Nanabhai Bhatt
Nanabhai Bhatt | |
|---|---|
| Born | 12 June 1915 |
| Died | 24 April 1999 (aged 83) |
| Other names | Yeshwant Bhatt Batuk Bhatt |
| Occupations | |
| Years active | 1942–1988 |
| Spouse | Hemlata Bhatt |
| Partner | Shirin Mohammad Ali |
| Children | 9 (including Mahesh Bhatt, Mukesh Bhatt & Robin Bhatt) |
| Relatives | See Bhatt family |
Nanabhai Bhatt (12 June 1915 – 24 April 1999) was an Indian film director and producer who worked in Hindi and Gujarati cinema.[1][2] He is known for making over a hundred fantasy and mythological films,[3] including Mr. X (1957), Zimbo Comes to Town (1960), Lal Qila (1960) and the blockbuster Kangan (1959) starring Nirupa Roy and Ashok Kumar.[4][5] His first film, Muqabala (1942), was the first to feature the double-role or "twins" phenomenon in Indian cinema, wherein lead actress Fearless Nadia alternated between the good sister and the gangster's moll. The formula was subsequently emulated in numerous Hindi films.[6]
Early life
[edit | edit source]Bhatt, called Yeshwant Bhatt, was born in a Nagar Brahmin family[7] on 12 June 1915 in Porbandar, British India.[citation needed][8] He started his early career in films as a sound recordist with Prakash Pictures, working under his brother Balwant Bhatt, and then by writing "scripts and stories" using the name Batuk Bhatt.[9]
Career
[edit | edit source]He began his directorial venture when he joined Homi Wadia's team at Basant Pictures[10] by co-directing two films with Babubhai Mistri, Muqabala (1942) and Mauj (1943), under the same name.[11] He directed two more films as Batuk Bhatt, Homi Wadia's Hunterwali Ki Beti (1943) and Liberty Pictures Sudhar (1949).[12] Bhatt left Basant Pictures and started his own production company "Deepak Pictures" in 1946.[10]
Over the next few decades, Bhatt became a prolific filmmaker, particularly known for his work in the mythological and fantasy genres. He directed over 70 Hindi and Gujarati films, many of which featured religious and heroic themes. Some of his most notable films include Alibaba Aur Chalis Chor (1954), Zimbo (1958), and Lal Qila (1960).[13]
Bhatt was instrumental in shaping the mythological cinema of the 1950s and 1960s, popularizing stories from Indian epics like the Ramayana and Mahabharata through low-budget yet widely successful films.[14]
He was also a key figure in the Gujarati film industry, directing several Gujarati-language films such as Gajara Maru (1981) and Jaya Parvati Vrat (1982), which found success among regional audiences.[15]
Personal life
[edit | edit source]Bhatt was the patriarch of the Bhatt film family.[16] He was in a relationship with Shia Muslim actress, Shirin Mohammad Ali since 1939. The couple had six children – Sheila Bhatt, Purnima Bhasin, Kumkum Saigal, Mahesh Bhatt, Heena Suri and Mukesh Bhatt.[17][18] Later, Nanabhai married Hemlata Bhatt, with whom he had three children – Robin Bhatt, Parmesh Bhatt, Mamta Bhatt.[19][20] Between both of his parteners, he had five daughters and four sons.[21]
Bhatt died at Nanavati hospital in Mumbai from heart failure on 24 April 1999.[22][23]
Influence and recognition
[edit | edit source]- Honored by several Gujarati cultural organizations for his work in Gujarati devotional cinema during the early 1980s.[24]
- Posthumously recognized in retrospectives on early Indian cinema as a pioneer of low-budget mythological and fantasy filmmaking.[25]
- Commemorated by film historians and critics for his influence on the genre and as the patriarch of a family of filmmakers, including Mahesh Bhatt and Alia Bhatt.[26]
Filmography
[edit | edit source]As Producer
[edit | edit source]| Year | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1988 | Kabzaa | — |
As Director
[edit | edit source]| Year | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1982 | Jaya Parvati Vrat | Gujarati film |
| 1981 | Gajara Maru | |
| 1976 | Dharti Mata | |
| 1975 | Balak Aur Janwar | |
| 1974 | Jeevan Rekha | |
| 1968 | Jung Aur Aman | |
| 1967 | Baghdad Ki Raatein | |
| 1966 | Shankar Khan | |
| 1965 | Bekhabar | |
| 1965 | Aadhi Raat Ke Baad | |
| 1964 | Samson | |
| 1963 | Alapiranthavan | Tamil film |
| 1963 | Bhootnath | |
| 1963 | Naag Rani | |
| 1962 | Rocket Girl | |
| 1962 | Baghdad Ki Raaten | |
| 1961 | Teen Ustad | |
| 1960 | Police Detective | |
| 1960 | Lal Quila | |
| 1960 | Zimbo Shaher Mein | |
| 1959 | Daaka | |
| 1959 | Baazigar | |
| 1959 | Kangan | |
| 1959 | Naya Sansar | |
| 1959 | Madam XYZ | |
| 1958 | Son of Sinbad | |
| 1958 | Chaalbaaz | |
| 1957 | Mr. X | |
| 1957 | Ustad | |
| 1956 | Kismet | |
| 1954 | Watan | |
| 1954 | Toote Khilone | |
| 1952 | Sinbad Jahazi | |
| 1952 | Apni Izzat | |
| 1952 | Baghdad | |
| 1951 | Lakshmi Narayan | |
| 1951 | Ram Janma | |
| 1951 | Daman | |
| 1951 | Lav Kush | |
| 1950 | Janmashtami | |
| 1950 | Veer Babruwahan | |
| 1950 | Hamara Ghar | |
| 1949 | Veer Ghatotkach | |
| 1949 | Shaukeen | |
| 1946 | Maa Baap Ki Laaj | |
| 1946 | Chalis Karod | |
| 1943 | Mauj | |
| 1942 | Muqabala | It was the first to feature the double-role phenomenon in Indian cinema |
References
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- ^ Nanbhat Bhatt chapak.com.
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