Hussain had lived in Dubai since 2006 after self-imposed exile during an uproar over nude images of Hindu icons. Hindu hard-liners in India were furious on M.F. Hussian after he published some of his nude painting on Hindu goddess especially the ‘Saraswati’ piece. He was severely criticized and threatens by Hindu hard-liners for a controversial nude painting of a woman shaped like India’s map which often depicted as “Mother India” in popular arts, folklore and literature. Several legal cases were brought against him.
Maqbool Fida Hussain came to limelight in the late 1940s when a progressive group of artists headed by Francis Newton Souza tried to break the traditional Indian painting forms. He became famous for his unique painting style and paintings of horses earlier in his career.
M.F.Hussain also tried his luck in the Bollywood and made couple movies. Meenaxi: A Tale of Three Cities (with Tabu), Gaja Gamini (with Madhuri Dixit).
Maqbool Fida Hussain was born on 17th September, 1915 in Bombay. He was awarded with Padma Shri in 1955, Padma Bhushan in 1973, Padma Vibhushan in 1991. He was also member to the Rajya Sabha in 1986. He received prestigious Raja Ravi Varma award on 2008 by the government of Kerala.
May his soul rest in peace…