Kishore Kumar - the legend lives on
Saturday, October 14, 2006
Source: IANS
Image Source: SantaBanta.com
As the songs of Farhan Akhtar€™s €˜Don€™ turn into favourites, they bring to mind Kishore Kumar€™s zestful singing, including the inimitable €˜Khaike paan Banaraswala,€™ from the original 1978 film.
The versatile singer-actor, who passed away on this day 19 years ago, sung the €˜Khaike paan Banaraswala€™ song, complete with his imitation of a man talking with his mouth full of betel juice - without it sounding the least offensive.
He may not be among us anymore, but his songs are as much loved today as they were then, may be more so with a new fan following among the youth.
There is no dearth of singers in Bollywood, but there can never be another Kishore Kumar. He has a big fan following, and one of them is Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan.
"I think Id like to make a film on the life of Mr. Kishore Kumar. That would be an interesting and a more apt tribute," Shah Rukh was quoted as saying to Screen Indian magazine recently.
The Kishore Kumar Memorial Club started an award in his name five years ago in Delhi. This year, they are organising the award ceremony in New Delhi and will honour actors Gulshan Grover, Rati Agnihotri, Prem Chopra, Upasana Singh and singer Kunal Ganjawala.
Last year, well-known lyricist Javed Akhtar received the Kishore Kumar Award.
Born Abhas Kumar Ganguly in Khandwa on Aug 4, 1929, Kishore moved to Mumbai when he was 18.
His elder brother Ashok Kumar was already a big star in the city. And he didnt have to work hard to get his first singing assignment for Bombay Talkies Ziddi (1948), in which he sang Marne ki duayen kyon mangu for Dev Anand.
In those days legendary singer K.L. Saigal was a source of inspiration for newcomers and Kishore was also a big fan of his.
The song became a hit, but it didnt bring many offers for Kishore, and he kept struggling for a foothold.
Maverick composer S.D. Burman, a good friend of his elder brother, advised him, "Dont try to ape K.L. Saigal. Apers never make great artistes. You should develop your own style."
After this, Kishore developed his own trademark singing style, and the distinctive yodelling, which he learnt by listening to the Austrian records of his brother Anoop Kumar.
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