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 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism