Page 3 - Microsoft Word - LN POETS AND PANCAKES

Though the plots and message were not complex, their sets and costumes were near to
perfection so much so that for many years, Tamil plays displayed sunset and sunrise in a way
inherited from ‘Jotham Valley’.

STEPHEN SPENDER’S VISIT: A MYSTERY

After a few months, Gemini Studios got yet another chance to welcome a poet from England.

People made guesses about who was going to visit this time because most people knew a
few poets like Wordsworth or Tennyson, or the enthusiasts knew about Keats, Shelley, Byron
or even Eliot.

They were curious as to who was the one visiting Gemini Studios.The guest finally arrived at
around four in the afternoon. He was tall, and had a serious-looking british face (obviously)
which was unknown to almost all of them.

Boss welcomed him with a speech and the speech was evident of the fact that he knew about
him just as little as they did.

The speech was general but they could not help but hear words like ‘freedom’ and
‘democracy’.

Then it was time for the poet (or editor) to enlighten the audience but unfortunately, no one
could understand a word he was saying because of his British accent.
Everyone was left bewildered. The visitor was just as confused. People couldn’t understand
the reason why a British poet was there at a studio that made Tamil films and in between
people who couldn’t afford to develop a taste for English poetry.

His visit was indeed a mystery.

ASHOKAMITRAN’S RETIREMENT:

Asokamitran feels that writing cannot be performed by the intelligent because it is a task of
those who are patient and can do the hard work.

A writer should not have any feelings, not be bogged down by rejection and must be able to
prepare a lengthy prose, mail it to the editor alongwith a stamped envelope for return of the
manuscript.

For such writers, The Hindu had advertised that there was a short story contest organised by
a British publication titled The Encounter.

The writers at Gemini studio had not heard of the name. Asokamitran wanted to know about
it before he decided to spend money on mailing his entry and sending it to England.
He visited the British Council Library to get information. In those days, the entrance of the
library was simple, without signboards and notices and no one felt as if they were entering a
restricted area.