Ismail Merchant the longstanding producer/director duo of classy independant films, died today in London. Indian born Merchant along with James Ivory, an American, made some 40 films together and won six Oscars spanning 4 decades. Infact, they are featured in The Guiness Book of records for longest standing partnership in films. Their movies were known for their high production values and low budget. Their movies usally spoke of class differences, aspirations and love. Most of their stories are adapations of novels, including their latest Mystic Masseur (2001) which was based on Nobel winning novelist V.S Naipaul’s novel of the same name. It was also one of the few movies he directed rather than just producing it.

Their Oscar winning dramas A Room with a View(1985), Howards End (1992) as well as India oriented movies such as Shashi Kapur’s Shakespeare-Wallah(1965) made quite an impact in on both sides of the woods (Holly and Bolly).

He was currently shooting a film based on an unique friendship between 2 Nobel Laureates Rabindranath Tagore (India’s first) and french writer Romain Rolland.