1. Notice these words and expressions in text the. Infer their meaning. Infer their meaning from the context.
Blew over - give a long speech of criticism.
was struck dumb - render speechless.
Catapulted into - to shoot forth or launch
A coat of mail - an armoured coat made of chain mail.
Played into their hands - to act or behave so as to give an advantage
The favourite haunt - a frequently visited place.
Heard a bell ringing - stirring on often indistinct memory.
Think as you read
1. What does the writer mean by 'the fiery misery' of those subjected 'make-up'?
Answer:- By 'the fiery misery' the writer paints out to the pain and trouble of the actors which they face in the make up room. The heat produced by the lights in the make up room bring about a lot of discomfort to the actors.
2. What is the example of national integration that the author refers to?
Answer:- The author refers to the make up division of the Gemini studios as an example of national integration as the people from different regions and religious groups worked together in the same department. The department was held by a Bengali who was succeeded by a Maharasthrian. The other helpers included a Dharwar Kannadiga, an Andhra, a Madras Indian Christian, an Anglo-Burmese and the local Tamils.
3. What work did the 'office boy' do in the Gemini Studios?
Answer:-
The 'office boy' applied make up on the players who played the crowd. On the days of crowd
shooting, he would mix his paint in a big vessel and apply it quickly and noisily on the faces
of the players.
He had joined the studios with a hope to become a star actor or a screen writer, director or
lyrics writer. He was disappointed because his hope was went on vein and he remained as the
office boy.
4. Why did the author appear to be doing nothing at the studios?
Answer:- The author duty was to cut out newspaper clippings on a wide variety of subjects and store them in files. Many of these had to be written out in hands. The onlookers noticed him merely learning up newspapers. Hence to them he seemed to be doing next to nothing.
Think as you read
1. Why was the office boy frustrated? Who did he show his anger on?
Answer:- Though the office boy worked from a long time at the studio, he not get any opportunity. Thus he was frustrated. He had a good formal education and would write poetry also But his literary talent was being allowed to go waste. He showed his anger on Kothamangalam Subbu, the No 2 at Gemini Studio.
2. Who was Subbu's principal?
Answer:- Mr. S.S Vasam, the faunder of Gemini studio was Subbu's principal.
3. Subbu is described as a many-sided genius. List four of his special abilities.
Answer:-
The four special abilities of Subbu are-
(i) Subbu had the ability to look cheerful at all times.
(ii) His sense of loyality made him turn his entire. creativity to his principal's
advantage:
Film-making was quite easy with Subbu around.
(iii) He was literary inclined too a poet and novelist. He was an amazing actor.
(iv) He was the legal adviser referred to as opposite by others?
4. Why was the legal adviser referred referred to as apposite by others?
Answer:- The lawyer was in the story Department. He was officially known as the legal adviser. However his actions did nobody any good. He had unwittingly brought on end to the career of a promising young actress. Hence he was referred to as the opposite by others.
5. What made the lawyer stand out from the other at Gemini Studios?
Answer:- While everyone else at Gemini Studios khadi dhati and a shirt, the lawyer were pants and a Tie, sometimes with a coat, which made ehim stand out from others.
Think as you read
1. Did the people at Gemini studios have any particular political affiliations?
Answer:- Most of the people of Gemini studios were followers of Gandhiji and ware Khadi. Beyond wearing of khadi they did not have any particular political affiliations. However all against communism.
2. Why was the Moral Rearmament Army welcomed at the studios?
Answer:- The Rearmament Army was a kind of counter movement to international communism. The Big Bosses of Madras like Mr. Vasan simple played into their hands. So the Moral Rearmament Army was welcomed at the Gemini Studies.
3. Name one example to show that Gemini studios was influenced by the plays staged by MRA.
Answer:- The plays staged by the MRA greatly influenced Madras and Tamil plays had a scene of sunrise and sunset in the manner of "Jotham Valley with a bare stage, a white background curtain and a tune played on the flute.
4. Who was the Boss of Gemini Studios?
Answer:- Mr. S.S. Vason was the Boss of Gemini Studios.
5. What caused the lack of communication between the Englishman and the people at Gemini Studios?
Answer:- Most of the 600 old people at Gemini Studios were Tamil speakers. The English was was addressing them in his own language, whether he was a poet or on editor. Besides when he spoke no one at the studio understand what he in intended to say as his accent was beyond their comprehension.
6. Why is the Englishman's visit referred to as unexplained mystery?
Answer:- The Englishman's visit to the Gemini studios is referred to as an unexplained Mystery because no one could decipher his identify. whether he was a poet or an editor. Besides no one at the studio understand his canguage as it is beyond their comprehension.
Think as you read
1. Who was the English visitor to the studios?
Answer:- The English visitor to the studios was stephen Spender. He was the editor of the Excaunter, a Brilish Periodical , and a famous English poet, essayist and novelist of the twentieth century.
2. How did the author discover who the English visitor to the studios was?
Answer:- The author did a research on the magazine . The Encaunter before investing money by participating in a short story context organised by the English periodical. When he issued periodical at the British council library, he discovered that its editor was stephen spender, the poet that had once visited the studio.
3. What does the God that Failed refer to?
Answer:- The God That Faild" was a compilation of six essays written by six eminent writers Andre Gide, Richard wright, Ignazio Silone, Arthur Koestler, louis Fischer, and Stephen Spender. The writers in each of their essays. descibed their jaurneys into communism and their disilleioned return".
Understanding the text:
1. The author has used gentle humour to point our human foibles. Pick out instances of this to show how this serves to make the piece interesting.
Answer:- The instances of humour, used by the author, mark the Eccentricities and idiosyncrasies with out making any direct and rude comment on anybody. For instance, the author portrays the make-up artists instance, the usage of the pancakes in an interesting way. Even the caricature of Subbu is hilariaus. The way he tries to help his principal by offering quick solutions to his problems is quite amusing. The episode of the legal adviser that inadvertently causes the end of an actress's carrur is yet another example. The frustration of the office boy, the superficial praising of Gandhi, hatred of communism, and the nystery surraunding Stephen Spender are some the instances where the author has incarparated gentle humour.
2. Why was Kothamangalam Subbu considered No.2 in Gemini studios?
Answer:- By means of Flattery, Kothamangalam Subbu secured a closest place to the boss. He was not brilliant but a rather cheerful person and exceedingly layal to the boss. He offered solutions. whenever the boss was in a fix. Thus the other employees considered him No.2 in Gemini Studios.
3. How does the author describe the incongruity of an English poet addressing the audience at Gemini Studios?
Answer:- At Gemini Studios, the English poet addressing the audience in English with a typical provincial accent. He was talking about the Thrills and travails of an English poet to a dozed and silent audience. This was the incongruity because his audience could not understand him at all.
4. What do you understand about the author's literary inclinations from the account?
Answer:- Though the author had a very tedious and unchallenging job at the studios, his interest in literature and writing is apparent in his willingness to participate in the short story contest arganized by the British periodical the Encounter. Moreover the author appeares to be a keen reader visiting libraries and buying books on wider-ranging topics whenever he could afford them. Besides, the narrative also establishes the fact that the author was one of the most knowledgeable persons in Gemini Studios.
Talking about the text
Discuss in small groups taking off from points in the text.
1. Film-production today has come a long way the early days of the Gemini Studios.
Answer:- Film production is more technical now a days. While earlier only five percent of the shooting was done outdoors, now a days outdoor shooting is no more limited to such a negligible percentage. The cameras and other equipment's are more advanced allowing for more varied and accurate presentation. The quality pf make up has improved many folds from the days of the Gemini Studios where only pancake was used. the people involved in various departments are experts in their specialised work. be it the director. producer, scriptwriter, lyricist or the actors. The overall quality of the films is more striking and lively.
2. Poetry and films.
Answer:- In India poetry and films are intricately linked. The people at Gemini Studios, all claimed to have the talents of a poet. The main reason behind it was their monotonous and leisurely life at the studios. However, these people were not knowledgable or educated enaugh to be poets. Unlike poetry. films can be enjoyed by people with little resources who can not afford to cultivate taste for poetry and literature.
3. Humour and criticism
Answer:- The story is interspersed with instances dipped in subtle humour. The humourous instances, however, make interesting and relevant comments on thebehaviour of general people. A humorous story has more readers, also a humorous films has more viewers. This is because they provide entertainment and a respite from the tedious existence. criticism by means of humour is more effective, hence writers and film-makers often use humourous elements in their works and make sarcastic comments and criticism.