Today is the birthday of Mukesh – for the younger generation stumbling across this blog , he was the grandfather of Neil Nitin Mukesh.
To be honest, Mukesh was not my favorite singer. I much preferred the voices of Mohammed Rafi, Manna Dey and Kishore Kumar. But, strangely some of Mukesh’s songs are amongst my all time favorite songs.
There was a certain quality to voice – a certain earthiness that worked best with some types of songs – The philosophical songs and the sad ones. I personally didn’t like his romantic songs or even his happy songs. For examples songs like Sawan Ka Mahina, or Ek Din Bit Jayega Maati ke mol or even Dil Ki Nazar Se – are not amongst my favorites. I hear them if they are on radio, but they don’t do anything for me.
But there are songs that Mukesh has sung that touch my soul. They touch that melancholic part of me that I have hidden away. The simplicity of his voice, the rawness reaches out and soothes me. Unlike a Manna Dey or a Kishore Kumar or a Rafi – Mukesh didn’t have an extensive range either of voice – his voice would crack at the higher notes – or of genres. But what he did well he did exceedingly well.
So on his birthday, my favorites
Aasman pe hai Khuda – the film Phir Subah Hogi. A fabulous soundtrack by Khayyam and some of the best lyrics in Hindi Films. Ever. Mukesh is just about perfect in this song … when he sings “aadmi hai unginat, devta hai kam” … there is that simplicity of emotion. Whereas Rafis philosophical songs were anthems – even anthems by Mukesh – like the other favorite from this film Chino Arab Hamara – were whimsical, with just that tinge of sadness.
Aasoon Bhari Hai – The film is Parvarish. The actors Raj Kapoor and Mala Sinha. Music is by Dattaram, and lyrics by Hasrat Jaipuri. When Mukesh sings vaade bhulade, kasam tod de woh..haalat pe apni, humme chod de woh … the heart melts. There is another song in the same space – same emotions that i loved , this from the film Sanjog – Bhuli Huvi yaadein
Chandan Sa Badan – film Saraswati Chandra – and Mukesh in one of my all time favorite songs. Music by Kalyanji Anandji and lyrics by Indeewar. I remember watching the film as a kid, in the old single channel days, didn’t understand too much of it. the film has two versions of this song – the other version by Lata Mangeshkar
Kahi Door Jab Din Dhal Jaaye – – Mukesh sings for Rajesh Khanna in the film Anand. Music by Salil Choudhary and lyrics by Yogesh. The film is one of my favorites. The film also has the other Mukesh song – meine tere liye saath rang ke sapne
Kissi ke Muskurahataon pe … the film is Anari, Music by Shankar Jaikishen and Lyrics by Shailendra. Mukesh is superlative in this song, waxing about the meaning of life
Mujhko is raat ki Tanhaayi Mein – Mukesh sings for a very young Dharmendra in the film Dil bhi tera Hum bhi tere. There is a Lata Mangeshkar version of this song in this film, but i personally prefer the Mukesh version. Music by Kalyanji Anandji and Lyrics by Shamim Jaipuri.
Nain Hamare – The film is Annadata – starring Jaya Badhuri & Anil Dhawan. Music is by Salil Choudhary. Lyrics by Yogesh. Annadata, i believe, has one of the most under appreciated sound tracks in Hindi cinema. Every song in that film is a gem.
O Jaanewaale ho sake toh lautke aana – The film is Bimal Roy’s Bandini. The music is by S.D.Burman, and lyrics by Shailendra. The song is a background song, picturised on Nutan. Going Home …but not quite …
O re Taal Mile Nadi ke jal mein – The philosophy of life, from the film Anokhi Raat. Music by Roshan and lyrics by Indeevar and Kaifi Azmi
- Sajan Re Jhoot Mat Bolo – When I see a film like Teesri Kasam, i wonder how film makers of that generation had the courage to make a movie like that. A movie which is not a tragedy or a comedy.. instead a clash of values. Music is by Shankar Jaikishen, Lyrics by Shailendra – who, incidentally, is also the producer of the film
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The photo for the day, from my mobile
Had gone out with Annie and Manisha – that is a glass of old monk and water, and light refracing through it … Golden … my photography is getting abstract ..
Office life has been clearing up account – there are two things that I don’t quite follow. The first is why are there so many heads for TDS and so many varying rates. Why is the tax department splitting so many hairs … and secondly, why are people reluctant to give their PAN number – don’t they understand they will pay less tax, if they get their TDS amount booked against their name ?
I never liked Mukesh particularly – even then, “Neil Mukesh’s grandfather” hurts. Ouch. the times we live in!
lol 😀 yes … true … 😀 it could have been worse – i could have called him nitin mukesh’ father 😀
the only song i like of mukesh is ‘khayalon mein kisike’… he sang like a slate walla pencil were stuck up his nose…never did like him either.
raj kapoor looks oofh in that song …
Excellent, in fact you reflect exactly as I look at Mukesh- The Singer. You very rightly say that Mukesh had a very limited range especially when -arguably though- compared with the likes of Manna, Rafi, Kishore, Mahendra Kapoor, Talat and later on Shailendra Singh.
Now you notice last three names I added to emphasis my point, that-where as First three Manna, Rafi and Kishore were extremely talented/blessed. Mukesh and others had their own Niche. Each one of them had a unique quality of their own, and don’t think the songs they sung could have been sung by any other one. That is what fascinates me.
All the songs you posted above are My All Time Favs too. Especially Kahin Door Jab… (My younger daughter too is a Huge fan) and Second I love most is Oh Re Taal Mile Nadi Ke…
Finally, I have one more reason to Love Mukesh songs: His singing is very simple and even a Non Singer like me can and do Sing his songs w/o attracting Much Adverse disapproval. 🙂
Regards,
PI.
😀 that is right – but his songs had a simplicity – when you combined that with the earthy lyrics of a Shailendra or a Yogesh – the result was magic …sheer magic.
me too – i can sing his songs ..:D
Mukesh collection here is amazing. “Kai baar yu hi..” is altime favorite!! His songs in happy mood attract me unlike his Sad Song! Though this legend is known for sad voice and songs, I like his happy mood! 🙂
Great writeup to bring his memories in these days of cheap Item Numbers.
In my opinion, Mukesh was one of the best singers in Bollywood. He might not have the range or the classical base of a Rafi or a Manna Dey but he certainly had songs made for him. In the initial days he did have a tendency to sing a bit off-key which got corrected eventually & Anil Biswas had a major role to play in this. Mukesh had also started taking classical lessons to improve on his singing.
Keeping Raj Kapoor aside, Mukesh never became the voice of any actor (barring Manoj Kumar also to some extent) but in reality the faces ceased to matter for Mukesh’s song. The movie which had the classic “Kise yaad rakhun, kise bhool jaun” never got released – his is just a song that I recollect now. Sarswati Chandra songs were for an actor not known to many till now. It was always the song that mattered & Mukesh has done playback for the likes of Dilip Kumar, Rajendra Kumar, Amitabh Bacchan. People who have not heard Mukesh much relate him to only melancholy songs, in reality he has sung a lot of fun & philosophical songs. In the various songs of Mera Naam Joker, Mukesh shows his full range as a singer.
Kalyanji Anandji created the maximum songs for him and a lot of the classics listed here are KA creation. There was a time when he was the most sought after playback singer but the acting bug bit him when Talat & Rafi moved ahead. I can’t recollect of any music composer who hasn’t used him, even RD Burman used him for the classic “Ek din bik jaayega”.
Sadly, he had to be referred as Neil Nitin Mukesh’s grandfather.