Talat Mahmood
Encyclopedia
Talat Mahmood (February 24, 1924 – May 9, 1998) was a popular India
n playback singer and film actor. A recipient of the Padma Bhushan
in 1992, he was famous for singing ghazal
s. For this quality he was known as the King of ghazals.
, Uttar Pradesh
, to Manzoor Mahmood. 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.
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.
s of Daag, Mir, Jigar etc. on All India Radio
, Lucknow. His voice had a quality distinct from all the other singers. HMV
was quick to notice this and offered Talat his first disc in 1941 Sab din ek samaan nahin tha, Bun jaoon ga kya se kya main, Iska to kuch dhyan nahin tha.
His reputation as a ghazal singer was not limited to his hometown of Lucknow, but it reached the city that proved to shape his destiny - Calcutta. The then famous ghazal singers were Ustad Barkat Ali Khan, K.L. Saigal and M.A. Rauf. The classical songs he sang were " Sapnon Ki Suhaani Duniyaa Ko " for film Shikast and " Laage Tose Naina " for Chaandi Ki Deewar.
In 1944 came the hit Tasveer teri dil mera behela nah sake gi. Its popularity was so phenomenal and unrivalled that even today it remains one of the top selling non-film discs. This disc brought Talat the fame throughout India and soon he was beckoned by the Calcutta film industry. Talat made cameo appearances and starred in about 16 movies, for both the Calcutta (film hub of the 1940s) and Bombay Film Industry. The three movies in which he starred were regional hits in Calcutta. Initially, in Calcutta, he recorded a lot of Bangla songs under the assumed name "Tapankumar". Several of his Bangla numbers were super hits in Bengal and still aired on All India Radio old song reminisces.
In 1949 Talat moved to Bombay, to sing for the Bombay film industry. His name and fame had already preceded him and soon he was flooded with offers. His big break came with the song Ae dil mujhe aisi jagha le chal jahan koi na ho composed by music director Anil Biswas
for the soundtrack of the movie Arzoo
. The song proved to be extremely popular.
, Mala Sinha
, Suraiya
and others. Later he decided to give up acting to concentrate on singing.
Talat acted in the following Hindi films http://www.talatmahmood.net/page3.htm:
The advent of rock-n-roll in the late 1960s sidelined singers like Talat. As long as he was top box-office draw, the movie producers insisted on including his songs in their movies. Talat's velvety vocals posed a special challenge to the music-composers, most of whom leaned towards the deep baritones of Mohammad Rafi and Mukesh. The resultant demise of his movie career led to the decline of his singing career. At the same time, the social changes and happiness brought about by increasing prosperity in India meant that blue mood ghazals and heart-rending ballads were not popular any more. 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" composed by Chitragupt
and written by Ahmed Wasi
.
However, 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. Talat sang about 800 songs in his long career. His songs are still popular among the music lovers as they were in the days these were released.
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n playback singer and film actor. A recipient of the Padma Bhushan
Padma Bhushan
The Padma Bhushan is the third highest civilian award in the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna and the Padma Vibhushan, but comes before the Padma Shri. It is awarded by the Government of India.-History:...
in 1992, he was famous for singing ghazal
Ghazal
The ghazal is a poetic form consisting of rhyming couplets and a refrain, with each line sharing the same meter. A ghazal may be understood as a poetic expression of both the pain of loss or separation and the beauty of love in spite of that pain. The form is ancient, originating in 6th century...
s. For this quality he was known as the King of ghazals.
Early life
Talat Mahmood was born in LucknowLucknow
Lucknow is the capital city of Uttar Pradesh in India. Lucknow is the administrative headquarters of Lucknow District and Lucknow Division....
, Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh abbreviation U.P. , is a state located in the northern part of India. With a population of over 200 million people, it is India's most populous state, as well as the world's most populous sub-national entity...
, to Manzoor Mahmood. 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.
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.
Singing career
Talat apprenticed classical music under Pandit S.C.R. Bhat at Morris Music College some time in the 30s. He started his career purely as a ghazal singer in 1939. Talat Mahmood began his singing career at the age of 16 in 1939 when he began singing the GhazalGhazal
The ghazal is a poetic form consisting of rhyming couplets and a refrain, with each line sharing the same meter. A ghazal may be understood as a poetic expression of both the pain of loss or separation and the beauty of love in spite of that pain. The form is ancient, originating in 6th century...
s of Daag, Mir, Jigar etc. on All India Radio
All India Radio
All India Radio , officially known since 1956 as Akashvani , is the radio broadcaster of India and a division of Prasar Bharati. Established in 1936, it is the sister service of Prasar Bharati's Doordarshan, the national television broadcaster. All India Radio is one of the largest radio networks...
, Lucknow. His voice had a quality distinct from all the other singers. HMV
HMV
His Master's Voice is a trademark in the music business, and for many years was the name of a large record label. The name was coined in 1899 as the title of a painting of the dog Nipper listening to a wind-up gramophone...
was quick to notice this and offered Talat his first disc in 1941 Sab din ek samaan nahin tha, Bun jaoon ga kya se kya main, Iska to kuch dhyan nahin tha.
His reputation as a ghazal singer was not limited to his hometown of Lucknow, but it reached the city that proved to shape his destiny - Calcutta. The then famous ghazal singers were Ustad Barkat Ali Khan, K.L. Saigal and M.A. Rauf. The classical songs he sang were " Sapnon Ki Suhaani Duniyaa Ko " for film Shikast and " Laage Tose Naina " for Chaandi Ki Deewar.
In 1944 came the hit Tasveer teri dil mera behela nah sake gi. Its popularity was so phenomenal and unrivalled that even today it remains one of the top selling non-film discs. This disc brought Talat the fame throughout India and soon he was beckoned by the Calcutta film industry. Talat made cameo appearances and starred in about 16 movies, for both the Calcutta (film hub of the 1940s) and Bombay Film Industry. The three movies in which he starred were regional hits in Calcutta. Initially, in Calcutta, he recorded a lot of Bangla songs under the assumed name "Tapankumar". Several of his Bangla numbers were super hits in Bengal and still aired on All India Radio old song reminisces.
In 1949 Talat moved to Bombay, to sing for the Bombay film industry. His name and fame had already preceded him and soon he was flooded with offers. His big break came with the song Ae dil mujhe aisi jagha le chal jahan koi na ho composed by music director Anil Biswas
Anil Biswas (composer)
Anil Biswas was a famous Indian film music composer from 1935 to 1965, who apart from being one of pioneers of playback singing, is also credited for the first Indian orchestra of twelve pieces and introducing orchestral music and full-blooded choral effects, into Indian cinema...
for the soundtrack of the movie Arzoo
Arzoo (1950 film)
Arzoo is a 1950 Bollywood film produced by Hiten Chaudhary and directed by Shaheed Latif. The film stars Dilip Kumar, Kamini Kaushal and Shashikala. The films music is by Anil Biswas. Cukoo appears as a dancer in the song Aao Milke Jawani Ki Loote Bahaar.-Cast:*Kamini Kaushal ... Kamini...
. The song proved to be extremely popular.
Acting career
Talat was considered a handsome man and a good singer, which prompted movie producers to try him as an actor. Talat acted in over a dozen films with top actresses of the time like NutanNutan
Nutan Behl , better known as Nutan , was an Indian actress. She appeared in more than 70 Hindi films in a career spanning over four decades...
, Mala Sinha
Mala Sinha
Mala Sinha is an Indian actress, who has worked in Hindi, Bengali and Nepali films. Recognised for her acting talent and beauty, she went on to become a popular leading actress in Hindi films from the early fifties till late seventies...
, Suraiya
Suraiya
Suraiya Jamaal Sheikh was a singer and actress of the Indian films in the 40s and 50s, and was popularly known by her first name Suraiya..-Early life:...
and others. Later he decided to give up acting to concentrate on singing.
Talat acted in the following Hindi films http://www.talatmahmood.net/page3.htm:
| Film Name | Year | Opposite |
|---|---|---|
| Rajlaxmi | 1945 | Kananbala |
| Tum Aur Main | 1947 | Kanandevi |
| Samapti | 1949 | Bharti Devi |
| Araam | 1951 | Madhubala Madhubala Mumtaz Jahan Begum Dehlavi, known by her stage name Madhubala was a Hindi movie actress. She starred in several successful movies in the 1950s and early 1960s, many of which have attained a classic status... , Dev Anand Dev Anand Dharam Dev Anand , better known as Dev Anand , is an Indian Hindi Cinema actor, director and film producer. Dev is the second of three brothers who were active in Hindi Cinema. His brothers are Chetan Anand and Vijay Anand. Their sister, Sheel Kanta Kapur, is the mother of renowned Hindi and... |
| Dil-e-Nadaan | 1953 | Shyama Shyama Shyama was born Khurshid Akhtar in Lahore, British India on June 7, 1935 . She was a Bollywood actress. Her best known roles were in Aar Paar, Barsaat Ki Raat and Tarana.... , Peace Kanwal |
| Daak Babu | 1954 | Nadira Nadira -People:* Nadira of the Khanate of Kokand* Nadira , an Indian actress of the 1950s and 1960s, best known for her roles as a temptress* Nadira Babbar, an Indian actress and producer of the present day-In fiction:... |
| Waris | 1954 | Suraiya Suraiya Suraiya Jamaal Sheikh was a singer and actress of the Indian films in the 40s and 50s, and was popularly known by her first name Suraiya..-Early life:... , Nadira Nadira -People:* Nadira of the Khanate of Kokand* Nadira , an Indian actress of the 1950s and 1960s, best known for her roles as a temptress* Nadira Babbar, an Indian actress and producer of the present day-In fiction:... |
| Raftaar | 1955 | Nadira Nadira -People:* Nadira of the Khanate of Kokand* Nadira , an Indian actress of the 1950s and 1960s, best known for her roles as a temptress* Nadira Babbar, an Indian actress and producer of the present day-In fiction:... |
| Diwali ki Raat | 1956 | Roopmala, Shashikala Shashikala Shashikala Jawalkar-Saigal , much better known as Shashikala, is an Indian actress.-Early years:Shashikala was born as one among six siblings in Solapur, Maharashtra in a well-to-do Marathi-speaking Jawalkar family... |
| Ek Gaon ki Kahani | 1957 | Mala Sinha Mala Sinha Mala Sinha is an Indian actress, who has worked in Hindi, Bengali and Nepali films. Recognised for her acting talent and beauty, she went on to become a popular leading actress in Hindi films from the early fifties till late seventies... |
| Lala Rukh | 1958 | Shyama Shyama Shyama was born Khurshid Akhtar in Lahore, British India on June 7, 1935 . She was a Bollywood actress. Her best known roles were in Aar Paar, Barsaat Ki Raat and Tarana.... |
| Maalik | 1958 | Suraiya Suraiya Suraiya Jamaal Sheikh was a singer and actress of the Indian films in the 40s and 50s, and was popularly known by her first name Suraiya..-Early life:... |
| Sone ki Chidiya | 1958 | Nutan Nutan Nutan Behl , better known as Nutan , was an Indian actress. She appeared in more than 70 Hindi films in a career spanning over four decades... |
The advent of rock-n-roll in the late 1960s sidelined singers like Talat. As long as he was top box-office draw, the movie producers insisted on including his songs in their movies. Talat's velvety vocals posed a special challenge to the music-composers, most of whom leaned towards the deep baritones of Mohammad Rafi and Mukesh. The resultant demise of his movie career led to the decline of his singing career. At the same time, the social changes and happiness brought about by increasing prosperity in India meant that blue mood ghazals and heart-rending ballads were not popular any more. 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" composed by Chitragupt
Chitragupt
Chitragupta Shrivastava , better known by his first name alone, was an Indian film music director of the 1960s.-Career:...
and written by Ahmed Wasi
Ahmed Wasi
Ahmed Wasi is not an anonymous name in the field of Urdu literature and Hindi film music. He has been associated with the Hindi film music in two ways. One is that he is himself a lyricist and second that being a radio announcer he was always in touch with the film songs.-Early years:Ahmed Wasi...
.
However, 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. Talat sang about 800 songs in his long career. His songs are still popular among the music lovers as they were in the days these were released.
Personality
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".Available Work
Talat sang approximately 800 songs spread over 4 decades spanning between the 40s and 80s. Some of the most popular work of Talat is available even today with the following titles:- Golden Collection of Talat Mahmood (CD 131015-16)
- Talat Mahmood in a Sentimental Mood (CD 132335)
- Evergreen Hits of Talat Mahmood (CD 132017)
Singles
Even though Talat sang hundreds of hits, some of his most memorable songs from Indian cinema are:- Humse aaya na gaya - Dekh Kabira Roya (1957)
- Jayen to jayen kahan - Taxi Driver (1954)
- Tasveer banata hoon - Baradari (1955)
- Dil-E-Nadaan tujhe hua kya hai - Mirza Ghalib (1954)
- Itna na mujhse tu pyar badha - Chhaya (1961)
- Aansoo samajh ke kyon mujhe - Chhaya (1961)
- Sham-E-Gham ki qassam - Foothpath (1953)
- Jalte hain jiske liye - Sujata (1959)
- Meri yaad me tum na - Madhosh (1951)
- Phir wohi sham wohi gam - Jahan Aara (1964)
- Aye mere dil kahin aur chal - Daag (1952)
- Zindagi dene wale sun - Dil-e-Nadaan (1953)
- Main dil hoon ek armaan bhara - Anhonee (1952)
- Andhe Jahan ke Andhe Raste - Patita
- kadale Neela Kadale- Malayalam Movie "Dweep" ( Music By M.S.Baburaj)