MOVIES have always been the grand passion for renowned architect Habib Fida Ali. In fact, he had wanted to become a film director when he was in school. While at Atchison, he recalls having visited the studios a lot, courtesy his art teacher whose brother was a film actor. “I used to see a lot of films and knew so much about them that my friends would call me producer-director. I also visited Bombay frequently and thanks to film star Nargis, who lived in the flat below my uncle’s, would visit the studio there, too.”
When Habib went for further studies to London, his love for cinema grew manifold. Says he, “I would go from one film to another, and had boundless energy. There was probably not a single night when I stayed home ... I would either go to a movie or a play or a concert. So I grew up on films, plays and musicals.”
In fact, Habib’s favourite movie is a musical, Singing in the Rain. Other favourites include On the Town starring Frank Sinatra and Gene Kelly, and An American in Paris. Rues Fida Ali, “They don’t make movies like these anymore.”
Among his favourite directors are William Wyler, director of Ben Hur, and George Stevens, who made Giant. A Place in the Sun starring Elizabeth Taylor and Montgomery Cliff ranks among Habib Fida Ali’s favourite early American movies and among the more recent ones, he rates A Room With a View and all Ismail Merchant movies very highly.
From movies made across the border, Habib loves Satyajit Ray’s historical films, and his personal favourite is Shatranj Kay Khilari. He finds Guru Dutt both a good director and a good actor, and loves his Sahib, Bibi Aur Ghulam. Another film he rates highly is Kamal Ambrovi’s Pakeezah, which he describes as an excellent period piece.
On the other hand, he hates Devdas, which, in his words, projected a distorted version of the period. “The sets were not authentic, and the Bengalis never wore such clothes. Compared to Sahib, Bibi Aur Ghulam, which was perfect in its depiction of a Bengali haveli, sets and costumes, Devdas was grossly overdone. So what if it is a glamorous musical ... it should still be technically correct and true to the period being projected.”
Habib claims that he still watches the old Indian movies on DVDs, which to this day he finds “fresh and moving”, and doesn’t like any of the latest Indian movies. From continental movies, his favourite is The Leopard by Luchino Visconti.
As for Pakistani movies, though he has watched quite a few, he says he has no favourites. He does concede though that he enjoyed Lakhon Mein Aik, particularly for its music.
Habib’s favourite musical shows are those that he saw in the late ‘50s and early ‘60s, which he feels was “the most wonderful period for theatre and music.” His hot favourites include My Fair Lady, which he saw in London starring Rex Harrison and Julie Andrews, West Side Story, which he still rates as one of the best musicals, Cabaret and Oklahoma.
Claiming to be very conservative in his music taste, Habib says, “I was introduced to Western music when I was in London and attended a lot of concerts. My three favourite composers are Gustav Mahler, whose music I find very adaptable, Shostakovich, and the late Aaron Copland.
“From the subcontinent maestros, I enjoy Ravi Shankar and Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan’s music. The latter had a varied repertoire and his music is very easy on the ears. As for film music, I love the compositions of Anil Biswas. Naushad’s music was good, but it didn’t move me. As for the present lot, you might as well forget them! Among playback singers, I enjoy Mehdi Hassan and Farida Khanum.”
Since the architect loves to travel, his favourite books are all travel-related and he enjoys the works of Bruce Chatwin, William Dalrymple and V.S. Naipul. But if he had to select a book that he could read again and again, he would pick Oscar Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Gray, while his favourite play would be the Importance of Being Earnest. Says Habib, “I read very little fiction, but I do love to read biographies. The problem is that I hardly get time to read these days.”
FAVOURITE MOVIE: Singing in the Rain
FAVOURITE MUSICAL SHOW: My Fair Lady
FAVOURITE BOOK: The Picture of Dorian Gray, by Oscar Wilde.
MOVIES have always been the grand passion for renowned architect Habib Fida Ali. In fact, he had wanted to become a film director when he was in school. While at Atchison, he recalls having visited the studios a lot, courtesy his art teacher whose brother was a film actor. “I used to see a lot of films and knew so much about them that my friends would call me producer-director. I also visited Bombay frequently and thanks to film star Nargis, who lived in the flat below my uncle’s, would visit the studio there, too.”
