Rediscovering the Ramsays, aaram se

As work is expedited on his production The Ramsay Biopic, Ajay & Co turn it into a web series to do justice to story about the pioneers of Hindi horror films

A deserted mansion. Creaking doors. And ghosts that elicit a chuckle instead of fear. Haven’t we all enjoyed the so-bad-they’re-good Ramsay horror movies? From Do Gaz Zameen Ke Neeche (1972) to Purani Haveli (1989), from Veerana (1988) to Bandh Darwaza (1990), the Ramsay Brothers pioneered the horror genre in Hindi cinema with their low-budget movies. In 2019, Ajay Devgn and Priti Sinha had announced The Ramsay Biopic that would trace how the seven brothers built their horror empire. While the pandemic had put the brakes on the project, it is now learnt that the research is moving at a brisk pace.

At the onset, the makers were uncertain whether the family’s journey should be traced in a movie or a web series. “The project required extensive research as the Ramsays’ journey begins with patriarch Fatehchand U Ramsay in the pre-independence era, and culminates with their last movie, Talaashi in 1996. Having seen the volume of research, the makers felt that a two-hour-plus movie wouldn’t be able to do justice to the story. Plus, Ajay and Priti were bolstered by the success of their last web production, The Great Indian Murder. So, the team has decided to develop it as a web series,” says a source.

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Fatehchand, who had seven sons — Kumar, Gangu, Tulsi, Arjun, Shyam, Keshu and Kiran Ramsay — and two daughters, moved from Karachi to Mumbai after the Partition. “Ajay and Priti own the sole and exclusive TV, web series and film rights of their life story for perpetuity. The series will reveal how the Ramsinghanis used the pseudonym Ramsay after they shifted to Mumbai. Fatehchand got into showbiz with Shaheed-e-Azam Bhagat Singh (1954) and Ek Nanhi Munni Ladki Thi (1970), before he chanced upon the idea of making a horror film with Do Gaz Zameen Ke Neeche. Soon, his seven sons joined him in the business. The brothers worked in a coordinated manner, dividing the various responsibilities of filmmaking among themselves, thus ensuring that the movies were made on a shoe-string budget.”

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When probed about turning The Ramsay Biopic into a series, producer Sinha said it was too early to reveal the details. She added, “All I can say is that the detailed research on The Ramsay Biopic is now in the final stage. We are excited to bring to our audience the fascinating and curious world of the Ramsays soon.”

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