Dec 06, 2003 01:55 PM
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(Updated Dec 06, 2003 10:27 PM)
Review:
Kishore Kumar Kishore Kumar's was the second golden male voice that the film industry produced, the first being that of Kundan Lal Sehgal. Besides being a singer, Kishore was a talented actor and comedian who stood out for his performances. He made his mark as an accomplished film and music director.
He was born Abhas Kumar Ganguly in Khandwa. At the age of 18, he came to Bombay where elder brother Ashok Kumar was a major star. He got his first opportunity as a singer in Bombay Talkies Ziddi(1948) where he sang the song Marne ki Duayen Kyon Mangu for Dev Anand. But in spite of Ziddi's success, Kishore found few offers forthcoming and did the odd singing assignment with bit roles making a rather tepid acting debut as hero in the forgettable Andolen(1951). His uninhibited antics and spontaneity made him one of the greatest comedians of Indian cinema. His exuberance lit up the screen as he sang and danced in films such as Asha and Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi.
Kishore’s real ambition was to become a successful playback singer. But life was a real struggle for him. Once when Kishore was waiting at a bus stop Ashok Kumar’s star friends made a remark like, ‘How can you even dream of becoming a singer. Your voice is no good.It was S.D. Burman who made Kishore the superstar singer of the seventies, when he chose him to sing ‘Roop Tera Mastana, pyar mera diwana’ and ‘Mere sapnon ki raani kab aayegi tu’ for Rajesh Khanna in the super hit Aradhana. The success of the film made Kishore the voice of Rajesh Khanna. But before Rajesh Khanna arrived on the scene S.D. Burman had made him the voice of Dev Anand with super hit music in films like Guide, Jewel Thief and Paying Guest. Songs like ‘Maana janab ne pukara nahin’ and ‘Gaata rahe mera dil’ were evergreen hits. R.D. Burman too had a lot of faith in Kishore. He had seen Kishore imitate artistes like Bhimsen Joshi perfectly. His ability to imitate coupled with his tremendous voice and range gave him an edge over others. Which is why after the decline of Rajesh Khanna, R.D. Burman and the other composers were able to successfully exploit Kishore Kumar’s voice for the other superstar Amitabh Bachchan. Kishore sung some super hit songs for the big B in movies like Don, Sharaabi, Mili and Amar Akbar Anthony the list is endless. It was his ability to modulate his voice to suit the personality of his hero, and the ethos of the situation, was what made him a star. He was as much the voice of the dapper Dev, the adorable Rajesh as well as the aggressive, angry young man Amitabh Bachchan. Kishore produced, directed, acted in and composed the music for Jhumroo. He then made an uncharacteristically serious film on the relationship between a father and his dumb son Door Gagan Ki Chhaon Mein. His real life son Amit Kumar portrayed the role of Kishore’s son in the film. The film went on to win many national and international awards.
Its critical success was perhaps what motivated the making of Door Ka Rahi another Kishore creation that throws up touches of the stylistic tranquility of ‘Door Gagan Ki Chaon Mein.’ But the heightened expectations of his fans of Kishore as a director were never fulfilled by his other films- Badhti Ka Naam Daadhi(1978), Zindagi(1981) or Door Wadiyon Mein Nahin. The last was another surprise from the singing, dancing, and vocal comica song less film. His childlike, guileless personality won him the friendship and admiration of many of his colleagues. Although he had the reputation of being a miser and encountered problems with income tax officials, he will always be remembered fondly. Kishore was extremely insecure. He was prankish but extremely sensitive and committed. Lata Mangeshkar’s description of Kishore Kumar fits him perfectly. She refers to Kishore as a ‘Sampoorna Kalaakar’ which means a complete artiste.
His death on the 13th of October 1987 robbed the world of a great genius.
Kishore Kumar is famous as the pioneer of yodelling in Hindi filmdom. This is just one of the reasons for his popularity. This actor-singer, who was gifted with multiple talents, started a whole new era in Indian cinema. Kishore, whose original name was Abhas Kumar Ganguly, started his singing career when he was 18, though he did not know even the rudiments of music. He left his birthplace, Khandwa, and moved to Mumbai where his older brother, Ashok Kumar, was already an established actor. Despite this, opportunities did not come easily to Kishore. Initially he imitated the style of K L Saigal, whom he idolised. He sang his first song in 1948, Marne ki duayen kyon maangu for Dev Anand in the film Ziddi. He then approached S D Burman, under whose music direction he rendered many hits.
His uninhibited antics and spontaneity made him one of the greatest comedians of Indian cinema. His exuberance lit up the screen as he sang and danced in films such as Asha and Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi. The Sixties were tough times for Kishore as he encountered personal and professional problems. But he shot back to the top with Aradhana, following which he became the permanent voice of superstar Rajesh Khanna. His hits vary from the sad Zindagi ke safar mein to the flippant Rafta rafta. He was married four times, to leading actresses Ruma Devi, Madhubala, Yogita Bali and Leena Chandavarkar, in that order. With his increasing fame also grew rumours of his eccentricities, strange lifestyle and weird behaviour. Despite this, he managed to remain at the top till the mid-eighties. At this time, his career began to decline until he finally succumbed to a major heart attack in 1987. His passing away created a void in the Indian film industry, which remains even today.
As his son Amit Kumar describes him:'I think it's the fortunate who get these kind of fathers. He was known to play practical jokes on people very often. He used to love telling jokes too. But with the family he used to be serious. He loved us and the rest of the family. Most of the times, he was like a child. He never planned things. He was impulsive. He would just get up and say, 'let's go out' and we would pile up in the car and go without thinking twice. He loved the mountains, nature. People think that Kishore Kumar only means jokes, comedy. But he had a very serious side to him too.' A side very few got to see.
Awarded for Best playback singer in:
Aradhana( 1970). Amanush( 1976). Don(1979). Thodisi Bewaffai( 1981). Namak Halal(1983). Agar Tum Na Hote(1984). Sharabi(1985). Saagar(1987).
Top 20 of Kishore Kumar-
Pal Pal Dil Ke Paas Tum Rahti Ho(Film - Blackmail)
Zindgi Ke Safar Mein Gujar Jaate Hain Jo Mukam(Aap Ki Kasam)
Hum Bewafa Hargiz Na the(Shaalimaar)
Tera Mujhse Hai Pehle Ka Naata Koi(Aa Gale Lag Ja)
Manjilein Apni Jagah Hain(Sharaabi)
Chingari Koi Bhadke(Amar Prem)
Dilbar Mere Kab tak Mujhe(Satte Pe Satta)
Hamein Aur Jeene ki Chahat Na Hoti(Agar Tum Na Hote)
Phoolon Ke Rang Se(Gamblar)
Chehra Hai Ya Chaand Khila Hai(Saagar)
Hansini O Meri Hansini(Jahrila Insaan)
Raat Kali Ik Khwab main Aayi(Buddha Mil Gaya)
Musafir Hoon Yaron(Parichay)
Kehna Hai Kehna Hain(Padosan)
Khaike Paan Banaras Wala(Don)
Dukhi Man mere(Funtoosh)
Roop Tera Aisa(Ek Baar Muskra Do)
Dil Kya Kare(Julie)
Roop Tera Mastana(Aaradhana)
Hamein Tumse Pyar Kitna(Kudrat)
A VOICE WITH VERSATILITY AND WILL NOT COME AGAIN. - IT IS MY TRIBUTE.
