Kishore Kumar

Claim Page

Born with hoarse voice but aspired to be Singer Kishore Kumar who became immortal for singing was actually born with a hoarse voice but aspired to become a singer like the legendary K.L. Saigal. His elder brother Bollywood actor Ashok Kumar mocked him and advised to refine his voice. One day when young Kishore was playing; he accidently cut his toe from a sharp house knife. Unable to bear the pain he began crying and did not stop despite all efforts to cajole him. He cried for 6-7 yours and when he did stop there was a miracle. Suddenly the hoarseness in voice had disappeared and his voice surprisingly became mellifluous. After this incident his father began encouraging him by rewarding a 4 anna for singing a good song from Ashok Kumar’s film and a rupee for singing a K.L. Saigal song brilliantly.

Married four times but love eluded him Though it is true Kishore Kumar married four times but he could never find real love. His first marriage to Ruma Devi was a love marriage and Kishore Kumar had tied nuptial knot by eloping. The family was against the marriage. It was S.D.Burman who blessed the couple but ego clashes erupted as both were celebrities and the marriage ended in divorce. He married Madhubala after she was let down in love by Dilip Kumar. The two came close but no sooner they tied the nuptial knot Madhubala was detected with a hole in heart and was rushed to America for treatment. She died soon after retuning. His third marriage with Yogita Bali was too short lived as Yogita Bali was attracted to the young and handsome Mithun Chakraborty and the marriage ended in divorce. His fourth marriage with Leena Chandavarkar lasted just for seven years as Kishore bid adieu from this world. Thus his entire life he sought love but it kept eluding him.

Run away to Mumbai to meet his idol singer K.L. Saigal Kishore Kumar’s only ambition in life was to become the greatest singer of India. Day in and day out he used to sing songs of his idol, the famous K.L. Saigal and dream of becoming the top singer. After completing his education he ran away to Mumbai aspiring to meet his idol K.L. Saigal. Since his brother Ashok Kumar was already a star Kishore kept pestering Ashok Kumar to help him in meeting Saigal but Ashok Kumar was a huge star and was very busy. Nevertheless he promised Kishore that he will arrange a meeting but alas before he could find time Saigal had left the world. Rejected as singer; accepted as actor Ironically Kishore Kumar who aspired to be a singer was rejected as a singer and music directors’ kicked him out as an ‘imitator’ of K.L. Saigal. Interestingly while Kishore was discarded as singer he was accepted as an actor. His first movie as an actor was Bombay Talkies ‘Muqaddar’ in which he had a minor role. In the following year in 1953 he was cast as a hero in ‘Andolan’ directed by Phani Majumdar. But his rear break came when he starred in A.V.M.’s ‘Ladki’ opposite big stars like Vyjantimala and Bharat Bhushan. In 1954 he established himself as a star with movies like ‘Adhikar’, Ilzam, and Bimal Roy’s ‘Naukri’ becoming big hits. Becomes the ‘Most sought after star in the 50’ In fact during 55’ and 56’ he was the most sought after actor. Movies like ‘Dilli Ka Thug’, ‘New Delhi’ ‘Shararat’ ‘Aasha’, ‘Bhai-Bhai’ etc. celebrated silver jubilees. During this period he acted with almost all the leading actresses of that time from Meena Kumari ( Shararat) ; Nimmi ( Char Paise) ; Madhubala ( Chalti Ka Naam Gadi) ; Nutan ( Dilli Ka Thug); Vyjantimala ( New Delhi) ; Anita Guha ( Chacha Zindabad); Shashikala ( Krorepati) etc. Turns filmmaker and produces greatest comedy of Indian Cinema After striking a fortune as a star Kishore Kumar decided to turn filmmaker and produced Indian Cinema’s all time great comedy Chalti Ka Naam Gadi (1958). The movie was a runaway hit and remains as a best comedy in the annals of Hindi Cinema. After the success of this movie, Kishore Kumar tried few more movies like ‘Door Gagan Ki Chhaon Men’, ‘Door Ka Raahi’ etc. but they failed miserably. Also on the other hand his acting career got a setback with movies like, ‘Mem Sahib’, ‘Daal Me Kala’ ‘ Albela Mastana’ ‘Duniya Nachegi’ ‘ Shreeman Funtoosh’ etc. failing at the box office. S.D. Burman recognizes Kishore Kumar’s singing talent The music director who gave Kishore Kumar his first break was Khemchand Prakash. The song was Marne ki duayen kyun maangoon… for the film Ziddi (1948). Kishore had sung this in the typical K.L. Saigal style. Both the song and the film were hit but Kishore Kumar was not noticed. He had to struggle as a singer. He would sit at home and practice Saigal’s song on the piano in the house. One day music director S.D. Burman happed to visit his house to meet Ashok Kumar. While the two were involved discussing a tune for their upcoming film, Burman da was disturbed by a Saigal song coming out from inside a room. He felt the song was being played on ‘Radio’ hence he asked Ashok Kumar to switch off the radio. But informed the song was not being played on radio but his younger brother Kishore Kumar was singing on piano. Stunned by Kishore’s voice Burmanda hugged him and later offered him his first song under his music direction in the film Bahaar (1951), The song is Qusoor aapka huzoor aapka … The song was a great success. After this duo gave a chain of hits like Dukhi man mere sun mera kahna from Shreeman Funtoosh (1956), Hum hai rahi pyar ke from Nau Do Gyarah (1957), Ek ladki bheegi bhagi si from Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi (1958) etc. And of course the super duper hit song Roop Tera Mastana in Aradhana (1969) that fetched Kishore Kumar his First Filmfare award as Best Male Playback Singer.