Sayani Atish

Active in the early talkie decades of Indian cinema, actor Sayani Atish—also known as Mohammad Sayani Atish—acted mainly in negative roles in films such as Hunterwali (1935), Miss Frontier Mail (1936), Flying Prince (1946) and Vijay Kumar (1940). He featured mainly as the mustachioed villain in stunt genre films, working regularly with Wadia Movietone as well as Basant Pictures.  He acted in various supporting roles in more than 30 films over the course of his career, from the silent era of the mid-1920s till the end of the 1940s. 

Among the earliest films Atish acted in was Bajirao Mastani (1925), belonging to the historical/ biographical genre. Directed by Nanubhai B Desai and written by Bhalji Pendharkar, it revolved around the life and times of the 18th century Maratha Peshwa. The cast of this Sharda Film Company production comprised Nanasaheb Phatak as Bajirao and Miss Jones as Mastani. 

Acting in films such as Khuni Kon (1929), Mumbai No Mawali (1929), Shamsheerbaaz (1930), Ran Hak (1931), and Sinh Garjna (1932), in 1933 he played the character Vazir Jargam in the J B H Wadia directed Lal-E-Yaman. This Wadia Movietone production was an Oriental fantasy derived from classic Parsi theatre. It revolved around the heir to the Yemeni throne – Prince Parviz, and his fight for justice aided by a magic dagger, liberating himself and his people.

Playing a variety of roles in films such as Kala Gulab (1933), Dilruba Daku (1933), and Bag-E-Misar (1934), Atish played the character of the wicked prime minister Ranmal in Hunterwali (1935). This Homi Wadia-directed stunt film featuring Fearless Nadia as the central character, told the story of a princess who fights injustice as the masked crusader ‘Hunterwali’ (lady with the whip). The film would propel Nadia and the Wadia brothers of Wadia Movietone to fame.

His subsequent work saw him essay General in Desh Deepak (1935), followed by a character named Shyamlal/ Signal X in Miss Frontier Mail (1936). The plot of this Homi Wadia directorial revolved around Savita, aka Miss 1936, an amateur hunter and her brother Jayant, an amateur filmmaker. Their father, Maganlal, arrested for the murder of a station-master, is defended by their uncle Shyamlal, who is in fact the mysterious Signal X. Shyamlal causes a major train smash-up so as to promote his new airline. He then implicates hero Sundar, son of the railway president, in the crime. Savita overcomes the nasty Signal X, whose henchmen are caught on film by Jayant as they sabotage a bridge. Nadia indulges in extensive fist-fights, set to heavy sound effects, and a famous battle alongside Sundar atop a moving train.

In Hurricane Hansa (1937), Atish played the villain Zalim Singh, who launches an attack on the family of Veer Singh, leaving the latter injured, his wife dead, and his daughters Hansa and Padma separated. Growing up as a Harijan (an untouchable), Hansa transforms the word to 'Hurricane', dons a mask and overthrows Zalim. She falls in love with Zalim's good son Diler. The horse Punjab-Ka-Beta features in its usual key role, rescuing Hansa when she hangs from a cliff, leaping over a wall of fire and aiding the love angle by nudging Diler into the pond where Hansa is having a bath.

Diamond Queen (1940) saw him play the villain Kedarnath, in the Homi Wadia-directed action adventure film. The story revolved around Madhurika who comes back to Diamond Town, after studying in Bombay, svelte and fit in Western clothes. Her arrival comes just as the villain Kedarnath, has brutally seized power while the Prince is away. He was charged with weeding out local corruption but has become the Thugee boss instead. Unbeknownst to Kedarnath, he has a secret enemy named Diler, from a local band of dacoits, who survived Kedarnath burning his family home and gave an oath to avenge his father. Diler and Madhurika join ranks to deliver the town from evil, as she campaigns for women's literacy and independence.

He went on to act in Pooja (1940), Jai Swadesh (1940), Vijay Kumar (1940) and Mere Sajan (1941). Amar Raj (1946) saw him play a character named Indrapal, while in Flying Prince (1946) he played Dr Sharma. Basant Pictures’ Sher-E-Baghdad/ Lion of Baghdad (1946), directed by Homi Wadia, saw him essay a character named Mahmood alongside John Cawas and Fearless Nadia cast as Salim and Zubeida, respectively. 

The A Rashid-directed actioner Air Mail (1946) saw him cast alongside Dilawar, Asmini, Shashi and others in this Atom Productions film. It was followed by Toofani Tirandaz (1947), an action adventure film written and directed by Boman Shroff featuring Fearless Nadia and Prakash, in which he played the character Jaya Singh. 

The same year, he also featured in the action genre film Kismetwali, directed by Behram Mukadam and starring Fearless Nadia and John Cawas. This RMV Productions film was followed by his appearance in the 1948 Homi Wadia directorial 11 O’Clock, alongside Aftab, Fearless Nadia, Shyam Sunder and Austin Ki Bachchi – the famous Austin car that was a regular in most Nadia starrers. The plot revolved around Suresh, who has been left Rs 1,000, by his uncle in his will. The stipulation is that he has to be married and reach the lawyer's office by 11 o'clock the following morning. The money will otherwise go to his cousin Harish. He entreats Harish to help him find a bride, but under the pretense of helping him, Harish tries to foil his plans. With help from Lakshmi and a friend called Tattu, who has the Austin, they manage to make it on time. This was to be his last film.