Revision as of 04:47, 21 December 2015

Some information, M F Husain; Graphic courtesy: India Today, June 10, 2011

A timeline, M F Husain; Graphic courtesy: India Today, June 10, 2011

Husain, Maqbool Fida

A meeting with a maestro

Art Modern Indian art Maqbool Fida Husain M.F. Husain

By Ali Adil Khan

Dawn

Husain, Maqbool Fida

Husain, Maqbool Fida

If the great Mughal Emperor Akbar saw the collection of 51 large canvases created by Maqbool Fida Husain for the Mughal-i-Azam Museum in London, in all likelihood he would have bestowed the title of ‘Musavir-e-Azam’ on him.

I was fortunate to get the opportunity to preview these new works and meet one of the greatest artists of our time. Maqbool Fida Husain popularly known as M.F. Husain, who has just turned 92, was commissioned by Akbar Asif, son of K. Asif (director of the Indian epic film Mughal-i-Azam) to produce new works for the Mughal-i-Azam Museum which will be housed in his Park Lane penthouse.

As I arrived at the penthouse where Husain has set up his studio, I was greeted by Anjum Siddiqui an emerging artist, who was staying with Husain in transit to Delhi. She walked me to Husain’s studio, passing large finished and unfinished canvases. I was thrilled at the thought of meeting the maestro and seeing his studio for the first time.

Upon entering, I saw large paintings lined up all along the walls, and a few people sitting on comfortable leather sofa chairs. In the centre of the room was a large (10x10 feet) flexi-glass Italian coffee table scattered with books, exhibition brochures, and business cards. On a closer look, I noticed that the table had been painted and signed by Husain from underneath. I also noticed a white mattress and comforter placed on the floor next to the table where he probably rests. There were also two large easels, a step table with paint cans on it, and several paint brushes of various sizes.

However, Husain was not present in the studio. I was told that he was resting and had expressed an interest to paint that day provided there was the right audience and music. My friend Kamran Anwar, an investment banker and collector, who was accompanying me, offered to play a CD from a Qawwali album ‘Rung’ compiled by him, which he had brought to present to Husain. As the sound of Manzoor Niazi and party singing Meray banay ki baat na poocho, mera bana hariyala hai played, M. F. Husain made an entry into the studio. Everyone in the room rose to their feet. Tall and slim, dressed in a black kurta pajama with a white apron, he looked like he was in the mood to paint.

Beaming with energy, Husain commands great respect and adoration. As I greeted him he smiled and asked me to come and sit next to him. Enjoying the Qawwali, Husain gently started to clap. His persona was calm and quiet, gentle and composed. One feels very peaceful and relaxed in his company, despite his towering personality.

Later, he took me to preview his new works. About 30-35 paintings were complete, framed and ready for display; 5-10 seemed to be unfinished, and another 5-6 were blank canvases. All of these were the same size, roughly 8 ft x 5 ft. Some were painted in landscape and some in portrait. They were all creations of scenes from the film Mughal-i-Azam, as seen through the eyes of the maestro. Husain told me that this commission and body of work meant a lot to him as he had worked on the sets for the Mughal-i-Azam movie some 45 years ago.

The works were magnificent, characteristic of Husain’s style, executed in perfect light, form and colour. His masterly touch is evident from dexterous brush strokes and the use of vibrant and contrasting colours such as gold, silver, red, orange, blue and green. The series starts with a compelling painting of the map of Hindustan with Urdu writing “Main Hindustan hoon, Himalaya meri godh hai…….aur is ki tariqi main aik shaqs jis ka nam Jalaluddin Muhammad Akbar thaa…..”

“Every painting I am creating is my interpretation of the film and of history. The film had some great lines; hence many of the paintings have Urdu writings on them. These truly memorable lines are what the film is remembered for, and my art is a reflection of the film’s greatness,” he explained.

These paintings are also a tribute to the great Mughal King Akbar. “Beyond the film, Akbar was the most secular Mughal King ever, and in today’s time it is important to remember that. From his marriage to Jodhabai, the Rajput princess, to his laws and governance, he established greatness and secularity you seldom see, even in today’s modern times. My paintings reflect that,” he added.

Undoubtedly, the most precious thing for Husain is time — and he wants to make the best of it. He enjoys eating at the best restaurants, buying top quality clothes, and getting the best paints and hand made Italian frames for his works. The frames alone for the 51 paintings (the late K. Asif passed away at the age of 51) cost in excess of one hundred thousand pounds.

Wherever he goes he stands out in the crowd and gets stormed by his admirers for autographs. He signs his name very stylistically in English and Urdu and dates it as 007. He also very generously makes a small drawing of a horse (Duldul) or an elephant (Ganesh) for his admirers.

Mughal-i-Azam Museum is set to open before the end of this year, as soon as the 51 paintings are complete and hung with proper lighting. As for his next venture he informed that he will be making 99 paintings on Arab history in Qatar. These paintings will represent all religions, culture and people of the region.

At 92, Husain has amazing energy, drive and creativity. He speaks very little, probably conserving his energy for his art, but when he does speak, he is humorous, opinionated and full of ideas.

Since Husain cannot return to India due to the preposterous law suits filed against him — India’s loss is others gain. Artists of Husain’s calibre are born once in a few centuries. One of Allama Iqbal’s famous couplets aptly describes this great maestro “Hazaron saal nargis apni benoori pe roti hai — Bari musquil se hota hai chaman men deedawar paida.” (A thousand years Narcissus cries over its lacking / With difficulty is born one to behold)