YOU can take a gentleman out of Lucknow, but you cannot take Lucknow out of a gentleman—well we believe it because we have met Muzaffar Ali who seems to be the poster boy for the city of tehzeeb. If Vinod Mehta was our ‘Lucknow boy’, then Muzaffar Ali is our quintessential Lucknow gentleman. Of all filmmakers claiming descent from the Awadh region, Ali is perhaps one of the handful refusing to cut his umbilical cord. His films (the popular Umrao Jaan along with the lyrical and poignant Gaman and Aagaman) were based in his home state. Ali is a nightmare for journalists who love to label people—how do you ‘label’ a man who is a poet, painter, designer, filmmaker and a photographer? We chose to call him the ‘Renaissance Man’. Not only for his deep love of all things arty, but also for his Sufi soul, his discerning eye for beauty, and his vision of aesthetics and humanity. Ali follows his creative pursuits without any compromise. And he is driven by a sense of oneness of the human race; a dreamer who believes in a world where love is a reigning concept—at least it is an overriding theme in his films. Having said that, we were in a tizzy when the decision to feature Ali on DW’s cover was made. He, after all, is the present Raja of Kotwara, allegedly the oldest-living civilisation of Lakhimpur Kheri, the largest district in Awadh. How does a royal fit into a magazine dedicated to the largest democracy in this world, that too in a month when India celebrates its independence? But it was not Ali’s inheritance which endeared him to us. Rather, it was his legacy—how he chose to follow his father’s footsteps and work for the development of his village. How he was deeply influenced by his late mother’s musical affinities. How his unwavering faith in humanity is mirrored in his films. Ali is indeed a beloved king, but a twenty-first century one who reigns in people’s hearts. And why not? He has set up a design studio for Kotwara’s youth. He judiciously promotes traditional crafts through his design label which he co-manages with his stunning spouse. His Urdu and Hindi is impeccable and genteel, but he prefers to speak for the common man. Rugged and regal, Ali is the quintessential democratic artist—his art is for every citizen. He takes pride in his Indian roots. Read more about the enigmatic Ali on Page 12. Before I end, here’s wishing you all a very happy Independence Day—may India’s new President lead us all wisely towards a better tomorrow.