My father’s music interest followed my genes: Big B

Megastar Amitabh Bachchan, who has crooned numbers like “Holi khele Raghuveera” and “Ekla chalo re” and “Piddly” for his films, credits his father and late poet Harivansh Rai Bachchan for his inclination towards music.

“The music that represents me, that I get the opportunity to explore and compose, comes from within by its own accord. There is no training nor any professional bearing. It just comes.

“I cannot but begin to believe that the strains of my father’s music interest, has followed my genes as an integral part of my construct. I do not have any other reason for its presence,” the 73-year-old posted on his blog.

The star, who has made a special place in the world of showbiz in his over four decade career, has also inspired many with his vocal qualities and its not just movies where he showed his singing capabilities, Big B is also composing and singing for a new TV show, “Aaj Ki Raat Hai Zindagi“.

However, he has some “reservations” too.

“Music remained integral in us all from our days of learning to crawl. But the learning of it, crawled throughout us. Till date, I ask many of those that have the blessings of notes and chords and voice, what it would take to be in their justice, in their sanctified courtyard. They assure me it to be never too late. I have reservations.

“My hours and time has passed and wished away of learning. May it remain within, if not in learning, then in its subdued and silent presence,” he wrote.

The “Shahenshah” of Bollywood also says that its not just his father who was a music aficionado but his mother too.

“My mother lost her mother at birth. She was cared for and nurtured into life by those who mothered her. Those that did, and I had the fortune till date of being in their love affection and respect, fondly remember her vivacity and joy of life. Her singing, her voice, her aesthetics and her zestful aura.

“She was the soul and the life of all her surroundings. She would walk into an environment and there was a silent awe that followed her. She would drive her friends to long journeys and sing and make happy banter. She married my father in disobeyed feelings from her father and the family. She came away swiftly and suddenly from her affluent aristocratic home, to the humble lower class belongings of my father. She brought nothing with her, except a few clothing to wear … and … a gramophone .. and old winding one, antique now, but grand in its bearing. It remained with us and me in particular for long – at lest till we were in Delhi,” he wrote.

“My mother and I would often listen to those songs of the times. Some I can still remember in tune. The arm of the gramo, the placement of the needle, the circular 78 rpm vinyl records, the ’emoticon’ of that horned instrument with the dog listening to it .. the logo of all music material .. the label and the tag of ‘His Master’s Voice‘ , famously becoming HMV…,” he further posted.