A tribute to Mukesh on his 40^th death anniversary (22 July 1923 to 27 August 1976)

Mukesh debuted well into the vintage era with Dil hi bujha hua hai to in Nirdosh (1941). His first few years as actor-singer did not do him much good. He discovered his calling as a playback singer when his relation Motilal, then a leading actor in the industry, introduced him to Anil Biswas for singing in Pahli Nazar (1945). Dil jalta hai to jalne de created a sensation and made Mukesh, Mukesh. Thereafter, he was a very visible singer until another boost came when he became part of the legendary team of Raj Kapoor with Shankar-Jaikishan, Hasrat Jaipuri and Shailendra with Barsaat (1949). Thus, a long stint pre-1949 gave him an opportunity to sing with most of the famous vintage era female playback singers.

One associates Mukesh’s duets primarily with Lata Mangeshkar. But there was no Lata Mangehkar before Lata Mangeshkar. Before she stormed as a tidal wave in 1949, female playback singing was a rainbow of many colours and shades, with each singer having her unique voice, tonal quality and singing style, ranging from a melodious Suraiya to a full-throated Shamshad Begum. There were courtesan style singers like Zohrabai Ambalewali and Kursheed. Rajkumari and Amirbai Karnataki were somewhere in between in style, but were leading singers of their time. Mukesh paired with all of them, and also with some less-known singers, creating amazing variety of songs. (Note: I couldn’t find his any duet with Amirbai Karnataki. Mahesh also asked once whether they have any song together. Probably, there is none.)

His vintage duets have always fascinated me, because they represented in a way contrasts – he of the mellowed, soft voice at middle range, they of the full voice and exuberant style at high notes. Their negotiation created a magic.

Here is my tribute to Mukesh with his duets with vintage era singers as my tribute to him on his 40^th death anniversary.

1. Badra ki chhaon tale nanhi nanhi bundiya (with Suraiya) from Lekh (1949), lyrics Raghupat Roy, music Krishna Dayal

The sweet and mellifluous Suraiya combines beautifully to create this superb romantic duet. Another well-known Mukesh-Suraiya duet is Layi khushi ki duniya from Vidya (1948), which has been discussed earlier on SoY in the series on SD Burman.

2. Ek teer chalanewale ne (with Sitara Kanpuri) from Pugree (1948), lyrics Shakeel Badayuni, music Ghulam Mohammad

Sitara Kanpuri is different from the legendary Kathak dancer-cum-actor-singer, Sitara Devi, who had sung more than 150 songs. Sitara Kanpuri on the other had is virtually unknown and had a limited career span as a singer. The other film in which she had worthwhile songs was Man Ki Jeet (1944). Kamini Kaushal was the top heroine of the period. A lovely romantic duet picturised on her and Wasti.

3. Ja parwane ja (with Hamida Bano) from Rajputani (1946), lyrics Pandit Indra, music Bulo C Rani

Born in Lahore in 1928, Hamida Bano came to Bombay with her family in 1942-43. Her brother who was working in a theatre gave her training in Music and encouraged her to sing in films. With Bhagwan Dada’s recommendation she got a break with C Ramchandra who gave her songs in about five films. But Naushad’s Sanjog (1943) was released earlier in which she had a very good duet with Shyam, Kaun gali ka chhora pukaare. This song has already figured on SoY in Naushad’s gems before Rattan (1944). The courtesan-style voice of Hamida Bano creates an interesting contrast with the sweet, melodious voice of Mukesh.

4. Badariya baras gayi us paar (with Khursheed and Hameeda Bano) from Moorti (1945), lyrics Pandit Indra, music Bulo C Rani

If you thought Hamida Bano was a contrast to Mukesh, no singer could have been more different in singing style than Khursheed. Now she joins in to make an interesting triad. The combination of Pandit Indra and Bulo C Rani remain the same. They had created this absolutely charming duet (triad) song a year earlier. Listen carefully how Khursheed pronounces ‘badariya’ in courtesan style, with Mukesh showing a very distinct imprint of Saigal.

5. Tera kisi se pyar tha tu wo zamana bhool ja (with Surinder Kaur) from Dada (1949), lyrics DN Madhok, music Shaukat Dehalvi (Nashad)

Surinder Kaur’s natural singing is in higher notes, Mukesh remains at his natural low and middle range, except occasionally moving to higher notes. This contrast is the main charm of Mukesh’s duets with the vintage singers. Surinder Kaur was a famous figure in Punjabi films and folk music. Her debut as playback singer in Hindi films had happened only a year earlier which also turned out to be the best year for her for her famous songs in Pyar Ki Jeet, Shaheed, Naav and Nadiya Ke Paar. We have seen in the review of the best songs of 1949, currently underway, that she also figues prominently in the songs of Sunehere Din. In her short-lived career of a few years in Hindi films she sang over 50 songs. Her pairing with Mukesh produced some memorable songs. Tera kisi se pyar tha is my great favourite.

6. Ayi sawan ritu ayi magan mora dole hai man (with Shamshad Begum) from Mela (1948), lyrics Shakeel Badayuni, music Naushad

There was some special tuning between Mukesh and Shamshad Begum; you can have an independent post on their duets. In 1950 you had Humse nain milana BA pass kar ke (Aankhen, Madan Mohan). In 1949, currently being reviewed in detail, we have Maine dekhi jag ki reet (Sunehere Din, Gyan Dutt). The year 1948 had a cornucopia of their duets – they were the lead singers in Mela; Anokhi Ada had two absolutely mesmerizing songs – Bhool gaye kyun de ke sahara and Kabhi dil dil se takrata to hoga; and there was another charming song which was less known – Tere naaz uthane ko jee chahta hai (Grihasthi, 1948). I would have preferred to post the last song, but all the available links on YT are of poor audio quality. Therefore, let me post a familiar song – a very delightful duet from an otherwise depressing movie.  You see joy on the faces of women, singing while harvesting and threshing.   This is only nominally a duet, because Mukesh comes in briefly. But his contrast, Naushad’s orchestration, and using the chorus as the interlude make it a memorable song.

7. Raja mohe le chal tu Dilli ki sair ko (with Geeta Roy) from Toote Tare (1948), lyrics (?), music Nashad

The best known duet with Geeta Roy/Dutt is, of course, Khayalon mein kisi ke is tarah aya nahi karte from Bawre Nain (1950), which figured prominently in my wrap up of the best duets of 1950. This folk-style conversational duet is a very joyful and lighthearted song.

8. Is patange ki haqeqat..Rooge pachhtaaoge (with Rajkumari) from Thes (1949), lyrics Kidar Sharma, music Snehal Bhatkar

I have listed another Mukesh-Rajkumari duet from this film – Bolo bolo sajan – in the review of 1949 songs. But Snehal Bhatkar always infused his compositions with incredible sweetness. Therefore, I was curious to explore this duet from the film, and I was not disappointed. The best Mukesh-Rajkumari duet is again from Bawre Nain –Mujhe sach sach bata – composed by the highly talented Roshan only in his second film.

9. Lagat nazara tori chhalaiya more tohre badan se (with Sushilarani Patel) from Gwalan (1946), music Hansraj Bahal

Sushilarani Patel was the wife of Baburao Patel, the legendary editor of filminida. He was famous more for his vitriolic pen than for bringing out the first film magazine in the history of film journalism. The film was produced by him, and the issues of that period would make someone think Sushilarani Patel was about the most beautiful woman, and one of the best actor-singers of the era. In Kumar Prasad Mukherji’s The Lost World of Hindustani Music, there is mention of her having received training (among “also-rans”) from the great Ustad Alladiya Khan, the founder of Jaipur Gharana. But this is what I call vintage style of female singing. A thoroughly enjoyable song.

10. Tum hum pe hanso na piya by Mukesh and Lalita Deulkar from Mera Munna (1948), lyrics Qamar Jalalabadi, music C Ramchandra

From the radio era, Lalita Deulkar was a familiar name to me because of her songs like Bachpan ki yaad dheere dheere and two great duets with Rafi – More raja ho le chal nadiya ke paar and Humko tumhara hi aasra. Even before the Lata tsunami swept everyone, she chose domesticity after marriage with Sudhir Phadke in 1949, choosing to sing only under his baton. This duet is obviously unknown, but quite enjoyable.

11. Pardesi dhola kahe jagaye aadhi raat re (with Mohntara Talpade) from Prabhu Ka Ghar (1945), lyrics Pandit Indra, music Bulo C Rani

Bulo C Rani is mainly famous for his Meera bhajans for Dilip Kumar-Nargis starrer Jogan (1950). A complete contrast is the iconic qawwali Humein to loot liya mil ke husnwalon ne. In between, he gave some of the best film songs for CH Atma in Bilwamangal. And who can forget Mukesh-Lata duet Arman bhara dil toot gaya from Wafa (1950)? Bulo C Rani has the third aspect of a vintage era composer in the prevalent style of that period. A true genius spanning over two eras.

12. Laga pahli nazar ka teer (with Naseem Akhtar) from Pahli Nazar (1945), lyrics Safdar ‘Aah’, music Anil Biswas

Pahli Nazar was the film in which Anil Biswas-composed Dil jalta hai to jalne de launched Mukesh’s career in a separate orbit of his own. He soon got over his Saigal-hangover. This song gave him an early lead over the great playback singers of the Golden Era until he was overtaken by the enormous range of Rafi. Mukesh, however, retained his niche as the soulful singer with a natural pathos and sweetness in his voice.

13. Manwa mein pyar dole sara sansar dole (with Zohrabai Ambalewali) from Sartaj (1950), lyrics Majrooh Sultanpuri, music Husnlal-Bhagatram

I am making a slight compromise here from my own cut-off year (1949) for vintage. But Zohrabai is as vintage as they come, being the extreme opposite of Lata-style of singing. Therefore, her contrast with Mukesh, too, could not have been sharper. Yet they jell so beautifully to create an eternal duet. Kudos to the music director Husnlal-Bhagatram, the first duo of Hindi film music, and mentors of SJ, for this wonderful song. It figured at #5 of the best duets in the Wrap Up 4 of the best songs of 1950.

Acknowledgement:
For #7, 9, 10, 11 and 12 I have to thank Atul Song A Day, where I came across these songs for the first time, courtesy Sudhir Kapur’s great work in searching and posting early songs of Mukesh.