Mehboob (singer)

Mehboob
Birth name	Mehboob Khan
Also known as	H. Mehboob, Mehboob Bhai
Born	1926
Origin	Kochi, Kerala, India
Died	1981
Genres	playback singing
Occupations	Singer, songwriter
Years active	1951–1980

Mehboob (Malayalam: മെഹ്ബൂബ്; 1926–1981) was an Indian musician and playback singer. He was one of the most successful playback singers in Malayalam film industry during 1950s and early 1960s, with a good number of hit songs in his kitty.

Biography

Mehboob was born in Mattancherry, Kingdom of Cochin, into a family beset with stark poverty.^[1] He spent his childhood in the nearby Bengal battalion military camp polishing shoes while his mother did cleaning jobs. Mehboob grew up to become the singer of choice for the various pre-nuptial ceremonies conducted by rich families in Cochin. He made his name, friends and admirers from here. Mehboob had no real home, but he lived with his friends. Many of his early songs were written by Mepalli Balan and Nelson Fernandes, with that special Mattancherry flavour. These songs were never recorded.^[2] It was Pankaj Mullick, who recognized Mehboob's singing ability for the first time. He recommended Mehboob for several "Kacheris" and Mohammed Rafi concerts.^[1]

Mehboob became quite famous throughout Cochin in late 1940s itself. Cochin based actor Muthiah recommended Mehboob to music director Dakshinamoorthy, who was looking for a new voice for the film Jeevitha Nouka. Mehboob recorded three songs including the popular "Akaale Aarum Kaividum" for this film, widely known to be the first superhit film in Malayalam.^[3] (This song was a ditto copy of "Suhani Raat Dhal Chuki" from Dulari. It was later in 1985, re-recorded by K. J. Yesudas and this version is featured in the currently available prints of the film.^[4]) With the success of this song, Mehboob was shot to fame and became the most sought after singer of that time. In 1954, he recorded "Manennum Vilikkila", for the landmark film Neelakkuyil, which became a tremendous success.^[5][6] He went on to record numerous hit songs for composers M. S. Baburaj, K. Raghavan, G. Devarajan, R. K. Shekhar and many more. Most of his songs were folk music based comic numbers and had lyrics by P. Bhaskaran.

Mehboob has also recorded numerous songs for stage plays, gramaphone records and other programmes, which is perhaps many times more than he recorded for films. He was also an inevitable performer in "Mehfils" and other concerts.^[7] Mehboob was never a careerist. He was known to be an alcoholic and finally died nearly an impoverished man.^[2]

Notable songs

• "Arakka Roopa" (Neelisally)
• "Halu Pidichoru Puliachhan Pulivalupidichoru Nairachan" (Nairu Pidicha Pulivalu)
• "Ee Chiriyum Chiriyalla" (Subaida)
• "Ellaarum Thattanu Muttanu" (Mudiyanaya Puthran)
• "Enthoru Thontharavu" (Moodupadam)
• "Kathu Sookshiochore Kasthuri Mampazham" (Nairu Pidicha Pulivalu)
• "Kandam Bechoru Kottanu Athu Mammad Kakkede Kottanu" (Kandam Bacha Kotte)
• "Kollaan Nadakkana" (Subaida)
• "Kozhikodangdeele Koyakkande Kadayilu Koyinde Kariyude Charu" (Thankakkudam)
• "Manennum Vilikkila Mayilennum Vilikkila" (Neelakuyil)
• "Naya Paisayilla Kayyiloru Naya Paisayilla" (Neelisally)
• "O Rikshawalla" (Odayil Ninnu)
• "Pandu Pandu Ninne Kanda Nalilla" (Rarichan Enna Pauran)
• "Saayippe Saayippe Aslam Alaikkum" (Pazhassi Raja)
• "Thinakkam Theyyakkam" (Mudiyanaya Puthran)
• "Vandi Vandi Ninne Pole Vayaril Enikkum Theeyanu (Doctor)
• "Vandikkaran Beerankakka Randam Kettinu Poothim Bechu" (Vandikkaran Beerankakka)
• "Zindabad Zindabad Swantham Karyam Zindabad" (Kandam Bacha Kotte)

References

1. ^ ^{a b} "Mehboob profile" (in Malayalam). Cinediary.com. http://cinidiary.com/peopleinfo.php?pigsection=Music&picata=&no_of_displayed_rows=41&no_of_rows_page=10&sletter=. Retrieved March 11, 2011. 
2. ^ ^{a b} "Mehboob – The Forgotten Singer". Varnachithram. Retrieved March 11, 2011.
3. ^ B. Vijayakumar (August 16, 2008). "Jeevitha Nauka 1951". The Hindu. http://www.hindu.com/mp/2008/08/16/stories/2008081653751300.htm. Retrieved March 11, 2011. 
4. ^ "ഒരു സിനിമാ ശിരഛേദം" (in Malayalam). Scoopeye.com. December 25, 2010. http://www.scoopeye.com/showNews.php?news_id=10822. Retrieved March 11, 2011. 
5. ^ B. Vijayakumar (November 1, 2008). "Neelakuyil 1954". The Hindu. http://www.hindu.com/mp/2008/11/01/stories/2008110150781100.htm. Retrieved March 11, 2011. 
6. ^ "മലയാളഗാനങ്ങളെ മാറ്റിമറിച്ച നീലക്കുയില്‍" (in Malayalam). Madhyamam. February 11, 2010. http://www.madhyamam.com/news/13568. Retrieved March 11, 2011. 
7. ^ "മെഹ്ബൂബിന്റെ ഗാനങ്ങള്‍ക്ക് പുനര്‍ജനി" (in Malayalam). Oneindia.in. January 1, 2007. http://malayalam.oneindia.mobi/culture/2007/43817.html. Retrieved March 11, 2011. 

External links

• Mehboob at the Malayalam Movie Database

Further reading

• T. S. Isma (2010) (in Malayalam). Mehboob Jeevithanoukayile Pattukaran. Kozhikode: Olive Publications. ISBN 978-81-87474-89-0. 

Persondata
Name
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	1926
Place of birth
Date of death	1981
Place of death