Bhupinder Singh, the voice of everyman's heartache, passes away

Bhupinder Singh had worked with the biggest names of the music industry, from Mohammed Rafi, R.D. Burman, Madan Mohan, Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bhosle

Eminent singer and guitarist Bhupinder Singh, who gave voice to a wounded heart for years, passed away in Mumbai on Monday evening because of multiple health issues at the age of 82.

Over the years, Mr. Singh’s heavy bass voice captured the weariness of the soul like no other. Dil Dhoondta Hai Phir Wahi Fursat Ke Raat Din ( Mausam) remains a trusted balm for heartache. The contemplative ghazal Kabhi Kisi Ko Muqammal Jahan Nahin Milta ( Ahista Ahista) continues to make a statement on the incompleteness of life. Not just a versatile singer, the guitar pieces he played for Ustad Vilayat Khan in Kadambari. Or for that matter, the beguiling Rasiya Man Behkaye that he rendered for M.B. Srinivasan in Manju, puts him in the rarefied classical universe.

Born in Amritsar, Mr. Singh grew up in Delhi’s West Patel Nagar and was introduced to music by his father Prof. Natha Singh who was also a musician. Interested in playing different instruments from a young age, there was never a doubt that he would take music as a career.

After learning guitar, he started working as a casual artist with the All India Radio under the guidance of composer Satish Bhatia. He found Mr. Singh’s voice had a different tonal base and started giving him opportunities to sing. It was Bhatia who introduced Mr. Singh to Madan Mohan when the composer was on a visit to Delhi. He sang Bahadur Shah Zafar’s Lagta Nahin Hai Dil Mera Ujade Dayar Main for him. Impressed, he called Mr. Singh to Mumbai and offered Hoke Majboor Mujhe Usne Bhulaya Hoga in Haqeeqat . Like most of his numbers, the song has withstood the test of time.

While rehearsing, he realised that it is not a complete song but could not muster the courage to ask the composer. Only later, when Madan Mohan introduced him to Rafi, Manna Dey, and Talat Mahmood that he realised that he didn’t want Mr. Singh to feel the pressure of singing his first song with such stalwarts.

Soon the news of his proficiency with the Hawaiian, Spanish and electric guitars also spread and he became part of the famed R.D. Burman team. The Dum Maro Dum riff, emerged from Mr. Singh’s instrument. “When Dev (Anand) sahib narrated the situation in his inimitable style, he said imagine smoke and clouds of heroin. Moved by his descriptions, I started playing a tune on my electric guitar, and R.D. said, this is it,” Mr. Singh once told this journalist.

Mr. Singh followed it up with an equally impactful Tum Jo Mil Gaye Ho ( Hanste Zakhm ) for his mentor Madan Mohan and Chingari Koi Bhadke ( Amar Prem) and Chura Liya Hai Tumne ( Yaadon Ki Baarat) for R.D. again. It was the time when Hindi cinema was going through a generational churn where his youthful guitar was more in demand than his sombre voice. So even as he was getting to sing classics like Beeti Na Bitai Raina ( Parichay), he was noticed more as a guitarist. He used the time to good effect by cutting private albums where he introduced the guitar to ghazals.