Homage To Mukesh

By Khushwant Singh

among the many great sons of Delhi was Mukesh Chand Mathur (1923-76) known popularly by his first name, Mukesh. His first love was the stage. He acted in many plays before he took to singing. His inspiration was Kundan Lal Saigal. He rose to the top as a playback singer in Hindi films. Saigal who regarded himself as the baadshah of light classical vocal music recognised Mukesh as his heir-apparent. I rarely go to cinema; on the rare occasions I am obliged to do so, I usually slip out unnoticed during the interval. But listening to Hindi film songs was once my abiding passion. Most afternoons I used to have my little radio transistor beside me on my pillow and heard Aap ki fermaish through my fitful siesta. Usually I only caught the opening lines of the ghazal, but the lilt of the song and the melody lingered on in the memory for many years. It was Saigal, Talat Mahmood, Mohammed Rafi, Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bhosle, Vani Jairam — and, of course, Mukesh. To me these golden voices without bodies became just singing spirits because apart from a few brief meetings with Lata and Asha, I did not see them. I met Mukesh once when I happened to go to Chandigarh. He had been invited as the chief guest of the local Rotary Club: he was an ardent Rotarian. He was very smartly dressed in a suit and tie, rose bud in a buttonhole: very modest, shy and a man of few words. When he died in distant Canada while on a singing tour with Lata Mangeshkar, I heard her tearful tribute to her singing partner. Ever since my favourite film song has been Saawan Ka Maheena.Memories of Mukesh were revived 22 years after his death at a piano concert by Brian Silas on an evening entirely devoted to melodies sung by him, Woh Subah Kabhie to Aayegee, Aa Laut Kay Aajaa Merey Meet; Kabhi Kabhi Meyrey Dil Mein Khayal Aata Hai and O Jaany Vaaley Ho Sakey to Laut Key Aana.