Nanabhai Bhatt

Nanabhai Bhatt (12 June 1915 – 24 April 1999) was an Indian film director and producer who worked in Hindi and Gujarati cinema. He is known for making over a hundred fantasy and mythological films, including Mr. X, Zimbo Comes to Town (1960), Lal Qila (1960) and Kangan (1959) starring Nirupa Roy and Ashok Kumar. 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.

Early life Bhatt, called Yeshwant Bhatt, was born in a Nagar Brahmin family on 12 June 1915 in Porbandar, British India. 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.

Career He began his directorial venture when he joined Homi Wadia's team at Basant Pictures by co-directing two films with Babubhai Mistri, Muqabala (1942) and Mauj (1943), under the same name. He directed two more films as Batuk Bhatt, Homi Wadia's Hunterwali Ki Beti (1943) and Liberty Pictures Sudhar (1949). Bhatt left Basant Pictures and started his own production company "Deepak Pictures" in 1946.

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.

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.

Personal life Bhatt was the patriarch of the Bhatt film family. 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. Later, Nanabhai married Hemlata Bhatt, with whom he had three children – Robin Bhatt, Parmesh Bhatt, and Mamta Bhatt. Between both of his partners, he had five daughters and four sons.

Bhatt died at Nanavati hospital in Mumbai from heart failure on 24 April 1999.

Influence and recognition Honored by several Gujarati cultural organizations for his work in Gujarati devotional cinema during the early 1980s. Posthumously recognized in retrospectives on early Indian cinema as a pioneer of low-budget mythological and fantasy filmmaking. 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.

Filmography

As Producer

Year Title Notes 1988 Kabzaa —

As Director

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