At Home With Mario
Habiba and Mario Miranda actively retired to his ancestral home in Goa a few years ago. It was Bombay’s loss says Farzana Contractor wistfully. Ages ago, it was Mario Miranda who taught me the correct way of saying Lutolim, where he was born and where he has now actively retired. His beloved Lutolim, pronounced Lutoli, with a little lilt. No doubt, the most famous son of that soil is our very own Mario, renowned cartoonist and a wonderful person, who lived in Bombay until quite recently, enriching our lives with not just his funny cartoons and beautiful illustrations but his happy and full-of -humour presence.  But what would Mario be without his better half, the witty Habiba nee Hydari? Sitting with them at Mario's ancestral mansion built in Portuguese architectural style, one can't help but talk of the days of yore, when they lived in their charming seaside apartment at Oyster, where one spent many intellectually stimulating soirees. Mario and my husband, Behram who the world knows more popularly as Busybee were such a team. Both with a terrific sense of humour, eye for detail, and a deep understanding of the ways of the world. What Busybee would do with words, Mario would with his drawings. And one would complement the other beautifully. Some of the best travel pieces that Busybee has written would not have come alive were it not for Mario's drawings. At parties, the two were a riot. That's because they both knew how to enjoy the good life, neither of them took themselves seriously and had no hang ups whatsoever. Johnnie Walker was of course their good friend and kept them in good spirits!  Not that Mario is any different today. Talk to him five minutes and you see the twinkle in his eye. May be his humour has gone a bit wry, but he is the same. Easy going, laid back, funny and truly a lovely human being. Nothing makes him lose his cool, not even when you push him to meet his deadline which he keeps pushing to new dates, with a laugh. So God help you if you want to possess a Mario! But once you do have his drawing consider yourself fortunate, for Mario's work, specially if it has Goa as a subject, is superlative. Nobody, simply nobody can match him. He has travelled the world, brought out the best in so many countries at solo exhibitions over at least five decades. And then there were daily pocket cartoons in Economic Times and Afternoon Despatch & Courier, through which he touched the lives of millions of people with so much laughter.Mario incidentally started young, as a child he got his grandmother most infuriated by drawing on her kitchen walls. So perforce his mother had to get him a drawing book and thus started a young artist on his trail. Later in college in Bombay he used to sell his cartoons for a buck or two to meet his pocket expenses which no doubt meant money for movie tickets for that was and continues to be his big weakness. He could see three shows in a day. And you can ask him anything about Hollywood old or new, he will have an answer. But in Goa, at his awesome home, I was more interested to talk about the life Mario and Habiba now lead. It's still rather hectic, I was surprised to learn. "There are a bit too many parties", said Mario, furrowing his brows, "have to keep that under control, or else…" Habiba doesn't care too much to go out, unless it's to houses of people she likes, she said. "That's because she likes to sit and talk to them on the phone all day long", butts in Mario. "Yes, and right now I am heart broken because the phone's dead". Habiba agrees and laughs, adding, "He gets annoyed at that, but the funny thing is, when he is annoyed I feel like laughing!" The couple are like two halves of one  full. I love their company. Habiba calls Mario, Joseph, and he calls her Charlie. That's how it has always been, ever since the two met at a students dance, so many years ago that Mario says he has forgotten which year that was. Well, humour aside, they have two sons, Maoshi and Potkis (never mind their real names), and two adorable grand children. Both boys are married to foreigners. But the family would be incomplete if I did not mention Pewee, Dusky and Momo. The last one is a cute Chihuahua, the first two handsome Boxers, who really can keep you loud and boisterous company. So it was not funny when as I was leaving I asked Mario if he was at peace and he shot back, "Depends if the dogs are barking or not!"if it has Goa as a subject, is superlative. Nobody, simply nobody can match him. He has travelled the world, brought out the best in so many countries at solo exhibitions over at least five decades. And then there were daily pocket cartoons in Economic Times and Afternoon Despatch & Courier, through which he touched the lives of millions of people with so much laughter. Mario incidentally started young, as a child he got his grandmother most infuriated by drawing on her kitchen walls. So perforce his mother had to get him a drawing book and thus started a young artist on his trail. Later in college in Bombay he used to sell his cartoons for a buck or two to meet his pocket expenses which no doubt meant money for movie tickets for that was and continues to be his big weakness. He could see three shows in a day. And you can ask him anything about Hollywood old or new, he will have an answer.  But in Goa, at his awesome home, I was more interested to talk about the life Mario and Habiba now lead. It's still rather hectic, I was surprised to learn. "There are a bit too many parties", said Mario, furrowing his brows, "have to keep that under control, or else…" Habiba doesn't care too much to go out, unless it's to houses of people she likes, she said. "That's because she likes to sit and talk to them on the phone all day long", butts in Mario. "Yes, and right now I am heart broken because the phone's dead". Habiba agrees and laughs, adding, "He gets annoyed at that, but the funny thing is, when he is annoyed I feel like laughing!" The couple are like two halves of one full. I love their company. Habiba calls Mario, Joseph, and he calls her Charlie. That's how it has always been, ever since the two met at a students dance, so many years ago that Mario says he has forgotten which year that was. Well, humour aside, they have two sons, Maoshi and Potkis (never mind their real names), and two adorable grand children. Both boys are married to foreigners. But the family would be incomplete if I did not mention Pewee, Dusky and Momo. The last one is a cute Chihuahua, the first two handsome Boxers, who really can keep you loud and boisterous company. So it was not funny when as I was leaving I asked Mario if he was at peace and he shot back, "Depends if the dogs are barking or not!" |
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