The rich Sindhi filmmaker – GP Sippy

Gopaldas Parmanand Sippy, mostly known as GP Sippy died at his residence on 25th December 2007. GP Sippy has been associated to Bollywood from 1950’s when he made the production house in 1955 called Sippy Films. Under the production house some of the best Bollywood movies were made. The ever watched movie Sholay is one of them.

GP Sippy belonged to a rich Sindhi business family and had huge money that he poured into movie making at the time when it was very rare to see heavy investments towards in Bollywood movies. The movie Sholay was made by son of GP Sippy, Ramesh Sippy and it got so famous that even today after more than 30 years of its release many advertisements films are made from the dialogues and scenes of the movie.

In 1970’s the movie was made from 3 crore rupees,then it was next to impossible to get such investment in movie makings and the result of making such a big project was that it gave Sippy’s 10 times in return. Even after 30 years of its release the movie is said to be watched full house in theatres at some place in India.

GP Sippy initially started investing in movie making through his production house but after producing some good movies he was unable to get a goods director for his movies and later his son Ramesh Sippy who was working at his studios in London, joined him in his business .He also produced movies like Shrimati 420, Light House, Bhai Behan, Mr India and Andaaz.

It was not only Sholay that was a super blockbuster of Bollywood but other movies made by GP Sippy and directed by son Ramesh Sippy like Seeta Aur Geeta, Andaaz, Shaan, Saagar, Raju Ban Gaya Gentleman were also big hit movies on the box –office.

Though the producer and director team of father GP Sippy and son Ramesh Sippy worked for long for the Bollywood, the Sippy family was mostly not into the Bollywood culture and Page 3 society. At the time of death of the producer GP Sippy and at the cremations none from Bollywood attended the last rituals.