The 1981 movie Umrao Jaan Ada, which helped give Rekha one of her most marked performances in her lifetime, is still remembered as a classic. The movie soundtrack, acting and sets have been unbeatable by now, even though Pakistan attempted a version featuring Rani, while even Bollywood tried to make another version featuring Aishwarya Rai. But the impact of emotion, story, screenplay and costume, especially, has left Muzaffar Ali’s Umrao Jaan Ada imprinted forever in the minds of the audience.
Muzaffar made a visit to Pakistan and on Friday, held a session with film students of the Beaconhouse National University (BNU). The Department of Theatre Film and Television of the School of Media & Mass Communication (SMC) organised a dialogue with the Indian filmmaker. Amid an excited throng of film and theatre students, the director took the platform to discuss almost everything under the sun regarding movies.
He began by narrating his journey as a filmmaker, surprisingly choosing to be a student of geology from Aligarh University, following some work at an advertising agency based in Kolkata. To add to his prestige, he had the honour of working with some brilliant and renowned film directors of Indian cinema including the internationally famous Satayjit Ray and Goutam Ghosh. He even stinted some work as an employee of Air India, before beginning a filmmaker.
Muzaffar emphasised that Faiz Ahmed Faiz’s poetry had a profound influence in his life. When he chose his career as a filmmaker, he began with the film “Gaman”, depicting the gritty scenario of urbanisation in Mumbai and the experiences a simple man from Lucknow goes through. The culture of Lucknow seems to have seeped into Muzaffar. His love and awe for the culture is apparent while his depiction is excellent and true to life. “By both producing and directing Umrao Jaan Ada, I have tried to preserve the culture of Lucknow,” says Muzaffar. “Creativity lies in seeing the larger picture and developing sensitivity towards the helpless in society. It is always important to keep in mind that your craft should touch the heart,” he said.
Students also interacted interestedly with Ali. Questions during the last session of the talk, led Muzaffar to describe his passion for Sufi music and poetry especially of Persian poet and philosopher Jalaluddin Rumi. In fact, Ali does not stop at filmmaking. His brilliant collection and selection of songs in the album Raqs-e-Bismil (Dance of the Wounded), sung beautifully and bewitchingly by Abida Parveen has entranced many even those who are not the usual listeners of this kind of music.
The album is his tribute to Sufi poet and musician Amir Khusro. At the conclusion of the dialogue, SMC Dean Dr Mehdi Hassan thanked Muzaffar and Muneeza Hashmi for her support in organising an intellectually stimulating session for the students of BNU. He also presented a souvenir to the visiting guest on behalf of BNU. Muzaffar Ali’s films will be showcased over the next three days in collaboration with the Faiz Foundation at the auditorium of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan. Also present at the occasion were Vice-Chancellor Sartaj Aziz and Head of Theatre, Film and Television Department Dr Asghar Nadeem Syed.
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