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February 15, 2002 NEW YORK -- Ismail Merchant, veteran Indian filmmaker and half of the duo that makes up Merchant-Ivory Productions, was awarded the Padma Bhushan in this year's Republic Day honors. Friends, actors, journalists, Indian diplomats and members of the extended "Merchant-Ivory family" gathered at a reception organized by veteran restaurateurs Vicky Vij and Raja Jhalani at their new restaurant, Bukhara Grill, on East 58th Street in New York on Jan. 30 to congratulate him. Among the celebrants were people who have been associated with Merchant-Ivory Productions for many years. There was Ruth Prawer Jhabvala, eminent novelist and screenwriter for most of the Merchant-Ivory films, director James Ivory, veteran actress and cook-book writer Madhur Jaffrey and Aasif Mandvi, who has a leading role in Merchant's latest film, "The Mystic Masseur," to be released in New York in April. Mandvi will also be playing the role of Ali Hakim in the Broadway production of "Oklahoma," set to open on March 21. Actor Mathew Modine, veteran film critic and teacher Judith Crist, regional director of Air India Yogesh D. Mathur and his wife Usha, were among others who came to honor Merchant. A large contingent of Indian diplomats, including India's ambassador to the United States, Lalit Mansingh, India's Consul General in New York Shashi Tripathi, and India's permanent representative to the United Nations Kamalesh Sharma, also turned up to felicitate Merchant. The gregarious Merchant, or Ismail as friends, both old and new, invariably call him, has also received innumerable awards from all over the world for his contribution to the cinematic arts. These include the Commandeur des Arts et des Lettres, Grand Maitre de L'Order du Bontemps, from the French Government, the Governor's Arts Award from New York State and a number of Lifetime Achievement Awards from the Mill Valley International Film Festival, the Dallas International Film Festival, the Santa Fe International Film Festival and the Director's International Film Festival. He is even mentioned in the Guinness Book of World Records for the Most Enduring Filmmaking Collaboration with director Ivory and writer Jhabvala. In receiving the award, Merchant joins the ranks of other acclaimed cultural figures, including fellow filmmaker B.R. Chopra, music director Bhupen Hazarika and actors Amitabh Bachchan and Dev Anand. The Bukhara Grill's chef Mahendra Singh did himself proud with an endless selection of the kebabs for which the restaurant is famous. They were followed by a delicious buffet dinner.
"My films talk about underprivileged class that has to struggle" New York- Ismail Merchant, the producer-director and the dynamic half of the famous, 40-year-old Merchant-Ivory film production company, is somewhat of a split personality. As an independent producer of many award-winning films, he is tenacious – some would say pushy – and determined that every cent he raises is put to the best possible use. "In order to survive as an independent producer, you have to concentrate all your time on keeping afloat financially," he says. "Somebody has to deal with the bankers and financiers and make sure that the films get promoted and advertised properly." As a director – the fifth film that he has directed, "The Mystic Masseur," will be released in New York in April – he is sensitive and emotional. "I only make films that come from the heart," he says. "My films talk about the underprivileged class that has to struggle to exist." The creative connection between Merchant and his two long-time partners and dear friends, director James Ivory and screenwriter Ruth Prawer Jhabvala, is a collaboration of three very different people from three very different cultures. Merchant is a Muslim brought up and educated in India. Ivory is a Catholic who was born in the United States and Jhabvala is a Jew of Polish origin who was born in Germany and grew up in wartime England where her family had fled in 1939. It is perhaps because of these differences that they have melded into a team that has produced many award-winning films, starting with their first one, "The Householder," on through the classic "Shakespeare Wallah," and films such as "The Guru" and "Bombay Talkie," which were all part of what is called their Indian phase. Then, moving on to their Henry Jamesesque phase, came "Room With A View," "Remains of the Day," "Howard's End" – all films with an exquisite lyrical sensibility that emphasize richness of language and period detail. Whether it is Paris in the 1920s or Edwardian England or 19th century America or British India, each film is made with attention to historic accuracy and visual beauty. The team's next project is a film version of Diane Johnson's book, "Le Divorce," to be shot in Paris with Sigourney Weaver and Mathew Modine. Some of their forthcoming films are to be set in Venice and, for the first time, in China. The gregarious Ismail - almost nobody calls him Mr. Merchant - is already preparing his next three films. He never stops thinking ahead. "People have a tendency to think behind," he says. "I never think behind." He is also a man of many parts who works 48 hours a day – an excellent cook, good writer and author of a number of books on cookery and travel. His next one, "Ismail Merchant's India," is due out in October. Merchant often cooks on the sets of his films for the entire cast and crew, and is confident enough of his culinary prowess to have cooked Italian food for the Italians. One of the jokes which makes the rounds in his company is that Hollywood actor Anthony Hopkins acts in so many Merchant-Ivory films because he loves Indian food. Merchant also plays small roles in most of his films. It started in the early days as a cost-cutting measure and has now become a tradition. Although Merchant has lived most of his life in the West, he remains firmly attached to his Indian roots. From his early youth he was entranced by the glamour and beauty of films. In college, he spent more time in the cafeteria organizing variety shows than in the classroom. He is full of anecdotes about his adventures in Hollywood and how he has made it to the top of his profession with nothing but his wits and his tremendous self-confidence. For instance, there was the encounter in 1959 with Paul Newman, who was then acting on Broadway in a play called "Sweet Bird of Youth." Merchant had, as a student, seen "Somebody Up There Likes Me," and was a great fan of Newman. After the play he talked his way into the star's dressing room, saying that he had come all the way from India to see him. Later on, he was hanging around outside the theatre, when Newman came out, saw him, and offered him a ride home on his motorcycle. "Twenty-eight years later, I was sitting in a restaurant with Paul Newman and his wife, Joanne Woodward, discussing plans for their roles in "Mr. And Mrs. Bridge," and I reminded Paul of that episode. Mr. Newman laughed and said, "Oh, you are that crazy Indian." Cray or not, Merchant has dreamt big dreams, and unlike most, has made them come true. Relating another anecdote, Merchant said, "When I met Gregory Peck at the screening of "The Golden Bowl," I told him that my first film, "The Householder," had been made because of him. Apparently, because of the great success of "The Guns of Navarone," its Indian distributor has made a lot of money which he was able to invest in Merchant-Ivory Productions. Mr. Peck had tears in his eyes and said he regretted not having been in the film." Among the Indian actors, one of Merchant's favorites is Shashi Kapoor, who, out of friendship, not only took on the role of an old poet in "In Custody," but also put on a lot of weight for the part – which he is still trying to lose. His other favorites are veteran Indian actress Madhur Jaffrey, who acts in many of his films, and young American star Uma Thurman. Merchant-Ivory Productions is an extraordinary venture in independent filmmaking that spans four decades and three continents. Merchant, Ivory and Jhabvala are not only creative collaborators, but also old friends who have lived in the same East Side apartment building for many years. Every morning they have breakfast together in Jhabvala's apartment, usually made by her husband, architect Cyrus Jhabvala, who divides his time between India and New York. Success has not gone to Merchant's head. He is still the same smooth, fast-talking, gregarious, confident showman he used to be in St. Xavier's College in Bombay. Only now he is firmly placed on the world stage. But he still never takes no for and answer. |
