Dr Md Shairul Mashreque :
Talat Mahmud was a playback siger per excellence. His voice is so sweet that gives us the feeling that song is coming from heaven. His was a voice full of sadness like a flute. In fact, he had a unique style of singing. He was called the king of gazal. Talat’s velvety vocal was a challenge to the music composers because he was used to performing songs that suit his heavenly voice.
He had amazing quality to fit
his voice with any great hero
of course in tragic mood.
The advent of rock-n-roll in the late 1960s even could not
sideline Talat. As long as he drew top box-office, the movie producers insisted on including his songs in their movies.
He was a crooner with a
beautiful rendition.
Talat Mamud was born in
Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, to Manzoor Mahmood in 24
February 1924. Amazingly
Versatile singer Mohammed Rafi was born in the same year. This is really a spiritual
connection between two
greatest singers of the
subcontinent. “Talat showed his musical leanings from a very young age and would enjoy
sitting through all-night music soirees listening patiently to some of the biggest names in classical Indian music then.”
Talat was a handsome man guy attracting the film producer and director, which prompted movie producers to try him as an actor. He appered in a host of Bollywood films (more than 10) with top heroines like Mala
Sinha, Nutun and Suraiya. Even then he stressed upon
vocal music as profession
making singing career in film songs. Talat hailed from a very respectable conservative Muslim family. That was a main
stumbling block to the development professional career as a singer. “Coming from a conservative Muslim background, singing was not encouraged. Talat had to choose between working in films and staying
at home. Despite his parental objection he opted for the
former, though his family accepted the fact only about a decade later when he gained respect in the industry.”
Although an extraordinary singer with golden voice he could not be consider prolific in terms of number of songs he sang. “Talat continued to record good songs, but less in number. His last soundtrack recording, in 1985, is the song Mere Shareek-e-Safar, a duet sung with Miss Hemlata, from the movie
Wali-e-Azam.
Talat sang about 800 assorted film songs in his long career. His songs are still popular among the music lovers as they were in the days these were released.
Talat who was the first Indian singer to go on foreign concert tours in 1956 to East Africa found eager fans awaiting his arrival in other foreign countries. Jam-packed audience in the United States, the UK, West Indies and other countries awaited his arrival enthusiastically. He performed in famous Royal Albert Hall in London, Madison Square Garden in the States and Jean Pierre Complex in the West Indies. He continued singing in the packed auditoriums until 1991 when he toured Holland.
People, who were close to Talat, describe his nature as a quiet one. He is often remarked as a decent man, and his velvety and silky voice also reflected that decency and sense of calmness. Music directors, who worked with him, claimed that while
listening to him, one would develop the feeling that Talat was a soft-hearted man. Dilip Kumar termed Talat as ‘a perfect gentleman.’ He was a fine gentleman who always had time and respect for his admirers.
Talat sang a number of hit songs. Some of his most memorable songs from Indian films are: Humse aaya na gaya – Dekh kabira Roya(1957) Jayen to jayen kahan – Taxi driver Taxi driver (1954) Tasveer banata hoon – Baradari (1955), Dil-E-Nadaan tujhe hua kya hai – Mirza Ghalib Duett with Suraiya, (1954) Itna na mujhse tu pyar badha – Chhay, duet with Lata Mangeshkar, (1961) Seene me sulagtein hain armaan,aakhon mein udasi chhayee hai – Taraana duet with Lata Mangeshkar (1951) Aansoo samajh ke kyon mujhe – Chaaya (1961) Aha rim jhim ke ye pyare pyare geet liye – Usne kaha tha duet with Lata Mangeshkar (1960) Sham-E-Gham ki qassam – Footpath (1953) Jalte hain jiske liye – Sujata (1959) Meri yaad me tum na – Madhosh (1951) Phir wohi sham wohi gam – Jahan Ara (1964) Aye mere dil kahin aur chal – Daag (1952).
Talat sang a good number of Bengali songs. His Bengali songs included among others: Bou katha kau, Tumi sundara nahi jodi, Tomare parinito bhulite, Ei rim jhim jhim varasa, Rupari pradip jele. Tomare legese rtoje bhalo. His performance in Bengali songs was astounding and mesmerising. No non-Bengali singers could ever perform Bengali song with scintillating notes like Talat Mahmud.
“Talat Mahmud was a singer with a lot of songs that are awesome. He was an accomplished singer of high genre. He was the great treasure India had in its possession. For his mastery in Urdu and Bengali rendering he will live in the hearts of billions.”
(Dr Md Shairul Mashreque is Professor of Department of Public Administration in Chittagong )
Talat Mahmud was a playback siger per excellence. His voice is so sweet that gives us the feeling that song is coming from heaven. His was a voice full of sadness like a flute. In fact, he had a unique style of singing. He was called the king of gazal. Talat’s velvety vocal was a challenge to the music composers because he was used to performing songs that suit his heavenly voice.
He had amazing quality to fit
his voice with any great hero
of course in tragic mood.
The advent of rock-n-roll in the late 1960s even could not
sideline Talat. As long as he drew top box-office, the movie producers insisted on including his songs in their movies.
He was a crooner with a
beautiful rendition.
Talat Mamud was born in
Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, to Manzoor Mahmood in 24
February 1924. Amazingly
Versatile singer Mohammed Rafi was born in the same year. This is really a spiritual
connection between two
greatest singers of the
subcontinent. “Talat showed his musical leanings from a very young age and would enjoy
sitting through all-night music soirees listening patiently to some of the biggest names in classical Indian music then.”
Talat was a handsome man guy attracting the film producer and director, which prompted movie producers to try him as an actor. He appered in a host of Bollywood films (more than 10) with top heroines like Mala
Sinha, Nutun and Suraiya. Even then he stressed upon
vocal music as profession
making singing career in film songs. Talat hailed from a very respectable conservative Muslim family. That was a main
stumbling block to the development professional career as a singer. “Coming from a conservative Muslim background, singing was not encouraged. Talat had to choose between working in films and staying
at home. Despite his parental objection he opted for the
former, though his family accepted the fact only about a decade later when he gained respect in the industry.”
Although an extraordinary singer with golden voice he could not be consider prolific in terms of number of songs he sang. “Talat continued to record good songs, but less in number. His last soundtrack recording, in 1985, is the song Mere Shareek-e-Safar, a duet sung with Miss Hemlata, from the movie
Wali-e-Azam.
Talat sang about 800 assorted film songs in his long career. His songs are still popular among the music lovers as they were in the days these were released.
Talat who was the first Indian singer to go on foreign concert tours in 1956 to East Africa found eager fans awaiting his arrival in other foreign countries. Jam-packed audience in the United States, the UK, West Indies and other countries awaited his arrival enthusiastically. He performed in famous Royal Albert Hall in London, Madison Square Garden in the States and Jean Pierre Complex in the West Indies. He continued singing in the packed auditoriums until 1991 when he toured Holland.
People, who were close to Talat, describe his nature as a quiet one. He is often remarked as a decent man, and his velvety and silky voice also reflected that decency and sense of calmness. Music directors, who worked with him, claimed that while
listening to him, one would develop the feeling that Talat was a soft-hearted man. Dilip Kumar termed Talat as ‘a perfect gentleman.’ He was a fine gentleman who always had time and respect for his admirers.
Talat sang a number of hit songs. Some of his most memorable songs from Indian films are: Humse aaya na gaya – Dekh kabira Roya(1957) Jayen to jayen kahan – Taxi driver Taxi driver (1954) Tasveer banata hoon – Baradari (1955), Dil-E-Nadaan tujhe hua kya hai – Mirza Ghalib Duett with Suraiya, (1954) Itna na mujhse tu pyar badha – Chhay, duet with Lata Mangeshkar, (1961) Seene me sulagtein hain armaan,aakhon mein udasi chhayee hai – Taraana duet with Lata Mangeshkar (1951) Aansoo samajh ke kyon mujhe – Chaaya (1961) Aha rim jhim ke ye pyare pyare geet liye – Usne kaha tha duet with Lata Mangeshkar (1960) Sham-E-Gham ki qassam – Footpath (1953) Jalte hain jiske liye – Sujata (1959) Meri yaad me tum na – Madhosh (1951) Phir wohi sham wohi gam – Jahan Ara (1964) Aye mere dil kahin aur chal – Daag (1952).
Talat sang a good number of Bengali songs. His Bengali songs included among others: Bou katha kau, Tumi sundara nahi jodi, Tomare parinito bhulite, Ei rim jhim jhim varasa, Rupari pradip jele. Tomare legese rtoje bhalo. His performance in Bengali songs was astounding and mesmerising. No non-Bengali singers could ever perform Bengali song with scintillating notes like Talat Mahmud.
“Talat Mahmud was a singer with a lot of songs that are awesome. He was an accomplished singer of high genre. He was the great treasure India had in its possession. For his mastery in Urdu and Bengali rendering he will live in the hearts of billions.”
(Dr Md Shairul Mashreque is Professor of Department of Public Administration in Chittagong )
