SUMMARY OF POETS AND

PANCAKES
In this lesson, Asokamitran talks about Gemini Studios and all that helps in keeping it in the spotlight. He
starts by making a mention about ‘Pancakes’, the famous make-up brand which Gemini Studios ordered
in truckloads. He then talks about the plight of actors and actresses who have to bear too many lights on
their face while getting ready in the make-up room. The make-up department, according to him, used
heaps of make-up to turn them into ugly-looking creatures. Shockingly, he talks about the office boy of
the make-up department whose task is to slap paint onto the faces of players at the time of crowd-
shooting. He was a poet and had joined the Studio in the hope of becoming an actor, screenwriter,
director or a lyricst. In those days, the author used to work inside a cubicle and had the task of collecting
newspaper cuttings which, according to others was insignificant. Thus, office boy would come in time
again, to bother him with his complaints. He was well-convinced that the reason behind his misery was
Subbu. He thought Subbu had an advantage because he was born a Brahmin. Subbu was a resourceful
man whose loyalty made him stand out. He was tailor-made for films and it was difficult to imagine film-
making without him. He was very welcoming and was known for his hospitality. Just like many others at
the Gemini Studios, he also did poetry. He worked for the story department which also consisted of a
lawyer. People generally called him the opposite of a legal practitioner. He was a logical and neutral
man amidst a room full of dreamers. Asokamitran then describes how Gemini Studios got a chance to
host a group of international performers called Moral Rearmament Army. Though the plots and
messages were not complex, their sets and costumes were near to perfection so much so that for many
years, Tamil plays displayed sunset and sunrise in a way inherited from ‘Jotham Valley’. Then another
guest, Stephen Spender comes to visit Gemini Studios. People had hardly heard of him and they
couldn’t even connect with him due to linguistic barriers. It was not until a few years later that
Asokamitran saw his name in a book and realised who he actually was.