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Don't Disturb The Dead: The Story of The Ramsay Brothers
In the 1970s and ’80s – a period of churn in Hindi films, when commercial cinema was at its Amitabh Bachchan-fuelled peak and art-house movies were truly pushing the envelope – the Ramsay brothers burst on to the scene with their horror film-making spree. They were subaltern films (of a sort), yes. Disruptive too. The industry refused to acknowledge them, and indeed hardly knew what to make of the movies, but the audience took to them with gusto.
All these decades later, the family name remains synonymous with horror movies in India – even among those who have never watched a Ramsay flick. But who were these film-makers really? Where did they come from? What impelled them? How did they pull it off? 'Don’t Disturb the Dead' is the story of their cinema, their methods and madnesses, about horror movies as a business model, and more. It is also an open-minded and affectionate ode to the ‘disreputable’ Ramsay films, and to a family that was once a genre in itself.
Through interviews with members of the family, the people they worked with, and through archival material on their work, the book traces the legend of the Ramsay brothers – one of the most fascinating families in cinema anywhere and one whose contribution to cinema deserves to be recognized.
All these decades later, the family name remains synonymous with horror movies in India – even among those who have never watched a Ramsay flick. But who were these film-makers really? Where did they come from? What impelled them? How did they pull it off? 'Don’t Disturb the Dead' is the story of their cinema, their methods and madnesses, about horror movies as a business model, and more. It is also an open-minded and affectionate ode to the ‘disreputable’ Ramsay films, and to a family that was once a genre in itself.
Through interviews with members of the family, the people they worked with, and through archival material on their work, the book traces the legend of the Ramsay brothers – one of the most fascinating families in cinema anywhere and one whose contribution to cinema deserves to be recognized.
- GenresFilm
272 pages, Paperback
Published May 1, 2017
22 people are currently reading
93 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
February 7, 2020
Ramsay well if you lived during the 80s or 90s it was impossible not to know the Ramsay name. But I being born in 1982 actually didn't see any of their movies in the theater. But I was at the right place to watch and be terrified of the Zee Horror Show so much show that I used to run out of the house when the ads used to air. Well, I still that scared kid and if I can I stay away from the creature horror movies, I have no issues with gore but coming back to Ramsay I did see Veerana when it had on Video and boy was I terrified. Of course, I tried watching some of the their movies now and predictably they haven't aged well but then I may watch them for what they were. Also, I never realized how some of the songs I liked were from the Ramsay house of movies. This book was wonderful to allow us to finally see behind the movie factory which was so impressive in our time.
People who don't read generally ask me my reasons for reading. Simply put I just love reading and so to that end I have made it my motto to just Keep on Reading. I love to read everything except for Self Help books but even those once in a while. I read almost all the genre but YA, Fantasy, Biographies are the most. My favorite series is, of course, Harry Potter but then there are many more books that I just adore. I have bookcases filled with books which are waiting to be read so can't stay and spend more time in this review, so remember I loved reading this and love reading more, you should also read what you love and then just Keep on Reading.
People who don't read generally ask me my reasons for reading. Simply put I just love reading and so to that end I have made it my motto to just Keep on Reading. I love to read everything except for Self Help books but even those once in a while. I read almost all the genre but YA, Fantasy, Biographies are the most. My favorite series is, of course, Harry Potter but then there are many more books that I just adore. I have bookcases filled with books which are waiting to be read so can't stay and spend more time in this review, so remember I loved reading this and love reading more, you should also read what you love and then just Keep on Reading.
June 19, 2019
In this stellar piece of work, Shamya Dasgupta describes the heydays of the seven Ramsay brothers, the family that gave Indian horror its identity in the 80s and 90s, and he does it with great flair.
The tricky part about writing nonfiction, especially when your audience is of people who have lived through those times, is to make everything alive once again. This is where Shamya shines. As he describes the Ramsays’ journey from Do Gaz Zameen ke Neeche to Purana Mandir to Veerana and right through Zee Horror Show and beyond, he conjures those vivid memories back into our minds. Most of us who have grown up in an India of the 80s and 90s will remember watching Ramsay productions through the slits between our fingers, or maybe cuddling close with our loved ones. The Ramsay movies might have jaded over time, and here’s where Dasgupta’s great strength lies: Even though the movies have jaded, this biography brings the memories of those movies back as if we watched them just yesterday.
Dasgupta’s writing is crisp and so easy to read that it hides behind what he is saying, which is quite a feat. Another remarkable feat is that the book has so many voices. The book follows the format of interviews for its most part, and as the Ramsay brothers (mostly Tulsi, Shyam, Arjun, and Gangu) talk, you can “hear” their individual voices. That also applies to the other people whose interview snippets feature in the book — Sajid Khan, Sridhar Raghavan, Mohnish Behl, and (by virtue of his absence in the book) Hemant Birje. You will have to find out why!
I loved that he has included the summaries of the notable movies of the Ramsays. For me, who watched most of their movies back then, it was good recall. For someone who is just walking into the Ramsays’ body of work, it would be good initiation.
Another noteworthy inclusion was the segment on Keshu Ramsay’s falling out from the family and then going ahead to start his own production unit. The chapters dealing with Keshu and his association with Akshay Kumar which finally culminated into the latter’s superstardom are brilliantly done.
A good nonfiction book has to be peppered with anecdotes and trivia that you won’t find elsewhere. And in this regard, Don’t Disturb the Dead scores majorly. Special note must be made of the story behind Keshu’s and Kavita’s romance, that leads to their marriage.
The book ends with hope. It talks about the current crop of Ramsays, the third-generation children — Saasha and Namrata, Aryeman, Deepak and others — and what they are doing individually. For us diehard fans of the Ramsays, it is heartening to know that the Ramsays are not out.
A teensy problem with the book is its tendency to repeat things. However, that was probably unavoidable because Dasgupta revisits certain episodes in the Ramsays’ lives to tell things from different perspectives. The downside to that is that it adds to the book’s length.
A solid 4.5 for this book. It was an exhilarating experience to read all of it.
The tricky part about writing nonfiction, especially when your audience is of people who have lived through those times, is to make everything alive once again. This is where Shamya shines. As he describes the Ramsays’ journey from Do Gaz Zameen ke Neeche to Purana Mandir to Veerana and right through Zee Horror Show and beyond, he conjures those vivid memories back into our minds. Most of us who have grown up in an India of the 80s and 90s will remember watching Ramsay productions through the slits between our fingers, or maybe cuddling close with our loved ones. The Ramsay movies might have jaded over time, and here’s where Dasgupta’s great strength lies: Even though the movies have jaded, this biography brings the memories of those movies back as if we watched them just yesterday.
Dasgupta’s writing is crisp and so easy to read that it hides behind what he is saying, which is quite a feat. Another remarkable feat is that the book has so many voices. The book follows the format of interviews for its most part, and as the Ramsay brothers (mostly Tulsi, Shyam, Arjun, and Gangu) talk, you can “hear” their individual voices. That also applies to the other people whose interview snippets feature in the book — Sajid Khan, Sridhar Raghavan, Mohnish Behl, and (by virtue of his absence in the book) Hemant Birje. You will have to find out why!
I loved that he has included the summaries of the notable movies of the Ramsays. For me, who watched most of their movies back then, it was good recall. For someone who is just walking into the Ramsays’ body of work, it would be good initiation.
Another noteworthy inclusion was the segment on Keshu Ramsay’s falling out from the family and then going ahead to start his own production unit. The chapters dealing with Keshu and his association with Akshay Kumar which finally culminated into the latter’s superstardom are brilliantly done.
A good nonfiction book has to be peppered with anecdotes and trivia that you won’t find elsewhere. And in this regard, Don’t Disturb the Dead scores majorly. Special note must be made of the story behind Keshu’s and Kavita’s romance, that leads to their marriage.
The book ends with hope. It talks about the current crop of Ramsays, the third-generation children — Saasha and Namrata, Aryeman, Deepak and others — and what they are doing individually. For us diehard fans of the Ramsays, it is heartening to know that the Ramsays are not out.
A teensy problem with the book is its tendency to repeat things. However, that was probably unavoidable because Dasgupta revisits certain episodes in the Ramsays’ lives to tell things from different perspectives. The downside to that is that it adds to the book’s length.
A solid 4.5 for this book. It was an exhilarating experience to read all of it.
August 12, 2017
Ramsay is probably the most well-known brand association in Hindi cinema, where possibly every Indian of a certain vintage knows that they make horror films.
Shamya Dasgupta turns this premise into an eminently readable book, through deep research and in-depth interviews (of almost the entire Ramsay clan and many of those connected with their films). As a record of a less-discussed and often-ridiculed genre of cinema, this book is extremely valuable. It goes into the intricacies of the Ramsay style of working, their economics and their appeal - often erring on the side of detail even!
For fans of Ramsay Brothers, this is a delightful journey. Reliving the films, the cut-price star cast, the garish but effective horrors, the familiar storylines... remembering the sudden chills you got while sitting in a decrepit cinema hall in your teenage... Don't Disturb The Dead brings alive a heady part of our growing up.
Shamya Dasgupta turns this premise into an eminently readable book, through deep research and in-depth interviews (of almost the entire Ramsay clan and many of those connected with their films). As a record of a less-discussed and often-ridiculed genre of cinema, this book is extremely valuable. It goes into the intricacies of the Ramsay style of working, their economics and their appeal - often erring on the side of detail even!
For fans of Ramsay Brothers, this is a delightful journey. Reliving the films, the cut-price star cast, the garish but effective horrors, the familiar storylines... remembering the sudden chills you got while sitting in a decrepit cinema hall in your teenage... Don't Disturb The Dead brings alive a heady part of our growing up.
January 2, 2018
Two books on Tyrannosauruses and one book on tyrants later, I sat down to write a review about this band of brothers. The Ramsay brothers were a group of 7 men who decided to break away from the cyclostyled world of Hindi cinema and explore the horror genre through their movies. What was ironical was that the horror movies they created eventually became clichés themselves. Unlike the major production houses of the 70’s, they lacked big stars and budgets but made up for this amply with innovative and unorthodox ideas in filmmaking.
The trend that still continues across most of mainstream Hindi cinema is to glorify romance and run around the same pole in varied colours and tones. Horror was always the unruly child and not something that all the audiences loved. At the time when the Ramsay brothers came to the fore, a horror movie was so taboo that it would not even get a wide release. Their stories were almost all formulaic : a monster, some sex, religious ways of defeating the horror etc. and these kept repeating time and again in the stories. The main audiences were teenagers who wanted the cheap thrills and also the men and occasionally women who wanted a couple of hours of entertainment away from the drudgeries of daily chores.
None of these movies have aged well which is to say that they make you laugh out loud if you watch them now and yet there is a cult following for them. Having watched none of these movies earlier, I did go to YouTube to check out some of these and found them to have a huge fan following. Through a series of interviews and conversations with the Ramsay family and lovers of their movies, the author recreates the time these gentlemen spent in making movies. It is an interesting retrospective of a time when one family made a bunch of movies (with basically the same story) and thereby made a lot of money in the process. They lost their lustre in the post globalization India when Hollywood began asserting its charm on the mind of moviegoers but then found their footing in the television world.
A chronicle of a forgotten episode in Bollywood pop-culture. Recommended.
The trend that still continues across most of mainstream Hindi cinema is to glorify romance and run around the same pole in varied colours and tones. Horror was always the unruly child and not something that all the audiences loved. At the time when the Ramsay brothers came to the fore, a horror movie was so taboo that it would not even get a wide release. Their stories were almost all formulaic : a monster, some sex, religious ways of defeating the horror etc. and these kept repeating time and again in the stories. The main audiences were teenagers who wanted the cheap thrills and also the men and occasionally women who wanted a couple of hours of entertainment away from the drudgeries of daily chores.
None of these movies have aged well which is to say that they make you laugh out loud if you watch them now and yet there is a cult following for them. Having watched none of these movies earlier, I did go to YouTube to check out some of these and found them to have a huge fan following. Through a series of interviews and conversations with the Ramsay family and lovers of their movies, the author recreates the time these gentlemen spent in making movies. It is an interesting retrospective of a time when one family made a bunch of movies (with basically the same story) and thereby made a lot of money in the process. They lost their lustre in the post globalization India when Hollywood began asserting its charm on the mind of moviegoers but then found their footing in the television world.
A chronicle of a forgotten episode in Bollywood pop-culture. Recommended.
July 26, 2017
If there ever was a book that described the film industry and its members in a way that you think it's talking about someone you know, this one is it. This book is a must read for anyone who's even remotely connected to the film industry, or is planning to. What's really refreshing about this book is that everyone associated is frank, brutally too.
June 1, 2019
I thoroughly enjoyed the book and I could have given more stars to it but there was a problem.
The length of the book.
The book will be interesting to those people who are movie buffs otherwise you won't enjoy it.
It is basically a biography of the Ramsay family and how they lived and created their own film industry.
The book is systematically edited that every chapter leads to another chapter and moves timewise.
The story of Keshu Ramsay was covered in more details than anyone else and rightly so. He had an amazingly interesting life.
I often found the book to be way too repetitive and the same things were getting repeated again and again which often times made me felt that must have been some word limit and the writer was determined to fill it. One-fourth of the book can be chopped off to make it more interesting.
On the plus side, I think every filmmaker should read this book to get some instant motivation.
I have met so many lazy filmmakers who are still waiting for things to be all hunky and dory to start shooting their first film. I think that people should read this book to realize that will is greater than any power and resource that man can ever collect.
Keshu Ramsay started his film when he had no money but a desire to start the film. He heavily borrowed the money and made his signed the director and actor in one night.
Another thing I learned from this book was that how important it is to read 5 c’s of cinematography which F.U. Ramsay forced his kids to read and wouldn’t give them food till they finish reading one chapter of it.
Overall an average read but gives you enormous trivia’s about the life and films of Ramsay brothers.
I really wish the author had taken interview of more people who were associated with Ramsay brother’s films like I really wanted to know the opinion and life journey of Ajay Agarwal who was the lead monster in nearly every film of Ramsay brothers.
The length of the book.
The book will be interesting to those people who are movie buffs otherwise you won't enjoy it.
It is basically a biography of the Ramsay family and how they lived and created their own film industry.
The book is systematically edited that every chapter leads to another chapter and moves timewise.
The story of Keshu Ramsay was covered in more details than anyone else and rightly so. He had an amazingly interesting life.
I often found the book to be way too repetitive and the same things were getting repeated again and again which often times made me felt that must have been some word limit and the writer was determined to fill it. One-fourth of the book can be chopped off to make it more interesting.
On the plus side, I think every filmmaker should read this book to get some instant motivation.
I have met so many lazy filmmakers who are still waiting for things to be all hunky and dory to start shooting their first film. I think that people should read this book to realize that will is greater than any power and resource that man can ever collect.
Keshu Ramsay started his film when he had no money but a desire to start the film. He heavily borrowed the money and made his signed the director and actor in one night.
Another thing I learned from this book was that how important it is to read 5 c’s of cinematography which F.U. Ramsay forced his kids to read and wouldn’t give them food till they finish reading one chapter of it.
Overall an average read but gives you enormous trivia’s about the life and films of Ramsay brothers.
I really wish the author had taken interview of more people who were associated with Ramsay brother’s films like I really wanted to know the opinion and life journey of Ajay Agarwal who was the lead monster in nearly every film of Ramsay brothers.
February 5, 2018
Well researched Tome in its own way
This is an interesting read. Almost like a wiki on Ramsays. The pace is fun but one waits for illustration. No inspiration or motivation hides in the stories or even a retelling of the times that the movies were made in. Just a well researched story on a family richer than most yet unrecognized at best.
This is an interesting read. Almost like a wiki on Ramsays. The pace is fun but one waits for illustration. No inspiration or motivation hides in the stories or even a retelling of the times that the movies were made in. Just a well researched story on a family richer than most yet unrecognized at best.
January 1, 2019
Would have given 10 stars if there was an option.
September 1, 2020
Being a horror lover, the work of Ramsay brothers always intrigued me. Though I have not born in the late 70 and ’80s, being born in 90’s I still remember watching Veerana and Zee horror show. I don’t remember much of the ‘Veerana’ movie, but I remember that I and my bua we both watched the movie on the TV. Though everything is blur about the movie I still remember, the seductress Jasmine. In zee horror show, I particularly remember the dialogue, ‘Bhoonkh lagi hai mai roti de do’. My father who is a movie buff has once told me that Ramsay brothers were the ones who started to make horror films in the India and since then I always look forward to understanding the work of these brothers. This book is a giveaway prize, but I didn’t get a chance to read it earlier however, now I am happy that I finally finished this book. So, let’s check what this book offers.
Summary:
This book starts with the family background of Ramsay, who was originally from Karachi. father of the Ramsay brothers, F. U. Ramsay had a radio business that was flourishing and after the partition, the family came to Mumbai. F. U. has produced some films but the next generation of seven Ramsay brothers was more interested in Hammer’s kind of movies.
They found it interesting that people love to be scared and no one has made horror movies in India yet. Soon, seven brothers started to learn about various aspects of filmmaking. And soon they start making horror movies. But the movies were not up to the mark for the Indian audience who are busy watching Dilip Kumar, Rajesh Khanna, and Amitabh Bacchan. However, just having a small budget, these brothers managed to make ‘Do gaz zameen ke niche, Purana Mandir, Purani Haveli, Veerana’, and many other movies.
Reading about the struggle to survive in the Bollywood where the movies of Ramsay gets an A certificate is very interesting. The seven brothers used to manage every aspect of movie making and they fondly call their team as a tiffin box production.
However, it is sad, that Ramsay’s movie didn’t get the recognition which they wanted to get. Still, Ramsay and horror are inseparable, and people still remember them.
This book also has opinions from Bollywood trade analyst Komal Nahata, filmmaker Sajid Khan and director Shriram Raghavan. The last few pages of the book narrate the separation of Keshu Ramsay from the Ramsay fraternity and making independent films with Akshay Kumar. His love story is very interesting to read.
The book ends with the hope as Sasha, the daughter of Shyam Ramsay wants to keep ignited the horror and Ramsay connection. The book also has a filmography of Ramsay movies.
My perception:
Once I have read a question on Quora about the downfall of the Ramsay brothers and since then, I tried to research but didn’t found any proper information. So, this book answered the questions. This book has some precious photos of the Ramsay family. I love how the Ramsay brothers decided to do something different from the regular movies. I know their movies had similar stories, but I love the way they thought out of the box and introduced the Indian audience to the horror genre. I watched a few films by the Ramsay brothers and was quite amazed by the way they made the films with a shoestring budget. This is my first book related to film, but it was an amazing experience.
If you are a fan of the Zee horror show and the craft of Ramsay brothers then you shouldn’t miss this book.
Summary:
This book starts with the family background of Ramsay, who was originally from Karachi. father of the Ramsay brothers, F. U. Ramsay had a radio business that was flourishing and after the partition, the family came to Mumbai. F. U. has produced some films but the next generation of seven Ramsay brothers was more interested in Hammer’s kind of movies.
They found it interesting that people love to be scared and no one has made horror movies in India yet. Soon, seven brothers started to learn about various aspects of filmmaking. And soon they start making horror movies. But the movies were not up to the mark for the Indian audience who are busy watching Dilip Kumar, Rajesh Khanna, and Amitabh Bacchan. However, just having a small budget, these brothers managed to make ‘Do gaz zameen ke niche, Purana Mandir, Purani Haveli, Veerana’, and many other movies.
Reading about the struggle to survive in the Bollywood where the movies of Ramsay gets an A certificate is very interesting. The seven brothers used to manage every aspect of movie making and they fondly call their team as a tiffin box production.
However, it is sad, that Ramsay’s movie didn’t get the recognition which they wanted to get. Still, Ramsay and horror are inseparable, and people still remember them.
This book also has opinions from Bollywood trade analyst Komal Nahata, filmmaker Sajid Khan and director Shriram Raghavan. The last few pages of the book narrate the separation of Keshu Ramsay from the Ramsay fraternity and making independent films with Akshay Kumar. His love story is very interesting to read.
The book ends with the hope as Sasha, the daughter of Shyam Ramsay wants to keep ignited the horror and Ramsay connection. The book also has a filmography of Ramsay movies.
My perception:
Once I have read a question on Quora about the downfall of the Ramsay brothers and since then, I tried to research but didn’t found any proper information. So, this book answered the questions. This book has some precious photos of the Ramsay family. I love how the Ramsay brothers decided to do something different from the regular movies. I know their movies had similar stories, but I love the way they thought out of the box and introduced the Indian audience to the horror genre. I watched a few films by the Ramsay brothers and was quite amazed by the way they made the films with a shoestring budget. This is my first book related to film, but it was an amazing experience.
If you are a fan of the Zee horror show and the craft of Ramsay brothers then you shouldn’t miss this book.
October 2, 2025
"You might never have watched a Ramsay film, but you know of them all the same; at least once in your life, somewhere, sometime, the word 'Ramsay' is likely to have cropped up. Maybe around a haunted house, or during a somewhat bizarre situation, or, if you're unkind, when you see truly unattractive face."
Movie Poster: Purana Mandir (1984)
Being a 90s kid, I never got a chance to watch a Ramsay (originally Ramsinghani) movie to watch in a movie theatre. Moreover, my parents wouldn't even let me rent a video cassette whenever we used to rent a VCR + VCP. Reason: They are too scary and they had this tag - "केवल वयस्कों के लिए" - means "Only for adults." However, I still sneaked up and watched those low budget horror movies a lot with my cousins whenever the movie used to be telecast through local cable TV operator's late night shows. And then there was the Zee Horror Show which scared the six year old to the oblivion. Because of all this history, I am intrigued and excited to read about the Ramsay brothers.
Extensive Research: I have seen Shamya Dasgupta many times on ESPN CricInfo and sometimes on Wisden India and loved his analysis and expertise on the cricket. I was surprised when he wrote a book on the Hindi film industry. However, he has nailed it with the detailed literature review, extensive interviews with the family members and also with some of other stakeholders who were involved in the Ramsay movies. There were a lot of trivia which I never knew before reading the book. I didn't know the Akshay Kumar connection and the one brother who made it big and in his own unique way.
Am I one of the Ramsays? Mr. Dasgupta was able to write a book which makes the reader feel that they are a part of the Ramsay family. It starts with outlining the patriarch Mr. F.U. Ramsay, the seven sons, two daughters and the way the whole family was involved in the film making with a limited budget. I enjoyed the way the author had captured how the Ramsays used to finalize the shooting locations especially in Mahabaleshwar. Additionally, it was very clear to the family that they are here to make some profit and not create an art from the movies.
Movie poster: Veerana (1988)
If you want to get some insights, honest feedback and love horror movie genre, it is a must read!
Movie Poster: Purana Mandir (1984)
Being a 90s kid, I never got a chance to watch a Ramsay (originally Ramsinghani) movie to watch in a movie theatre. Moreover, my parents wouldn't even let me rent a video cassette whenever we used to rent a VCR + VCP. Reason: They are too scary and they had this tag - "केवल वयस्कों के लिए" - means "Only for adults." However, I still sneaked up and watched those low budget horror movies a lot with my cousins whenever the movie used to be telecast through local cable TV operator's late night shows. And then there was the Zee Horror Show which scared the six year old to the oblivion. Because of all this history, I am intrigued and excited to read about the Ramsay brothers.
"Only in India, one imagines, would makers of horror films spend more money on the music than on most other things."
Extensive Research: I have seen Shamya Dasgupta many times on ESPN CricInfo and sometimes on Wisden India and loved his analysis and expertise on the cricket. I was surprised when he wrote a book on the Hindi film industry. However, he has nailed it with the detailed literature review, extensive interviews with the family members and also with some of other stakeholders who were involved in the Ramsay movies. There were a lot of trivia which I never knew before reading the book. I didn't know the Akshay Kumar connection and the one brother who made it big and in his own unique way.
Am I one of the Ramsays? Mr. Dasgupta was able to write a book which makes the reader feel that they are a part of the Ramsay family. It starts with outlining the patriarch Mr. F.U. Ramsay, the seven sons, two daughters and the way the whole family was involved in the film making with a limited budget. I enjoyed the way the author had captured how the Ramsays used to finalize the shooting locations especially in Mahabaleshwar. Additionally, it was very clear to the family that they are here to make some profit and not create an art from the movies.
Movie poster: Veerana (1988)
If you want to get some insights, honest feedback and love horror movie genre, it is a must read!
November 4, 2018
Writing a book itself takes a lot of effort, and writing one on the Ramsay's whose disreputation precedes them takes a lot of courage too. In that sense, Shamya has done an extremely commendable job. It feels nice that mainstream popular and not so popular cinema are also subjects of research. I love this, as it is far removed from the pseudo-intellectual attempts at lionizing badly made films by overrated " serious ???" filmmakers.
My only grouse is that Shyama was not born when some of these films were actually shown at the theatre, and is consequently not privy to the audience reaction at that time. DGZKN might have been censored in the early 1970s but it made it to the theatres in towns much later. It would send shivers down the spines of school going kids who would bunk classes to see the film. I know, because I was there at the theatre :). The anti-climax of Darwaza was scoffed at in reviews (Darwaza was a film I waited for eagerly, but it failed to get a proper release in my town). Etc etc.... but given the constraints which were obviously out of his circle of control, Shyama has done a wonderful job. Pretty much in detail. Lot of hard work has gone into this book.
Having written a number of books on this genre (cinema), I can say with some conviction that getting answers which make sense, and that too from various people who had to go back in time for around 50 years is no mean feat.
Recommended for all Hindi trashy film lovers.
My only grouse is that Shyama was not born when some of these films were actually shown at the theatre, and is consequently not privy to the audience reaction at that time. DGZKN might have been censored in the early 1970s but it made it to the theatres in towns much later. It would send shivers down the spines of school going kids who would bunk classes to see the film. I know, because I was there at the theatre :). The anti-climax of Darwaza was scoffed at in reviews (Darwaza was a film I waited for eagerly, but it failed to get a proper release in my town). Etc etc.... but given the constraints which were obviously out of his circle of control, Shyama has done a wonderful job. Pretty much in detail. Lot of hard work has gone into this book.
Having written a number of books on this genre (cinema), I can say with some conviction that getting answers which make sense, and that too from various people who had to go back in time for around 50 years is no mean feat.
Recommended for all Hindi trashy film lovers.
June 3, 2024
A nice enjoyable commentary on the inside world of Ramsays, the seven brothers famous for churning out several B grade horror movies in the 1980s and early 90s.
“Don't disturb the dead” is a compilation of the interviews of the various members of the Ramsey family and the actors who acted in their movies. This is an interesting story of how the Ramsays took a Hollywood genre and added all sorts of typical Bollywood masala to it including contemporary superstitions, Tantriks, Vamps, Thakurs, a bit of comedy, a bit of Bappi Lahiri music and created their own formula for the genre.
With thorough research, Shyama Dasgupta gives us a good insight into how the Ramsay factory worked - the music, the direction, cinematography, selection of actors, designing the masks, the sound effects etc. We also get an insight on the stigma faced by some actors after acting in the B-grade Ramsay movies and the bias faced by the makers from censor board.
Overall, a very informative read.
“Don't disturb the dead” is a compilation of the interviews of the various members of the Ramsey family and the actors who acted in their movies. This is an interesting story of how the Ramsays took a Hollywood genre and added all sorts of typical Bollywood masala to it including contemporary superstitions, Tantriks, Vamps, Thakurs, a bit of comedy, a bit of Bappi Lahiri music and created their own formula for the genre.
With thorough research, Shyama Dasgupta gives us a good insight into how the Ramsay factory worked - the music, the direction, cinematography, selection of actors, designing the masks, the sound effects etc. We also get an insight on the stigma faced by some actors after acting in the B-grade Ramsay movies and the bias faced by the makers from censor board.
Overall, a very informative read.
October 19, 2025
Decent biography of the Ramsay family founded in thorough interviews with most of the surviving members. The main problem I had is that while this goes into a fair amount of detail about the family's beginnings, it doesn't afford a ton of individual attention to any of their big films after DO GAZ ZAMEEN KE NEECHE, covering areas more in generalities and moving more by subject. I really would've loved detailed making-of accounts of blockbusters like PURANA MANDIR, and instead a lot of the chapters' subjects seem more generic and start to blend together after a while. It's still a solid chronicle of the Ramsays, I just think a greater focus on specific films would have helped it flow along smoother and do a better job maintaining reader interest.
July 2, 2020
A fascinating book and a fascinating story of the Ramsay Brothers.
I loved the personalised style of writing and one can feel the writer's affection for movies and the in-depth research behind the book.
I loved the personalised style of writing and one can feel the writer's affection for movies and the in-depth research behind the book.
June 8, 2023
It's an interesting book. Kudos to the writer for writing about the first horror masters of the Bollywood.
August 5, 2023
Blandly written, but fascinating anecdotes of a cult Indian indie-filmmaking family transmitted straight into your impish brain.
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