Reel life is known to strike a strange resemblance with real life — not always, but it does. Here’s the kicker, almost decade after he cinematographed A R Rehman’s celebrated composition, “Pray for Me Brother”, Tassaduq Mufti is perhaps getting the gist of the lyrics at a time when his sister, Mehbooba Mufti needs him the most.
These days, this lone son of Mufti Sayeed is mostly seen with notepad than camera. A change of sorts began soon after Fairview lost its patriarch. Even Kashmir’s new political castle couldn’t conceal the signals of the coming of second generation Mufti.
But what were read as rumours primarily turned real when Tassaduq attended party meeting where he almost recreated the ‘vintage Mufti moment’—underscoring the need for developing Srinagar city, even visiting Achan dumping site. Mufti scion also talked environment, culture, shrines and tourism. For the man who shot a breathtaking tourism commercial for Jammu and Kashmir Tourism in recent past, tourism talk was perhaps coming of an age.
Even so, restarting career at 45 might not be a cakewalk for an ace award-winning cinematographer who apparently knows Bengaluru and Mumbai more than Kashmir. But his political interest, many say, have arisen as the brother, which as the son he reportedly loathed.
That sibling camaraderie surfaced twice when he accompanied his sister to their father’s graveyard. Behind the back-to-back south Kashmir visit, party insiders say, there was more than the ritualistic reason. It is said Tassaduq might contest for Islamabad Lok Sabha seat—presently held by Mehbooba—in case she steps in her father’s shoes. Perhaps, that’s why Mehbooba took him on podium in Bijbehara, their ancestral hometown, and waived at the crowd in his company.
In that case, Tassaduq (father of son and girl) — who has stayed far from politics all these years shooting movies and commercials — might have to deal with a different ball game.
Till now, the world for this American Film Institute alumnus remained confined to cinema. After returning to India in 2000, he worked in advertising world and shortly made his mark in Mumbai circuits as a reckoning media professional. His commercial on reunion of two friends separated by the Indian partition already made him the celebrity in his class. He went to cinematograph crime thriller in the vein of Guy Ritchie and Quentin Tarantino and feature films like Omkara and Kaminey.
Now when the politics is confining him to Fairview, one is reminded of the 2007 Rehman composition. It also has a line, “Pray for Me Sister”. Perhaps, a perfect rendezvous between reel and real life has indeed taken place.
– Bilal Handoo
