Mukesh’s 100th birth anniversary: 10 rare facts about the voice of Raj Kapoor and Manoj Kumar

He would have touched a 100 today, June 22. What he has actually touched with his 1000-plus songs are the hearts and souls of millions of music lovers globally.

Father to Nitin Mukesh and grandfather to Neil Nitin Mukesh, playback singer Mukeshchand Mathur, known to the world as Mukesh, had a fabulous innings as playback singer (he was also an actor, producer and composer) from 1941 to his death on August 27, 1976. Of course, his songs kept coming all the way until, incredibly, 1997.

Here are 10 lesser-known or rare facts about the man behind the magic of countless songs like ‘Awara hoon’(Awara), ‘ Sawan Ka Mahina’(Milan), ‘Chandan Sa Badan’(Saraswatichandra), ‘Jeena Yahaan Marna Yahaan’(Mera Naam Joker), ‘Kahin Door Jab Din Dhal Jaaye’ (Anand), ‘Ek Pyar Ka Naghma Hai’ (Shor) and innumerable others.

The Beginning

Contrary to popular perception, Mukesh’s first song was ‘Dil Hi Bujha Hua Ho’ in Nirdosh (1941) under Ashok Ghosh. He had two other songs in the film, both duets with star and singer Nalini Jaywant, and they were all filmed on Mukesh himself as the leading man.

The last Mukesh songs

Though his last recording was for Laxmikant-Pyarelal in Satyam Shivam Sundaram for ‘Chanchal Sheetal Nirmal Komal’ days before his death in Detroit in 1976, the last new songs of Mukesh released were ‘Tujhko Yoon Dekha Hai’ and ‘Tumhi Ne Dil Ko Dil’ for the album of the TV serial, Chand Grahan, released in 1997! These two songs had been recorded by composer Jaidev for a film that never took off and were used for this serial made by the same producer.

The latest Mukesh Recreation

The latest Mukesh recreation remains ‘Chhodo Kal Ki Baatein’ in Sooryavanshi recreated by Tanishk Bagchi from the singer’s famous title-track from Hum Hindustani. The music was by Usha Khanna and the lyrics by Prem Dhawan. It was sung by a chorus in the 2021 hit.

A Cult Remix

The song, ‘Kahin Karti Hogi Woh Mera Intezaar’ from Phir Kab Milogi was a whopper hit in remix form, sung by pop singer Anamika in 1996. The Mukesh-Lata duet composed by R.D. Burman and written by Majrooh Sultanpuri caught the fancy of the young generation even as the original had been only tepidly popular.

To Russia with love

The song ‘Awara Hoon’ from Awara, composed by Shankar-Jaikishan, was recorded with the same tune and Russian words by Raj Kapoor fans in that country, leading to speculation that the Indian cult song was copied from a Russian tune!

Sri Lanka-bound

In 2007, Bathiya and Santhush, pioneering superstars of modern Sri Lankan pop music, came out with their super-hit ballad ‘Meedum Selen Pawee’ and stated the fact that the song was based on the Laxmikant-Pyarelal-composed Mukesh-Lata chartbuster from Milan, ‘Sawan Ka Mahina’, with part of the Hindi song sampled directly and an acknowledgement of a “Sri Lankan-Hindi remix” in the lyrics itself.

The Binaca toppers

Mukesh had six Annual toppers, including ‘Sawan Ka Mahina’ in the only countdown show of the time, Binaca Geet Mala, which equals Kishore Kumar’s tally despite a far more prolific output. Before that, we must mention that Mukesh’s total discography remains a fraction of Kishore’s and Mohammed Rafi’s but he ranks with them as the three topmost playback singers of all time,

And the remaining five are ‘Mera Joota Hai Japani’ (Shree 420), ‘Mere Man Ki Ganga’ (with Vyjayanthimala / Sangam), ‘Jis Dil Mein Basa Tha Pyar’ (Saheli), ‘Mehangai Maar Gayi’ (with Lata, Jani Babu and Narendra Chanchal/ Roti Kapada Aur Makaan) and ‘Kabhi Kabhi Mere Dil Mein’ (with Lata / Kabhi Kabhie).

Dev Anand’s voice too

Mukesh was known as the voice of Raj Kapoor and Manoj Kumar, but he has sung even for Dev Anand in Vidya under S.D. Burman and Shair under Ghulam Mohammed in the 1940s. Other rare artistes for whom he sang include Ashok Kumar, Pradeep Kumar and Raaj Kumar.

First voice

Mukesh was considered a ‘lucky voice’ too, having sung in the first films of Dharmendra, Sanjeev Kumar, Rajesh Khanna (Raaz—his first release) and for Rishi Kapoor in his first song, ‘Teetar Ke Do Aage Teetar’ (with Asha Bhosle / Mera Naam Joker) and in the first film in which songs were filmed on Sanjay Khan (Dillagi).

A Birthday and a Wedding

Not many know that Mukesh got married as well on his birthday in 1946 to Saral Trivedi, daughter of a millionaire, who had objections to their union because his career was not secure. Helping them was Mukesh’s distant relative, actor Motilal, who had encouraged him to come to Mumbai from Delhi, and cinematographer R.D. Mathur (best known for Mughal-E-Azam).

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