Ismail Merchant (born Ismail Noor Muhammad Abdul Rahman; 25 December 1936 – 25 May 2005) was an Indian-born film producer and director. He worked for many years in collaboration with Merchant Ivory Productions which included director (and Merchant's longtime professional and domestic partner) James Ivory as well as screenwriter Ruth Prawer Jhabvala. Their films won six Academy Awards.
British Academy Film Awards
Best Film
Known For
Howards End
(1992)
Producer
The Remains of the Day
(1993)
Producer
A Room with a View
(1986)
Producer
Le Divorce
(2003)
Producer
Surviving Picasso
(1996)
Producer
Maurice
(1987)
Producer
Savages
(1972)
Producer
A Soldier's Daughter Never Cries
(1998)
Producer
The Deceivers
(1988)
Producer
Jefferson in Paris
(1995)
Producer
The Golden Bowl
(2000)
Producer
My Little Girl
(1986)
Executive Producer
Full Filmography
Production
The Creation of Woman
(1961)
Executive Producer
The Householder
(1963)
Producer
Shakespeare-Wallah
(1965)
Producer
The Guru
(1969)
Producer
Bombay Talkie
(1970)
Producer
Savages
(1972)
Producer
Adventures of a Brown Man in Search of Civilization
(1972)
Producer
Helen, Queen of the Nautch Girls
(1973)
Producer
Mahatma and the Mad Boy
(1974)
Producer
The Wild Party
(1975)
Producer
Autobiography of a Princess
(1975)
Producer
Sweet Sounds
(1976)
Producer
Roseland
(1977)
Producer
Hullabaloo Over Georgie and Bonnie's Pictures
(1978)
Producer
The Europeans
(1979)
Producer
Jane Austen in Manhattan
(1980)
Producer
Quartet
(1981)
Producer
The Courtesans of Bombay
(1983)
Producer
Heat and Dust
(1983)
Producer
The Bostonians
(1984)
Producer
A Room with a View
(1986)
Producer
My Little Girl
(1986)
Executive Producer
Maurice
(1987)
Producer
The Deceivers
(1988)
Producer
The Perfect Murder
(1988)
Executive Producer
Slaves of New York
(1989)
Producer
Mr. & Mrs. Bridge
(1990)
Producer
The Ballad of the Sad Cafe
(1991)
Producer
Howards End
(1992)
Producer
The Remains of the Day
(1993)
Producer
Street Musicians of Bombay
(1994)
Producer
Feast of July
(1995)
Executive Producer
Jefferson in Paris
(1995)
Producer
Surviving Picasso
(1996)
Producer
A Soldier's Daughter Never Cries
(1998)
Producer
The Golden Bowl
(2000)
Producer
Thank You, Doctor Rey
(2002)
Executive Producer
Le Divorce
(2003)
Producer
The White Countess
(2005)
Producer
Heights
(2005)
Producer
Acting
The Householder
(1963)
Extra
Shakespeare-Wallah
(1965)
Theater Owner (uncredited)
Bombay Talkie
(1970)
Fate Machine Producer
Heat and Dust
(1983)
Indish Guy (uncredited)
The Wandering Company
(1984)
Self
Slaves of New York
(1989)
Party Guest (uncredited)
Jefferson in Paris
(1995)
Royal Indian Man
Love & Loyalty: The Making of 'The Remains of the Day'
(2001)
Self
Blind Loyalty, Hollow Honor: England's Fatal Flaw
(2001)
Self
The Remains of the Day: The Filmmaker's Journey
(2001)
Self
The Song of the Little Road
(2003)
Self
A Tribute To Ismail Merchant
(2005)
Self (archive footage)
Merchant Ivory
(2023)
Self (archive footage)
Directing
Mahatma and the Mad Boy
(1974)
Director
The Courtesans of Bombay
(1983)
Director
In Custody
(1994)
Director
Lumière and Company
(1995)
Director
The Proprietor
(1996)
Director
Cotton Mary
(1999)
Director
The Mystic Masseur
(2001)
Director
Writing
Crew