Mukesh could have sung classical songs too -Lata
Kaustubh Pingle
By Harish C. Menon, Indo-Asian News Service
Mumbai, Aug 27 (IANS) It is 30 years since he passed away, leaving a
void in the music world of Bollywood. Yet, Mukesh's mellifluous voice
still casts a spell on listeners, emitting the fragrance of romance for
some or drowning others in the depths of melancholy
Mukesh Chand Mathur alias Zoravar Chand, who sang innumerable songs for
legendary Bollywood showman Raj Kapoor, passed away Aug 27, 1976,
following a cardiac arrest in Detroit, US, where he had gone for a
concert.
Raj Kapoor is said to have remarked that 'he had lost his soul' in
Mukesh's passing away - a testimony to the extremely popular
combination of Raj-Mukesh-Shankar Jaikishen (music directors) that
produced timeless classics for generations of Hindi film music
connoisseurs.
Lata Mangeshkar, living legend of Bollywood playback singing and a
close friend of Mukesh, cherishes the moments spent with her Mukesh
'Bhaiyya' (elder brother) even today.
''Jaane Kahan Gaye Woh Din' ('Mera Naam Joker', 1970) remains my
favourite song of Mukesh bhaiyya (brother),' Lata told IANS.
'The reason the song is my favourite is because it perfectly expresses
my longing for the yesteryears where singing in films was a totally
different thing from what it is today,' the 77-year-old Bharat Ratna
awardee said.
Indeed, the nightingale's yearning is typical as she shared a very
close relationship with Mukesh. She accompanied his son Nitin Mukesh
when Mukesh's body was brought back to India from Detroit and still
remembers the day of the funeral when almost the entire industry turned
out to pay tribute to him.
'I first met him in 1947 and almost immediately struck a chord. He was
much senior to me - both in age as well as profession - and yet he
insisted on calling me 'didi' (elder sister),' Lata reminisced.
'There was no particular reason for this. Everyone one in my family
used to call me didi. So he also took it up. But it's amazing that he
never addressed me as 'Lata' till the end,' she said.
Mukesh, who along with the versatile Mohammad Rafi and the rebellious
Kishore Kumar was considered one among the finest and most popular
playback singers of Bollywood, has sung some of the most melodious and
evergreen duets with Lata.
The naughty 'Dum Bhar Jo Udhar Munh Phere' ('Awara', 1951), the
romantic 'Jaane Na Nazar' ('Aah', 1953), the effervescent 'Dil Tadap
Tadap' ('Madumati', 1958), the gloriously patriotic 'Aa Ab Laut Laut
Chalein' ('Jis Desh Mein Ganga Behti Hai', 1960) are just a few of the
examples one could quote.
Born on July 22, 1923, in Delhi, the 'man with the golden voice' was
first noticed by Motilal - a popular actor of his times and a distant
relative of Mukesh - when he sang at his sister's wedding.
In the beginning Mukesh was considered more an actor than a singer,
thanks to his good looks. Soon he was seen in the 1941 flop 'Nirdosh'.
He got his first break as a playback singer in 'Pehli Nazar' (1945) in
which he took people by surprise by almost imitating the legendary
singer actor K.L. Saigal - who was in the throes of alcoholism by then
- in 'Dil Jalta Hai To Jalne De' - incidentally picturised on Motilal
himself.
'Mukesh bhaiyya was as enamoured by Saigal-saab as we all were. But
although he began his career singing in the Saigal style, he soon
developed his own identity,' Lata noted.
'Mukesh bhaiyya was also proud of the fact that he had met Saigal-saab
once. I know for a fact that he (Mukesh) even had for himself a
harmonium used by Saigal-saab,' she said.
His voice characterised by a slight nasal tone, Mukesh was almost
always considered for light and breezy songs, ranging from the
happy-go-lucky 'Awara Hoon' ('Awara', 1951), the lovelorn 'Yeh Mera
Deewanapan Hai' ('Yehudi', 1958) or the tramp-like 'Kisi Ki
Muskurahaton Pe Ho Nissar' ('Anari', 1959) and 'Mera Joota Hai Japani'
('Shri 420', 1955).
However, when it came to more complex and classically-inclined songs
like 'Ae Bhai Zara Dekh Ke Chalo' ('Mera Naam Joker', 1970) or a 'Dil
Ke Jharokhe Mein' ('Brahmachari', 1968), Mohammed Rafi and Manna Dey
were always the choice.
'The problem is that Mukesh bhaiyya was never tried for complex and
classically oriented songs because of stereotyping. It is not that he
did not have the capability,' Lata observed.
'Classical music-wise, the best trained was Manna-da, who was trained
under his own uncle - the legendary K.C. Dey. Rafi-saab also was
trained classically. But very few recognised Mukesh bhaiyya for his
classical background,' she said.
'I cannot say with full authority. But I feel he (Mukesh) could have
sung complex songs too if given a chance because I know he used to do
regular riyaaz (practise) along with his son Nitin, under a teacher,'
she noted.
Scores of singers, including son Nitin, tried their luck in the
industry by adapting the Mukesh-style of singing but failed to make a
mark.
'God blesses only a few with the original talent. The others will
remain just that - copies. Mr. (Sudesh) Bhonsle succeed to a certain
extent in carving a niche for himself, but that's about it,' Lata said.
But for the purists and the connoisseurs today - confounded by a
bewildering array of remixes of old classics - nothing less than the
original refrains of Mukesh would do.
As Lata said, one can only remember Mukesh and recall his 'Jane Kahan
Gaye Woh Din' (Where have those days gone?).
Copyright Indo-Asian News Service
shri37
Kaustubh Pingle wrote:
> http://www.dailyindia.com/show/54936.php/Mukesh_could_have_sung_classical_songs_too:_Lata(INTERVIEW)
>
> By Harish C. Menon, Indo-Asian News Service
>
> M
>
> Mukesh's passing away - a testimony to the extremely popular
> produced timeless classics for generations of Hindi film music
> connoisseurs.
>
SHALENDRA AND HASRAT JAIPURI here.
MAUSAM
> 'I cannot say with full authority. But I feel he (Mukesh) could have
> sung complex songs too if given a chance because I know he used to do
> regular riyaaz (practise) along with his son Nitin, under a teacher,'
> she noted.
I recall one song that is somewhat complex and classical based sung by
Mukesh - 'Teri Duniya mein jee lagtaa nahin, waapas bula le'. I think
Mukesh did a reasonably good job on the song.
Mausam
raaz
%
\startsong
\stitle{matavaalii naar Thumak Thumak chalii jaaye}%
\film{Ek Phool Chaar Kaante}%
\year{1960}%
\starring{Sunil Dutt, Waheeda, Johnny Walker}%
\singer{Mukesh}%
\music{Shankar-Jaikishan}%
\lyrics{Shailendra}%
%
% Contributor: Vijay Kumar
% Transliterator: Vijay Kumar
% Credits:
% Comments:
%
\printtitle
#indian
%
matavaalii naar Thumak Thumak chalii jaaye
in kadamo.n pe kis kaa jiyaa naa jhuk jaaye
matavaalii naar \threedots
phuul badan mukha.Daa yuu.N damake
baadal me.n jyo.n bijalii chamake
giit sunaa ke tuu chham chham ke
lalachaaye, chhup jaaye, aay haay
matavaalii naar \threedots
ye cha.nchal kajaraarii aa.Nkhe.n
ye chitachor shikaarii aa.Nkhe.n
gaii dil chiir kaTaarii a.Nkhe.n
muskaaye, sharamaaye, jhuk jaaye
matavaalii naar \threedots
%
#endindian
\endsong
%
raaz.
Archisman Mozumder
Also, a very pleasing Hameer in 'sur ki gati main kya jaanoon'. Not
aware of any more details of this song.
Regards-Archisman.
Kamalakar Pasupuleti
news:1156703855.8...@h48g2000cwc.googlegroups.com
>
> MAUSAM wrote:
> Also, a very pleasing Hameer in 'sur ki gati main kya jaanoon'. Not
> aware of any more details of this song.
>
> Regards-Archisman.
MD - Naresh Bhattacharya .
- kp
--
Posted via Mailgate.ORG Server - http://www.Mailgate.ORG
Archisman Mozumder
Kamalakar Pasupuleti wrote:
> "Archisman Mozumder" <arch...@yahoo.co.in> wrote in message
> news:1156703855.8...@h48g2000cwc.googlegroups.com
>
> >
> > MAUSAM wrote:
> > Also, a very pleasing Hameer in 'sur ki gati main kya jaanoon'. Not
> > aware of any more details of this song.
> >
> > Regards-Archisman.
>
> MD - Naresh Bhattacharya .
>
> - kp
>
idea of the year of release?
naniwadekar
"Archisman Mozumder" wrote :
>
> > 'sur ki gati main kya jaanoon'.
>
>
Yes, it is a non-film song.
- dn
shri37
and it is not an ultimate qualification for a singer.
Ketan
Pingle says...
Trivia
>Raj Kapoor is said to have remarked that 'he had lost his soul' in
>Mukesh's passing away - a testimony to the extremely popular
>combination of Raj-Mukesh-Shankar Jaikishen (music directors) that
>produced timeless classics for generations of Hindi film music
>connoisseurs.
What Raj Kapoor actually said, when asked for his reaction on learning of
Mukesh's death was:
"Main kya bolo? Main goonga ho gaya hoon...meri to..aawaaz hi chali gayi hai".
A brief but extremely apt tribute that says it all.
Ketan