Poets and Pancakes explanation

Poets and Pancakes is a story from Asokamitran’s book *My Years with Boss*.
It tells about his time

working at Gemini Studios, a famous film studio in Chennai. The story is written in a fun and light-
hearted way, making it easy to enjoy.
The Makeup Department

The makeup department was a busy place at Gemini Studios. They used a makeup brand called
“Pancake,” which was very popular then. The makeup room was hot and uncomfortable because of
all the bright lights. A team of makeup artists worked there, and they were from different parts of
India, showing how people of various backgrounds worked together.
The makeup team had a strict order. The main makeup artist handled the top actors, while assistants
worked on supporting characters. The least important people, like extras in crowd scenes, were
painted by the office boy. The office boy was not a young man but a frustrated middle-aged man who
had big dreams of becoming an actor or writer but ended up doing small jobs.
Kothamangalam Subbu
Subbu was an important man at Gemini Studios. He could solve problems quickly and always helped
make films better. He was talented at writing stories, acting, and even writing poems. His cheerful
nature and ability to come up with ideas made him popular. Subbu wrote a successful book called
*Thillana Mohanambal*, which became very famous.
Even though many liked Subbu, some people, like the office boy, were jealous of him. They thought
he succeeded because he was close to the boss of Gemini Studios.
The Story Department

There was also a team of writers and poets at the studio. They were supposed to come up with ideas
for films, but they often seemed to have a lot of free time. They liked wearing khadi (hand-spun
cotton clothes) and followed Gandhian values. However, they did not have much knowledge about
politics.
One of the team members was a lawyer who also helped with legal matters. He once recorded an
actress's angry rant during a shoot and played it back to her. She was so embarrassed that she
stopped acting.
Special Visitors
Gemini Studios often had visitors. One of them was the Moral Re-Armament (MRA) group. They
performed plays about being good and making the world a better place. The studio staff and others in
the city enjoyed these plays.
Another visitor was an English poet named Stephen Spender. However, nobody at the studio
understood who he was or why he came. When he gave a speech, the workers couldn’t understand
his accent, and his visit became a big mystery. Later, the writer realized that Stephen Spender was a
famous editor of a magazine called *The Encounter*.
Humor and Fun

The story is full of funny and interesting details. It talks about the people at the studio, their jobs, and
their habits in a simple and amusing way. It also shows how the early days of Indian cinema were full
of creativity, hard work, and fun.
Difficult Vocabulary
Vocabulary List with Simple Meanings
1. Blew over: Problem or argument that ended.

2. Was struck dumb: Became silent due to shock or surprise.
3. Catapulted into: Suddenly thrown into an important situation.
4. A coat of mail: Stiff or protective clothing (used figuratively).
5. Played into their hands: Did something that helped others unintentionally.
6. The favorite haunt: A place frequently visited.
7. Heard a bell ringing: Remembered or recognized something suddenly.
8. Pancake: A type of makeup.
9. Incandescent: Very bright and hot.
10. Hierarchical: Arranged in levels of importance.
11. Disillusioned: Disappointed with reality.
12. Idiosyncrasies: Unique or strange habits.
13. Sycophant: A person who flatters others for personal gain.
14. Temperamental: Easily upset or moody.
15. Conjugal: Related to marriage.
16. Refrain: A repeated line in songs or poems.
17. Homilies: Simple moral lessons.
18. Incongruity: A mismatch or something that doesn’t fit.
19. Baffled: Confused or puzzled.
20. Drudge: Someone who works hard at boring tasks.
21. Disdain: Feeling of dislike or lack of respect.

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Poets and Pancakes is a story from Asokamitran’s book My Years with Boss.

It tells about his time

The Makeup Department

The Story Department

Humor and Fun

Vocabulary List with Simple Meanings

1. Blew over: Problem or argument that ended.

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