Kishore - S.D.Burman - A Relationship That Began With ‘Aradhana’
Destiny takes its own course in everyone’s life. Kishore Kumar was destined to meet the famous Sachin Dev Burman on that day. It was during one of those earlier periods in Kishore’s life when he was starting his career and not much known. S.D.Burman visited Kishore’s brother at their home in Mumbai. Kishore, who had not got any formal education in music, had adopted a style in those days to imitate the notable singer K. L. Saigal.
Burman, on listening to Kishore’s song from outside, mistakenly assumed that Saigal was singing inside. Soon Kishore was introduced to Burman by his brother, and thus the first meeting between Kishore and S.D.Burman happened unexpectedly. It was that meeting that altered the destiny of Kishore Kumar altogether. From that day onwards, Kishore stopped mimicking others and started singing in his own voice. Soon he developed a style of his own. He became popular in the Indian music world with his unique yodeling style that he adopted in his singing.
The Bollywood will never forget the movie Aradhana and its songs. The movie was a significant milestone in Kishore Kumar’s career too. Firstly, he was absorbed to sing the songs that were previously decided for Mohammed Rafi. Again it was destiny that played a big role in choosing Kishore in that notable movie. S.D.Burman fell ill, and it was R.D.Burman who took the responsibility of completing the movie of his father and decided to use Kishore Kumar. Kishore Kumar thus got the opportunity for singing ‘Roop Tera Mastana’ and ‘Mere Sapno Ki Rani’. He bagged his first Filmfare award for the song ‘Roop Tera Mastana’ in that year.
Kishore Kumar’s honest association with S.D.Burman helped him achieve a series of hit songs from the movies such as ‘Taxi Driver, Paying Guest, Funtoosh, Nau Do Gyarah, etc. Prem Pujari, a debut from director Dev Anand, though did not find much audience, was known for the popular hits ‘Phoolon Ke Rang Se’ and ‘Shokiyon Mein Ghola Jaaye’ – a combined effort of S.D.Burman and Kishore Kumar.
The relationship of Kishore Kumar with Burman did not find any boundaries. They were made for each other. ‘Sharmilee’ and ‘Jugnu’ followed to add to the success stories of the duo with the songs ‘Aj Madhosh Hua Jaaye Re’, ‘Khilte Hai Gul Yahan’, ‘Oh Meri Sharmilee’, and ‘Pyaar Ke Is Khel Mein’. The last few films of S.D.Burman as music director with Kishore singing apart from Mili, were ‘Arjun Pandit’ with the song ‘Dil Mera Udh Jaaye’, Deewangi with the memorable soft song ‘Chalo Sapnon Ke Shehar’ and Tyaag, with yet another beauty rendered ‘Man Pukare.’ (These films were released much later in 1976.) The commitment of Kishore Kumar to S.D.Burman continued even after Burman’s unexpected departure from the world of music and movies in 1975. After the death of S.D.Burman, Kishore Kumar kept his commitment towards his maestro by associating with R.D.Burman and continued his contribution by singing many songs including ‘Sholay’, ‘Warrant’, Heera Panna’, etc.
Kishore Kumar – S.D.Burman pair will remain in the hearts of the music enthusiasts forever. There are certain souls in the world that are ‘Made for each other’. The humanity gets rare chance to identify and make the most of such pairs. Indian cinema was lucky to have one of them - KK and SDB.
© Copyrighted to Yoodleeyoo.com All Rights Reserved.
July 3rd, 2007 at 9:26 am
my favourite sd and kishore kumar song is - ‘badi sooni sooni hain’ from movie mili.
June 21st, 2007 at 4:01 pm
“Aa Gale Lag Ja” is a RDB composition not SDB.
June 20th, 2007 at 6:37 am
It is absolutely incorrect that Rafi was to sing all Aradhna Songs. KK had sung the bengali version of Roop Tera Mastana and was always tipped to sing the hindi version also.
RDB has said this in one of his last interviews, he also said how KK was about to give up singing as he was not getting any work and only when RDB insisted that he would ask SDB to give him the Aradhna song.
I hope the writer of this article can get the facts right and do not print anything based on guess work and rumour.
June 19th, 2007 at 11:55 pm
i don’t have words to describe his talent. He was and will remain legend forever. there is no field left in cinema in which he didn’t performed, he was one of his kind . it is impossible to copy him anyway.kishore da we miss you!
June 19th, 2007 at 9:00 am
Right,but Kishoreda’s version is much more popular than Lataji’s.
June 18th, 2007 at 2:22 pm
Debjyoti,
KK may not be classically trained, but he certainly had a fair good knowledge of Raagas. Therefore as a composer his compositions are remarkable.
Being a KK fan I believe that you should be aware on which Raag the song “Koi Hamdam Na Raha” is based.
Please find out.
June 17th, 2007 at 7:08 pm
This is in regard to the song ‘mere naina sawan bhado’ debate who sang better kishore or lata. In one of the interview R.D. Burman said that when he approached to kishore kumar for this song he immediately refused and expressed his inability to sing this difficult song. He first insisted that let first lata didi sing and after listening her then he will try. This is how kishore da recorded the song after listening her. RD also mentioned that the way he sang later on it never appeard that he took help from lata ji.
June 17th, 2007 at 6:51 pm
nice article.
Kishoreda is the greatest singer.
June 17th, 2007 at 5:58 pm
No one is great without being trained! Training is required in all fields.
June 17th, 2007 at 11:05 am
how many times u will repeat the same above lines… deb..
binu nair..
June 17th, 2007 at 9:58 am
Without being trained,Kishoreda is the greatest singer of all times.
June 15th, 2007 at 9:34 pm
nice article
but one thing that kk was not classically trained is amazing.
may be, that he was not trained as others,but he knows it.
if u say that he was nothing knowledge, then how he was singing>
secondly. will anyone compare kishore with ahmed rushdi?
y thoughts friends?
because both know classical at same level.
June 15th, 2007 at 5:26 pm
Messi,
I have listened to both versions of “Mere Naina Savan Bhaaeo”, KK is good but Lata is very good the way she sings the classical part of the song. That is where she scores. Other wise in majority songs sung by KK or the female counter part, KK was always ahead. Even in the duets also.
Examples - Zindagi Ek Safar hai Suhana - KK / Asha
O Sathi Re - KK/ unknown
Zindagi Pyar Ka Geet Hai - KK/Lata (KK sings the sad part and is too good)
There is another song where Lata is ahead of KK. “Es Mod Pe Jaate Hai” from Aandhi where Lata sings the classical part very well where as KK sings the song straight. It is like again exposing KK’s drawback, thanks to RDB. If you replace KK with Rafi / Manna Dey here, they will easily score over Lata.
Many LP’s high scale songs for KK are very good, because they again went the SDB way by not pushing KK’s voice beyond its limit. Some classic examples
Jab Dard Nahi Tha Sine Mein - Anurodh
Ek Hasina Thi Ek Dewaane Tha - Karz
Same is the case with Rajesh Rohan as well
Examples
Bole O Bole Tu Rutha Dil Tutaa - Yaarana
Lata if one analyzes with Rafi / Manna Dey in high pitch operation they are far ahead. In fact many songs when sung by Rafi and Lata, the Rafi version was always popular. In one the articles Lata said that she use to constant fight with Jaikisan for making her sing such high pitch songs which Rafi / Manna Dey use sing without any difficulty.
Again singing at high pitch is also natural and God gifted quality but with classical training one can only refine it futher. Unfortunately KK was not blessed by this quality, since the natural range of opertaional of his voice was different from his contemprories. He was very powerfull in very low pitch operation songs where one can never see many singers operating.
Examples - Koi Hota Jisko Apna - Mere Apna
Koi Humdam Na Raha - Jhumroo
Duki Pe Duki Ho - Satte Pe Satta
June 15th, 2007 at 3:22 pm
A. Singh,
I like many of your posts, good one. Please keep writing. About Khilte Hai gul yahaan,
I think you are right. But about Mere Naina Saawan bhaado, it’s tough for me to think
That Lata’s version is better. May be she is better in classical songs but this one sure
give a though how Kishore can lead even though he is not trained.
Listen to this song one more, I think Kishore will takeover.
About High pitch, Lata too is not that good. High pitch singers are: Rafi, Manna Dey,
SPB and few others. Among the current generation singers: A.R. Rehman, Kay Kay
can sing with ease.
June 14th, 2007 at 5:31 pm
Well ‘Badi Sooni Sooni Hai’ is a classic picturized on Big B. ‘Khilte Hain Gul Yahaan’ I would rate the KK version to be better than Lata, though Lata sings it at a higher scale than KK. The reason is that I like the enthusiasm which KK has put into it. Both are SDB compositions who knew KK’s right pulse.
But for ‘Mere Naina Saawan Bhaio’ I would rate Lata any time better than KK. The reason is the KK sings the song exceptional well but does not appear effortless like Lata on the higher scale. This is RDB composition.
Perhaps this is basic different between the father and the son in approach for using KK. SDB was very cautious in giving tunes to KK than would not expose his drawbacks (singing on high pitch) and do maximum innovation in the middle scale, since KK was not classically trained. For high scale songs he always opted for Rafi & Manna Dey. He others words SDB was able to do justice all singers as per their calibre.
Where as RDB at many occasions has over used KK which exposed his drawbacks. Plus he misused both Rafi & Manna Dey in the early 70s.
But LP used KK in totally different way & offered KK semi classical songs like ‘Aap Ke Anurodh Pe’ & ghazals like ‘Kisi Shair Ki Ghazal, Dream Girl’ & Qawwalis like ‘Sachai Chup Nahi Sakti’ and many more. So the LP-KK combo is something special.
June 14th, 2007 at 3:11 pm
Sukhjit,
Nice info, but listen to “Badi sooni sooni hai” from Mili. It’s not early SDB-Kishore combo
It’s very late duet of them. isn’t it a great song ? About “Khilte hain Gul yahaan”, I have
to listen to both the versons. But what about “Mere naina saawan bhado” ? Which one
is better ? Kishore or Lata ? I guess Kishore’s verson is much more popular and haunting.
Yes, SDB-Rafi is pure gold and so classic. Guide is just an example.
June 13th, 2007 at 1:05 pm
S D Burman is the king maker as far as the KK is concern. Though KK was not classically trained, SDB was successfull in creating a slot for KK in the 50s & 60s. For the songs involving duets in leg pulling and fun, a lot of credit goes the SDB-Majrooh combo. This strategy help SDB in shaping KK to his own style. Examples “Chod Do Aanchal”,”Aankhon Ne Di” both picturized on Dev Anand. Prior to association with SDB, KK use to sing as a K L saigal clone.
But the SDB-KK relationship is applicable only to certain category of songs. The SDB-Rafi / Manna Dey relationship was some thing different and unique. Here both were classically trained singers. So apart from KK SDB has used these two singers equally effectively for most of his classical and high pitch songs. So any person who says the SD-KK combo is better SD-Rafi/Manna Dey certainly has very poor knowledge of music. Both combinations cannot be compared. It is SDB’s ability to use which singer for which situation perhaps many times for the same actor.
SDB himself was a very good singer. Never gave playback for any artist, used his voice in background only for very special occasions in the films to convey a special message to the audience.
June 13th, 2007 at 12:38 am
‘Kishore-S.D. Burman - a Relationship that began with Aradhana’, this article was posted on this site on the 06th of June, and upto 12th of June, only 7 comments/responses have been received so far. Whereas, in Rafi Saheb’s site, the article ‘Rafi’s popularity in Suriname’ was posted just before 2-3 days that’s on the 10th of June, and upto 12th of June, 30 comments/responses have been received so far…. now, this show Rafi Saheb has much more fans than Kishore Kumar.
June 12th, 2007 at 8:12 am
What about choodi nahin, mera dil hai.. dekho toothe na…
Lata is lilting Kishore is good but the song is great….
But rafi-lata duet have lasting re-call values and are evergreen..
Rafi solos are : lollies of pure gold ; to be preserved and heard
for the soothing of the souls….
S.D.BURMAN is one of my favourite MDs.
Binu and rajshri
June 9th, 2007 at 1:58 pm
Kishoreda sang the songs of Sharmile in great manner,and his version is much popular and better than Lataji’s.Anytime,SD-Kishore is better than SD-Rafi.
June 9th, 2007 at 10:37 am
kishore da and burman sahib were a great combination, no doubt, but i think by the songs from sharmilee were certainly not upto the combination mark.
a composition like ” khilte hain gul yahan ” was taken to a new high by lata ji, but kishore da could not do justice to the tune , particulary when singing the part ” milke bichadne kooo”. i am sure the tune could have been modified or the voice softened at that point.
in ” o mer sharmilee ” why not take the straight as ” aao naa ” ? the ” aavvo ” there takes something away from the overall listening pleasure.
kaise kahen hum is nice, but in sharmilee, the lata ji numbers are far far superior in singing and tonal quality .
while i personally prefer the older kk sdb numbers, in the new ones there is one unsung melody which ranks right up there and one of my all time favourites across all composers / singers - a number from zindagi zindagi ” tune hame kya diya ri zindagi , hamne maangi to mili na maut bhi, tune hame kya diya ri zindagi ”
lets face it, burman da has given much better songs to kishore da in other films . sharmilee only added to the numbers, not the real value of the combination.
i am still firm in my opinion that the BURMAN DA - RAFI SAHIB COMBINATION WAS FAR MORE LETHAL AND LASTING , NUMBER OF SONGS NOT WITHSTANDING.
June 8th, 2007 at 7:01 pm
Before Aradhana also,Kishore Kumar sang several hit songs under S.D.Burman’s music.SD’s favourite singer was allways Kishore Kumar and he had told it too.SD made Kishore Kumar sang several all time hits for Dev Anand in the 50’s and 60’s.The only film where SD composed for Raj Kapoor(film pyaar)SD selected Kishoreda to sing for Raj Kapoor.Kishore Kumar first sang for SD in Bahaar(1951).SD’s most used male voice was Kishore Kumar(129 songs).
June 8th, 2007 at 3:49 pm
Fine article. I would like talk to the author, hey author just introduce
yourself my dear. Loved it and yeah we got another giant
of singing and that’s kishore Kumar.
Thank you
June 8th, 2007 at 10:57 am
The last film of SDB where KishoreDa sang was Mili.
June 7th, 2007 at 2:12 pm
Great and wonderful pair…. Destiny changed the life of
Kishore Kumar and all his dream came true it seems ….
after Aradhana…
Great songs , lovely voice and a change - which the public
grabbed up in no time….
binu