“Everything just fell into place,” says celebrated cinematographer Baba Azmi about his directorial debut Mee Raqsam which finally streams on August 21 on Zee5.
It’s not been easy for Baba to turn director. But it’s not been so tough either.
Says Baba, “The key cast simply fell into place. Naseeruddin Shah, a dear friend, was my first and only choice of the cleric’s role. We’ve known each other for 30 years. I was the cinematographer in his starrers Woh 7 Din and Bezubaan. We’ve remained friends. So when I asked him I wasn’t surprised when he said yes. But let me tell you. Naseer was in no condition to shoot. He was suffering from a severe back problem, so severe he couldn’t sit and had to take a nap standing.In that condition, he traveled to Mijwan(the Azmis’ native village where Mee Raqsam was shot). Imagine travelling from Varanasi to Mijwan by car in that condition! The minute Naseer arrived he wanted to start shooting. His enthusiasm was infectious.”
Finding the child actor Aditi Subedi who plays the other protagonist was far more difficult.
Says Baba, “I needed a child who was an actor and a Bharat Natyam dancer. Aditi had no experience in either field. But she idolized my sister Shabana and had told her she wanted to be an actor like her. I auditioned several girls but the minute I saw Aditi I knew I had found my heroine Mariam. I gave her some scenes to read and she was magical. As for the dancing we hired a Bharat Natyam teacher Deepali Salil. We gave her three months to train Aditi. But she said it won’t be enough. Poor Aditi worked really hard. She was in Mumbai staying with us. She would go into a corner and cry over her bruised swollen knees. But she never complained.She was afraid I’d put her on the first plane back to Mijwan.She and her screen father Danish Hussain are exceptional.”
Mee Raqsam touches on the sensitive issue of a Muslim girl’s determination to learn Bharat Natyam. Does Baba Azmi foresee any radical group’s objecting to the film?
He sighs, “Mee Raqsam was born out of a spirit of harmony and peace. It is inspired by my father(Kaifi Azmi) secular ideology in life. It teaches us the value of cultural assimilation. But yes , you are right. We are living in acutely sensitive times when anyone can stand up and object to my film for being just the opposite of what it actually is. My film is born out of a feeling of harmony, not hatred, and strife.”