THE PRESTIDIGITATOR – ZIA MOHYEDDIN

And he left us in his spell! I saw him for the first time during my audition at NAPA (The National Academy of Performing Arts). Zia Mohyeddin, the ZM, was sitting with two other legends of our country; Talat Hussain and Mohsin Sherazi. As I finished my monologue, he said, “You showed us that you can read Urdu easily but there is a lack of presentation”. On my way home, I was like my audition was a failure and I would not get an admission in this academy ever! But on the very next day I received a call that you got enrolled in the three years Diploma Programme of Theatre Arts. Those three years were the most precious days of my life. We were the most privileged students because we were the very first batch of NAPA.

We learned a lot from the ZM; not only about theatre but how one should live a prodigious life. He lived his life at the fullest. He earned the respect and appreciation with hard work and persistence. He never spared anyone, even himself when it comes to work whenever he signed for dramatic readings (Parhant). He timed his own performance and did five to six rehearsals alone and two to three with Sir Nafees Ahmed, Sitar virtuoso who has collaborated with him during his dramatic readings for 22 years. He was the director and the performer of his own production; so he had to be perfect. He kept an eye on sound, lights and the presentation of the whole program. Even the design and matter of the invitations of his program. 

When it comes to his direction, he never settled for average or good. It has to be excellent or nothing. I have assisted him in two big plays; first was OEDIPUS and the second was Romeo & Juliet which was his last play. Otherwise, I have designed the lights for almost all of his plays which he did at NAPA. When I came back from the USA in 2010, he asked me to do the costumes for Oedipus along with the responsibilities as an AD. Luckily I have visited the Metropolitan Museum in New York so I showed the pictures to our tailor and guided him on how to make a dress for the leading lady of Oedipus. When she tried the dress Zia sahib was stamping his feet in excitement and he shouted ‘I liked it, I liked it’. I was so nervous that I thought ‘OMG, I have done something wrong’. But after a moment, I realized that he was saying ‘I liked it’ whew ! 

We all worked very hard for his slightest appreciation and when he said ‘Good!’ (Which was a very rare word in his discourse) we were on cloud nine. If there was no one in the audience except him, we all were on our toes and performed like we were performing in front of a jam packed audience. You can never skip from his sharp observation – even he could tell you that when you were not in your character and when you were looking at a pretty face in the audience.

At the time of Romeo & Juliet, I requested him to hire anybody else as his assistant but he insisted that ‘No, you would be my assistant in this play’ (which I am glad that he did). Nobody could refuse him so did I and luckily I was his assistant in his last venture. It was a different experience compared with the Oedipus which was twelve years back because now he had more faith in me. He asked for my opinion on several creative choices, especially in the choreography of the party scene and the other crowd scenes along with casting and presentation. As a great teacher, he gave you one task and if you did it according to his standards then he would give you a task of next level. 

When I started theatre direction, his first reaction was ‘ok which play you are going to direct?’ He always discussed it in detail. I remember when he came to watch my debut play in 2009 at the PACC. My heart was pounding in my ears and I could hear every beat of my heart clear and loud. He sat during the whole show because this is another achievement for a director. Otherwise he used to just walk out in 10 to 15 minutes if he did not like any performance. Every time our eyes were fixed on him, what was his reaction? Was he enjoying the show? He was the gauge for our every production, so obviously the production has to be up to his mark! 

He was so gullible when it comes to modern technology. He used to keep a small simple mobile; once he had an android but he found it so difficult to use. In the time of COVID, when our classes at NAPA went online, I asked him if he had to do his diction class on zoom too. He was like, ‘Aap samajhti hain k main zoom pe class ley sakta hun’ I said, ‘yes, why not Sir?’ He looked at me and smiled. He agreed to take the zoom class on one condition that I would be there to assist him. I am glad that I was there to be a part of a unique experience with him.  

Although many people of his age are deeply immersed in the digital age, he remained somewhat of a traditionalist, he always preferred books over the allure of screens. He was a voracious reader even after his deteriorating eyesight; he used to read with a magnifying glass but never gave up reading. I have noticed that he recommended books to his beloved people only; to whom he thought that they would learn and grow.

He had a refined palate, enjoying a variety of foods in moderation; chips and popcorn were favorites, yet he indulged in only a handful. His habits were precise; two puffs of a cigarette stored neatly, and two cups of tea, one at noon, the other at 5 pm. Never overweight, he disdained excess. While reserved with acquaintances, close companions found him captivating. 

In good spirits, he shared tales of encounters with stars, struggles, and childhood escapades. Gossip amused him, and he delighted in humor, often stopping by my desk to share anecdotes. We were fortunate to have him as a mentor; his restrained lifestyle and intriguing persona left a lasting impression.

Thank you Zia sahib!