NASIR YOUSIFI
SRINAGAR: Shaded in crimson and yellow, as the water colors bring life to the painting hanging bright on canvas, a young artist dips his brush in silver color to give a final shape to his imagination. As soon as the artist sets to relax after hours of toil with his brushes and colors, a triumphant smile over the accomplishment of painting abruptly gives way to another thought process, as he gets a call from local producer asking him to record a shot for his role in a Kashmiri play.
Basharat Hussain, a 40-year-old artist is a prolific artist doing wonders in various field of art. Hailing from Ala-mgari Bazar area from Srinagar’s Shaher-e-Khaas or the Old City, Basharat is a miniature painter, papier-mâché artist, wall art expert, TV actor, theatre artist, a set designer and a renowned art teacher.
Starting his career as a papier-mâché artist, the Srinagar man has come a long way to emerge as a multifaceted personality in the world of acting and theatre as well. Basharat has recently won best director, actor and set designer award for his debut Kashmiri play ‘Archakaal’.
“I started my journey into this world right from my childhood. Since my father was a papier-mâché artist, the colors and brushes all around in my home and neighbourhood used to tempt me towards the art,” says Basharat as he refers to the specialized art in his birth place Zadibal, the area known as the hub of papier-mâché work.
Known as one of the finest artist in papier-mâché, the young artist has so far designed scores of new designs with traditional tinge.
After studying science upto class 12th, Basharat did his bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts from the University of Kashmir here.
Basharat says it was during the college years when the multifaceted artist in him groomed. “After doing some roles in college plays, I soon realized my acting potential. Once as a part of annual day celebrations in the college, I got a chance to perform in a skit. It was when I discovered my acting skills. A small pat, few words of praise from the teachers and friends were enough to dig out the actor in me,” he says.
An approved artist from Doordarshan Kashmir, Basharat has so far acted in more than 50 plays. For his splendid acting talent, the artist was awarded the best actor title in numerous plays performed at the theatre.
The ambitious actor did not stop here. After getting a fair exposure to the world of acting both in theatre and TV, the enthusiastic artist turned to set designing.
“Incidentally, the first theatre play where I designed the sets was a play in English, the Fading Memoirs. I also acted in that play,” says Basharat.
In 2018, he designed set for a Kashmiri play ‘Aalaw’, a masterpiece that got selected for 8th Theatre Olympics. Basharat says he still remembers the patting he received from M.S Sathyu , a renowned Director and set designer in the country.
Besides working with local theatre, Basharat has designed sets for many Bollywood firms shooting in the Valley.
The young artist has also worked as a director for theatre plays. Last year, as a director, his de-but play ‘Archakaal’ won him the accolades from artistic faculty for the all-round-performance. The play got some seven awards including the best director and set designer awards.
The passion for art has never stopped this young artist from taking on to different roles. Out of his busy schedule, Basharat spares many hours of the day for teaching art and imparting skills to students. Well, for that matter, he is regarded as one of the renowned art teachers in the valley.
“I want to transfer these skills to future generations. Art is a language of peace, coexistence and love. Through art we can make this world a better place to live. It is the means to develop aesthetic sense in the society,” the veteran artist says.
“Be it a painting, wall art, play or the set designing, everything is symbolic in the world of art. And every symbol has a specific message and meaning for the society. Art is a lucid medium to sensitize the common masses about the issues like drug menace, immorality, or other social evils.”
Desirous of reviving the theatre culture in the valley, Basharat aspires to take the culture to valley schools, so that the artistic values among the younger generation are groomed at the grassroots.
“There is a role of every responsible citizen to promote art in the society. The government has a major responsibility. The government should utilize the services of the artists and experts from the field to inculcate the culture of art among the youth especially the student community!”