Chapter 6

Poets and Pancakes Summary

The essay, "Poets and Pancakes" is an extract from Asokamitran's book "My Years with Boss." The Boss was S.S. Vasan, who founded the Gemini Studios which produced a number of films that influenced every aspect of Indian life.

Asokamitran talks about his days at Gemini Studios. He is known for his humour and gende satire. He explains us abouta make-up material. The brand name of this material was Pancake. This material was bought and used up in the studios. He gives name of few actresses who used that material. He suggests that the make- up department was located in a building which was believed to have been Robert Clive's stable. However, there were several buildings associated with Robert Clive's residence but this was not true as Clive's stay in India was very shortlived.

Further, he gives a description of the make-up department as a Symbol of national integration and the make-up room as a hair- Cutting salon Pancake and many other lotions made actors ugly as It was necessary to make them presentable in a movie. in the make-up department, there was a forty-year-old office boy with dream of becoming a star-actor or director or lyrics writer. His dreams remained unfulfilled, making him frustrated. For this, he blamed Subbu, who was No. 2 and a favourite of the boss.

The writer tells about poets who used to wear khadi and believed that Communists were monster He even tells about legal adviser who had been the member of the story department. He was at odds in the department and lost his job with the closure of story department. The legal adviser had even once brought an abrupt end to the promising career of a talented actress

The Gemini Studios even hosted a two-hundred strong Moral Rearmament Army (MRA) which showed two plays in the most professional manner. The plays became a good success and left their impression on Tamil drama. Later, the writer however, learnt that MRA was actually a counter-Communist movement.

The writer even tells us about Subbu, a man of many abilities and kind-hearted person. However, the office boys felt jealous of him, and cursed him.

The writer humorously tells of an English poet's visit to the studios.

Though royal preparations were done but the purpose of his arrival was a mystery for long time to come. At the studios, they had never heard the poet's name before. Further, they did not understand what he spoke. The poet also perhaps felt baffled.

Asokamitran's duty at the studios was to cut newspaper clippings on several issues and store them in files. However, anyone who saw him tearing newspapers thought he had no work. Thus everybody wanted to deliver some work to him.

The author saw a notice in The Hindu. A short story contest had been organised by a British periodical called, The Encounter The writer desired to send an entry. However, he wanted to know status of the periodical For this, he went to British Council Library There he found it He learnt that the editor of the periodical was Stephen Spender, the poet who had come to Gemini Studios.

After his retirement, he came across a book titled The God That Failed. It had six essays about failure of Communism. One of these says was written by Spender. The mystery of Spender's visit to Gemini Studios was cleared. Perhaps it had something to do with his anti-communist perspective.

We hope CBSE/MP Board Class 12th English "Flamingo" chapter 6 "Poets and Pancakes " Will help you

Written by - Ritik Rathore