Shyam Ramsay

Shyam Ramsay Biography

Shyam Ramsay is a member of famous Ramsay Brothers family, known for making horror movies in Bollywood. India’s first horror film, Do Gaz Zameen Ke Neeche (1972) was directed by none other than Shyam. He is one among the 7 brothers of the group who has made horror movies like Band darwaza, Darwaza, Purana Mandir and Veerana during 1970s, 1980s and 1990s, which have acquired a cult following. Shyam Ramsay was considered the main artist and head of this group. They have also produced many horror shows on small screen like Zee Horror Show, Saturday Suspense, X Zone and Nagin for Zee TV. With early 2000’s he has produced less number of movies in Bollywood. He released one horror movie in Bollywood in 2014 titled – Neighbours.

His father F U Ramsay and his family came to Mumbai from Pakistan after Partition. His father is known for making movies like Shaheed-E-Azad Bhagat Singh, Rustom Sohrab (1963) and Ek Nanhi Munni Ladki Thi (1970). He assisted his father for Ek Nanhi Munni Ladki Thi (1970) at the age of 22. India’s first horror film, Do Gaz Zameen Ke Neeche (1972) was directed by Shyam. After that Ramsay brothers made approximately 32 films, and all of them were horror films. They reached a peak point in the late 1980’s where their low budget horror movies became commercial hits at box office.

Though he has faced criticism later for presenting ghosts not in a realistic manner and using bad makeups, in those days, particularly in the 1980’s technology was not sound. Also films were made on small budget. Thus Ramsay Brothers are regarded as the pioneers of Indian horror movies. Neighbours (2014), Bachaao (2010), Dhund: The Fog (2003) and Ghutan (2007) are his latest movies.

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Updated: June 16, 2014