Roop Tera Mastana…, Khaike Pan Banaras Wala…, Zindagi Ek Safar…, Chookar mere mann ko…, Saagar Kinare… and the list goes on and on. Kishore Kumar left the world but his music can never be erased from our minds.
Born as Abhas Kumar Ganguly on August 4, 1929, he changed his name to Kishore Kumar before starting his career in Bollywood. When Kishore Kumar was still a child, his elder brother Ashok Kumar had already become a Bollywood star by then. Young Kishore joined his brother through the Bombay Talkies. Kishore Kumar got many offers for acting through his brother Ashok Kumar but he was more interested in singing even though Ashok Kumar wanted him to be an actor. As an actor, he starred in many films like ‘Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi’, ‘Half Ticket’, ‘Padosan’, etc…
This gem was said to be a find of Music Director S. D. Burman. It was Burman who suggested Kishore Kumar to develop his own style and this resulted in Kishore Kumar’s signature style of ‘Yodeling’. Kishore Kumar produced, acted and directed the film ‘Jhumroo’ in 1961 and wrote the lyrics for the song Main Hoon Jhumroo for the film. He also composed music for all the songs in that movie. The most remembered and cherished film and songs though remain to be Padosan and the songs Mere Saamne Waali Khidki Mein and the famous Kishore-Kumar-Sunil Dutt-Mehmood’s Ek Chatur Naar.
Kishore Kumar, the actor, director, producer, lyricist, composer and singer won many awards. He was the winner of eight Filmfare awards for Best Male Playback Singer. But the legend also had a troubled life. Right from his four marriages to his alleged arguments within the industry, he had to pay the price of his fame. During the Indian Emergency Sanjay Gandhi asked Kishore Kumar to sing for Indian National Congress rally but Kishore Kumar refused. As a result of this refusal, the government put an unofficial ban on playing Kishore Kumar Songs on All India Radio or television. But that didn’t stop him or his fans from listening to his music.
A few of Kishore Kumar’s songs can be listed down as-
“O Maajhi Re” from Khushboo;
“Yeh Shaam Mastani” and “Yeh Jo Mohabbat Hai” from Kati Patang;
“Kuch Toh Log Kahenge” from Amar Prem;
“Diya Jalte Hain” from Namak Haram;
“Humein Tumse Pyaar Kitna” from Kudrat;
“Mere Dil Mein Aaj Kya Hai” from Daag: A Poem of Love;
“Gore Rang pen a Itna” from Roti;
“Khaike Paan Banaraswala” from Don;
“Neele Neele Ambar Par” from Kalakar
The list is never ending and his songs are unforgettable. It was on October 13, 1987 that Kishore Kumar passed away. His death was, is and will always be considered to be one of the biggest losses to the Indian Music Industry.
Fridaymoviez pays a tribute to this maestro. R.I.P. Kishore Kumar!