It was a close encounter of another kind. A kind soul endowed with humanity’s creative ‘rahmat.’ All that sparkle, that energy, that sprite in his feet – that made up all of Maqbool Fida Husain (aka MF)!
Way back in 2000, when I was on a managerial job at the first Multiplex of India (probably even Asia) – CityPluse, at Gandhinagar, Gujarat, India, I was leading the team hosting all who visited or performed at the now commonly known entertainment center. Innovative then, the concept of multiple screen housed in one complex, was perceived to a large extent, a sign of single screen theater’s decay and near extinction, then.
As it was, our Management headed by Late Mr Ashok Purohit (sadly I learnt he left for his heavenly abode just last week) was known to attract some of the leading performing artist from India and Pakistan, and MF was long awaited in the list of VIPs to not only visit, but also to paint the canvass façade of our multiplex for his film GAJAGAMINI.
It seems as if he had spring in his feet and the gait that he carried literally swayed as his silvery white locks bristled his face as in loving caresses. From afar, one could feel as if he was an apparition in full white except for his long nose and spectacles perched precariously over it.
His piercing eyes could read, I felt all shapes, forms and colours to finally put it up all, on a canvas or any medium to paint. His canvass never felt small even as he started sketching and, later painting mesmerising and fascinating curvaceous body contours of the dream Bollywood beauty queen – Madhuri Dixit. For hours, he would stand up on a scaffolded bamboo platform in the early morning sun to paint.
Best was the ‘elephantine’ (Gajagamini – means baby elephant in leap portrayed in Madhuri’s painted gait that hyphenated his unique understanding of elements that matched and married in a fashion that was singularly striking.
Had another brush with his persona through first person interview with Late Mr Pranlal Bhogilal, wealth landlord, avid collector of vintage cars and connoisseur of art. During that meeting sitting in the garden at his Autoworld, Kathwada, Ahmedabad farm house cum vintage car museum, Mr Pranlal recalled how MF would squat on the bare, cold marble floor and sketch or paint to his hearts content, for hours together.
He informed that MF was so simple that he would not even bother to pick up his cup of tea or snack lying in front of him for hours till he completed his work. While painting, he seemed possessed in such a frenzy that his intermittent gaze checked the lush green surroundings filled with chirping birds while making occasional clatter of his paint brush tipping the colours smeared palette.
Observation was the key in his case, as I moved with him while maintaining singular focus on the purpose yet, oblivious of all that he viewed in a cursory glance, while he showed him around the multiplex. Eye for details obviously superseded any other quality engaging him, but the speed of his translation from observation to painting or creating art on canvas, demonstrated his caliber; a Master Artist and more so, a great human being – a rare combo, indeed.
Master Artist, I envisioned, conclusively as he sketched and autographed his trademark horse as per my request which he entertained at the drop of mine. “Where is the paper and sketch pen,” he asked and pronto, I presented him a black ink sketch pen and for his canvas, I proffered the back of the invite card of the event – French Film Retrospective on Jean-Paul Rappeneau.
Managing the guests, setting timings for the band to perform live shows for the next day, menu for the VIPs and what not; my hands were full and yet, I took time out to catch him in all the melee to pull out this ‘one instant horse’ out of his hands to rush back to my chamber carrying the prized possession along with his auto graph even on the brochure for eternity!!
I even got the date mentioned, and what a memory to cherish, not for a mere lifetime, but for times beyond. A dream ‘horse,’ his simplicity etched on a canvas for him to be considered as chit of a piece of paper – indeed a parchment – proof of survivor of life, works and times will arrive to establish its value and essence of a man called MF.
Two vertical and parallel lines marking the alphabet H with the second one having a long horizontal haul seemingly to eternity, yet finally culminating with receding ‘usain,’ defined his character in exceedingly prolific and profound terms.
The mane on the horse was distinctly etched and lined by rubbing the tip of the sketch pen in jarred fashion while the jaw marked the striking curve offering physiological ‘geometry’ in definitive terms. Catch the wind in motion if you can observe the mane swinging as the horse likely on the run.
Did I find the two small and oblong eyes juxtaposed between appropriately alerted ears interesting? Oh yes, not to say the least about the yawning gape that the horse puts down while striking a pose on alert or probably panting, after a long haul.
Cool and chill in the air was yet to hit hard even as the night took time to blossom in to its starry form, but then this parchment warmed the cockles of my heart that fourth day of the markedly Roman month of February (scribbled below MF’s autograph), felt endless and sacrosanct on that parchment even today, as I hold it close to my chest.
Picture Courtesy: Tallenge Store