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Short Summary

Poets and Pancakes is a chapter written by Ashokamitran. He talks about his time working at Gemini Studios in Chennai. The chapter begins with a description of the make-up department, where people from different parts of India worked together. The make-up artists used a lot of make-up called “Pancake” to prepare actors for movies. 

Ashokamitran worked in a small cubicle, cutting newspaper clippings. He felt that his job was simple, but some people, like the Office Boy, would disturb him by talking too much. The Office Boy was frustrated because he wanted to become an actor or writer but never succeeded. He blamed Subbu, a successful man at the studio, for his failures. Subbu was multitalented, working as an actor, writer, and director. He was also close to the Boss of the studio, S.S. Vasan.

One day, a group called the Moral Re-Armament Army visited the studio and performed plays. Later, an English poet named Stephen Spender visited, but people didn’t know who he was. His visit was confusing, as no one understood his speech.

In the end, Ashokamitran discovers that Stephen Spender was the editor of a magazine called The Encounter. He later finds Spender’s work in a book called The God That Failed, which made his visit clearer. 

Also Read:

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• Who was The Boss of Gemini Studios?

Detailed Summary

Introduction to Gemini Studios

Poets and Pancakes is written by Ashokamitran, where he describes his time at Gemini Studios in Chennai. The studio was one of the most important film-making places in India, founded by S.S. Vasan in 1940. Ashokamitran worked there, and his job was to cut newspaper clippings and store them. Even though it seemed like a simple job, he learned a lot about the people and the film industry during his time at the studio.

The Make-Up Department

The chapter starts by talking about the make-up department at Gemini Studios. The actors and actresses needed heavy make-up for the films. They used a product called “Pancake.” This make-up made people’s faces look shiny and unnatural. The make-up department was led by people from different parts of India. This shows the diversity of the workers, as they came from Bengal, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu. The head make-up man worked on the main actors, while the junior assistants worked on others, like comedians and extras.

The Office Boy

The Office Boy in the make-up department was in his forties. He wanted to be an actor or a writer but ended up doing small jobs like applying make-up to the crowd players. He was frustrated with his life and blamed Kothamangalam Subbu for his failures. The Office Boy often lectured Ashokamitran about how his talent was wasted, which made Ashokamitran want crowd-shooting days so that the Office Boy would be busy.

Kothamangalam Subbu

Kothamangalam Subbu was the number two man at Gemini Studios. He was multitalented and worked as an actor, writer, and director. Subbu had the ability to solve problems quickly, especially when it came to creating scenes for movies. He was always cheerful and had a big heart, helping many people. His house was always open to relatives and friends, and he supported them financially. Even though he was a kind and helpful person, some people disliked him, especially the Office Boy.

The Lawyer

The Story Department at Gemini Studios had a lawyer who was supposed to give legal advice, but people jokingly called him the “opposite” because of his calm and quiet nature. He once calmed down an angry actress by recording her shouting and playing it back to her, which ended her acting career. He seemed out of place in a creative environment filled with dreamers and poets, as he was a man of logic and reason.

Poets at Gemini Studios

Gemini Studios was a place where many poets and writers worked. Some of the famous poets were S.D.S. Yogiar, Sangu Subramanyam, and Harindranath Chattopadhyaya. The staff loved discussing poetry and were supporters of Gandhiji, but they didn’t know much about political ideologies, especially Communism. They thought Communists were godless people who caused unrest.

The Moral Re-Armament Army

In 1952, a group called the Moral Re-Armament Army (MRA) visited Gemini Studios. This group performed plays like Jotham Valley and The Forgotten Factor. The plays had simple messages but great costumes and sets. The people at Gemini Studios and the Tamil drama community were impressed by these plays, and many Tamil plays started copying the MRA’s style.

The Visit of Stephen Spender

A few months after the MRA visit, an English poet named Stephen Spender came to Gemini Studios. The staff at the studio didn’t know who he was. Some had heard of famous English poets like Wordsworth and Tennyson, but they had no idea who Stephen Spender was. When Spender gave a speech, no one could understand him because of his heavy accent, and his visit remained a mystery to everyone.

The Encounter with Stephen Spender

Later, Ashokamitran found out that Stephen Spender was the editor of a British magazine called The Encounter. He realized that Spender’s visit wasn’t random and was connected to his work as a poet and editor. He also discovered that Spender had written an essay in the book The God That Failed, which talked about people’s journeys into and out of Communism.

Conclusion

In the end, Poets and Pancakes gives a humorous view of life at Gemini Studios. Ashokamitran describes the different people he met there, like the Office Boy, Subbu, and Stephen Spender. Through gentle humor, he highlights the differences in personalities and how people often misunderstand each other.

Point-Wise Summary of Poets and Pancakes:

1. Gemini Studios: The chapter is about Ashokamitran’s time at Gemini Studios in Chennai, a famous film-making place founded by S.S. Vasan in 1940.

2. Make-up Department: The make-up department used heavy make-up, called “Pancake,” on actors. It was a diverse team from different parts of India.

3. Office Boy: The Office Boy was frustrated because he wanted to be an actor or writer, but ended up applying make-up to extras. He blamed Subbu for his failures.

4. Kothamangalam Subbu: Subbu was a multitalented man who worked as an actor, writer, and director. He helped many people but also had enemies like the Office Boy.

5. The Lawyer: The lawyer in the Story Department was a quiet, logical man who once ended an actress’s career by recording her outburst and playing it back.

6. Poets at the Studio: Many poets worked at Gemini Studios, but they lacked understanding of political ideas, especially Communism.

7. Moral Re-Armament Army: In 1952, the MRA group visited and performed plays that greatly impressed the Gemini Studios staff and the Tamil drama community.

8. Stephen Spender’s Visit: An English poet named Stephen Spender visited the studio, but the staff didn’t know who he was, and his speech confused them.

9. Discovery of Stephen Spender: Later, Ashokamitran found out that Stephen Spender was the editor of The Encounter magazine and wrote about Communism in The God That Failed.

10. Humor and Misunderstanding: The chapter humorously shows the misunderstandings and personalities at Gemini Studios, giving insight into the life behind the scenes.