G P Sippy

History of Indian film industry recalls legendry Bimal Roy two hat tricks of Best Directory [1954,1955, 1956 and 1959,1960,1961] at prestigious Film Fare Awards, Raj Kapoor for taking Indian Cinema to world platform but G P Sippy is recalled for producing a film which not created only world records of box office collection [1975 released Sholay] but even after decades of release still is a house hold name in India. This will be interesting to know that he had started life with carpet selling and went on to expand business to construction and hoteling before entering dream world of Hindi Films as a film maker.

Once in an interview talking about his profession Gopaldas has said after migrating to India two young sindhi appeared for Public Prosecutor selection and one who didn’t get selected was me. To other you know as the topmost Lawyer of the country and very witty politician, he was Ram Jethmalani.

From very first film “Marine Drive” released in 1955, all the films produced by Gopaldas Parmanand Sipahmalani – G. P. Sippy- have two common things, first established stars of industry featuring in the credits of the film which generates a good box office collection. second, he always paid more attention on the story and creation of characters during the shooting of film. This prolific filmmaker was also active at the platform of Film & TV Producers Guild of India and served the institution in the capacity chairman for four terms.

In the year 1968 during the making of “Brahamchari” he got very serious differences with Bhappie Soni, director of the film which resulted in not only delay of this film but also start affecting other film “Bandhan” with star cast of Rajesh Khanna and Mumtaz. These went on creating situations that Sippy has almost reached to decision of quitting from the film industry, but as destiny of Sippy being the master film maker was written years ahead of this so thing steeled down. He called his son Ramesh, studying at London School of Economics to assist him in film making, the duo went on make Sita Aur Gita with stars like Dharmendra, Sanjeev Kumar and Hema Malini which was among hit Hindi films of 1972.

1975 proves year of grand success on only for the Sippy films but also for the entire film industry as script of Salim Javed with star cast of Amitabh Bachchan, Dharmendra, Sanjeev Kumar, Jaya Bhaduri, Hema Malini and New comer Amzad Khan proved magnificent production of Sippy and Sholay resulted into biggest box office ever produced in Bollywood. Film went on to complete beyond imagination 286 straight weeks ran at Minerva Theatre in Mumbai. Sholay is the only film of Bollywood which has shown impacts on every walk of Indian life. Gabar’s dialogues “Jo Dar Gaya Samjho Mar Gaya” and “Kitne Aadami The” are still used as reference and creating humour by common people.

After the Zamaana Deewana [1995] he decided to retire from active Bollywood life, though 1997 released Hamesha was last film produced by him. He handed over all his business to son Ramesh Sippy. During his long successful ran he was felicitated twice with Film Fare award for Best Film. Christmas [25 December] day of 2007 proved last day for him to respire as he passed away due to liver ailment.
Birth Date: 14 September 1914
Death: 25 December 2007