Beloved Malaysian Indian singer Simon Mohan (莫翰), renowned for his 32-year career in mastering Mandarin songs, has passed away at the age of 64. His enchanting melodies and acclaimed albums resonated both locally and internationally, leaving an indelible mark on the Mandarin music scene.
For over three decades, the singer has captivated audiences with numerous Chinese New Year melodies. He has also released several acclaimed Mandarin albums which featured iconic tracks like “The Wind Without a Hometown” (没有故乡的风) and “Late Autumn” (晚秋).
Simon, whose real name is Elanjselvan VM Mohan, previously had issues with his health, having recently suffered from a stroke 2 months ago. His eldest son, Krisna Mohan, said in an interview with The Star that his father passed away at the Universiti Malaya Medical Centre in Kuala Lumpur at about 11am on 11th June (Tuesday).
The 64-year-old singer had been living in KL with his two sons since his wife’s passing in 2017 due to cancer. His eldest son Krisna shared that he felt it was better for his late father to be staying with his brother in KL rather than alone in Ipoh after recovering from a stroke.
The death of the great star came as a shock to many, especially his two sons. “He was having dinner with us on Monday when he said he was having difficulty breathing, so we called an ambulance,” said one of his sons. Doctors later informed the eldest son that the singer had suffered from a viral lung disease that caused his oxygen levels to drop and his heart to fail.
Hailing from Tualang, Perak, Mohan’s childhood experiences at a Chinese primary school laid the foundation for his fluency in Mandarin, Cantonese, and Hokkien. However, Mohan’s father was initially critised for sending him to a Chinese school, given the stigma surrounding an Indian boy attending a Chinese school. In response to this, his father shrugged off the comments, stating that his son was free to choose whichever school he wanted.
In an interview with Malaysian musician Xie Mu, Mohan shared a memory he had of his father. He said, “Since I became a singer, many fans want to know why I enrolled in a Chinese school. I once asked my father. He jokingly scolded me and said that he should not send me to a Chinese school because enrolling in a Chinese school caused an imbalance in the frequency between him and me. Haha! He meant that our thoughts were very different and we often argued because of different opinions.”
Thankfully, his Chinese education paid off and Mohan’s language skills led him to Taiwan, where he advanced his career and left a lasting impact on the Mandarin music scene both locally and internationally. He recounted his entry into the music industry, saying, “At a live band singing competition, my father’s friend, knowing I could sing, asked my father to let me perform. That was my first time on stage, singing ‘Go Shopping with Me.’ At 13, I secretly borrowed RM16.50 to buy a second-hand guitar, which my father broke, believing singing and playing were unhealthy distractions from my studies. Despite this, I continued to sing and entered a competition where Qi Shunqin won that year.“
Since then, Mohan became more active in the music industry and by 1983, was a resident singer in Ipoh. He then went professional, signing with several record companies – one of which even offered to take him to Taiwan. After a few years, Mohan finally got his first big break when he signed with Ruihua Records and released his first album which was produced by Taiwanese producer Lin Qionglong. He also developed a career in Hong Kong and had done performances on Star Cruises and appeared on television shows.
As for his private life, Mohan married a Chinese woman despite facing opposition from both families. “My father was initially against it, but my mother and family supported me until he compromised. Similarly, my father-in-law refused to attend our wedding but later praised me as a son-in-law to his friends.” Sadly, Mohan’s wife fell ill in 2012 and he did not renew his contract to take care of her, switching to small business. After she passed away from cancer in 2017, he returned to the entertainment industry but declined many offers, showing little interest.
Simon Mohan will always be remembered for his contributions to the music industry. We extend our condolences to the late star’s family and loved ones. May they find peace during this difficult time.
Source: The Star
Jade Mary contributed to this article.
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