View source for G. P. Sippy

{{short description|Indian film producer and director}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2021}}
{{Use Indian English|date=May 2018}}
{{confuse|N. C. Sippy}}
{{Infobox person
|name = G. P. Sippy
| image = GP Sippy.jpg
| caption = Sippy holding a clapperboard with [[Shashi Kapoor]] (right)
|birth_name = Gopaldas Parmanand Sipahimalani
|birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1914|9|14}}
|birth_place = [[Hyderabad, Pakistan|Hyderabad]], [[Bombay Presidency]], [[British Raj|British India]]<br />(present-day [[Sindh]], Pakistan)
|occupation = Producer, director
|spouse = Mohini Sippy
|death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|2007|12|25|1914|9|14}}
|children = Ajit Sippy<br />[[Ramesh Sippy]]<br />Vijay Sippy<br />Suresh Sippy<br />Soni Uttamsingh (daughter)
| relatives = [[Rohan Sippy]] (grandson)<br />[[Kiran Juneja]] (daughter-in-law)
}}

'''Gopaldas Parmanand Sipahimalani''' (14 September 1914 &ndash; 25 December 2007), better known as '''G. P. Sippy''', was an Indian film producer and director who worked in [[Bollywood]].

==Biography==
Sippy was born in [[Sindh]], [[British India]] (now in [[Pakistan]]) into a wealthy trading family whose surname is actually "Sipahimalani". Their trading interests meant that they interacted frequently with the British and other Europeans, who found it difficult to say the name "Sipahimalani". Therefore they started saying "Sippy" as a mark of informal affection and also because it was easier on the English tongue. Thus the family received the surname by which it is now famous.

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.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Ram Jethmalani and GP Sippy: Friends who came to Mumbai to practise law|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/mumbai-news/jethmalani-and-gp-sippy-friends-who-came-to-city-to-practise-law/story-WVYvZA1qVSj7Y5cecjXhiP.html|url-status=live|access-date=21 July 2021|website=Hindustan Times}}</ref> 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 [[Marine Lines]] that Sippy sold the construction rights to a Muslim builder and used the money to finance his first film, ''[[Sazaa (1951 film)|Sazaa]].'' His friend [[Fali Mistry]], a [[Parsi people|Parsi]] gentleman, directed the film, which starred [[Dev Anand]] and [[Nimmi]]. Released in 1951, the film met with moderate success, but the film bug had taken hold of Sippy by this time, and he was to make his career in that field. After that, he went on to become a film producer and made films under the banner of Sippy Films.

Sippy is known for producing several popular Bollywood blockbusters such as ''[[Seeta Aur Geeta]]'' (1972), ''[[Shaan (1980 film)|Shaan]]'' (1980), ''[[Saagar (1985 film)|Saagar]]'' (1985), ''[[Raju Ban Gaya Gentleman]]'' and his magnum opus, ''[[Sholay]]'' (along with his son [[Ramesh Sippy]]).<ref name=bw>{{cite web |title=A homage to G P Sippy |url=http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/features/2008/01/05/3442/index.html |date=5 January 2008 |publisher=[[Bollywood Hungama]], Screen |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080521005617/http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/features/2008/01/05/3442/index.html |archive-date=21 May 2008 }}</ref>

Sippy remained the President of the [[Film Federation of India]] (FFI) for many years, first 1972–73, 1985–86, and then 1988–92.<ref>{{cite web |title=Presidents Of Film Federation Of India| publisher = Film Federation Of India|pages=1–2| url = http://filmfed.org/PRE-Members.html | access-date = 28 June 2014 }}</ref> He was the Chairman of the Film and TV Producers Guild of India for several years, and won the [[Filmfare Award]] in 1968 and 1982.<ref>{{ cite news | url = http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/BiSholay-i-producer-GP-Sippy-dies-b/254275/ | title = Sholay producer GP Sippy dies | date = 26 December 2007 | access-date = 26 December 2007 | publisher = Expressindia | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071229072416/http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/BiSholay-i-producer-GP-Sippy-dies-b/254275/ | archive-date = 29 December 2007 | url-status = dead | df = dmy-all }}</ref>

==Personal life==
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 Sippy|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 ''[[Woh Kaun Thi]]''.

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 film)|Saagar]]'' (1985)
* ''[[Shaan (1980 film)|Shaan]]'' (1980)
* ''[[Ahsaas]]'' (1979)
* ''[[Trishna (1978 film)|Trishna]]'' (1978)
* ''[[Sholay]]'' (1975)
* ''[[Seeta Aur Geeta]]'' (1972)
* ''[[Andaz (1971 film)|Andaz]]'' (1971)
* ''[[Bandhan (1969 film)|Bandhan]]'' (1969)
* ''[[Brahmachari (Hindi film)|Brahmachari]]'' (1968/I)
* ''[[Mere Sanam]]'' (1965)
* ''Bhai-Bahen'' (1959)
* ''[[12 O'Clock (film)|12 O'Clock]]'' (1958)
* ''[[Shahenshah (1953 film)|Shahenshah]]'' (1953)
* ''[[Sazaa (1951 film)|Sazaa]]'' (1951)

===Director===
* ''[[Mr. India (1961 film)|Mr. India]]'' (1961)
* ''Bhai-Bahen'' (1959)
* ''Shrimati 420'' (1956)
* ''[[Adl-e-Jehangir]]'' (1955)
* ''[[Marine Drive (film)|Marine Drive]]'' (1955)

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{IMDb name|id=0802688|name=G. P. Sippy}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sippy, G. P.}}
[[Category:Hindi-language film directors]]
[[Category:Sindhi people]]
[[Category:1914 births]]
[[Category:2007 deaths]]
[[Category:Hindi film producers]]
[[Category:Filmfare Awards winners]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian film directors]]