Ailing for quite some time now, eminent writer O.P. Dutta passed away at the age of 90 on Thursday night, after a raging battle against mortality.

O.P Dutta started his career as a director before the Partition of India. Later when his son J.P. Dutta turned into full-fledged director with Ghulami in 1985 the senior Dutta went on to write the screenplay and dialogues of all of JP's films right up to the most recent Umrao Jaan in 2006.

"I've lost my voice. My soul. Who will write the words that come into my mind when I make a film? Who will fill the void in my heart?" JP said, choked with emotions.

Among the first to reach the Dutta residence was Abhishek Bachchan who regards JP as a father-figure. Soon others including close family-friend Suniel Shetty arrived at the Duttas' residence to pay their condolences.

According to a member of the Dutta family, OP (as he was affectionately called) was in acute physical pain for some time now.

"While his body had gone completely useless, his mind remained as alert as ever. OP was therefore aware of his helpless condition.He was angry and raging against his physical disability all the time.Months after his illness he didn't want to be in a hospital.So JP brought him home. There were two nurses on 24-hour duty. But OP was constantly upset about his helpless condition. JP gave up his work and just devoted all his time to looking after his Dad. OP had lost his other son Deepak to the army. JP was his entire world. With Dad gone JP is shattered and bereft."

Having interacted with the senior Dutta one remembers him as a lucid, outspoken and literate cinema person.

It was rumoured that OP and the legendary actress Suraiya shared more than just a professional relations when he directed Suraiya in Pyar Ki Jeet in 1948.

When I asked OP about it he had said, "Suraiya, Bano to me, was a bundle of unforgettable qualities. A sublime voice, the ring in the voice, the perfect diction, the effortless rendering. But she always insisted that she was no singer. She brought joy to millions but what about her?

"She never talked about it but I knew intuitively what was going on in that pretty little head of hers. I had a peep into her heart and mind the day I saw her rendering the song 'Tum mujh ko bhool jaao, ab hum na mil sakenge' for 'Bari Behan'. The cry was loud and clear - the cry of a lonely heart. And lonely it remained till the end. Yes, we made a movie together titled 'Pyar Ki Jeet'. We were like two children playing 'cinema-cinema', and surprise of surprises, the movie was a big hit! There were congratulations all around. But Suraiya insisted she was no great shakes as an actress. She was right at the top and I was very happy for her."

Recently the proud and emotional, son JP said to me, "It's about-time my dad got some recognition. Do you know, he's been an active part of the film industry for more than 60 years? He has directed 8-9 films and written dialogues for all my films including Umrao Jaan. Still when he was honoured at IIFA some years ago do you know what Dad's reaction was? 'Why should I be honoured? I've given nothing to the industry. The industry has given me so much to me'.

"Lately I've discovered some startling facts about my father. No one knows he directed the first Indo-Pak film. It was called Anokhee and it was shot in 1956 in Karachi with India's Sheila Ramani and a cast of Pakistani actors. Even I tried to do something to bring the two countries together in Border and Refugee. I feel so small in front of him."

O.P. Dutta released his memoirs Chholah Aur Chakki in 2003. Almost the entire film industry showed up for the release function.

That evening O.P Dutta's face reflected a glory that had not quite gone.