Aniruddha Bhattacharjee has written award winning books - one on RD Burman, one called 'Gaata Rahe Mera Dil'. He is an IIT, Kharagpur alumnus and has written four books thus far. Parthiv Dhar is a Civil Engineer from VRCE, Nagpur, works with IOC and currently lives in Hyderabad. Their love for Kishore Kumar and several years of research resulted in this book that they call 'the ultimate biography'. It's over 400 pages long but quite an easy read thanks to the subject and their research.
Kishore Kumar was born Abhas Kumar Ganguly in a family where law seemed the preferred profession (his father Kumjilal was a lawyer of repute in Khandwa). However his older brother by several years, Ashok Kumar clicked in films in Bombay (the movie industry moved from Calcutta to Bombay in those years thanks to famine created by Churchill during the second world war time - i always wondered why all the Bengalis came to Bombay films). Kishore was the last sibling - Ashok Kumar, Sati Devi, Anoop Kumar and then Kishore. Anoop also tried his hand at films.
Kishore's early years were spent in Khandwa (near Indore) in Madhya Pradesh, mostly playing with his close friends, singing and eating jalebi and gajak. Kishore had a strong affinity to Khandwa all his life. He would sing during those days but was very stage shy - I think he also wrote plays, songs etc. Admission to Christian College, Indore, thanks to his father's reco letter, saw Kishore finding his voice - however he would always sing from behind a curtain apparently. Instances of senior girls conning him to sing for them are mentioned. He was a big fan of KL Saigal and would imitate him.
When Kishore followed Ashok and Anoop to Bombay, Ashok promoted him as an actor whereas the untrained Kishore wanted to be a singer. He acted in 22 films between 1946 and 1955 most of which were flops and it was felt that he did so because he was not keen on acting. But he brought a refreshing change to the screen with his Danny Kaye antics and worked with all leading heroines of that era. It was during 1955-66 when he was more settled that his films became successful.
His singing career was helped along by his first guru Khemchand Prakash who trained him a bit. Heavily influenced by KL Saigal, a huge fan of Tagore and Danny Kaye, he apparently had their photos on the wall at home and prayed to them everyday! SD Burman also encouraged him and told him to find his own voice and not imitate KL Saigal. In those days he sang songs such as 'Maana Janaab ne Pukara Nahin'. 'Hum Hai Raahi Pyar Ke', 'Ek Ladki Bheegi Bhaagi si' and others. With RD Burman composing for 'Padosan' Kishore sang 'Ek Chatur Naar' effortlessly. He once sang a song for 'Half Ticket' in both male and female voices because Lata Mangeshkar was busy elsewhere that day. So prolific and creative was he that he sang, acted, wrote, composed, directed and produced films. 'Chalti ka Naam Gaadi' was based on their family heirloom.
His voice they say 'hits the mike straight, at its most sensitive point'. He could sing in different voices and modulate his voice to suit the artiste. Much of Rajesh Khanna's success also had Kishore singing hit songs - Rajesh Khanna wanted only him to sing for him. He had his share of run ins with stars like Amitabh for whom he sang 131 songs and with Mithun. He was particular about getting paid and would not deliver until he was paid. Once he was paid only half and he apparently landed for the shot with half make up. Or he would spout a dialogue which asked the producer to pay him the promised amount in the shot. Or go to the producer's house and sing outside asking for his money. At times he would ask producers to do some absurd things to sign him on. He was known for being late or never showing up for shoots, at times coming and going after one shot without telling anyone. Eccentric, but a genius.
Married four times - to Ruma Ghosh who was an actor and singer (Amit Kumar was their son), then to Madhubala who had a heart condition and died after nine years, a short lived marriage with Yogeeta Bali and the last with Leena Chandarvarkar who was much junior to him. He had his run ins with the Income Tax department and most famously, his songs were banned from AIR and DD during the Emergency time because he refused to perform for a Congress party meeting.
Colorful eccentric, sentimental, capable of great love, brilliantly creative - Kishore Kumar will remain forever in movie goers hearts with an amazing number of hit songs that find their way into everyone's fav playlists. Several of them have been remixed, remade. Songs like 'Jaan e jaan'. 'Kya yehi pyaar hai', Musafir hoon yaaron', 'Panna ki Tamanna', 'Meri Soni', 'Rim Jhim Gire Saawan' are on my playlist along with so many more. How can we ever forget him. That apart the book gives many insights into his life that were otherwise unknown to me. Good read and recommended. Thanks Satish for gifting it to us.
