KOCHI: Shaji N Karun is a sad man. The demise of the great painter also spells the death of two pet projects involving him."He was a brilliant painter who has played a role in placing Indian painting on the global map," say Shaji who spent nearly a week with Husain six months ago in Dubai. "I had gone there to receive the Asia Vision Award which Mammootty was to present. But I was surprised by Husain's presence and his wish to present the award. He came there without any notice."The gesture certainly shows his love for his motherland. The works done by M F Husain in Qatar are of massive size and content. He has been creating miracles in glass and other media, the horse being a leitmotif. "I wanted to do a one-hour documentary on his huge glass sculpture which he was doing for the King of Qatar, probably his last work. He had crystals exported from Italy for it." Since the work was half way through, Shaji had talks with him and decided to work on it once it was complete. "I wanted to capture him and his larger than life sculpture on a larger canvas." Husain was entrusted with the responsibility of making a museum in Qatar where plans are afoot to build museums dedicated to different parts of the world.Another work is a feature film revolving around 10 major works which Husain chose to select. Husain planned to direct it and asked Shaji to do the cinematography. Shaji was excited to turn cinematographer after a long gap.It was an interactive piece with a lot of south Indian and Sufi music and lots of colours, which Husain was passionate about. "The portions of the film was shot in different parts of the world but India never granted permission for it." The theme was 'In Search of Mother'."He lost his mother when he was an infant and lost his motherland at the sunset of his life." His views of life are reflected in his masterpieces. This genius has chronicled his silent observances during his five-year tenure in the Rajya Sabha in his book Sansad Upanishad comprising wonderful caricatures, says Shaji.
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