Poets and Pancakes - A Critical Analysis of Important Themes

Poets and Pancakes by Asokamitran is an important biographical description of the Gemini Studios in the early days of the film industry in India. While its historical significance cannot be denied, Poets and Pancakes, in spite of its rambling style, also dwells on various important themes.

Important Themes

1. Favouritism and Sycophancy at the place of work

Kottamangalam Subbu reaches the position of second in command at the Gemini Studios because of favouritism, 'by virtue of being born a Brahman. He had the ability to look cheerful at all times even after...a flop film.' Subbu seems to be highly versatile as he can up with four alternative ways to do a scene. If they were not good enough, he could come out with fourteen other ways to do the scene. He was a poet, a novelist, and yet, the office boy believes that all this success might have been 'because he seemed so close and intimate with The Boss'. Another reason for Subbu's success might be that 'his general demeanour...resembled a sycophant's'.

2.Hierarchy at the place of work

According to Asokamitran, 'A strict hierarchy was maintained in the make-up department.' The chief make-up man applied make-up on the chief actors and actresses, his senior assistant looked after the second hero and heroine, the junior assistant looked after the comedian. The office boy, the one who feels jealous of Subbu, is on the lowest rung of the hierarchical ladder.

3. Social Integration at the place of work

While favouritism sycophancy and hierarchy are divisive in nature, it is surprising to know that social integration was closely followed in Gemini Studios. As such, the make-up department was first headed by a Bengali who was succeeded by a Maharashtrian. The Maharashtrian was assisted by a Dharwar Kannadiga, an Andhra, a Madras Indian Christian, an Anglo-Burmese and then, of course, there were the local Tamils.

4. Propaganda at the place of work

Unfortunately, Gemini Studios does become a battlefield for propaganda in which the people who work in Studios become the confused, dazed and hapless victims in a war of philosophies and schools of thought that they don't really understand! The Moral Re-Armament army's hidden agenda was to counter 'International Communism'. It was with this express purpose that they visited Madras in 1952! Later when Stephen Spender visited Gemini Studios, it was to propagate the virtues of Communism. Although his speech was interspersed with words like 'freedom' and 'democracy', his accent left them 'baffled'.

5. Jealousy at the place of work

Asokamitran describes jealousy at great length. In this case, there was one person who was jealous of  Kottamangalam Subbu. This was the office-boy who had 'entered the studios years ago in the hope of becoming a star actor or a top screenwriter' but he had not managed to any of them. He was in his early forties and looked at Subbu with envy. 'In all instances of frustration, you will always find the anger directed towards a single person openly or covertly and this man of the make-up department was convinced that all his woes, ignominy and neglect were due to Kothamangalam Subbu.' Subbu had managed to write poetry, he had written a novel, and 'He was an amazing actor' all of which the Office boy had wanted but could never achieve.

Important extract-based questions

Such a charitable and improvident man, and yet he had enemies! Was it because he seemed so close and intimate with the Boss? Or was it his general demeanour that resembled a sycophant's? Or his readiness to say nice things about everything? In any case, there was this man in the make-up department who would wish the direst things for Subbu.

1. Who is the 'charitable and improvident man'?

2. What is the contradiction in the first line and what does it expose about Subbu's character?

3 How did he resemble a 'sycophant'?

4 Who is 'this man' who has such negative feelings toward Subbu? Why does he have such negative feelings towards the number two in Gemini Studios?

It was some years later that I learnt that the MRA was a kind of counter-movement to international  

Communism and the big bosses of Madras... simply played into their hands.

1. Who is 'I' in the first line and what did he learn about MRA?

2. What is the full form of MRA?

3. Name two of their plays that were seen over and over.

4. Who was the Boss of Gemini Studios? How had he 'simply played into their hands'?

He wasn't the editor of any of the known names of British publications in Madras, that is, those known at the Gemini Studios. Since the top men of The Hindu were taking the initiative, the surmise was that the poet was the editor of a daily - but not from The Manchester Guardian or the London Times. That was all that even the most well-informed among us knew.

1. Who is 'He' in the first line of the extract?

2. Name one poem written by 'He' that you might have read recently.

3. Identify the name of the British Publication that 'He' was an editor of.

4. Identify the narrator of the above lines.

You might also like to visit:

https://rodrickwrites.blogspot.com/2019/09/poets-and-pancakes-questions-and-answers.html

Poets and Pancakes-Questions and Answers

How does the Make-Up section at the Gemini Studios display National Integration?

The make-up section at Gemini Studios is a perfect example of national integration. It was first headed by a Bengali. He was followed by a Maharashtrian who was assisted by a Dharwar Kannadiga, an Andhra, a Madras Indian Christian, an Anglo-Burmese and the usual local Tamils.

According to Asokamitran, 'All this shows that there was a great deal of national integration long before A.I.R. and Doordarshan began broadcasting programmes on national integration.'

People from different regions, religions and linguistic groups had worked towards a common goal, namely to apply pancake (foundation) on the actors and actresses so as to make them look good in the films.

How was hierarchy maintained in the make-department?

A strict hierarchy was maintained in the make-department. The chief make-up man applied make-up on the chief actors and actresses. His senior assistant applied make-up on the second hero and heroine. The junior assistant applied make-up on the main comedian. The people who played the role of the crowd were the responsibility of the office boy.

Why did the author appear to be doing nothing at the Gemini Studios?

Asokamitran's job was to collect newspaper clippings. He spent all day poring through newspapers, cutting up interesting articles for future reference. In today's times, we would say he did research. Seeing him sitting in his cubicle tearing newspapers all the time, people thought he was doing nothing.

Who was Kothamangalam Subbu? What is the author's attitude toward him? Why does the office boy feel angry towards K.Subbu?

The office boy's frustration and anger was directed at K.Subbu who was number two after S.S. Vasan. He believed that he had reached the number two position 'by virtue of being born a Brahmin'. Moreover, he had the ability 'to look cheerful at all times even after having a hand in a flop film.' He was loyal to the principal Mr S.S. Vasan and when there was a problem with the script, he could come out with four alternative options of the rat pouring affection on the offspring of the tigress that it had earlier killed!

It appears as though Subbu was a multi-faceted, versatile and a valuable asset for the Gemini Studios. He had apparently given direction and definition to the Gemini Studios during its golden years. But then, Subbu was also a writer. He had written several poems and a novel titled 'Thillana Mohanambal'. As an actor in subsidiary roles, 'he performed better than the supposed main players.' He seemed to be a philanthropist who had a genuine love for anyone he came across. His house was a permanent residence for dozens of relations.

Yet, Asokamitran expresses surprise that such a charitable man should have enemies! In a rather humorous and suggestive manner, he says, 'Was it because he seemed so close and intimate with the Boss? Or was it his general demeanour that resembled a sycophant's?' These questions seem to suggest that Subbu had risen up the ladder because of his being a flatterer, a sycophant and a 'yes man' for Vasan.

One might reason that the office boy's animosity towards K. Subbu could have been the result of not seeing his dreams of becoming a star actor or top screen-writer or even lyrics writer materialise into reality. Like Subbu, the office boy was even 'a bit of a poet' but then unlike Subbu he had failed to achieve the second position. The office boy was frustrated by his own inability to rise above his existing position in the Gemini studios and so he was jealous of Subbu.
Why was the Lawyer or the legal advisor referred to as the opposite by others? What made him stand out from the others at the Gemini Studios?

The lawyer who was grouped under the Story Department was also referred to as the legal advisor. But then he was called opposite by others because he was one of the reasons why a talented actress quit acting. He had recorded her tantrums and made her listen to it. She never recovered from the terror of listening to herself shout. The legal advisor, moreover wore pants and tie and sometimes a coat. Often he looked alone and helpless a man of cold logic in a crowd of dreamers.

What was the MRA?

The MRA or the Moral Re-armament army was a two hundred strong troupe of actors. They acted two different plays for the employees of Gemini Studios. The plays, Jotham Valley and the Forgotten Factor had very ordinary themes but the sets and costumes were very good. Asokamitran later learned that the MRA 'was a kind of counter-movement to international Communism'.


You might also like to visit:

https://rodrickwrites.blogspot.com/2020/02/poets-and-pancakes-critical-analysis.html