His song Karoge Yaad...resonates with the mood of the nation as celebs pay tributes to Bhupinder Singh

Sheetal

Meri Awaaj Hi Pehchaan Hai, Gar Yaad Rahe…

The song was immortalised by two ‘voice of angels’— Lata Mangeshkar and Bhupinder Singh. While the former left for heavenly abode in February this year, another blow to the music industry came with Bhupinder Singh’s demise.

Born in Amritsar, Bhupinder found a guru in his father, Prof Natha Singh, who was a trained vocalist. His growing up years were spent in Delhi’s West Patel Nagar. A strict teacher as Natha Singh was, he groomed his son to be a great guitarist, violinist and vocalist. For a short period, he worked with the All-India Radio (AIR) under composer Satish Bhatia, who noted Bhupinder’s voice with a unique tonal base and offered him work.

Bhupinder, who later went on to become the Bhupi Da of Bollywood music industry, impressed music composer Madan Mohan at a party when he sang Bahadur Shah Zafar’s poem Lagta Nahin Hai Dil Mera Ujade Dayar Main. He immediately offered him his first Bollywood song. Not just his heavy bass voice, which put him in the league of renowned singers of the time, Mohammad Rafi, Talat Mahmood and Manna Dey when he sang his first-ever song for the film Haqeeqat, but his expertise as a guitarist was also well-received by music composers.

The multifaceted artiste played the guitar in R D Burman’s hits like Dum Maro Dumm, Chura Liya Hai Tumne, Mehbooba O Mehbooba and Chingari Koi Bhadke. He is remembered for his memorable songs in films like Mausam, Satte Pe Satta, Ahista Ahista, Dooriyan, Haqeeqat and more. The first solo song he sang was Rut Jawan Jawan Raat Mehrbaan (Aakhri Raat) in 1966. A close friend of Bhupi Da, Ashok Bhalla, says, “He was a great artiste and an equally humble human being. The music industry has lost another gem and his absence will leave a void for ghazal fans.”

Filmmaker Ashwini Chaudhary offered his condolences in a tweet whilst sharing how he had an opportunity to collaborate with the ghazal singer for his film Siskiyaan. He sang a ghazal, Kya Hua Kab Kahan Nahin Maloom written by Nida Fazil and composed by Lalit Sen.

LIFE AT A GLANCE

• His big break was when music maestro Madan Mohan recognised his talent and brought him to Mumbai to sing Ho ke Majboor Mujhe Usne Bhulaya Hoga for 1964 film Haqeeqat.
  

• He also acted as a soldier in Vijay Anand’s film Haqeeqat based on the Indo-China war. Many shared the clip where Bhupinder is acting as well as singing the song, Ho Ke Majboor Mujhe Usne Bhulaya Hoga on Twitter.
• It is believed because of his strict father, during the initial few years of his musical training, he hated music.
• In his five-decade long career, he has worked with biggest names of the film industry with his debut song only bringing three big artistes Mohammed Rafi, Talat Mahmood and Manna Dey as singers. The maximum collaborations were with Gulzar and RD Burman whereas he moved towards independent music in 1980’s.
• When Gulzar made a series on Mirza Ghalib, he brought two renowned ghazal singers together, Jagjit Singh and Bhupi Da. While the former gave voice to Urdu poet Ghalib, the latter rendered Ustad Zauq’s poetry such as Lai Hayat Aaeqaza Le Chali Chale.
• In a first, Bhupi Da introduced Spanish guitar, bass and drums to the ghazal style making him a successful composer and singer in the ghazal genre. Not to forget, he was as successful in classical universe as in Spanish and electric. He played for Ustad Vilayat Khan in Kadambari and Rasiya Man Behkaye for M.B. Srinivasan in Malyalam film, Manju.
• He also sang Kaise Kahoon Kuch Kehna Sakoon from Tamil film Nandu in 1981, composed by Ilayaraja.
• For his independent albums, Bhupi collaborated with Gulzar for Surmayi Raat, Yaad-E-Mehboob with Jagjit and Chitra Singh whereas with wife Mitali Singh he had series of albums.
  

• Director Chetan Anand wanted Bhupi to be the singing actor and even wrote Aakhri Khat for him. But he was not interested in acting. The film went on to be the debut movie for actor Rajesh Khanna.

TRIBUNE IN TWEETS

What a sad news that we have lost one of our dearest friends from our struggling days, our beloved #BhupinderSingh.

A great loss for all his fans, well wishers, supporters & the music industry. My heartfelt condolences & prayers for his family in these grieving times. — Shatrughan Sinha

Deeply saddened about the demise of Bhupinder ji. His voice brought joy to millions and had a uniqueness. Condolences to his family. RIP Bhupinder ji, Om Shanti. — Ajay Devgn

Saddened to hear the demise of Legendary Singer Bhupinder Singh ji. Was fortunate enough to work with him in our National Award winning film #TrafficSignal. My heartfelt condolences to his family members & admirers. #OmShanti. — Madhur Bhankarkar

Thank You Sir for educating us in the finer difference of a mere voice & a voice with a Soul! Also Thank You for some of the Best Guitar Riffs ever composed in Indian Film Music. Rest in Glory!! #BhupinderSingh You were so so unique. — Nikhil Dwivedi

In memoriam #BhupinderSingh ji.

A with a voice from a gentler time. Tragically poetic that he should follow Lataji, as he did so beautifully in the song #NaamGumJaayega composed by #RDBurman and written by Gulzar saab. Unki awaaz hi pehchaan hai, aur hamesha yaad rahegi. — Vishal Dadlani

Dil dhoondta hai phir wohi fursat ke raat din..the man with the velvet voice.. Bhupendra Singh is no more. — Shekhar Suman

Extremely saddened to hear about #BhupinderSingh sir’s demise! May his beautiful soul rest in peace. — Armaan Malik, singer

The legendary and respected singer #BhupinderSingh ji has left for his heavenly abode leaving us with his beautiful memories. He has sung countless hit songs, Meri aawaz hi pehchan hai with @lata_mangeshkar ji, Biti Na Bitai Raina, Dil Dhundta Hai and Kisi Nazar Ko Tera Intezaar Aaj Bhi Hai. — Mika Singh

“Deeply saddened by the news that #BhupinderSingh ji has passed away. ‘Bhupi-Da’, as we lovingly referred to him was blessed with a haunting voice, was a beautiful guitarist & indeed, an incredibly warm soul. My heartfelt condolences to his family. May he rest in peace.” — Adanan Sami, musician