NCERT Class 12 English Flamingo: Chapter 13 — Poets and Pancakes
This chapter, an excerpt from Asokamitran's 'My Years with Boss', delves into the author's experiences at Gemini Studios in Chennai. It highlights the studio's significant role in early Indian cinema and the author's seemingly minor yet informative role of cutting newspaper clippings. The text vividly describes the make-up department, its diverse staff symbolizing national integration, and the extensive use of 'Pancake' make-up. It humorously portrays how the office boy, despite his age, was responsible for applying make-up to the crowd players, aiming to create a flawless, albeit sometimes monstrous, appearance for the camera. The chapter offers a glimpse into the functioning of a film studio and the behind-the-scenes efforts that contributed to the magic of cinema.
Quick info
| Board | CBSE / NCERT |
|---|---|
| Class | Class 12 |
| Subject | English |
| Book | Flamingo |
| Chapter | Chapter 13 — Poets and Pancakes |
| Language | English |
| PDF type | NCERT Textbook |
| Session | CBSE 2026 |
| Reading time | 4 minutes |
| Word count | 710 |
Learning outcomes
- Understand the historical context of Gemini Studios and its influence on Indian cinema.
- Analyze the author's perspective on his role and the studio environment.
- Identify the significance of the make-up department and its diverse staff.
- Appreciate the humorous and descriptive narrative style of the author.
Vocabulary
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| catapulted | thrust suddenly into a new and exciting situation |
| haunt | a place frequented by a particular person or group |
| incandescent | emitting light as a result of being heated |
| hierarchy | a system or organization in which people or groups are ranked one above the other according to status or authority |
| integration | the process of combining two or more things so that they work together |
| pancake | a brand name for a make-up material |
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Practice questions
- Who was Asokamitran and what was his role at Gemini Studios? Answer: Asokamitran was a Tamil writer who worked at Gemini Studios, where his job was to cut out newspaper clippings on various subjects and store them in files.
- What was 'Pancake' in the context of Gemini Studios? Answer: 'Pancake' was the brand name of the make-up material that Gemini Studios bought in large quantities.
- Describe the make-up department of Gemini Studios. Answer: The make-up department was located upstairs in a building believed to have been Robert Clive's stables. It looked like a hair-cutting salon with many mirrors and incandescent lights, making the process of make-up quite uncomfortable.
- What does the diversity of the make-up staff suggest about Gemini Studios? Answer: The diverse staff, including a Bengali, a Maharashtrian, a Kannadiga, an Andhra, a Madras Indian Christian, an Anglo-Burmese, and Tamils, suggests a great deal of national integration within the studio long before it was a broadcast theme.
Practice MCQs
Q1. Who is the author of the excerpt 'Poets and Pancakes'?
Explanation: The text explicitly states that the excerpt is from Asokamitran's book 'My Years with Boss'.
Q2. Gemini Studios was located in which city?
Explanation: The text mentions that Gemini Studios was located in Chennai.
Q3. What was the author's primary duty at Gemini Studios?
Explanation: Asokamitran's duty was to cut out newspaper clippings and store them in files.
Q4. The make-up department was believed to have been located in:
Explanation: The text states that the make-up department was in the upstairs of a building believed to have been Robert Clive's stables.
Q5. Who was responsible for applying make-up to the crowd players?
Explanation: The text mentions that the players who played the crowd were the responsibility of the office boy.
Frequently asked questions
What is the significance of 'Pancake' in the chapter?
'Pancake' was the brand name of a popular make-up material used extensively by Gemini Studios, highlighting the studio's focus on appearance for films.
What does the author imply by mentioning the diverse staff of the make-up department?
The author implies that Gemini Studios, through its diverse staff from various regions and backgrounds, showcased a form of national integration much before it became a common theme in media.
Who was the founder of Gemini Studios?
The founder of Gemini Studios was S.S. Vasan.
What was the author's initial aspiration when he joined Gemini Studios?
The author, who was the office boy, had initially hoped to become a star actor, a top screen writer, director, or lyrics writer.
How did the make-up department contribute to the film's visual outcome?
The make-up department, using 'Pancake' and other materials, transformed actors into characters, sometimes making them look 'ugly' to appear presentable on screen, especially under studio lights.
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NCERT Class 12 English — Flamingo — Chapter 13 — Poets and Pancakes. Verified by NCERT Help Editorial Team. Reviewed on 29 Jul 2026. Last updated 10 Aug 2026.