Director Homi Wadia

Homi Wadia Homi Wadia was born on 22nd May 1958 in Surat, Guj >> Read More... was an Indian filmmaker who often made fantasy films that appealed to both children and adults depending upon the particular film. His fantasy films often have an element of magic, myth, wonder, escapism, and the extraordinary events that are unlikely to occur in real life. He took help of Western technicians to make his films the most bizarre and imaginary, invented imaginary worlds, fairy tale settings, or other whimsical locales to entertain the audiences. Such films are ‘Aladdin Aur Jadui Chirag’, ‘Hunterwali’, ‘Zabak’, ‘ Hatim Tai Hatim Tai is a Hindi TV serial that aired on Doord >> Read More... ’, ‘Alibaba And 40 Thieves’, ‘Shri Ganesh Mahima ‘, etc.

Homi Wadia was also a great explorer of stunt movies and had given scope to talents like Prithviraj Kapoor, Ashok Kumar,  P C Barua, Nadira, K L Saigal, Meena Kumari, Jairaj etc. He was the co-founder of ‘Wadia Movietone’ productions in 1933. It is J B H Wadia who had founded ‘Wadia Movietone’ with his brother Homi, but when JBH wanted to make some socials, documentary and newsreels, Homi established his production house Basant Pictures in 1942.

Homi Wadia’s Basant Pictures made 152 films, most of them mythological between 1942 to 1982 from its base Chembur( Mumbai). Homi directed some, and others including Babubhai Mistri directed some. They made many A-grade, B-grade and even C-grade films too. Homi also directed starring Mary Evans, better known as ‘fearless Nadia’, later his wife.

He was born on May 22, 1911, in Surat, Gujarat. Homi Wadia is perhaps the oldest filmmaker of our country, who started as a cinematographer in 1993 and subsequently became producer and director. As a director, he had directed 40 films. He had a successful career over five decades. He closed his own studio Basant Studio in 1981 and decided to quit filmmaking. He died on December 10, 2004, in Mumbai.

Wadia Family Tree (Infographic Family Tree)