Legendary singer Mukesh was forced to sell dry fruits! Remembering 'Rooh of Raj Kapoor' on his birth anniversary

Legendary playback singer Mukesh is regarded as one of the best singers in India. Despite not being trained in classical music, Mukesh reached to a height that other singers could only dream of. On his birth anniversary, remembering the legendary singer, here we bring some interesting incidents related to his life and journey as a singer.

Initial Days of Mukesh

Like every other singer, Mukesh started his career by emulating KL Saigal. He had carved an identity for his nasal twang and sonorous singing. His soulful voice deeply resonated with the audience and he went on to become one of the greatest singers of the country. His ability to convey raw emotion and vulnerability turned his songs timeless. His unique talent for expressing pain struck a chord with listeners across generations. Though he could have tried to become a second Saigal, with the emotional depth of his voice, he carved his own identity by connecting with the audience at a personal level.

Early Life

Mukesh Chandra Mathur, simply known as Mukesh, was born on July 22, 1923 in Delhi. At the age of seventeen, Mukesh dreamed of becoming an actor in Hindi films. However, his life took an interesting turn after actor Mohitlal heard him singing at his sister's wedding party. Mohitlal paved the way for a journey far away from his family's expectations. Mukesh father, a businessman, envisioned a 'respectable' path for his son, a stable clerical job. The glamorous world of cinema was deemed unfit for a child from a good family. 

Here we bring an interesting Anecdote about KL Saigal and Mukesh...

When KL Saigal for the first time heard 'Dil Jalta Hai Roh Jalne Do,' he was confused. Saigal tried to recall when he recorded the song. Well, it was Mukesh who recorded the song and left Saigal confused. Mukesh rose to instant fame with this song.

Tasting Failure with Debut

In the 40s, the singer-actor combination in Bollywood was a norm. Capitalising on Mukesh's good looks, Motilal offered him a role in Nirdosh in 1941. He was paired with Nalini Jawant. However, the movie failed to connect with the audience. Even his debut song 'Dil Hi Ho Bujha Hua Toh' had a similar fate. Mukesh became jobless after the production house closed its doors. 

During an interview with BBC Hindi, Mukesh said, "After this, I became a share broker, a dry-fruit seller and did one thing after another as playback singing as a profession did not exist until 1942 when Debaki Bose began singing in Calcutta.”

Also Read | Actor having a link with Shah Rukh Khan worked at a tea stall for Rs 100 per day, went on to win an Oscar nomination

Mukesh's son, Notin Mukesh in an interview revealed that his father also tried his luck in film distribution, but that even didn't work. Soon he realised that instead of becoming a second-class actor, it would be better to become a first-class singer after which he focused on music.

Though he had no classical training or voice like Mohammad Rafi, Kishore Kumar or Manna Dey, he could connect with the hearts of the audience with the way he expressed pain through his songs. 'Dil Jalta Hai Toh Jalne Do' became an instant sensation.

Talking to BBC, Mukesh said that if he got 10 light songs and one sad song, he would leave the 10 songs for one sad song. 

It was composer Naushad who encouraged him to embrace his unique voice rather than imitating KL Saigal. Mukesh developed a distinctive style. His nuanced expressions were free from any excessive ornamentation and were both captivating and profound. 

Mukesh became the Voice of Raj Kapoor and his Soul

While Mukesh sang for Dilip Kumar and Manoj Kumar, he became popular as Raj Kapoor's voice. The collaboration of Raj Kapoor and Mukesh was a cinematic alchemy that defined an era. 

Impressed with Mukesh's rendition of 'Zinda Hoon is Tarah,' Raj Kapoor said, "Aab tum sirf mere liye gaoge (Henceforth, you will only sing for me)."

Mukesh's voice perfectly suited Kapoor's onscreen persona and the Bollywood Showman declared, "Mukesh meri rooh hai." 

While talking to a reporter, Kapoor once said, "I loved Mukesh not only because he was my ‘soul,’ but also because he was the shoulder I leaned on. Mukeshchand was the most affable person I knew, never speaking ill of anyone. He was patient, a great listener, and universally well-liked.”

At the age of 53 Mukesh passed away during his USA tour with Lata Mangeshkar in 1976. Undoubtedly, his untimely demise was a profound loss to the music world.

Also Read | Real-life Krrish! Boy performs dance on road to collect funds for pregnant beggar, watch