NCERT Solution - Poets And Pancakes

Q1: Notice these words and expressions in the text. Infer their meaning from the context.
blew over: give a long, angry speech of criticism or accusation
was struck dumb: render speechless, as by surprise or shock
catapulted into: to shoot forth or launch
a coat of mail: an armoured coat made of chain mail, interlinked rings, or overlapping metal plates
played into their hands: to act or behave so as to give an advantage to (an opponent).
the favourite haunt: a frequently visited place
heard a bell ringing: stirring an often indistinct memory

Think As You Read

Q1: What does the writer mean by 'the fiery misery' of those subjected to make-up'?
Ans: The intense heat produced by the bright, hot lights in the make-up room made the actors uncomfortable, sweaty and irritable. The writer calls this burning, oppressive discomfort the "fiery misery".

Q2: What is the example of national integration that the author refers to?
Ans: The make-up division of Gemini Studios is given as an example of national integration. People from different regions and religious backgrounds worked together there: a Bengali headed the department (followed later by a Maharashtrian), and the helpers included a Dharwar Kannadiga, an Andhra, a Madras Indian Christian, an Anglo-Burmese and local Tamils. Their cooperation despite varied origins illustrates practical unity.

Q3: What work did the 'office boy' do in the Gemini Studios? Why did he join the studios? Why was he disappointed?
Ans: The office boy applied make-up (pancake) to the extras who played crowd scenes. On crowd-shooting days he mixed large quantities of make-up and applied it quickly and noisily to many faces. He had joined the studios hoping to become a star or to work as a writer, director or lyricist, but he never advanced beyond being an office boy. He was disappointed because his ambitions and literary talent were wasted and he remained in that lowly post.

Q4: Why did the author appear to be doing nothing at the studios?
Ans: The author's job was to prepare and file newspaper cuttings on many subjects; some required neat handwritten copies. To onlookers he simply seemed to be tearing up newspapers, so he appeared as if he were doing nothing useful, although his work was actually important for the studio records.

Q5: Why was the office boy frustrated? Who did he show his anger on?
Ans: The office boy was frustrated because, despite a good education and literary talent, he remained only an office boy instead of achieving the creative career he hoped for. He expressed his anger at Kothamangalam Subbu, who, as the studio's No. 2, became the target of the boy's resentment.

Q6: Who was Subbu's principal? 
Ans: Mr. S. S. Vasan, the founder and head of Gemini Studios, was Subbu's principal.

Q7: Subbu is described as a many-sided genius. List four of his special abilities. 
Ans: Four special abilities of Subbu:

• He could always look cheerful, whatever the situation.
• He showed outstanding loyalty and readily turned his creative energies to assist his principal; this made film-making easier for the studio.
• He was literary-a poet and novelist-and also proved to be an accomplished actor.
• He had a charitable and affectionate nature, showing kindness to others.

Q8: Why was the legal adviser referred to as the opposite by others?
Ans: The man officially titled the legal adviser worked in the Story Department but, through his actions, harmed rather than helped people. He unwittingly brought about the end of a promising actress's career, so colleagues sarcastically called him the opposite of his official role.

Q9: What made the lawyer stand out from the others at Gemini Studios?
Ans: The lawyer dressed differently from most staff. He wore trousers, a tie and sometimes a coat, whereas most workers favoured a khadi dhoti and a loose white khadi shirt that served as the common uniform. His Western style of clothing made him stand out.

Q10: Did the people at Gemini Studios have any particular political affiliations? 
Ans: Most employees admired Gandhiji and wore khadi, but beyond that they did not show strong political commitments. Their main common political stance was hostility to communism, which set them against that movement.

Q11: Why was the Moral Rearmament Army welcomed at the Studios?
Ans: The Moral Rearmament (MRA) movement opposed international communism and aimed to promote moral and spiritual renewal. The influential studio leaders in Madras, including Mr. Vasan, supported MRA's goals or found them useful in countering communist ideas, so the MRA was welcomed at Gemini Studios.

Q12: Name one example to show that Gemini Studios was influenced by the plays staged by MRA. 
Ans: For a period, many Tamil plays copied MRA staging: a bare stage with a white background curtain, a scene showing sunrise and sunset and a flute tune-an influence borrowed from plays such as "Jotham Valley".

Q13: Who was the Boss of Gemini Studios? 
Ans: Mr. S. S. Vasan was the Boss of Gemini Studios.

Q14: What caused the lack of communication between the Englishman and the people at Gemini Studios? 
Ans: Most of the roughly 600 studio employees were Tamil speakers. The English visitor spoke in English with a peculiar provincial accent that few could follow. This language and accent barrier caused a breakdown in communication.

Q15: Why is the Englishman's visit referred to as unexplained mystery?
Ans: The Englishman's visit remained mysterious because nobody could identify him clearly-whether he was a poet, an editor or something else-and, when he spoke, his accent and manner made his meaning hard for the audience to grasp.

Q16: Who was the English visitor to the studios?
Ans: The visitor was Stephen Spender, a noted English poet, novelist and essayist who edited the periodical The Encounter.

Q17: How did the author discover who the English visitor to the studios was?
Ans: While researching before sending a short story to The Encounter, the author visited the British Council Library and read an issue of the magazine. There he learned that its editor was Stephen Spender and recognised him as the English visitor who had once come to the studio.

Q18: What does 'The God that Failed' refer to? 
Ans: The God That Failed is a collection of six essays by writers-André Gide, Richard Wright, Ignazio Silone, Arthur Koestler, Louis Fischer and Stephen Spender-in which each describes a journey into communism and a subsequent disillusioned return.

Understanding the Text

Q1: The author has used gentle humour to point out human foibles. Pick out instances of this to show how this serves to make the piece interesting.
Ans: Gentle humour in the account highlights eccentricities without harshness and makes the narrative lively. Examples include:

• The playful portrayal of the make-up artists and the ritual of applying pancake, which makes their labour both comic and vivid.
• The comic caricature of Subbu-his cheerfulness, flattery and eagerness to solve problems-makes his personality memorable and amusing.
• The episode of the legal adviser, whose clumsy interference ruins an actress's career, exposes human error in a darkly humorous way.
• The frustrated office boy, the boastful display of khadi as a fashionable loyalty to Gandhi and the exaggerated suspicion of communism are all treated with light satire that draws the reader in.

Q2: Why was Kothamangalam Subbu considered No. 2 in Gemini Studios?
Ans: Subbu secured the position nearest to the Boss through constant flattery and by appearing cheerful and indispensable. He offered ready solutions when the Boss was in difficulty and showed unwavering loyalty, which led others to regard him as the studio's No. 2.

Q3: How does the author describe the incongruity of an English poet addressing the audience at Gemini Studios?
Ans: The incongruity lies in an English poet speaking, in English with a peculiar provincial accent, to a largely Tamil audience that cannot follow him. He talks about the experiences of an English poet to a silent, bewildered audience, which makes the scene awkward and humourous.

Q4: What do you understand about the author's literary inclinations from the account?
Ans: The author is inclined towards prose and creative writing. He prepared to submit a short story to the British periodical The Encounter, showing his interest in fiction and in reaching an international readership.

Talking about the Text

Discuss in small groups taking off from points in the text.
Q1: Film production today has come a long way from the early days of the Gemini Studios.
Ans: Film production today is far more technical and specialised. Outdoor shooting, which was once a small part of filmmaking, is now common. Modern cameras and equipment allow varied camera movements and precise control, and departments such as direction, cinematography, sound and make-up are staffed by specialists. Make-up techniques have also advanced significantly from the days when only pancake was used. Overall production values are higher and films tend to be more polished and dynamic.

Q2: Poetry and films.
Ans: In India, poetry and films often overlap: many people in the studio claimed poetic talents, partly because the studio's routine encouraged reflective or idle talk. Yet genuine poetic skill requires study and depth that most studio employees did not possess. Films, by contrast, reach a wide audience and can be enjoyed without specialised literary taste, so they attract many who would not necessarily be readers of poetry.

Q3: Humour and criticism.
Ans: This account uses subtle humour to deliver criticism gently. Humour helps the writer point out follies in behaviour without direct harshness, making the critique more acceptable and engaging. A humorous piece tends to attract more readers and viewers because it entertains while it comments. For these reasons writers and filmmakers often combine humour with criticism to make their observations effective and widely appealing.