Koi Nishani Chhod, Phir Duniya Se Gol..

Today being Mukesh's birth anniversary, why not once again look at the combination of Mukesh & RD.

Unfortunately, Mukesh had very few songs with RD. In fact, even with SD, the number of songs he sang were not too many- though even those few turning out to be classics like Chal ri Sajani from Bambai ka Babu & O Jaane Wale from Bandini - both under SD and Jis Gali men Tera Ghar na ho from Kati Patang under RD. . The reason for this can be anybody's guess, but there was a clear distinctive preference by the Burmans for Rafi, Manna Dey & Kishore. 

On the other hand composers like Shankar Jaikishan clearly preferred Mukesh and Rafi. Of course, there was also Raj Kapoor who identified only with Mukesh as his own voice when it came to singing - and rightfully so. As a result it was unimaginable to have a RK banner movie without Mukesh singing for Raj Kapoor.

Pancham did only two movies for RK Films - that too only after the demise of Jaikishan in 1971 & Randhir Kapoor making Pancham an essential team member for his movies in R K banner. 

Yet, the first movie which he did for RK, released just a few months before Mukesh's untimely death in August 1976, had Mukesh singing two songs, penned by Majrooh (another lyricist who never worked with RK, except for this movie). 

It could only have been a coincidence but both the songs also could have been used as an epitaph for Mukesh - specially these lines:

Har dil ko teri yaad, aaye tere bad

Itna to karta ja, phir duniya se gol

Duje ke hotho ko, dekar apane geet

Koi nishani chhod, phir duniya se gol

Ek din bik jayega, mati ke mol

Jag me rah jayenge, pyare tere bol

The composition has an accordion in its prelude, an instrument that RK also identified with (remember him playing that in his guest appearance in Naseeb & bringing the house down). Of course, guitar and santoor gives it the Pancham touch.

Binaca Geet Mala's Sartaaj Geet list of 1976 had this song on no. 2 - the first one being Kabhi Kabhie mere dil men..another Mukesh hit. Incidentally, the filmfare award for that year also had 3 Mukesh songs nominated for the best playback (out of 5) - these 2, while the 3rd one was Main Har Ek Pal ka Shaayar hoon - from Kabhi Kabhie.