Face –to-Face
...with Mr. Mukul Kapoor
December 9, 2020
Mr. Mukul Kapoor is an Assistant Administrative Officer, Department of Education, Rajasthan. He holds the Limca Record for the Largest Collection of Mukesh’s Songs. He has also been awarded as the ‘Most Popular Indian 2020’ by the Assam Book of Records for this collection. His love for music is extraordinary.
Elvira: Sir, I have always perceived you as a very quiet person. I’m so grateful that you agreed to have this interaction. I’ve also known you as a music lover. Please tell us which genre of songs you enjoy the most and why?
Mr. Kapoor: (with a small smile) It’s a pleasure for me to be a part of this interaction. Well, I enjoy filmi music and I like listening to love songs. Romantic hits from Mukesh are at the top of my list. I can’t help but enjoy the melody and music in them.
Elvira: Oh... this sounds interesting.(smiling) What’s even more wonderful is that you hold the Limca Book of Records and Assam Book of Records for the largest collection of Mukesh’s songs! Am I right, Sir? So, what inspired this and when did this collection begin?
Mr. Kapoor: (smiles quietly) Well yes, you’re right. In those days, the major source of recreation was the radio. As a child I enjoyed listening to the songs playing on the radio and Mukesh’s songs were constantly played. I loved his soulful voice. There was something magical about it. (reminiscing with a smile) My father was a great admirer of Mukesh and at certain family occasions he sang his songs.
I remember clearly, it was in 1990 I got my first job. (nostalgically) It was then that I started collecting Mukesh’s songs. I first purchased a cassette tape player. All these things were a luxury in those days. (gestures with a hand and laughs quietly) I searched for Mukesh’s Songs in films and other cassettes and started collecting them.
Then CDs came into the picture. You know how fast technology is developing. (with quiet eagerness) The quality of music on these discs was much better. This got me started on collecting digital audio. I also converted quite a lot of songs from cassettes to their digital form with a home setup. (speaks eagerly)
I also visited Kanpur and Delhi, specially Lajpat Rai Market several times to find some of the songs in my collection.
Over time I also connected with several other collectors and exchanged songs with them (laughs nostalgically). And, I must tell you...(with a sense of quiet satisfaction) I have an audio collection of about 1,348 Mukesh’s songs, a 368 films collection, each having some 2-3 songs by Mukesh and 13 parts of the Ramayana in audio.
Elvira: Wow! (in amazement) This is absolutely amazing! I’m speechless... You’re one dedicated and passionate fan, there’s no doubt about it. Sir, you love listening to songs. But do you also sing? (laughs)
Mr. Kapoor: Ahhh... (laughs quietly) Yes, I do sing. Actually, I began with singing Mukesh’s songs occasionally at family functions.
Also, there is a small group of music lovers in Ajmer. We celebrate select singers and their contributions. Annually, we organise a tribute to Mukesh Ji on 27th August, which happens to be his death anniversary. This is one event in which I make it a point to sing. (clasps his hands before him)
Now, I have also set up a small studio at home with sound recording and production devices. I have recorded a few videos for YouTube too.
Elvira: Really? (surprised) Oh my God! Sir, this is simply amazing! I didn’t know this and I’m sure not many of your acquaintances will know all this. You’re... just wonderful. Now I’m going to make this a little difficult for you. (laughs) What is your favourite song, Sir? And do you have any particular memories associated with it?
Mr. Kapoor: Thank you for the compliments. (laughs quietly and settles comfortably in his chair) Hmm... let me see... ‘Na Kajre ki Dhar Na Motiyo ke Haar’ by Mukesh Ji is one of my absolute favourites. Surprisingly, it still hasn't been released officially. It was originally sung by Mukesh for the film ‘Aansoo Aur Muskan’ in 1970, but the song did not make it to the movie and wasn’t made available for public distribution. Later, the same song was re-recorded by Pankaj Udhas Ji and used in the movie ‘Mohra’ starring Sunil Shetty. When YouTube became popular this song was uploaded online. I guess that happened around in, 2010.
But I remember how I added this song to my collection in 2005. (eyes twinkle) To cut a long story short I sourced it from a fellow ‘Mukesh lover’ in Kanpur who obtained it from a music director in Mumbai.
Elvira: (in admiration) Marvellous! What an interesting story! I’m sure not many are aware about this. So, is there a difference between the songs of olden days and today? What according to you is different? Do you have any favourites from the latest numbers?
Mr. Kapoor: (thoughtfully) See... I believe musicians and singers did much more riyaaz in olden days. They had more knowledge and a command of music and melody. They’d put in considerable hard work and practice. In those days, recording a song was not very easy and the singers, irrespective of who they were, had to do several retakes to get the desired result.
Today, the procedure has become much easier. (leans forward slightly and gestures with his hands) Many songs are recorded in pieces and later combined. A lot of music and sound effects are created and added digitally.
Then, there are a lot of artists who have come up recently and if you ask me, I personally find it very difficult to keep a track of all of them. But... from the latest numbers my favourite song is, ‘So Gaya Yeh Jahan’, which is yet another filmi song from 2019. (smiles)
Elvira: Well, now that’s great! Thank you so much Sir for sharing all these wonderful stories with me. I’m sure this interaction will definitely enchant many of the readers.