Jaikishan, Raj Kapoor, Mukesh,Shankar, Shailendra
Remembering Mukesh on his death anniversary.
The viewers of bollywood films remember legendary singer Mukesh on his death anniversary on 27th August, 2011. He was born on 22nd July, 1923 and died on 27th August, 1976 and people all over the world remember his great works. Mukesh was probably the most popular singer of the 50s, 60s and 70s after Mohammad Rafi.
His nazal tune had huge amount of sensitiveness and he gave expression to brilliant composers of the golden age with the romantic voice. His combination with Showman Raj Kapoor was considered one of the golden combinations of the 40s, 50s, 60s.
His notable songs for Raj Kapoor included “awara hoon” from film Awara, composed by Shankar Jaikishan, “aaja re” from film Aah, composed by Shankar Jaikishan, “ramaiya vasta maiya” and “mera joota hai japani” from film Shree 420 composed by Shankar Jaikishan, “sab kuch sikha humne”, “dil ki nazar se” and “kisiki muskurahaton pe ho nisar” from film Anari, composed by SJ, etc. The list can go on. Shankar Jaikishan stormed bollywood films with their everlasting tunes for more than 25 years, and wherever they were associated with Raj Kapoor, Mukesh sang the songs of his lifetime. The combination gave everlasting hits in films like Barsaat, Jis Desh Me Ganga Behti Hai, Sangam, Ek Dil Sau Afsana, Around the World, Diwana, Teesri Kasam, Mera Naam Joker, to name a few.
In non-Raj Kapoor films also Mukesh did a superlative job. His performance in Dilip Kumar’s Madhumati, composed by Salil Choudhury, Manoj Kumar’s Hariyali Aur Raasta composed by Shankar Jaikishan, Rajender Kumar’s Saathi composed by Naushad, Manoj Kumar’s Pathar Ke Sanam composed by LP, require special mention. Some of the notable songs of Mukesh which had remained immortal in those films included “dil tarap tarap ke kehrahahe aabhi ja” in Madhumati, “ifteda-e-ishq me” in Hariyali Aur Raasta, “mera pyar bhi tuhe” in Saathi, “tauba yeh matwali chal” in Patthar Ke Sanam, etc.
He died in 1976, and ended the era relating to soft romantic songs. His journay from the film Nirdosh in 1941 to Amar Akbar Anthony in 1977, remained unblemish. In 1974, he received national award for best singer for the song “kai baar yun hi dekha hai” from the film Rajnigandha, composed by Salil Choudhury. He deserved many more national awards, as he had sung from his soul bringing tears in the listener’s eyes. Besides he received filmfare awards for his best performance in films like Anari, Pehchan, Beimaan, Kabhi Kabhi. Even in the 70s, when slow music gradually lost its predominance, Mukesh’s songs in somber mood like “mai pal do pal ka shayar hoon” and “kabhi kabhi mere dil me” in the film Kabhi Kabhi composed by Khayyam and written by Sahir Ludhiyanvi created a permanent place in the hearts of millions of musiclovers.
Articles after articles can be devoted on the successful combination of Mukesh with Shankar Jaikishan, Salil Choudhury, Naushad, Roshan, and others. His films and songs should be preserved.
I was having a cassette titled 'Gam ki Zabaan' with myself which was having sad songs of Mukesh Ji. I can still recall that was my one of the fav. cassette, songs like Tara toote, dil jalta hai, hum tujhse were really really super.. Mukesh ji, we will really miss you always.
ReplyDeleteSo I have found the place where still people respect and admire our immortal music and their masters.I am also trying to make the immortal melodies alive by making bollywood sheet music for music lovers to repeatedly play and remember those great songs from music masters- my site www.thenotationjunction.com and e book with amazon.com are examples of my little contribution
ReplyDeleteWhat can I say about Mukesh Ji...As i said, on 27th August its a dilemma for me to celebrate or to mourn as 27th August it was also my daddy's 69th Birthday....
ReplyDeleteAnyways, After Rafi saab, the singer who had lot of emotions in his voice was Mukesh Ji in my humble opinion...He indeed had a God's gift to have a natural pathos in his friends...He could effectively bring his voice in Kharja or in the 1st octave, his voice was very peaceful and never made our minds restless...People often accused him for being a nasal singer, but there were many other qualities in him too..
Mukesh Ji has sung a lot of songs apart from Raj Kapoor Ji, like Dilip Kumar, Manoj Kumar many a times..He even sang few for Shammi Kapoor, Rajesh Khanna in Anand, and some others like Sunil Dutt, Dev Anand etc too..
Yes, but my most fav. of Mukesh ji has always been Raj-Mukesh- SJ needless to say about...My most fav. song of Mukesh Ji is Mujhe Tumse kuch bhi na chahye, followed by Yeh mera diwaanapan hain and many more Raj kapoor melodies...I liked his voice even over Dilip Kumar in Andaz wherein Mukesh ji playbacked him and 1 Rafi song was given to Raj kapoor which was indeed a rare novelty and the reverse combination...
The song Awaara Hoon made Russia crazy those days and Raj kapoor became the Brand amabassador for relations suddenly between India- Russia those days...Kisi ke Muskarahaton pe ho Nissar is another gem which i liked..Like Many Rafi contemporaries, even Mukesh Ji held Rafi saab in highest esteem and asked his son Nitin to listen to Rafi saab's voice to learn singing and not his own songs...He even alerted Lata Ji at the time of Lata- rafi rift due to royalty issue by saying Lata, Tumne Rafi jaise bhagwaan jaise aadmi ko dukhi kiya hain, joh thik nai hain...He was a really humble nice gentlemen and my respect for him increased even more when he respected Rafi saab like this...
Finally when 27th August 1976 came, he breathed his last in London, then this statement was originally started by Raj kapoor, mentioning the fact that " Meri Awaaz Chali gayee" Indeed they were body-Soul relationship just like Rafi saab-Shammi Ji...My tribute to one of the gr8test Legendary singers for us...Miss u Mukesh Ji....
Shikha Vohra: "Unfortunately the space is too little to write about a legend like MUkeshji".
ReplyDeleteThanks Shikhaji for the noble comments. I absolutely agree that the article is short to do justice to the huge contribution of Mukeshji. In fact for a legend like Mukeshji who dominated bollywood music for more than 30 years, thousands of articles can be devoted. I just remember him on his death anniversary.
Souvik Chatterji.
Shikha Vohra "So you have done well within those parameters. keep them coming"
ReplyDeleteThanks Shikhaji, for the comments. I had written about great Mukeshji in other articles also in relation to Shankar Jaikishan and Raj Kapoor. I will write more about Mukeshji in future.
Souvik Chatterji.
Dear Abhinishji, Zareefji, Balanji,Shikaji, thanks for your brilliant comments. Mukesh had kept a treasure of memorable songs which can be cherished by generations after generations.
ReplyDeleteSouvik Chatterji.