Mukesh Chand Mathur, (July 22, 1923, Delhi, India - August 27, 1976), popularly known simply as Mukesh, and was reffered too as the man with the golden voice was a well-known Indian playback singer.

Mukesh's voice was noticed by Motilal (who was a distant relative of Mukesh) when he sang at his sister's wedding. Motilal took him to Bombay and let him stay with him and even arranged for singing lessons for him. During this period, he even managed to bag a role in a Hindi film, Nirdosh (Innocent) (1941). He got his break as a playback singer in 1945 with the film Pehli Nazar (First Look) (1945). The first song he sang for a Hindi film was Dil Jalta Hai to Jalne De (If the heart burns, let it burn) which was incidentally picturised on Motilal.

In 1974, Mukesh received a National Award for the song Kain baar yoon bhi dekhaa hai from Rajnigandha (1974), and Filmfare Awards for the songs Sab Kuch Seekha in movie Anari (1959), Sabse Bada Nadan in movie Pehchaan (1970), Jai Bolo in movie Be Imaan (1972) and Kabhi Kabhi in the movie with the same name (1976)

He died of a heart attack on August 27, 1976 in Detroit, Michigan, USA where he had gone for a concert. This was soon after he sang the evergreen song Ek Din Bik Jaayegaa whose lyrics say "One day you will be turned into ashes, all that will be left will be the words you spoke, leave a symbol of yourself by putting your songs on the lips of others before you die".

His son Nitin Mukesh was a quite big singer in the 1980s, and sings mostly devotional religious songs these days

Filmography

• Pehli Nazar (First Look) (1945)
• Mela (The Fair) (1948)
• Aag (Fire) (1948)
• Andaaz (1949)
• Awaara (1951)
• Shri 420 (1955)
• Parvarish (Upbringing) (1958)
• Anadi (Fool) (1959)
• Sangam (1964)
• Mera Naam Joker (1970)
• Dharam Karam (1975)

Memorable songs

• Tu Kahe Agar
• Zinda Hoon Main Is Tarah
• Mera Joota Hai Japaani from Aawaaraa (1951)
• Yeh Meraa Deewanaapan hai from Yahudi (1958)
• Kisee ki muskuraahaton pe ho nisaar from Andai (1959)
• O Jaane waale, ho sake to laut ke aanaa from Bandini (1963)
• Dost Dost Naa Rahaa from Sangam (1964)
• Jaane Kahaan Gaye wo din from Meraa Naam Joker (1970)
• Maine tere liye hi saat rang ke sapane chune from Aanand (1970)
• Ek Din Bik Jaayega from Dharam Karam (1975)
• Main Pal do pal kaa shaayar hoon
• Kabhie kabhie mere dil me khayaal aataa hai from Kabhie Kabhie (1976)

External links

• Biography at upperstall.com