Poets and Pancakes Notes

CLASS 12TH
ENGLISH
POETS AND PANCAKES
About the Author:

Asokamitran (22 September 1931-23 March 2017) was a famous Tamil writer and Sahitya Akademi winner.
He was one of the few writers who wrote fluently in both Tamil and English. In a career spanning over six
decades, he wrote 8 novels, 20 novellas and hundreds of short stories, on a wide range of issues. He spent
the initial years of his career in the famous Gemini Studios of Chennai. Although he was entrusted with the
clerical task of cutting and pasting newspaper articles, he learned a lot about the functioning of Gemini
Studios, which he humorously depicted in his autobiographical book My Years with Boss.
Introduction:
‘Poets and Pancakes’ fondly remembers the glorious Gemini Studios which was the hub of activity for all the
people associated with films. It is a sarcastic and humorous depiction of the various people who visited the
place. The extract is autobiographical in nature and subtly hints at the changes brought in by the passage of
time. The author has used an easy and conversational style to sketch the humorous image of what went on at
the studio. The entire extract is marked by subtle satire, a gorgeous undercurrent of humour and an
engrossing portrayal of people who thrive despite hardships. The story focuses on the many aspects of
contemporary life and on human situations and tendencies.
Theme:
1. Nepotism and Fawning at the place of work:

Kothamangalam Subbu reaches the position of second in command at the Gemini Studios because of
favouritism, by virtue of being born a Brahman. He had the ability to look cheerful at all times even after a
flop film. He was a poet, a novelist, and yet, the office boy believes that all this success might have been
because he seemed so close and intimate with ‘The Boss’.
2. Hierarchy at the place of work

A strict hierarchy was maintained in the makeup department. The chief make-up man applied make-up on the
chief actors and actresses, his senior assistant looked after the second hero and heroine, and the junior
assistant looked after the comedian. The office boy, the one who feels jealous of Subbu, is on the lowest
stage of the hierarchical ladder.
3. Social Integration at the place of work
While partiality, flattery and grading order are argumentative in nature, it is surprising to know that social
assimilation was closely followed in Gemini Studios. As such, the make-up department was first headed by a
Bengali who was succeeded by a Maharashtrian. The Maharashtrian was assisted by a Dharwar Kannadiga, an
Andhra, a Madras Indian Christian, an Anglo-Burmese and then, of course, there were the local Tamils.
4. Publicity at the place of work
Unfortunately, Gemini Studios became a battlefield for advertising in which the people, who worked in
Studios, became the confused, dazed and unfortunate victims in a war of attitudes and schools of thought
that they didn’t really understand! The Moral ReArmament army’s hidden agenda was to counter
‘International Communism’. It was with this express purpose that they visited Madras in 1952. Later when
Stephen Spender visited Gemini Studios, it was to propagate the virtues of Communism. Although his speech
was interspersed with words like ‘freedom’ and ‘democracy’, his accent left them ‘baffled’.
5. Jealousy at the place of work
Asokamitran describes jealousy at great length. In this case, there was one person who was jealous of
Kothamangalam Subbu. This was the office-boy who had entered the studios years ago in the hope of
becoming a star actor or a top screenwriter but he had not managed to any of them. He was in his early
forties and looked at Subbu with envy. In all instances of frustration, you will always find the anger directed
towards a single person openly or covertly and this man of the make-up department was convinced that all his
woes, ignominy and neglect were due to Kothamangalam Subbu. Subbu had managed to write poetry, he had
written a novel, and ‘He was an amazing actor’ all of which the Office boy had wanted but could never
achieve.
Message:
The narrative gives an insight into how different people work together despite their casual dislike for each
other and how different is the reel life from real life.

Poets and Pancakes Notes

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CLASS 12TH

About the Author:

1. Nepotism and Fawning at the place of work:

2. Hierarchy at the place of work

3. Social Integration at the place of work

4. Publicity at the place of work

5. Jealousy at the place of work

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