The unbeatable Kishore Kumar - Page 5

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Posted: 18 years ago
#41

Kishore Kumar remembered on 77th birth annivesary

Kishore Kumar remembered on 77th birth annivesary Mumbai, Aug 4: Singing legend Kishore Kumar was fondly remembered on his 77th birth anniversary today as radio stations played his classic tunes and his numerous fans organised special events to mark the event.

Known for his versatile voice and his impeccable comic timing, 'Kishoreda', as he was fondly known, brought many a tear - of joy and laughter - to many Indians during the four decades that he was part of the film industry.

Reminiscing about the singer last week, Lata Mangeshkar remembered his last birthday before he passed away.

"We were in London for a show on his birthday that year and he was in a very good mood. We had a huge party that night. That was his last birthday. The next year, he passed away," she said last week on the sidelines of a function.

Radio stations in the city played old Kishore Kumar favourites from films such as "Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi" and "Padosan". After all, who can forget Sunil Dutt lip-syncing to a pan chewing Kishore Kumar in the movie as he serenaded Saira Banu? Kishore Kumar died on October 13 ,1987 of a heart attack, after having lent his voice to over 500 songs in four decades.

Edited by Qwest - 18 years ago
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Posted: 18 years ago
#42

Legendary singer-actor Kishore Kumar, a forgotten tale in hometown


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)

Edited by Qwest - 18 years ago
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Posted: 18 years ago
#43

Kishore Kumar's family remembers him

Friday August 4, 10:29 PM

New Delhi: Add an amazing singing voice to phenomenal acting talent and you have a performer who bordered on the genius. And like most geniuses he was notoriously eccentric! That's Kishore Kumar but for wife Leena Chandravarkar he was also a magician of sorts.

"He used to energise people around him. He was like an angel or you can say a magician of sorts. He meant a lot to me," Leena Chandravarkar said.

Kishore Kumar yodelled his way into Bollywood in the 1950s and changed Bollywood playback singing forever.

He added freshness and exuberance to playback singing and was instrumental in introducing electronic music to Bollywood.


"He knew how to get completely involved in his songs. My father's contribution to making good music with music directors was simply unique," Singer and Kishore Kumar's son, Amit Kumar said.

Kishore Kumar inspired more playback singers than any other.

Many of today's leading singers including Kumar Sanu, Abhijeet and Babul Supriyo started their careers as 'copy singers' of Kishore Kumar.

Interestingly, Kishore Kumar also started his career imitating KL Saigal but adopted his unique style of singing on the advice of music director SD Burman. And the rest as they is history.

Edited by Qwest - 18 years ago
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Posted: 18 years ago
#44

Young KK

Edited by Qwest - 18 years ago
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Posted: 18 years ago
#45
Kishore Kumar, the show goes on


By: Pradeep Kashyap

The legendary Kishore Kumar needs no introduction. It has been nearly two decades since the legend passed away but Kishore Kumar continues to live on through his songs.

He was first noticed in 1955 in the hilarious Baap Re Baap which was followed by Bhagambhhag, Bhai Bhai, Dilli Ka Thug, Naya Andaaz, New Delhi, Aasha, Musafir, Shararat and many others.

In 1958, the three Ganguly brothers, Ashok Kumar, Kishore Kumar and Anup Kumar came together in Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi, directed by Satyen Bose. The film was a runaway hit and is today considered as one of the finest films ever made in Indian history.

Kishore Kumar did his own playback singing rather than depending on a ghost voice. At one point he was so busy that he was recording as many as six songs per day, and had to use Mohammed Rafi's voice for himself in Raagini and Shararat!

Slowly the black and white era came to an end and Kishore almost stopped acting occasionally doing a Padosan, Sadhu Aur Shaitan, Pyar Kiye Jaa, and a guest appearance in Bombay To Goa.

There was a lean period for some time, and then in 1969 came Aradhana and Rajesh Khanna, India's first superstar for whom Kishore Kumar churned out some of the best songs of his career like Roop Tera Mastana, Yeh Kya Hua, Chingari Koi Bhadke, Ye Lal Rang, O Mere Dil Ke Chain and many more. The list is endless.

After bagging the prestigious Filmfare award seven times, in 1985 the actor-singer-comedian expressed his desire to get away from the maddening crowd. He announced his retirement and was to settle down in Khandwa, his hometown.

But on October 13, 1987 he went away quietly after a massive stroke. He left behind a treasure trove of song, films and a void that cannot be filled.

Edited by Qwest - 18 years ago
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Posted: 18 years ago
#46

Amit Kumar
My Baba, Kishore Kumar
Amit Kumar Ganguly on his best friend, his father

Dr Rajiv Vijayakar

Fifteen years ago, Kishore Kumar bid adieu to a chequered life. A shattered wife and sons, devastated composers, benumbed friends and fans, immortal songs, unforgettable performances and a phantasmagoria of memories were the legacy he left behind. Says Amit Kumar Ganguly, his son and no mean talent himself, "At one time, a serial had been planned on the anecdotes, stories and memories that abounded about my father. Theoretically, it could have run for hundreds of hours, and yet it would have been inadequate to narrate all the tales that together give some glimpse of my father. Put simply, he was a complete artiste, and the greatest all-rounder Indian cinema has ever seen.
"Who else wrote, produced, directed and edited films, wrote lyrics, composed and sang songs, and acted in every role from the most serious to the completely comic?" Amit Kumar goes down memory lane in an attempt to spotlight a man who was a great father as well. "My father was not a mere Jack-of-all-trades and master of none. He exhibited a natural and complete mastery over everything he chose to do." Amit recalls that there was a small story about the trilogy that Kishore made --- Door Gagan Ki Chhaon Mein, Door Ka Rahi and Door Wadiyon Mein Kahin. "The first was made when Baba was going through a financial crisis. So he switched on the headlights of his car for the mahurat shot.

"At the first show at the Metro [a theatre in Mumbai], only 50-60 people were in the hall, 12 of which were our staffers and Baba. But the film ran for 24 weeks. Not 25, because Baba refused to spend on the publicity for the Silver Jubilee!"

Door Ka Rahi," says Amit, "ran for 15 weeks. Baba went around telling the distributors this time not to buy it. 'Boring film hain!' he would tell them. It ran for 15 weeks. Door Wadiyon Mein Kahin was a washout, with Baba refusing to have both songs and background music in it as it was his film. But before that, he approached Laxmikant-Pyarelal to only do the background music!'

An interesting tale about Kishore pertains to the cameo he was to do in his brother Ashok Kumar's production Ziddi (1948), which marked Kishore's debut as playback singer under Khemchand Prakash. 'Dada Moni [Ashok Kumar] wanted Baba to do the cameo of a gardener who just abused the hero Dev [Anand] in a scene. Baba reluctantly agreed and when the camera rolled, used unprintable words instead of the abuses in the script! "Dada Moni frantically yelled 'Cut!', but I believe that this incident had a big role to play in the bond that Baba shared with Dev Anand. For Dev Anand was the only star for whom he would sing playback when Baba himself was a big star." Kishore Kumar's debut as an actor was in Dada Moni's Shikari in 1946, also S D Burman's first film as composer. His first lead role was in Vijaya (1948) opposite Ratnamala. Only a few weeks ago, Amit Kumar came to know that his Baba had actually recorded two ghazals for an EP even before Ziddi. "They were Baba's first recorded songs and someone has promised to give me the recordings,' he says, thrilled at the prospect. After Chham Chamma Chham (1952), Kishore became a huge star. He saw ups and downs as an actor and finally crested as a playback voice to stay on for two decades at the top with Aradhana (1969). Says Amit, "Baba would say, 'I am the same man. Then why do the same people change towards me according to my fortunes? That is why I say that Destiny is all-powerful.' " Kishore would often tell his (fourth) wife Leena Chandavarkar, 'God has given you a free ticket as a tourist in the world. Why blame him for all the inconveniences in this journey? Be strong and remain detached. Happiness and sorrow are part of life.' As well known to those close to him as his eccentricities was the fact that all these seeming kinks and quirks were clever veneers, facades that were meant to keep a certain aloofness. "He would do such mad things at others' costs that even the targets did not mind," says Amit.

"Baba loved his family, his cars and travel. We would often have to go to Khandala or Mahabaleshwar [in Maharashtra] in the middle of the night, at an hour's notice," says Amit.

Edited by Qwest - 18 years ago
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Posted: 18 years ago
#47
The Sixth Sense Kishore Kumar & Madhubala He seemed to have a sixth sense even of his death," Amit remembers. "On that day, he refused to allow [Amit's stepbrother] Sumeet to go swimming and was very anxious that my flight from Canada would land on time. He was suffering from symptoms of a heart attack but joked that if we called a doctor, he would have a heart attack. In fact he was laughing and talking with Leena when he keeled over. Leena at first thought that he was playing a prank." A strict teetotaller and non-smoker --- he believed that for a singer alcohol and tobacco were sheer poison --- Kishore hated parties. Amit recalls Dada Moni telling him that Kishore would slip out and sleep on the pavement opposite when Ashok Kumar had late night parties. But he loved movies and had a fantastic video collection of James Bond, Westerns, Hitchcock, Indian and Hollywood classics and his special favourites --- horror films. He was planning a remake of The Coffin Of Dr Brown when he passed away. He also loved to sketch and was inspired by Dada Moni and character artiste Iftekhar in this hobby. Kishore Kumar, in his own words, wanted to become a 'chhota mota school master in Khandwa,' (the Gangulys' hometown in Madhya Pradesh) when music beckoned and Dada Moni forced him to come to Mumbai. "Towards the end, he was very unhappy with the songs he was getting. He wanted to return to Khandwa, which he loved. Even in his shows, he always called himself Kishore Kumar Khandwawala." Kishore Kumar's only musical grounding was listening to and singing K L Saigal's songs. "For Baba," recollects his son. "Saigal was up there on a pedestal. Once he even met him. Saigal praised his singing but told Dada that Kishore moved his body too much. Baba never moved a muscle when singing a Saigal song from that day! Many years ago, my father refused to sing a five-volume Saigal tribute for [music company] HMV, stating that he would hate being compared to his guru." "Baba," says Amit, "was a great father, sentimental, full of life and more of a friend. He once came all the way to meet me on my birthday to London when I was on a concert tour with [composers] Kalyanji Anandji. After my mother Ruma and he divorced, he and I would meet during holidays when I would come down from Kolkata. I would sing his songs in college and he would take me along to his shoots. "When I was born, he told someone, 'Yeh to ro bhi sur mein raha hain, yeh singer banega [he cries are in tune, he will become a singer]!' " Kishore wanted Amit to be a singer, which is why Amit came to Mumbai at 18, and his father introduced him at a special show called Daddy Kishore Son Amit as, 'My son Amit, a chip off the old block. My son also sings!' "But Baba never recommended me and was happy that I made it on own. He would relentlessly criticise my singing," says Amit. "Then one day, Dada Moni told me it was because he knew my potential and wanted me to improve. Dada Moni added, 'I would do the same thing to Kishore, and for the same reason!' "

Amit narrates one of the craziest anecdotes about his father: An interior designer once pestered Kishore for work. Kishore began asking him to do absurd things; the man kept agreeing. Finally, Kishore told him that he wanted a 'floating sofa in a round pool of water in the drawing room and that heads of actual eagles should be arranged around it!' The guy fled!

He wanted to return to Khandwa, which he loved. Even in his shows, he always called himself Kishore Kumar Khandwawala."

Kishore Kumar's only musical grounding was listening to and singing K L Saigal's songs. "For Baba," recollects his son. "Saigal was up there on a pedestal. Once he even met him. Saigal praised his singing but told Dada that Kishore moved his body too much. Baba never moved a muscle when singing a Saigal song from that day! Many years ago, my father refused to sing a five-volume Saigal tribute for [music company] HMV, stating that he would hate being compared to his guru."

"Baba," says Amit, "was a great father, sentimental, full of life and more of a friend. He once came all the way to meet me on my birthday to London when I was on a concert tour with [composers] Kalyanji Anandji. After my mother Ruma and he divorced, he and I would meet during holidays when I would come down from Kolkata. I would sing his songs in college and he would take me along to his shoots.

"When I was born, he told someone, 'Yeh to ro bhi sur mein raha hain, yeh singer banega [he cries are in tune, he will become a singer]!' "

Kishore wanted Amit to be a singer, which is why Amit came to Mumbai at 18, and his father introduced him at a special show called Daddy Kishore Son Amit as, 'My son Amit, a chip off the old block. My son also sings!'

"But Baba never recommended me and was happy that I made it on own. He would relentlessly criticise my singing," says Amit. "Then one day, Dada Moni told me it was because he knew my potential and wanted me to improve. Dada Moni added, 'I would do the same thing to Kishore, and for the same reason!' "

Amit narrates one of the craziest anecdotes about his father: An interior designer once pestered Kishore for work. Kishore began asking him to do absurd things; the man kept agreeing. Finally, Kishore told him that he wanted a 'floating sofa in a round pool of water in the drawing room and that heads of actual eagles should be arranged around it!' The guy fled!

Edited by Qwest - 18 years ago
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Posted: 18 years ago
#48
The Wedding Singer Kishore Kumar & Madhubala Kishore Kumar married six times. Thanks to family pressures, he married Yogeeta Bali and Leena Chandavarkar twice each with proper rituals after his hush-hush rush marriages to them. Since all four of his wives stayed prior to marriage in Bandra in Mumbai, he would collectively call them bandariyas (monkeys). Kishore Kumar met Ruma in 1950, but their marriage did not last. He wanted Ruma to be a hausfrau; she wanted to be a careerwoman. Madhubala proposed to him on the rebound after her split with Dilip Kumar on the sets of Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi during the picturisation of Haal kaisa hai janaab ka. After Madhubala's death, Kishore was so depressed that he wanted to take sanyas. Yogeeta Bali --- who carried the medicines sent by a friend to him --- nursed him back to health after an illness. He married her in 1972, but announced it in 1975. They soon separated as Yogeeta's mother was afraid that she would become pregnant and ruin her career. 'With Leena Chandavarkar, Baba finally found happiness," says Amit. "Baba offered her a role in his film Mamta Ki Chhaon Mein, when she had lost her husband and had come down to Mumbai to complete two pending films. She accepted the film and got out of her depression. She declined his proposal , but later impulsively accepted Baba's standing offer." Sumeet, Kishore's second son, is now pursuing a professional course at a Mumbai college. "He sings, has learnt the piano, but is not too enamoured of this line," says Amit. "He is well aware of Baba's stature and work, though." Baba's Music Says Amit, "My father acted in some 98 films and sang over 3,000 songs, and choosing the best is always diificult from this wide choice, given Baba's level of excellence and versatility as an actor. The best are so many. Though I cannot pinpoint his worst songs, every singer and artiste always has his share of bad songs, role and films. I have attempted to choose 12 songs which are special to me:

Aa chalke tujhe (Door Gagan Ki Chhaon Mein)
Ae Haseeno (Chacha Zindabad)
Chhota sa ghar hoga (Naukri)
Hum matwale naujawan (Shararat)
Husn bhi hai udaas (Fareb)
Jaaneman Jaaneman (Jaaneman)
Jeevan se bhari (Safar)
Khilte hain gul yahan (Sharmilee)
Koi humdum na rahaa (Jhumroo)
Kuch to log kahenge (Amar Prem)
Mere mehboob qayamat hogi (Mr X In Bombay)
Panch rupaiyya barah anna (Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi)

Edited by Qwest - 18 years ago
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Posted: 18 years ago
#49

Life is a lovely Journey

By O.P. Bhagat

Zindagi ek safar hai suhana,
Yahan kal kya hoga kisne jana…

KISHORE KUMAR reached his journey's end 11 years back. With that was also gone the third side of the triangle he formed Mohammed Rafi and Mukesh. "Big Three" would be a better description. For, after Saigal, Pankaj Mullick and Surender, no (male) singer ruled the hearts of Hindi film song lovers as did this trio. Rafi was essentially a singer. So was Mukesh. But Kishore was a singer,actor, director and composer, rolled into one. His was also a comic spirit, both on the screen and off it. He even indulged in clowning. But a clown is not all laughter. There is a pang in his heart, a sob in his throat or a tear in his eye. If Kishore could rattle off Main hoon jhumroo…, he could also chant movingly Door gagan ki chhaon mein…

The latter is the theme song of one of the movies he made. In it he was a different Kishore Kumar. One wonders whether his clowning — some called it eccentricity — was a mask. Or was it a facet of his personality, a part that was must to make up the whole? Everybody is more complex than he or she seems. Kishore always began his concerts with some antics. Maybe the funny and naughty boy in him stayed on there. At certain moments he came to the fore, and Kishore could not restrain or repress him. Hence his puckish behaviour.But he could be a delightful comedian too. "Padosan" has more than one comic characters. As the here's pal Kishore plays a secondary role. But he is the soul of the comedy that the film is. Bombay lured him from the Madhya Pradesh town of Khandwa. He spent nearly four decades there. He acted and sang and also romanced there. In Juhu he built a house which he, after his mother, named Gauri Kunj. And yet he desired to return to his home town to live his last years there. But Bombay would not spare him. So he wished that his last rites be performed in the town where he had lived his early years.

Kishore acted in numerous films. In some he did very well indeed. But he will be remembered more for the songs he sang in these and many other movies.He lent his singing voice to several stars. Dev Anand, Rajesh Khanna and Amitabh Bachchan are just three of them. They have been top heroes. But it has yet to be assessed how much of their success they owed to the playback singer. Kishore's songs in "Jewel Thief", "Kati Patang", "Amar Prem", "Sharmilee" and "Aradhana" are among the best Hindi songs. Take away the songs, and the films — all of them were hits — lose much of their charm or flavour.

We have had many new singers since Kishore's death. Each has done well in his own way. But none of them equals the man who yodelled and sang with full-throated ease. Kishore's songs delighted millions. They delight millions even today.

Edited by Qwest - 18 years ago
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Posted: 18 years ago
#50
One of Kishore Da's finest moments

This ROFLMAO kinda scene is from Kishore 'da, Madhubala & Pran saab's 1962 comedy flick "Half Ticket". The scene, as I have said earlier, is a perfect example of the genius Kishore 'da was and I luv to watch it again-n-again!
Tags: India Indian Bollywood Hindi Classics Half Ticket Kishore Kumar Kalidaas
Added: 1 month ago
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Another hugely funny scene from 1962 comedy flick "Half Ticket", involving Kishore 'da, Madhubala & character actress Manorama ji. Manorama ji excelled in vampish roles and its a pleasure to see her, for a change, in a positive one, and one that she played beautifully.
Tags: India Indian Bollywood Hindi Classics Half Ticket Kishore Kumar Madhubala Manorama
Added: 1 month ago
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