Kishore Kumar fans await Javed Akhtar’s money
By Sanjay Sharma
Khandwa (Madhya Pradesh), Aug 8 (IANS) Lyricist Javed Akhtar is under attack for not giving the ‘promised money’ to renovate a memorial to singing legend Kishore Kumar at his birthplace here.
The fans say that Javed Akhtar last year publicly pledged to donate the Rs.100,000 in prize money he got for winning the Kishore Kumar National Award to renovate the Kishore memorial. But he has not kept the promise.
‘Javed’s gesture was a gimmick,’ said a fan in Khandwa, 192 km from Bhopal.
The Kishore Kumar award, instituted by the Madhya Pradesh government in 1997, is given away for direction, acting, script writing and lyrics every year. It carries Rs.100,000 and a citation. Akhtar won it last year.
Khandwa residents say even after a year Javed Akhtar’s promised money is yet to reach the town.
Kishore Kumar was born in Khandwa Aug 4, 1929. The singer’s family house stands opposite the Khandwa railway station in a dilapidated condition. The singer left for Mumbai (then Bombay) when he was 18. He died on Oct 13, 1987, in Mumbai from a heart attack. He was cremated in Khandwa.
As a tribute to the singer, the Khandwa municipal corporation erected a two-foot-high, 15-foot-long and 10-foot-wide rectangular structure at the cremation ground as a memorial.
However, the so-called memorial has neither a plaque nor an epitaph. The structure has, in the 19 years since the singer-actor died, literally fallen apart.
Wild grass and shrubs grow through the cracks in the structure. Many tiles have chipped off. A portrait faintly resembling the singer can still be seen.
The people of Khandwa collected Rs.100,000 by contributing a rupee each for a memorial in an effort coordinated by Bollywood poet-lyricist Vitthal Bhai Patel. But Khandwa Mayor Tarachand Agarwal did not permit the restoration.
Even Kishore’s son Amit Kumar has not bothered to get the memorial repaired, says Sita Ram, who has been the watchman at Kishore’s house for over 35 years.
‘Amit visited Khandwa only twice - once when Kishoreda was cremated and the second time on his way to Indore for a show. He promised to perform stage shows in Khandwa to raise money to get the memorial repaired,’ Sita Ram told IANS.
But he never did.
(© 2006 Indo-Asian News Service)
source: http://news.monstersandcritics.com/india/article_1188114.php/Kishore_Kumar_fans_await_Javed_Akhtars_money
November 15th, 2006 at 7:57 am
well firstly there is no such artist compared 2 kishore da,dada and rafi both were great singers in there own way,but dada was versitle,he was and is the priodiogy,and i will pay 4 what ever it will cost 2 retain dada,s respect,aghar apne na bana tor kiya howa,koi tor horga jor dada ka naam roshan kara ga..may god bless dada,s soul,and his family has got money but dont wanna spend it,modern time modern thoughts only us the fans know what dada really meant 2 us……
November 13th, 2006 at 4:57 am
Dear friends,
KK was the greatest singer ever lived. In Pakistan he has millions of fans like me. We all miss him. I wish we can donate to this cause and not wait for Mr. Javed. He and many others in Bollywood owe so much to this legend. Too bad today they are not coming forward. Kishore built the careers of Amitabh, Rajesh Khanna and others with his voice and super hit songs. He was great and his voice will keep him in our hearts.
October 10th, 2006 at 4:28 pm
Hi KK Fans,
On the memorial front, it is best that we do not pass comments on why people have or have not contributed to the memorial.
As for his son himself visiting the place only twice in the last 2 years et al, I’m not sure if most of you even know the financial crisis the family was in - in the last few years. Given that his son does not have offers, second son is not looking at films, the family finally let out Kishore’s Xanadu - Gauri Kunj on rent to Swank Salon just to sustain themselves!!!
Having visited his family personally and his bungalow post the rent-out, honestly my perspectives changed.
October 8th, 2006 at 7:30 pm
Kishore Kumar is undoubtedly all’s favourite.His songs are most played,most heard,most sung in singing competitions and functions,most loved.The way he gave soul to every song lifts one spirit.As Bapi Lahiri once told,his range was the best,throwing-excellent.The modulation of his voice for every actor he sung was awesome.
September 30th, 2006 at 10:33 pm
KishoreKumar is such a great singer and genius.The more I think about this great man,the more I love him.
September 22nd, 2006 at 7:36 pm
Due to Kishore Kumar,world is full of good music,laughter and entertainment.Kishoreji,we all miss you.you will remain in the hearts of all forever.
September 9th, 2006 at 12:56 pm
DEAR ANIS-ur-REHMAN,
I completely agree with you.I have read your comments on other fan sites of the genius Kishore Kumar.Gurudev is simply the best.
September 8th, 2006 at 5:18 pm
I like the Great Artist Kishore da very much. People say that he was a good singer. But I say that he was not only a great singer but great actor, great music director, great lyricist, great producer & a great Director. I’ve a big collection of his songs & films. Kishore Da had a very unique voice & dancing talent.
September 6th, 2006 at 8:31 pm
The site,dedicated to my favourite singer Kishoreda is beautiful.I think that some videos and live performances of the genius should be added.
September 5th, 2006 at 10:54 am
I think its pathetic for so called music lovers to critisize other singers. I am a Rafi & Kishore fan, both were great singers and they themselves had highest regards for each other! Why do we have to lower ourselves to critisize others! Who are we to do that! Singers like Rafi, Kishore, Lata, Asha, Mukesh, Talat Mahmood etc. were all great singers in their own right.
There has always been politics, prejudice and patriotism in the bollywood industry, sad to say and this certainly was the case in the music side of the industry.
Why as human beings can’t we respect each other! Is it really that difficult.
September 3rd, 2006 at 7:49 pm
todays’s singers r just like a born baby,but singers like kishore kumar Md. Rafi they will be remain their father and may be their grand father, coz they are the begining and they will be remain continuing till the sun rays falls on the earth.Thats y the are the Legend of The Music.
August 29th, 2006 at 10:38 pm
KK has much much more fans than Rafi,Lata or Asha or Mukesh.Unknown1,buy a ticket for Ranchi to get admitted to the lunatic assylum.
August 27th, 2006 at 1:51 pm
Dear Unknown 1,you are completely wrong.KK has maximum fans.Fools like you should leave this site.
August 26th, 2006 at 11:45 pm
dear KKKLAN ,
U wrong that KK has maximum number of fans because mostly people like Mohd Rafi as a male and Lata Asha female.
August 26th, 2006 at 10:29 pm
Kishore Kumar is God.He has the maximum number of fans compared to other singers.Dear KK fans,please visit songs.kishorekumar.org
August 21st, 2006 at 10:35 pm
It is painful for us that we lost the great Ustaad Bismillah Khan ,May God rest his soul
August 21st, 2006 at 1:19 pm
Dear Pearl,
Prayag Raj was in music group of SJ(MD).
I don’t know about Javed Aktar but I think it is wrong 2 put something like this on KK site because KK has a big family they should pay i think they can pay.
it is so sad
August 20th, 2006 at 2:15 pm
Dear Pearl,
Yahoo not singed but it was shouted by PRAYAG RAJ also it was singed by Mohd Rafi or you say it shouted by Mohd Rafi many times in his world tour.
August 19th, 2006 at 9:39 pm
Who sang the yahoo word ? I have come to know about this for the first time
Please let me know his name, I am just waiting to know his name.
Thanks
August 19th, 2006 at 5:07 pm
Dear Roger Federer,
How can KK fans compare KK with the only one Mohd Rafi?I think they can’t comapre KK with Manny dey,I am with all music lover,You like 2 say the trueth but the KK fans don’t like the trueth As I said about Sagar because some time I think 2 do the same when they say something bad about Mohd Rafi and it is not true but when we ask them 2 answer they don’t they(KK Fan)try 2 change the topic when we asked them,First they said that KK has more awards than Mohd Rafi after they(KK fans)got the answer they said that Mohd Rafi was workless also they got answer,they said that KK can do Yoodle better than Mohd rafi thanks 2 Mohd Rafi fans they showed that Mohd Rafi can don’t anything,they said that Yahoo word is not sing byMohd Rafi yes we know that but they don’t know it singed by Mohd Rafi in many stage programms,
THEY(KK fans)have no arm for the war but we Mohd Rafi fans have many even they don’t have a small gun but we all.
August 19th, 2006 at 1:00 pm
Dear Roger Federer,
I never say bad about any singer and I will never do that,but i think it is wrong 2 wait money from some one as i think award should give from Gov’t or Bollywood not from fans.
I think it bad to give award in the name of man that and not all beleave that he or she is the best,You don’t think that SJ,Madan Mohan,Naushand, LP and SD are better than RD?!!You don’t think that is wrong give award in the name of RD?
Yes I am Mohd Rafi fan and it not mean that KK is bad singer for me
August 17th, 2006 at 10:15 am
Hi,
I am Rafik and I am big fan of Kishore Kumar. Liked this site, feel good to see that
How much you love our great Kishore and Thanks to the Admins who has made this.
I just want to know these, if anybody can tell me
1. How can I write articles ? new articles and not post ?
2. Why it says, my post is awaiting for moderation ?
3. Can we have a topic where we can have little introduction of the Admins, Mods, other
Members ? Just to become friendly ?
Thank you so much for giving me an opportunity.
Rafik
August 13th, 2006 at 11:13 pm
See if we really want to renovate the kishore da’s memorial ,we have to not depend upon others ,when his own son is not intrested in such things i think its not fair to ask a bollywood personality to donate money for this work…. i think its completely hopeless.
So ,if we the people who are fans, who really wants the memorial to be in good condtion lets collect funds n try it again for renovation …GOOD LUCK
August 11th, 2006 at 12:44 pm
dear friends sorry to say but why you should wait for money because as I know kk has a young son how can pay no need to go any where to get money or Indian Gov’t should give or KK all fans
August 10th, 2006 at 10:49 pm
I had and still have great respect for Javed Akhtar and therefore I am at loss to understand as to why he has not fulfilled his promise although he won the award in the name of Kishor Kumar. I suggest why not get in touch with him and see what he has to say.