Hindi music lovers from around the world are remembering Kishore Kumar and his voice today on the eve of his 22nd death anniversary.The Bollywood fraternity believes the versatile singer would have been a hit with audiences even today, had he been alive.
Most film personalities agree that Kishore Kumar was ahead of his time. Even the new generation of singers and composers think so.
Kishore Kumar was born on 4th August 1929 in Khandwa, Madhya Pradesh. His efforts and the contributions in the Hindi Film Industry can never be eclipsed by any of the artists ever.Along with legends like Mukesh and Mohd.Rafi Kishore Da subjugated 2 decades from 1950- 1970. Kishore Da was one of the gems of India and sang in many Indian languages. He is crowned as one of the most versatile singers of the Indian film industry.
Kishore Kumar was a prolific vocalist and sang in many Indian languages including Hindi,Bengali, Marathi, Assamese, Gujarati, Kannada, Bhojpuri, Malayalam and Oriya. He is also widely regarded as the most versatile singer in the history of Indian cinema and a maverick of sorts for lending his voice to songs that did not conform to the norms of the day.
Music director S. D. Burman is credited with spotting Kishore Kumar’s talent as a singer, and advancing his singing career. During the making of Mashaal (1950), Burman visited Ashok Kumar’s house, where he heard Kishore imitating K. L. Saigal. He complimented Kishore, but also told him that he should develop a style of his own, instead of copying Saigal.
Kishore Kumar was a rebellious singer. He sang in unorthodox style and created a style of his own very much different from the singing style of playback singers of his era and even the post Kishore era. He rarely did alaps in aa aa but used he he ha ha. He practised taan very rarely, but took subtle variations as demonstrated in the songs Jab Bhi Koi Kangana Bole and Aankhon Mein Humne Aapke Sapne Sajaye Hain.
In October 1987, he died following a massive heart attack. He had been married four times and is survived by his two sons Amit Kumar, who made his career in playback singing in Bollywood and Bengali films, and Sumit Kumar.
He has also been awarded Filmfare awards in the years 1969, 1975, 1978, 1980, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985 for his various breathtaking works in almost all the sections of the Cinema. He passed away on October 13th ,1987 and left millions of eyes watered.
Kishore Kumar was born in a Bengali family.His real name is Abhas Kumar Ganguly.He started his cinema career as a chorus singer at Bombay Talkies, where his brother worked. His first film as an actor was Shikari (1946), in which Ashok Kumar played the lead role. Music director Khemchand Prakash gave him a chance to sing the song Marne ki duayen kyon mangu for the film Ziddi (1948). After this, Kishore Kumar got many other assignments, but he was not very serious about a film career.In 1949, he decided to settle in Mumbai.
Kishore Kumar played hero in the Bombay Talkies film Andolan (1951), directed by Phani Majumdar. Although Kishore Kumar got some assignments as an actor with help of his brother, he was more interested in becoming a successful singer. He was not interested in acting, but his elder brother Ashok Kumar wanted him to be an actor like himself.
After facing difficulties in the initial stage of his acting career, Kishore Kumar achieved success as a comic hero with movies like New Delhi (1957), Aasha (1957), Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi (1958), Jhumroo (1961), Half Ticket (1962), and Padosan (1968). Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi,his home production, starred the three Ganguly brothers, and Madhubala.
He starred in Bimal Roy’s Naukri (1954) and Hrishikesh Mukherjee’s directorial debut Musafir (1957). Salil Chowdhury, the music director for Naukri was initially dismissive of him as a singer, when he came to know that Kishore Kumar didn’t have any formal training in music.However, after hearing his voice, he gave him the song Chhota sa ghar hoga, which was supposed to be sung by Hemant Kumar.
In the 1960s, as an actor, Kishore Kumar built up a notoriety for coming late for the shootings, or bunking them altogether. His films flopped frequently, and he also landed in income tax trouble.As a singer, he had some hit songs to his credit, including Zaroorat Hai
Zaroorat Hai from Manmauji (1961), Gaata Rahe Mera Dil from Guide (1964), and Yeh Dil Na Hota Bechara from Jewel Thief (1967).
Kishore Kumar sang for all leading actors in 1970s, including Rajesh Khanna, Amitabh Bachchan, Dharmendra, Sanjeev Kumar, Dev Anand, and Rishi Kapoor.
S. D. Burman and Kishore continued to churn out several hit songs together, including Phoolon Ke Rang Se and Shokhiyon Mein Ghola Jaaye from Prem Pujari (1969), Aaj Madhosh Hua Jaaye Re, Khilte Hain Gul Yahan and O Meri Sharmilee from Sharmilee (1971), Meet na mila from Abhimaan (1973), Pyaar Ke Is Khel Mein from Jugnu. In 1975, S. D. Burman composed his last song for Kishore Kumar. S. D. Burman went into a coma for the second time, soonafter Kishore recorded the song Badi Sooni Sooni Hai Zindagi for the film Mili.R. D. Burman considered Kishore Kumar his favorite singer, and recorded several hit songs with him in the 1970s.
Kishore Kumar’s voice inspired many upcoming Bollywood singers, including Kumar Sanu, Abhijeet, Vinod Rathod and Babul Supriyo. After his death, many of his songs have been remixed or re-sung by several artists. He was the top and highest paid male playback singer in Hindi Film Industry Bollywood from 1969 till his death in 1987. He has rendered some of the finest songs of his career in the later phase of his career.
Filmfare Awards
Winner:
Year ↓ Song ↓
1969 Roop tera mastaana
1975 Dil aisa kisi ne
1978 Khaike Pan Banaras Wala
1980 Hazaar raahen mudke dekheen
1982 Pag ghunghroo baandh
1983 Hamen aur jeene ki
1984 Manzilen apni jagah
1985 Saagar Kinaare
- By KOL News , Written on October 13, 2009
