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Enjoyment of life

“I want to see the word but I don’t have money,” said Babboo. “You should first see your own country. Pahle apna mulk to achhi tarah dekh lo.”“I can see my country any time, at my leisure, but when would I be able to see the world? Waqt nikla ja raha hai,” he said sadly. “But you don’t have the money.”
“I have the time, also the desire. An irony, isn’t it?”
“But, my friend, even very rich people are unable to see the entire world. I suppose even our very own former Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz failed to see a number of countries – despite spending, according to a newspaper report, one billion rupees on foreign travels!”
“A billion rupees?” Babboo cried
“Yes, one billion rupees. He could achieve this feat by undertaking as many as 47 foreign trips between the years 2004 and 2007.”
“How great enjoyment he must have had, kaash main Pakistan ka Vazeer-i-Azam hota!”
“You have not even been on umra as a free-loader. If only you had known one of the presidents or prime ministers of this country, you would have been invited to tag along and fulfill your religious obligation too.”
“Alas! Na Khuda hi mila na visal-i-sanam!”
“Aisi mout se to zindigi behtar thee,” I said.
“What?” Babboo failed to grasp the humor.
After a while he said: “Come to think of it, what is life after all but for going places and enjoying?”
“And what better enjoyment if it is at the cost of public money,” I said.
He ignored my remark and said: “Our late friend Latif Kapadia used to say, zindigi mein maza aana chahiye.”
“He did enjoy his life to the full, didn’t he, till his last breath?”
“But sometimes, he also complained about his empty pocket.”
“That we, the common natives of the motherland, always do for one reason or the other. But in the case of Latif did his empty pocket ever come in the way of his enjoyment of life?” I asked. “Wait a minute! Don’t you think if Latif had been a senior bureaucrat or a politician – in other words, if he had access to public money – he would have roamed the world and enjoyed his life much more fully?”
Shocked at this outrageous remark, I said, “Babboo, I only wish Latif was here today to respond to your idea! It would have been fun watching him taking care of you!
Babboo overlooked my comment and asked: “What was the secret of our friend’s joyous life?”
“The secret was his being ready to enjoy the things available to him – simple things that life offered him. He loved his food and sherbet, he loved looking at the clouds, the sea, the moon, felt the breeze on his face, smelled the grass, the flowers, the mustard fields… he loved music, above all, he loved his family and friends and their company.”
“You are romanticizing him too much. How could he enjoy life without being a rich man?”
“You don’t need money to enjoy the clouds, the sea and the moon, do you, Latif did not go to the Maldives to enjoy the moon, to Pataya Beach in Thailand to enjoy the sea, to Seychelles Island to enjoy the clouds,” I tried to depress Babboo by naming these places and reminding him what he was missing, but a clever customer that he is, he asked: “Who told you they go to these places to enjoy nature?’
“What do they go there for?”
“Jab baray ho jao ge to samujh mein aa jaye ga (you will know when your are matured enough).”
Babboo had scored a point and a perverted smile lit his face. Continuing the offensive, he said; “It is clear you are still living in your childhood, in a fool’s paradise, in a time when you were a small silly boy and your grandmother told you stories about handsome princes and beautiful princesses, tales of their great love and their journey to exotic places beyond the mountain in a golden chariot …” “You are making fun of my grandmother’s storytelling. You don’t know what enjoyment is. I am sure if you were given a golden chariot today, your warped sense of enjoyment would not let you enjoy riding in it.”
“Who goes riding in a chariot today, for heavens sake? Give me a Lexus, a Prado, a Mercedes, and you will see how I enjoy my life. Or give me an air ticket to the Maldives, Bangkok or Seychelles and I’ll show you how to have a good time. My friend, it is one thing to go on a picnic by bus or bicycle and another thing to go in a four-wheeler; eating ice cream by the roadside and enjoying it in a five star hotel are two different things; yes, it is one thing to sit on a rock by the channel in Defence Phase VIII and catch fish and quite another to go deep-sea fishing in a luxury yacht…” “… and catch barracudas and marlins made of pure gold,” I said.
“Don’t be sarcastic! The truth is gone are the days when people used their mind’s eye to see things beautiful. We are not living in the era of Ghalib any more and we don’t need to follow his doctrine Baithay rahen tassawur-i-janan kiye huye,”
“Yes, of course,” I said, “now you don’t need to use your inner eye to see beauty; the inner eye is no more there – all you need now is luxury cars, air tickets, electronic equipment and gadgets in order to enjoy your life!” I sat back in my sofa, closed my eyes and went to see the world in my golden chariot.

I was once asked by a journalist friend to write the obituary of a famous artist. “But he is alive!” I said.

“Indeed he is. But he is very ill. We generally keep obituaries of famous people ready just in case… you know what I mean… one should avoid last minute embarrassment….”

Getting a cue from the above and in a moment of light heartedness I suggested to my journalist friend: “You, Latif Kapadia and I are in the same age group and vulnerable in equal measure. What about our obituaries?”

“Good idea!” my friend said.

“But let’s not leave it to others. We can write our own obituaries, can’t we? I can write yours, you will perhaps write Latif’s.”

“Who will write mine?” I asked.

Needless to say, none of us took the matter seriously and forgot all about it.

Today, Friday, March 29 — Latif is the one to go first. Smart guy. He died early that morning. Only the previous evening, he was recording an Anwar Maqsood play on Ghalib. He lost his breath during the recording but refused to heed Anwar’s advice to go home and take rest. Instead, he asked Moin Akhtar to take him to Liaquat National Hospital across the road so that he may get himself “recharged” with some oxygen. At the hospital he was given oxygen and as soon as he had regained his breath he returned to the set to finish the scene.

I have just come back from Mewa Shah Qabristan after burying my friend. As the slabs were placed on the grave and Latif was never to be seen again by anyone except the angels, people present there were asked: “Aaeeaye hazraat, mitti deejiaye!” I too stepped forward and threw some earth on his grave, and as I wiped my hands with a handkerchief, I could hear Latif say: “Chalo, ye kaam bhi hua!”

He had his pet expression for every occasion and I am sure he always meant what he said. Raising his glass he would never forget to shout: “Hail Hitler! Jiye Bhutto!” His message to the world was clear: “Sanbhalnay ka hai. Jamana bara najuk hai, kya.” His affection for his children was reflected in the suffixes he added to their names: Jamila was Jamila Bano, Ruby was Ruby Jones, son Ahmad Husain was Qibla Ahmad Hussain Kapadia. His old friend Mushtaq Ali Khan was Barbad Ali Khan. (Incidentally, Mushtaq too passed away a month ago and informing me about his death, Latif said: “Yar, Barbad mar geya!”)

The Kapadia family is an unassuming and loving family. In this family there is no place for ego or hypocrisy — and the lack of craving for money and power makes them a delightful bunch of people. In some ways Latif was different from his eight brothers (four of them are no more in this world now) since no one could beat him in exuberance and an unending quest for excitement in life. Even as a small boy he would keep jumping and dancing on one leg, prompting his grandmother to remark to his father: “You will see he will work in a Natak company one day.” Prophetic words. Adventure ran in his blood. At the age of 14 he ran away with a friend to Lahore to join the filmi dunya. They called on Madame Noorjehan who discouraged the boys and advised them to return home at once.

My friendship with Latif goes back half a century. It was on the stairs of Aimai House on Victoria Road that we first met. I was with Barbad Ali Khan and Latif was with Safirullah Lehri. We became friends instantly. Those were carefree days. Lehri and Latif would present skits on stage and Latif would also sing the songs of Pankaj, Jugmohan and Hemant in his deep, melodious voice. He was a good singer but he never took his singing seriously.

The high points of a relationship spread over five decades can not be recalled coherently. It is 1980. After an exciting New Year in Bombay, Latif takes us to Abrahma, small village in Indian Gujrat where he was born. We take the train from Bombay and it is raining and Latif is singing: Jug mein chalay pawan ki chal. The four-hour journey takes us to Amalsad from where we ride a bus to Abrahma. Walking through the narrow lanes we pass by a lake. Latif’s wife Amna shows us the place by the bank where she along with her friends Ratna, Madhuri and Shanti used to go to wash clothes. She also points to the big banyan tree under which Latif’s mother is buried. “I am looking at this tree after 30 years,” says Latif. At home, Latif’s mother-in-law tells us: “They were kids when they got married and left for Pakistan.” The following day we leave for Krishnapur and are struck by the sight of the long line of village damsels in their multi-coloured saris and glittering brass vessels balancing on their heads, going to the river to fetch water.

We reach Dharampur in the evening and hire a bullock cart to go to Jharia, a small village in the jungle. We are greeted by the 80-year-old housekeeper, Rahmli Bai who walks briskly in front of us holding a lantern, showing us the way to the house that is surrounded by jungles. A bonfire is lit in the courtyard and the village people are gathered around the fire, and the young girls and boys begin to dance and Latif joins them and keeps a sprightly rhythm till everyone is exhausted…

And I am thinking of those music parties in our Gulshan-i- Iqbal home…and his late night visits with Masood Haider and Zafar Masood and Kamal Ahmad Rizvi… Latif had never learnt music formally but his sensitivity for it and understanding of the subject was remarkable.

Time may be a great healer but it inflicts more wounds than it can heal. In the last few years Latif was no more the youthful, smart, mercurial man that he was. He had become a museum of illness and had surrounded himself with all kinds of medicines — unani, homeopathic and what not. While he was very particular about visiting his doctors, he was not ready to alter his lifestyle. His indulgences remained unchanged and at times I could notice a suicidal streak in his behaviour. Being an optimist he still talked of celebrating his 70th birthday, or 52nd wedding anniversary, but the way he bowed out of the stage this morning makes me think that he had decided it was time to call it a day… and I can hear him say: Chalo bhai chalo, buhut ho geya!

Latif Kapadia, the seasoned stage, television and move actor was asked, “When does an actor reach perfection? “Never!,” he thundered in his gravel voice.

“What is perfection?” He continues in the same authoritative tone. “And once you believe you have reached perfection, what do you do? Retire, or start sliding downwards!”

End of the argument.

Kapadia believes that after acting for a while under competent directors, most actors attain a certain level of professionalism and are on the same pedestal as actors. Only good roles separate them, the kind of roles that win them acclaim and awards.
This year’s recipient of President’s ‘Pride of Performance’ award for his contribution in theatre, Latif Kapadia observes that most children are naturally inclined towards fine arts and performing arts. These children happily and energetically take up acting, singing, painting. If they are lovingly nurtured and encouraged they become good in one of their pursuits. As a child, Latif fell in love with singing, a love affair that he passionately pursues to this day.

“Sangeet is my life and soul. Good music always transports me to a world of happiness and harmony,” declares the artist as he starts humming a tune.

When friends get together at parties, Latif is not usually asked about his performances on stage and television, but is invariably asked to sing in his soft, melodious voice. ‘Yeh raat, yeh mausam, yeh hasna hasaana,’ or other old classics of Jagmohan, Hemant Kumar or Talat Mahmood. And if there are talented musician friends like Arshad Mehmood, a great composer and an accomplished actor himself, then the party turns a most enjoyable musical evening.

Latif Kapadia was initiated into acting in 1953 by a theatre-loving couple, Meherji and Pervaiz Dastur. The two were the heart and soul of the Bombay Amateur Artists Association. The group put up many plays in the 50s and latif was featured in most of them. About the same time he befriended Safirullah, an aspiring comedian, soon to become famous on screen as Lehri. Latif and Lehri presented many comic skits on stage. He fondly remembers his talented colleagues from those years, Muhammad Yousuf and Qurban Jilani, Lily Davidson, Omer Qadri and Khalil Gaya.
The turning point in his acting pursuit came in 1957, with his joining the Avant-Garde Arts Theatre(AGAT) formed by Ali Ahmed and Latif’s elder brother, Ghulam Ali (Gulu) Kapadia. Ali Ahmed had been involved in theatre and more importantly in political theatre, since pre-partition days in India. After independence Ali Ahmed moved to Lahore and then to Karachi Latif found Ali Ahmed’s progressive plays ‘my true calling in life. It is with AGAT and Ali Ahmed that I became a professional actor,’ acknowledges Latif. Ali Ahmed’s huge hit, Sheeshay kay aadmi (1968), in which Latif played a pivotal role, established his reputation as an actor of repute.

“I really came into my element,” Latif recalls with passion. The experience with AGAT made him politically and socially aware of the problems faced by the people of Pakistan. He has since then also involved himself with causes reflecting that awareness.

Other significant plays of that era in which he has acted include, (also Ali Ahmed’s), Qissa jagtay sotay ka, Ek din ka sultan adapted from One Thousand and One Nights. A play that Latif is very proud of acting in, Phir bhi hum jeetay rahay, was directed by the great Zia Sarhadi of Humlog, Footpath, Akhreshab fame. Naheed Siddiqi, The internationally acclaimed classical dancer, played the main role. Latif has enjoyed acting and theatre with many well known stage personalities such as Zia Mohyeddin, Kamal Ahmed Rizvi, Rahat Kazmi, Shoaib Hashmi, Khalid Ahmed, Sheema Kermani, Anjum Ayaz, Sohail Malik.

When television came to Karachi in 1967 it did not take Latif long to smoothly make the transition to it. Sheeshay kay aadmi was successfully screened on television as well, with Latif recreating the same role and winning a nation-wide acclaim. Although the small screen has brought him recognition and fame, he cannot remember any significant or worthy role that he has played. This comes from one of the busiest and much-sought-after actor. He does mention that acting in Baarish, Barzakh, Shikastay Arzoo, Gurez, Naadan Nadia, were among the better plays that have given him some satisfaction.

When asked about his views on PTV producers, Latif said that these people are specially trained to do their job, unlike the rising crop of new directors in private productions. Some of the PTV directors are highly rated in and outside PTV, but in Latif’s views do not deserve it.

“They are just good technicians with an ability to select only formula scripts which would immediately appeal to the general public. Then these directors surround themselves with popular stars and play safe to make their productions a success. They have yet to show their mettle when faced with scripts which require innovation and imagination.”

However, Latif praises PTV directors, Sahira Kazmi, Shoaib Mansoor, Mohsin Ali, Qasim Jalali, Iqbal Ansari, Samejho, Shahid Pasha, Ali Rizvi, Magsi, Iqbal Latif, Zaheer khan, and his favourite showbiz personality, Anwar Maqsood.

He has experienced the big screen too, acting in very Good Dunya very Bad Log, poorly plagiarized from Eddie Murphy’s Hollywood movie, Trading Places.

“My first and last film” asserts Latif, “I can’t act in Pakistani films,” he adds with a shrug. He, however, speaks well of the film’s producers, Nadeem Mandviwala and Rashid Khawaja; “they were good to me.” His role in this film earned Latif nomination by National film Awards for the Best Supporting Actor.

Asked about romances blossoming while shooting Latif strongly contradicts the popular held belief.

“There is no concept of real love on stage or screen, we actors are pretty good at creating ‘a world of make believe’ and are practical people. If any two happen to fall in love, they do so with their eyes wide open!”

Any regrets or unfulfilled ambitions in life? I wanted to know. Latif became very sombre and said, “ I sincerely believe that I have enormous talent. So far I have not been given great acting roles to fully utilize my acting potential and talent.

Latif feels he has a lot to learn and has the talent to give a lot more. If you mention discreetly his age and hint that he takes life a little easy now, Latif spiritedly shouts you down and says:

“I feel young and full of life. Just watch me.”

Latif recently celebrated his 67th birthday with a few friends and family members at a party thrown by his daughter, Jamila and her husband, Azhar Khan (Ajoo). He was his usual boisterous self. There was of course music and singing. A long-time friend and well know singers S. B. john was there, to lead the chorus and to render some songs at popular request.

The year 2002 was marked by countless events but compared to its predecessors, it was a year when nothing extreme rocked the showbiz boat. Here, we attempt to assess all the happenings that occurred in the year that was, setting off a chain of events that will most certainly spill over into 2003 as well.

For starters, Chalo ishq larain was a flop, much to the surprise of the viewers, critics (and the cast and crew) alike, after all the hype that was created before its release. It featured Urooj and Ali Haider, both of whom failed to make the esteemed mark. Nevertheless, it was a brave attempt.

And speaking of films, Yeh dil aap ka hua was a runaway success, bringing instant stardom to the thresholds of both the long-struggling Sana and controversial newcomer Veena Malik. Kudos to Javed Sheikh for conjuring up another hit masala flick.

Humayun Saeed also carved Success for himself in the year at was. Other than opening a stream of designer outlets all over the city, he has further honed his acting and direction skills with the result that he is now destined to become the uncrowned king of private productions.

On a sombre note, the great veteran actor Latif Kapadia died of a heart attack and Fareed Nawaz Baloch passed on to the Hereafter after celebrating his son Yasir Nawaz’s engagement to Kazim Pasha’s daughter, Nida. Sadly, he could not stay around to see the couple enter wedlock as the wedding, which was to take place very soon, was postponed for a few months after the older Baloch’s demise. And how can one forget the endearing Yasmeen Ismail who lost her fight with a terminal illness and called it a day, leaving her friends and well wishers teary-eyed, with an overwhelming sense of loss.

Back to films, Sultan Rahi was resurrected for the larger-than-life screen with the likes of primarily Shaan, and then Moammar Rana and even Saud and Babar Ali a la a set of big, twirly moustaches, gandasa, et all. It’s a sad state of affairs not only for those who heaved a sigh of relief when the Rahi era came to an end in Lollywood, but not so for the believers in modern cloning technology whose pet phrase is ‘Never say die.’

The year also saw the return of Afreen Baig, The TV artist back from self exile and debuting as director and producer of Chandni raatein and the musical serial in process Kya yehi Payar hai, featuring Sana in the lead credits.
A disgusted Nighat Chaudhry quit as the PNCA director, citing internal politics that forced her to tender her resignation to the higher authorities. Renowned Bharat Natyam exponent Sheema Kirmani took over from her. Let’s see if she can bring change in the existing state of affairs.

The Lux style awards cut a controversial picture, with most of the participants not at all pleased with the outcome of the somewhat unexpected results. The Depilex team felt specially snubbed, having flown in all the way from Lahore only to have their hopes dashed at the eleventh hour.
The joint efforts of Indus Music and Zoheb Hasan’s B&H International culminated in what was known as the face of the year contest. Some 20 participants – 10 boys and an equal number of girls- took part in the event that was flashed and splashed all over the electronic and print media . Faisal Naveed emerged as the winner who has been emerged as the winner who has been plucked by leading stylists and choreographers.
PTV’s regional awards and later, the 11th National Awards, were also held in the city of Karachi and drew a lot of applause for the commendable effort, as well as a lot of criticism , is part and parcel of every mega showbiz event these days. The important thing is that one should learn from the previous mistakes and avoid them in the future.
Shazaman surfaced as the promising new talent of 2002 with his album Laila, also featuring the intoxicating Hayat. The album, including the title track, made a killing at the charts and is still resounding with the boom of its success.
Lensman, make-up guru and star maker Khawar Riaz’s discover Ali Zafar rose to the giddy heights of fame (with fortune yet to follow) in this year. While his claims to fame are many, having a song on the sound track of the much awaited flick Shararat , is what the lad should rightly be proud of.
Speaking of new discoveries the incorrigible host of ARY Digital’s music hour , the sweet young pathan from Swat now settled in the UK, Waqar Ali Khan, has also been an interesting find. The guy oozes talent and sex appeal and big things are being predicted for him in 2003. So keep a sharp lookout for laddie. And by the way, ARY Digital also celebrated its birthday amid much fanfare.
And speaking of channels. Geo was finally launched as well as is still in the impression making stage.
Yet another interesting find is Iman Ali, the beautiful daughter of veteran TV artist Abid Ali. Like father , like daughter, the catwalk model has taken up acting and is appearing in serials. She has made her mark in the glitz and glam world of fashion.
Speaking of launching careers. Ather Shehzad opened up his salon with quite a bang in Lahore. A pageant marked the opening that was eagerly lapped up by the fashion-hungry press and judging by the looks of things, the photographer duo is fast making inroads in what was considered exclusive Khawar Riaz territory on the Lahori landscape. Wonder what the latter has to say (or do) about it? Knowing Khawar, it could be the choicest of expletives!
Making news on the music front was Billo boy abrar-ul-Haq, in hot water once again with the Establishment, this time for the lyrics to Punjabi Touch Certain groups took offence to the lyric Nach Punjban and after a firestorm of controversy, Abrar was forced to change the line to Nach Majajan. However, the bhangra-master seems to have braved the nasty weather and sales of his latest Asa jana mal-o-mal did well behind the strength of Punjabi Touch and Preeto. The singer seems to be giving his music second-class treatment, however, as he focuses most of his attention on the building of his hospital and the running of his NGO.
The Stereo Nation concert that was never meant to be at the Hockey Stadium off Sharea Faisal was another fiasco. Whether all the poor young things who had bought tickets were eventually refunded the amount, is a fact that is still shrouded in mystery.
Shahida Mini’s grand launch of her album Tere ishq nachaya rocked the land of the five rivers. Adorned with diamonds-and-emeralds, Shahida Mini cut a stunning picture and panned critics with the title song among other tracks from her album which is still up for grabs and the hottest commodity on sales counters.
The tall, dark and handsome Jawad Ahmed continued to make a sweep at the charts with his Unchian majajan wali and the likes, proving once and for all nothing sells like a good beat.
Shamim Ara’s Kaun banega crorepati? Raised quite a few questions (and eyebrows) of its own. If anything, it certainly did not make Shamim Baji into a crorepati, besides raising highly questionable standards of film making and acting.
Nomi Ansari emerged as the new designer on the fashion block, and is already the toast of the town. All the top models are already marking a beeline to sport his radical outfits and the gals, it seems, just cannot get enough of him and his clothes (besides themselves).
Musarrat Misbah Opened up two new salons – One for men and the other for women – in the new designer gym, Shapes, that also opened it doors for fitness freaks sometime last year. So don’t be surprised if you have bridegrooms now excusing themselves during wedding ceremonies to the little men’s room – but to powder their noses, of course!
The illustrious ghazal maestro, Mehdi Hasan, was conferred the Lifetime achievement awards by Indus Vision in a ceremony marked to hail the ailing crooner who has had a number of close calls.
First came the music, then came designer outfits for men and now its an entire range of sweet-smelling fragrances. Yes folks, Junaid Jamshed has been one busy body in 2002. If you think his music is suffering, now you know why.
Sunita Marshall is the niece of one of Karachi’s leading stylists, Angie. But it is not this fact that is endearing her fashion circles. The girl cuts a stunning figure and is being plucked by designers for shoots and shows and her preeto video was the talk of the town. Did anyone say she was giving sleepless nights to Iraj and Vaneeza? No? Well, they should have!
This was also the year that cracks that eventually led to major differences appeared in the Khawar Riaz Zara Sheikh relationship. It seems the mentor is not too happy with Zara’s shenanigans with Mikaal, a model who belongs to Ather Shehzad’s camp. Things have reached the stage when Khawar has even turned down the idea of casting Zara in his under-production flick. The girl, for her part, remains adamant, Oh well, all’s fair in love and war (and showbiz, too)!
As for break-ups, Ayesha Alam and Brian ‘Connell (Junoon fame) have also allegedly gone their separate ways after citing irreconcilable differences.
On a much happier note, designer Moazzam Abbasi finally tied the knot in the fag end of 2002 at a pool-side wedding ceremony. The bride was obviously wearing a Moazzam creation and created quite a stir.
For Pakistan it was also the year Arundhati Roy, the Indian author of many best-selling books, came a calling and revved up the intellectual circles, along with Bapsi Sidhwa. The two cut quite a picture in their individual capacities.