Poets and Pancakes

Flamingo

Poets and Pancakes - Summary

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.

SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS
1. How does the writerdescribe the make-up room of the Gemini studios?
Ans. The makeup room of the Gemini studio had incandescent lights. It also had lights at
all angles, large mirrors. Those subjected to makeup had to face bright light and a lot of
heat there. It was on the upper floor of the o a building that was believed to have been
Robert Clive’s stables.
2. How was the make-up room a fine example of national integration?
Ans. The makeup room was headed by a Bengali, succeeded by a Maharashtrian, assisted
by aDharwar Kannadiga, an Andhra, a Madrasi, Christian and an Anglo Burmese.
3. How did the legal advisor bring a sad end to the brief and brilliant acting career of
an extremely talented in the studios?
Ans. The legal advisor (lawyer) quietly switched on the recording equipment when once
she blew over on the sets against the producer. When the actress paused for breath, he
played back the recording. She was struck dumb on hearing her own voice and never
recovered from the shock. That was the end of the brief and brilliant career of the
actress.
4. What does ‘The God That Failed’ refer to?
Ans. ‘The God That Failed’ refers to a collection of essays by six eminent literary
personalities, about their journey into communism and disillusionment. Stephen Spender
was one of the authors.
LONG ANSWER QUESTIONS
1. The author has used gentle humor to point out human foibles. Pick out instances of
this to show how this serves to make the piece interesting.
Ans. author uses gentle and subtle humor –bring out human foibles-use of pancake –
ostensibly to cover the pores -The actors look ugly. -Strict hierarchy. -people at the studio
imagined to be poets yet no idea about contemporary -Poetslaughingly brings out their
ignorance -wore khadi looked gandhian no idea about politics -no idea of communismMaterial
downloaded from myCBSEguide.com. 2 / 2
welcomed MRA, Stephen Spendor -Description of office boy-Description of
Subbuwonderful insight into character. -pokes fun at the ignorance of all the people -at
the same time projecting them as real people with human failings and eccentricities and
foibles.