A young boy, very stylish, wearing sunglasses, a bow tie and shorts, picked up a pickaxe with great difficulty before hitting it on the ground, Simin Patel, founder of Bombaywalla Historical Works, describes Nazir Hoosein's look at the foundation laying ceremony of Liberty Cinema in 1947. Hoosein, who passed away on Sunday, was synonymous with the iconic cinema house in Marine Lines. Car racing was, however, his first love, says Atul Kumar, trustee at Art Deco Mumbai, as many others share their tales of Hoosein.

Liberty Cinema, which Hoosein had inherited, was his second love, after car racing, Kumar explains. Constructed by his father Habib Hoosein, on the land belonging to Lotus Trust, on a 999-year lease, the cinema house was named in spirit of Independence. Hoosein "maintained the place immaculately — the curtain mechanisms still work, and the carpet and most of the seating is still original," says Kumar, adding, "He had tremendous attention to detail. I hope the cinema stays for generations."