Mukesh – A Voice With Its Unique Charm

He is one singer who changed the wave of music in Hindi film industry and still is remembered as one of the most momentous singer of all time. Yes it is Mukesh Chand Mathur, more popularly known just as Mukesh has made remarkable contributions in the field of music which is a source of inspiration for generations of singers. This great singer was born on 22^nd July 1923 in Delhi. Actor Motilal was the one whose ears captured the voice Mukesh and took him to Mumbai to explore the potential singer’s opportunity in the film industry.

A big follower of K. L. Saigal, Mukesh got his first break as an actor – singer in the movie Nirdosh (1941) in which he sang the song “Dil Hi Bujha Hua Ho To.” His next step as playback singer came with the song “Dil Jalta Hai To Jalne De” for the film Pehli Nazar (1945). Mukesh’s success came with the music director Naushad Ali who helped the singer to create his own distinct style of singing and went on to work together for several hits like Mela(1948), Andaz (1949). In the early stages of his singing career he was known as the ghost voice of Dilip Kumar and sang songs ‘Jeevan Sapna toot gaya,’ ‘Ye Mera Diwanapan hai,’ and also for the movie Madhumati.

However, later he became the ghost voice for Raj Kapoor. 1974 proved to be year in which the singer reached another level of success where he received the National Award for Best Male Playback Singer category for the song “Kai Baar Yuhi Dekha Hai” from Rajnigandha (1974). This was not all. The prestigious Filmfare award was waiting for him in the up coming years. He received Filmfare award for best male playback singer for the songs like “Sab Kuch Seekha Humne” in the movie Anari (1959), “Sabse Bada Naadan Wahi Hai” in Pehchaan (1970), “Jai Bolo Beimaan Ki” in Beimaan (1972) and “Kabhi Kabhie Mere Dil Mein”, the title song of film Kabhie Kabhie (1976). Mukesh sang hits like “Chhalia mera naam”, “Mere toote hue dil se”, “Dum dum diga diga” Chalia (1959), “Koi jab tumhara hriday tod de” Purab Aur Paschim, “Darpan ko dekha” Upaasna, “Jo tumko ho pasand…” Safar, and many more with the duo Kalyanji – Anandji. In fact they turned out to be the directors with whom Mukesh worked the most. Throughout his musical journey he had his wife Saral Trivedi for his support and with whom he had five children of which Nitin also chose career of a singer. Mukesh is the grandfather of the actor Neil Nitin Mukesh.

Mukesh died of heart attack on 27^th August 1976. But the interesting fact is many of his songs were released after his death which featured in movies like Dharam Veer, Amar Akbar Anthony, Khel khiladi ka, Darinda and Chandi Sona. His voice featured in much later movies of the era of late 80s like Aarohi (1982), Chor mandali (1983), etc. Mukesh was a singer whose works have and will always be the guidelines for the next generation singers. He was a person who believed in quality and has refined the music industry by giving some most melodious songs of the time.