By ANI
Sunday August 6, 09:02 PM
By Rajni Khaitan
Khandwa (Madhya Pradesh), Aug.6 (ANI): For millions of fans of the playback singer and actor Kishore Kumar, he may be still alive in their hearts through his immortal songs and incomparable acting. But he is a forgotten hero in his hometown in Khandwa.
His house wore a deserted look on the occasion of his 77th birth anniversary on Friday.
Shyamlal, the caretaker of the house, says Kumar always wanted to repair the house and live in Khandwa in old age, but his untimely death did not allow his wish to be fulfilled.
"We always remember him. He really loved this place and the house. He wanted to live in this house and, therefore. he used to say that he would repair this house. But we really feel bad that his wishes were not fulfilled as he died before he could do anything for the house or return to Khandwa," said Shyamlal.
Shyamlal says he is barely able to manage the place in the absence of funds.
Today, Kishore Kumar's memorial, marking the spot, where he was cremated, is overgrown with weeds and is decaying.
However, if the authorities are to be believed, efforts to renovate the memorial are on and it will be ready by year-end.
"The project for the memorial had only 17 lakh rupees but now it has gone up to fifty lakh rupees. Efforts are being made to mobilise more resources. People are coming forward and making generous donations. So I think we'll be able to complete the memorial till December," said Nikunj Shrivastav, district collector of Khandwa.
Kishore Kumar, whose real name was Abhas Kumar Ganguly, was born in Khandwa district of Madhya Pradesh on August 4, 1929. Kishore Kumar was the younger brother of Ashok Kumar, a renowned Bollywood star.
Kumar headed for Mumbai (then Bombay), to make a niche for himself in Bollywood at a very early age. He not only excelled in acting, but also became one of the finest playback singing talents of the country.
Before his death on October 13, 1987, Kumar acted in about 81 films, including Hindi and Bengali. Kumar's mellifluous voice has weathered the storms of time better than his memorial.
Kishore is widely acknowledged as a true genius and is regarded as one of the finest ever Indian male playback singers of all times - along with Mohammed Rafi and MukeshKishore Kumar recieved the prestigious Filmfare awards eight times for his songs-Roop tera mastana, Aradhana ((1969), Dil aisa kisi ne mera toda - Amanush (1975), Khaike paan banarasu wala - Don (1978), Hazar Raahen - Thodisi Bewafaii (1980), Pag ghungroo baandh meera - Namak Halaal (1982), Agar tum na hote - Agar tum na hote (1983), Manzilen apni jagah - Sharaabi (1984), Saagar Kinaare - Saagar (1985). (ANI)