CHAPTER-6

POETS AND THE PANCAKES

BY – ASOKAMITRAN

.ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Asokamitran (22 September 1931-23 March 2017) was the pen name of Jagadisa Thyagarajan, an
Indian writer regarded as one of the most influential figures in post- independent Tamil Literature.
He began his prolific literary career with the prize winning play "Anbin Parisu" and went on to
author more than two hundred short stories, and a dozen novellas and novels. A distinguished
essayist and critic, he was the editor of the literary journal "Kanaiyaazhi". He had written over 200
short stories, eight novels, besides other prose writings. Most of his works have also been
translated into English and other Indian languages, including Hindi, Malayalam and Telugu. His
works are characterized by simplicity and clarity of thought and drew from his professional and
personal experiences. His novel Karainta nizhalkal (Star-Crossed), for instance, drew from his
experiences with working in public relations in the film industry at the Gemini Studios. Most of his
stories revolve around the life of middle- class people. Other than Karainta nizhalkal-Thanneer,
Otran and Pathinetaavathu atchakodu are his masterpieces.

VOCABULARY

1. truck-loads: huge quantity

2. incandescent: glowing

3. ignominy: disgrace

4. despise: dislike

5. covertly: secretly

6. affluent: wealthy

7. subsidiary: minor or supporting

8. demeanour: behaviour

9. resembled: similar to

10. sycophant: flatterer

11. temperamental: moody

12. incriminating: implicating

13. barring: except for

14. peppered: full of

15. dazed: sleepy and confused

16. conviction: belief

17. persevering: determined

18. sneaking: entering stealthily

19. tremendous: huge

20. illumination: light or glow

ABOUT THE LESSON

This chapter has been taken from "My Years with Boss" written by Asokamitran. He worked in the Gemini
Studios, a very famous film studio of his time. His job in the studio was to cut newspaper clippings on various
topics and maintain a record of the same. Through this narratives, the author brings up a lot of topics pertain
ing to the film industry in particular and India in general. The readers also get an insight to the initial days of
independent India. The author first talks about the make-up department and humorously describes the
trouble the artists took to look 'ugly' and the pain they underwent under the glare of the big light bulbs. In
fact, the term 'Pancakes' refers to the brand name of the make-up material which was excessively used by the
artists of the Gemini Studios.

In the second phase of the chapter, the author talks about the office boy who is ironically a grown-up man of
40 who once aspired to be a director but blames Subbu, another major entity in the studio, for his current
state of affairs. Thus, Asokamitran highlights the plight of thousands of aspiring actors, directors and
producers who end in large numbers of oblivious jobs in any such studio. Kothamangalam Subbu is a man of
substance. He's very talented. He is a poet, novelist, actor and a film-maker. He is an all-rounder and very
loyal to the boss

Another character that comes into focus at the Gemini Studios is the legal adviser, who wears western clothes
among the group of people wearing khadi attire. The author also tells about the manner in which the leg
adviser ruins the career of the talented actress unwittingly. Communism also finds a place in musings d
Asokamitran. At that time, the people of India, especially the educated folk took pride in showing their
supportin Communism movement run by the West. In this context, he mentions the play troupe of
poet/editor who visited the studio. Later on, he discovers that the poet was, in fact, the editor of the then
famous magazine. The Encounter'.

ANSWER THE FOLLOWING IN 30-40 WORDS.

1. What does the writer mean by the 'fiery misery' of those subjected to make-up?
Ans. The 'fiery misery' of those in the make-up room suggests the discomfort caused by the bright lights fitted
at all angles. All of them when lit emitted so much heat and light that it was torturous for those who were
subjected to make-up.

2. What is the example of national integration that the author refers to in the Gemini
Studios?

Ans. In the Gemini studios, the people from different regions and religions working together presented a
glimpse of national integration. The make-up department was first headed by a Bengali. He was succeeded by
a Maharashtrian. He was assisted by a Kannadiga from Dharwar, an Andhra, a Madras Indian Christian, an
Anglo-Burmese and usual local Tamils. All this shows that there was a great deal of national integration in the
make-up room of the Gemini Studios.

3. Why did the author appear to be doing nothing at the Gemini Studios? (NCERT)

Ans. The author appeared to be doing nothing as his job was to gather relevant newspaper clippings.
Throughout the day, he could be seen tearing up newspapers sitting at his desk. This made others feel that he
had very little work to do.

4. What made the lawyer stand out from the others at the Gemini Studios?

Ans. Every other member of the Department wore a kind of uniform-khadi dhoti with a slightly oversized and
clumsily tailored white khadi shirt.However, the legal adviser wore pants and a tie and sometimes a coat that
looked like a coat of mail. Often he looked alone and helpless as he was a man of cold logic in a crowd of
literary enthusiasts. He was a neutral man in an assembly of Gandhiites and khadiites.

5. What caused the lack of communication between the Englishman and the people
at the Gemini Studios?

Ans. The people at the Gemini Studios could not understand what the Englishman was saying. His accent was
also different. It was very strange thing that an English poet was addressing the audience who was making
Tamil films. This caused a lack of communication between the Englishman and the people at the Gemini
Studios.

6. What does 'The God That Failed' refer to? (NCERT)

Ans. 'The God That Failed' is a book of six essays by six eminent men of letters that describe their journey
into communism and disillusioned return. Stephen Spender was one of the authors.

10. 'In a moment I felt a dark chamber of my mind lit up by a hazy illumination'. What
was the dark chamber? What did light up the darkness?

Ans. Due to Spender's British accent the normally educated staff could not understand his speech and,
therefore, his speech remained an unsolved mystery for the staff including Asokamitran. This mystery was
the dark chamber of his mind. When Asokamitran saw that Spender was one of the authors of the book 'The
God that Failed', he understood that Spender's speech at Gemini Studios was about his return from
communism. This realisation lighted up the darkness, means the mystery came to an end.

12. How was a strict hierarchy maintained in the make- up department?

Ans. A strict hierarchy was maintained in the make-up department. The make-up of the chief actors and
actresses was done by the chief make-up man. His senior assistant did the make-up of the 'second' hero and
heroine. The junior assistant looked after the main comedian and so forth. The people who played the crowd
were the responsibility of the 'office-boy'. This is how a clear hierarchy was maintained.

13. Who was Subbu's enemy? Why?

Ans. Even such a noble and charitable person like Subbu had an enemy. The 'office boy' in the make-up
department was the only enemy of Subbu. All his frustration and anger was directed against Subbu. He was
convinced that all his sufferings and neglect were due to Subbu. "the office boy" was jealous of Subbu's
success and his intimacy with the Boss.

14. Describe Frank Buchman's Moral Re-Armament

Ans. Army and its visit to the Gemini Studios. Ans. Frank Buchman's Moral Re-Armament Army (MRA) was a
group of two hundred people. They belonged to at least 20 nationalities. The MRA was a kind of counter
movement to international Communism. Most of the people at the Gemini Studios had natural aversion to
Communism. Therefore, the MRA could not get a better host in India than the Gemini Studios in 1952.

Answer the following in 120-150 words.

1. Why was Kothamangalam Subbu considered No. 2 in the Gemini Studios?

Ans. Kothamangalam Subbu was considered as No. 2 in the Gemini Studios because he was next in position to
the Boss. Apart from the fact that he was a Brahmin, was considered a headstart by many, he was a many-
sided genius. He had a creative mind as he could provide various alternatives as how a scene could be
presented. He was tailor-made for films and had a separate identity as a poet. He was also an amazing actor.
His sense of loyalty made him identify with the boss. Subbu could always be seen with the boss. He treated
everyone with respect and affection so much so that his home was a permanent residence for his relatives
and acquaintances. For all these virtues he stood apart from others and enjoyed a higher rank in the Gemini
Studios.