Finest Indian playback singer of all time

Kishore Kumar’s 80th birth anniversary falls today:

Upali Rupasinghe

Kishore Kumar born on August 4, 1929 in Madhya Pradesh, India to a Bengali family as Abhas Kumar Ganguly. Later, he came to Mumbai and hegan his career as a musician. Many, out of thousands of songs he sang, became memorable. The song ‘Marne Ki Duyaen Kyon Mangu’ gave him instant popularity.

He was a playback singer to top actor of that time like Dev Anand, Rajesh Khanna and Amithabh Bachchan. Kishore is widely acknowledged as one of the finest Indian male playback singers of all time along with Mohamed Rafi and Mukesh. In addition to singing and acting Kishore Kumar achieved notable success as a lyricist, composer, screen writer and scriptwriter.

Kishore acted in about 81 films, both Hindi and Bengali. His famous films were Bhai Bhai (1956), Asha (1957), Musafir (1957), Jhungroo (1961), Dhoor Gagan ki choan mein (1964) and Padosan (1968). Some of his memorable songs are Ek Ladiki Bhigi Bhagi si. Ye dil na hota Bechara, Yeh sham mastani, Mere sapno ki rani, Tere mere milan kiraine and Jindagi ka safar. He has sung in many Indian languages including Hindi, Bengali (his mother tongue). Marathi, Assamese, Gujarati, Kannada Bhopuri, Malayam and Oriya.

Kishore’s father Kunjilal Ganguli was a lawyer and his mother Gouri Devi was from a wealthy family. Kunjilal had four children Ashok Kumar the eldest, Sati Devi (daughter), Anoop Kumar and Kishore Kumar the youngest. Kishore was still a child when his elder brother Ashok Kumar became an actor.

Some time later Anoop Kumar also ventured into movies with the help of Ashok Kumar. Hanging around his brothers, Kishore started to take a keen interest in movies. As time went on Kishore was interested in music scene too and soon became a fan of K.L. Saigal the legendary singer and superstar of those days.

Kishore Kumar did not have a formal training in music. He did make a name for himself as an actor but more than anything else he wanted to become a playback singer and that was his goal in life. He also achieved a lot of success as a comedian in films such as-Half Ticket, Padosan, Nauki, Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi, Pyar Divana, Hungama Dhoork Ka Raahi and the great classic but commercial flop and his own production called Dhoor Gagan Ki Chhaon Mein.

Apart from Sachin Dev, Burman, Khemchand Prakash was another composer who recognised Kishore’s talents. He composed and recorded with Kishore for the movie Ziddi which became a huge hit. Incidentally, it was in Khemchand’s own studio, where Kishore met Lata Mangeshkar.

S.D. Burman recorded with Kishore for Dev Anand’s Muniji, Taxi Driver, Funtoosh, House No. 44, Nau Do Gyarah, and Paying Guest. At a time when Lata was doing well, S.D. Burman fell out with her and replaced her with Asha Bhosle, Lata’s sister. S.D. Burman, Majrooh, Asha and Kishore became a strong team and produced fantastic music for films like, Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi, the song Ek Ladki Bheegi Bhaagi Si, Haal Kaisa Hai Jannab Ka and Paanch Rupaiya Baara Aana, became very popular among the movie-goers. Kishore and Asha recorded several casual hits such as Chhod Do Aavchal, Aajhon Mein Ji, and C.A.T. Cat Maane Billi. Kishore too was interested in composing. It was Kishore and Kalyanji Shah who introduced electronic sounds to then composers who were around.

1960’s was quite a lean patch for Kishore and most his films flopped at the Box Office. However, in 1966, Kishore worked with S.D. Burman’s son R.D. Burman and came into limelight again. In 1969 R.D. Burman made it very clear that he preferred Kishore’s voice to that of Mohammed Rafi and Kishore got the break he had been seeking for nearly two decades when he won his first Filmfare Award for the song, Roop Tera Mastana.

Kishore, for over one decade worked closely with R.D. and S.D. Burman and he sang for both Amitabh and Dharminder for the film Sholay. He also started singing for the younger stars such as Rishi Kapoor and Sanjay Dutt. Kishore and Lata sang some trendy tunes for Sanjay’s first movie Rocky. There was Kya Yehi Pyaar Hai and Hum Tumse Mile.

Kishore sang for Amitabh, Jeetendra, Anil Kapoor and Govinda, Like Rajesh Khanna and Dev Anand, Amithabh Bachchan always preferred Kishore as his playback singer. During Emergency in 1975-77, Kishore refused to sing for then Government’s Emergency Propaganda.

As a result, his songs were banned in all the national media at that time, but this did not stop Kishore becoming the legend he turned out to be.

Kishore’s son, Amit Kumar became a great singer in the 80s with the help of R.D. Burman and Rajesh Roshan. He also sang for Anil Kapoor for his film Mr. India and for R.D. Burman for the film Sagar. Kishore was married four times. His wives were Ruma Guha Thakurta, Madhubhala, Yogeeta Bali and Leena Chandavvarkar. He had two sons Amit Kumar and Sumit Kumar.

In 1987, Kishore was unhappy with the songs he was singing and decided to retire and seek out his roots back at his native village, khandwa. However, in October 1987 he passed away in Mumbai. But his last wish to go home was fulfilled as his body was taken to his birth place Khandwa in Madhya Pradesh, for cremation.

Kishore inspired many of today’s singers one way or the other. When Kishore was in the prime of his career there was no space for anybody else, even today that space is not well filled.