[QUOTE]Originally posted by DaFreak:
Mukesh was born on July 22, 1923 in a conservative, middle –class kaisth family in Delhi, India.
The two year period (1941-42) happened to be decisive in his life.
Eighteen year old Mukesh was doing his matriculation and his sister was being wedded.
In his sister's wedding ceremony, young Mukesh had sung a renowned song of those times, which had been originally recorded in Saigal's voice.
The story goes that couple of big wigs of the Indian film industry were amongst the invitees and they were sitting with the audience.
Those two movie-makers were so touched by this budding singer that the very next day they knocked the door of Mukesh and made an unsuccessful attempt to convince his father that Mukesh is a highly talented youth and that he could make a great name in the film world.
The father was a very reserved person and the only name he had ever heard about the filmdom was that of Saigal, so he replied that after my son passes his matriculation, I will find him a clerical job and that will be it.
The film- makers were disappointed by the answer, but came again and insisted that the father should allow his son to try his luck.
Eventually, Mukesh was granted permission by his father and he was offered a role in film "Nirdosh" which proved to be a flop and Mukesh was out on the street looking for a job.
For three years, he tried different things.
He worked as a stockbroker, then he became a dry fruit seller.
Then in 1945, he recorded a song in late Mazhar Khan's movie "Pehli Nazar": "Dil jalta hai" which was an instant hit.
"His master's voice" cashed in on this song, because the public purchased the gramophone records, thinking that Saigal was the singer.
Hence, for nearly two years, Saigal's name was stamped on Mukesh's voice.
The second song which Mukesh had rendered was a duet with Hamida Banu: "Ja perwanay ja, kaheen shama jal rahi hai" (Rajputani)
In those days,Mukesh was receiving training in Ranjeet studio and one day "Papa jee" (Prithvi Raj) accompanied with his son,Raj Kapoor, met the decision makersat Ranjeet and requested that since Raj is interested in movie business, so he should obtain the know-how and that Raj should begin his career as a "Quli"(porter).
At that time, the assistant director had to work as hard as a porter, hence the name.
As an assistant director, Raj also did the role of an actor in Sharma jee's film "Neel kanwal".
Thus Mukesh and Raj became very close friends and Raj depended so much on his friend that he never took any decision without consulting Mukesh.
One day, Raj took Mukesh to a far off place in his old ford car and told him that he intends to make a movie "Aag".
Mukesh was all praise for the script in general and Raj's enthusiasm in particular.
However, "Aag" was a failure according to the high standards of the golden era of the Indian movies.
Those were real testing times for both of them.
Moreover, people around them were making fun of "Aag".So much so that one film distributor said: "Mr. Raj, since you have made "Aag", so you should better make a theatre of your own, so that your theatre should burn and not ours."
However, "Aag's" failure was a blessing in disguise, according to Mukesh: "Aag" failed but Raj passed.
What happened was that an entrepreneur of high repute, Mr. V.Puri came forward and convinced Raj to gather an excellent team of dedicated and skilled personnel.
Thus, Raj selected luminaries like Alauddin, Khwaja Ahmed Abbas, Ramanand Sagar, Shankar Jaikishan,Shailendra, Hasrat Jaipuri, Lata Mangeshkar and Mukesh, which resulted in numerous super hits like "Barsaat", "Awara", "Shri 420", "Sangam" "Mera naam jokar", "Jis desh mein ganga behti hai," "Boot polish", "Anari", "Aah", etc.
During his thirty five year association with singing, Mukesh had recorded 15,000 songs.
Perhaps, there is only one song which was composed by Mukesh: "Koi dil mein hai" (Anoorak).
Likewise, there is only one song which was picturized on Mukesh: "Choti see ye zindagani re"(Aah).
Apart from being a great singer, Mukesh was also a very great human being.
He was an embodiment of humility, sincerity and simplicity, who never compromised his values.
He had cast an incredibly long shadow.
In all his interviews and public appearances, he had applauded the accomplishments of his colleagues, and had always maintained that all the hit movies and songs had been possible because of the hard work of his co-workers.
He never took credit for the success of movies.
That was, indeed, the zenith of humanity.
Further, Mukesh never had an attitude in his life.
On the contrary, he always prayed for the well-being of even those folks who had hurt his feelings: "Sada khush rahay tu, jafa karnay walay, dua kar rahay hain, dua karnay walay."
Mukesh had experienced a brief period of bad times in 1959 and he had to sing a jingle for a cigarette company for survival.
Interestingly enough, in the same year, i.e., 1959, Mukesh also won the film award for the best singer: "Such hai duniya walo ke hum hain anari"(Anari).
"Awara hoon"(Awara) took his fame to Russia.
Besides, a circus team from Russia had also played a key role in "Mera naam jokar".
Basically, Mukesh was an extremely cool-minded person, he usually spoke simple words, used to wear plain clothes.
When the interviewers insisted upon the vital role of his songs in the movies this is what he had to say to them: "Well, I am indebted to the film makers who have chosen me as a singer"
The following lyrics will always remind us of Mukesh:
"Na hati hai, na ghora hai, wahan paidal he jana hai"
"Jo chala gaya,usay bhool ja"
"Hum chore chalay hain mehfil ko"
"Chup gaye ho, tau mujhe yaad bhi Aaya na karo"
"Rothi huwe taqdeer ko ab kaisay mana oon, toota huwa sitar hai ab kaisay baja oon"
"Apni qismat he kutch aisee thi keh dil toot gaya"
"Tu nay dekha na hoga ye sama,Kaisay jata hai dum tau dekh lay"
"Marnay ki khabar aye jaan-e-jigar,mil ja ye kabhi tau muth rona"
"Hamay zindagi say bohut pyar tha:Alwida,alwida, alwida"
Moreover, is it ever going to be possible for us to forget Mukesh's super hits like:
"Ruk ja o janay wali ruk ja"(Kanhaiya)
"Aa laut kay A ja meray meeth"(Rani roop mati)
"Bhooli huwe yado"(Sunjoak)
"Mujh ko is raat ki"(Dil bhi tera, hum bhi teray)
"wo teray pyar ka gham"(My love)
"Sub pyar ki baatain kartay hain"(Matlabi duniya)
"Hum nay apna sub kutch khoya"(Sarasvati chandar)
"Chandan sa badan"(Sarasvati chandar)
His two sons: Nitin and Manhar took keen interest in music and recorded a few songs, while his youngest son, Maheesh, showed no inclination towards singing.
It might never had occurred to Mukesh that his voice will leave so much pathos in its wake that it will fill our eyes with tears whenever we will listen to "Jitna jee chahay pukaro, phir nahi Aa ain gay hum"(Yahudi)
It seems that God did heard his prayer and called him back: "Teri duniya mein dil lagta nahi,wapas bula lay"(Banwaray nein)
Prominent interviewer, Raza Ali Abidi,(BBC's urdu transmission) had questioned Mukesh about his favorite song and Mukesh had sung these lyrics: "Koi jab tumhara hriday taur dey".
In another interview to Ameen Sayani, (Radio Sri lanka),Mukesh had said that "Mera naam jokar"and "Dosth, dosth na raha" (Sangam) had become his real life story: First, Shailendra died, then Shankar Jaikishan and then Mukesh, too.
"Mukesh went up to receive shanti for which he himself had said: "Dharti ko Aakash pukaray"(Mela)
Today, millions of his fans find solace in his voice
Mukesh Chand Mathur: A great name, a grand era and an integral part of the golden age of the Indian music died of an heart attack on August 27, (Friday evening) 1976, at the age of 53 in Detroit, U.S.A.: "Jhoomti chali hawa, yaad Aa gaya koi, bujhti, bujhti Aag ko phir jala gaya koi"
Mukesh had said: "My message is love, as far as it could reach."