Kishore Kumar (4 August 1929 – 13
October 1987), was a popular Indian film playback singer, actor, lyricist, composer,
producer, director, screenplay writer and scriptwriter.[1] He is considered one of the most
successful playback singers of the Hindi film industry.
He sang in many Indian languages including Bengali, Hindi,
Marathi, Assamese, Gujarati, Kannada, Bhojpuri, Malayalam, Oriya, and Urdu.
He won 8 Filmfare
Awards for Best Male Playback Singer and holds the record for
winning the most Filmfare Awards
in that category. He was awarded the "Lata Mangeshkar Award"
by the Madhya Pradesh
government and from that year onwards, the Madhya Pradesh Government initiated
a new award called the "Kishore Kumar Award" for contributions to Hindi cinema.
Kishore Kumar was born
into the Bengali Ganguly family in Khandwa, Central
Provinces and Berar (now in Madhya Pradesh) as Abhas Kumar Ganguly.[2] His father Kunjalal Ganguly
(Gangopadhyay) was a lawyer and his mother Gouri Devi came from a wealthy
Bengali family. Kunjalal Gangopadhyaya was invited by the Kamavisadar Gokhale
family of Khandwa to be their personal lawyer. Kishore was the youngest of four
siblings, the other three were Ashok (the eldest), Sati Devi, and Anoop.[3] While Kishore was still a child, his
brother Ashok became a Bollywood actor. Later, Anoop also ventured into cinema
with Ashok's help. Spending time with his brothers, Kishore became interested
in films and music. He became a fan of singer-actor K.
L. Sahgal—whom he considered his guru—and tried to emulate his
singing style.[4]
After Ashok became a star of Hindi films, the
Ganguly family visited Mumbai regularly. Abhas Kumar changed his name to
Kishore and started his cinema career as a chorus singer at Bombay Talkies, where his brother worked.
Kumar's first film appearance was in Shikari (1946), in which his
brother Ashok played the lead role. Music director Khemchand Prakash gave Kumar
a chance to sing "Marne ki duayen kyon mangu" for the film Ziddi
(1948). After this, Kumar was offered many other assignments, but he was not
very serious about a film career.[5] In 1949, he settled in Mumbai.[citation needed]
Kumar played the hero in the Bombay Talkies film Andolan (1951),
directed by Phani Majumdar. Although he got some acting assignments with the
help of his brother, he was more interested in becoming a singer. Ashok wanted
Kumar to be an actor like him.[6]
Kumar next 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 Kumar as a
singer when he found that Kumar had no formal training in music.[7] However, after hearing his voice,
Chowdhury gave him the song Chhota sa ghar hoga, which was supposed to
be sung by Hemant Kumar.[citation needed]
Kumar starred in films New Delhi (1957), Aasha
(1957), Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi
(1958), Half Ticket
(1962), and Padosan (1968). Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi
(1958), his home production, starred the three Ganguly brothers and Madhubala. Kumar played a car mechanic who has
a romance with a city girl (Madhubala) and a car mechanic and there is a
subplot involving the brothers.[8]:29
Music director S. D. Burman is credited with
spotting Kumar's talent for singing. During the making of Mashaal
(1950), Burman visited Ashok's house, where he heard Kumar imitating K. L. Saigal. He complimented him and told him
that he should develop a style of his own, instead of copying Saigal.[6] Kumar eventually developed his own
style of singing, which featured yodeling, which he had
heard on the records of Tex Morton and Jimmie
Rodgers.[8]:60
Burman recorded with Kumar for Dev Anand's Munimji (1954), Taxi Driver (1954),
House No. 44 (1955), Funtoosh (1956), Nau Do Gyarah (1957), Paying Guest (1957), Guide (1965), Jewel Thief (1967), Prem Pujari (1970), and Tere Mere Sapne
(1971). He also composed music for Kumar's home production Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi
(1958). Some of their songs were; "Maana Janaab Ne Pukara Nahin" from
Paying Guest, "Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke" from Nau Do Gyarah
(1957), "Ai Meri Topi Palat Ke Aa" from Funtoosh, and "Ek
Ladki Bheegi Bhaagi Si" and "Haal Kaisa Hai Janaab Ka" from Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi
(1958).[9] Asha Bhosle and Kumar performed duets composed
by Burman including "Chhod Do Aanchal" from Paying Guest (1957), "Ankhon Mein Kya
Ji" from Nau Do GyarahTemplate:Ankhon hi ankhon mein features Mohd Rafi and not
Kishore Kumar (1957), "Haal Kaisa Hai Janaab Ka" and
"Paanch Rupaiya Baara Aana" from Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi
(1958) and "Arre Yaar Meri Tum Bhi Ho Gajab" from Teen Deviyan (1965).[10]
Music director C. Ramchandra also recognized Kumar's talent
as a singer.[7] They collaborated on songs including
"Eena Meena Deeka" from Aasha
(1957). Kishore Kumar's work includes "Nakhrewaali" from New Delhi (1956) by Shankar Jaikishan, "C.A.T. Cat Maane
Billi" and "Hum To Mohabbat Karega" from Dilli Ka Thug (1958) by Ravi, and
"Chhedo Na Meri Zulfein" from Ganga Ki Lahren (1964) by Chitragupta.[citation needed]
Kumar produced, directed, acted in composed
the music for Jhumroo (1961), and wrote the lyrics for the film's title
song, "Main Hoon Jhumroo". Later, he produced and directed Door
Gagan Ki Chhaon Mein (1964). He wrote the script and composed music for the
film, which is about the relationship between a father (Kishore Kumar) and his
deaf and mute son (played by his real-life son (Amit Kumar).[11]:52
In the 1960s, as an actor, Kishore Kumar built
up a notoriety for coming late for the shootings or bunking them altogether.[12] His films flopped frequently and he
landed in income tax trouble.[6] As a singer, his work in this period
includes "Zaroorat Hai Zaroorat Hai" from Manmauji (1961),
"Gaata Rahe Mera Dil" from Guide (1965), and "Yeh Dil Na Hota
Bechara" from Jewel Thief
(1967).
In the late 1960s, Rahul Dev Burman worked with Kishore Kumar on
the soundtrack of the film Padosan (1968), in
which Kumar sang "Mere Saamne Wali Khidki Mein" and "Kehna
Hai." Padosan was a comedy in which Kumar as a dramatist-musician, Mehmood as a Carnatic music and dance teacher, and Sunil Dutt as a simpleton named Bhola. Kumar's
character was inspired by his uncle, Dhananjay Bannerjee, a classical singer.[5] The highlight of the film was a
musical, comical duel between Kishore Kumar-Sunil Dutt and Mehmood: "Ek
Chatur Nar Karke Singaar."
In 1969, Shakti Samanta produced and directed Aradhana.
He sang two songs in the film; "Meri Sapnon Ki Rani" and "Roop
Tera Mastana". Shakti Samanta suggested that Kumar sing the other songs.
When the film was released, Kumar's two songs established him as a leading
Bollywood playback singer.[13] Kishore Kumar won his first Filmfare
award for"Roop Tera Mastana".[11]:54
1970s and 1980s
In the 1970s and 1980s, Kumar sang for Rajesh Khanna, Amitabh Bachchan, Dharmendra, Jeetendra, Sanjeev Kumar, Dev Anand, Shashi Kapoor, Mithun Chakraborty,
Vinod Khanna, Dilip Kumar, Randhir Kapoor, Rishi Kapoor, Rajiv Kapoor, Sanjay Dutt, Sunny Deol, Anil Kapoor, Rakesh Roshan, Dilip Kumar, Pran, Sachin, Vinod Mehra, Rajni Kanth,Chunky Pandey, Kumar Gaurav, Govinda and Jackie Shroff.[citation needed]Renuprasad
S. D. Burman and Kumar continued to work
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), and "Jeevan ki Bagiya mehkegi" from Tere Mere Sapne (1974). In 1975, S. D.
Burman composed his last song for Kumar; "Badi Sooni Sooni Hai" for
the film Mili.[7]
R.D. Burman recorded several songs with Kumar
in the 1970s, including "O Maajhi Re" from Khushboo,
"Yeh Shaam Mastaani" and "Yeh Jo Mohabbat Hai" from Kati Patang (1971), "Raat Kali Ek
Khwab Mein Aayi" from Buddha Mil Gaya (1971) and "Chingari
Koi Bhadke (Amar Prem)" and "Jab Bhi Koi
Kangana" from Shaukeen (1986).
Although he was not formally trained in the classical music, R.D. Burman often
had Kumar sing semi-classical songs, such as "Hamein Tum Se Pyaar
Kitna" from Kudrat and "Mere Naina Saawan
Bhadon" from Mehbooba.[citation needed]
R.D. Burman recorded several duets pairing
Kumar with Asha Bhosle and with
Lata Mangeshkar, including "Panna Ki
Tamanna" from Heera Panna
(1973), "Neend Chura Ke Raaton Mein" from the film Shareef Budmaash, "Kya Yehi Pyaar
Hai" from Sanjay Dutt's debut
film Rocky
(1981), "Jaane Ja Dhoondta" and "Kharoshoo" from Harjai
(1982).[citation needed]
Apart from the Burmans, Kumar worked with
other music directors. The composer duo Laxmikant-Pyarelal
(L-P) composed many songs sung by him, including "Mere Mehboob Qayamat
Hogi" from Mr. X In Bombay, "Mere Naseeb Mein Aye Dost"
from Do Raaste, "Yeh Jeevan Hai" from
Piya Ka Ghar, "Mere Dil Mein Aaj Kya
Hai" from Daag,
"Nahi Mai Nahi Dekh Sakta" from Majboor,
"Mere diwanepan ki bhi" from Mehboob Ki Mehndi, "Naach Meri
Bulbul" from Roti, "Chal Chal Mere Haathi"
from Haathi Mere Saathi
and "Tu Kitne Baras Ki" from Karz.
L-P also worked with Kumar and Mohammed Rafi on duets for the films Dostana,
Ram Balram and Deedaar-E-Yaar. L-P
composed I love you (Kaate Nahin Katate Yeh Din Yeh Raat)" from Mr. India in (1987), a duet with Kumar and
Alisha Chinoy. Salil Chowdhury recorded songs like "Koi
Hota Jisko Apna" from Mere Apne and
"Gujar Gaye Din Din" from Annadata.
Ravindra Jain recorded "Ghungroo Ki Tarah" and the duets "Le
Jaayenge Le Jaayenge" from Chor Machaye Shor and "Tota Maina Ki
Kahani" from Fakira.[citation needed]
Khaiyyaam recorded Kumar's duets with Lata
Mangeshkar, including "Hazaar Raahein" from Thodisi Bewafaii and Aankhon Mein Humne
Aapke Sapne Sajaye Hain, Chandani Raat Mein Ek Bar. Hridaynath Mangeshkar
recorded Zindagi Aa Raha Hoon Main from Mashaal. Kalyanji Anandji recorded several songs with
Kumar including Zindagi Ka Safar and Jeevan Se Bhari Teri Aankhein,
from Safar, O Saathi Re from Muqaddar Ka Sikandar
and Pal Bhar Ke Liye from Johny Mera Naam.[citation needed]
Kumar worked with other composers including Rajesh Roshan, Sapan Chakraborty and Bappi Lahiri. Kumar sang Bhool Gaya Sab
Kuchh (duet with Lata Mangeshkar) and Dil Kya Kare Jab Kisise for
Rajesh Roshan's film Julie.[citation needed]
Their other songs include Yaadon Mein Woh from Swami,
Chhookar
Mere Man Ko Kiya Toone Kya Ishaara from Yaarana
and Kahiye, Suniye (duet with Asha Bhosle) from Baton Baton Mein. Bappi Lahiri also recorded many songs with
Kishore Kumar, including Pag Ghunghroo Bandh from Namak Halaal (1982), Manzilen Apni
Jagah Hai from Sharaabi (1984) and Saason
Se Nahi Kadmose Nahi from Mohabbat in (1987) and duets with (Lata
Mangeshkar)) like Albela Mausamand Pyar Ka Tohfa from Tohfa
(1985). Kishore and Bappi pair also recorded hits in Bengali, including Chirodini
Tumi Je Amar from Amar
Sangee (1987) and E Amar Gurudakshina from Gurudakshina (1987). Another Bengali
Musician was Ajay Das who made many hit songs using Kishore Kumar's voice.[citation needed]
During the Indian Emergency
(1975–1977), Sanjay Gandhi
asked Kumar to sing for an Indian National
Congress rally in Mumbai, but he refused.[14] As a result, Information and
broadcasting minister Vidya Charan Shukla
(1975–1977) put an unofficial ban on playing Kishore Kumar songs on state
broadcasters All India Radio and
Doordarshan from 4 May 1976 till the end of
Emergency.[15][16]
