Hyderabad during the times of the late M F Husain

Hyderabad: June 9 marks the third year since the death of M.F. Husain and the artist continues to grab headlines and excite many across the globe. While some of the  last works of Husain have gone on display at London’s Victoria & Albert Museum; on June 27, two of the works of the legend will go under the hammer in Delhi, courtesy Hyderabad. The city also holds the best of his works from his earliest days. And most of his legacy in the city has had a very personal touch.

Prized gifts
The 1950s was the era of banner art, which is when Husain visited Hyderabad often. Besides marrying a Hyderabadi, he also lived in Badrivishal Pittie’s Haweli, where he finished the Ramayan series.
And like the Pitties, several other Hyderabadis housed the artist. “Oh, where do I begin talking about him?” begins Anju Poddar. The art collector today is the proud owner of portraits of herself and her family done by the master himself. A portrait of her in three perspectives is her most prized possession. “I think, he was in love with a Kanjeevaram sari, that I was wearing, and wanted to paint that, more than me!” she laughs. Besides Pittie, the Hyderabadi royal family of Dhanrajgir is also known to have supported the artist and collected the earliest of his works.

COLLECTORS
Meanwhile, several acquired the master’s art over the years. An ardent collector of Indian art, Madhavi Rao of Secunderabad, is proud of her collection from the 1970s. “Back then there were no validation certificates you know. I have around 15 of his works, in various media.”

THE MUSE
While Husain painted and presented his works to those who backed him, his muses got something more than just his paintings – his stylish brush that was his walking stick. Amrita Rao, who was his “only muse for 11 years after Madhuri Dixit”, recalls, “It was his style statement and he used to import it from France. When he gifted me his brush, I was transfixed. It is such a priceless memory. He has gifted only three such brushes. One to Madhuri. One to a little boy in the bout of his mad excitement and the third to me!”

EXPERIENCE HUSAIN
When he died in 2011, the city was also left with a legacy in the form of Cinema Ghar on Road No. 12, Banjara Hills. And for those, who want to experience Husain’s brilliance, some of his earliest works are on display at the contemporary section in Public Gardens’ State Art Museum and some are also housed in Salar Jung Museum.