Delhi government urged to build memorial for Mukesh

New Delhi, April 19 (IANS) A group dedicated to promoting Mukesh's songs has urged the Delhi government to set up a memorial to the legendary Hindi playback singer as he hailed from the city.

It is a matter of regret that even 35 years after his death, Delhi 'has neither established any memorial in his name nor named a road after' him, the 'Jan Gayak Mukhesh Manch' said in a statement Tuesday.

In contrast, the Maharashtra government has installed a Mukesh brass bust at the crossing of Napean Sea Road and Warden Road, Amarjit Singh Kohli of the organisation said.

Rich tributes were paid to Mukesh at a musical function organized by 'Jan Gayak Mukesh Manch' here Sunday.

Kohli urged Delhi's Lt Governor Tejinder Khanna to build 'a befitting memorial' in Mukesh's memory either near Chakki Wala Makan in Old Delhi where he was born or near 24 Daryaganj where he and his family finally settled down.

Mukesh was born July 22, 1923 in Delhi and studied at the Municipal Boys Higher Secondary School on Mandir Marg. Thereafter, he worked for about seven months with the Central Power Works Department (CPWD) in New Delhi as assistant surveyor.

He shifted to Mumbai in October 1940 at the age of 17.

He made his debut in the film 'Nirdosh' in 1941, playing the hero against actress Nalini Jaywant in which he sang his first song, 'Dil bujha to fasle bahar kya', under the musical direction of Ashok Ghosh.

However, it was the song 'Dil jalta hai to jalne de' ('Pehli Nazar', 1945), composed by music maestro Anil Biswas, that made Mukesh popular as a playback singer.

In his 35 years of singing career, Mukesh sang about 1,100 songs.

Mukesh died in Detroit in the US Aug 27, 1976 where he had gone with Lata Mangeshkar for a musical programme.

His last recorded song was 'Chanchal sheetal nirmal komal' for Raj Kapur's film 'Satyam Shivam Sundram' -- which he finished recording only hours before his departure to the US.