He was once pitched as one of India’s potential classical music stars. But Kumar Gandharva’s son has now been found suffering from depression and crooning for booze. Classical singer Mukul Shivputra, 54, was spotted sitting on the road outside a temple, begging for money so that he could buy his next drink.
On May 7, Mukul Shivputra, unwashed and dishevelled, was seen begging for money to buy booze outside a Sai Baba temple in Bhopal. When a passerby recognised him, he managed to flee the spot and remained untraced for the next five days. Soon after hearing the news, Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan asked the culture department and the police to locate the singer.
Mukul Shivputra – Bageshree – Gunth Lao Malaniya : (Download)
Mukul Shivputra – Bihagda – Mandarwa Me Ab : (Download)
For five days, culture department officials and the cops searched for Mukul at several places, including temples in Bhopal. A team was rushed to Dewas, near Indore, where Mukul owns a house, then Nemawar and thereafter Jalgaon. The team however, returned empty handed. On May 12, a journalist saw him at the Hoshangabad railway station and informed the secretary, culture department. Officials found Mukul Shivputra suffering from dehydration. When the culture department contacted the singer’s family, they refused to take him back home.
Mukul Shivputra – Patamanjiri – Sajal Naina : (Download)
Mukul Shivputra – Shukla Bilawal – Laita Jaiyo : (Download)
“He isn’t begging because he is poor. He’s mentally unstable“, said a Bhopal based family source. “Having gone through a lot of mental stress, he took to alcohol and drugs. Mysterious disappearances have been quite normal with him. His family members parted ways with him because he splurged on drugs and alcohol even using debit and credit cards“.
Source : The Times of India, 15th May, 2009.
Comments are welcome.
indianraga
sydhwaney@gmail.com said,
May 16, 2009 at 3:42 am
Dear Guptaji
This story has really upset me. But I am glad that the Government is at least trying to find him. I heard that he was found at the station and taken to a Nursing Home from where he has escaped again. Surely a good mental physician can medicate him and give him the rest he needs and help him recover.
PS: I tried to download the songs and hear but am unable to do so. Thank you once again for bringing this story.
Kind regards Sumi
indianraga said,
May 16, 2009 at 1:04 pm
Sumi, the problem is with the bandwidth limit on the file hosting server. It’s strange but it allows only 5 persons at a time to download or listen to the songs. I hope once this post gets older, you may be able to download the songs. You may also try refreshing the page and try again.
Ram Kolhatkar said,
May 17, 2009 at 7:53 pm
Dear Guptajee, Namakar I know Shree Mukul personaly for many years.He is ill and needs rehabilitation for chronic alchoholism. We have tried many a times. But the person himself should take initiative in the processe is very important.Unfortunatly the great GAYAK is not responding is our faith.We all should pray him and all mighty for his SEHAT .Ram
indianraga said,
May 17, 2009 at 8:00 pm
@ Ram Kolhatkar
I have deep respect for all artists, classical or otherwise. Like you, we all should pray for his sound health.
divakar s natarajan said,
May 26, 2009 at 8:46 am
Thanks for a wonderful site on our magnificent musical traditions.
It is my pleasure to welcome you and your esteemed friends to http://spriteleesathya.blogspot.com/2009/05/india-must-love-mukul-shivaputra-back.html where I suggest that our singing saint’s problem must be viewed in the context of our own attitudes and near helplessness in matters of substance abuse
divakar s natarajan said,
May 26, 2009 at 9:03 am
Thanks for your brilliant site on our magnificent musical traditions. Like most music lovers, I have been concerned by our singing saint’s problem.
I have suggested that these may be considered in the background of our own attitudes and helplessness with substance abuse issues.
You and your esteemed visitors are welcome to candidly discuss these issues at Sprite Lee’s Sathya.
26 May, 2009 09:01
r k tiwari said,
May 28, 2009 at 5:50 pm
I am resident of Bhopal, i feel really great sarrow to listen about the Gandharva Putra. I hope everything will be all right very soon.
I also was looking forward to download the song from this website but unable to do so.
Sunder Singh said,
May 28, 2009 at 6:07 pm
Only yesternight I heard Bhuvanesh Komkali.
Reminded of the legendary Shivaputra Siddaramayya Komkali.
Recalled memories of Mukul Shivaputra Komkali.
Now, I can offer only tears for the one who is gone for long and another who may be going.
आर्य said,
June 25, 2009 at 1:51 pm
भारत भूमि अपनी संतानों — अच्छी व साधारण — को अपने आँचल में उत्तम स्थान दे। गुप्ता जी आपका प्रयास अच्छा है।
vaidehee said,
June 28, 2009 at 7:12 pm
Hi,
Is there anyone who can help me with the residential address / contact number of Mukul Shivputra.
Subodh said,
July 21, 2009 at 5:18 pm
Thanks for such site. We all pray for him and govt and his family should also tke care of him
Vikrant Supekar said,
July 26, 2009 at 8:43 pm
Matchless site for to keep a track of Mukul Jee.