Kishore Kumar

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ung Kishore was playing; he accidentally cut his toe with 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 hours and when he did stop there was a miracle. Suddenly the hoarseness in their 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.

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 in India. Day in and day out he used to sing songs of his idol, the famous K.L. Saigal and dreamed 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 would arrange a meeting but alas before he could find time Saigal had left the world. Rejected as a 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 a 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 195,3, 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 50s’ In fact between 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 the 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 one of the best comedies in the annals of Hindi Cinema. After the success of this movie, Kishore Kumar tried a 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 happened to visit his house to meet Ashok Kumar. While the two were involved in 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 me the song was not being played on the radio but his younger brother Kishore Kumar was singing on the 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) fetched Kishore Kumar his First Filmfare award as Best Male Playback Singer.