Mukesh Chandra Mathur was born on 22nd July 1923, in a small middle class family in Delhi. He was interested in acting and singing right from childhood and was a great fan of Kundan Lal Saigal.In spite of the fact that he only studied till the 10th standard he was able to obtain a good job as an assistant surveyor in the department of public works, where he worked for seven months.
Enters films with great hopes of becoming an actor but becomes a singer instead: Mukesh's voice was noticed by Motilal (a popular actor in Hindi films, also a distant relative of Mukesh) when he sang at his sister's wedding. Motilal took him to Bombay, let him stay with him and even arranged for singing lessons for him. With Motilal's help, Mukesh got a role as an actor in the film Years later, he was to act again in Raj Kapoor’s Aah in 1953.
His debut as a singer however came in the film Nirdosh with the song ‘Dil hi buja hua ho to.’ Then followed a duet with singer Kusum for the film Us Paar the song was ‘Jara boli ri ho.’
He later went on to sing the song ‘Badariya baras gayi us paar’ with Khursheed in the film Murti.
Mukesh thereafter flourished right through the 1960s and mid 1970s with soulful hits like Main to Ek Khwab Hoon (Himalay ki God Mein (1965)), Jeena Yahaan Marna Yahaan (Mera Naam Joker), Maine Tere Liye hi Saat Rang ke Sanpne Chune and Kahin Door Jab Din Dhal Jaaye (Anand (1970)), Main na Bhoolonga (Roti, Kapda Aur Makan (1974))
and of course Main Pal do Pal ka Shayar Hoon and Kabhi Kabhie (Kabhi Kabhie (1976)).
In 1974, Mukesh received a National Award for the song Kain baar yoon bhi dekhaa hai from Rajnigandha (1974), and Filmfare Awards for the songs Sab Kuch Seekha in the movie Anari (1959), Ganga Ram Ki Samajh in Pehchaan (1970), Jai Bolo in Be Imaan (1972) and Kabhie Kabhie in the film of the same name (1976).
He died of a heart attack on August 27, 1976 in Detroit, Michigan, USA where he had gone for a concert.
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