Ismail Merchant biography

Synopsis

Ismail Merchant (b. 1936) was an Indian-born film producer. With his professional and personal partner, James Ivory, the two set up Merchant Ivory Productions. They were successful in producing several highly acclaimed Hollywood films, including A Room With A View, The Remains of the Day, and Surviving Picasso. In 2002, he was awarded a BAFTA Fellowship for his contributions to world cinema.

Profile

Film producer, born in Mumbai (Bombay), W India. In 1961 he collaborated with James Ivory in setting up a film production company, Merchant-Ivory Productions. They made their first film, The Householder, in 1963, and achieved international success with Shakespeare Wallah (1965). Later works include The Bostonians (1984), the Oscar-nominated A Room With A View (1985), Howards End (1992), The Remains of the Day (1993), Surviving Picasso (1996), and Goldfish Bowl (2000). He also worked as a director, his films including The Proprietor (1996) and Cotton Mary (1999). In 2002 he was awarded, with James Ivory, a BAFTA Fellowship for outstanding contributions to world cinema. A memoir, My Passage from India, appeared the same year.