Nariman Irani

Nariman Irani Biography

Nariman Irani was an acclaimed cinematographer and also a film producer, best known for his blockbuster hit starring Amitabh Bachchan, Don, released in 1978. The producer was going through a financial crisis, after his much anticipated project Zindagi Zindagi, his debut film as a film producer, flopped at box office. To come out of the difficult situation, many leading artists of film industry came forward to help him with another film taking less remunerations, and Chandra Barot, who was working as an assistant director till then, took the responsibility to direct the film. The film turned to be a blockbuster hit and Irani’s family managed to get over the debts. Unfortunately Nariman died in an accident before the movie was released, and he couldn’t see the huge success of the film.

Nariman Irani started his film journey in the 1950s, and as a cinematographer his first movie was Sone Ki Chidiya (1958). He went on to do acclaimed and successful Bollywood films in the 1960s and cemented his position in the industry. Manzil (1960), Phool Aur Patthar (1966), Saraswatichandra (1968), Talash (1969), Shor (1972), Roti Kapada Aur Makaan (1974), Chhailla Babu (1977) and Immaan Dharam (1977) are among his big movies. He also did the cinematography of his production venture, Don. But the movie was released posthumously, followed by Dostana (1980), his last work.

He turned a film producer with Zindagi Zindagi (1972) and formed a banner Nariman Films. But the huge failure of the movie made him almost bankrupt, and he continued with his cinematography work for movies like Roti Kapada Aur Makaan (1974), Chhailla Babu (1977) etc. A plot from Chhailla Babu was borrowed for Don, and a bunch of actors and technicians, who worked with him in Roti Kapada Aur Makaan came forward with the idea of a new film, to financially help him. That’s how the iconic movie Don happened. Years later his sons revived his home banner and released one movie, Shastra in 1997. The movie was successful.

Published: October 30, 2018

Updated: October 30, 2018