Thaindian News

Chandigarh, Nov 4 (IANS) A play on painter M.F. Husain’s memoir “Pencil Sey Brush Tak”, showcasing various stages of his life, will be staged here Wednesday, the play’s director said Tuesday. Tom Alter will play the role of M.F. Husain while Anup Soni will play the role of young Husain. The role of Husain’s wife Fazila will be played by Juhi Babbar, daughter of actor and parliamentarian Raj Babbar.

“In our play, we have shown a painter from a small village rising above all prejudices and diversity and how he brought harmony in his life through the medium of his art,” said play’s director Nadira Zaheer Babbar.

“We have portrayed different shades of the life of legendary painter in our two-hour performance. We have shown that despite his Muslim background, how this painter made a series of 150 paintings of the Ramayana which are considered to be the best in any religious epic series,” said Babbar.

Chandigarh Tourism and Ekjute Theatre group based in Mumbai are organising the play.

Babbar said: “M.F. Husain’s life is full of twists and interesting episodes. He was born in a Muslim family but his mothertongue was Marathi. He grew up watching the Ram Leela with his entire family and his grandfather used to sell accessories outside a Hindu temple. There are so many diverse things happening simultaneously in his life.”