Kishore Kumar

Kishore Kumar

Date of Birth

4 August 1929, Khandwa, Madhya Pradesh, India

Date of Death

13 October 1987, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India (heart attack)

Birth Name

Abhas Kumar Kunjilal Ganguly

Height

5' 8½" (1.74 m)

Kishore's Personal Life

Kishore Kumar was born in a Bengali family as Abhas Kumar Ganguly on August 4, 1929 to Kunjalal Ganguly and Gouri Devi. His brothers were Ashok Kumar, Anoop Kumar and sister Sati Devi. Popular Bollywood actor Ashok Kumar was his brother so it helped him to venture into Bollywood. Actor and Singer Kundan Lal Saigal was his inspiration.

He was married four times, starting with Ruma Guha Thakurta in 1950. This marriage lasted eight years and then Kishore married the beautifull actress Madhubala in 1960, but unfortunately the actress died in 1969 due to some disease. His third marriage was to Yogeeta Bali that lasted only two years. In 1980 he married Leena Chandavarkar and this marriage lasted until his death.

CAREER

AS AN ACTOR

Kishore Kumar started his career as a chorus singer at Bombay Talkies and then played a role in Shikari (1946) starring his brother Ashok Kumar. He sang a song for Khemchand Prakash's Ziddi (1948). Andolan (1951) was his first film as an actor. Though he got many offers for acting, Kishore was more interested in singing. He also starred in Bimal Roy's Naukri (1954) and Hrishikesh Mukherjee's Musafir (1957).

Kishore Kumar made his mark as a comic actor in films like New Delhi (1957), Aasha (1957), Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi (1958), Jhumroo (1961), Half Ticket (1962), and Padosan (1968). All the three Gangully brothers and Madhubala starred in their home production Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi (1958). His acting carrer was not as good as his singing, considering that several of his films flopped.

Door Gagan Ki Chhaon Mein (1964), was a serious movie Produced and Directed by him; he even composed the music. After the success of this movie he made two more movies namely Door Ka Rahi (1971) and Door Waadiyon Mein Kahin (1980).

AS A SINGER

S. D. Burman spotted Kishore da's talent as a singer and gave him many oppertunities in movies like 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) which included superhit tracks like 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).

He has many superhit duets with Asha Bhosle like, Aanchal from Paying Guest (1957), Ankhon Mein Kya Ji from Nau Do Gyarah (1957), Haal Kaisa Hai Janaab Ka and Paanch Rupaiya Baara Aana from Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi (1958), Chhedo Na Meri Zulfein from Ganga Ki Lahren (1964), and Arre Yaar Meri Tum Bhi Ho Gajab from Teen Deviyan (1965) are some of them. Yodeling became his trademark and he did it for a number of songs like Main Hoon Jhumroo and Thandi Hawa Yeh Chandni from Jhumroo, Nakhrewali from New Delhi, Tum Bin Jaoon Kahan from Pyar Ka Mausam, and Zindagi Ek Safar Hai Suhana from Andaz (1971) and many more.

Music Director C. Ramchandra also loved Kishore's talent. He recorded the hit number Eena Meena Deeka from Aasha (1957) with him. Some of his other great songs are Nakhrewaali from New Delhi (1956) by Shankar Jaikishan, and C.A.T. Cat Maane Billi and Hum To Mohabbat Karega from Dilli Ka Thug (1958) by Ravi.

The great R. D. Burman recorded many songs with him. Some of the superhit ones are O Maajhi Re from Khushboo, Yeh Shaam Mastaani and Yeh Jo Mohabbat Hai from Kati Patang (1971), Kuchh To Log Kahenge from Amar Prem (1972), Raat Kali Ek Khwab Mein Aayi from Buddha Mil Gaya (1971), Musafir Hoon Yaaron from Parichay (1972), Diye Jalte Hain from Namak Haraam (1973), Meri Bheegi Bheegi Si from Anamika (1973), Zindagi Ke Safar Mein from Aap Ki Kasam (1974), Agar Tum Na Hote, Humein Tum Se Pyaar Kitna from Kudrat, Mere Naina Saawan Bhadon from Mehbooba, and Chingari Koi Bhadke (Amar Prem), Jab Bhi Koi Kangana from Shaukeen (1986).

In 1981, he sang for Sanjay Dutt's debut film Rocky. The song was Kya Yehi Pyaar Hai and it was followed by Sagar Kinare from Sagar in [1985], Aap Ki Aankhon Mein Kuchh from Ghar, Jaane Ja Dhoondta and Nahi Nahi from Jawani Diwani, Kharoshoo from Harjai (1982). He worked with Laxmikant-Pyarelal and added to his list of superhit numbers songs like 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: A Poem of Love, 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, Gaadi Bula Rahi Hai from Dost, Ruk Jaana Nahi from Imtihaan and many more.

He has also worked with composers like Rajesh Roshan, Sapan Chakravarty and Bappi Lahiriri. Kishore Kumar sang Bhool Gaya Saab Kuchh and  Dil Kya Kare Jab Kisise from Rajesh Roshan's hit film Julie. For the Congress rally in Mumbai, Sanjay Gandhi asked him to sing a song but after Kishore Da's refusal the Government had put a ban on playing Kishore Kumar songs on the All India Radio or television. The ban was lifted after Producers and Directors lobbied against it.

After 1980's
Amitabh Bachchan refused to do a guest appearence for his movie therefore he stopped singing for him and he did the same for Mithun Chakraborty because his former wife Yogeeta Bali divorced him and married Mithun. He later resolved the fights with both actors and sang for Amitabh in Toofan and in Disco Dancer, Muddat, Pyar Ka Mandir for Mithun.

He sang for Anil Kapoor's Woh Saat Din and Mr. India, and also for Saagar with R. D. Burman. Kishore Kumar is the inspiration for many upcoming Bollywood singers like Kumar Sanu, Abhijeet, Vinod Rathod and Babul Supriyo. This fine singer was one of the highest paid male singers of Bollywood. In the 1980's his son Amit Kumar also became a Bollywood singer. Some of his unforgetable songs are Neele Neele Amber Par from Kalakar in(1987) Humein Tumse Pyar Kitna from Kudrat, Zindagi Pyar Ka Geet Hai from Sautan, Zindagi Ki Yahi Reet Hai from Mr. India, O Yaara Tu Yaaron Se Hai Pyara and Lahron Ki Tarah Yaadein from Kash, Rah pe rahte hai from Namkeen, Bin Phere Hum Tere from Bin Phere Hum Tere from Bin Phere Hum Tere (1979), Maine Tumse Kuchh Nahi Manga from Katha in (1986), Saason se Nahi fom Mohabbat in (1987).

Awards

Filmfare Awards

Winner:

1969     Roop tera mastaana                       Aradhan  1975     Dil aisa kisi ne                               Amanush 1978     Khaike Pan Banaras Wala             Don 1980     Hazaar raahen mudke dekheen     Thodisi                                                                  Bewafaii 1982     Pag ghunghroo baandh              Namak Halaal 1983     Hamen aur jeene ki                      Agar Tum                                                                   Na Hote 1984     Manzilen apni jagah                     Sharaabi 1985     Saagar Kinaare                            Saagar Nominated: 1971     Zindagi Ek Safar                       Andaz 1971     Yeh Jo Mohabbat Hai               Kati Patang   1972     Chingari Koi Bhadke                Amar Prem   1973     Mere Dil Mein Aaj                   Daag: A Poem                                                                 of Love 1974     Gaadi Bula Rahi Hai                Dost   1974     Mera Jeevan Kora Kagaz       Kora Kagaz 1975     Main Pyaasa Tum                    Faraar   1975     O Manjhi Re                            Khushboo   1977     Aap Ke Anurodh                      Anurodh   1978     O Saathi Re                             Muqaddar Ka                                                                Sikander 1978     Hum Bewafa Harghiz              Shalimar   1979     Ek Rasta Hai Zindagi              Kaala Patthar   1980     Om Shanthi Om                       Karz   1981     Hameh Tumse Pyar                 Kudrat   1981     Chhookar Mere Mann Ko     Yaraana   1983     Shayad Meri Shaadi               Souten   1984     De De Pyar De                       Sharaabi   1984     Inteha Ho Gayi                       Sharaabi   1984     Log Kehete Hai Main            Sharaabi Bengal Film Journalists' Association Awards Winner:     1971 - Best Male Playback Singer for Aradhana     1972 - Best Male Playback Singer for Andaz     1973 - Best Male Playback Singer for                Hare Rama Hare Krishna     1975 - Best Male Playback Singer for Kora Kagaz