Born On: July 22, 1923
Born In: Ludhiana, India
Died On: August 27, 1976
Career: Singer
Nationality: Indian
Mukesh, a man with the golden voice, was the jewel of the music industry. One amongst the best playback singers of Indian film Industry, Mukesh was a great fan of singer-actors KL Saigal. A dream that he had been born with, was fulfilled on his arrival to Mumbai in search of stardom. Not just that he was successful in giving Bollywood some of its biggest hits of all times, but he even let his presence felt on the silver screen through his acting, which was again a part of his dream. After working for a number of music directors and getting himself recognized as a distinguished singer, he set his footsteps out of India with foreign tours to London, Africa, Canada, and USA. During his entire singing career, he enjoyed a blooming life with all his songs being instant hits and golden melodies. Till date, his songs are rejoiced and enjoyed by music lovers and his admirers.
Early Life
Mukesh was born as Mukesh Chandra Mathur to middle class Kayastha family in Ludhiana. He was born to an engineer, Zorawar Chand Mathur and Chand Rani, as the sixth of the ten kids born to the couple. Since childhood, Mukesh was fond of acting and singing. He attended school till tenth standard. After leaving school, he worked in Delhi Department of Public Works for sometime. During this time, Mukesh conducted few voice recording tests. His singing abilities progressed slowly and steadily after this. Once, when Mukesh sang a song at his sister's marriage, his voice came into the notice of Motilal, a famous actor in Hindi movies. Mukesh went to Mumbai with Motilal and the latter aligned training in singing for him. At this time, Mukesh got his first break in acting with the Hindi movie 'Nirdosh' (1941). He got a chance to sing, for the first time in 'Pehli Nazar' (1945). 'Dil Jalta Hai to Jalne De' was the first song that he sang for a Hindi movie and was picturised on Motilal fortuitously. This song brought a drastic change in the career-graph of Mukesh. He became popular overnight.
Career
In 1949, he got in touch with Raj Kapoor and the composer duo Shankar-Jaikishan. Mukesh's most renowned songs were the ones he sang on the direction of Shankar-Jaikishen for Raj Kapoor. Songs like 'Aawara hoon' and 'Mera joota hai japani' reverberated in the streets of India and abroad. Subsequently, after 'Awara' proved to be a big hit, Mukesh marginalized from singing to acting. He acted in films like 'Mashuqa' (1953) and 'Anurag' (1956). Both the movies were major hits at the box-office. Mukesh came back to his singing panorama with the song 'Yeh mera deewanapan hai' from the movie 'Yahudi' (1958). During 1960s & mid-1970s, Mukesh amplified and reached the forte of his career. Some of his best sung songs include 'Jeena yahaan marna yahaan' (Mera Naam Joker), 'Maine tere liye hi saat rang ke sapne chune' (Anand), 'Main Na Bhoolonga' (Roti, Kapda Aur Makaan), and 'Kabhie kabhie' (Kabhie Kabhie), that uplifted his career as a singer forever. 'Kisi ki muskuraahaton pe ho nisaar' (Anari), 'O janewale ho sake to laut ke aanaa' (Bandini), 'Dost dost naa rahaa' (Sangam), 'Jaane kahaan gaye wo din' (Mera Naam Joker), and 'Ek din bik jaayega' (Dharam Karam) are some of the most memorable songs sung by Mukesh.
Personal Life
Mukesh married the 18-year old daughter of a wealthy Gujarati Brahmin, Sarla Trivedi Raichand in 1946, at the residence of R.D. Mathur. Despite denial from Sarla's family since she belonged to a well-off family and Mukesh was till unsettled, the couple managed to survive all irregularities and came out successfully. There were even rumors of the failure of marriage and the couple resulting in divorce. However, the couple departed upon Mukesh's death in 1976. The couple lived together for thirty long years and gave birth to five children, three girls and two boys. His son, Nitin Mukesh was also a renowned singer during his time and his grandson Neil Nitin Mukesh is a celebrated actor.
Death
'Chanchal sheetal nirmal komal' from the movie 'Satyam Shivam Sundaram' was the last recorded song of Mukesh. While he was on a concert tour in the United States, he left the corporeal world after a sudden heart attack in Detroit on August 27, 1976. The funeral procession of the legendary singer-actor took place at Banganga Crematorium, South Bombay, India on August 30, 1976 with due tribute by actors and personalities of the Indian film industry.
Awards
Filmfare Best Male Playback Award for 'Sub kuchh seekha humne' for the film 'Anari', 1959
Bengal Film Journalists' Association Award for Best Male Playback Singer for 'Teesri Kasam', 1967
Bengal Film Journalists' Association Award for Best Male Playback Singer for 'Milan', 1968
Filmfare Best Male Playback Award for 'Sabse bada naadan' for the film 'Pehchan', 1970
Bengal Film Journalists' Association Award for Best Male Playback Singer for 'Saraswatichandra', 1970
Filmfare Best Male Playback Award for 'Jai bolo beiman ki' for the film 'Beimaan', 1972
National Film Award for Best Male Playback Singer for 'Kain baar yoon bhi dekhaa hai' for the film 'Rajnigandha', 1974
Filmfare Best Male Playback Award for 'Kabhi kabhie mere dil mein' for the film 'Kabhi Kabhie', 1976
Timeline
1923: Born on July 22 in Ludhiana
1941: Recorded his first song for the Movie 'Nirdosh'
1946: Married Sarla Trivedi Raichand
1974: Honored with National Film Award for Best Male Playback Singer for 'Rajnigandha'
1976: Died of a heart attack on August 27 in Detroit, Michigan, USA
1976: Cremated on August 30 at Banganga Crematorium, South Bombay, India.