Showers of unique melody and emotional-nostalgia ‘reigned’ heavily at star-studded ISAMRA event to celebrate 101st Bday of legend Mukesh-jee ! by Chaitanya Padukone

As my ‘good friend’  and the great singer’s actor-grandson Neil Nitin Mukesh told me yesterday that although it’s my grandpa singer Mukesh-jee ‘ 101st birth anniversary, almost the songs which he has ‘sung’ are always’ young’ and his musical legacy is ageless. The slim-trim handsome  Neil’s famous soft-spoken star-singer dad Nitin Mukesh endorsed his son’s views, as he fondly clasped my hand. For me I consider myself blessed that I know Nitin Mukesh’s family for almost past 40 years.

This time the grand ISAMRA unique sangeetmay baithak to celebrate the 101^st Birthday of legendary singer Mukesh was convened by ISAMRA and its Founder and CEO the dynamic multi-faceted Sanjay Tandon at the Mukkti Cultural Hub ( Mumbai)  with proactive support from Anup Jalota, Sonu Nigam and of course from Nitin Mukesh.

 After the traditional lamp-lighting tributes ritual on stage, the three-hour long live concert compered by Sanjay Tandon commenced with  a special sureela surprise. Composer-singer  Anu Malik offered his vocal tributes to Mukesh-jee,  on stage with live singing of ‘Saaranga Teri Yaad Mein’ composed by his composer father Sardar Malik.. Anu’s singing of the Saaranga song became so infectiously emotional, that some of the star-singers including Sonu Nigam, Anup Jalota and even Nitin Mukesh joined in together to sing in choral harmony.

Besides Anu Malik, most of the star-singers ( Sonu Nigam, Udit Narayan, Agam Nikam, Shaan, Usha Timothy –duet with Sanjay Tandon,  lyricist-writer  ( Javed Akhtar) or composer ( Anandji-bhai)    who attended also came on stage and shared their nostalgic sentiments, adulation and fond memories and sang their favourite Mukesh song with the ‘live’ orchestra as well. Known for his witty humorous nature,  veteran genius Anandji-bhai who with his elder composer genius brother Kalyanji-bhai has composed some of Mukesh-jee’s evergreen filmy retro-chartbusters,  walked into a quick flashback.

While sharing little-known funny quirky incidents  Anandji-bhai pointed out that it was incorrect to label Mukesh-jee as a sad, slow-tempo, gloomy-genre singer. “Besides being a good dignified sensitive human being who had tremendous self-respect and a compassionate nature, he was truly a versatile singer. Like Mukesh-jee sang such foot-tapping fast-paced romantic songs for us like ‘Kya Khoob Lagti Ho’ or ‘Dum Dum Diga Diga’ ,” said Anandji-bhai amidst thundering applause.  There were other star-singers and celeb-composers as well,  who attended including  Shailendra Singh, Sapna  Mukherji, Madhushree, Shamir Tandon,  Dilip Sen, Sanjeevani Belande, Jaspinder Narula, and many more. 

But the pre-climax of the melodious ISAMRA evening was a stream of memorable heart-tugging moments. That’s when just before cutting the special  Mukesh-jee@ 101 birthday-cake with his entire family, Nitin-jee came up with an emotional live vocal blend of cheers and tears. Moving everyone in the audience into joyful tears,  he soulfully and perfectly sang his tribute the classic poignant Mukesh-jee song ‘O Jaane Wale Ho Sakey Toh Laut Kay Aana” ( 1963 film ‘Bandini’) composed by maestro  S D Burman.

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