Poets and Pancakes
Asokamitran’s Poets and Pancakes is an autobiographical piece describing his experiences at Gemini Studios, one of India’s most influential film companies. The essay humorously portrays the functioning of the studio, its characters, and its connection with politics and literature.
The title comes from “Pancake,” the brand of make-up material used in abundance at the studio. The make-up room, housed in a building once Robert Clive’s stables, was staffed by men from different regions, reflecting national integration. Their task was to plaster actors with pancake, often making them look grotesque. The office boy, disappointed with his minor role, blamed Subbu, the No. 2 at Gemini Studios, for his failures.
Kothamangalam Subbu emerges as a many-sided genius — poet, actor, screenplay writer, and novelist. His loyalty to the Boss, S.S. Vasan, and his creativity made him indispensable. Yet, his sycophantic demeanour earned him enemies. Another character, the legal adviser, ironically ruined an actress’s career by recording her angry outburst and playing it back to her.
The story department, filled with poets and dreamers, spent more time discussing than writing. Most wore khadi and followed Gandhi but lacked deeper political awareness. They despised Communism, influenced by rumours of its violence. When Frank Buchman’s Moral Re-Armament Army visited, their professional plays greatly impressed the studio, influencing Tamil theatre for years.
Later, an English visitor, Stephen Spender, delivered a baffling lecture. The studio staff, unfamiliar with English poetry and unable to follow his accent, found it meaningless. For years, the visit remained a mystery until the author discovered Spender’s connection with Encounter magazine and the book The God That Failed.
The essay blends humour, satire, and nostalgia. It captures the contradictions of a film studio where barbers became make-up men, poets became scriptwriters, and a lawyer lost his job because the poets were dismissed. Asokamitran portrays human weaknesses with gentle humour, making the narrative engaging while providing insights into the film industry of the 1940s–50s.
Ultimately, Poets and Pancakes is not only about films but also about creativity, disillusionment, and the absurdities of life. It reflects how literature, politics, and cinema intertwined in unexpected ways in India’s cultural history.
Word Count: ~503