Namrata Shirodkar's M F Husain connection

Hyderabad: Art gifted by the legendary artist M.F. Husain to former Miss India and actress Namrata Shirodkar will be part of the Bid and Hammer auction on June 27.  The actress has decided that the proceeds will go towards Heal A Child foundation supported by her star husband, Mahesh Babu.

Namrata and Husain’s ties go back 15 years and she remembers the painter fondly. “Husain saab was a very social and enterprising personality. Very jovial and humorous,” she says.

“He used to be a frequent visitor. I met him often when my sister did his film Gaja Gamini. At that time he had presented my sister and me with a couple of his works,” she adds.

In a two-page spread dedicated to Namrata’s collection on the art auction brochure, she elaborates, “I always admired his works but I also admired his personality, magnanimous and spontaneous. I had casually expressed a desire to own a work by him and very soon he gifted me a painting depicting Horses and to my delight he had even signed Chinoo on the canvas.”

“The auction is led by a series of works by M.F. Husain, the highlight being a large oil on canvas depicting ‘Horses against a saffron background’ executed in 1977 and personally given by him to Mohamed Ali Baig along with a unique handwritten letter wherein he has passionately mentioned ‘This piece of art is dedicated to the art itself.’ The work is estimated between Rs 1 - 1.5 crore (USD 170,000 - 254,000) approximately,” read a statement released by the auction house.

And Namrata does not mind that the master’s work will leave her. “Art in my house always evolves. I like the art in my house to keep changing and adding newness to my home. I have many works of many artists, a common friend and art connoisseur, Mr Kaali Sudheer, convinced me to be part if this reputable auction where part of the proceeds would go to the charity  Heal A Child,” she adds.

The auction, titled Significant Indian Art, will feature some of the biggest names from the 8th century to the 20th century, such as Nandalal Bose and Radha Devi Goenka, along with works from the collection of famous duo, Varsha and Dinesh Thacker.