Bharat Ratna for MF Husain?

It was late 2005. I was readying to leave for home from what had been a really long day at work when the editor said I must "try for a reaction from Hussain or his family about yet another protest at yet another gallery," over his paintings.

My cameraperson, a closeted right wing Hindu, was obviously less than enthused about the assignment. "Kya zaroorat hai aisi nangi tasveerein banane ki (Why does he make these nudes)?" he demanded to know and I put my earphones on.So there we were, outside Hussain's Cuffe Parade building at nine pm.

The good thing was that there were no other channelwallahs around. After finding no response to several calls, I told the cameraperson to accompany me up to the Hussain residence. The camera and boom mike was tucked into my small bag and we went inside. The security did not even want to look at us as we breezed in.

Once we reached their door the camera was pulled out, put on roll with mike connected as I rang the bell. An elderly woman opened the door saw the camera and told us to leave. That would have worked as visuals but I wanted her to say more and kept insisting on a reaction, when a familiar slightly nasal voice snarled from within.

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