Vijay Bhatt
Encyclopedia
Vijay Bhatt (1907–1993) was a noted producer-director-screenwriter of Hindi cinema, who made such films as Ram Rajya (1943), Baiju Bawra (1952), Goonj Uthi Shehnai
(1959) and Himalaya Ki God Mein
(1965).
He founded Prakash Pictures, a film production company
and Prakash Studios in Andheri East, Mumbai
, which produced 64 feature films. Bhatt was one of the founding members of Film and Television Producers Guild of India.
, Bhavnagar district
, Gujarat.
While he was in his twenties, he moved to Bombay,along with his elder brother, Shankarbhai Bhatt, who took up a job, and went on to become a noted producer, younger Vijay enrolled in St. Xavier’s College, and completed Intermediate from the Science stream, and later received a diploma in ‘Electrical Lighting and Traction’ through a correspondence course from London.
, Gujarati
and Marathi cinema
.
His early film Ram Rajya (1942) was a bit hit, and also made news, when it was shown to Mahatma Gandhi
in 1942. In 1947, he took the film to US, where it was first shown at Museum of Modern Art
, New York
on 5 May 1947, later he also met noted Hollywood director, Cecil B. DeMille
His film Baiju Bawra (1952), which was based on the historical tiff between Emperor Akbar's court musician Tansen
and the talented singer, Baiju Bawra
, not just ran for hundred weeks in Bombay, becoming a diamond jubilee hit, but also established its lead cast, Meena Kumari
and Bharat Bhushan
. Meena Kumari
, who won her first Filmfare Best Actress Award
for the film, was launched by Vijay Bhatt in his film Leatherface (1939), as a child artist, "Baby Meena" (born Mahjabeen Bano),
a name that stayed with her for the rest of her career.
Vijay Bhatt was married to Rama Bhatt, with whom he had two sons, Arun Bhatt and Pravin Bhatt, and two daughters, and later six granddaughters and four grandsons. His son, Pravin Bhatt, was a cinematographer in Hindi cinema, and his grandson, Vikram Bhatt
, is a noted film director.
Goonj Uthi Shehnai
Goonj Uthi Shehnai is 1959 Hindi film directed by Vijay Bhatt, with Rajendra Kumar, Ameeta, Anita Guha and I.S. Johar as leads. The film has music by Vasant Desai and lyrics by Bharat Vyas, and the duo created numerous hits like Jivan Men Piya Tera Sath Rahe sung by Lata Mangeshkar, Mohd...
(1959) and Himalaya Ki God Mein
Himalaya Ki God Mein
Himalaya Ki God Mein is a 1965 Indian film directed by Vijay Bhatt. It won the 1966 Filmfare Best Movie Award. The film became a 'Superhit' at the boxoffice.-Cast:* Mala Sinha - Phoolwa...
(1965).
He founded Prakash Pictures, a film production company
Production company
A production company provides the physical basis for works in the realms of the performing arts, new media art, film, television, radio, and video.- Tasks and functions :...
and Prakash Studios in Andheri East, Mumbai
Mumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
, which produced 64 feature films. Bhatt was one of the founding members of Film and Television Producers Guild of India.
Early life and education
Vijayshankar Jagneshwar Bhatt was born on 12 May 1907, into the modest household of Benkunwar Bhatt and Jagneshwar Bhatt, who was a railway guard at PalitanaPalitana
Palitana is a city in Bhavnagar district, Gujarat, India. It is located 50 km southwest of Bhavnagar city and is a major pilgrimage centre for Jains.-History:...
, Bhavnagar district
Bhavnagar district
Bhavnagar is a peninsular district of South-Eastern Gujarat. Bhavnagar city is the administrative headquarters of the district. It had a population of 2,469,630 of which 37.86% were urban as of 2001. It covers an area of over 9940 km²...
, Gujarat.
While he was in his twenties, he moved to Bombay,along with his elder brother, Shankarbhai Bhatt, who took up a job, and went on to become a noted producer, younger Vijay enrolled in St. Xavier’s College, and completed Intermediate from the Science stream, and later received a diploma in ‘Electrical Lighting and Traction’ through a correspondence course from London.
Career
Vijay made his debut in Indian film industry by as a screenwriter, for director K P Bhave’s silent film, Vidhi Ka Vidhan. He eventually producing his first silent film, Delhi Ka Chhela in 1929, and went on to direct many notable films, in HindiHindi
Standard Hindi, or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi, also known as Manak Hindi , High Hindi, Nagari Hindi, and Literary Hindi, is a standardized and sanskritized register of the Hindustani language derived from the Khariboli dialect of Delhi...
, Gujarati
Gujarati language
Gujarati is an Indo-Aryan language, and part of the greater Indo-European language family. It is derived from a language called Old Gujarati which is the ancestor language of the modern Gujarati and Rajasthani languages...
and Marathi cinema
Marathi cinema
Marathi cinema refers to films produced in the Marathi language in the state of Maharashtra, India. It is the oldest and pioneer film industry in India...
.
His early film Ram Rajya (1942) was a bit hit, and also made news, when it was shown to Mahatma Gandhi
Mahatma Gandhi
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi , pronounced . 2 October 1869 – 30 January 1948) was the pre-eminent political and ideological leader of India during the Indian independence movement...
in 1942. In 1947, he took the film to US, where it was first shown at Museum of Modern Art
Museum of Modern Art
The Museum of Modern Art is an art museum in Midtown Manhattan in New York City, on 53rd Street, between Fifth and Sixth Avenues. It has been important in developing and collecting modernist art, and is often identified as the most influential museum of modern art in the world...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
on 5 May 1947, later he also met noted Hollywood director, Cecil B. DeMille
Cecil B. DeMille
Cecil Blount DeMille was an American film director and Academy Award-winning film producer in both silent and sound films. He was renowned for the flamboyance and showmanship of his movies...
His film Baiju Bawra (1952), which was based on the historical tiff between Emperor Akbar's court musician Tansen
Tansen
Mia Tansen is considered among the greatest composer-musicians in Hindustani classical music. He was an extraordinarily gifted vocalist, known for a large number of compositions, and also an instrumentalist who popularized and improved the rabab .He was among the Navaratnas at the court of the...
and the talented singer, Baiju Bawra
Baiju Bawra
Baiju Bawra is an award-winning 1952 Hindi movie directed by Vijay Bhatt. It stars Bharat Bhushan and Meena Kumari.The movie is based on the legend of Baiju Bawra from the days of Mughal Emperor Akbar in India. Baiju is the son of a musician who also grows up to be a musician...
, not just ran for hundred weeks in Bombay, becoming a diamond jubilee hit, but also established its lead cast, Meena Kumari
Meena Kumari
Meena Kumari , born Mahjabeen Bano, was an Indian movie actress and poetess. She is regarded as one of the most prominent actresses to have appeared on the screens of Hindi Cinema...
and Bharat Bhushan
Bharat Bhushan
Bharat Bhushan was an Indian bollywood actor, scriptwriter and producer, who is best remembered for playing Baiju Bawra in the 1952 film of the same name. He was born in Meerut, and brought up in Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh.-Personal Life:...
. Meena Kumari
Meena Kumari
Meena Kumari , born Mahjabeen Bano, was an Indian movie actress and poetess. She is regarded as one of the most prominent actresses to have appeared on the screens of Hindi Cinema...
, who won her first Filmfare Best Actress Award
Filmfare Best Actress Award
The Filmfare Award for Best Actress is given by Filmfare as part of its annual Filmfare Awards for Hindi films, to recognise a female actor who has delivered an outstanding performance in a leading role. The award was first given in 1954.-Superlatives:...
for the film, was launched by Vijay Bhatt in his film Leatherface (1939), as a child artist, "Baby Meena" (born Mahjabeen Bano),
a name that stayed with her for the rest of her career.
Personal life
The older brother of Vijay Bhatt was director-producer Harsukh Jagneshwar Bhatt. Other siblings included Shankarbhai Bhatt (producer), Labhshankarbhai Bhatt, Durlabhben Bhatt, and Nirmalaben Pandya.Vijay Bhatt was married to Rama Bhatt, with whom he had two sons, Arun Bhatt and Pravin Bhatt, and two daughters, and later six granddaughters and four grandsons. His son, Pravin Bhatt, was a cinematographer in Hindi cinema, and his grandson, Vikram Bhatt
Vikram Bhatt
Vikram Bhatt is an Indian film director, producer and screenwriter. He has more than 21 films to his credit. He is also the creative head of a conglomerate called ASA Productions.-Early life:...
, is a noted film director.
Selected filmography
- Dreamland (1936)
- Narsi Bhagat (1940)
- Bharat Milap (1942)
- Ram Rajya (1943)
- Baiju Bawra (1952)
- Goonj Uthi ShehnaiGoonj Uthi ShehnaiGoonj Uthi Shehnai is 1959 Hindi film directed by Vijay Bhatt, with Rajendra Kumar, Ameeta, Anita Guha and I.S. Johar as leads. The film has music by Vasant Desai and lyrics by Bharat Vyas, and the duo created numerous hits like Jivan Men Piya Tera Sath Rahe sung by Lata Mangeshkar, Mohd...
(1959) - Hariyali Aur Raasta (1962)
- Himalaya Ki God MeinHimalaya Ki God MeinHimalaya Ki God Mein is a 1965 Indian film directed by Vijay Bhatt. It won the 1966 Filmfare Best Movie Award. The film became a 'Superhit' at the boxoffice.-Cast:* Mala Sinha - Phoolwa...
(1965)