Zikr: In The Light and Shade of Time (An Autobiography)

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Internationally renowned film-maker Muzaffar Ali has donned many hats in his lifetime. As a boy and scion of the princely house of Kotwara, he was shaped by the rapidly changing post-Partition India. Having studied science at Aligarh Muslim University, he started his career in an advertising agency in Calcutta, worked with the nascent Air India and then ventured out on a journey as a film-maker, creating cinematic masterpieces like Umrao Jaan. Along the way, his path crossed with that of many other creative souls-from Satyajit Ray to Faiz Ahmad Faiz-and he has cultivated many passions that range from cars to couture.

His autobiography, Zikr, is a peek into this wealth of experience. It's a close look at Ali as prince, poet, philosopher, film-maker, automobile aficionado and artist. Zikr is also a rich portrait of Ali's imagination, as he takes us behind the scenes of films like Anjuman and Gaman, speaking of the sensibilities that shaped them and the influences on his work. Above all, this is a book that resounds with a deep love of life.

Whether you're looking for creative inspiration, seeking to venture off the beaten track of Bollywood or wishing to bite into a slice of Awadhi culture, Zikr has something to offer to everyone.

MUZAFFAR ALI is a film-maker, painter, fashion designer, music lover, revivalist and social worker. He belongs to the royal family of Kotwara.

Having begun his career in advertising, he played a professional role in the early days of Air India before moving on to a successful career as a film-maker in Bollywood. His works include movies such as Umrao Jaan and Gaman, and several documentaries and short films. He has launched his own couture line, House of Kotwara, and is involved in several initiatives that celebrate art, foster the traditional handicrafts of Awadh and promote Sufism. He instituted Jahan-e-Khusrau, an annual Sufi music festival, in 2001. He received the Padma Shri in 2005 and the Rajiv Gandhi National Sadbhavana Award in 2014.

Book's Contents and Sample Pages