Test: Poets And Pancakes- 2 - Class 12 MCQ

The lesson begins with Asokamitran telling us about Gemini studios. We learn about the very popular make-up brand whose name was 'Pancakes'. The Gemini studios use this brand excessively and orders truckloads of their products.

New York City, U.S. Greta Garbo (born Greta Lovisa Gustafsson; 18 September 1905 – 15 April 1990) was a Swedish-American actress. She stirred interest with her first American silent film, Torrent (1926). Garbo's performance in Flesh and the Devil (1927), her third movie, made her an international star.

In the lesson 'Poets and Pancakes,' the author not only described the production of films at the Gemini Studios but also gives a detail of some other activities. Pancake was the popular brand name there. There was a strict hierarchy of make-up man. The story department had its significant contribution.

Gemini Studios served as a breeding ground for innumerable artists and technicians for the south Indian Film Industry. The Gemini twins became a household symbol and the Gemini flyover was named after the original studio at that junction.

The Englishman who visited the studios was Stephen Spender. He was an English poet and the editor of a British periodical, 'The Encounter'. He visited the studio to deliver a speech at the invitation of Mr. Vasan who was the boss of Gemini Studios.

The author's job was to cut out newspaper clippings on a wide variety of subjects and store them in files. Most people saw him doing this and considered it as useless work as they felt he was doing next to nothing. So everyone in the studio thought of giving the author some work to do.

Subbu's enemy was the 'boy' at the make-up department. All his anger and frustration were directed against him.

Kothamangalam Subbu succeeded in securing the place closest to The Boss by means of flattery. He was not brilliant but a rather cheerful person and exceedingly loyal to The Boss. He offered solutions whenever The Boss was in a fix. Thus, the other employees considered him No.

The MRA staged two plays ‘Jotham Valley’ and ‘The Forgotten Factor’. These were presented in the most professional manner. The six hundred strong Gemini family saw these plays numerous times because of their fabulous sets and costumes. For years the Gemini Studios copied the sets and costumes in the manner of ‘Jotham Valley’. Also for some years almost all Tamil plays had a scene of sunrise and sunset in the manner of ‘Jotham Valley’

The Hindu had made an announcement about a short story contest organized by a British periodical The Encounter. He had never heard of The Encounter so he went to the British Council Library to find out about it. There he saw copies of The Encounter where he read the editor's name; it was the poet who had visited the Gemini Studios. His name was Stephen Spender.

Kothamangalam Subbu was treated with regard at Gemini Studios. He held the No. 2 position there. His sense of loyalty made him turn his entire creativity to his Boss’ advantage. Moreover, he had the ability to inspire when commanded and he made the art of filmmaking appear very easy. He was a most charitable and improvident man.

Frank Buchman’s Moral Re-Armament Army comprising of a group of two hundred people belonging to twenty nationalities visited Madras in 1952. The MRA was seen to be a counter movement to international communism and people at the Gemini Studios did not think highly of communism and communists. But Mr. Vasan, the boss at Gemini Studios was fascinated by the MRA, so they could not have found a ‘warmer’ host than Gemini Studios in India. The MRA presented two plays ‘Jotham Valley’ and ‘The Forgotten Factor’ in the most professional manner. Six hundred people of the Gemini Studios saw the plays many times. These plays conveyed simple messages but their sets and costumes were ‘first rate’. They impressed both the Tamil drama community and the Gemini Studios. The sunrise and sunset scenes of ‘Jotham Valley’ continued to be copied for years to come.

Subbu was a perfectly selfish go-getter whose obsequiousness brought him close to his boss and shot him to number two position at Gemini Studios. He was a very conniving person who took advantage of his boss’ gullibility and portrayed himself as a rather competent and able person. Though he was undeserving and lacked talent, he always remained cheerful and did not let anything dampen his spirits. He always had something good to say about everyone. Film-making appeared easy with an expert like Subbu around. He used all his energy and creativity to his boss’ advantage. Subbu was also a great poet and an amazing actor. He wrote truly original poems for the masses and as an actor he played secondary roles better than the main actors. His sycophancy to his boss earned him enemies. Also he angered many such people who considered themselves much more talented and deserving than him.

Because Makeup done to look presentable before camera.

The writer admired Subbu as he was a multi-faceted genius and gave a new direction and . definition to Gemini Studios. Subbu knew the technicalities and details of film-making and was a good actor and writer. He was civil, friendly and completely devoted to his boss, Mr. Vasan.