How was Kishore Kumar as a person in real life?

Kishore Kumar was a multi talented personality and a great prankster. I would like to share one of his prank which he played and still is a part of a song.

It's related to the famous song Jai Jai Shiv Shankar from the film Aap Ki Kasam, picturized on Rajesh Khanna and Mumtaz. There were some delays in shooting the song and the producer of the film, J. Omprakash used to always comment “ PACHAAS HAZAAR KHARCHA KAR DIYE", (you made me spent Rs. 50,000). Kishore Kumar picked this tagline and due to some reasons the song was recorded again.

If you listen to the song carefully (full version which has musical part in the end) the extra characters are playing music and there is a comment from Kishore Kumar “Bajao Re Bajao, Imaandaari se bajao", (play the music with honesty), followed by a giggle. What follows after

that will completely surprise you as in no way it is related to the song. Kishore Kumar clearly mentions the tagline of the producer “PACHAS HAZAAR KHARCHA KAR DIYE". He says this with so ease that no one was able to catch it.

Finally, the film released and this prank is still a part of the song. After the release of the film he revealed this fact to the producer, who could do nothing but just laugh on the entire incident.

A lesser known fact about Kishore Kumar which shows that he was not only talented but also very unpredictable. A creative person who shared good relationship, would not like interference in his work, a keen observer and so spontaneous that he was capable of creating such pranks even while recordings.

Images(s) Courtesy: Google

Why did Mohd Rafi get replaced as the Number 1 male singer by Kishore Kumar in 1970, but no one could replace Kishore Kumar till his last day?

Rafi : Mohammad Rafi, a legend , was preferred by SD Burman, a music legend.

No wonder , Rafi was voice behind Dilip Kumar ; Dev Anand and later Amitabh Bachchan.

His songs with SD Burman were hits.

His magical voice created an aura around these known actors.

Kishore Kumar : This thespian was preferred by RD Burman, a music legend.

Well, Kishore Kumar was voice behind Rajesh Khanna and later Amitabh Bachchan.

His magnetic voice led to success of these actors.

Spat : Film journalists claim, Rafi, a gentle soul, had a spat with Lata Mangeshkar over royalty issues.

Lata Mangeshkar wanted singers be paid royalty by producers.

But, Rafi believed singers were already paid by producer and appreciated by masses.

Naturally, many singers - musicians , lyricists supported Lata Mangeshkar over Rafi.

Controversy : In 1977, Rafi had complained against Lata Mangeshkar to Guinness Book of Records.

He pointed out out, he (rather Lata) should be recognized for singing the most songs (28000).

Variety : Kishore Kumar can sing any genre - rock ; folk ; classical ; electronic

Rafi often sang folk , ghazal, classical music based songs.

Sickness : Rafi was afflicted with throat infection for many years in 1970’s.

He also had a cardiac ailment that required medical care and proper rest.

Well, it did impact his career for a while.

Facts : They both reigned Indian music scene during their respective life span.

Last, Kishore Kumar and Mohammad Rafi were friends not rivals.

Pic Credits : Google Images/ Web

As per reports, Kishore Kumar made this movie to evade taxes, hoping that it would fail at the box office, but it became a big hit. Which movie was it?

 The film is Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi, starring Kishore Kumar and his brothers Anoop Kumar and Ashok Kumar, along with Madhubala.

Kishore Kumar wanted to avoid paying huge income tax and therefore had to show losses to the tax authorities.

He released it with a Bengali film and was sure that the film will be a commercial disaster but the film turned out to be the second highest grosser of that year. It is one of the finest comedy film with chartbuster music. All the songs are popular even after 6 decades. Songs include Haal kaisa hai janab ka,

Ik ladki bheegi bhaagi si, Paanch rupaya barah aana, hum they woh thi aur sama rangeen and the title song are an eternal part of the Golden Era of Bollywood.

Image(s) Courtesy: Google

What's the story behind Kishore Kumar singing both male and female parts in "Aake Seedhi Lagi Dil Pe"?

 Necessity is the mother of all inventions. The above mentioned song from Half Ticket was originally planned as a Kishore - Lata duet. Incidently, Lata was not available (out of town) and the recording deadline was urgent.

Kishore Kumar suggested that he will sing both the parts of the song. Initially, Salil Chaudhary was skeptical about it but Kishore Kumar convinced him.

The idea worked. The song is a comic piece where Kishore Kumar disguises himself as a woman and tries to romance Pran. The disguised avatar helped Kishore to lip-sync to the female portion while his co-star Pran lip-synced to the male portion.

The song turned out to be fine as Kishore sang admirably well in both the voices.

Image(s) Courtesy: Google.

Did Kishore Kumar have any children? If yes, what are their names and professions?

 

Amit Kumar : This veteran singer is son of Kishore Kumar and Ruma Guha Thakurtha.

He happens to be a film fare awardee and a popular singer.

He happens to be elder son of Kishore Kumar.

He has also acted as a child artist in Dor Gagan Ki Chao Me; Dor Ka Rahi ; Mamta Ki Chanv Me etc.

He grew up in Kolkata and then Mumbai.

Sumit Kumar : This young singer is son of Kishore Kumar and Leena Chandravarkar.

He happens to be younger son of Kishore Kumar.

He is a Bengali-hindi music singer.

He was barely a child ; when Kishore Kumar, a thespian, passed away in 1987..

He was trained and guided by Amit Kumar , his doting elder brother

Facts : Kishore Kumar ( 1929–1987) - maverick Indian legend -had four marriages.

But, he was known as a doting father ; bother and lovable friend.

Pic Credits : Google Images/ Web

Did Mh. Rafi ever lend his voice to Kishore Kumar in any film?

 Mohd. Rafi has given playback for Kishore Kumar not once or twice but many times. In some cases the reason is known while in some cases it is unknown.

The song “Mann Mora Bawra” from Ragini (1958) was picturised on Kishore Kumar but sung by Mohd. Rafi.

The reason being that it was a semi classical song and music director O. P. Nayyar felt that only Mohd. Rafi could do justice with it.

There were two songs which Rafi sang for Kishore in Shararat (1959). “Ajab hai dastaan teri Ae Zindagi” required someone having a classical background and required high pitch.

One more reason is that Kishore was not the original choice as the lead actor and few songs had already been recorded. The other song was, “Tu mera copyright, main tera copyright”.

Rafi sang two songs for Kishore Kumar in the film Bhagambhag (1956), “Hame Koi Gham Hai” & “Chale Ho Kahan”

The song from the film Paisa hi Paisa (1956) is special in this regard. Kishore Kumar plays a double role in this film and therefore the voices of both the legends were used in the song.

Usually many will go with one voice if the characters look same but music director Anil Biswas thought the otherway as he wanted authenticity. The song was, “Le lo Sone Ka Ladoo”.

The song, “O Meri Maina” from the film Krorepati (1961) interestlngly had both Kishore & Rafi do the playback for Kishore in the same song.

Image(s) Courtesy: Google

Did Amitabh Bachchan refuse to act with Kishore Kumar by saying that he is the only fool left to be ruined?

 The legendary singer Kishore Kumar after quitting the acting, once expressed his desire to act with the legendary actor Amitabh Bachchan.

Kishore Kumar expressed his wish with Amitabh Bachchan like this, “Amit, I didn't not talk with you at any time but I have one wish in my mind, I saw everyone while acting but whenever I saw while you are acting I feel like I should do one film with you. Though I quit acting, watching you, I get a desire of acting with you, will you do a film with me!”

Responding to this Amitabh Bachchan had said with full respect, with a folded hands, “ Dada, main hi ek bacha tha kya barbad hone ke liye" ( Dada, was I the only person remained to get ruined?).

With this statement, Kishore Kumar got surprised and asked Amitabh Bachchan, Arey tu kya bol raha hau? Barbaad matlab kya hai? (What are you saying? What is the meaning of ruined?).

Amitabh Bachchan clarified this by saying clearly in Hindi, “Dada, main aapke saat 100 janam tak kaam nahi kar sakta, …… (in English) Dada, I cannot work with you even if I take 100 births, the way you act while singing, I lose my breath just to give expressions regarding that, It's not possible for another actor to take birth like you. 500 Amitabh Bachchans are nothing before you, so I cannot work with you.”

Infact Amitabh Bachchan refused the offer given by Kishore Kumar out of respect not by ego. He always referred Kishore Kumar a genius. Once he said that, while speaking about Kishore Kumar, to speak about or to debate about Kishore Kumar it takes very long time because it has so much to talk about him so that time is very little to speak about him. Amitabh Bachchan said that in his personal view Kishore da had thought about playback singing lately, because, inside him, there was a director, he had art of an actor, in his experience there were more other artistic nature capabilities which were far beyond his singing abilities. Amitabh Bachchan also mentioned that, inside his (Kishore Kumar's) heart, a humanity was prevailing.

Though there was a good friendship between Kishore Kumar and Amitabh Bachchan, according to reports, once in 1980s there were disagreements and misunderstandings which took place between Kishore Kumar and Amitabh Bachchan when Bachchan refused to appear in a guest role in Kishore Kumar's productional film Mamta Ki Chhaon Mein, because in 1980s Amitabh Bachchan was a busy actor and due to his busy schedule he couldn't act. Thenceforth Kishore Kumar refused to record songs for Amitabh Bachchan for the films Naseeb, Coolie and Mard.

Kishore Kumar agreed to sing for Amitabh Bachchan for the films Mahaan, Shakti and Bemisal which were released in 1982 & 83 because Kishore Kumar had close bondage with the music director R. D. Burman who composed the music for these films.

Later Amitabh Bachchan realised his fault, he went to meet Kishore Kumar on his son Amit Kumar's birthday there the misunderstandings between them had got cleared.

Kishore Kumar and Amitabh Bachchan never acted together as co-stars. Their colloborations happened only in the songs, Kishore Kumar had sung numerous hit songs for Amitabh Bachchan and they remained as evergreen songs in the hearts of the people. Once Amitabh Bachchan said that singer's voice helped to preserve his presence in the hearts of the audience for a long period.

Kishore Kumar, as a playback singer, had recorded more than 130 songs for Amitabh Bachchan in various hit films like Muqaddar Ka Sikandar, Abhiman, Don, Namak Halal, Yarana and the list is very long.

The makers of the film Don, in 1978, added the song ‘Khaike paan Banaraswala…’, sung by Kishore Kumar after a week the film got released. After adding the song with in a week the film became a major hit at the box-office. This song remained as an evergreen song, Kishore Kumar had won Filmfare Award for Best Male Playback Singer.

Initially Kishore Kumar refused to sing Khaike paan Banaraswala… because he felt that the song is not like a typical Hindi song. Later he agreed to sing with the condition that, he sings only once if they didn't like it they would have to find another singer. The song has become an iconic song and it helped the film to become a block-buster.

In the later stage Kishore Kumar had sung for Amitabh Bachchan for the superhit film Sharabi in 1984 and then for Toofan which was released in 1989.

Kishore Kumar is among the greatest singers of the Indian cinema. He had the ability to change his voice to match it with hero's voice, so the listener was feeling like as if the hero himself was singing the song. His brother Ashok Kumar stated that Kishore Kumar as a singer was successful because his voice hits the mike, straight, at its most sensitive point.

Once famous playback singer Asha Bonsle said that it's impossible for anyone to take Kishore Kumar's place and he has been a true gem to the music industry.

Many singers of the later stage have been greatly inspired and influenced by Kishore Kumar.

Amitabh Bachchan called Kishore Kumar a multi-talented genius who shall remain a phenomenal star.

Unfortunately Kishore Kumar had passed away in 1987 at the age of 58 years due to heart attack and his productional film Mann Ki Chhaon Mein was released by his son Amit Kumar in 1989, two years after Kishore Kumar's demise.

In 2012 Kishore Kumar's unreleased song , 'Tum hi to woh ho…'’ from the shelved film Khel Tamasha was sold for Rs 15.6 lakh at the Osian’s Cinefan Auction in New Delhi, the highest price bid for any Indian singers. This song was recorded just 3 days before the unexpected demise of Kishore Kumar.