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{{EngvarB|date=August 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2018}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Talat Mahmood
| alias = The King of Ghazals, also Shahenshah-e-Ghazal
| image = Talat Mahmood 2016 postcard of India crop.jpg
| caption =
| image_size =
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1924|2|24}}
|birth_place = [[Lucknow]], [[United Provinces of Agra and Oudh|United Provinces]], [[British India]]
| death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|1998|5|9|1924|2|4}}
| death_place = [[Mumbai]], India
| known_for = [[Bollywood]] [[Ghazals]],<br>[[Playback singing]]
| occupation = Singer, actor
| years_active = 1939 – 1986
| awards = [[Padma Bhushan]] Award by the [[Government of India]] in 1992
| website = {{URL|http://www.talatmahmood.net/}}
}}
'''Talat Mahmood''' (24 February 1924 – 9 May 1998) was an Indian playback singer who is considered one of the popular male [[India]]n [[Film songs|film song]] and [[ghazal]] singers. Although he tried his luck as a film actor, he did not succeed a great deal in acting.<ref name=TOI>{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Remembering-Talat-Mahmood/articleshow/3023417.cms |date=9 May 2008|newspaper=Times of India |author=Avijit Ghosh|title=Remembering Talat Mahmood|access-date=3 November 2020}}</ref><ref name=Cineplot1>{{cite web|url=https://cineplot.com/talat-mahmood-part-1/ |title=Talat Mahmood – Part 1 (a profile)|date=3 July 2010|website=Cineplot.com website|access-date=1 November 2020}}</ref>

Talat Mahmood received the [[Padma Bhushan]] award in 1992, in recognition of his artistic contributions in the spheres of cinematic and ghazal music.<ref name="Padma Awards">{{cite web |url=http://mha.nic.in/sites/upload_files/mha/files/LST-PDAWD-2013.pdf | title=Padma Awards List (1954-2013)|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151015193758/http://mha.nic.in/sites/upload_files/mha/files/LST-PDAWD-2013.pdf| publisher=Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India | date=2 September 2014 |archive-date=15 October 2015| access-date=3 November 2020}}</ref><ref>[http://www.dashboard-padmaawards.gov.in/?Award=Padma%20Bhushan&Year=1992-1992 Talat Mahmood's award in 1992 on Government of India (padmaawards.gov..in) website] Retrieved 3 November 2020</ref>

He was particularly famous for singing soft and sombre ''[[ghazal]]''s in his quivering and silky voice. Romantic and tragic were the moods he liked most and it was he who helped a great deal in shaping the style and method of modern ghazal singing in India during the 1950s and 1960s.<ref name=TOI/>

== Early life ==
Talat Mahmood was born in [[Lucknow]], [[Uttar Pradesh]], India to Manzoor Mahmood. Talat showed his musical leanings from a very young age and would enjoy sitting through all-night music concerts.<ref name=chandrakantha>{{cite web|url=https://chandrakantha.com/biodata/talat_mehmood.html |author=David Courtney |title=Biography of Talat Mahmood|website=Chandrakantha.com website |access-date=3 November 2020}}</ref>

Coming from a conservative Muslim background, singing was not encouraged. Talat had to choose between working in films and continue living at home. Despite his parents objection, he opted for the films, though his family accepted the fact only about a decade later when he gained some respect in the [[Indian film industry]].<ref name=chandrakantha/>

== Singing career ==
Talat apprenticed classical music under Pandit S.C.R. Bhat at Marris College of Music, Lucknow (presently [[Bhatkhande Music Institute]]) some time in the late 1930s. Talat Mahmood began his singing career at the age of 16 in 1939, when he began singing the ''[[Ghazal]]''s of Daag, Mir, Jigar etc. on [[All India Radio]], Lucknow. His voice had a quality distinct from all the other singers. [[HMV]] was quick to notice this and offered Talat his first disc in 1941 ''Sab din ek samaan nahin tha, Bun jaoon ga kya se kya main, Iska to kuch dhyan nahin tha''.<ref name=Cineplot1/>

His reputation as a ''ghazal'' singer was not limited to his hometown of Lucknow, but it reached the city that proved to shape his destiny – Calcutta. The then famous ''ghazal'' singers were [[Barkat Ali Khan]], [[K.L. Saigal]] and M.A. Rauf. The classical songs he sang were "Sapnon Ki Suhaani Duniyaa Ko" for film ''Shikast'' and "Laage Tose Naina" for ''Chaandi Ki Deewar''.

In 1944, he sang the popular hit ''Tasveer teri dil mera behela nah sake gi''.<ref name=Cineplot1/> This disc brought Talat the fame throughout India and soon he was beckoned by the Calcutta film industry. Talat made cameo appearances and starred in about 16 films, for both the [[Calcutta]] (film hub of the 1940s) and Bombay Film Industry. The three films in which he starred were regional hits in Calcutta. Initially, in Calcutta, he recorded a lot of Bangla songs (basic album) under the assumed name of "Tapan Kumar".<ref name=Cineplot1/>

In 1949, Talat moved to [[Mumbai|Bombay]], to sing for the Hindi film industry. His big break came with the song ''Ae dil mujhe aisi jagha le chal jahan koi na ho'' composed by music director [[Anil Biswas (composer)|Anil Biswas]], his mentor in Bombay, for the soundtrack of the film ''[[Arzoo (1950 film)|Arzoo]]'' (1950 film).<ref name=Cineplot1/>

[[Laxmikant Pyarelal]] composed a melodious duet with Lata Mangeshkar in 1971 film ''Woh Din Yaad Karo'', this happened to be his last song in Hindi films.

== Commemorative postage stamp==
[[File:Talat Mahmood 2016 stamp of India.jpg|thumb|Talat Mahmood on a 2016 stamp of India]]

[[India Post]] issued a commemorative postage stamp to honor him in 2016.

== Acting career ==
Talat Mahmood acted in over a dozen films with actresses of the time like [[Nutan]], [[Mala Sinha]], [[Suraiya]] and others. Later he decided to give up acting to concentrate on singing.<ref name=TOI/><ref name=Cineplot2/>

Talat acted in the following [[Hindi films]]:
{|| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Film Name !!Year!! Opposite
|-
| ''Raj Laxmi''<ref name=Cineplot2>[https://cineplot.com/talat-mahmoods-filmography/ Talat Mahmood's Filmography on Cineplot.com website] Published 13 July 2010, Retrieved 1 November 2020</ref> || 1945|| [[Kananbala]]
|-
| ''Tum Aur Main''<ref Name=Cineplot2/> || 1947|| Kanandevi
|-
| ''Samapti''<ref Name=Cineplot2/> || 1949|| Bharti Devi
|-
| ''Aaraam''<ref Name=Cineplot2/> || 1951|| [[Madhubala]], [[Dev Anand]]
|-
| ''[[Thokar]]'' || 1953|| [[Shammi Kapoor]]
|-
| ''[[Dil-e-Nadaan]]''<ref Name=Cineplot2/> || 1953|| [[Shyama]], Peace Kanwal
|-
| ''Daak Babu'' || 1954|| [[Nadira (actress)|Nadira]]
|-
| ''Waris'' || 1954|| [[Suraiya]], [[Nadira (actress)|Nadira]]
|-
| ''Raftaar'' || 1955|| [[Nadira (actress)|Nadira]]
|-
| ''Diwali Ki Raat'' || 1956|| Roopmala, [[Shashikala]]
|-
| ''[[Ek Gaon Ki Kahani]]'' || 1957 || [[Mala Sinha]]
|-
| ''[[Lala Rukh]]''<ref Name=Cineplot2/><ref name=TOI/> || 1958|| [[Shyama]]
|-
| ''[[Maalik]]''<ref Name=Cineplot2/> || 1958|| [[Suraiya]]
|-
| ''Sone Ki Chidiya''<ref Name=Cineplot2/> || 1958|| [[Nutan]]
|}

The advent of [[rock-n-roll]] music in the late 1960s sidelined singers like Talat. As long as he was top box-office draw, the film producers insisted on including his songs in their films. Talat's velvety vocals posed a special challenge to the music-composers, most of whom leaned towards the deep baritones of [[Mohammad Rafi]] and [[Mukesh (singer)|Mukesh]]. The resultant demise of his film career led to the decline of his singing career. At the same time, the social changes and happiness brought about by increasing prosperity in India meant that blue mood [[ghazals]] and heart-rending ballads were not popular any more. Talat continued to record good songs, but less in number. His last soundtrack recording, in 1985, is the song "Mere Shareek-e-Safar", a duet sung with [[Hemlata (singer)|Hemlata]], from the film "Wali-e-Azam" composed by [[Chitragupt]] and written by Ahmed Wasi.

However, Talat who was one of the first Indian singer to go on foreign concert tours in 1956 to [[East Africa]], [[United States]], the [[UK]], [[West Indies]]. He performed in [[Royal Albert Hall]] in [[London]], [[Madison Square Garden]] in the United States and in the West Indies. He continued singing until 1991, when he toured the [[Netherlands]].<ref name=TOI/>

== Family ==
Talat married a Bengali Christian girl from Calcutta, who also acted in films and was a great fan of his, Latika Mullick, later named Nasreen on 20 February 1951 and had two children Khalid born in 1953 and Sabina born in 1959.<ref>[https://cineplot.com/talat-mahmood-factfile/ Profile of Talat mahmood on Cineplot.com website] Published 15 July 2010, Retrieved 1 November 2020</ref>

His grand-niece and well known journalist is [[Sahar Zaman (journalist)|Sahar Zaman]].<ref name="Zaman">{{cite news |last1=Zaman |first1=Sahar |title=In fond remembrance of the ghazal's 'velvet voice' |url=http://www.sunday-guardian.com/bookbeat/in-fond-remembrance-of-the-ghazals-velvet-voice |access-date=11 January 2021 |work=www.sunday-guardian.com}}</ref> She has started a special multi-performance tribute platform called Jashn-e-Talat, dedicated to Talat Mahmood's career.

== Personality ==
People, who were close to Talat, describe his nature as a quiet one. It is often remarked that he was a decent man, and his velvety and silky voice also reflected that decency and sense of calmness. Music directors, who worked with him, claimed that while listening to him, one would develop the feeling that Talat was a soft-hearted man. [[Dilip Kumar]] termed Talat as "a perfect gentleman". Veteran Indian film music director [[Mohammed Zahur Khayyam]] is reportedly quoted as saying, "He was a perfect gentleman. With him there was no loose talk. He was always well-dressed: his shoes shining and his trousers perfectly creased."<ref name=TOI/>

== Available work ==
Talat sang approximately 750 songs in 12 languages spread over 4 decades spanning between the 1940s and 1980s. He recorded his first song back in 1941.<ref name=TOI/>

== Popular singles ==
Some of his most memorable songs from Indian cinema are:
{|class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Song !! Film !! Year !! Notes
|-
| Humse Aaya Na Gaya || ''[[Dekh Kabira Roya]]'' ||1957||
|-
| Jayen To Jayen Kahan<ref name=Cineplot1/> || ''[[Taxi Driver (1954 film)|Taxi Driver]]'' ||1954||
|-
| Tasveer Banata Hoon || ''Baradari'' ||1955||
|-
| Dil-E-Nadaan Tujhe Hua Kya Hai ||[[Mirza Ghalib (film)|Mirza Ghalib]] || 1954 || Duet song with [[Suraiya]]
|-
| Itna Na Mujhse Tu Pyar Badha|| ''[[Chhaya (film)|Chhaya]]'' ||1961|| Duet song with [[Lata Mangeshkar]]
|-
| Seene Mein Sulagte Hai Armaan|| ''[[Tarana (1951 film)|Tarana]]'' ||1951|| Duet song with [[Lata Mangeshkar]]
|-
| Aansoo Samajhke Kyon Mujhe|| ''[[Chhaya (film)|Chhaya]]'' ||1961||
|-
| Aaha Rimjhim Ke Yeh Pyare Pyare Geet Liye || ''[[Usne Kaha Tha]]'' ||1960|| Duet song with [[Lata Mangeshkar]]
|-
| Sham-E-Gham Ki Kasam|| ''[[Footpath (1953 film)|Footpath]]'' ||1953||
|-
| Jalte Hain Jiske Liye|| ''[[Sujata (1959 film)|Sujata]]'' ||1959||
|-
| Meri Yaad Mein Tum Na Aansoo Bahana|| ''[[Madhosh (1951 film)|Madhosh]]'' ||1951||
|-
| Phir Wahi Sham, Wahi Gham || ''[[Jahan Ara (film)|Jahan Ara]]'' ||1964||
|-
| Ae Mere Dil Kahin Aur Chal || ''[[Daag (1952 film)|Daag]]'' ||1952||
|-
| Zindagi Denewale Sun|| ''[[Dil-e-Nadaan]]'' ||1953||
|-
| Main Dil Hoon Ek Armaanbhara || ''[[Anhonee (1952 film)|Anhonee]]'' ||1952||
|-
| Andhe Jahan Ke Andhe Raste || ''[[Patita (1953 film)|Patita]]'' ||1953||
|-
| Kadale Neela Kadale || ''[[Dweep]]'' || || Music By M.S.Baburaj, Malayalam film
|-
| Ashqon Ne Jo Paya Hai || ''Chaandi Ki Deewar'' ||1964||Music: [[N Dutta]]; Lyricist: [[Sahir Ludhianvi]]
|-
| Bechain Nazar, Betaab Jigar || ''[[Yasmin (1955 film)|Yasmeen]]'' ||1955||
|-
| Raat Ne Kya Kya Khwab Dikhaye || ''[[Ek Gaon Ki Kahani]]'' ||1957||
|-
| Chal Diya Karvaan, Loot Gaye Hum Yahan|| [[Laila Majnu]] ||||
|-
| Hoke Majboor Mujhe Usne Bulaya Hoga || ''[[Haqeeqat (1964 film)|Haqeeqat]]'' ||1964|| song with [[Mohammed Rafi]], [[Manna Dey]] & [[Bhupinder Singh (musician)|Bhupinder Singh]]
|-
| Aye Dil Mujhe Aisi Jaga Le Chal || ''[[Arzoo (1950 film)|Arzoo]]'' ||1950||
|-
| Milte Hi Aankhen Dil Hua Deewana || ''[[Babul (1950 film)|Babul]]'' ||1950||
|-
| Mera Jeevan Saathi Bichhar Gaya || ''[[Babul (1950 film)|Babul]]'' ||1950||
|-
| Koi Nahin Mera Is Duniya Mein || ''[[Daag (1952 film)|Daag]]'' ||1952||
|-
| Hum Dard Ke Maron Ka || ''[[Daag (1952 film)|Daag]]'' ||1952||
|-
| Mohabbat Ki Kahaniyan || ''[[Woh Din Yaad Karo]]'' || [[1971]] ||Melodious duet song with [[Lata Mangeshkar]] composed by Great music duo [[Laxmikant-Pyarelal]]
|}
In his personal visit to Dhaka in 1960, he sang two beautiful Bengali songs for the film [[Rajdhanir Buke|Rajdhanir Bukey]] directed by [[Ehtesham]] and music director [[Robin Ghosh]].
{|class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Song !! Film !!Year!! Notes
|-
| Tomare legechche etoje bhalo|| ''Rajdhanir Bukey'' ||1960||Lyrics: [[K G Mustafa|KG Mostafa]]
|-
| Amaar se gaan furiye gechhe || ''Rajdhanir Bukey'' ||1960||
|}

==Death==
Talat Mahmood died on 9 May 1998.<ref name=TOI/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.talatmahmood.net/page3.htm |date=19 August 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070304154450/http://www.talatmahmood.net/page3.htm |website=Talatmahmood.net website|archive-date=4 March 2007|title=Talat Mahmood: 'Fact File'|access-date=3 November 2020}}</ref>

In 2018, an event was arranged in [[New Delhi]] to pay tribute to Talat Mahmood on his 20th death anniversary. This was called Jashn-e-Talat and marked the start of an ongoing tribute festival curated by his grand-niece Sahar Zaman
<ref> [https://www.outlookindia.com/newsscroll/arts-festival-to-pay-tribute-to-late-singeractor-talat-mahmood/1427709 Arts festival to pay tribute to late singer-actor Talat Mahmood] Outlook (Indian magazine), Published 25 November 2018, Retrieved 3 November 2020</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|Talat Mahmood}}
* [http://www.talatmahmood.net/ Website on Talat Mahmood, created by his singer son Khalid Mahmood]
* [http://www.talatmahmood.net/family_album.htm 'King Of Ghazals' Talat Mahmood]
* {{IMDb name|nm0537027}}

{{Authority control}}
{{PadmaBhushanAwardRecipients 1990–99}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mahmood, Talat}}
[[Category:1924 births]]
[[Category:1998 deaths]]
[[Category:Indian Muslims]]
[[Category:Indian male film singers]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Padma Bhushan in arts]]
[[Category:Indian male ghazal singers]]
[[Category:Singers from Lucknow]]
[[Category:Indian male film actors]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian male actors]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian singers]]
[[Category:Male actors from Lucknow]]
[[Category:20th-century male singers]]

Talat Mahmood - Revision history

WikiDwarfBOT: Cleanup:

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