Mukesh

Mukesh Chand Mathur (July 22, 1923–August 27, 1976), popularly known as Mukesh and nicknamed The Man With the Golden Voice, was one of the finest male playback singers of Bollywood, along with Mohammed Rafi and Kishore Kumar.
Born Zoravar Chand Mathur in Delhi, he left school after the 10th standard and worked briefly for the Delhi Department of Public Works. Mukesh experimented with voice recordings during his employment in Delhi and gradually developed his singing abilities.
Mukesh's voice was noticed by Motilal (a popular actor in Hindi films, also a distant relative of Mukesh) when he sang at his sister's wedding. Motilal took him to Bombay, let him stay with him and even arranged for singing lessons for him. During this period, Mukesh 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). 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.
He is best known for the songs he sang as a playback singer for Raj Kapoor, a legendary actor/director of Bollywood in the 1950s and 1960s.
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 the movie Anari (1959), Ganga Ram Ki Samajh in Pehchaan (1970), Jai Bolo in Be Imaan (1972) and Kabhie Kabhie in the film of the same name (1976).
Mukesh died of a heart attack on August 27, 1976 in Detroit, Michigan, USA, where he had gone for a concert. His body was carried back to India with Lata Mangeshkar, where a grand funeral ceremony took place as many famous actors, personalities of the Indian film industry, and fans paid tribute to the late singer. When the news of his death reached Raj Kapoor, he remarked, "I have lost my voice," which is a testimony to the timeless and unforgettable association of Mukesh's voice (in playback) to the immensely popular songs of Raj Kapoor's films.
After Mukesh's death, his newer unreleased songs came out in 1977 with films like Dharam Veer, Amar Akbar Anthony, Khel Khilari Ka, Darinda, and Chandi Sona. The year 1978 also featured a good number of Mukesh songs , films like Aahuti, Paramatma, Tumhari Kasam, and Satyam Shivam Sundaram, where Mukesh sang his last film song "Chanchal Sheetal Nirmal Komal." From 1980 onward, Mukesh's voice was heard in many late films like Shaitan Mujarim, Premika, Patthar Se Takkar (1980), Sanjh Ki Bela, Maila Anchal (1981), Aarohi (1982), Chor Mandali (1983), Nirlaj (1985), Love and God (1986), Shubh Chintak (1989), and his last known release of Chand Grahan (1997).
Mukesh's son, Nitin Mukesh, was a fairly popular 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)
• Andaz (1949)
• Awaara (1951)
• Shree 420 (1955)
• Parvarish (Upbringing) (1958)
• Anari (Fool) (1959)
• Sangam (1964)
• Mera Naam Joker (1970)
• Dharam Karam (1975)
Memorable songs
• Tu Kahe Agar from Andaz (1949)
• Zinda Hoon Main Is Tarah from Aag (1948)
• Khayalon Mein Kisi Ke (with Geeta Dutt) from Bawre Nain (1950)
• Awaara Hoon from Awaara (1951)
• Mera Joota Hai Japaani from Shree 420 (1955)
• Yeh Meraa Deewanaapan Hai from Yahudi (1958)
• Kisee Ki Muskuraahaton Pe Ho Nisaar from Anari (1959)
• O Janewale Ho Sake To Laut Ke Aanaa from Bandini (1963)
• Dost Dost Naa Rahaa from Sangam (1964)
• Sawan Ka Mahina (with Lata Mangeshkar) from Milan (1967)
• Jaane Kahaan Gaye Wo Din from Mera Naam Joker (1970)
• Kahin Door Jab Din from Anand (1970) (music scored by Salil Chowdhury)
• Ek Din Bik Jaayega from Dharam Karam (1975)
• Main Pal Do Pal Kaa Shaayar Hoon and
• Kabhi Kabhie Mere Dil Me Khayaal Aataa Hai from Kabhi Kabhie (1976)
• CHhanchal sheetal nirmal komal from Satyam Shivan Sundaram(1978)
and Many more...
Awards
1. 1959 Filmfare Best Male Playback Award for "subkuchh seekha humne" song in the film Anari
2. 1970 Filmfare Best Male Playback Award for "sabse bada naadan" song in the film Pehchan
3. 1972 Filmfare Best Male Playback Award for "jai bolo beiman ki" song in the film Beimaan
4. 1976 Filmfare Best Male Playback Award for "kabhi khabhi mere dil mein" song in the film Kabhi Kabhie