Remembering Mukesh 1923-76

In total Mukesh sang about 1300 songs.The magic of Mukesh’s soulful, golden voice is from a different era. However, the legendary singer and his songs like Maine Tere Liye from the film Anand, and Kabhi Kabhie Mere Dil Mein Khayal from the film Kabhi Kabhie remain immortalized in many hearts.

Mukesh was born  on 22 July 1923 in Delhi. His first music teacher who actually came to teach Mukesh’s sister, found Mukesh listening from the adjoining room and made him his student. After passing out from 10th grade, Mukesh worked briefly for the Department of Public Works where he perfected his voice. Soon, a distant relative called Motilal noted Mukesh’s singing during his sister’s wedding and took him to Mumbai for further training under Pandit Jagannath Prasad. In Mumbai, he got a role as an actor cum singer for the film Nirdosh in 1941. His first song was Dil Hi Bujha Hua Ho To…in the movie Nirdosh. His first song as a playback singer was Dil Jalta Hai To Jalne De for the movie Pehli Nazar.
From his early days, Mukesh was a big fan of K. L. Saigal and imitated his voice. When K.L. Saigal heard this song, he was astonished to hear the voice and said he didn’t recall singing that song. To get over his stereotyped Saigal style singing, music director Naushad Ali helped Mukesh develop his own style. Some of his songs for Naushad were for films like Anokhi Ada (1948) and Mela (1948). His famous song in Mela was Gaye Ja Geet Milan Ke . Soon Mukesh sang songs like Jhoom Jhoom Ke Nacho Aaj, and Tu Kahe Agar for the 1949 movie Andaz wherein he was the voice for Dilip Kumar while Mohammed Rafi sang for Raj Kapoor.
In that era, his hit songs included Jeevan Sapna Toot Gaya in Anil Biswas’s Anokha Pyar (1948), Yeh Mera Diwanapan Hai in Shankar Jaikishan’s Yahudi (1958) and Suhana Safar Aur Yeh Mausam in Salil Choudhury’s Madhumati (1958). Here onwards there was a role reversal, wherein Mohammad Rafi was preferred as the ghost voice of Dilip Kumar, and Mukesh became the ghost voice choice for Raj Kapoor.
With Mukesh becoming identified as Raj Kapoor’s voice, in almost all the films of Raj Kapoor whether under RK banner or outside, if SJ were the music director Mukesh was almost invariably the voice for him. And every film had great songs remembered till today: Kanhaiya, Main Nashe Mein Hun (1959), Jis Desh Mein Ganga Bahti Hai (1960), Aashiq, Ek Dil Aur Sau Afsaane (1962), Sangam (1964), Teesri Kasam (1966), Around The World, Deewana (1967), Sapnon Ka Saudagar (1968) and Mera Naam Joker (1970).
SJ also used Mukesh as the voice for many heroes, such as Manoj Kumar (Hariyali Aur Rasta, 1962), Sunil Dutt (Ek Phool Aur Chaar Kaante, 1960) and Rajendra Kumar (Aas Ka Panchhi, Sasural, 1961).
If Anil Biswas was the mentor of Mukesh, SJ were his main propellers in the Golden Era of film music.
After he did a song for the composer Kalyanji, Naina Hai Jadoo Bhare for the film Bedard Zamana Kya Jaane (1959). Soon, the Kalayanji- Anandji- Mukesh triad was formed to sing hit numbers like Main Hoon Mast Madari for the film Madari (1959), followed by songs like Chhalia Mera Naam, Mere Toote Hue Dil Se and Dum Dum Diga Diga for the movie Chhalia (1960). The triads’ hit songs continued with Mujhko iss raat ki tanhai mein for the movie Dil Bhi Tera Hum Bhi Tere (1960) and Hum chhod chale hain mehfil ko for the 1964 film Ji Chahta Hai and Humne tumko pyar kiya hai jitna for Dulha Dulhan (1964).
In 1965, songs like Chal Mere Dil Lehra ke Chal, Ishara and Dheere Se Chalo for the movie Johar Mehmood In Goa, Main To Ek Khwab Hoon and Chand Si Mehbooba Ho from the Himalay ki God Mein (1965) also proved to be popular. Their other songs in the 1969 movie Vishwas included Muskurake Humko Luta Aapne, Le Chal, Le Chal Mere Jeevan Saathi, and Chandi Ki Deewar Na Todi. This was followed up with songs like Mujhe Nahin Poochni Tumse Beeti Baatein in the 1974 film Anjaan Raahein.
In between, Mukesh earned a string of Filmfare Awards for his songs Sab Kuch Seekha Humne for the movie Anari (1959), Sabse Bada Naadan Wahi Hai for Pehchaan (1970), Jai Bolo Beimaan Ki for Be-Imaan (1972) and Kabhi Kabhie Mere Dil Mein for Kabhi Kabhie (1976). The year 1974 also saw Mukesh receiving a National Film Award for the Best Male Playback Singer for the song Kai Baar Yuhi Dekha for the movie Rajnigandha.
Mukesh died of cardiac arrest in Detroit Michigan on August 27, 1976 where he had gone to perform in a concert. Legendary Singer Lata Mangeshkar not only completed the rest of the concert but also brought the body of Mukesh back to India for a grand funeral. Upon hearing of Mukesh’s death, a tearful Raj Kapoor remarked ‘I have lost my voice’ as Mukesh did many of Raj Kapoor’s ghost voices.

Top 10 Hit Songs
1. Sawan Ka Mahina- Milan
2. Maine Tere Liye- Anand
3. Main Pal Do Pal Ka Shayar- Kabhi Kabhie
4. Humko Tumse Ho Gaya Hai Pyar- Amar Akbar Anthony
5. Kisi Ki Muskurahaton Pe Ho- Anari
6. Jo Tumko Ho Pasand- Safar
7. Aaja Re Ab Mera Dil Pukara- Aah
8. Dum Dum Diga Diga- Chhalia
9. Kahin Door Jab Din Dhal Jaye- Anand
10. Kehta Hai Joker Sara Zamana- Mera Naam Joker