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.
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June 20th, 2007 at 2:48 am
In an interview, Rafiji had said that he had sung 26000 songs, there’s his audio interview in Rafiji’s site.
June 20th, 2007 at 2:39 am
Checked with HMV people! Funny, show us how you checked? Till 1980, Rafiji sang more than Lataji. Nothing greatness of KK.
June 19th, 2007 at 11:52 pm
Rafi sahab was the best singer of all times…
RAFI is the BEST
RAFI is the BEST
RAFI is the BEST
June 19th, 2007 at 9:03 am
First of all Viswan who told you Rafi sung 26,000 songs?Even Lataji sang 13,000 songs till date.I have checked with HMV’s people and records.Rafi sang less than 9000 songs,and Rafi is the worst singer .Kishoreda is the greatest singer and genius in the world.
June 17th, 2007 at 6:08 pm
rafi ahead only in quantity?quantitywise diference between rafi and kk is more than 20000songs.india is not a contry of deaf and dump to simply tolerate asinger forsuch along span of time without any qality singing.why dont you think how such along long innings wsa possible for rafi?
June 17th, 2007 at 5:40 pm
Nonsense, The qualities of Rafiji’s songs are far better than of KKs. World believe qualities of Rafiji’s songs are infinitely better than of KKs.
June 17th, 2007 at 3:43 pm
Facts are facts Debyjoti. Fact is something that can be proven. It is a FACT that Mohd Rafi was used more by MDs than Kishore Kumar from the period of 1977-1980. Check HMV records. As far as quality is concerned, indeed Shankar Jaikishan had to summon Mohd Rafi when Kishore Kumar failed to deliver quality and was off key for his own song in Shararat. FACT.
June 17th, 2007 at 1:35 pm
Dear Blind supporter of KK will u answer me some question plz, if KK is better than Rafi Then Why KK took Rafi,s voice for him in his so many films. In Ragini There is a semi classical song “Man Mora Bawra” In Shararat a tipical Tune ‘Ajab Hai Dastan Teri Aye Zindagi” in Hathi Mere Sathi For Nafrat Ki Dunya Ko” Rajesh Khanna Ke Lakh Zid Karne Ke Baad Bhi Ye Gana KK se Nahi Gawaya Ja Saka and above all why KK used Rafi Saab for His Home Production
June 17th, 2007 at 1:25 pm
Monty - those figures are really tough to estimate. Granted, Rafi was a more pure singer - it was like religion to him.
Anyway, while I do believe he must have sung about ~25000 songs - those will never be on record. What is one record is that he has for sure 5000 different songs and there probably are 500 or so that have yet to be unveiled. 3100 for Kishoreda.
I’d say ~6000 different songs for Rafi, ~4000 different songs for Kishore. I’m being very generous to Kishore - but the numbers still indicate clearly the output difference. With total songs (including repeas), I agree, the disparity would be much greater.
June 17th, 2007 at 10:01 am
Kishoreda was much more used than Rafi ,also from 1977 to 1980.Bapan is right.Rafi is ahead in qantity of songs Monty,but in qality,he is far behind Kishoreda.
June 13th, 2007 at 9:31 am
Bapan: MDs used Mohd Rafi MORE than Kishore Kumar from 1977-1980. That’s a fact. What does that tell you?
June 11th, 2007 at 7:07 pm
Monty,are you mad?After 1969,Rafi was never at the top.It was Kishoreda all along till Kishoreda’s death in 1987.No body is anywhere close to Kishoreda in any aspect.JAI KISHOREDA!!!
June 11th, 2007 at 3:44 pm
I like Kishore da very much. His songs touches the heart. He had given us evergreen hit songs. He and his songs will remain for ever. Whenever I hear his songs, my eyes fills with tears of joy…
God may have called him back so early to hear his melodious voice
June 11th, 2007 at 2:57 am
Rafiji sang 26000 songs in his career and kishore sang only 5000 songs in his career, hence, the debate is one sided. That’s all.
June 10th, 2007 at 12:25 pm
the real yardstik is not who was top at agiven period or who erned more or who has most number of fans,but who sung beautifuly with throt and heart making singing a devine activity-rafi made it so.he is a great singer much much abov kk and other singers.it is a truth.no body could upset that truth bysome acrimony or false statistics
June 10th, 2007 at 8:56 am
Bapan :: No one is mentally ill : u pls listen to Kishore jis song
and think KK is the best singer…
Let RAFI lovers listen to their idol - this rare individual - the
BHARAT Ka RATNA Mohd Rafi ..
Lets enjoy the songs..,
Please put a full stop to COMPARING THE PEOPLES FAVOURITE
SINGERS…
BINU
June 9th, 2007 at 6:13 pm
Sorry MONTY JI.. MY sincere apologies…
Bapan only eight of you as above…for Kishore Kumar…
Mohd rafi has thousands of writers and millions of music lovers
round the globe.. he was in the field from 46 to 80 : u know and
I know……
Pl. do not compare with RAFI SAAB with UR idol Kishore kumar and
enjoy with ur idols songs all your life… Pl. dont ever hear alternate
music as u may change ur opinion…
Honestly,I do enjoy Kishore Kumar songs …
binu nair
June 8th, 2007 at 7:18 pm
Monty,you are mentally ill.No one will believe that Rafi was better than Kishoreji.You keep on playing the same tune.What I know,Arpita,KKKLAN,Debjyoti,Manish,Balkrishna,Anuj,Rajesh knows,that the world knows.KISHORE KUMAR IS THE GREATEST SINGER OF ALL TIMES.
June 8th, 2007 at 10:08 am
Mr. Binu Nair, Kishore Kumar is NOT my idol, but I am a fan of Rafiji, that’s final!
June 7th, 2007 at 10:44 pm
Baban, you’re mentally ill, no one can believe that Kishore Kumar was better than Rafiji. You keep on playing the same tune.
June 7th, 2007 at 10:30 pm
Monty: If you compare Mohd Rafi saheb with your idol
Kishore Kumar…. you will end up nowhere …. only
in a mental check up centre where u will need lot of corrections…
binus 2000
June 7th, 2007 at 9:03 pm
Rafiji was on top till his death…… and this is a fact.
June 7th, 2007 at 9:01 pm
Bapan, KKKALANK, Debjyoti, Balkrisna, Anuj, Rajesh…. a family. Rafiji is the best than all, Kishore Kumar was a good singer no doubt, but Rafiji… wah kya kehna….!
June 7th, 2007 at 11:59 am
Rafi was at the top for few years from late 50’s to late 60’s,while Kishoreda from 1969 to 1987 as a singer,a much larger period.Kishoreda,we all love you.
June 6th, 2007 at 7:21 pm
I totally agree with Arpita,KKKLAN,Debjyoti,Balkrishna,Manish,Anuj ,Rajesh.
The world’s greatest singer ,performer,comic hero,entertainer and genius is Kishore God Kumar.