Real Story Of Master Madan, Who Inspired The Character Of Babil In Qala Movie

Netflix has recently released a movie titled Qala. This film stars Trupti Dimri, Swastika Mukherjee, and Babil Khan under the direction of Anvita Dutt. Irfan’s son is Babil, and his first film as an actor is Qala. 

He played an emerging singer named Jagan in this movie, who attained significant fame at a young age. Babil plays the role of Jagan, who is based on Master Madan’s story. 

Master Madan was one of the most well-known singers in his region when he was young—at the age of three and a half, he performed for the first time in public—sung eight songs over 10-12 years in the music industry. Two of these recordings are readily available. Master Madan’s death is said to have happened when he was 15 years old when mercury was mixed with milk. 

How Madan Came Back From Death At The Age Of One And A Half Month

In Jalandhar’s Khankhana village, Master Madan’s father Amar Singh lived with his wife, Puran Devi and their children. Previously, Amar Singh worked for the British and music was very important to him. Many musical instruments were kept at home which Amar Singh and his children used to play. Especially Shanti, his older daughter. 

The British government used to move to Shimla with its bags and bedding as soon as summer arrived. The Butail building in Shimla’s Lower Bazar was where Amar Singh’s family lived. 

Amar Singh had a child on December 28, 1927, and named him Madan. One day a monkey broke into Madan’s house when he was one and a half months old. Madan was carried to the terrace by the monkey in front of the family. The members of the family tried their best to bring him back but nothing worked. Everyone was worried that the child might fall from the monkey. Shanti suddenly recalled that an orange was lying around the house. She rushed over, grabbed the orange, and threw it at the monkey. The monkey then fled with the orange while keeping Madan secure on the ground. 

This Indian Superstar Used To Visit Madan’s  House To Listen To Him

Madan’s home was filled with a lot of music when he was growing up. He is said to have begun studying music with his sister Shanti at two and a half years old. 

Madan was three and a half years old when an event took place in Dharampur, Solan, in June 1930, where he performed a hymn titled “Vandan Hai Sharda Naman Karoon.” It was his first performance in public, and people who heard him singing were surprised. As for a child of three years old, it was very mature singing. 

K.L. Saigal worked for Remington, a typewriter manufacturer, in Shimla. He heard about Master Madan from friends and family. He got to Amar Singh’s house. Visited Madan and heard them doing riyaz. He, too, could not live without being influenced by him. After this, Madan kept coming and going to Madan’s house till he went to Calcutta to join the New Theater.  

Kundan Lal Sehgal was the same person who went on to become the country’s legendary singer and actor. Additionally, he is regarded as India’s first superstar. He appeared in 36 films, 28 of which were Bengali and the remaining 28 were Hindi. 

He appeared in “Morning Star,” “Tansen,” “Devdas,” “Shah Jahan,” and “Parwana.” He performed “Jab Dil Hi Toot Gaya,” “Jeene Ka Dhang Sikha Ja,” and “Ae Dil-e-Beqarar Jhoom,” among other songs. 

Master Madan sang on the radio with veterans across the nation

Master Madan went to Sanatan Dharma School in Shimla for his education and received his matriculation from Delhi’s Ramjas School. He continued to perform on stage throughout the nation during this time. In addition, he continued to work for All India Radio from 1931 to 1942. 

Along with seasoned performers such as Bade Ghulam Ali Khan, Dilip Chandervedi, Dina Qawwal, and Mubarak Ali Fateh Ali, Master Madan was also in this All India Radio lineup. Which, given his age, was a significant event. 

His popularity caused all of the country’s new singers to become unhappy as they thought Master Madan was preventing them from taking advantage of opportunities. 

Fellow singers took his life by mixing mercury in milk 

Well, Master Madan performed on stage in Calcutta in 1942. He sang “Binati Suno Mori Awadhpuri Ke Basaiya” in this location. The general public lavishly rewarded him for his singing, from gold to money. 

He returned to Delhi after that and continued singing for AIR. However, his condition began to deteriorate. It started with a fever that wouldn’t go away. He is said to have been given mercury-mixed milk by someone. He remained ill, and in June 1942, he passed away after only a few days. He was only 15 at the time. 

One of his fellow singers, according to conspiracy theories, did this. Because they believed that no one could proceed without crossing Master Madan if he remained alive. 

Throughout his career, Master Madan sang numerous songs, ghazals, and thumriyas. However, only eight of them were recorded. Two ghazals, two Punjabi songs, two thumris, and two Gurbani pieces are included. 

However, “Yun reh reh ke humne tarsaiye” and “Hairat se tak raha jahan-e-wafa mujhe” are still associated with Master Madan. Sagar Nizami wrote these two ghazals. On YouTube, you can easily listen to these two ghazals. 

Undoubtedly master Madan was an absolute gem whom we lost due to conspiracies. Still, he is alive in our hearts with his memorable and melodic songs that are a perfect pleasure to our ears.

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