"I have three best friends in this world. What's surprising is that they also happen to be your (audience) three best friends. They are Bachpan, Jawani and Budhapa."- Kishore Kumar
A legendary actor, a magical singer, composer, lyricist, director, producer and scriptwriter, today is the 82nd Birth Anniversary of one of the most celebrated playback singers of the Hindi Film Industry, Kishore Kumar.
Born into the Bengali Brahmin Ganguly family in Khandwa, Madhya Pradesh as Abhas Kumar Ganguly, Kishore became a fan of singer-actor Kundan Lal Saigal, whom he considered his guru and tried to follow Saigal's singing style while he was still a child. Abhas changed his name to Kishore Kumar and started his cinema career as a chorus singer at Bombay Talkies. Although Kishore got some assignments as an actor with help of his brother Ashok Kumar, who was then an established actor, he was more interested in becoming a singer.
Music director S. D. Burman spotted Kishore Kumar's talent as a singer and advanced his singing career. S. D. Burman recorded with Kishore for Dev Anand's 'Munimji', 'Taxi Driver', 'House No. 44', 'Nau Do Gyarah', 'Paying Guest', 'Guide', 'Jewel Thief', 'Prem Pujari' and 'Tere Mere Sapne'.
His sense of humour, which was the essence of some of his most beautiful songs, was inate. He used to write his poetry under the name of KaviKisordas. R. D. Burman, son of S.D. Burman, got Kishore Kumar his first solo song 'Mere Sapno Ki Rani' and 'Roop Tera Mastana'. Kishore, eventually won his first Filmfare award for the song 'Roop Tera Mastana'. The rest, as we know, is history.
Over the years, 'Ek Ladki Bheegi Bhaagi Si', 'Haal Kaisa Hai Janab Ka', 'Chalte Chalte', 'Dilbar Mere', 'Roop Tera Mastana', 'Saagar Jaisi Aankhonwali', 'Saagar Kinare', 'Mere Sapnon Ki Rani' and many such record breaking songs have continued to mesmerise us even today with his magical voice. Some of his classics, in partnership with R. D. Burman, continues to seep into the new generation in the form of remixes, tributes, adaptations and has been a constant inspiration to the young music composers.
His songs have immortalised him for generations to come and he continues to live within us. On his 82nd Birth Anniversary, Fridaymoviez pays tribute to Kishore Da (4th August, 1929- 13th October 1987), one of the iconic singers of his generation.
Happy Birthday, Kishore Da!!!