Nariman Irani


Nariman A. Irani was a Bollywood cinematographer and film producer. He is best known for producing Don made under his banner Nariman Films and for his work as cinematographer in Chhailla Babu. He died in an accident before Don was completed; eventually the film was a big hit and led to the Don film franchise.
As a cinematographer he is known for films including Talash, Saraswatichandra and Phool Aur Patthar, Roti Kapada Aur Makaan and Chhailla Babu. He won the 16th National Film Awards for Best Cinematography for Saraswatichandra, he also won the Filmfare Award for Best Cinematographer in the same year.
Irani, while working on Chhailla Babu as a cinematographer, decided to borrow most of the plot of Chhailla Babu and shared a modified story idea to Chandra Barot, who made the new modified story as the 1978 film Don. While Don was still under production he suffered a serious hip bone injury when, after a sudden cloudburst in November 1977, a wall fell on him while he was preparing to take a shot for another film at Rajkamal Kalamandir studios, Bombay during the making of Manoj Kumar's Kranti. He was hospitalised, but died a few days later. The rest of the cinematography and production was completed by director Chandra Barot with support from the cast and crew.

Personal life

Irani was a Parsi, although his surname is indicative of Irani origin. His wife Salma was a Muslim.

Legacy

His home banner Nariman Films was revived 18 years later by his sons, Nadir and Nadeem, with Suniel Shetty-starrer Shashtra.

Filmography

As a cinematographer

Sone Ki Chidiya Manzil Rustom Sohrab Phool Aur Patthar Bahu Begum Saraswatichandra Talash Shor Roti Kapada Aur Makaan Chhailla Babu Immaan Dharam Don

As a film producer

Zindagi Zindagi