Ismail Merchant: Your tributes

Indian-born filmmaker Ismail Merchant, who with partner James Ivory made some of the most popular period films, has died aged 68.

Mumbai-born Mr Merchant and Mr Ivory, an American, made some 40 films together, including A Room With a View, The Remains of the Day, Howard's End and Heat and Dust.

A spokesman said Mr Merchant had suffered from stomach problems over the past year.

This tribute page is now closed. Read a selection of your comments below.

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Your tributes:

Mr Merchant was a bold filmmaker and there are few like him to take up the mantle Roger Kelly, Luton, UK

It's interesting that Merchant Ivory films are often regarded as comfy. In fact they have often been cutting edge. This was exemplified when EM Forster's "Maurice" was made. It was perceived that that this would be a difficult book to make into a film. Instead, the result was a beautiful love story. It was incidental that the characters were gay. Mr Merchant was a bold filmmaker and there are few like him to take up the mantle.
Roger Kelly, Luton, UK

A room with a view is no longer. The window has been closed. Ismail, your brilliance will be greatly missed. Godspeed.
John Dawes, Sydney, Australia

Rest in peace Ismail. You were a real gentleman.
Abdullah Yordem, Ankara, Turkey

I knew Ismail for over 35 years and he has always been the same: gregarious, respectful, fun loving and helpful. I will miss a great friend and a superb human being.
Vijay Raval, New Canaan, USA

Merchant Ivory have earned their place in history as creators of finely crafted original stories and the thoughtful adaptions of some of our best-loved novels. I hope that the sad passing of Ismail Merchant does not also mean the retirement of James Ivory or the end of the important work of this wonderful, creative little company.
S Antonio Arch, Toronto, Canada

In his time with us Ismail Merchant has endowed us with a body of work unsurpassed by any other film maker. Thank you for a wonderful adaptation of Maurice, a film which never fails to move me no matter how often I watch it.
Rob Marshall, Newcastle UK

His films always portrayed the beauty in the simplicity of everyday life Juan Mateo, Guatemala

Ismail Merchant's movies were all about character and story telling, which brought out the best performances of actors as individuals, rather than with the mimicry of a lot of technological special effects, with stories that are down to earth and that almost everybody can relate too. They are movies that one enjoys watching, with the fulfilment of good entertainment. Sadly many of today's blockbusters leave one with a feeling of anxiety and stress. His films always portrayed the beauty in the simplicity of everyday life. His loss is a great loss to good film making, great entertainment and a great human being.
Juan Mateo, Guatemala

The last time I saw Ismail was a couple of months ago at a Satyajit Ray retrospective. He came to speak about Ray who helped him film The Householder. The warmth and fondness with which he spoke of Ray was as much a reflection of the sort of person Ismail was as much as it was about Ray. He will be missed for sure.
Sudarshan Setlur, New York, USA

I know Merchant-Ivory films aren't seen as that trendy - an inverted snobbery most definitely attached. But I think their contribution to cinema has kept certain classics famous and for the most part been faithful adaptations that have as much place in cinema as art-house, special effects or dumb US teen films. The highlights of their brilliant career for me were The Remains of the Day, Howard's End and A Room with a View. I hope the BBC put a season of their works on - I'd love to see some of the earlier pieces like the Henry James adaptation or Merchant's Indian work. Rest in peace.
Jason Parkes, Worcester, UK

I am so saddened by the loss of Mr Merchant. I hope Jim Ivory will always keep the two names together whenever he makes another Film. Mr Merchant's spirit will always be there for their devoted fans. Thank you both for the most wonderful films that lets us dream.
Kathleen Welch-Googins, South Portland, Maine, USA

A look, a glance, a wistful smile - big moments in Mr Merchant's films. Great movies with the range of humanity. We are all lucky to have enjoyed such fine work. I'm sad he is gone.
Sharon Gilpin, Bainbridge Island, Washington, US

Contrary to what many may think, not all of us Americans love those summer blockbuster type movies. I wait till winter arrives and the truly good movies arrive. I enjoyed Howard's End and The Remains of the Day. Mr Merchant really captured English etiquette and life style. He made Emma Thompson, and Anthony Hopkins shine. I will rent Heat and Dust in his honour. And I thank him for enriching my life!
Elizabeth Anderson, Yuba City, California, USA

I thank you for all your fantastic films but I have to give special thanks to you for the film that moved me : Maurice
O'Neil, New York

Without this Merchant, there is no Ivory. Their films were classics, of eras bygone and much loved. Their partnership with Ruth Prawer Jhabvala was unique and though the films depicted the Raj and were not very popular in post-independence India, they captured a slice of history. A rare Muslim filmmaker.
Nikhat Rasheed, Toronto, Canada

A gracious man and a wonderful film maker Shreya Sen Lawrence, Sheffield, UK

I interviewed him in 1999. He was sweaty and a bit flustered under the hot Calcutta sun but he was very generous with his time. A gracious man and a wonderful film maker.
Shreya Sen Lawrence, Sheffield, UK

Maurice will probably be my favourite movie all times. Thank you Mr Merchant for making such a beautiful movie. You are, and will always be, my inspiration for good cinema.
Jayendu De, Washington DC, USA

I was very sad to hear of the passing of such a visionary man. I remember living in Canada when Howard's End was being shown and the scenes of the bluebell woods made me ache for England.
April, Stockport, Cheshire

We lost this week one Indian hero Sunil Dutt and a renowned film maker Ismail Merchant. It is a great loss for our world.
Kazi Firoz, Kosice, Slovakia

I think that the film industry have lost a great talent and what a tragedy that two great Indian film talents have been lost on the same day, Sunil Dutt and Merchant.
Turanem, London, UK

A sad goodbye to a really first rate gentleman. A loss for all of us who cherish substance.
Darielle, Parkman, USA

What a loss; what a legacy. Films of elegance and literacy eclipsing the mundane and the vulgar. Ismail Merchant will be missed. Condolences to his family and many friends.
Diana, Canada

I am so sorry to hear about the loss of a great and a very unique film maker. I was a great fan of Mr Merchant. I have enjoyed all the films he has directed. My sincere condolences to his family.
Mrs Dipti Leinum, Malvern, Worcestershire

His movies were true romanticism - taking us to the flip side of a world of oppression and unjust politics Paul Whiting, Palm Beach, Florida, USA

Ismail Merchant was the friend I never met. His movies were true romanticism - taking us to the flip side of a world of oppression and unjust politics. Teasingly, he created nostalgia in us for the not so good times. Similarly, at a time when Aids was beginning to ravage the gay community, in Maurice, he brought a powerful adaptation of same sex love and gay heroes. Whether this was cruel or naive - it was brilliant and bold film making. As a Brit living in Florida, he inspired me to venture into Asian cooking - so I get to revel in the nostalgia of Brick Lane (East London).
Paul Whiting, Palm Beach, Florida, USA

Ismail was a breath of fresh air and will be missed. May he rest in peace.
N Fazal, London

A man of many talents. His quality of work will stand the test of time when the latest Hollywood blockbuster has come and gone.
Paul Collier, London, UK

Oh what a sad loss - beautiful, quality films, always a joy to watch. Thankfully I have a lot of them on video - your eternal legacy. Rest in peace and thank you for your exquisite and memorable work.
Della, Worthing, UK

I was lucky enough to spend time with the great man. A tower of strength, he was an inspiration who taught me to never give up and follow a dream however impossible it may be. He will never be forgotten.
Asjad Nazir, London, England

All these tributes are for his magnificent films - but I will also remember Ismail Merchant for his passionate exuberance and love of food - Indian food! Your books were a great inspiration, the chicken in Dijon mustard and clove sauce a great hit on a small restaurant in Cape Town! Little did the patrons know.
Seamus Fitzpatrick, Windsor, Berks

He was infectiously enthusiastic and energetic, compelling company and a true lover of life Chris Dwyer, London, UK

A good man has left us. I was lucky enough to have met Ismail and enjoyed his legendary hospitality in London and Paris. He was infectiously enthusiastic and energetic, compelling company and a true lover of life. His passing is simply a great loss. May he rest in peace.
Chris Dwyer, London, UK

I am very saddened by the loss of Ismail Merchant. His work has been both beautiful and challenged many of life's conventions. He has done much for the gay community and my thoughts are with James Ivory, their families and friends.
Neil Cooper, London

I hear of Mr Merchant's passing away as I am working on a paper on The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro. The film adaptation of that novel together with some of greatest novels by E.M Forster like A Room with a View and Howard's End will remain forever in my mind and heart. What a great loss for the film industry and for us all.
Marco Piovaz, Torino, Italy

A breath of fresh air in an industry dominated by Hollywood and American blockbusters. With Ismail it was quality not quantity and he always delivered the highest quality films.
Paul Collier, London UK

I was so sad to hear of the passing of this wonderful man. He and his partner James Ivory, had real vision and an incredible talent for creating an almost tangible atmosphere that you could lose yourself in when immersed in their films. Remember Vanessa Redgrave's silk dress swishing through the long, wet grass at the beginning of Howard's end? Such a simple concept yet done with such magic that you are immediately transported there.
Pamela Firth, Dewbury, U.K.

There are some people whose death really affects you; Ismail Merchant is one of those Ian, London, UK

There are some people whose death really affects you; Ismail Merchant is one of those. A good and decent man who made wonderful films. Heat and Dust, A Room With a View, Howard's End, Remains of the Day: these films capture the essence of what it is to be human and frail, yet full of optimism and humour. He touched so many hearts, I am sad that he is gone.
Ian, London, UK

I absolutely love Merchant Ivory films. The pair have helped create period masterpieces and it is sad that Mr Merchant is no longer with us. What a loss to the film industry.
A Rye, UK / Spain

I think Ismail Merchant's contribution and legacy transcends national boundaries and social classes. The world will mourn the death of a great director, who constantly challenged artistic boundaries. India will mourn a great son, who looked beyond the pale of mediocrity and most poignant of all this nation will miss a wonderful human who started, sustained and glorified the British film industry from its humble beginnings. His understanding and projection of English culture and values was formidable and will remain his lasting legacy.
Prabhat, UK

The passing away of Mr. Merchant brought a great loss to the Indian and the Muslim community. May his children follow his legacies and may his soul rest in eternal peace.
Yasin Abdallah, Khartoum, Sudan

It's a pity the public only remember a genius when they are gone. A true icon of the film industry, a talent that goes comes along once in a generation.
Paul Collier, London UK

Moving stories filmed in a beautiful and sensitive way. No special effects, just brilliant production, direction and acting.
John, Milton Keynes, UK

Ismail Merchant has helped create some of the most endearing films of the past century, realising memorable characters and situations, with a passion for them so noticeable. He will be missed.
Ellie, Newcastle

The films the duo made are so rich in colour, thought, feeling and style Gee Christopher, Tucson, AZ

I feel sorry that the Merchant of Merchant and Ivory is gone. The films the duo made are so rich in colour, thought, feeling and style. They are a real antidote to the current digitised monstrosities on the market.
Gee Christopher, Tucson, AZ

Merchant Ivory were one of the reasons I wanted to work in the film industry. Yesterday I graduated from university studying film as one of my heroes passed away. I hope it is a transition that for both of us was peaceful. Thank you Ismail for influencing me so deeply. RIP.
John Sellings, Harlow, UK

Ismail Merchant will not only be remembered for his involvement in the revival of period films. His crucial participation in films like 'Heat and Dust', 'The Deceivers', 'Shakespeare Wallah', and the more recent 'Cotton Mary' which he so skilfully directed, helped to reconcile British and Indians with their shared - often turbulent - history. Ismail Merchant's films shaped the careers of several generations of actors including Anthony Hopkins, Shashi Kapoor, Emma Thompson, James Wilby and Saeed Jaffrey. British filmmaking has lost one of its brightest and most benevolent stars.
Julian, Sint-Pauwels, Belgium

A truly extraordinary man, he had the ability to bring a film together when there was little or no money or support for the project, and of course the result was pure cinematic brilliance. He will be truly missed by members of the film community, and film fans across the world
Duncan Bruce, Reading, England

These comments on the passing of Ismail Merchant are a testimonial to the creative power and creative dignity of the man. Rare - too rare - attributes in these our "interesting" days. As a creative executive at a major film studio, I mourn the man and the standard he held high (story first!) But I also celebrate his gifts. Let all creative talent worldwide be as strong in such convictions as his. Trust this vision: we all have a world to change. Now get to work!
Tony Avallon, Culver City, CA, USA

We've lost a stalwart of cinema and will be difficult to accept the fact that he's not there with us. Ismail was a ray of hope for aspiring method actors like me and always experimented with new talent. My thoughts are with James Ivory, his friends and his family.
Parijat Thakur, Mumbai, India.

As someone who worked in several parts of Africa, Asia, and the Pacific during the colonial era I can testify to the care, flair, and accuracy that Merchant and Ivory brought to the recreation of many of the complex scenarios that resulted from the expansion of Europe. We all owe Mr Merchant a heavy debt.
Dr Allan Healy, Australia

A Room with a view is, without a doubt, my favourite film. Thank you, rest in peace
David Rickinson, Newcastle, UK

Greatness is never forgotten, a sad loss, but a huge legacy
Anon, UK

What a rich legacy this talented man leaves behind Cate, Dubai, UAE

If stranded on a desert island or preferably abandoned in the high Himalayas, there is only one film I'd need to keep me company and that's Shakespeare Wallah. From the almost surrealistic opening scene to the heart wrenching last one, I see so much of the India that I love captured in the film. But then I think of that magical scene where Olivia and the Nawab are playing musical chairs by the lake in Heat & Dust and think perhaps I'd like that too. What a rich legacy this talented man leaves behind.
Cate, Dubai, UAE

We lost a legend and one of the best producers in the movie industry. Ismail Merchant leaves behind an enormous work, our thoughts are with his family. You will stay in our memory forever.
Serge Sloimovits, Toronto, Canada

I was so fortunate to interview James Ivory before the release of The Remains of the Day, probably his greatest film ever made. A man who loved his craft, and loved his life, I will miss his original insight on life. R.I.P
Michael Wilson, UK

His films are today's classics - stunning period costumes and locations; understated, thought provoking and heart moving; stylishly crafted...the antithesis of anything Hollywood.
Rob, Burlington, Canada

His film "A Room With a View" exposed me to E.M. Forster's works as a teenager. As a result, I adopted a voracious appetite for Forster's novels which spoke personally to me as a young gay man growing up in the South.
J B C, Oakland, California, USA

In a world where cinema is getting increasingly lowbrow, the Merchant-Ivory partnership was an important outpost of resistance, proving once again that in the midst of sterility and decay it is possible to create great beauty.
Prashant, Toronto, Canada

This is a great loss for the film industry. The Merchant Ivory team made some remarkable films, which included "A Room with a View" and "Heat and Dust." Just a week back, getting bored with what was on the television, I decided to watch "Heat and Dust," which after a long time, I really enjoyed. My thoughts and prayers are with Mr Merchant's family at this moment.
Pratik, Liverpool, United Kingdom

Such wholesome and delightful films. Such insightful and revealing films. Thank you Ismail and goodbye!
Daniel Sullivan, Hoboken USA

I became an enormous fan of Ismail Merchant after meeting him in 2002 during Cairo's International Film Festival... I and a fellow Pakistani friend had the opportunity to chat with him. Mr Merchant's warmth and generosity towards us star-struck fans was incredible. He gave us tickets for the closing of the film festival and invited us to the after-party.
Mahira Afridi Perese, Istanbul, Turkey

The partnership between Ismail Merchant and James Ivory will go down in film history as one of the most successful collaborations. The quality of their films was consistent and unrivalled.
David Wend, Buffalo Grove, IL USA

Everything I learned about the West came from his realistic movies. He taught me all people of all cultures have the same hopes and challenges Suresh Patel, India

Everything I learned about the West came from his realistic movies. He taught me all people of all cultures have the same hopes and challenges.
Suresh Patel, India

This sudden and unexpected death of Ismail Merchant is not only a loss to the English movie industry but also to the wider non-English industries as well. His long term co-operation with James Ivory has been an inspiration to numerous young and independent movie makers: they re-established the period drama. Although Merchant lived the major portion of his life abroad, he never forgot his Indian roots. His efforts to recover the original negatives of Ray's classic films should also be specially mentioned. He will surely be missed.
Joy, Vienna, Austria

The man was a whirlwind, a dynamo, absolutely possessed by the art of film making and making sure the money spent ended up on the screen. Merchant Ivory have always stuck to their principles and in doing so have brought us beautiful, but above all meaningful films, films that resonate fundamentals of all of our lives; love, health and happiness.
Ben, London

The Merchant and Ivory films are lovely. What a talented team they were. I miss this genre of film making.
mytpenguin, Ohio, USA

Ismail Merchant was one of the best producers in the movie Industry. I will never forget watching Remains of the Day on a cold autumn's day in 2001, it made my day. I am grateful for his significant contribution to the field of film making.
Andrew Cooke, Baltimore, USA

Words fail me. To lose one of the most talented filmmakers of period drama ever, at such a young age. This is the man, who is responsible for so many people, like myself, realising that E.M. Forster et al wrote such good novels. The adaptations he did along with James Ivory, added to the books, and opened a whole new world to a new generation. Thank you Mr Merchant. May you rest in peace.
Izzy, Cupar, Fife

The world of independent cinema has lost a great spirit. Was he a tough taskmaster, watching every penny on productions? I hear that's true. Did the Merchant-Ivory films eventually lend themselves to parody? Most indelible, groundbreaking, archetypal creations tend to do that. Were the little snippets of time I spent with Mr Merchant over dinners and lunches in Cannes (where he stood at the front of the serving line for The Golden Bowl premier party diners, serving up the food himself!) Geneva and London among the most special memories I have of my past five years in Europe? Absolutely. Indie film has lost a class act, a pioneer and a man of elegance, taste and big dreams.
Steven Gaydos, London, UK

Very sorry to hear the death of a legend and a great producer in his own right. An acclaimed artist who helped made India great. May God bless his soul. Amen.
Dhiraj Shah, Granite Bay, California

Independent filmmaking has lost one of its original voices today. He leaves behind a tremendous body of work, but also the legacy of being one the world's greatest independent and creative producers.
J, London

Maurice meant a lot to me as a young gay man age 25 - great adaptation.
Kev, Merseyside

Ismail made wonderful films... he'll be greatly missed.
Maureen Bagan, Scotland

A great loss to the film industry my thoughts are with his family at this time
Gemma, Essex