‘Jiyenge Magar Muskura Na Sakenge, Ke Ab Zindagi Mein Mohabbat Nahi Hai!’ These heart-breaking words mean as we have no option than to accept life as it comes, but then soft emotions in heart disappear and life becomes desert and one feels life as a burden; this is what gets reflected in this song with the voice of a great singer Mukesh.

When people listen to this song, the pain in it goes in their hearts and they can relate with the emotions in the song. So many such songs are owned by Mukesh. Some may break hearts, some may make good mood, some may describe lover and some may call the God intensely! Fair complexion, handsome face, pleasant personality, and crystal-clear heart are the perfect description of Mukesh. He was a fan of Saigal and used to sing like him. The heavenly voice and nasal pronunciations mean Mukesh. He did not have a great range like Rafi and he could not play with classical skills but then also his voice had the quality to penetrate in the hearts of music lovers. He used to feel like our close one.

He presented the simple sober image of Raj Kapoor. This is the voice that makes the love of Raj Nargis to blossom before the Moon..(Dam Bhar Jo Idhar Munh Phere O Chanda) His voice was too perfectly suitable for Dharmendra to portray his emotions (Bahaaron Ne Mera Chaman Lootkar). This is the voice that changed the image of Motilal and presented a heartbroken hero before us. (Dil Jalta Hai To Jalane De Aansu Na Baha, Fariyaad Na Kar).

Mukesh was born in Delhi as the sixth son of the Mathur family. He was made to accept service due to the need of situation but he was strongly attracted by singing. He used to make feel singing same like Saigal and when at his sister’s wedding actor Motilal had been there, he was just surprised to listen to him. He encouraged Mukesh to come to Mumbai and with his personality, he got the role of hero in the movie Nirdosh. The first song in his voice was Dil Hi Bujha Hua Ho to Fasl-E-Bahaar Kya.., but the movie could not get success.

He acted in Sukh Dukh, Adab Arj but they also failed. Then he decided to work as a singer and not an actor. Once when he was singing at a party by actor Motilal, Saigal himself had arrived there and was so pleased to listen to his voice full of emotions and the listeners involved in his song. He gifted his harmonium to this disciple as if he gifted his legacy to Mukesh. It was a memorable incident for Mukesh.

He got an opportunity to toss the song, ‘Dil Jalta Hai To Jalane De’, and the music director was Anil Biswas. Motilal was acting in the film and as per condition put by him, all songs were to be sung by Mukesh. Unfortunately, Mukesh ran out of the studio and Anil Biswas got so angry that he just slapped Mukesh on the face. He got frightened but said nothing and started recording. All his pains and grief he poured in the song and sang ‘Dil Jalta Hai To Jalane De’ which was his first song as a playback singer.

When the movie was about to release, distributors felt that this song is not suitable or the image of Motilal and Mukesh became tensed. He requested a lot to the director to keep the song in the movie at least for few days. But, the song became too much popular and the industry found a great singer called Mukesh.

Then he sang with music director Snehal Bhatkar for the film ‘Hamari Beti’ produced by Shobhan Samarth. The film was a flop but Snehal Bhatkar noticed Mukesh considerably and allowed him to provide a voice to Raj Kapoor in the film ‘Neel Kamal’. It was so perfectly suitable for Raj Kapoor that it became his voice forever. Raj Kapoor and Mukesh both were the disciples of Pandit Jagannath Mishra.

Then many songs came to get appreciation and affection from people by Raj and Mukesh with music director Shankar Jaikishan. ‘Awara Hun’, ‘Mera Naam Raju’, ‘Hothon Pe Sachchaee’, ‘Dil Ki Nazar Se’, ‘Ramayya Vastavayya’, etc. are still popular. ‘Awara hun’ was appreciated even by Russians. The voice presenting painful songs also presented romantic mischievous, ‘Patali Kamar hai, Tirachchhi Nazar Hai’ written by Shailendra. The great artist Raj Kapoor and the great singer Mukesh presented ‘Jeena Yaha Marana Yahan and ‘Jaane Kaha Gaye Woh Din‘ portraying the pains in heart of a Joker.

Can we forget ‘Sajan Re Jhooth Mat Bolo, Khuda Ke Paas Jaana Hai‘ and ‘Sajnawa Bairi Ho Gaye Hamaar‘ from ‘Teesri Kasam’? People offered great love for ‘Sangam’ as well as ‘Manjile Maqsood‘ from ‘O Mehbooba‘ and ‘Har Dil Jo Pyaar Karega‘, ‘Dost Dost Na Raha‘ was deep pain and ‘O Mere Sanam‘ was the apex creation in Shiv Ranjani. How one can forget the intense calling in ‘Aa Ab Laut Chalen’ from ‘Jis Desh Mein Ganga Bahati Hai’.

Hansraj Bahal also used the voice of Mukesh wisely and gave the song ‘Sab Shikwe Mite Dil Ke, Aapas Me Gale Mil Ke‘ from the movie ‘Khaibar’ sung by Mukesh and Madhubala Zaveri. Both have successfully presented the feelings of the loving couple. The song ‘Bhiga Bhiga Pyar Ka Sama‘ by Mukesh and Shamshad from ‘Saavan’ is so sweet to listen. But the song I like is ‘Nain Dwar Se Mein Me Woh Aake‘ by Lata Ji and Mukesh from this movie itself. The slow voice of Mukesh and the high range by Lata Ji just made the song beautiful.

Though Mukesh became the voice of Raj Kapoor he sang for Dilip Kumar, Dev Anand, Manoj Kumar, Pradeep Kumar, Bharat Bhushan, Rajesh Khanna, Amitabh, and others. Music director Naushad brought Mukesh out of the style of Saigal and made him introduce his own style. He gave beautiful songs like ‘Gaaye Jaa Geet Milan Ke’, ‘Mera Dil Todanewale’, ‘Dharati Ko Akash Pukare’, ‘Mai Bhawara Hu Tu Phool‘ from ‘Mela’ as well as ‘Jhum Jhum Ke Naacho Aaj‘, ‘Tu Kahe Agar’, ‘Ham Aaj Kahin Dil Kho Baithe’, ‘Toote Na Dil Toote’ from ‘Andaz’ and made Mukesh reach apex of success and popularity.

Mukesh had put his soul in the song, ‘Saranga Teri Yaad Mein’ by Sardar Malik. It is also recorded in the voice of Rafi, but the voice of Mukesh appeals more. ‘Chal Ree Sajni‘ by Sachin Da makes the eyes wet with the voice of Mukesh and proves the selection of Mukesh by Sachin Da worth singing it. He got ‘Chal Akela‘ by O. P. Nayyar due to Asha Ji. Nayyar was about to give it to Mahendra Kapoor but Asha Ji convinced him that Mukesh would give proper justice to that song and it became very popular.

Mukesh was the favorite of music director Roshan. Songs with deeper pain were the main feature of songs by Roshan. Mukesh was a very sensitive singer. When Mukesh produced the movie Malhar, he gave the responsibility of music to Roshan. The movie did not go well but the songs were popular.

The songs like ‘Dil Tujhe Diya Tha Rakhane Ko, Tune Dil Ko Jala Ker rakh Diya‘ or ‘Bade Arman Se Rakha Hai Balam Teri Kasam‘ or ‘Kaha Ho Tum gar Awaj Do Ham Yaad karate Hai‘ with Lata ji are superbly created due to that sensitivity in Mukesh and his voice. He gave beautiful songs like ‘Apani Najar Se‘ (Ham Log), ‘Hamane Yah Dil‘ (Chandani Chowk), ‘Baharon Ne Mera Chaman Lootkar’ (Devar), ‘Oh Re Taal Mile‘ (Anokhi Raat), ‘Bahut Diya Denewale‘ (Surat Aur Sirat).

The song ‘Teri Duniya Me Dil Lagta Nahi‘ was struck in the mind of Roshan Ji when he was at a seashore and Mukesh presented it with the same pain as expected. His duet with Geeta Ji, ‘Khayalo Me Kisi Key‘, was also popular. Salil Chaudhary gave him nice songs like, ‘Kai Baar Yuhi Dekha Hai’, ‘Maine Tere Liye’, ‘Kahi Door Jab Din Dhal Jaaye’ and he won National Award as the best singer for ‘Kai Baar Yuhi Dekha Hai’. Moreover, ‘Suhana Safar‘ (Madhumati), ‘Zindagi Khwab Hai‘ (Jaagte Raho), ‘Dil Se Dil Ki Dor Bandhi Hai‘ (Chhaya), ‘Dil Tadap Tadap Ke Kah Raha‘ (Madhumati) are too sweet songs by Mukesh with Salil Da.

The Voice of Mukesh was heart-touching. When he used to sing, his voice would get deep into the minds of listeners. The painful expression through his throat was the soul of his songs. This was explained thus by Kalyanji Anandji and they have nice and wisely used that in their songs. ‘Chaand Si Mehbooba‘ expresses the arrival of love in life and ‘Main To Ek Khwab Hun‘ (Himalay Ki God Mein) tells the grief of a broken heart. We can never forget the promise given with words, ‘Tab Tum Mere Paas Aana Priye…Mera Dil Tera Hai Tera Hi Rahega’ from the song ‘Koi Jab Tumhara Hriday Tod De.’ One wishes the song should never end. ‘Chandan Sa Badan‘ showers the moonlight of love. It’s a treasure hidden in my heart. The sorrowful separation song ‘Hamne Apna Sab Kuchh Khoya’, is unforgettable.

‘Sawan Ka Mahina Pawan Kare Shor…..Arey Baba Shor Nahi Sor’ from ‘Milan’ is the most memorable. Music Director Laxmikant Pyarelal also gave melodious songs to Mukesh like the beautiful duet ‘EK Pyar Ka Nagma Hai (Shor), love song, ‘Tauba Yeh Matwali Chaal (Patthar Ke Phool), devotional song, ‘Jyot Se Jyot Jagaate Chalo‘ (Sant Dnyaneshwar).

The song ‘Yeh Mera Deewanapan Hai’ from ‘Yahudi’ came to Mukesh very luckily as Bimal Roy wanted it to be sung by Rafi and then lottery was drawn that resulted in favor of Mukesh. I also like the Bhajan that I learned in my childhood, ‘Dukh Haro Dwarakanath Sharan Me Teri’ and also the non-filmy song, ‘Jiyenge Magar Muskura Na Sakenge’. Mukesh had given many beautiful non – film songs like, ‘Do Julmi Naina Julm Kare’, ‘Jahaan Bhi Dekha Unhe Sar Zuka Diya Maine’, ‘Tere Labo Ke Mukabil Gulab Kya Hoga’. Mukesh, the singer with a sensitive heart, making the emotional world of music lovers rich, never considered singing as commercial work but worship.

Today’s generation, listening to music on headphones may not know about Mukesh but my generation has preserved the fragrance of memories of his songs in the heart. Life goes on and time stops never, I still remember when Mukesh let this world I had cried like anything as if something precious in my life had gone. However, the emotional world of music lovers like me is made rich by his songs. Today also I recall his song…..

Zindagi Khwab Hai, Tha Hame Bhi Pata,
Par Hame Jindagi Se Bahut Pyar Tha,
Chand Din Tha Basera Hamara Yaha,
Ham Bhi Mehman They, Ghar To Us Paar Tha,
Hamsafar Ek Din To Bichhadana Hi Tha,
Alvida Alvida Alvida Alvida….

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