Mohammad Ali Baig and Lillette Dubey in IFFI Goa performing Qadir Ali Baig TheatreFoundation's 'Dada Sahab Phalke - A Journey'.

The loss of film maker Shyam Benegal has left a deep void not just in Indian Cinema but as much in the hearts of fellow-professionals who shared memorable rapport with him. Team Metro India caught up with celebrated theatre scion Padmashri awardee Mohammad Ali Baig, who had a few things common with the Telangana-born pioneer.

Both are Padma Awardees from Hyderabad for Arts, both started their illustrious careers with ad-films (Benegal made 400 ad-films for national companies and Baig made 450 ad-films for global brands) and both are known for their impeccable manners and craftsmanship.

Q : Tell us about your association with the late Benegal. 

A) My association with Shyam sahab was in three phases. The first one, when I was in my pram ! That was when 'Ankur', their first feature film was being made in Hyderabad, in which Baba played the Zamindar, Anant Nag's father. My and my family's respect for him began then.

The film went on to set the canvas for Indian new wave cinema, also called the parallel cinema then. Imagine, a film with no stars, no songs, running in Bombay for 25 weeks, when the mood of the audience was being catered to with 'Sholay' and other mainstream blockbusters that time.

Second one, during my ad-film making when we were on board of the same company alongwith Shekhar Kapur, Prahlad Kakar and Bunty Peerbhoy. His comforting me with an elderly presence, whether at the Taj Mumbai or in the Boardroom of MAA Bozell in Bangalore was memorable. Third one, when he followed my work in theatre closely, post the formation of Qadir Ali Baig Theatre Foundation.

When he wanted me to play the role of Jinnah in his series, he would be so very appreciative of my work on stage and his compliment that he "wanted an actor with perfect diction both in Urdu and English, and someone who could carry a sherwani and a tuxedo with equal elan" was absolutely reassuring.

(Later, his writers realised that the character actually needed a much older actor). When my plays were featuring in Festivals in France, UK and USA, he would be one of the first people to compliment after reading about them.

 Q : What is it about him that strikes you being  a Director-Writer yourself ?

A) Two striking features of his long innings in cinema that I would pick are his consistency of work and his conviction. I am not sure if we have another filmmaker around us with his/her latest release at the age of 89-90. Clint Eastwood abroad is probably the only example. He was active throughout from Ankur to Mujib.

People in this industry as in advertising, have a quick burn-out. Plus, when you are producing meaningful work, there is a lot of demotivation because you are not aggressive with your sales-pitch or give in to the commercial diktats and formulae. His early years in advertising would have given him the edge to work on deadlines and available resources to produce exemplary work.