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Though he had sung for the film 'Nirdosh' in 1943, Mukesh got noticed only for his song 'Dil Jalta Hai' in the film 'Pehli Nazar' two years later. After hearing the latter song, K.L. Saigal remarked: 'now we have the prince of pathos in music with us'. In his 33-year long career in playback singing, Mukesh personified pain in life. In his ability to vocalise the disappointments and frustrations of life in a 'straight to the heart' manner, Mukesh was peerless.
With his hit 'Zinda Hoon Main Is Tarah' for Raj Kapoor in 'Aag', a legendary collaboration was born, that continued till Mukesh died an early death. In all RK films, it was Mukesh who was RK's singing voice. The most memorable of Mukesh's songs have all been sung for Raj Kapoor. From 'Chod Gaye Balam' to 'Jaane Kahan Gaye Woh Din' Mukesh helped RK build his tragi-comic Chaplin-like image.
Even as he produced all those hits in the fifties for RK, Mukesh made an unsuccessful bid to be an actor. This failure and his penchant for alcohol almost ruined his playback career in the fifties. It was a chastened Mukesh who sang 'Sab Kuch Seekha Hamne' in 'Anari', his real life experiences helping him get that sense of wry amusement right. The song fetched him the Filmfare award that year(1959) and was the start of his second phase as a singer.
No other singer could halt the Rafi wave in the 60s and Mukesh did not try. He continued to make his mark in songs that were typically his own: 'Saranga Teri Yaad Mein', 'Bhooli Hui Yaadon' and his songs for Manoj Kumar all became popular. Mukesh continued into the 70s with his own niche songs with trusted composers like Salil Chaudhury( Anand, Rajnigandha) and the upcoming Laxmikant-Pyarelal(Roti Kapda Aur Makan).
Such was his impact that though he often sang for B grade films, his songs outclassed the films. 'Oh Re Taal Mile Nadi Ke Jal Mein' is still a hit, though no one remembers the film 'Anokhi Raat'.
But the 70s were not his decade and Mukesh started doing concert tours abroad. It was in one such tours that a heart attack silenced the voice that had sung 'Jeena Yahan Marna Yahan'. 25 years after his death, his voice still captivates you when you hear the strains of 'Aansoo Bhari Hai'.
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