At 90, Maqbool goes fida over his family

M F Husain will celebrate his 90th birthday with a family reunion on Saturday. To coincide with the Ganpati visarjan that day, like every year, he will paint a canvas of Lord Ganesha. Thirty-two members of the artist's family will gather after a hiatus of over a decade in the city. No special lunch or dinner will be  organised "unless we decide to go off to a restaurant at the last minute," says the artist, who's been looking in great shape of late.

What no celebrations at all? "Of course, we will celebrate," Husain laughs, adding, "We will all go and see the worst movie running in town. I can't think of any single movie now because 99 per cent of them are bad anyway."

For his 90th, Maqbool Fida Husain will wear an exclusively designed green achkan with maroon lining. Intricately hand-embroidered, the achkan was gifted to him a couple of days ago by Banto Boutique owned by a family friend. The embroidery, which took over six months to complete, consists of images of the artist.

Husain will not wear shoes or mojdis to go with the achkan. "No chance of that," says his daughter Raees,but at the last minute abba could change his mind. He has hundreds of shoes, he puts on a pair whenever he's in the mood to."

Besides his six children, the family reunion will include grandchildren and great grandchildren.The artist's sons Shafaat and Owais and daughters Raeesa and Aquila are settled in Mumbai.

His other sons Shamshad and Mustafa will fly into the city from Delhi and Bangalore respectively.

Among his grandchildren, Manisha from Ooty and Aatifa accompanied by her daughter Saesha from Delhi, are expected for the family reunion.

Last year, Husain had switched off his cellphone on his birthday. A year before that, he was in Breach Candy Hospital for treatment. Fifteen years ago on the artist's 75th birthday, the city had witnessed one of its splashiest parties ever, themed around Grant Road where the artist had lived during his years of struggle.

On Saturday his 90th birthday , Husain laughs, "will be like a great big movie. After all, it's all about loving your family."