowd scenes of films. He aspired to be a top film star, screen writer, director or lyric writer but was a highly frustrated man because he could not become any of them.

Summary of the Chapter

The Make-up Department

The make-up department of the Gemini Studios was located in a building which was said to be Robert Clive’s home. The make-up room looked like a hair-cutting salon, with large mirrors and lights at all angles. The make-up product with the brand name ‘Pancake’ was used in the Studios. Thus, it was not a very pleasing experience to get the make-up done here.

The make-up department of Gemini Studios was a symbol of National integration. Initially, it was headed by a Bengali, then by a Maharashtrian who was assisted by a Dharwar Kannadiga and others from different states of India.

Heirarchy and the Office Boy

There was a hierarchy in the make-up studious. The chief make-up man dressed up the leading actors and actresses. His senior assistant looked after the ‘second’ hero and heroine while the junior assistant took charge of the main comedian. The actors who played the crowd were looked after by the office boy of the department. The office boy was a man in his early forties, who had joined the studio to be a top film star, screen writer, director or lyric writer.

The Office Boy’s Frustrations

The narrator’s work in the studio was to cut newspaper clippings and store them in files. So, everybody thought that he did nothing and continuously lectured him. Even the office boy came to tell him about his frustrations regarding his failures.

The narrator mentions that the office boy felt that the source of his problems was a man named Kothamangalam Subbu, 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.

Subbu’s Talents

According to the author, Subbu was a cheerful man who was loyal to the Chief. He could offer countless solutions to the problems of the film producer. Subbu was also a poet who wrote poetry for the masses. He composed ‘story poems’ in folk refrain and diction. He recreated the mood and manner of the Devadasis of the early 20th century and even wrote a novel Thillana Mohanambai. In addition, Subbu was an amazing actor too.

Subbu was also a flatterer. He always said nice things about everything and everyone. His house was always crowded with acquaintances and relatives. He was really close and intimate with the Boss and so, had many enemies.

The Lawyer of Gemini Studios

The Story Department of the Studio comprised of a lawyer and a group of writers and poets besides Subbu. The lawyer was the legal Advisor who had unintentionally brought about a sad end to the career of a talented actress by recording her outburst against the producer.

The lawyers 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.

The Political Ideology of the Studio

Gemini Studios was a favourite place of the poets of that time. It had an excellent mess which supplied good coffee at all times. At that time, 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.

Most of the people at the studio greatly appreciated Gandhi. They opposed Communism and thought Communists to be violent with no filial or conjugal feelings.

Studio Hosts Frank Buchman’s MRA (Moral Re-armament Army)

The Gemini Studios was a host to Frank Buchman’s Moral Re-armament Army or The MRA which visited Madras in 1952. It presented two plays- ‘Jotham Valley’ and ‘The Forgotten Factor’, which were seen repeatedly by the members of the studio. 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 Mysterious Visitor

Soon another visitor was going to visit the Gemini Studios. The staff did not have any idea about him. He was rumoured to be a poet or editor. 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.

Recognising the Mystery Man

The narrator, then, refers to another event- a short story contest to be organised by a British periodical by the name ‘The Encounter’. The narrator wanted to have an idea about the periodical’s credentials before participating in the contest and spending on the postage. Hence, he checked at the British Council Library and found no information except 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 God that Failed

Some years after leaving his job at the Gemini Studios, the narrator bought a copy of a book ‘The God that Failed’ which was re-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. When the narrator found that Stephen Spender was one of the contributors, he realised the purpose of his visit to the Studios.

Word-Meaning

• pancake: powdery material used for make-up
• maiden: young woman
• incandescent: glowing white hot
• hierarchy: system in which people are ranked based on their importance
• crowd-shooting: film shooting requiring a crowd to be shown in the scene
• cubicle: small area partitioned off
• French windows: glazed doors in walls
• enlightened: given greater knowledge
• ignominy: public disgrace
• flop: totally failed
• refrain and diction: style
• improvident: not bothered about the future
• demeanour: outward behaviour
• sycophant’s: flatterer’s
• direst: worst
• temperamental: changing mood in an unreasonable way
• blew over: spoke angrily
• incriminating: guilty of a crime
• unmentionably foul: insult which is so dirty that it cannot be mentioned
• tirade: long angry speech of criticism
• was struck dumb: was shocked into silence
• catapulted into: suddenly facing
• unwittingly: unknowingly
• a coat of mail: it had many holes in it
• raw stock: fresh unused rolls of cinematographic film
• favourite haunt: place which is frequently visited
• radiated leisure: showed that they were free
• filial or conjugal: related to the family or the wife/spouse
• Gemini family: persons who worked in Gemini studios
• homilies: dull talks on moral issues
• played into their hands: did something without realising that it will hurt him and help them
• surmise: assumption
• precious little: hardly anything
• peppered: scattered in various parts
• bafflement: confusion
• cultivating a taste for: appreciating
• incongruity: unsuitability
• travails: hardships
• drudge: person doing dull or routine work
• Gemini literati: employees of Gemini studios interested in literature
• heard a bell ringing: realised that I had solved the mystery
• eminent: famous
• men of letters: literary personalities
• assumed tremendous significance: became important

Important Themes of the Chapter

• Inner working of the Industry: The excerpt vividly portrays a film company’s inner workings and personalities during the early days of Indian cinema. The narrative focuses on Gemini Studios and its mix of individuals, including poets, writers, actors and film-makers. It provides insights into the dynamics, hierarchy, and daily activities within Gemini Studios, shedding light on the roles played by various individuals and their interactions.
• Poets and writers in a film company environment: The excerpt explores the presence and influence of poets and writers within Gemini Studios. It delves into their backgrounds, creative pursuits, and interactions with other studio members. Asokamitran’s narrative skillfully captures the atmosphere of Gemini Studios, offering readers a glimpse into the cultural and creative milieu of early Indian cinema.