The great poet Harivansh Rai Bachchan’s most historic poetic effort is undoubtedly Madhusala.Published in 1935 Madhushala has over the years acquired the reputation of a landmark in the field of Hindi poetry and literature.
In 1973 Manna Dey sang 20 of the 135 verses from Madhushala as composed by the talented Jaidev .While this version of the Madhushala is accepted the worldover as comprehensive,most fans of Harivansh Rai Bachchan’s poetry do not know that the great poet had composed the music for all 135 of his verses of Madhushala.
In fact Amitabh Bachchan has rendered Madhushala as composed by his father on stage on several occasions. At one point of his life Mr Bachchan planned to record Madhushala in his voice as composed by his father.
That never happened. And we will never know how Madhushala sounds as composed by Harivansh Rai Bachchan and sung by his son.
The legendary father was a huge influence on Amitabh Bachchan. Once Harivanshji advised his son to follow Balraj Sahni’s pattern of working. Balraj Sahni was in the film industry and yet outside it. The Big B’s father advised his son to follow the same method of working in Hindi cinema.
Balraj Sahni and Harivansh Rai Bachchan were very good friends.
