Veteran Bombay distributor and exhibitor G.L. Naik breathed his last on 6th May in California. He was 102 years old. He is survived by three sons and a daughter and their families.
Gunvantrai Lallubhai Naik was the owner of Laxmi Chitra distribution concern in Bombay. He served on the executive committee of the IMPDA for more than 25 years and was its secretary for 12 years consecutively. During his tenure as IMPDA’s honorary secretary, he used to unfailingly visit the Association office everyday to attend to the day-to-day work. He put in great efforts to increase the membership of the IMPDA by contacting distributors all over the Bombay circuit. It was G.L. Naik who had insisted on compulsory registration with the IMPDA for films acquired for distribution in Bombay circuit. He had also worked with producer Gaffarbhai Nadiadwala.
Naik owned/controlled a number of cinemas in Bombay and Gujarat, including Alankar and Vihar, Baroda; Laxmi, Anand; Ajanta and Darpan, Surat; Giriraj, Navsari; Mayur, Sargam, Ranjan and Sohang, Petlad; Paras, Nadiad; Trimurti, Vidyanagar; Prakash, Bardoli; Krishna, Anklov; Darpan, Ode; Vaishali, Songadh; and others.. He had also produced Hindi and Gujarati films.
Naik was pious by nature. He was loved and respected by all those he came in contact with.
The IMPDA passed a condolence resolution at its meeting today (9th May) and observed two minutes’ silence as a mark of respect to the departed soul.