Mukesh is one of the most iconic playback singers in Indian history, winning four Filmfare Awards throughout his 35-year career. He was born as "Mukesh Chand Mathur" in Delhi, Indian, on July 22, 1923. Mentored by the actor Motilal, he launched his film career while still a teenager, making his debut appearance in the Hindi movie Nirdosh in 1941 and starring in another film, Adab Arz, in 1943. He began working as a playback singer later that decade, beginning with the song "Dil Jalta Hai To Jalne De" in the 1945 film Pehli Nazar. Initially modeling his singing style after K. L. Saigal, Mukesh developed his own approach as his career continued and began hitting his stride in the late 1940s, when he teamed up with Indian composer Naushad to perform hit songs in movies like Anokhi Ada (1948), Mela (1948), and Andaz (1949). He won his first Filmfare Award in 1959 for the song "Sab Kuch Seekha Humne," which appeared in the film Anari. Additional Filmfare Awards followed for 1970's "Sabse Bada Naadan" (from Pehchan), 1972's "Jai Bolo Beimaan Ki" (from Be-Imaan), and "Kabhi Kabhie Mere Dil Mein" (from Kabhi Kabhie). Mukesh also won the National Film Award for Best Male Playback Singer in 1974 for Rajnigandha's "Kai Baar Yuhi Dekha Hai." While touring America on August 27, 1976, he suffered a heart attack and passed away at 53 years old. Two years later, the final song Mukesh recorded was featured in the 1978 film Satyam Shivam Sundaram, and songs like "Kahin Karti Hogi" continued to chart multiple decades after his death.
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