India's Effects Wiz Passes Away, Last Year

Babubhai Mistry is one of the few unknown heroes of early Indian Cinema, before the whole Bollywood-ization of the cinema industry. There were some really brilliant attempts in the case of visual effects and miniature photography. For example  first sci-fi film, Hindi space adventure Trip to Moon, made in India in 1967.

I came across this article (below) mentioning Babubhai's demise and a mention of his work, which is worth a read. Also if you're keen on spending 2 and half hours to see what 'Trip to Moon' looked like you can watch it here 

Ace Effects Wiz Babubhai Mistry Passes Away


source IndiaWest.com


MUMBAI — How ironic is it that the man who gave so much to Hindi cinema in every sense of the term should pass away so unsung? On Dec. 20 last year, ace special effects wizard, director and art director Babubhai Mistry passed away, leaving behind not just a celluloid treasure but so many discoveries that are now legends by themselves today.

But few, including those protégés, were aware of the fact that this genius, who gave seven decades of his life, was no more.

“We just gave a small obit in a Gujarati newspaper,” said a close relative when India-West called up his residence for an interview with the man who was termed a living legend and were told of the shocking news. His assistant for decades and nephew, Kamlesh Kapadia, works for the Sahara News channel and they too had carried the news. “Those who did not get to read or watch this never knew that my uncle has passed away, though we informed a few very close friends from the industry.”

As in his entire career, Babubhai Mistry was low-profile. His long list of major discoveries includes filmmaker Manmohan Desai, cinematography and special effects whiz kid Peter Pereira (whom he introduced as a DOP in his directorial venture “Parasmani”), director-cinematographer and special effects master Ravee Nagaich (all of whom started their sojourns in films as his assistant), and many others.

Babubhai J.Mistry was born Sept. 5, 1916, in Surat in Gujarat to a sculptor father, and so art lay within his genes. He came to Mumbai at 14 to assist Rangildas Mistry, his paternal uncle, who was a background painter for cinema. In those days in the 1930s, sets were rarely there. A one-dimensional background painting, just like on stage, was the norm. Mistry soon developed a tremendous interest in the camera and began to work with Shri renowned producer Shankerbhai Bhatt and director Vijay Bhatt on special effects; and also did many films with Shri Krishna Film Company. In 1942, he became Studio Manager of Basant Studios in owned by his filmmaker friends Homi Wadia and Nanabhai Bhatt, Mukesh’s and Mahesh Bhatt’s father. He made his debut as a director with “Muqabla,” co-directed by Batuk Bhatt.

In many films, Babubhai Mistry was billed jointly with other names or as associate director because he was mainly looking after the “trick photography,” as visual effects were termed in those pre-digital days. Mistry chalked up over 60 films as a director (in all of which he was director of special effects), more than 25 films only as a special effects man and about 40 films as an art director.

The most famous ones include his debut film “Muqabla,” “Sampoorna Ramayan,” “Har Har Gange,” “ Madari,” “King Kong,” “Samrat Chandragupta,” “Parasmani,” “Naag Panchmi” and the film “Mahabharat.”

Mistry was among the earliest to use the new “Chroma technique” and India’s first technician to use “Live Chroma,” in which actors were placed in front of green screens, the visuals added later.

Mistry was also one of the earliest names to use miniatures, saving his filmmakers a bomb in money. He made them look real by using wide-angle shots and special lenses, lighting and placement of camera.

Mistry even survived throat cancer, which was detected in 1962, and his larynx (voice-box) had been removed then. But he continued to “speak” with the aid of a gadget, and had his most prolific phase as filmmaker and special effects wizard after that! His last film was “Saki Hatim Tai” (1990) featuring Jeetendra and Sangeeta Bijlani.

In the ‘80s and ‘90s, his epic work included T-Series’ ”Shiv Maha Puran” (which he directed himself), Indian television’s greatest epic, B.R. Chopra’s ”Mahabharat” and Dheeraj Kumar’s ”Om Namah Shivaye,” in both of which he was in charge of Special Effects.