Nanabhai Bhatt


Nanabhai Bhatt 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, Lal Qila and the blockbuster Kangan starring Nirupa Roy and Ashok Kumar. His first film, Muqabala, 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 and Mauj, under the same name. He directed two more films as Batuk Bhatt, Homi Wadia's Hunterwali Ki Beti and Liberty Pictures Sudhar. Bhatt left Basant Pictures and started his own production company "Deepak Pictures" in 1946.
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, Zimbo, and Lal Qila.
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 and Jaya Parvati Vrat, 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, 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

YearTitleNotes
1988Kabzaa—

As Director

YearTitleNotes
1982Jaya Parvati VratGujarati film
1981Gajara MaruGujarati film
1976Dharti Mata
1975Balak Aur Janwar
1974Jeevan Rekha
1968Jung Aur Aman
1967Baghdad Ki Raatein
1966Shankar Khan
1965Bekhabar
1965Aadhi Raat Ke Baad
1964Samson
1963AlapiranthavanTamil film
1963Bhootnath
1963Naag Rani
1962Rocket Girl
1962Baghdad Ki Raaten
1961Teen Ustad
1960Police Detective
1960Lal Quila
1960Zimbo Shaher Mein
1959Daaka
1959Baazigar
1959Kangan
1959Naya Sansar
1959Madam XYZ
1958Son of Sinbad
1958Chaalbaaz
1957Mr. X
1957Ustad
1956Kismet
1954Watan
1954Toote Khilone
1952Sinbad Jahazi
1952Apni Izzat
1952Baghdad
1951Lakshmi Narayan
1951Ram Janma
1951Daman
1951Lav Kush
1950Janmashtami
1950Veer Babruwahan
1950Hamara Ghar
1949Veer Ghatotkach
1949Shaukeen
1946Maa Baap Ki Laaj
1946Chalis Karod
1943Mauj
1942MuqabalaIt was the first to feature the double-role phenomenon in Indian cinema