G. P. Sippy

Gopaldas Parmanand Sipahimalani (14 September 1914 — 25 December 2007), better known as G. P. Sippy, was an Indian film producer and director who worked in the

Biography

Sippy was born in

Sippy's father's name was Parmanand Sipahimalani and the family are Sindhi Hindus. The family was based in Karachi until 1947, when the partition of India took place and Pakistan was created. The entire province of Sindh became part of Pakistan. Most of the Hindus of Sindh were compelled to abandon their homes, lands and properties to go as refugees to India. This was the fate of the Sipahimalani family, whose wealth made them the target of particular spite and attack. Sippy and his wife Mohini were already the parents of two sons, and the entire family, including several other members, was compelled to abandon their home and property in Sindh and take refuge in India. G.P.Sippy was himself a lawyer.^[1] They moved to Mumbai (then known as Bombay) where they already had trading interests and some properties. Indeed, they were far from being penniless; they owned valuable properties in downtown Mumbai and also received partial compensation from the government for the properties they had abandoned in Pakistan. With these resources, Sippy decided to become a builder and property developer. He built and sold several buildings in Colaba and Churchgate, which are upscale neighbourhoods of downtown Bombay.

It was during the construction of Govind Mahal building on sea-facing

Sippy was married at a young age to Mohini Devi, a lady of his own community and similar background, in a match arranged by their families in the usual Indian manner. They had four sons (Ajit, Ramesh, Vijay and Suresh) and a daughter (Soni Uttamsingh).

Sippy was a race horse owner as well and one of his female horses was named after his hit film

Sippy's second son, Ramesh Sippy, is a successful filmmaker, most famous for the all-time blockbuster hit Sholay (1975) and the hugely successful TV serial Buniyaad which was telecast in the 1980s. His other son Vijay was also active in the film industry, but success largely eluded him. Vijay died in 1998 by falling off the balcony of his house, shortly after his last film, Hameshaa had flopped, and it is suspected that he committed suicide. His death was a great blow to Sippy, who was also fated to witness the death of his only daughter Soni Uttamsingh.

Sippy died in 2007 at the age of 93.

Filmography

Producer

• Hameshaa (1997)
• Zamaana Deewana (1995)
• Aatish: Feel the Fire (1994)
• Raju Ban Gaya Gentleman (1992)
• Patthar Ke Phool (1991)
• Bhrashtachar (1989)
• Saagar
  (1985)
• Shaan (1980)
• Ahsaas (1979)
• Trishna (1978)
• Sholay (1975)
• Seeta Aur Geeta (1972)
• Andaz (1971)
• Bandhan (1969)
• Brahmachari
  (1968/I)
• Mere Sanam (1965)
• Bhai-Bahen (1959)
• 12 O'Clock (1958)
• Shahenshah (1953)
• Sazaa (1951)

Director

• Mr. India (1961)
• Bhai-Bahen (1959)
• Light House (1958)
• Shrimati 420 (1956)
• Adl-e-Jehangir (1955)
• Marine Drive (1955)

References

External links

G. P. Sippy at