The highly metaphorical work is still celebrated for its deeply Vedantic and Sufi incantations and philosophical undertones[1] and is an important work in the Chhayavaad (Neo-romanticism) literary movement of early 20th century Hindi literature.

The poet tries to explain the complexity of life with his four instruments, which appear in almost every verse: madhu, madira or haala (wine), saaki (server), pyaala (cup or glass) and of course madhushala, madiralaya (pub/bar).

The publication of the work in 1935 brought Harivanshrai Bachchan instant fame, and his own recitation of the poems became a "craze" at poetry symposiums.

[2] Madhushala was part of his trilogy inspired by Omar Khayyam's Rubaiyat, which he had earlier translated into Hindi.

[3] His son, actor Amitabh Bachchan, has read the verses on several occasions, most notably at Lincoln Center, New York City.