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1. Why do most celebrity writers despise being interviewed?
Ans. Most celebrity writers despise being interviewed as they consider it as an undesirable intrusion into their personal lives. Some viewed it an immoral and offensive activity. Some others feel it would ‘diminish’ them. 2. How is Umberto Eco’s non-fictional writing style different from academic writing style? Ans. Umberto Eco’s non-fictional writing style has a certain playful, narrative and personal quality about it whereas his academic writing is depersonalized and often dry and boring.
1. “Interviews an unwarranted intrusion in the lives of others”. Elucidate with reference to The Interview.
Ans. Value points:Interviews are common feature in Journalism – Most celebrities consider them as an unnecessary intrusion in their lives – “a horror of the interview”, “an ordeal”, “thumbprints on windpipe”- interview is a supremely serviceable medium of communication- the most vivid impression of our contemporaries -the interviewer holds a position of unprecedented power and influence.
1. What does the writer mean by ‘the fiery misery’ of those subjected to make-up’? Ans: The heat produced by the lights in the make-up room brought about a lot of discomfort to the actors in the make-up room. Hence the writer refers to this pain and trouble as ‘fiery misery’.
2. What is the example of national integration that the author refers to? Ans: The make-up division of the Gemini Studios was an example of national integration. According to the author, this is so because people from different regions and religious groups worked together in the same department. The department was headed by a Bengali who was succeeded by a Maharashtrian. 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? Why did he join the studios? Why was he disappointed? Ans: The office boy applies 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 the hope of becoming a star actor or a screen writer, director or lyrics writer. He was disappointed because he failed and remained only a ‘boy’.
4. Why did the author appear to be doing nothing at the studios? Ans: The author’s 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 hand. The onlookers noticed him merely tearing up newspapers. Hence to them he seemed to be doing next to nothing.
1. Why was the office boy frustrated? Who did he show his anger on? Ans: The office boy was frustrated because despite getting a good opening, he remained only an office boy. He had had a good formal education and would write poetry also. But his great literary talent was being allowed to go waste. He showed his anger on Kothamangalam Subbu, the No. 2 at Gemini Studios.
3. Subbu is described as a many-sided genius. List four of his special abilities. Ans: Four Special abilities of Subbu: (i) Subbu had the ability to look cheerful at all times. (ii) His sense of loyalty made him turn his entire creativity to his principal’s advantage: Filmmaking was quite easy with Subbu around (iii) He was literary inclined too-a poet and novelist. He was an amazing actor. (iv) He had a charitable and loving nature.
4. Why was the legal adviser referred to as the opposite by others? Ans: 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 to an end 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 others at Gemini Studios? Ans: The lawyer’s dress that he wore made him stand out from the others. He wore a pant, a tie and sometimes a coat also. Others put on a khadi dhoti with a slightly oversized and clumsily tailored white khadi shirt, which looked like everyone’s uniform.
1. Did the people at Gemini Studios have any particular political affiliations? Ans: Most of the people at Gemini Studios were followers of Gandhiji and wore khadi. Beyond khadi and wearing of khadi they did not have any particular political affiliations. However, they were all against communism.
2. Why was the Moral Rearmament Army welcomed at the Studios? Ans: The Moral Rearmament Army was a kind of counter movement to international communism. The Big Bosses of Madras like Mr. Vasan simply played into their hands. So the Moral Rearmament Army was welcomed at the Gemini Studios.
3. Name one example to show that Gemini Studios was influenced by the plays staged by MRA. Ans: The plays staged by the MRA greatly influenced Madras and Tamil drama community. For some years almost all 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.
5. What caused the lack of communication between the Englishman and the people at Gemini Studios? Ans: Most of the 600 odd people at Gemini Studios were Tamil speakers. The Englishman was addressing them in his own language-English. He had a peculiar accent. Hence, there was a lack of communication between the Englishman and the people at who could not follow what he was saying.