Raju Vernekar
A special day dawns every year on August 4 and October 13 when the fans of Kishore Kumar all over the world remember him fondly. Kishore Kumar(4 August 1929 – 13 October 1987), an actor, lyricist, composer, producer rolled into one was a “versatile genius” who could sing in different manner….right from romantic to sad to soulful to motivating to classical to patriotic and to ghazals.
Born as Abhas Kumar Ganguly, at Khandwa in Madhya Pradesh, he got his first break in Music Director Khemchand Prakash’s film “Ziddi” (1948) in which he sung a song “Marne ki duayen kyon mangu”
In fact as an actor his first film was “Shikari” (1946) in which his elder brother Ashok Kumar played the lead role. After this, he got many other assignments.
In the initial years his career oscillated between singing and acting. Music director late S. D. Burman recorded several films with him. They included Munimaji (1954), Nau Do Gyarah (1957) and Paying Guest (1957). Then C Ramchandran, Shankar Jaikishan and Ravi also nurtured him. He was a perfect voice for Dev Anand.
Then again in 1969 it was under the baton of S D Burman, he was resurrected. When S D fell ill, his son R D Burman made him to sing for Shakti Samanta’s “Aradhana”. “Mere Sapnoki Rani’ sung by Kishore was a super hit and he got his first filmfare award for that song. After that he sang for almost all actors right from Rajesh Khanna/Amitabh Bacchan to Rishi Kapoor. Most of the films were super hits. In fact in seventees he became the “voice of Rajesh Khanna”.
Kishore Kumar who sang in several Indian languages and won 8 Film fare Awards for Best Male Playback holds the record for most number of Filmfare Awards in that category. The Filmfare awards won by him include: 1969, “Roop Tera Mastaana” (Aradhana/S D Burman/Anand Bakshi),
1975, “Dil Aisa Kisi Ne Mera” (Amanush/Shyamal Mitra/ Indeevar), 1978, “Khaike Pan Banaraswala”(Don/Kalyanji Anandji/ Anjaan), 1980 “Hazaar Raahen Mudke Dekheen” (Thodisi Bewafaii/ Khayyam/Gulzar), 1982 “Pag Ghungroo Baandh Ke Meera Nachi” (Namak Halaal/ Bappi Lahiri/ Anjaan), 1983 “Agar Tum Na Hote” (Agar Tum Na Hote/ R D Burman/ Gulshan Bawra), 1984 “Manzilein Apni Jagah Hain” (Sharaabi/ Bappi Lahiri/ Anjaan), 1985 “Saagar Kinaare” (Saagar/ R D Burman/ Javed Akhtar)
The versatile genius who sent viewers into peels of laughter with his stupendous performance as a comedian in “Padosan” (1968) , also produced and directed movies such as “Door Gagan Ki Chhaon Mein” (1964), “Badhti Ka Naam Daadhi”(1978), “Door Wadiyon Mein Kahim” (1980) and “Zindagi” (1981)
Pyarelal Sharma (of the famous Laxmikant -Pyarelal duo) says that “Kishore was a multifaceted personality. “Mr X in Bombay” was the first film for which we composed music and he sang under our direction. The music of that film was a superhit. I can proudly say that the combination of Laxmikant-Pyarelal, Anand Bakshi and Kishore Kumar came out with some of the most melodious songs. Kishore has shown his histrionics and flair for yodelling but it is wrong to assume that he was only intertested in comedy. He sang duets as well as solos very well.”
Singer Sudesh Bhosle a king of mimic and a playback singer who is known as a voice of Kishore Kumar ” Kishoreda is the one and the only versatile artist. I did several stage shows between 1982 and 1987 with him. He was lovable person who always showed concern for the fellow artists. His golden voice will always be guiding force for me”.
Singer Sadhna Sargam ” I am a huge fan of Kishore Kumar. I got chance to sing only two songs with him. One was for the film “Kaash” (1987) (Music director Rajesh Roshan) and another was for “Rukhsat (1988) (music directors Kalyanji-Anandji). But one memorable thing is that during recording Kishoreda used to enthrall the entire studio with his jubilant mood and used to make everyone happy. His flamboyance and his versatility has no parallels.
Kishore Kumar’s wife Leena Chandavarkar and actress of yesteryears, has no words to describe him. ” I think everybody loves my husband unconditionally. His voice is unmatched. The fans revere him and upcoming singers consider him “Dronacharya. I am no match to him in terms of talent”.
Such a telanted artist left for heavely abode on October 13,1987 in Mumbai, living his thousands of his fans mourning. His melodious voice is eternal and it will always be remembered my music lovers.
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