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Film director Eldar Guliyev: Muslumâ€™s voice will live forever â€“ EXCLUSIVE

Film director Eldar Guliyev: Muslumâ€™s voice will live forever â€“ <font color=red>EXCLUSIVE </font>

27 October 2008 15:00 (UTC +04:00)

Baku. Ulkar Gasimova â€“ APA. Azerbaijani peopleâ€™s artist, film director Eldar Guliyev gives interview to APA in connection with USSR peopleâ€™s artist Muslum Magomayevâ€™s death

-How did you feel when you heard that Muslum Magomayev had died?

-I felt very bad when I heard about his death. For me Muslum was not just a man loved and admired by most people. He was my best friend. We often talked, we talked once a week, or at least once in ten days. We used to be in foreign countries together. Muslum Magomayev was my neighbor in Baku.

-Muslum Magomayev composed songs for your films. How did you work together?

-Muslum composed songs for four of my films. Our relations were not a memory of five or ten years. This is a life story. We should be proud of him. He used to tell me how he loved his Motherland, Baku. This love was not only in words. Even when Vladimir Putin presented Muslum Magomayev an order he began his speech with the words â€œI am an Azeriâ€. In other words, Muslum Magomayev was a wealth for every Azerbaijani. Muslum Magomayev made Azerbaijan known all over the world. Muslum was very generous and hospitable. He cheerfully welcomed everybody who knocked at his door. He never changed his attitude. He helped the people. Muslum Magomayev was and will be a living legendâ€¦ He was our prideâ€¦ I bow before his humanness.

-How do evaluate Muslum Magomayevâ€™s role in Azerbaijani culture?

-You know everyone has his place. Bulbul, Rashid Behbudov, Muslum Magomayev have their special place. All of them are indispensable. A personality like Muslum will never be born again. No one will be able to replace him. Centuries will pass, but his voice will live forever.

-Why do you cast only Muslum Magomayev in Nizami film directed by you?

I needed an honest man for this role. Muslum was such kind of man. Therefore, I invited him to this film. I got pleasure out of work with him. Muslum played an unforgettable role in this film. I am happy, because I have friendship with Muslum.

-How is your attitude towards arrangement of funeral in Baku?

It cannot be the other way. He is our wealth. Muslum Magomayev cannot be buried in anywhere out of Azerbaijan. He was born in this land and should return back to the same land.

-Why do you refuse to participate in bringing the body from Moscow to Azerbaijan?

I was shocked at the news on his death. It would be very hard for me to participate in composition of delegation brought his body to Azerbaijan. If I participate in the process, I will see his face in farewell ceremony in Moscow and Baku. But I want to remember him as I saw him last time. My heart will be broken if I see him in death-bed. He was my hero- He was a brave man. I want to remember him like that till the end of my life.

-Do you keep in touch with her daughter?

His daughter Marina lives in the US at present. She was shocked at news on his death. She cannot find words about it. I contact with them regularly. Marina has a small son. Muslumâ€™s grandchild has several names. There is a name of Muslum among them. It is true that Marina is not a musician and she is not in the track of her father, but I hope that little Muslim will be in the track of his grandfather. I kept in touch with his wife Tamara. Tamara is a well-known singer. They loved and respected each other very much. Tamara was with him till the last minutes.

-Will daughter of Muslum Magomayev participate in funeral to be held in Azerbaijan?

Of courseâ€¦ His daughter and family will visit Azerbaijan to attend his funeral.