Kishore the singer - King of all trades..
There are always those who excel in something when they put everything into it. That is quite a commendable achievement as most people do not achieve success in their chosen fields or professions. But then, there is also a different category altogether - those who do more than one thing at a time and excel at everything they do. It’s like having a Midas touch - everything you try turns to gold. The world adores such people and it also loves to hate them, in a way. It pokes in some deep recess of every person’s mind that someone exists who loves to do more than one thing and does it well. So while the respect and admiration grows for them openly, they unconsciously or consciously revel in their failure too.
One such person was Kishore Kumar - born as Abhas Kumar Ganguly. When he came to the city of Bombay as young man, his brother Ashok Kumar was quite successful in films. Expectedly, one would say it would have been logical to follow in his footsteps. Though Kishore was all set, there was something that fascinated and interested him a lot more - singing. He was not a trained singer but as some say talent is something you are born with. Though raw, he was great at picking things up like his famous yodeling. In his initial days when no one took him seriously as a singer, he used to imitate the great Saigal Saab until he was made to realize that he needed to develop his own style.
As he started making it as an actor, there were those who believed in his singing capability. One of his earlier breaks was given by Khemchand Prakash and Kishore Kumar did the playback for the film Ziddi. Then a messiah came in the form of S.D. Burman and they both forged a deep bond that lasted for very long. Soon Kishore was regarded as Dev Anand’s voice and did score of films like Munimji, Taxi Driver, Fantoosh, House No. 44 being a couple of them. He also has some timeless classics with Asha Bhonsle like the songs from Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi - all becoming extremely popular.
A score of people were clamoring for Kishore now as they finally stood up and took notice. Big music directors like Laxmikant- Pyarelal and Kalyanji-Anandji started working with him on a regular basis. Kishore Kumar finally got what he wanted.
But that was not all that he wanted. During his lifetime, he sang, acted, directed, produced, wrote - all these getting him commercial and professional attention. He did everything that he wanted to do and because of his take on life, he became one of those special people. Counted amongst the finest singers that Bollywood has seen, one thing that was totally unique about him was that he excelled at singing because of his desire and inner talent, not to mention hard work. This gives inspiration to all those out there who get dissuaded just because they don’t have professional training.
As mentioned before, many people term such gifted people as eccentrics and Kishore was no different. But there was something he taught us all - if you want something bad enough and work hard for it, there is little chance that what others speak is going to affect you. You see, he taught us a lot more than just to listen to his eternal voice.
© Copyrighted to Yoodleeyoo.com All Rights Reserved.
June 6th, 2007 at 7:14 pm
Monty,are you mentally disbalances?Kishore Kumar is infinity times better than Rafi in all fields.Rafi was a mediocre singer,not even a good singer.
June 4th, 2007 at 10:09 am
Dear Monty,Anuj is right.You grow up,the world knows that Kishoreji is much much ahead than Rafi.
June 2nd, 2007 at 9:44 pm
I accept Kishore Kumar was a great singer, I like his songs but only after Rafiji.
June 2nd, 2007 at 9:42 pm
Oh Anuj, ple don’t be silly, the world know that Rafiji was much much ahead of Kishore Kumar. ple grow up now!!!
June 2nd, 2007 at 9:01 am
Hah!!!Kishoreji is much much much better than Rafiji.
June 1st, 2007 at 11:20 pm
Agree, KK was better only after Rafiji. But not better than Rafiji.
June 1st, 2007 at 9:43 am
Kishoreji is the greatest singer of all times.
May 28th, 2007 at 9:51 pm
Kishore sang approx 1400 songs in the same period. Just 400 songs more. Mind you Rafi sang more songs than all male singers put together from 49 to 70.
Hence to say Kishore da single hanedely ran the industry is an over exaggeration and if one still likes to belive it then we also have to accept that Rafi ran it single handedly for 20 years.
>>>>
Very very interesting. Thanks
May 28th, 2007 at 7:01 pm
I love Kishore Kumar very much.He is indeed the greatest artist,singer and human the world has ever seen.
May 28th, 2007 at 10:42 am
KK was single handedly runing the industry and Mukesh was winning all the film fare awards in the 70. ha ha ha
May 27th, 2007 at 5:07 pm
This statement proves of the modesty of Rafi if that is if he actually said it.
Kishore da was in no way running the industry single handed although his popularity surged in first part of 70’s similar to that of Rafi’s 20 years before that period. Even then Rafian’s cannot claim that Rafi was running the industry single handed although some from HMV may agree to it.
Rafi sang 1000 or so songs approx from 70 to 79 mind you he did not sing for over 8 to 10 months in 71 after his religious pilgrimage.
Kishore sang approx 1400 songs in the same period. Just 400 songs more. Mind you Rafi sang more songs than all male singers put together from 49 to 70.
Hence to say Kishore da single hanedely ran the industry is an over exaggeration and if one still likes to belive it then we also have to accept that Rafi ran it single handedly for 20 years.
May 27th, 2007 at 1:34 am
Kishore da is my soul ,my heart ,my inspiration ,my love…….He was really God gifted….He came in the industry when there was a race of classical singers like Rafi sabhub,Manna dey ji and others…He had a lot of confidence..in-spite of being untrained singer, he gave strong competition to classical singers of that ERA….hats off to dada…
if we listen to the starting songs of dada,they do give fragrance of talented singer….he sang “Koi humdum na raha koi sahara na raha” beautifuly,that was also being sung by Ashok Kumar ji in classical way….But dada gave that song a real meaning..In spite of being untrained,he was very strong in SUR and TAAL..He used to give real emotions in the songs..he used to have THEHRAAV in the songs which only comes with the riyaas..this proves that he was a natural talented trained singer ..
I watched a TV show called jeena issi ka naam he..They invited Mahender kapoor ji…Mahender ji told in that show that ::::—
“one day Rafi sahub came to me..he was very upset…Rafi sahub saib to mahender ji :::Yaar mahender aaj kal koi kaam hi nahi deta, her koi Kishore kumar se gaane guvvata he….”
this proves that Kishore da was running the singing industry single handed…..Great singer….
MISS YOU KISHORE DA…….
May 26th, 2007 at 10:09 pm
Really,Kishoreda is the voice of the millenium,national icon,the GOD.
May 26th, 2007 at 10:08 am
guruji is really the king of all trades.he has given a new magic to the music.no one can take his place.he has played all types of roles.naukri,chalti ka naam gaadi,padosan and some more movies taught a lot to all the bhakts.he made us laugh in all moments when he wanted.
wht to say more…………..he is uncomparable……no words to explain
May 24th, 2007 at 12:42 pm
kishore da is the gratest in whole world no one is nt even 1% of kishore da
May 24th, 2007 at 6:49 am
Kishore was good but to say he excelled in all departments is too much to digest.
He was a good actor but not the best. He also was a good musician but not the best, he also sang some good songs but no way the best and he made a couple of good films but not the best director. Nearly all his produced films were flops so surely not the most successful producer either. He was lucky in many ways that he had people to support him all through.
He was a jack of all and master of none but surely a genuine entertainer.
No hard feelings but I am not a blind fan like most here.
May 23rd, 2007 at 2:15 pm
Hats off to Kishore Kumar.
May 23rd, 2007 at 11:23 am
KK was really best after MOHD.RAFI, Both were god gifted.
May 23rd, 2007 at 9:16 am
Kishore Kumar is genuinely king of all trades.Artist of his calibre was never born and will never be born.
May 22nd, 2007 at 11:17 pm
Messi thanks for that sweet story
May 22nd, 2007 at 8:53 pm
Kishore-da was a undoubtly Vocal genius but Rafi-saheb was devine.
May 22nd, 2007 at 2:30 pm
Ya,I know this story.
May 22nd, 2007 at 11:27 am
Lovely !!! I thought there’s something more in the artilcle but it’s finished.
Hope it would have been longer cause it very good.
Thanks or that. I always ask, who is the author ? nobody tells me abou the Author,
no name, no information.
S.D. Burman went to Ashoke Kumar’s house for some recording reason, the young
Kishore then was taking bath. He was singing ver well and in Saigal Saheb’s voice.
SDB asked AK “Who is the singer ?” then AK said “It’s my brother Kishore”.
Then the story begins. SDB waited for Kishore to come out, then he said “You got a
very good singing capability. But don’t ape Saigal. Apers don’t become great.
From then Kishore tried establish his own style, so unique and different all.
This is the story.
Great, isn’t it ?
May 22nd, 2007 at 9:39 am
He was a versatile genius,hats off to him.He is my inspiration,everyone’s inspiration.The only singer who is liked by people of all age group.I pay my tribute to this God.
May 22nd, 2007 at 9:37 am
Kishoreda is the greatest singer of all times,hats off to him.