Babubhai Mistri (b. 1919)
Hindi and Gujarati director and cameraman born in Surat, Gujarat; also worked in Telugu film. India’s first and most influential specialeffects expert. Early career in Prakash Pics (1933-7) and Filmco (1938-45). Then went to Madras to work on Ellis Duncan’s Meera (1945). Returned to Bombay and, as director and art director, helped establish Homi Wadia’s Basant Studio (1942). Made a crucial contribution to the iconography of the postwar B-movie mythological, e.g. the miracle sequences of Nanabhai Bhatt and Wadia films (Jungle Princess, 1942; Husn Ka Chor, 1953; Hatimtai, 1956). Pioneering special effects include the invisible man in Vijay Bhatt’s Khwab Ki Duniya (1937) and the travelling matte shots showing the genie lifting the palace and flying through the air in Nanubhai Vakil’s Alladdin (1945). These sequences were admired by Pudovkin when he visited the studio. Also worked as art director at CIRCO. Directed several mythologicals and the stunt classic King Kong. Later films often feature wrestler Dara Singh. Continued working as a special-effects consultant for many productions, including the mammoth TV serial Ramayan (1986-8).
FILMOGRAPHY: 1942: Muqabala; 1943: Mauj; 1945: Ji Haan; 1953: Nav Durga; 1954: Tilottama; 1955: Shri Krishna Bhakti; 1956: Sati Naagkanya; 1957: Naag Lok; Pawan Putra Hanuman; 1958: Maya Bazaar; Samrat Chandragupta; 1959: Bedard Zamana Kya Jaane; Chandrasena; Madari; Veer Ghatotkajan; 1960: Hanuman Pathal Vijayan; Maya Machhindra; 1961: Sampoorna Ramayan; 1962: King Kong; Maya Jaal; 1963: Kan Kan Mein Bhagwan; Parasmani; Sunehri Nagin; 1964: Magic Carpet; 1965: Bharat Milap; Mahabharat; Sangram; 1967: Sardar; Shamsheer; 1968: Har Har Gange; 1969: Anjaan Hai Koi; Sansar Leela; 1970: Bhagwan Parashuram; Naag Lok; 1971: Brahma Vishnu Mahesh; Saat Sawaal; Shri Krishna Arjun Yudh; Daku Mansingh; 1972: Naag Panchami; 1973: Ranakdevi; 1974: Hanuman Vijay; Harishchandra Taramati; 1975: Maya Machhindra/Alakh? Niranjan; 1976: Veer Mangdavalo; 1978: Jai Mahakali; Amar Suhagin; 1979: Pati Parmeshwar; Har Har Gange; Amarsinh Rathod; 1980: Mahabali Hanuman; 1982: Sati Naagkanya; 1983: Sant Ravidas Ki Amar Kahani; Kurukshetra; Sampoorna Mahabharat; 1984: Maya Bazaar; Gangavatarana; 1987: Kalyug Aur Ramayan; 1990: Hatimtai; 1991: Mahamayi.