Mukesh Birth Centenary: Manoj Kumar reminisces, “Songs sung by him could not be sung by any other singer”

By Subhash K. Jha -

July 22, 2023 - 2:44 PM IST

Mukesh was a singer who never failed his songs. No matter what he sang, he was always a winner with his fans. The Mukesh bhakts loved to hear him sing about the broken heart. Truly, who could equal the plaintive and poignant ‘Sajanwa Bairi Ho Gaye Hamaar’ (Teesri Kasam), ‘Jaane Kahan Gaye Woh Din’ (Mera Naam Joker), ‘Chandi Ki Deewar Na Todi’ (Vishwas) and ‘Humne Apna Sab Kuch Khoya’ (Saraswatichandra)?

Mukesh Birth Centenary: Manoj Kumar reminisces, “Songs sung by him could not be sung by any other singer”

My favourite song of heartbreak by Mukesh is ‘Tum Bin Jeevan Kaise Beeta’ from the film Anita composed by Laxmikant-Pyarelal. Each word of the melody leaves an everlasting imprint on the heart. The song was filmed on Manoj Kumar whose preferred ghost voices were Mahendra Kapoor and Mukesh.

Recalling his long and enormously fruitful association with Mukesh, Manoj Kumar said, “Most of my sad songs were sung by Mukesh. No one could match him in the tragic songs. My own favourite is ‘Koi Jab Tumhara Hriday Tod De’ from Purab Aur Paschim. ‘Ek Pyar Ka Nagma Hai’ from my film Shor is Mukesh’s signature tune. One thing about Mukesh: his songs were his only. The songs sung my Mukesh could not be sung by any other singer. The songs that were composed for Mukesh were meant only for him.”

Manoj Kumar agrees that Mukesh was unfairly ‘mikecast’ in songs of heartbreak. “He sang some really mischievous songs for me in Sanyasi and Dus Numbri. Those were big hits too. But somehow he is remembered more by the sad songs,” he said.

Mukesh was Raj Kapoor’s permanent ghost voice. When Mukesh died suddenly, Raj Kapoor burst into tears and exclaimed, “I’ve lost my voice.” No Raj Kapoor film was possible without Mukesh’s singing.

Mukesh first sang for Raj Kapoor in Neel Kamal and there was no looking back. When RK turned director with Aag in 1948 Mukesh sang the heart-wrenching ‘Zinda Hoon Iss Tarah’.

Before his sudden death Mukesh sang one of his last songs for Raj Kapoor’s Satyam Shivam Sundaram. He was also supposed to sing ‘Woh Aurat Hai Tu Mehbooba’ for the same film. But with his demise the song was inherited by his son Nitin Mukesh.

Manoj Kumar planned to record the immortal love duet ‘Zindagi Ki Na Toote Ladi’ in Kranti with Mukesh and Lata ji. With Mukesh’s sudden demise, his son Nitin stepped into the song. Imagine what this monumental melody would have meant in Mukesh’s voice!

The last song that Mukesh sang was for a film titled Chand Grahan. ‘Tujhko Yun Dekha Hai’ composed by the great Jaidev, a composer for whom Mukesh sang very few songs.

And then he was gone. We can only summon the voice back with one of its most cherished songs: ‘Oh Jaane Wale Ho Sake Toh Laut Ke Aana’.

Also Read: Mukesh’s 100th birth anniversary: 10 rare facts about the voice of Raj Kapoor and Manoj Kumar