Talat Mahmood: A Whisper Soft Voice
By
Sumit Paul, New Age Islam
24 February
2023
“Mutrib Se
Kaho Iss Andaaz Se Gaaye/Har Dil Ko Lage Chot-Si, Har Aankh Bhar Aaye “(Ask
the singer to sing in a way that every heart should feel the angst and every
eye must be tearful).
Raghupati
Sahay ' Firaq' wrote this couplet and I've a gut feeling that he had Talat
Mahmood as a singer on his mind. Today, Feb 24, is Talat's 99th birthday.
Man
with the silken voice: Talat Mahmood
----
Hailing
from Lucknow, Gahwara-e-Tahzeeb-o-Tamaddun (cradle of courtesy and
decorum), Talat had that proverbial refinement of Avadh written all over his
personality and persona. Khayyam called him a gentleman singer who was always
well-dressed and courteous.
A person's
upbringing reveals the professional dimension of his/her personality. Talat's
747 songs in 12 Indian languages underscore his ultra-decency and
sophistication. His voice was like, Kahin Chatki Kali Koi (like a
blooming bud). Listen to his signature number, 'Jalte Hain Jiske Liye' (Film,
Sujata, 1959). That quivering voice (Larazti Awaz) transports you
to the gossamer world of love and longing or just play the number, ' Phir Wahi
Shaam Wahi Gham Wahi Tanhai Hai' (Film, Jahan Ara, 1964), you'll be
taken to a realm of palpable sadness. How can connoisseurs forget Talat's ' Meri
Yaad Mein Tum Na Aansoo Bahana' (Madhosh, 1951), ' Seene Mein
Sulagte Hain Arman ' (Film, 'Tarana'), ' Sham-e-Gham Ki Qasam '
(Film, Footpath), ' Tasveer Banata Hoon' (Film, Bara-Dari) or ' Sab
Kuchh Luta Ke Hosh Mein Aaye Toh...' (Film, Ek Saal)? The in-built
pathos in his voice lent a kind of a cathartic sublimation to these evergreen
number. When he sang ' Aansoo Samajh Ke Tum Mujhe' (Film, Chhaya,
1961) and ' Dekh Lee Teri Khudai' (Kinare Kinare, 1963), you
empathise with the scene, set, state and the situation of the character and
singer.
Talat had
an evocative voice and being a very sensitive man, he emoted so well in all the
numbers which he rendered in his velvety voice.
Despite
being a smoker, Talat had a surprisingly soft voice. Naushad didn't like
Talat's habit of smoking and was angry when the singer smoked before recording
for a song in 'Babul' ( 1950). Naushad didn't repeat the singer till 1968.
Though
Talat had an inimitably soft voice, some music experts are of the view that it
was both his forte and flaw as he couldn't sing relatively high-pitched
numbers. Nonetheless, Talat remains a great singer whose songs are still
savoured by the discerning lovers of music. My personal favourite numbers have
been his, ' Ashkon Ne Jo Paaya Hai Woh Geeton Mein Diya Hai ' (Film, Chandi
Ki Deewar, 1964) and that impish number ' Aankhon Mein Masti Sharaab Ki,
Kaali Zulfon Mein'. I also love his Bangla numbers sung under the sobriquet
Tapan Kumar.
In the US,
he was often referred to as the Frank Sinatra of India. Incidentally, he
breathed his last on May 9, 1998- 5 days before Sinatra's death.
Talat also
starred in 13 films but didn't get much success.
Let's remember
the great singer by singing some of his finest, cleanest and ethereal numbers
in these morbid times when music has become like miasma emanating from a
morgue.
-------
A regular columnist for New Age Islam, Sumit Paul
is a researcher in comparative religions, with special reference to Islam. He
has contributed articles to the world's premier publications in several
languages including Persian.
URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-personalities/talat-mahmood-soft-voice/d/129184
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