THE BROTHERS WHO INTRODUCED US TO ‘HORROR MOVIES’

Born and brought up in Karachi, present day Pakistan, the Ramsay family (in reality Ramsinghani family), came and settled in India after partition in 1947. Fatehchand Ramsinghani (later famously known F.U. Ramsay), opened a small electronics and radio repair shop when he first moved to India along with a large family of 7 sons and 2 daughters.

Earning was meagre and expenses were ever exceeding.

Bombay (present day Mumbai) had the ‘movie craze’ affect on Fatehchand and he along with other investors made couple of movies like Shaheed-e-Azam Bhagat Singh (1954), Rustam Shoram (1963) and Ek Nanhi Munni Ladki Thi (1970). All the movies had notable actors of that time and famous singers like Md. Rafi and Lata Mangeshkar lent their voices to the songs. The songs became hit, however, the movies flopped terribly.

Though the Ramysay family was reeling under huge debts and threats from goons to repay the debts, inspiration struck, even in these terrible times.

Fathehchan’s movie Ek Ladki Nanhi Munni Thi, though was a super-flop, had one scene, in particular, which became a mass hit. It was scene where the legendary actor Prithviraj Kapoor, carries out a robbery and terrifies actor Mumtaz. What made the scene a big hit amongst the audience was the way Pritiviraj Kapoor wears a devil’s mask to carry out the robbery. This ‘monster sequence’ became supremely hit with the crowd and people started talking only about this scene. Fathehchand and the Ramsay brothers were quick to note the ‘secret need’ of the people and thus their journey into the land of the dead began.

One day, Fathehchand’s daughter, during a casual family time, narrated a real incident to her father and brothers about a spooky incident that happened with her and her friends. The brothers got excited and soon, they made a movie out it, named ‘Do Gaz Zameen Ke Neeche”. The Ramsay brothers, in order to generate more suspense, narrated a shorter version of the story (keeping the suspense intact) on a late-night radio show. The idea became a show-stealer and people were desperately waiting for the movie.

This helped the promoters and the investors and when the movie got released, it was a super-hit.

The movie also became a trend-setter for several reasons

At that time, a normal movie would cost 50 lakhs including all the defined expenses (location, actor fee, singer fee, camera, props, garments, sound and visual editing etc.). However, Ramsay brothers made the movie within a remarkable 3.5 lakhs budget. An almost unbelievable price. They planned a way to do this. Each brother took up a department to take care of (thus saving the charge of hiring a specialist for the job). Usually, famous actors and directors at that time preferred to book a hotel or a mansion and select different locations for movie shoot. However, the Ramsay brothers drove all the way to Mahabaleshwar and rented an extremely cheap government guest house. They booked 8 rooms of that guest house and the entire film was shot within these 8 rooms. Thus, saving a tremendous amount. They specially requested all the actors to bring their own costumes and garments and saved a huge sum on that too. Even the cameras were borrowed from friends.
Made on a budget of only 3.5 lakhs, when the movie was released, it broke all records. It went ‘housefull’ for the first few weeks and eventually made 45 lakhs. A huge profit for all the friends and well-wishers who had invested.

The brothers went on to make cult horror movies, especially during the late 70s and throughout the 80s. Notable mention being movies like Guest House, Veerana, Purana Mandir, Purani Haveli, Darwaza, Band Darwaza and many more.

Some of these movies are loved till date, and especially, it has a special place in the hearts and minds of the kids of the 90s era.

In 1993, the Ramsay brothers introduced a legendary TV horror series for the first time in India called ‘The Zee Horror Show’. The fact that the initial deal was for only 24 episodes but due to the tremendous public demand went to be aired for 9 years, consisting of 364 episodes, is a testimony to the ‘Ramsay Effect’ that was there on people.

Here are few things that come to my mind as I reflect on how the Ramsay brothers became synonymous with horror, spine-chilling music and a matter of nostalgia.

They had great observation skills. The fact that they could catch the need of the audience when that one scene from the movie Ek Nanhi Munnu Ladki Thi became the talk of the town, shows they could predict the future trend.
Capitalizing on their strengths: They took their own experiences, stories and anecdotes and converted the concepts into a product. Remember, an experience narrated by F Ramsay’s daughter Asha, became the plot for Do Gaz Zameen Ke Neeche movie. Another instance comes when Shyam Ramsay narranted an incident during a family time, that once he was driving back home and he gave a lift to a lady, who was beautiful beyond belief. Being chatty, he started talking to this woman and soon figured, there was something wrong with her. He then noticed that her feet were turned inwards. Incidentally, he dropped her near a graveyard. Imagine a horror filmmaker being scared of ghosts. This anecdote was part of Veerana. The movie became a super hit.
Unknown territory: They had the courage to venture into unknown territory. Horror was not explored well back then in Indian cinema, and was extremely limited to word-of-mouth stories in India during that time. Bringing it on screen was a ‘jaw-dropping’ experience for the audience.
Resourceful: They were extremely resourceful. Seven brothers, two sisters…. A large family they were, and they utilized it to the core. All the brothers took up important work, tasks and performed it themselves. The sisters and their mother also were gifted storytellers which actually gave the ideas for storyline to the brothers
Extended family: It is also said that the Ramsay family also used to cook daily meal for the crew members. This was another secret behind the crew being so loyal to the family. They were treated like extended family.
No pain, no gain: The Ramsay brothers knew that for long-term profit, they also had to bear different kinds of stigma. Since they always made movies on extremely tight budget and usually asked the actors to get their own costumes, they were not able to afford top actors of that time. Plus, the genre of their movies gave them a ‘B-Grade moves’ stigma which they accepted and lived with. However, they made huge profits and wealth through other means like giving plenty of chance to newcomers, they used minimum cosmetics and garments, they used to rent old and outdated bungalows for extremely affordable rates and made huge margin from the profit.
Right investment: The Ramsay brothers knew where to invest. They knew that the secret behind good horror movie was sound and hence they acquired some good mixers and sound systems. Especially scenes where the door would open with a squeaking sound, or the entrance of the ghost, or the old, haunted bungalow etc. etc. were the scenes where they stole the show and people loved it to the core with pin-drop silence.
Deeply rooted in culture: The Zee Horror show was not only an eerie experience for most of us that time, it was also a great family bonding experience. It was a time when all the members of the family (grandparents, parents, uncles, aunts, cousins, kids, elders), everyone used to get into one room (obviously not everyone was wealthy enough to have separate T.Vs). Getting ‘frightened together’ along with an ‘unusual comedy’ that always comes along with horror movies and serials is something that probably today’s generation will never understand. The Ramsay brothers, obviously scared us, but unknowingly also taught us to be together….. especially, when someone had to go for washroom break, either during or after the serial …..

As they say, ‘A picture is worth a thousand words’. Am sure, the picture will take you back to your childhood days.