When Amitabh Bachchan Was All Set To Record His Illustrious Father Harivansh Rai Bachchan’s Poetry

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.