Kishore Kumar- It's A Mad Mad World

 

Kishore Kumar was eccentric or unusual start from his childhood, when he was studying in a boarding school of Indore,in his hostel room's wall he scribbled Kishore's name, in his own handwriting, in his favorite style, in reverse: Ramaku Rashoki. For several years, one of the walls of his hostel room stood witness to his eccentricity.

He was a rare combination of madness and devotion to work. He was unpredictable, he was a genius, and he was even crazy. He had a relaxed appeal to him evident in films like Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi throughout his music performance he fools around from one corner to another. His madness and frolic become amply resound when in the song   Aaake Seedhi Lagi filmed on both him and Pran, he sings the parts of both the male and the female. The song can make anybody laugh in seconds! And who can forget the song from the film Padosan in which he played the music teacher and participated in a hilarious music competition with Manna Dey.

It was said that Kumar would sing only after the confirmation of payment from his secretary was received. On one occasion, when Kumar learnt that he was paid half for the movie he was roped in as an actor, he appeared on the sets with makeup placed on one side of his face. Seeing him when the director questioned him, he replied “Adha Paisa Tu Aadha Makeup (half makeup for half payment)”.

The legendary singer placed a sign ‘Beware of Kishore Kumar’ at the door of his residence. The famous producer of Hindi film industry H.S.Rawail came to his home to pay his dues. After paying the dues, Rawail tried to shake hands with the singer, he took the producer’s hand in his mouth, bit it, and said ‘Didn’t you see what my signboard says?’.

In an interview , he revealed that he preferred talking to his trees. He also introduced the journalist with the trees by their names at his bungalow and said they were his close friends.

Despite all these eccentric behaviors of the singer, Kishore Kumar was loveable and will remain the same forever for his fans.

Please watch the video below, a collection of his comic and funny songs sung or acted by him

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PIYA PIYA PIYA MORA JIYA PUKARE- How a Mistake in the middle of the song recording covered during picturizing of the Song

 

This song appears in the 1955 hit musical comic Baap Re Baap directed and produced by A R Kardar. The movie starred Kishore Kumar, Chand Usmani. This song is a duet of Kishore Kumar and Asha Bhonsle, written by Jan Nisar Akhtar, and the music was composed by O P Nayyar.

During those times, there were no digital recording facilities like today, where if there is a mistake it can be rectified by computers. Those days there used to be only one microphone for the singers, and another for musicians. If the singers want to record a duet, one would sing his/her line, get away noiselessly for other singers to sing, and come again for their own part. And, if a musician makes a mistake, the whole track would be recorded again from the top. There was also no technique to alter the intensity of sound, if the sound was supposed to come from a distance, the singer had to stand away from the mic, slowly advancing towards it, to get the desired effect.

This song is significant in that Asha Bhonsle made a mistake in the middle of the song and late Kishore Kumar went ahead with the mistake in the song, without going for a retake. When the song was being recorded, Asha Bhonsle gave an alaap a second time, when it was not required. Kishore Kumar signaled her to go on and complete the song as it was. After the recording was over, he told everybody that he, being the hero of the movie, would place a hand on his heroine’s mouth, when that particular shot in the song would come. That was how the problem was resolved.

This song was picturized on Kishore Kumar and Chand Usmani on a Ghoda Gadi (a horse carriage). Watch this song video at 2:09 minute of this video, how brilliantly Kishore Kumar covers up the mistake made by Asha Bhonsle  She started singing the part which was to be done by Kishore Kumar. But then she stopped abruptly. The music director wanted a second recording. But Kishore Kumar denied of recording the second time and as he was the hero of the film he did a cover up of that part by closing her mouth. What a genius! Kishore Kumar the legend.

Song of Baap Re Baap 1955

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'Tere Mere Milan Ki Ye Raina'- The Song based on Rabindra Sangeet

 

This Classic song from the 1973 film Abhiman was written by Majrooh Sultanpuri and composed by S D Burman was influenced by the song 'Jodi Tare Nai Chini Go Sheki 'of Rabindra Tagore. Over the years, the original Song Jodi Tare Nai Chini Go Sheki has been performed by various artists – Kishore Kumar, Shaan, Anwesha, Shrabani Sen, Shreya Ghoshal, Hemant Kumar, and many more. While I was researching for this song, I found a very rare version sung by the great K L (Kundan Lal) Saigal.

This song appears when the movie reaches its climax when the couple Subir (Amitabh) and Uma (Jaya -Bhaduri) get separated, Uma has a miscarriage, and finally they, fortunately, reunite – what an emotional reunion celebrated with this beauty of a song “Tere Mere Milan Ki Yeh Raina” rendered in public by both.

Though this song was influenced by Rabindra Tagore, S D Burman gave his magical touch to the original tune made this song immortal. We must also appreciate Mazrooh Sultanpuri to give lyrics for the wonderful tune. He was awarded the Filmfare Award as Best Lyricist. S D Burman was awarded the Best Music Director.

If you listen to all the versions of 'Jodi Tare Nai' you will find how beautifully the Abhiman song was composed. The song starts with a hmmm. by Kishore Kumar, a divine hmmm unmatchable. The song is a duet of Kishore and Lata Mangeshkar, one of the immortal duets of both.

This tune was again used in the 1985 film Jhoothi's song set in Rupak Taal (that's the name for the beats on the Tabla). Bappi Lahiri has set his Chanda Dekhe Chanda from Jhoothi.

Song of Abhiman 1973

Jodi Tare Nai Chini Go Sheki by Kishore Kumar

Jodi Tare Nai Chini Go Sheki by Hemant Kumar

Jodi Tare Nai Chini Go Sheki by K L Saigal

Jodi Tare Nai Chini Go Sheki by Shaan

Song of Jhoothi 1985

Main hoon jhum jhum jhum jhum Jhumroo- One Man Show

This song from the 1961 film'Jhumroo' was written, composed, and sung by Kishore Kumar. He was the producer, editor, story writer, and hero of this film. This song is a title song played with the opening credit titles of the film. The film starts with this song, Kishore Kumar is nowhere in the scene. The picturization shows a toy train finding its way on the picturesque terrain of Darjeeling hills while this song gets played in the background. Madhubala is one of the passengers traveling on this train.
Jhumroo was Kishore Kumar's first released film as a composer, before that two of his films as a composer was shelved. Both were to be directed by Phani Mazumdar. Both films couldn't see the light of the day.
 Kishore Kumar is at his absolute best as a singer in this song. This song has Kishore Kumar at his yodeling best  There were 11 songs in the film  Most of the songs were recorded well before the shooting of the film stated. There was no situation for this song, everybody was appreciating this song and wanting to retain this song, so it was kept in the beginning as a background song with the credit titles.
Since Kishore Kumar had no musicians, orchestra, and music arranger so the help of S D Burman's team was taken. Basu Chakravarti who was Burman Dada's arranger helped Kishore Kumar to complete songs.
The song starts with the rhythm of a guitar matching the sound of a steam engine followed by the yodeling of Kishore Kumar Before yodeling starts Kishore creates the sound of the whistle of the engine. There is no differentiation between Mukhda and Antra in this song, in fact, each Antra has the Mukhda in it. Between the Antra Kishore Kumar's high pitched laughter and yodeling is kept as an interlude. The words are simple and minimum use of musical instruments mainly guitar and accordion are the main instruments.

Song of Jhumroo 1961

Ek Chatur Naar - The Brain Child of Kishore Kumar

This immortal song from Padosan 1968 was the highlight of the film. More than 50 years have passed, it still entertains us. The pivotal role of creating this song goes to Kishore Kumar. He didn't just act or sing in the film, he conducted the proceedings around him. He turned the entire sequence of Meri Pyari Bindu, which was actually a scene into a song. He came up with the tune, polished the words, and even choreographed it on the spot. 
The plan to use the song in Padosan was of Kishore himself. He told Padosan lyricist Rajinder Krishan to do an extended version of the old song sung by his brother Ashok Kumar in Jhoola (1941), which was then picturized so memorably on Saira Banu, Mehmood, Sunil Dutt and Kishore Kumar. A constant companion of brother Ashok in those days, he had heard the song and the tunes stayed with him.
sing for Mehmood and Kishore to sing for Sunil Dutt. When Manna De was approached for this song everybody liked his idea, a situation in the film was created where a music competition to take place between the hero and the music teacher of the heroine. It, being a classical song, Manna De was to by R D Burman with regards to the famous musical face-off number, Manna Dey refused to lose to Kishore, the reality was that he didn't wish to lose to him in the classical song competition since he was a classically trained singer and Kishore wasn't. 
The task of convincing took by Mehmood. He convinced him that its not a real competition but a reel competition. In films, anything is possible when a skinny hero can beat a strong villain why can't this happen in a song. Ultimately Manna De agreed to sing.
 Though the old song was a solo here it will be modified and more catchy to be sung a male duet. Mehmood's voice is also in this song. It was destined to be the most hilarious songs of Bollywood.
Manna De in an interview told,  it took 10 days to compose this song. Everyone who participated in composing this song has contributed. In the final rehearsal of this song, it took 9 hours before they went for a recording. This being a very long song so it was recorded in two parts, later it was merged into one. Manna De further informed that he was surprised when during the recording Kishore Kumar suddenly changed the Sargam and the context by adding his touches like "hmm dhaam.. O Tedhe Seedhe Ho Jaa Re" which took the classical song to a different level.
The song has been composed in the form of a combination of Carnatic and Hindustani music. Mahmood begins with the Aalaap in Carnatic music and the song proper while playing the harmonium. Kishore Kumar sings the Hindustani counterpart for Sunil Dutt. Their preparation for the ‘concert’ itself is funny.
While Mahmood dances, Sunil Dutt moves back towards Kishore Kumar in sync with the rhythm of the song. Kishore Kumar pushes Sunil Dutt in front and simultaneously sings a Bengali song. Beside Kishore, Mukri, Keshto Mukharjee, and Raj Kishore were also part of this song.
Mr. Sadanand Kamath in the book, ” R D Burman – The Man, The Music” by Anirudha Bhattacharjee & Balaji Vittal writes, this song was not only inspired by Ashok Kumar song but also from ‘Van Chale Ram Raghurai’ [SANT TULSIDAS (1939)] for the line ‘….Dekhi teri chaturayee’ and from ‘ Chanda re ja re ja re’ [ZIDDI (1948)] for the line ‘… Kaalaa re ja re ja re’. 
For your reference, I am posting all the three songs

Song of Jhoola 1941

Song of Sant Tulsi Das 1939

Song of Ziddi 1948

Song of Padosan 1968

AMIT KUMAR- Like Father Like Son

Like his father, he is also a singer, composer, actor,  filmmaker but also a music company owner. Like his father, he is also wedded to music. He eats music, drinks music, and breathe music.  Like his father, Amit started singing from an early age and he used to sing at Durga Pooja festivals in Calcutta. 
When he was 11, his father brought him as his son in the films that he produced, Door Gagan Ki Chhaon Mein' in 1961. When he was a teenager he sang for the film ' Door Ka Rahi.but it was removed from the final cut of the film.

He sang professionally for the first time, outside his father's composition, at the age of 21 in 1973. The song was "Hosh Mein Hum Kahan", composed by Sapan Jagmohan for the film Darwaza, which was released in 1978. Officially his first released song was in Main Bhi Akela Hoon from the 1974 film Zindagi Aur Toofan.

He came into the limelight after the song "Bade Achchhe Lagte Hain" composed by R.D. Burman, for the film 'Balika Badhu' in 1976, the song was a hit. After this song he was one of the favorites of R D Burman. He sang 170 songs under him.
His duets with his father, such as "Haseeno Ke Chakkar Mein" from Deewangee in 1976, "Nazar Lage Na Saathiyo" from Des Pardes in 1978 and "Sun Chache Bol" from Badthi Ka Naam Dadhi in 1974 became popular. His duet with Asha Bhonsle and Lata Mangeshkar also became popular, by 1980 his songs were becoming hit. In 1981 after the release of Love Story, he was the most sought after singer after Kishore Kumar. In this film, he sang all the songs for Kumar Gaurav and became his screen voice.

After the success of Love Story, Rajesh Khanna employed Kumar for playback singing in Fiffty Fiffty (1981) and then later in Aakhir Kyon? (1985), Ghar Ka Chirag, Jai Shiv Shankar, Swarg (1990) and Sautela Bhai (1996).
Among music directors, Amit Kumar was used more by Pancham from 1975 to 1994 and by Bappi Lahiri from 1983 to 1995.  He sang for almost all music directors and actors of that time. He sang songs for Anil Kapoor in films including Tezaab, Yudh, and Aag Se Khelenge and continued to sing for him in the 1990s. 
After the death of R.D. Burman in 1994, with whom Amit had a special bond, he withdrew himself from the film industry. Kumar started undertaking more live stage performances in various parts of the world since 1996.
Amit Kumar also acted in several films directed by and starring his father, which were Door Gagan Ki Chhaon Mein (1964), Door Ka Raahi (1971), Badhti Ka Naam Dadhi (1974), Shabhash Daddy (1979) and Chalti Ka Naam Zindagi (1982). In 1989, he made his last film appearance in his father's incomplete film Mamta Ki Chhaon Mein, which starred himself, his stepmother Leena Chandavarkar and Rajesh Khanna. After his father's death in 1987, he took over as director and completed the film for release in 1989. In his long career in the film, he acted in a Bengali film namely "Gayak". In this film the name of his character was Amit and it was of a struggling singer. He sang a number of songs for this film under the direction of Rabin Banerjee. 
Nowadays he is away from Bollywood, Amit does not even follow what is happening in the Hindi film industry on the music front.

Song of Door Gagan Ki Chhaon Mein 1964

Song of Balika Badhu 1976

Song of Deewangee 1976

Song of Des Pardes 1978

Song of Kasme Vaade 1978

Song of Hum Paanch

Song of Aap Ke Deewane

Song of  Qurbani. 1980

Song of Love  Story 1981

Song of  Shradhanjali . 1981

Song of Akhir Kyun 1985

Song of Tridev 1989

Mem Sahib (1956)- A Classic Film with Four Legends in Making

A rare film with a star cast Shammi Kapoor, Meena Kumari, Kishore Kumar, and Mehmood in one film is an attractive proposition to watch. At the time of its release, none of them was a big star. Shammi Kapoor's first hit film was Tumsa Nahin Dekha which was released one year later in 1957. What is more, he is not the hero, he does not get to walk away with the heroine, and he plays a negative character. Mehmood had a small and insignificant role. Kishore Kumar was also not a big name. Meena  Kumari was the only one who was successful, not a Tragedy Queen at that time. 
Meena Kumari played the role of a  modern girl in this film. An unlike Meena Kumari film with full of entertainment. This is also one of Meena Kumari’s non-tragedy roles. 

This film is based on the usual clash between ‘traditional Indian’ and ‘modern/Western’ values. Kishore Kumar(Sunder) who plays the naive young man, brought up in an ashram comes to town to marry which was fixed long ago by the heroine's rich father when both the boy and girl were a child. The girl who lived in a city with a modern lifestyle refuses to marry such a  guy. She gives a matrimonial Ad. in a paper and takes interviews. Manohar (Shammi Kapoor) who plays a negative character in the film reads the Ad and decides to go for an interview. Manohar impresses Meena, both become friendly. Meena introduces Manohar to her uncle as her prospective groom,

Meena's aunt was against this marriage so she calls Sundar from Guru ji ashram to meet Meena, the girl to whom he is betrothed. Meena, on the other hand, wanted to marry Manohar.
Sunder blames Manohar for ‘stealing’ his Meena away, The uncle advises Sunder to forget Meena. In the meantime, Manohar approaches Meena’s uncle for his blessings. Uncle tells Manohar that he has no problem as long as Meena wants to marry him but  Meena’s father’s will states that if Meena marries anyone other than Sunder, the latter will be heir to all her wealth. 
Manohar who is after the wealth of Meena tells Meena about the will. Manohar, along with Meena, steals the will out of her uncle’s safe but their plans fail once again when they come to know that one more copy of this will is lying with Sunder's mother.
Manohar plants the idea of Meena getting the will from Sunder by pretending to fall in love with him. Meena falls for the idea. Initially, she pretended to love Sunder but after a while, she realizes Manohar of wooing her for her money; if he truly loved her, he would take her as she is. 

The film was produced and directed by R C Talwar, music was given by Madan Mohan. 
Music Director  Madan Mohan was inspired by the 1934 song  Isle of Capri for not one but two versions of the song Dil Dil Se Mila Kar Dekho,, sung by Asha Bhosle and Kishore Kumar respectively. Both the songs were picturized on Meena Kumari and Kishore Kumar. The first version (Asha Bhosle) in the film comes more than an hour into the film when Meena Kumari pretends to be interested in Kishore Kumar and who, outside the world of the ashram he has grown up in, is just getting introduced to the ways of the ‘sinful’ world. Meena Kumari is driving the car while Kishore Kumar sits on the front seat.

The second version (Kishore Kumar) comes about half an hour later once Kishore Kumar, now having fallen hook line and sinker for Meena Kumari, has succumbed to the lifestyle of the rich and wealthy. In this song, Kishore Kumar drives the car and Meena Kumari sits on the front seat.
Another popular song "Hamari Gali Aana, Achha Ji" picturized on Meena Kumari and Shammi Kapoor, a sung by Asha Bhosle and Talat Mahmood was also very popular, This film is available on YouTube.

Song of Mem Sahib 1956 (Female Version)

Song of Mem Sahib 1956 (Male Version)

Song of Mem Sahib 1956

Song of Mem Sahib 1956

Song of Mem Sahib 1956

Song of Mem Sahib 1956

Song of Mem Sahib 1956

Ek Tha Raja Ek Thi Rani- A Film that couldn't be Completed

An unusual pairing was made by the producer and director M L Anand for the Neelkamal Films in 1958. It was signing Kishore Kumar opposite Nargis for the film Ek Tha Raja Ek Thi Rani.
The film, written by Inder Raj Anand, had them both in double roles, in a tale of mistaken identities. The supporting cast included Johnny Walker, Pran, Ulhas, Mukri, Anwar Hussain (Nargis’ brother), Ram Mohan and Minoo Mumtaz with Shailendra and Hasrat Jaipuri writing the songs, which were composed by Shankar-Jaikishan.

M L Anand had already directed Nargis earlier in Lahore (1949), one of the first films to address the trauma of Partition of the sub-continent, and in Bewafa (1952), where Raj Kapoor played a rare negative role in a love triangle that also co-starred Ashok Kumar.
It is said that 8 songs of the film were recorded in the voices of Lata Mangeshkar, Kishore Kumar, Mohammed Rafi, and Geeta Dutt. The film also made quite some headway in its filming following a major schedule in Shimla. One of the songs, recorded on September 9, 1958, Kaisi Khoob Raat Hai, a light-hearted ditty sung by Lata Mangeshkar, Kishore Kumar and Mohammed Rafi was all set to be filmed later in Kashmir. But then Nargis got pregnant with her first child, actor Sanjay Dutt. She opted out of the film, leading it to be shelved for good.

The pairing of Nargis and Kishore Kumar never happened. Today, just the film advertisement (the picture accompanying this piece) and a couple of surviving stills with Osianama give us a hint of what might have been…

13 October - A Cruel Co incidence in Bollywood

13th Oct is the Birthdate of Dada Muni, Ashok Kumar and unfortunately, it became the last day of Kishore Kumar, who passed away on this day.  Dada Muni was born on 13 Oct 1911. He was an Iconic Actor of the 1940s and 50s. By 1947, he was the most bankable star of Hindi cinema and started producing films for Bombay Talkies. He was the eldest son of the Ganguli family. Kishore Kumar was the youngest among all.
Kishore Kumar who was 18 years younger than Ashok Kumar. He was a lively child who was passionate about singing. He was especially obsessed with legendary singer and composer KL Saigal and learned music by imitating his style.
Kishore had no formal training in music and Ashok Kumar, who was already a film star, discouraged him from taking up a playback career. He felt that Kishore’s voice lacked ‘modulation’, among other things. But Kishore was in no mood to hang up his boots.

It was in 1945 when Kishore Kumar was in Bombay living with Ashok Kumar, who that time shooting for Shikari gave him a small role in that film. However, Kishore disliked acting. His first few films flopped and then he decided to act so badly that nobody will cast him. Kishore’s decision to perform badly became his calling card and the audience’s started loving him for it. It was the 1951 release of Andolan, however, that propelled him to stardom as a singer-actor and ultimately freed him from the shadow of his brother Ashok.
He was given break for singing by Khemchand Prakash for the 1948 film Ziddi, the song was  “Marne ki duayen kyon mangu”  The song was a hit but he didn't get many offers for singing.It was S D Burman who advised him not to imitate KL Saigal, sing in your own style.
 It was music director SD Burman who gave Kishore opportunities to sing in one movie after another beginning with Dev Anand’s hit films -- Munimji and Taxi Driver (1954), House No. 44 (1955), Funtoosh (1956), Nau Do Gyarah and Paying Guest (1957) and many more. Not only these movies became big hits but their songs too soared in popularity charts. Dev Anand’s own popularity scaled higher peaks while Kishore Kumar began to be recognized as Dev Anand’s voice.
Kishore Kumar and Ashok Kumar acted together in many films.the first time they acted together in Bhai Bhai released in 1956. Ashok Kumar, who played the lead role and Kishore Kumar (real-life brothers) as the two brothers, with the film being referred to as one of Kishore Kumar's prominent films. In this film sang one song for himself "Mera Naam Abdul Rehman"

Both of them are considered to be one of India’s finest artists who have successfully entertained us. Talking about Ashok Kumar, he was an actor who ruled the silver screen whereas, Kishore Kumar’s melodious voice remains etched in our hearts to date, and maybe forever.

Both the brothers were going great when destiny played a cruel game and one’s happy occasion, unfortunately, turned sad and unhappy for the other one. Kishore Kumar died on the birthday of Ashok Kumar in 1987, which shattered Ashok Kumar, he decided that he will never celebrate his birthday now and onwards. Ashok Kumar died 14 years later in 2001.
Here are 5 Prominent films of both brothers working together
Bhai Bhai 1956

Song of Bhai Bhai 1956

The story is of two brothers, with the younger brother running away from home at an early age. The older brother gets entangled with another woman, leaving his wife and child at home. This situation leads to the meeting of the brothers, with the older one mending his errant ways.


Bandi (1957)

Song of Bandi (1957)

This is a 1957 film directed by Satyen Bose and had all three brothers Ashok, Kishore and Anoop coming together for the first time. Ashok Kumar as his educated elder brother has negative shades to his character. while Kishore played a simpleton. The confrontation scenes between Ashok Kumar and Kishore Kumar are superb especially in the end when they meet after 16 years.


Raagini  (1958)

Song of Ragini 1958

It is a 1958 Bollywood film starring Ashok Kumar, Kishore Kumar, and Padmini. Kishore sings "Main Bangali Chhokra" The film was an average.at Box office


Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi (1958)-

Song of Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi (1958)

 The film featured the 3 brothers once again and Madhubala. The music was given by SD Burman and the Kishore sang most of the sings along with Asha Bhosle. The film was a huge success.

Door Ka Rahi (1971)

Song of Door Ka Rahi (1971)

 The film was directed by Kishore Kumar himself who also wrote the film and featured Tanuja, Ashok Kumar and himself in major roles. The film strives to deliver a very strong message of humanity using the simplest possible language.