On World Music Day, generations of music lovers reminisce about the stories and songs of maverick musician H Mehboob
Opposite Aspinwall House in Fort Kochi stands the office of the Mehboob Memorial Orchestra — a sanctuary of memories dedicated to H Mehboob, Kerala’s beloved singer who never failed to delight his audiences, on the stage and off it.
Mehboob’s legacy remains intact here — old photographs hang on the walls and the stage in the central hall showcases paintings of him and singer Mohammed Rafi, whom Mehboob idolised. Members of the “club” get together here every Friday and offer their modest stage to aspiring musicians. “This is how we keep the spirit of his music alive,” says K A Hussain, secretary and one of the MMO’s earliest members.
“Bhai was one of a kind — a true maverick. No one could guess what he had up his sleeve and that was part of his appeal,” Hussain recalls.
From poverty to fame
Born in 1926 in Mattancherry, Mehboob grew up in an impoverished family. He spent his childhood in the military barracks at Pattalam, Fort Kochi. His intrinsic talent endeared him to the people, and he was singing everywhere — at weddings, mehfils, or just with a bunch of friends under Fort Kochi’s benevolent canopies.
Along with lyricists Nelson Fernandez and Meppally Balan, Mehboob created a number of original songs, some of which were later used in mainstream Malayalam films.
The film journey
It didn’t take long before his talent was noticed by the film world. Actor TS Muthaiah recommended his name to composer V Dakshinamoorthy, who gave him three songs in the film Jeevithanouka. However, it was K Raghavan’s composition ‘Maanennum vilikkilla’ from Neelakkuyil (1954) that catapulted him to filmy fame. Soon, he was singing for all the top Malayalam film music composers.
But Mehboob didn’t really care for fame. According to music historians, he was “elusive”. “That was also part of Mehboob’s Sufiesque charm. He was a poetic wanderer, who didn’t want to possess anything. Ask anyone — from a barber to a fish monger in Fort Kochi and Mattancherry — and they would speak with a sense of warmth that few artists can elicit,” says K Pradeep, veteran journalist and one of the founders of Kraft, a literary and thought festival.
A mentor to Junior Mehboob
Among the few surviving musicians in Kochi who have shared the stage with Mehboob is Junior Mehboob, who says he earned his name from the legendary singer. He started singing with Mehboob at the age of six. “He literally took me under his wing; I would accompany him to his shows and sing with him. I am a musician today because of him. He showed me the way,” says Junior.
At 75, Junior remains a living archive of Mehboob’s musical legacy. “I know all of his songs by heart. He has sung over 60 songs. I have been a part of almost all the Mehboob memorial concerts, and have even performed at concerts dedicated to him abroad,” he says.
Everyone has a Mehboob story
For TV producer and director Diana Silvester, the bond with Mehboob goes back to her childhood. “Anecdotes about Mehboob abound, but what strikes me the most is that he would sing the same song in different tunes. His life was like that too — every one has their own Mehboob story,” she says.
In the late 1990s, Diana made a documentary on the musician that captured the essence of his genius. “What was intended as a two-episode documentary went on to become ten episodes. While shooting, we had people come in with their own stories of Mehboob. It was an experience worth cherishing,” she says.
The legacy
Mehboob died on April 22, 1981, at the age of 55. Forty-five years later, his stories, songs and antics continue to be retold in vivid colours by generations of music lovers.
The Mehboob Memorial Orchestra’s Rafi Nites remain a hugely popular event in the cultural calendar of the city. “We have been organising this tribute to Mohammed Rafi since 1981 — for 43 consecutive years, we stopped during the Covid-19 years, and restarted when normal life resumed,” says Hussain.
