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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January 30th, 2008 at 9:32 pm
Kishore was right when he said to his son that the public will appreciate my singing when I am gone…as in the 1970`s people have comparing old films,hero and singers from 1950\1960` to 1970`s ..just like today…with Kishore and Rafi …
January 17th, 2008 at 8:19 pm
KISHORE KUMAR, …….Not say not define any word because ……
Few things is born one time…., my self i belive like Priminister is Indira gandhi , Actor .AMitabh Bacchan…. and Singer only one Kishore , Your belive me i m belive that …singer is only kishore , when i m thinking few.
December 13th, 2007 at 2:00 am
Of course both Kishore Kumar & Rafi were supreme singers which India has ever produced. Both had a unique style of their own . I love their styles & 99% of Indians will agree with this.
November 28th, 2007 at 1:40 am
First Playback Singer of Indian Cinema was
Wajid Mohammad Khan in 1924
& Not Kundanlal Sehgal
November 27th, 2007 at 1:50 am
his voice is very divine,very soulful.very romantic he was sent by the god just fr singing………..
October 16th, 2007 at 11:14 am
Avtar, you have said the TRUTH.
I too say…
Jay Maha Gayak, Maha Guru Kishoreda.
October 16th, 2007 at 12:34 am
Kishore Kumar, the Best - the Greatest - the most Versatile - the most Unique - the most romantic - the most funny - the most serious and the most lively singer ever. Yaane ke gayakon ke gaayak Maha Gaayak Kishoreda/ji.
Sabse madhur aur flexibel aawaaz.
Khul ke gaata tha,he dared and he tried,no standard singing for him.Aathwa surwala gayak.
Sab gayakon ko milakar bhi Kishore nahin bansakta hai,kintu Kishore ekal sab gaayak bana hai.
Zindagi ek safar hai suhana se leke zindagi ka safar tak,yaane ki zindagi se maut tak,KISHORE hi KISHORE.
To gawo Om Shanti Om,Shanti Shanti om,sing Om Shanti Om,Shanti Shanti Om.
Om Shanti,Oooooooooooooooooooom haaaaaaa.
Jay Maha Gayak,Maha Guru Kishoreda
October 5th, 2007 at 9:26 pm
kishoreda was certainly an eccentric genius..im planning to visit khandwa nxt year n also his college in indore aand dig into his history.
September 30th, 2007 at 8:37 am
Lot of singers have followed Kishore Kumar instead of Mohd. Rafi.
Kumar Sanu, Abhijit, Vinod Rathod, Babul Supriyo, Shaan, Vikash Bhalla, Sudesh Bhoshle and many others have followed Kishore Kumar the Mohd. Rafi.
That shows that even singers of today like Kishore Kumar’s style of singing than any other singer.
Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bhoshle and Kalanyji-Anandji have said that Kishore was the greatest singer of all time.
All most 90% of indians here in Fiji Islands prefer Kishore Kumar’s voice and this may also be in many other parts of the world.
Kishoreda….u are the GREATEST…..
September 21st, 2007 at 4:21 pm
you are the best in world
September 21st, 2007 at 7:28 am
Partha beta :
The world is round and Rafi Saab is revered and loved by legion
of his fans in all parts of the world. They include people
from various nationalities.
Music, Melody and Mohd Rafi, beg to be said in the same breath
said Outlook in a survey done on MUSIC just a week back.
Dont read too much in to what Mukesh’s son said . All this orkut
babies : when they grow up become Rafi fans, Talat fans, Kishore
fans : since the great lyrics follow the realities of life which these
orkut babes can never avoid.
What polls? Is it Possile as easy as your saying it. Yes Kishore
is great singer. But, Mohd Rafi is the greatest. Please listen some
of Rafi selections from 1947 to 1980… You may not change your
views on Kishore Kumar but definitely get an opportunity to
hear some Rafi Classics and also to like him and his songs. More,
I have documentary proof about S.D. Burman and Kishore Kumar
himself accepting Mohd Rafi to be the best singer India has ever
produced.
Please know fully well that we respect Kishore Kumar saab and
will never use words like F… which you have used in this
music forum..
An Advice please do not show your frustrations here.
Binu Nair
September 20th, 2007 at 6:15 pm
“Kishore Kumar on this day, has the greatest fan following. ”
Could be true in terms of quantity, but not in quality.
September 19th, 2007 at 4:23 pm
Binu-beta,
Don’t get annoyed. What I have spoken is the eternal truth, that you cannot run away from. Kishore Kumar on this day, has the greatest fan following.
Did you check one of the Times of India where Mukeshji’s grandson has mentioned that his favorite singer is Kishore Kumar and not his grandfather. Similarly who knows Rafi’s grandson might have said the same, but this is an undisclosed fact.
I feel pity for all those Rafi fans, who try to prove that ‘earth is round’
Well as I have mentioned in the other post…. I will come back after 6 months time frame, and join the party.
Bye till then, and take care.
Partha Chatterjee.
September 17th, 2007 at 4:10 pm
Bond 007 : The history of hindi Music started in 1935 with
K.L. SAIGHAL the father of playback singing ruling the music
world. Then came Talat Mahmood and then from 1952
(Baiju Bawra) period to 1972 Mohd Rafi was the numero uno
singer at the top . Then , Kishore Kumar topped for a fews
years until the king of Melody and Music Mohd Rafi came back
in 1977 to the top again.
In Binaca geet mala of May 1980 : Rafi had 12 songs out of a
total of 16 song.
This is a recorded fact of Hindi Music History. BY your logic :
Kishore Kumar was beaten hands down by Rafi saab.
Monkeys can never smell a JASMINE and u people will never
see the facts nor accept it.
Its no use playing a classical raag before buffoloes. Please check
whether u are competent to write on music and Kishore Kumar Ji
who respected k.l.saighal and mohd rafi.
U few people : please do not do damage to the reputation of
Kishore Kumar who we all love; by telling lies and one sided stories.
Binu Nair Mumbai..
September 14th, 2007 at 1:04 pm
Partha Ji : U have to check ur ears ; if there is no problem
there then go to a psychiatrist : as u have gathered great
hallucinations about legend singers in the country and about
MUSIC itself.
and the usage of word fuc… shows the class of you people and
the standard of your family and school that you visited..
With you people around, Kishore Kumarji needs no more enemies.
binu nair.
September 14th, 2007 at 1:11 am
paglo ki tarah rafi sahib or kishore da jaise mahan singers ko compare mat karo aisa karne vale pagal he hai or kuch nahi.Kya kabhi pane maa baap ko be compare kiya hai
shame on all guys who have been comparing rafi sahib with kishore da the immortal legends both are uncomparable.
September 5th, 2007 at 6:30 am
Kishore Kumar was the greatest ’singer’ to have ever sang for Bollywood.. FULL STOP. No arguments on this point.
You see, no one can be the no. 1 singer just like that. One should also understand that 90% of the music directors, etc. were pro-Rafi’s.
To emerge from this vicious tangle, to become the no. 1 singer, is no mean achievement.
Someone just wrote in a pro-Rafi page, that anyone can imitate Kishore Kumar. If that fucker is so confident I challenge him to come forward and become the no. 1 singer of Bollywood. Man, you need to have GOD GIVEN talent to achieve such dizzy heights.
Last but not the least, it was RD Burman and Kishore Kumar who changed the ’style’ of Bollywood music. Today what you hear is reminiscent of this style. Else, you would have still had the old crappy (but classic) yawn-yawn kind of music.
Hats off to Kishore Kumar. When he sings you can be sure a MAN is singing. There are lots of WOMEN who have GREATER DEPTH of voice than Rafi. When Kishore Kumar sings you can relax back and enjoy the song.
I am not a CLASSICAL SINGER fan. Kishore Kumar was very much adept at singing CLASSICAL SONGs. But the kind of songs that Rafi used to sing (with some exceptions) were YAWN-YAWN kind of songs (SONGS without any life in it).
Thanks,
Partha Chatterjee.
August 24th, 2007 at 2:03 am
One thing is for sure Popularity does not come without talent, there are no fools to make Kishore number ONE for 2 decades. He swept all good songs making Rafi to look his face in mirror twice before singing.
Come on every actor/producer/director/music director wanted Kishore … WHY ? because had the talent and knew if kishore sings the song would be hit. And its true coz public demand. I am sure there might 10% of fools and not majority of Indians.
Why Dev Anand /Rajesh Khanna/Amitabh/ and many young stars at that time wanted Kishore because he was good, I am sure they did not do a mistake by choosing kishore. They became Popular and to carry that image they wanted only Kishore to sing.
Rafi supports I am sorry to say rafi was beaten from all ends by kishore, history cannot be redone, Kishore outclassed Rafi in all singing departments and that is why Kishore was number one for 2 decades till his death. I am sure after reading this you cannot deny the fact. If you guys still want to argue then I am really sorry its like ” What does Monkey know a smell of Jasime”. God has made few people whose brains cannot think or understand beyond its limit.
July 16th, 2007 at 3:33 pm
Yeah Aparna you are right. It’s not good to categorize the singers
It’s some fans who categorize these greats and indulge in so called
analysis just to support their views.
Anyway, good article.
July 13th, 2007 at 3:01 pm
Its Funny ho we al just find a chance to argue over any ISSUE ….
As far as singing talent goes, we who are no where closer to be any singers have no rights to categorize these great gentelmen…….
Personally i like Kishor Da over anyone else, Why? Not because he is better or the best than anyone lese, but simply because he has a versatile singing style . He always had a DYNAMIC approaches for any song…..
Be it Ghoongaru Ki Tarah……
Mera Jeevan Kora Kagaj…….
Wada Tera Wada,
Manjhile Apni Jagah…..
Or
Oh Sawariyaan…..
He had a voice which create pian , laughter, romance and fun in every ong and in the heart of the listener……..
But again as i said its just apersonal thought or choice….
I believe he was best but ONE of the Bests…..
Rafi, Manna De, Mukesh all have their own remarks over the music..
But yes hats off to Kishore Da for being so uniquely Different…
Happy Birthday Kishore Da…(4th August)
July 5th, 2007 at 12:06 am
Dear Soumen : the world does’nt think so and its your views..
which should be appreciated. HOW E V E R ……
RAFI LOVERS ARE IN EVERY COUNTRY , IN EVERY TOWN.
NO ONE COULD WHEN HE LIVED AND AFTER HE LEFT THIS
WORLD , could replace MOHD RAFI…
His popularity has soared with every passing year and even his
critics are making huge commercial gains selling and marketing
his songs…
Its amazing that even after 27 years people cannot forget RAFI
nor his music…
SAIGHAL, RAFI , TALAT MEHMOOD, KISHORE KUMAR AND MUKESH
ARE THE GREATEST MALE SINGERS.. ….. BUT BY PERCENTAGE
WHO leads….. everybody is aware of.
binu nair.
July 3rd, 2007 at 5:54 pm
guys lets not get into silly fights as to who was better rafisaab or
kishoreda in fact we should be proud that our nation produced 2 of the
greatest singers of all time we all have our favourites kk is my favourite
because of his sheer range of songs from chingari koi to ek chatur naar
you get the point
July 3rd, 2007 at 9:13 am
kishore kumar is the great great great singer of all time.
which rafi fan says that kishore kumar has no range, no quality,and he had loud voice. Kishore Kumar is one of the favourite singers of great lata mangeskar and asha bhosle.
it is very bad to compare kishore kumar with md.rafi. they both are legends. they will be remembered forever for their greatest contribution in indian film songs.
I am great fan of kishore kumar.
June 20th, 2007 at 11:35 am
abhishek,if you believe that rafi is the worst singer and had only 9000 songs to his credit why shod i reveal my source of information?you enquire and find,the result will surely upset you.if rafi is theworst singer then kkcan be agreat singer,greatest among the worst singers.
June 20th, 2007 at 4:40 am
Abhishek…kindly share those records