2016-07-22 Fri

Mintage World is remembering most legendary playback singers of India, Mukesh, on his 93rd birthday. Mukesh Chand Mathur – better known as Mukesh – was the singing sensation of Indian Playback Singing.

Born in a simple family of Delhi, Mukesh as a child was way too away from music. Being the sixth son in a family of 10 children Mukesh did not have the advantage of receive proper education in music. He learnt to sing by listening to the singing master of his elder sister from an adjacent room.

His voice was heard by his uncle Motilal, when mukesh sang at his sister’s wedding. Recognising this hidden talent, he took Mukesh to Mumbai where he was arranged to receive singing lessons by Pandit Jagannath Prasad. Mumbai turned out to be a lucky charm for Mukesh. Mukesh was offered a role as an actor-singer in a Hindi film, “Nirdosh” and sang his first song “Dil Hi Bujha Hua Ho To” in the same movie.

This was the beginning of the magic that spread over the entire country for the next few decades. Mukesh created his own singing style and became the ghost voice of Dilip Kumar and later of Raj Kapoor.

For the next 40 years Mukesh received at least 5 national awards and was nominated for many. He was also commemorated thrice by Bengal Film Journalists' Association Awards. India post issued commemorative INR 5. Rs stamp of Mukesh in the year 2003. This stamp features a smiling portrait of the singer.