Maqbool Fida Hussain or MF Hussain is known for defining modern Indian painting and creating a special place for Indian art on the global stage. Much of his work consisted of bold and vibrant colors executed in a modified Cubist style.
Popularly called the ‘Picasso of India’, Hussain was also a prolific photographer and filmmaker. He had won many national awards for his wonderful artworks. The painter breathed his last on 9 June 2011 at the age of 95. He died of a heart attack.
Today on his death anniversary, here are some lesser known facts about him:
- Hussain was born in the temple town of Pandharpur, Maharashtra to Fida Hussain and Zainab, however, he lost his mother when he was 2 years old.
- His father remarried and moved to Indore where Hussain received his early schooling.
- Later he was sent to Sidhpur in Gujarat where he started writing poetry.
- His first painting guru was NS Bendre whom he met at the Indore School of Art. However, he left his diploma course midway and went to Bombay.
- To earn his living, Hussain became an assistant to Bhide, the most famous hoarding painter in cinema at that time. He worked for them for 5 years.
- Hussain was a huge fan of Madhuri Dixit and is known for watching Hum Aapke Hain Koun more than 50 times. He was even reported to have booked an entire theater in Dubai to watch Madhuri’s Aaja Nachle.
- Hussain became the highest paid painter in India as one of his canvases fetched up to $2 million at a Christie’s auction.
- Hussain won an award for his paintings at the Bombay Art Society’s annual exhibition in 1947. He was also honored with two of India’s highest civilian awards, the Padma Bhushan in 1973 and the Padma Vibhushan in 1991.
- Many of Hussain’s paintings were based on British rule, Mahatma Gandhi, Mother Teresa, Mahabharata and Ramayana.
- He spent the last five years of his life in self-exile.
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